Our Story · 歩み
Born out of resilience and faith.
Headquartered in Downtown Los Angeles, JEMS is a Christian, non-profit, para-church organization serving Japan, South America, and the United States — supported by an interdenominational network of Japanese and Asian American churches.
Timeline
Seventy-five years of faithfulness
1950
一九五〇
A youth conference in the redwoods
In June 1950, Japanese American pastors gathered in Northern California to establish the first Nisei Christian Youth Conference at Mount Hermon — a response to the spiritual and communal needs of a generation rebuilding after World War II.
1950
召命
A calling no one else would send
A conviction to share the Gospel with Japan was lit in the hearts of Christian Nisei. Yet major U.S. denominations, in the wake of war, rejected missionaries of Japanese ancestry. Undeterred, the pastors prayed and confirmed a clear vision: evangelize Japanese Americans through local churches in California, and extend missionary outreach to Japan.
1951
一九五一
JEMS is founded
In January 1951, those same pastors formally founded the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society. Working from humble settings with limited resources, they strengthened Japanese American churches through evangelism, preaching, and leadership development — and sent some of the first missionaries to Japan.
1960s
日語部
A Japanese-language ministry
In cooperation with the Southern California Church Federation, JEMS developed Nichigo — a Japanese-language ministry in America serving new immigrants, established Japanese speakers, and nationals in Japan.
1960s–90s
成長
Years of growth
Annual conferences at Mount Hermon became a central gathering for worship, teaching, and leadership. JEMS kept sending missionaries, supporting churches, and strengthening transpacific connections — and the camp grew from Japanese Americans to embrace all Asian Americans across generations.
1974
一九七四
AACF begins
JEMS launched the Asian American Christian Fellowship to reach Asian American college students — a ministry that continues on campuses today.
Today
今日
Carrying the mission forward
Through missionaries across Japan, JEMS Mount Hermon serving over 1,500 people each year, sports outreach, Nichigo, and AACF, JEMS remains committed to Christ-centered community across cultures and generations.
“From that single gathering, a movement grew.”
JEMS Mount Hermon · since 1950
Statement of faith · 信仰告白
We, the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society, believe…
- 01
That the Bible is God’s Word, written by men divinely and uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that it is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
- 02
In one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- 03
In Jesus Christ, the world’s only Savior; in His pre-existence, virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death, burial, bodily resurrection and personal return.
- 04
In the Holy Spirit as a Person, indwelling and empowering the believer, convicting the unsaved, and presenting the claims of Christ.
- 05
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.
- 06
That the Church, the Body of Christ, is comprised of all who have accepted the redemption provided by Christ.
- 07
In the resurrection of the dead, the believer to life everlasting, and the unbeliever to eternal condemnation.