Sunday Highlight: September 20, 2026
Phillip and Ashley Irwin are church planters racing around Japan’s third-largest city, known as the “kitchen of Japan.” But for them, Osaka is a place where they’re cooking up creative ways to share the Gospel.
Japan is home to the second-largest unreached people group in the world. In a nation known for technology and innovation, most people have never heard the simple message of Jesus.
The Irwins partner with local churches to host language exchange events and video game parties, anything that opens doors for Gospel conversations. They’ve learned that building relationships comes first in Japanese culture.
Beyond Osaka, Phillip and Ashley also serve on the International Mission Board’s Student Strategy Team. They split their time between university ministry and leading short-term mission trips for young adults across 16 countries in the Asian Pacific Rim. These trips focus on discipleship and living out the Great Commission.
Our church supports the Irwins through the Cooperative Program, which helps fund IMB missionaries around the world. Pray for open hearts in Japan and for Phillip and Ashley to run their race with endurance and joy.
Downloads for this Sunday
Thank you for learning more about the ways your church’s gifts through the Cooperative Program are the financial fuel for reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation. Connect the offering plate to the mission field with “52 Sundays” resources.