Event Info Useful for Returnees October, 2026
◎R35+ Online Gathering October (Japan, Online)
“Self-Care: Becoming a Good Steward of Ourselves as God’s Temple ② — Practical Session: SARA (Gospel Pilates)”
Let’s take some time to care for ourselves by paying attention to our bodies.
How are you doing when it comes to taking care of your body?
Are you making time to care for yourself?
We’re excited to welcome Aya Noel (Ayako Higashi), who will guide us through a time of reflection from the Bible, followed by a practical SARA (Gospel Pilates) session.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (Japan Time)
Location: Zoom
(The Zoom link will be sent to those who register.)
Registration Form:
https://forms.gle/BRf7nzW9p6yTsVPSA
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 28
Who can join: Returnees aged 35 and over, and their friends
◎Kansai Returnees Small Group (Japan, Online)
2nd & 4th Thursdays 9:00-10:30 PM
Oct 8th&22nd
We spend the first half sharing about our daily lives, and the second half sharing and reflecting on God’s Word. We currently have 3–4 participants.
If you would like to join, please contact Sayaka Nakakuki.
snakakuki@jcfn.org
◎Southern Kanto Small Groups (Japan)
Yokohama plus SG: Every Tuesday 20:00 (female only, online)
Nagomi House Ogikubo SG: 2 Saturdays per month (in person, female only)
Ochami SG (Ochanomizu): Every Wednesday 19:00 at Ochanomizu.
Joy Toko (Tokorozawa): 2 Fridays or Saturdays per month (in person)
Hibarigaoka related SG: Every 2nd Saturday (in person)
If you are interested in joining, please contact us.
Contact: smallgroup@jcfn.org
◎ GiFT Tokyo Mystery-Solving Event (Tokyo, Japan)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 3, 1:00–4:00 PM
Meeting Place: Marunouchi North Exit, Tokyo Station
For: Returnees aged 35 and under
Instagram
facebook
Please contact us via DM for more information.
◎Tsu-Na-Gu (Japan, online and in-person, Chugoku area)
Gathering for 20s returnees in Chugoku area
Online (The Gospel of Luke): Friday, 9th & 23rd of October, from 20:30-
in-person: Saturday, 17th of October, from 19:00-
Contact JCFN office at: nihon@jcfn.org
◎INSPA Prayer Meeting (Japan, online)
October 11th (Sunday) 20:00~ (2nd Sunday of every month)
On Zoom
*Let’s remember and pray for the Returnees Ministry, INSPA, and the returnees in the Tokai region.
*The prayer meeting is open to anyone who has participated in INSPA in the past, or who lives or is from the Tokai area.
*Contact JCFN office at: nihon@jcfn.org
◎Re-Conn: Returnee Afternoon London Theme Day (Japan, Chiba)
Time: Saturday, October 17th 14:30〜17:00
Location: OMF Japan Office Building, First-floor Hall (1-16-14 Shinden, Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture)
https://www.re-conn.jp/
More events and Bible study, please check the website for the details.
◎Re-Conn: Returnee Cafe Texas Rodeo Theme Day (Japan, Tokyo)
Time: Saturday, October 17th 14:30〜17:00
Location: Double O Cross Church (OO＋) Kichijoji G Bldg B1 (1-6-27 Higashi-cho, Kichijoji, Musashino-shi, Tokyo)
https://www.re-conn.jp/
More events such as Christmas party and Bible study are organized by Re-Conn. Please check the website for the details.
◎RJC So Cal Regional Conference (North America, CA)
Theme: COMMUNITY
https://rjcnetwork.org/conferences/
・Dates: Oct 2-3, 2026
・ Location: Wintersburg Presbyterian Church (2000 N. Fairview St., Santa Ana, CA 92706)
・Early Bird Ends on 9/4 ($120) Regular Registration Cost: $150 The Price will be raised to $150 on September 5th.
◎WINGS Youth Ministry (North America, CA)
（It is California time）
1.WINGS: First Saturday of every month at 5:00 PM
・Date & Time: October 3, 5pm – 8:30pm
・Location: RISE OC Church（3198-B Airport Loop Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626）
2) Weekly Online Devotion Every Monday at 8:00 PM.
3) Weekly Online Bible Study Every Thursday at 5:00 PM (West Coast Time).
・All programs are bilingual youth ministries! Junior high and high school students, come join us!
・https://www.instagram.com/goyouthwings/
・ Contact: goyouthla@gmail.com
◎APU Friday will start from February (North America, CA)
・Southern CA, at Azusa Pacific University
・Friday at 7 pm, Dates for Friday of this semester. (10/2, 10/23, 11/6, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11)
https://www.instagram.com/friday_jo/
・Games, meals, heartwarming worship and sharing! Come together with your not-yet Christian friends!
◎JXJ (North America, WA)
ISI House in Seattle
・Time: Every third Saturday of the month, October 17th 4:30-8:00 pm
https://www.instagram.com/jxjseattle/
Games, meals, heartwarming worship and sharing! Come together with your not-yet Christian friends!
Tabi, Going Her Own Way
Hello! I’m Izumi Takahashi, the Japan Administrative Staff.
We have a cat named “Tabi” in our family.
(No, this is not a story about traveling!)
Tabi turned six this September.
The name “Tabi” comes from the Japanese word tabi, which means traditional Japanese socks. All four of Tabi’s paws have markings that look as though she is wearing little socks—or tabi.
Here she is when she was a kitten.
Isn’t this sleepy little pose adorable?
Yes, I know. I’m just a proud cat mom. 😊
Cats really are wonderfully independent creatures.
When they’re sleepy, they sleep.
When they’re hungry, they let you know it’s time for food.
And when they want attention, they let you know that, too.
Tabi doesn’t like being held, but whenever I walk somewhere, she follows me from behind.
If I go into another room, she follows me there, too.
Sometimes I find myself thinking, “You really don’t have to follow me that closely…”
And when I’m working, before I know it, she has quietly come up behind me and curled herself up for a nap.
Sometimes, I can even hear her little snores.
She also has a habit of suddenly joining my online meetings.
Even when I’m thinking, “Not right now, Tabi!”
…Tabi doesn’t really care. 😄
She doesn’t like being held.
But she wants to be near me.
She wants attention.
But only when she decides it’s time.
She is truly a free spirit.
Sometimes she can be a little troublesome, of course.
But when I watch Tabi, I can’t help thinking, “That’s actually a pretty nice way to live.”
Tabi is always just being Tabi.
(Well, of course she is! 😆)
And today, just like every other day, she is giving it her all—
being a cat.
2026 WIT Testimony – Kota
I am Kota Garvin, one of the leaders of JxJ (Japanese times Jesus) in Seattle. I began serving there during my sophomore year of college at the University of Washington. Because I grew up in an American church and rarely visited Japanese churches, it was the first place where I consistently met with other Japanese Christians. There, I was able to practice my Japanese and make Japanese friends. It was also encouraging to serve in a ministry that had a direct impact on making new disciples of Jesus, which was not the case in other ministries I served in.
When I was invited to WIT by Dustin this year, another leader at JxJ, I was initially hesitant because I didn’t know what to expect or whether I would make friends. After some prayers, I felt led to sign up. When I first arrived, it seemed like everyone knew each other through Japanese church connections or EC. But I eventually got to know everyone, and they were all very friendly. One of the most fun parts was laughing together as we played different icebreaker games and putting together a skit about Daniel 3.
The biggest way I saw the Spirit work through that weekend was how he used others to encourage me. Since JxJ was the only Japanese group I was a part of, I could only see the small contribution that we were having on ministering to Japan. But throughout the retreat, I was able to hear how so many ministries across the US were helping other Japanese to find Jesus, and the Spirit opened my eyes to His broader plan. I felt comfortable sharing the challenges of our ministry because the other WIT participants had gone through similar struggles, and they were able to share ideas.
The experience I had at WIT reflected our studies on Daniel 3 about facing the furnace with fellow believers. The retreat refueled my passion for helping Japanese people in the U.S. to experience the love of Christ.