Dr. Taylor Hartley teaches while Himeji Baptist Church’s associate pastor, Masahiro Haruta, translates.

 

If you attended the recent Asia Baptist Network Leadership Conference in Yokohama, Japan, you couldn’t miss the impact of Taylor Hartley’s engaging sessions. As Editorial Director of 9Marks, Hartley didn’t just deliver lectures—he brought fundamental church concepts to life through four dynamic sessions, all with Japanese translation.

Starting with the fundamental question, “What is a church?” Hartley used everyday language and relatable examples to unpack complex ideas. “A church is a group of baptized Christians who regularly gather to proclaim the gospel, affirm one another’s faith through the ordinances, and live together as the family of God,” he explained, setting the foundation for everything that followed.

Even through translation, Taylor’s warm, conversational style kept everyone engaged as he tackled church membership, mission, and leadership. He didn’t shy away from challenging topics but addressed them with biblical conviction and a pastor’s heart.

Conference attendees particularly appreciated Hartley’s practical wisdom. Rather than getting lost in theological abstractions, he consistently brought discussions back to real-life church situations that resonated with leaders from all 38 churches present.

His 9Marks experience shone through as he connected with pastors and leaders across cultural contexts. Whether you were taking notes furiously or just soaking it all in, Hartley’s sessions provided both the “why” and “how” of building healthy churches throughout Asia—precisely what church leaders needed to hear.