Otaru is a conservative port city with a population of some 146,000. Located 40 km northwest of Sapporo, it is well known for its beauty (the romantic canal!), its steep slopes (a 4-wheel drive is a must in winter) and its delicious sushi (raw fish). Temples and shrines are everywhere in evidence.
OMF started work in Otaru in 1965 when Steve and Evelyn Metcalf rented premises in the centre of the city. Although numbers rose to 15 by 1969, a decline set in and a new start was made in 1972 with three Japanese and a single man. Later lady missionaries lived in a different part of the city and held meetings in their flat. A house was purchased by the church for meetings in 1980 and a Japanese pastor was welcomed in 1984. Numbers steadily rose, but difficulties led to the resignation of the pastor in 1990. OMF was asked by the Evangelical Churches Association to take over leadership of the church again ~ a new start was officially made in 1992 under the Langhans’ leadership. The church changed its name and a lovely building was erected in Sakura (cherry blossom), a suburb on the Sapporo side of the city. Land next to the church building was purchased in 2001.
The church serves an area of around 30,000 people on the east side of Otaru, although many come from different parts of the town. As at 2004 the church has some 30-35 adults and 10 children gathering on a Sunday, a healthy mixture of young families, couples and older members, including a relatively large number of men. The church is now thinking ahead and beginning to work out its future direction and vision. The next two or three years will be important ones as we build on the foundations which have already been laid and once again the way is paved for transition to Japanese leadership.
Church Website link (Japanese) http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~o-fukuin/