Our Missionaries

Natalie Beck

Hi I came to Japan as a short-term mk teacher for two years. Through that experience the Lord lead me to become a career missionary. I have been with ABWE since 1991 and I have enjoyed the privilege of serving Him in Japan for 12 of those years. My ministries include teaching the Bible to women (both hearing and deaf), children, singles and everything else in between.

www.beckinjapanabwe.org

Tom & Paula Carr

I (Tom) was raised in Cedarville, OH, and graduated from Cedarville University and then Norhtwest Baptist Seminary. We arrived in Japan for our first term in 1994. AFter two years of language school we worked at the Hayato Baptist Church. We are ministering in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and have since 1999. All four of our children we born in Japan.

Courtney Lancaster

I was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington. I grew up in a Christian home and went to church regularly with my parents and younger brother.

I prayed with my Mom to accept Jesus as my Savior when I was about 3 years old. I was very young, but I knew I wanted to be saved. I grew in my Christian faith through many years of Sunday school, AWANA, Bible curriculum at school, and my parents’ example. When I was eleven years old, I decided that I was willing to be a missionary if God desired.

I attended Baptist Bible College in Pennsylvania and majored in Bible and Elementary Education. While I was at college, I rededicated myself to the Lord and committed to following His path for my life.

During my junior year of college God led me to go on a short missions trip to Japan with ABWE. I experienced many different ministries and learned a lot about missions. Specifically, I learned that you don’t have to be a “special” person to be a missionary, just someone willing to follow God’s leading to live the Christian life wherever He places you.

The missionary team invited me to return after I graduated from college and serve with them. Through prayer, I felt this was God’s leading and I joined the missionary team in Miyakonojo in August 2006. My main ministry was MK education, but I also helped with different outreaches for children, English speakers, and singles.

The Lord spoke to me that fall through passages such as Isaiah 59-61 and showed me the depravity of man and the urgency to share Christ. I returned to Japan for a second year and served as a church planting assistant. I participated in a variety of ministries as a means to build relationships in the community. I then returned to the US in July 2008 to attend classes at ABWE to become a full time missionary.

I completed raising my support and arrived in Japan in January 2010. I am working with the team in Miyakonojo, specifically focusing on ministries with teen girls and women. I am excited to serve God in Japan and am looking forward to what He has in store for the future!

Sue Hahn

I came to Japan as a missionary in 1979. I work with other missionary families in planting churches here. I have helped plant 2 churches in the Kagoshima area and am now in a brand new church plant in Kumamoto Prefecture in the Kikuyo area where I work alongside Norman and Susan Smith. My main ministries are teaching English and Bible to Japanese of all ages.

Bill & Becky Petite

Becky was born and raised in Japan, the daughter of missionary parents. Bill was born and raised in the United States and came to Japan as an adult. We have served in Japan as church planting missionaries since 1990. Both of our children were raised in Japan. Along with the apostle Paul we "have made it our aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named" (Rom. 15:20).

Through the privilege of sharing the Gospel where Christ is seldom heard the Lord has given us new brothers and sisters in Christ in Japan. Along the way he has given us the joy of being involved in camp ministries, outreach to the deaf of Japan, Bible school teaching, children and teen outreach and music ministries. Most of our work has been connected with the Living Hope Baptist Church in the city of Aira in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Chris & Donna Sadowitz

We serve at the Miyakonojo Christian Center, Miyazaki. Our ministries include preaching, tai kwon do, coffee shop and ministering to anyone the Lord leads into our lives.

Norman & Susan Smith

They have been in Japan since 2003. As of the summer of 2008 they are in Kikuyo City, a suburb of Kumamoto City. Their focus is on discipleship and training Japanese men to lead the church in Japan. They have three children, Chloe, Cameron and Melodie.

www.smithlife.net

Wendy Stiles

As a child I was interested in Japan and God called me to be a missionary during college. I have served in Japan since 1993, working with children and singles.