The Star Missionaries

Chris and Lindsey Carter’s mission field is not an easy one. Japan, where the Carters have served since 2011, has an extremely high cost of living (milk currently costs $8 per gallon), the language is very difficult to learn, and many Japanese are hesitant to connect with outsiders unless they have a direct reason to do so. 

Chris and Lindsey, along with their children Wesley, Adelaide and Hudson, are the only Assemblies of God world missionaries in Ibaraki Prefecture. Less than 1 percent of Japan’s population are known to be believers, rendering Japan one of the most secular nations in the world. 

The city of Tsukuba, where the Carters live, has a reputation as Japan’s science city. The Japanese space program, robotics laboratories and many other research institutes are located there. Tsukuba University is known as the MIT of Asia and functions as Japan’s premiere science and technology university. 

Chris, who holds a Ph.D. from Scotland’s University of Aberdeen, and Lindsey quickly felt at home in Tsukuba’s academic environment. They pastor Tsukuba International Christian Assembly (made up of 18 nationalities in addition to Japanese) and reach out to their neighbors with conversational English, music, and friendship. They also lead a Chi Alpha group, and Chris teaches once a week at the Assemblies of God’s Central Bible College in Tokyo. 

Even with these opportunities, the Carters wrestled with the difficulty of sharing the gospel in Japan. An unusual idea took shape as Chris and Lindsey prayerfully looked for new opportunities. They observed a surprising amount of interest coming from their Japanese acquaintances when they bought their children a small toy telescope. With a large, fully functional telescope, the Carters realized, they would have a powerful conversation starter with the scientists and science students living around them. 

“Most Japanese would describe themselves as atheists, but also Buddhist or Shinto,” Chris explains. “In Japan, Buddhism and Shintoism are largely cultural activities, not sincerely held beliefs. The Japanese worldview generally allows little room for God. This is doubly true among the scientifically minded population of Tsukuba. Thus, a conversation on astronomy comes much more easily than a conversation on Christianity. Once we start talking about the stars, it is natural to talk about the God who spoke them into existence with a word.” 

During the family’s stateside itineration in 2015, the Carters began telling friends and supporters about their telescope idea. BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge) purchased a $14,000 telescope to help the Carters carry out their unconventional ministry plan. Chris and Lindsey scoured the web, manuals, and astronomy books, eventually gaining confidence to use the instrument’s complex functions. 

When the Carters returned to Japan in August 2016, they planned to immediately host Star Parties with their new telescope. Six typhoons around Tsukuba rendered stargazing impossible during their first month back. 

The Carters used that month to obtain permission from Tsukuba International School to use the school’s facilities for future events. A Star Party was planned for viewing the super moon on November 14, and then moved up one day to avoid inclement weather. 

“Our Day-Before-the-Super-Moon Party ended up being very successful!” Chris and Lindsey report. “We had around 15 adults and college students come, as well as around seven children. Some of them we had not met before. Viewing the moon through our telescope led to conversations about how to hear God’s voice and how His leading works within the Christian life.” 

Virtually every attendee asked to be invited to future Star Parties and to bring friends along. 

“God is working; God is moving!” the Carters report joyfully. “We can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next through upcoming Star Parties at Tsukuba International School, Tsukuba University, and Tsukuba International Christian Assembly!” 

To read more or watch videos about the Chris and Lindsey Carter’s remarkable ministry, please visit www.thecartersinjapan.com or find them on Facebook under the same name.

Kristel Zelaya

Kristel Zelaya is a freelance writer and editor with global experience. She served as marketing manager for Assemblies of God U.S. Missions and as a writer and editor for Assemblies of God World Missions. These experiences have led her to numerous countries and cultures — far from beaten paths — on behalf of many who did not know how deeply their stories matter. Zelaya is also a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She and her husband Rudy share one daughter.