About JCCT
Our Journey
Our History
A Journey of Faith and Community
Transition & A New Chapter
- March 25, 2012: Rev. Akihisa "Aki" Kawamata was installed as the third pastor.
- 2013 – 2014: Introduction of Small Groups (Men's, Women's, and College groups) and a new worship music team.
- October 4, 2015: After 18 years at the previous location, JCCT moved to its current home at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (Koch Chapel).
- 2015-: Continuing the legacy of "Koinonia" (fellowship) and impacting lives in both Tucson and Japan.
Growth & Bilingual Ministry
- September 10, 2000: Rev. Ichibei Honda was installed as the first full-time minister. JCCT became a unique bilingual ministry with sermons in both Japanese and English.
- May 22, 2005: 10th Anniversary Celebration (103 participants).
- April 23, 2006: Rev. In Hyun was installed as the second pastor.
- July 18, 2009: Rev. Hyun was ordained. Digital English translations on-screen were introduced during this era.
- March 27, 2011: 15th Anniversary Celebration with guest speaker Rev. Honda.
The Beginning
- March 1995: A Japanese fellowship group began with five women meeting for Bible study, led by Reiko Yoshitani.
- September 30, 1995: The first worship service was held, and the Japanese Christian Community of Tucson (JCCT) was formally established.
- December 22, 1996: The first Sunday worship service was held.
- March 30, 1997: JCCT moved to its first rental facility at the Pima County Medical Society.
- 1996 – 1999: A season of spiritual harvest with over 30 baptisms.
What we Believe
Our Foundational Beliefs
A. God
God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, co-equal in holiness, attributes, and perfection.
1. God the Father
God the Father Almighty is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe. His essence is spirit, His attribute is holy, and His character is love.
2. God the Son, Jesus Christ
The eternal Son, Jesus Christ, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Thus, He possesses true deity and true humanity in one person and is the only mediator between God and man. To complete our salvation, He fulfilled all righteousness, lived a sinless life, satisfied divine justice, and offered Himself as a vicarious sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died, was buried, and on the third day rose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven, where He intercedes for believers in His glorified state. He will come again in a personal, visible form to judge the world in righteousness and to establish His Kingdom.
3. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. His work is to reveal Christ through the Word of God, to complete salvation in the regeneration and sanctification of believers, to guide and empower the Church to fulfill the Great Commission, and to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
B. The Bible
The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God and a revelation given by divine inspiration. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and practice.
C. Humanity
Humanity was created in the image of God but rebelled against God, resulting in death, which is separation from God. Humans can be saved from this state of spiritual death only by the grace of God, through faith in Christ and His atonement, and by the work of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual growth and maturity of the believer are initiated by the Spirit of God and the believer's conscious act of dedication, and are brought about by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
D. The Church
The Church consists of all who have been reborn through faith in Christ and are united as one body under Christ, who is the Head of the Church. The Church is called together to worship God, to preach the Gospel, to administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) through duly appointed ministers, and to oversee and nurture believers.
APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.