This week’s City by Designated by Government Ordinance (CDGO) highlight is Fukuoka City. Fukuoka is a port city on the norther part of Kyushu Island and has a population of about 1.5 million people. With the metropolitan population bringing the total to 2.5 million, Fukuoka is indeed a key city in need of the Gospel. Yet with this many people, a quick online search yields 15 Baptist churches, or one church for every 16000 people. Since most churches in Japan easily average less than 100 people, the need for Gospel presence is quite obvious.
Fukuoka sometimes comes up in Japanese history as one of the cities Francis Xavier travelled through during his visit to Japan. Francis Xavier, though historically considered the first missionary to Japan, was actually a Catholic missionary who sought to spread Catholicism in Japan.
If you ever wish to visit Fukuoka, there are several flights that will take you directly to the city from Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Unfortunately, if you are flying from Atlanta (which happens to be Fukuoka’s sister city), there are no direct flights.
Whether you ever set foot in Fukuoka or not, will you pray for this city or great spiritual need?