After completing three months of children’s ministry training in South Africa in September 2010, I returned to Japan. In September 2011, I started a worship service for young children at Tokushima Church with Carina van der Watt. At first, we began with just a few children—including Carina and Stéphan’s own two children—experimenting as we went along. Gradually, seekers and Christian parents and children began to gather, and the bilingual (English and Japanese) toddler worship service became a regular event twice a month, under the name Happy Kids.

Our mission partners, Stéphan and Carina, with their warm and friendly personalities, opened their home for meals and various gatherings, inviting many people. Over time, these gatherings deepened relationships, and more families started attending Happy Kids at Tokushima Church. The kids Sunday School room, which was just 10 tatami mats in size (15 square meters), would sometimes be filled with 20 to 30 parents and children, and during Easter and Christmas, the number would grow to 60 or 70 participants (overflowing into the church building).

In Happy Kids, we utilized the materials I had studied in South Africa, sharing the gospel with children through Bible messages, songs, games, and crafts. Carina’s messages were creatively delivered using visual aids and parables, helping children engage with biblical stories through their five senses. Additionally, related songs, crafts, and games reinforced the message, making it easier for the children to understand and enjoy. Through gatherings (including shared meals and a parent support group) and other events, parents also connected with one another, increasing their interest in the church—something we are deeply grateful for.

Though attendance fluctuated over the years, Happy Kids has never stopped. It has continued without interruption for over 14 years, even after Stéphan, Carina and their four children moved to Kobe (in 2016) for teaching at Kobe Reformed Theological Seminary etc. Remarkably, the Lord has continued to provide foreign staff and volunteers, ensuring that the teaching materials brought from South Africa and the methods passed down from Karina are still effectively used in the same format. Every two years, we have also had the joy of welcoming the Van der Watt family back to Tokushima Church for a special Christmas event.

Today, not only toddlers but also middle school students—some of whom have been attending for over ten years—are part of Happy Kids. The older children now help care for the younger ones, and some parents have even started participating in English worship services (where Stéphan also still sometimes preach). Children excited about Happy Kids eagerly invite their school friends by distributing flyers, making the gatherings lively and full of energy.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns over the limited space in the small kids’ room have led us to hold Happy Kids once a month in the main church building. However, balancing this with other gatherings has made it difficult to secure enough space for the children. As a result, for the past few years, we have been praying for a larger, more comfortable new church building that can accommodate both children and the elderly.

Even when we had nothing, simply taking a step forward in faith led to a shared passion for children’s ministry among the church members. God has faithfully provided the necessary space and workers. I am deeply grateful that He sent even someone as small as me to South Africa to witness a wonderful children’s ministry. And that He sent Mission Japan’s partners to support us—including Tobie and Annalie de Wet (who preceded the Van der Watts)— through which He has richly blessed Tokushima Church.

As we move forward, I continue to trust in God’s perfect plans and look forward to seeing how He provides for all our needs, beyond what we could ever imagine.