Church Information Page
Answering Your Church's Questions about the
JEMS South America Missions Program
Those applicants wishing to receive the prayer and financial support of their church are requested to discuss this information with their Pastor or Church Board.
If you are reading this, it is probable that someone attending your church is making application to the JEMS South America Missions Program. If accepted, this person will be spending three to six weeks in South America this coming summer.
JEMS is the acrostic for the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society. Historically established as a Japanese-American ministry, JEMS now serves the greater Asian-American Christian community. Its vision is to develop and offer creative ministry opportunities which enable those of Asian descent to grow as authentic disciples of Jesus Christ.
JEMS desires to work in partnership with the local church and therefore asks for the church's participation in the evaluation of an applicant's readiness for cross-cultural ministry. This evaluation is accomplished through a screening and recommendation process.
As a part of the JEMS Missions Program application process, the applicant is asked to submit reference forms to the church's senior pastor (or to a pastor designated by the senior pastor) and the church missions committee chairperson. JEMS feels very strongly that a missions worker must have the affirmation of the local church as modeled in Acts 13:2-3.
The applicant is approved for the JEMS summer missions program only after JEMS has received this affirmation from the local church of the applicant's suitability for this ministry. Once the applicant has been accepted, the church shall be notified.
Should any question arise as to the qualification of the missions applicant, a dialogue between JEMS and the local church is certainly welcomed and may be established.
JEMS Statement of Faith
We, the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society believe
1. That the Bible is God’s Word, written by men divinely and uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that it is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
2. In one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
3. In Jesus Christ, the world’s only Savior; in His pre-existence, virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death, burial and bodily resurrection and personal return.
4. In the Holy Spirit as a Person, indwelling and empowering the believer, convicting the unsaved and presenting the claims of Christ.
5. That sinful man is lost and can be redeemed only by the death and shed blood of Christ upon the cross through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.
6. In the resurrection of the dead, the believer to life everlasting and the unbeliever to eternal condemnation.
7. That the church, the Body of Christ, is comprised of all who have accepted the redemption provided by Christ.
JEMS South America Missions Program
The JEMS South America Missions Program involves its workers in the life and ministry of ethnically Japanese and Asian churches in South America. It is our purpose that through activities such as camping, Vacation Bible School, English Classes, sports and recreation, Sunday School and other creative ministry forms, the gospel of Jesus Christ can be shared with that community.
Finance and Stewardship
JEMS is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
The JEMS Missions Program is funded entirely through offerings and monetary donations from individual supporters and churches. All JEMS missions workers, whether serving in the summer or for the long-term, must raise their own financial support in order to serve.
JEMS is available to answer any further questions regarding the mission program and its parameters. Inquiries may be sent to the Director of Missions Development, John Katagi at: johnk [at] jems [dot] org or you may call the JEMS office at 213-613-0022.