WELCOME TO
Japan Evangelical Lutheran Oe Church
(Nihon Fukuin Ruteru Oe Kyokai)
We are a church practising the love of Christ,
and standing firmly in the tradition of the Lutheran church
and the principles of the Reformation.
WORSHIP
at Oe Chapel
Every Sunday 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
at Uto Branch Chapel
Every Saturday 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Everyone is welcome. (All worship services are in Japanese language.)
Order of worship in English is available.
COMMUNITY
English Conversation Club
7:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m., Every Wednesday at Oe Chapel
We welcome English speakers! Join us!
Bible Study (in Japanese language)
at Oe Chapel - 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 4th Thursday
at Uto Chapel - 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., 1st Thursday
Everyone is welcome.
OUR PASTOR
Rev. Satoshi MORITA
- Born in Tokyo in 1986
- Graduated from Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary
- Worked as a pastor at Lutheran Shinreizan Church and as a chaplain at Denmark Pastures Social Welfare Community in Shizuoka from 2018
- Working as a pastor of Lutheran Oe Church from 2021
"Unusually for a young pastor in Japan, I have no Christians in my family, and I was not educated in mission schools. Nevertheless, I was baptized and became a pastor. God really does work in mysterious ways. So I, too, hope to form a church where those who have not yet come to church can take the first step."
HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH
Our mission started as the church of Kyushu Gakuin, a Lutheran school established by Rev. Charles L. Brown D.D., in 1921. We later became independent and changed our name to 'Lutheran Oe Church', took from the town's name. In Oe district, there are many schools and cultural facilities. Soho Tokutomi, a christian journalist, lived in Oe and educated his students at his home as a private school called Oe Gijuku. We serve people with the love of Christ and preach the gospel in this historical and academic town.
Our History
1909 Established Kumamoto Lutheran Seminary in Oe, Kumamoto.
1911 Established Kyushu Gakuin Lutheran School in Oe, Kumamoto.
1921 Formed Kyushu Gakuin Church in Kyushu Gakuin Lutheran School
1925 Dedicated C. L. Brown D.D. Memorial Chapel
1930 The name of church is changed to "Oe Church."
1966 Dedicated the present church building
1991 70th anniversary worship
2012 Visiting group from Lutheran Church of the Resurrection comes to Japan.
Becomes a sister church
2015 Installed Bosch GmbH pipe organ in the chapel
2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, Disaster relief activity
2017 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's Reformation
2021 100th anniversary (The anniversary worship is postponed due to COVID-19.)
2022 100th anniversary worship
CONTACT US / VISIT US
OE Chapel
4-20-23 Oe, Chuo-ku,
Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto. 862-0971
UTO Branch Chapel
1-67 Honmachi,
Uto-shi, Kumamoto. 869-0431