leadership training seminar | news  Some 40 pastors and local church leaders from 8 Alliance churches in the Tokyo area gathered at Kawaguchi Christ Church for a seminar on “Building up the Body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12) with Rev. Masashi Hirai, president of the Japan Alliance Church and pastor of the Alliance church in Matsuyama, Shikoku in southern Japan.
During the morning session Rev. Hirai gave a very helpful introduction to the Japan Alliance Church, looking at the history, beliefs and emphases of the denomination. The Alliance shares much in common with other evangelical churches while emphasizing the all-sufficiency of Christ as our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. The Japan Alliance Church currently has 41 organized and developing churches and is divided into 6 regional groups. The Japan Alliance is a member of the Japan Evangelical Fellowship, a group of 10 denominations from a Holiness background as well as part of the Alliance World Fellowship. Rev. Hirai also spoke briefly about the Japan Alliance School of Theology which is located in Hiroshima. After a tasty curry rice lunch prepared by the ladies from Kawaguchi and a time of fellowship, Rev. Hirai spoke about local church leadership—elders and deacons, giving helpful illustrations from the Matsuyama church where he serves. He talked about the importance of church membership as well as church discipline. He emphasized that the church is not a company but has Christ at the center. Both sessions ended with a helpful question and answer time. Rev. Hirai’s lectures, full of wisdom and humility, were a rich blessing to each one who attended. | 
