J.O.Y. Clubs

About the founder

Joy Tani is a Japanese American woman, born and raised in Southern California.  She graduated from Bible College in 1987 and arrived in Japan as a full-time missionary in 1995, after completing her Missions Training, and immediately began working to help plant churches.  She is a gracious and loving woman who has a special gift with children of al ages.  Since going to Japan she truly believes she is called to the mission field for the rest of her life.  She is viewed as one of the most effective and loved missionaries to those who have had the privilege of working with her and for her.  She currently resides in the greater Tokyo area.

How and why J.O.Y. Clubs began

Encouraging people to come to a Christian church in Japan, or to even stop and listen to the gospel is very difficult -- almost impossible in this culture where Christians are less than 1% of the population.  Inviting the unsaved to church has been, in the past, almost completely non-effective.  Most unsaved Japanese are afraid of the Christian church and even entering the actual building has been a fearful obsession to most Japanese.  Many who come to Christ are excommunicated from their entire family because of their religious beliefs so the decision to accept Jesus as Savior is truly life changing in more ways than you or I could ever imagine.

Joy soon learned and immersed herself in the culture and because of her genuine love and compassion for the people, she would daily fall on her face and pray for the way to impact Japan with the gospel.  God responded to her cry for help with a God-given idea and plan that would be more effective than she could ever imagine.  He gave her the idea to start what is now called J.O.Y. Clubs.  J.O.Y. Clubs teach the English language to children while incorporating Bible stories and the love and joy of Jesus as part of the curriculum.  It has become on the most successful and effective plans to bring the world into the church.  Not only do J.O.Y. Clubs help pay for the expenses of the church but it attracts approximately 120 children (not including their parents - guardians - grandparents) a week into the church.  This is staggering when the Christian church in Japan is averaging 15 people in their attendance.  There is a waiting list to attend one of her classes.  They are seeing salvations, healings and so many lives touched and changed by our Lord and Savior!

J.O.Y. Clubs have been a wonderful and welcomed surprise to many missionaries, pastors and ministry leaders that have had the opportunity to hear and experience what she is doing.  Due to the demand by the people of Japan, Joy Tani desperately needs more teacher-missionaries to continue this amazing outreach!

The vision

1. To establish J.O.Y. Clubs all over Japan and the world
2. To help the local church grow and bring in the lost
3. To help finance the local church
4. To effectively teach the English language to children from 3-12 years old.
5. To provide bible studies and outreaches to the parents, family and friends of the students.