Nippon Now

10/15/2026

Why do some stories stay with us for years?

Think about a story you heard as a child. You may have forgotten hundreds of things you were taught, but you still remember that story.

And sometimes, you remember how it made you feel.

What's one story set in Japan you've never forgotten?

I’ll go first: Wonderful Fool by Endo

10/14/2026

If there is no thread of intelligence running through every bit of creation, why are highly trained minds required to understand such matters as biology, chemistry, neuroscience, mathematics, et al?

10/12/2026

A Conversation at McDonald's in Japan Changed the Way I Share the GospelStoryarc

Years ago, I met a Japanese man at a McDonald's restaurant in Koriyama, Japan.

We had a wonderful English conversation. But when I turned the conversation toward Jesus, something changed.

He smiled politely. But his expression told me everything.

The conversation had reached a wall.

I was deeply discouraged. I even wondered whether it was possible to reach Japanese people with the gospel through English conversation.

That experience set me on a journey that eventually led me into the study of Japanese literature, the science of story, and the fascinating ways stories connect with the human heart.

Along the way, I discovered something that changed my approach to gospel conversations.

In our first session of StoryWise™, my newly redesigned course on story-based instruction, I tell that story. I also share how a little story called The Sparrow and the Tortoise helped open the hearts of Japanese people who previously showed little interest in talking about Jesus.

And I introduce two very different approaches to communication: megaphones and funnels.

I'm making the complete introductory session available here on Nippon Now.

This is a special opportunity to watch Lesson 1 of StoryWise™ without joining the course first.

If the ideas interest you, I hope you'll join us for the next live session in the Gospel Story-arc® Community, where we'll move from the introduction into developing practical storytelling skills together.

Participation is free, and you're welcome whether you teach English, serve in ministry, teach the Bible, or simply want to become more effective in sharing Jesus with others.

Join us here: https://www.skool.com/the-gospel-story-arc-project/about

Here's a question I'd love for you to answer:

Have you ever tried to turn an ordinary conversation toward Jesus, only to discover that the other person suddenly lost interest?

What happened?

I'd love to hear your story.

10/08/2026

Starting StoryWise in 15 minutes. You still have time to join. Look for the Zoom link in the Calendar of the Gospel Story-arc Community. Join for free!

https://www.skool.com/the-gospel-story-arc-project/about

10/08/2026

Starting StoryWise in 15 minutes. You still have time to join. Look for the Zoom link in the Calendar of the Gospel Story-arc Community. Join for free!

Encouraging & equipping everyday Christians to share Jesus’ story—prayerful, practical, innovative, coach-led, mission-focused. Together.

10/08/2026

StoryWise Course LIVE Tonight at 7:30 pm EST.

Find it LIVE tonight in the Gospel Story-arc Community on Skool.

10/01/2026

StoryWise™ Course Begins October 8 at 7:30 pm live on Zoom.
Here's the link to register:

09/29/2026

If you love sharing Jesus with Japanese and others, you’ll love this free course, available only in the Gospel Story-arc community on Skool. More info tomorrow…

09/26/2026

Why Stories Matter So Much in Japan

One of the discoveries that changed my ministry was realizing how naturally story allows us to explore another way of seeing the world.

A person may resist being drawn into the logic of a proposition.

But give that same person a story, and something interesting can happen.

I actually got this idea from a novel written by a Japanese author. It’s called 1Q84.

1Q84 tells the story of a character who thought the logic of math was the best way to bring order to his otherwise chaotic world.

But it didn’t work.

Then he decided to escape to the world of story, where he could examine different worldviews. and determine whether any might work for him.

Through story, we enter someone else’s world.

We feel what the character feels.

We confront the choices the character confronts.

And sometimes we discover a possibility we had never seriously considered before.

That is why I began using stories with Japanese English learners, to invite them to consider the possibility of biblical Christianity.

The story becomes a place where they can safely ask:

“What if the world really worked this way?”

That is the kind of conversation I want NipponNow to become again.

If you love Japan, stories, and conversations about faith, you’ll probably enjoy where we’re headed.

Let’s stay connected.