After serving on the field for several years, Ken and Jane Song moved to the port city of Kobe, Japan. The Songs have dedicated nearly six years to meeting their Japanese neighbors, growing genuine relationships and creating opportunities to share the Gospel.

The traditions of Buddhism and Shinto are deeply rooted in Japanese families and culture. As a result, many Japanese people have little knowledge of Christianity and are distrustful of unfamiliar religions. This can also create significant family tension, even to the point of rejection, if one family member decides to follow Jesus while the rest of the family does not.

“Because of this, building relationships and trust is especially important. Once people know us and trust us, they are much more willing to listen when we begin talking about the Gospel,” said Ken.

To foster connections with the Japanese people, Ken and Jane launched a ministry called Joyful Song Café, where they teach English Christian songs and sing them together. As participants learn the lyrics, moments arise to share God’s truth and have conversations about Jesus.

The Songs also started Discovery Bible Study where seekers gather in their home to study the Bible, share a meal and fellowship. They also minister to the Japanese people through Trauma Healing and an English-and-Korean language learning café.

The Songs are excited to report that two people trusted in Jesus this year. Ken said, “Both of them had heard about Jesus many times before, but it seems that no one had really challenged them to make a personal decision about whether they would follow Him.”

These two new believers previously heard the Gospel from missionaries and pastors, but the experience reinforced for Ken that the work in Japan is not something a single missionary can accomplish alone.

“Other missionaries may have planted seeds that we eventually get to see bear fruit. At the same time, we may plant seeds that another missionary will one day see bear fruit,” said Ken. “…it is especially important to share the Gospel with the Japanese people repeatedly and patiently.”

Ken and Jane ask Oklahoma Baptists to help meet their greatest need: prayer.

“As missionaries, we are usually in the position of giving and serving others, so there are times when we can become spiritually tired as well,” Ken said. “We need prayer not only for the ministries we are doing, but also for our own spiritual lives—that we would remain close to the Lord, stay spiritually healthy and continue to serve Him with joy and strength.”

The Songs would also be grateful for Oklahoma Baptists churches to partner with them in Japan through short-term missions teams and work hands-on in their music, English and Gospel outreach ministries.

To contact the Songs, email Diane Montgomery at dmontgomery@oklahomabaptists.org.

The Songs were featured in Okahoma Baptists’ 2026 Missionary Cooperative Program Missionary Prayer Guide.

You can also join in praying weekly for more missionaries like the Songs by texting “PRAY” to 833-942-3000.