.Baptist Evangelism
in Kochi began in
1952 and under the leadership of Pastor Tatsuo Harada and the missionaries
Bill Emanuel and his wife Rebecca of Northwest Baptist Church in
Oklahoma. The Mission
its first baptisms celebrated in 1953; 5 new believers were baptized in
the KagamiRiver
. KochiIsezakiChristChurch formerly
Kochi
BaptistChurch
was first established in May 1954 as an outreach mission
church of Takamatsu Baptist
Church For the first year the church was lead by lay pastor Tadashi Takada.
In 1955 the reigns were taken over by Pastor Nakamura. The church took up
temporary residence in Urado Machi and in the next year the meeting hall
was completed in its current location in Isezaki –cho.
In 1972 The Takamatsu Baptist Church Scripture theme was taken from
Psalm 119: 125 - gIt is time for the Lord to work.h They felt that this was
a clear leading to give independence to the Kochi Mission. On June 20
th 1977 KochiBaptistChurch became an independent
church of the Japan Baptist Convention establishing itself as Kochi Isezaki
Kirisuto Kyokai under the leadership of Pastor Sueo Kitahara. The church continued
to grow and in 1978 established the kindergarten Kohitsujien (Little Lambs
Kindergarten).
In 1988, it was time to consider rebuilding. It was a hard decision
to make but a necessary one. Funds were gathered and in April 1998 volunteers
from Masterfs Service construction mission put up the present meeting hall.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Our Pastor
Minoru
Hirabayashi
Hometown: Kyoto City
Born : September 1958
Baptism: April 15th 1979
Tanritsu Kyoto Migiwa Christ Church