Tokyo Lighthouse Church

Tokyo Lighthouse Church was founded as “Tokyo youth Center” in Shimomaruko, Ota-ku in January 1963. Church of God Youth Department in U.S.A. raised the fund for this center.

In 1966, KazumotoYatsuzuka was appointed to be the Pastor and restarted as “Shimomaruko Zion Chruch.”Since then, Pastor Yatsuzuka and the faithful members laid the foundation of this church. They started children’s ministry, youth ministry and college age ministry. Because of the increase of young people and their children, the former church building became full. So they reformed the first floor of church building in 1976, then the second floor in 1984, and the third floor in 1992 as well. For many years they prayed the Lord to have lager facilities. The Lord heard their prayers and opened the door to build “Tokyo Light house Church” in 2002.

Tokyo Light house Church has been growing effectively, and in May 2010, they have acquired the land next to our church located in front of national road for building larger parking lot and multipurpose space for the young people in Yaguchi community. In December, Pastor Kazumoto, who had strived many years for church-building, retired and took his post to be the adviser. Also he nominated his son, Eriya to the senior Pastor.

Profile

Eriya Yatsuzuka is the National Overseer of the Japan Church of God, and he also serves as the Senior Pastor of the Tokyo Lighthouse Church. He is married to Yuka, and they have two sons and a daughter.

In 1966, he was born as the son of Pastor Yatsuzuka the founder of his church. When he was 18 years old, he committed his life to the Lord. He studied psychology as his under degree, and he worked for Japanese companies as an engineer. He graduated both the Covenant Seminary in Japan and the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland Tennessee in the U.S.

He studied Christian Formation and Discipleship as his master degree, and His focus has been youth ministries and the next generations. And he has served as the Youth Pastor in his church and the Youth Director of Japan Church of God for many years. He has served as a main speaker at youth camp meetings. And he also encouraged the churches and the pastors to equip and train the next generations.

His heart is always for Japan and it’s revival. He started the “Revival For Students” passionate camp meeting for college students in 1989. He and his fellow pastors started “J+Passion” the revival meeting for young adults in 2001. He also started newest church in Otsuchi town where there was no Christian church before the NE Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. He is the board member of the Japan Pentecostal Fellowship and the Japan Pentecostal Counsel.