We invite you to explore current missions opportunities in MUP Japan! Many of the current long-term, mid-term, and short-term opportunities are listed in the links to the right.
- Long-term service ranges from 1 year to a lifetime.
- Mid-term service is from 3 months to a year.
- Short-term service is for 1 week to 90 days.
Short-term Opportunities
IntroductionWe are glad you are exploring short-term missions with MUP Japan! (For those seeking a longer-term opportunity, see the separate emid-termf and elong-termf listings). Opportunities are not limited to summer; many opportunities exist throughout the year. In addition to formally listed opportunities, there are ministries willing to respond to initiatives proposed by short-term candidates interested in coming to Japan for fact-finding or work trips. In addition, those needing to meet internship requirements set out by educational programs may also find fruitful opportunities in Japan.
Must be a committed Christian. Unless otherwise indicated, the minimum age for short-term service in Japan is 20 years old as of when your plane lands (the age of legal adulthood in Japan). Applications from adults of all ages—young people, mid career, or retirees—are welcome. For further information on requirements, please email one of the contact people listed below.
Japanese immigration law prohibits people from traveling in Japan on a tourist visa with the intent of engaging in activities resulting in personal financial gain. In keeping with this visa regulation, it is not possible for ministries to promise a salary for work performed. For example, fees (if any) associated with English classes or other activities conducted while traveling about on a tourist visa must not be thought of as onefs personal income but rather income contributed to the local ministry. In short, applicants must come with the assumption they may need to pay for all personal transportation, living, and ministry expenses.
Current Positions
Pioneer Church Planting in Rural Japan
Mid-term Opportunities
IntroductionWe are glad you are exploring mid-term missions with MUP Japan! Below are links to descriptions of many of the current mid-term opportunities for individuals and groups in MUP Japan. Individuals and small groups are especially encouraged to apply. The length of mid-term trips varies from 3 months to 1 year. Most opportunities are not limited to a set start date. In addition to those listed below, there may be other unlisted opportunities, and customized mid-term trips are sometimes possible. For those needing to meet ministry internship requirements, this is often possible to accommodate.
Must be a committed Christian and unless otherwise indicated, the minimum age for short-term service in Japan is 20 years old as of when your plane lands (the age of legal adulthood in Japan). Applications from adults of all ages—young people, mid career, or retirees—are welcome. For further information on requirements please email one of the contact people listed below.
Opportunities are all volunteer positions. Thus, you must raise all the support needed. In rare cases, free or reduced cost housing and/or kitchen access may be available for some mid-term workers.
Depending on your visa status and the needs of the ministry you are serving, it may or may not be possible for a mid-termer to earn limited income from activities conducted in Japan. Unless otherwise agreed upon, you should assume any income from English classes, weddings, or other activities of mid-termers will go to the local ministry in Japan, not to the mid-termer. However, especially for those coming for nearly a year, it may be possible to arrange supplemental income-generating tentmaking opportunities.
Mid-termers should plan on raising at least esurvivalf level support unless a firm tentmaking opportunity has been arranged prior to arrival and is compatible with your visa and ministry assignment. Note: Canadian citizens may be able to come up to 6 months under a working holiday visa in some cases. This may allow additional flexibility in tentmaking.
Current Positions
Pioneer Church Planting Intern in Rural Japan
Long-term Opportunities
IntroductionWe are glad you are exploring long-term missions with MUP Japan! Below are links to descriptions of many of the current long-term opportunities in MUP Japan. For application purposes, long-term service is defined as greater than 1 year up to a lifetime. Most long-term opportunities are not limited to a set start and completion date. In addition to those listed below, there may be other unlisted opportunities such as placement with a Japanese pastor or a worker within another agency. Unless otherwise stated, most openings are equally suitable for a single man or woman, a couple, or a family, though non-Japanese language educational options for children are limited in many locations. MUP long-term missionaries serve throughout Japan in a variety of ministry contexts including church planting, pasturing, performing weddings, teaching English, teaching and administrating Christian schools and assisting established Japanese churches in various ways. New missionaries coming into the field are placed with existing MUP led ministries or are seconded to a Japanese church or another mission.
Requirements
Must be a committed Christian. Though not a formal requirement of MUP, for many tent making opportunities, a BA or BS degree is highly desirable or required. Young people are therefore encouraged to finish a university degree prior to becoming long-term missionaries. Applications from adults of all ages—young people, mid career, or retirees—are welcome. For further information on requirements, please email one of the contact people listed below.
Support
Opportunities are all volunteer positions. There are four ways to meet the financial requirements for living and ministry in Japan: a) raise full support; b) raise partial support and supplement this through tent making (usually teaching English or conducting weddings); c) provide for all your needs via tent making (in this case, you need to find a tent making situation either through which or outside of which you will have sufficient time, energy, and opportunity to carry out ministry); d) self support through a pension or other personal resources. The budget needed can be customized within a reasonable range (e.g., at least survival level, but not more than what is appropriate for a missionary). There is no set level that must be raised; this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Current Positions
Pioneer Church Planting Team Member in Rural Japan
Vocational Affiliate Program
The vocational affiliate program is for Christians working in Japan or planning to work in Japan in full time secular positions or other situations that may prevent them from being fully focused on ministry, but who nonetheless have a heart for outreach. It provides an opportunity for loose affiliation with a mission agency for fellowship, networking, mutual encouragement, advice, and some accountability.
Depending on your location, it may be possible for you to eplug inf directly to assist in an ongoing MUP ministry. MUP missionaries are currently serving in Nagano, Karuizawa, the greater Tokyo-Yokohama area, Shizuoka Prefecture, the greater Osaka region, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shikoku (Kagawa Prefecture), and Northern Kyushu. In other locations, your connection might be more distant, including but not limited to the annual MUP Japan conference. For more information on the vocational affiliate program, contact the MUP Japan director.
Contact Us
For general Japan inquiries or to inquire about a specific opening contact one of the following:
- Primary Contact: MUP Japan Area Director Lonnie Dufty at
- Additional Contact: Dawn Birkner at