The Japanese Community at The Orchard
We are glad that you’re surfing our website. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will respond to you as quickly as we can and will be happy to help you. The Japanese community started in June 2008 at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church by a group of people deeply interested in Japanese people, culture and life. We have a heart for Japanese people.
Our community strongly stands on biblical teaching. This means that we want to love, care for, serve, and encourage each other, qualities that are found in the message and life of Jesus Christ in the Bible. Jesus served the people who were lonely, suffering, sick, and hopeless. We believe that God can provide for our needs today as well - giving peace to those who are lonely, healing to those who are hurt, and hope to those who need encouragement.
Thank you again for visiting our website. May God bless you and your life in many ways. We are excited to see you soon face to face! “Yoroshiku-onegai-shimasu”
The Orchard Evangelical Free Church Sunday Services
Map of The Orchard
Sunday service with Japanese interpretation is from 10:30 am - 11:45 am.
Sermon translations are available online.
The Orchard Japanese Community Blog
Our Leaders
Shohei grew up in Kagoshima prefecture. He spent a lot of time in the beautiful mountains and the Pacific Ocean. His peaceful personality might come from those experiences. He graduated from Meisei University in Tokyo, and while in college he played guitar in a rock band. After college graduation he entered the clothing industry where he started a select clothing store with two close friends. This career allowed him to travel extensively overseas. His big life transition came, however, in June 2000, when he decided to become a Christ follower. In 2004 he entered seminary to get a Master’s Degree in theology in order to become a pastor. He graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He likes to do creative things like web designing. Currently he is an intern at The Orchard trying to build up multi-cultural ministry. In his private time he likes to read books, listening to the music, and play his acoustic guitar. Shohei and Nami have two kids, Paul and Rayna. Email Shohei, 224-764-4046.
Nami grew up in Aichi prefecture in a beautiful mountainside area where she often went swimming, fishing and hiking. She says, “I was always hanging around with the local kids until the sky got dark. I was a real nature girl.” After graduation from high school she taught in a Christian kindegarten. Later she became part owner of her father’s company, giving her excellent experience in the business world. Nami grew up in a Christian family, but spent time in Brazil as a missionary, working with the poor, especially street children. One of her amazing experiences in Brazil was swimming in the Amazon River! Nami is very active and friendly, and prefers to go out rather than spend time at home. She likes to travel, play piano and ukulele and watch movies. Nami and Shohei have two kids, Paul and Rayna. Email Nami.
Roberta is from Minnesota, but has lived in Chicago for 20 years where she’s taught ESL, mostly to Japanese. She lived in Osaka and Tokyo and loved learning ikebana and tea ceremony, wearing a kimono and eating okonomiyaki! She studied for her Master’s degree in Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Israel, where she also met her husband. They worked as journalists for a Christian broadcasting network. She has 2 teenagers, Steve and Katie, and enjoys scrapbooking, gardening and traveling with her family in long car trips. Her biggest passion in life however, is to see her international friends meet the God of the Bible in a personal and life-transforming way. Email Roberta.