Japan, a country surrounded by beautiful mountains, was blessed by the faith of brave Christian brothers and sisters who decided to risk it all to be the first to bring Christ’s message of love and forgiveness to Japan.

    In 1549, Francis Xavier was the first missionary to Japan. Under his ministry, many were converted and the church grew rapidly. But Japanese officials saw Christians as a threat, and severe persecution began. The opposition to Christianity grew like a jagged mountain against the skies of Japan, overshadowing the believers below. In cities like Unzen, Christians were boiled in volcanic lava. Others were crucified on wooden crosses in the town of Nagasaki. Japanese soldiers rounded up all known Christians in 1637, around thirty thousand of them, and killed each one.
    Following this, the church went underground in hopes of protecting those who managed to survive. The church struggled for several years. However, by God’s grace the church survived. Faithful missionaries did not stop coming. They heard about the mountainous persecution and answered the call to minister to the few faithful believers who were left.
    Japan now has 1.7 million active Christians, and the church is adding believers everyday. Xavier and the modern missionaries represent the faith of a mustard seed that moved a mountain of opposition so a nation could be changed.

Life is full of obstructed views. Believers often face a mountain of opposition from worldly family members who don’t accept their beliefs. Many Christians come across the Alps of atheism in the workplace. Towering peaks of persecution from their own governments overshadow believers in restricted nations. However, a beautiful view is just beyond each mountain of opposition that faces the church today. The scene is of thousands of men, women, and children who hunger for the gospel. Faith can clear the way for others to be saved. Many Christians before you have been persecuted to demonstrate that truth. Will you continue their work with a faith that can move mountains? What mountain of opposition will you focus on today?