Dorothea and Jörg Eymann arrived in Japan in 1997 knowing almost no Japanese. Twenty-nine years later, the couple has planted a church, weathered a severe burnout, and launched a discipleship programme now fully led by Japanese leaders. Their story, published in the August–October 2026 issue of move magazine, traces the full arc of long-term mission — from early struggle through deep crisis to lasting fruitfulness.
The Eymanns serve with Allianz-Mission, the overseas mission arm of the Federation of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany (Bund FeG). They are part of a multi-generational missionary workforce that spans young families to retirees. Japan remains one of the most challenging mission fields in Asia, with Christians comprising less than one percent of the population. Long-term presence and patient relational investment are widely recognised as essential to building trust in Japanese society, making the Eymanns' nearly three decades of service particularly significant.
The couple's youth centre, HOPE, launched early in their ministry and became a creative bridge to Japan's younger generation. Some participants came to faith, supported by short-term volunteers from Germany. In 2014, HOPE transitioned into Ai HOPE Church, co-led with a young Japanese pastoral couple, and today full responsibility rests in Japanese hands. A newer initiative, the Christian Seicho (Growth) Center, is a year-long interdenominational discipleship programme focused on equipping the next generation of Japanese church leaders. Jörg's burnout in his early 40s proved to be a turning point. Speaking in move, he reflects: "I learned that what ultimately matters is that I am God's beloved child — not my performance." The couple now see themselves as encouragers and spiritual parents to a new generation. "We are where we belong," they say.
(Originally published in German. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Allianz-Mission / Bund FeG — allianzmission.de
