Our staff
James Ballinger
Director
James first came to Japan in 2009 as a missionary with OMF. After language study in Sapporo, he served at Morioka Bible Baptist Church until 2014. He has since served as a Pastor of churches in London and Christchurch, New Zealand. James has a passion for preaching and training people.
James holds degrees in Economics and Management (MA) and in Theology (BA) from Oxford University and an MA in Theology from Oak Hill Theological College where the focus of his dissertation was on Biblical Counseling.
James is married to Charley and they have four children. They are sent to Japan by UK based organisation, Japan Christian Link.
Makito Miyashita
Associate Director
Makito was born to a father from Southern Nagano and a mother from Sydney Australia, both of whom are from Christian families, and was
named after Psalm 23 with the prayer that "The Lord is my shepherd" would be true of him.
Makito grew up in Chiba, and studied education and psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney. After graduating, he worked as a school teacher at a K-6 school in Sydney. Having interned at a Japanese church, he completed his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology at Moore Theological College in
Sydney. Since then he has been active as an itinerant preacher, a staff worker with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, a translator of
Christian literature and a ministry and administrative assistant at his
church.