Sayama joins national church | news Japan Alliance mission joined with the national church on April 29th, in celebrating the transition of Sayama Church from the mission to the national church. Sayama Alliance Church was started by Alliance missionaries, Ken and Kathy Young in 1989. Situated on the northwest edge of the Tokyo metropolitan area, Sayama is an old city of 160,000 people, famous for its green tea fields. Since the Youngs first planted the church, several different Alliance missionary families have ministered there, most recently, Don and Carol Love and their family. Last October, the church was officially accepted into the national church - the Japan Alliance Church. Rev. Itoh, currently pastoring in Yokohama, was appointed overseeing pastor and this Spring, Pastor Ichimori and his family moved to Sayama to live and minister there. On Saturday, April 29th, a formal ceremony was held, celebrating the entrance of the church into the national denomination. The Japan Alliance Mission celebrates the work God has accomplished through this church. We rejoice as we hand it over to the leadership of the national church, trusting God to continue the good work He has begun. 
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