Jeffrey Mensendiek

Jeffrey Mensendiek serves with J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo, Japan.

The Rev. Jeffrey Mensendiek has been a mission co-worker in Japan since 1989. He is presently appointed as the chaplain of J. F. Oberlin University in Tokyo, where he teaches courses on Christianity and comparative religion and leads worship on campus. His previously served as pastor of Izumi Zion Housechurch, director of Sendai Student Center, director of Emmaus Center, and director of the Christian Center at Kwansei Gakuin University. Originally from New York, he received his bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University. Rev. Mensendiek received his theological education at Pacific School of Religion and Eden Theological Seminary. A highlight of his ministry was working with partners on disaster relief response in 2011, for which he was honored by the Common Global Ministries Board. He enjoys playing guitar, hiking, gardening, jogging, cooking, learning and thinking about dignity, and traveling to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. He is a member of Neff’s Union Church (United Church of Christ) in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

How would you describe the mission of our partner in Japan?

I work with the United Church of Christ in Japan. The most important fact about the church in Japan is that it is a minority church. Only one percent of the population is Christian. This means that the dominant culture does not understand you, does not want you to be different, and often dictates behavior in such a way as to disallow diversity of opinions. In this environment, the church is one of many sub-cultures that are discriminated against because it goes against the norms.

I have been working for the past 22 years with the church (the Kyodan). Now, I will be working at Kwansei Gakuin University. Speaking out about peace and justice concerns (e.g., for victims of radiation in Fukushima), promoting a culture of inclusion and tolerance (e.g., advocating for minorities in Japan), and speaking out against Japanese nationalism (e.g., questioning policies that promote a revisionist understanding of Japan’s history) are all prophetic roles that the Christian church plays.

How do you fit into their mission?

I will be working as chaplain at the university, responsible for organizing programs on campus that instill in young hearts the Christian spirit of the university. At the same time, I will be involved with social concerns beyond the walls of the campus so that the Christian university can have a role and voice in the wider society.

The church in Japan is concerned about passing on the Christian faith to younger generations. At the same time, it is concerned with serving society. Through education, the university will aim to teach young people the value of loving God and neighbor. Even as a small minority community, the church can make a difference by being the salt of the earth and by influencing society.

What led you to engage in this calling?

My parents were UCC missionaries, and I went to Japan when I was two. My faith was nurtured in the church in Japan, and I wanted to work with the church in Japan in some capacity. My first assignment to Japan was to serve a congregation with four members. This experience transformed my life and my values. I came to see myself in a radically new way: as serving the small community of believers. I realized how God can make big things happen out of the small and weak.

Is there a passage of scripture that carries special meaning in your daily work?

Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth,” reminds me that Jesus was mindful that his followers were a minority of people.

Luke 24:13-35,  “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road.” This Emmaus Story became our story as we responded to the disaster of March 2011.

Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” The Japanese church has a history of speaking out for justice. Rural evangelism in Japan has always taken seriously the dignity of those who work the soil. Coming in touch with rural Christians in Japan has taught me much about humility.

What are some of the challenges facing the church in Japan?

  • Passing on the faith to the next generation
  • Discrimination as a minority people
  • The internal division within the Kyodan over theological differences
  • The ongoing nuclear disaster (protecting life in the face of powers who deny the dangerous truth)
  • Being a prophetic voice against increasing nationalism and militarism

What lesson have you learned working with UCC-Japan that you would like to share with churches in the U.S.?

To find ways to be the church despite the small numbers.

What is a common phrase used in the local churches?

Shuno heiwa (Peace be with you)

Are there books that have shaped your understanding of your work?

Which movies have shaped your understanding of your work?

  • “Departures” (a recent film about an undertaker in Japan)
  • “Rashomon” (a famous Kurosawa film which deals with perceptions and the truth)
  • “The Gate” (about Buddhist priests who head off on a non-violent pilgrimage to take the flame of Hiroshima back to where it came from in the US)
  • “Rokkasho Rapsody” (a documentary about how lives are affected by various uses of nuclear energy)

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I have shared a recipe for gyoza (pot stickers) and instructions for folding paper cranes, which are a symbol of peace. In Japan, people fold a thousand cranes as a prayer for eternal peace.

Jeffrey’s appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts. Make a gift that supports the work of Jeffrey Mensendiek

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