Frequently Asked Questions

Why Nagoya?

Nagoya is centrally located between Tokyo and Osaka providing easy access to the majority of the Japanese population. By bullet train, Nagoya station is only 100 minutes from Tokyo and 50 minutes from Osaka. Land prices in Nagoya are considerably more affordable than Tokyo and Osaka and are available in larger land plots. The CBI team is in the process of praying and planning towards purchase of land for the building of a campus for CBI. Approximately $1.5 million is needed to undertake this project.

Nagoya is a part of Aichi Prefecture, which is home to 8 million people. It is also home to major corporations including Toyota Motor Corporation, Brother Corporation, and Noritake. Companies in Aichi prefecture manufacture nearly as much as Taiwan or Russia. In fact, 2% of the world’s GNP is produced in Aichi.

Most of Japan’s Christian resources (churches, ministries, and schools) are in the Tokyo and Osaka areas. Before Christ Bible Seminary was founded, Nagoya had only one small lay training school.

Does Japan need a new seminary?

YES YES YES!!! There are several seminaries in Japan, mostly in the Tokyo area. Apart from one school that concentrates on lay training, there is no graduate-level theological seminary in the Nagoya area, which has more than 5 million people. In addition, most existing seminaries are ultra-traditional and have training models that have not changed since the 1950’s.

Unless a new generation of Christian leaders can be raised up and trained to reach their own generation with its distinct ways of thinking and living, the church in Japan will disappear. 80% of pastors in Japan are in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. This can either be viewed as a crisis or as a God-given opportunity.

CBI believes that the church in Japan may finally be open to needed change, to younger people, and to a fresh turning to the Lord. Remember that Japan is a nation of less than 0.25% Christians. CBI believes that God will one day do a powerful work in this unreached nation – that God will not neglect His promise that the Redeemed will come from EVERY tribe, language, people and nation. CBI hopes to help see such transformation in Japan through CBS. Please pray for Japan and CBI.