{"id":11,"date":"2019-08-07T19:16:23","date_gmt":"2019-08-07T10:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/prm-sv2.jela.or.jp\/en\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2026-06-04T16:53:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T07:53:55","slug":"who-we-are","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jela.or.jp\/en\/who-we-are\/","title":{"rendered":"Who We Are"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chair&#8217;s Message<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jela.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/DSC_2942-3-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-375\" style=\"width:209px;height:209px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jela.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/DSC_2942-3-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jela.or.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/DSC_2942-3-300x300-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The JELA Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve neighbors with the love of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many years, we were an incorporated association called the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Association (known as &#8220;JELA&#8221; for short). In September 2021, we converted to an incorporated foundation. At that time, we decided to change our name to the JELA Foundation, because we wanted to go beyond the boundaries of the Lutheran Church, even though we were born out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal that JELA envisions is the image of the righteous people described in Matthew 25:35-36 of the Bible. That is to say that we strive to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Give food to hungry people,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give drink to thirsty people,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Welcome strangers,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clothe naked people,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look after sick people, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visit people in prison.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We at JELA ourselves engage in activities to do these things, support such activities by others, and foster people who aspire to do such activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>JELA has prepared a sponsorship program called the JELA Supporters program. By this program, you can continuously support JELA through a monthly or yearly donation of a certain amount. The amount can range from 1,000 yen per year (which is feasible even for a high school student!) to 10,000 yen per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please consider participating in JELA&#8217;s mission by becoming a JELA Supporter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shiro Furuya<br>Chair, Board of Directors<br>JELA Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading text-align-center text-decoration-underline\">Our Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"mission-statement\"><strong>We serve<\/strong><br>people in need of help<br>in Japan and around the world<br><strong>with the love of Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading text-align-center text-decoration-underline\">Our Motto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center fade-in is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me &#8230;&#8230; <strong>Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.<\/strong>&#8220;<\/p>\n<cite>Matthew 25:35,36,40<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The JELA Foundation began in 1909 as an association of Lutheran missionaries from the U.S. and as such is one of the oldest NGOs in Japan. At the time, the Japanese government granted permission to carry out mission activities in the areas of education, social welfare and mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded by American missionaries of ELCA predecessor churches, JELA began its work in a day when Japan needed both schools and social services. JELA funding helped establish schools, orphanages and homes for the elderly, and also provided money for the building of dozens upon dozens of Lutheran churches. After World War II and Japan\u2019s climb to affluence, JELA turned its attention to other needy areas of the world, particularly Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>JELA\u2019s Christian mission is to serve all people, regardless of race, nationality or religion.  Our mission is best described in Matthew 25:35-40: &#8220;<em>For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, JELA is engaged in a wide range of programs \u2013 including the support of refugees in Japan, construction of schools and study centers in South Asia, and sending volunteers abroad to help people in need. JELA has established saving children as its special mission. JELA aims to help as many children as possible who suffer from a lack of food, lack of clean water, lack of proper education and lack of adequate health services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>JELA now works with other international Lutheran NGOs to provide necessary aid in India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Brazil, which has a large Japanese immigrant population. Yet, JELA feels no geographical boundaries and will follow God\u2019s calling to serve others anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our People<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Councilors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Tomoko Arakawa<\/td><td>Managing Director, Asian Rural Institute<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Yuki Goto<\/td><td>Pastor, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chitose Sakamoto<\/td><td>Pastor, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Miki Taniguchi<\/td><td>Domestic relations conciliation commissioner, Kumamoto Family Court<br>Human Rights Volunteer (appointed by the Ministry of Justice)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hideaki Nakagawa<\/td><td>Former Senior Programme Officer, UNHCR<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Yuichi Nakajima<\/td><td>Principal, International Christian University High School<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sachiko Fujiwara<\/td><td>Associate Professor, Meiji Gakuin University<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Suguru Matsuki<\/td><td>Representative Director, Wakachiai Project<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Emi Yamauchi<\/td><td>Vice-Director, Bethany Home<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Board of Directors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Board Chair<br>(Representative Director)<\/td><td>Shiro FURUYA<br><\/td><td>Chief of General and Financial Affairs, Soen Gakuen<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Executive Board Member<\/td><td>Shunichiro MATSUOKA<\/td><td>Pastor, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Executive Board Member<\/td><td>Yoichi SUGIMOTO<\/td><td>Director, Seibo Aijien Children&#8217;s Home<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Board Member<\/td><td>Takashi AOKI<\/td><td>Visiting Researcher, Meiji University<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Board Member<\/td><td>Naoki ASANO<\/td><td>Pastor, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Board Member<\/td><td>Hirotaka TOKUHIRO<\/td><td>Pastor, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Board Member<\/td><td>Rika FUKAZAWA<\/td><td>Labor and Social Security Attorney<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Board Member<\/td><td>Lowell GRETEBECK<\/td><td>Ph.D. in International Development, professor of international development and international business<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Board Member<\/td><td>Kaoru WATANABE<\/td><td>Executive Director, JELA Foundation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Auditor<\/td><td>Hiroyuki TAKITA<\/td><td>Pastor, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Auditor<\/td><td>Yamato YASUDA<\/td><td>Member, Women&#8217;s Committee, National Christian Council in Japan<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chair&#8217;s Message The JELA Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve neighbors with the love of Christ. For many years, we were an incorporated association called the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Association (known as &#8220;JELA&#8221; for short). In September 2021, we converted to an incorporated foundation. At that time, we decided to change [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Who We Are - JELA Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jela.or.jp\/en\/who-we-are\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Who We Are - JELA Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chair&#8217;s Message The JELA Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve neighbors with the love of Christ. 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