About Us
New City Church Makuhari is an international community of Christians who worship God, encourage each other, and seek the good of their city, located in Makuhari, Japan. Our leadership team is dedicated to serving the church family and helping people grow in their faith.
We believe the ideal model of church leadership is a plurality of male leaders who are biblically qualified according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Jesus Christ is the head of His church, and pastors (also called "elders") are responsible for leading the church by shepherding the flock, guarding the church's doctrine, and equipping the members for ministry (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:11; Titus 1:5).
Our pastors share responsibility for teaching, shepherding, prayer, and mission. While they serve together as elders, each pastor brings particular gifts and areas of emphasis within the life of the church.
Our Core Beliefs
The convictions that shape our life, worship, and mission together
We are Gospel-centered.​
We believe the Gospel is not only the entry point of the Christian life but the foundation for sanctification, mission, and community. It shapes everything we do.
(Romans 1:16–17; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:28)
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We believe in the Triune God.
We believe in one God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God lives eternally in loving relationship within Himself and accomplishes His work of salvation through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
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​We are grace-based.
We affirm that salvation is by sovereign grace. God elects, calls, regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies His people, all to the praise of His glorious grace.
(Ephesians 1:4–6; Romans 8:29–30)
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We believe salvation is by faith in Christ alone.
We believe that salvation is not earned by human effort or good works, but is received by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is God’s gift, given by grace.
(Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 3:28)
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We believe in God's unified redemptive plan.
We believe the Bible tells a single, unfolding story of redemption centered on Jesus Christ. God’s covenant promises to His people are fulfilled in Christ and now extend to all who are united to Him by faith—Jew and Gentile alike. The Church is not a parenthesis in God’s plan but the continuation of His redemptive work through Christ. We read all of Scripture with a Christ-centered lens, seeing the unity of God’s purposes throughout history.
(Ephesians 2:11-22; Galatians 3:28-29; Luke 24:27; John 5:39)
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We see a progression in God's story.
We see continuity between Israel and the Church, but affirm the Church as the new covenant people of God. We do not affirm systems that divide God’s redemptive plan into separate destinies for Israel and the Church. We believe the Church is the fulfillment—not the replacement—of God’s promises to His people, brought together in Christ as one new humanity.
(Ephesians 2:15)
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We believe the Bible is God’s Word.
We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and is the final authority for our faith and life. Through Scripture, God reveals His truth and leads us to Jesus Christ.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
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We see Christ in all of Scripture.
We affirm the principle of New Testament Priority in interpreting the Bible. While all of Scripture is inspired, authoritative, and essential (2 Timothy 3:16), the New Testament offers the clearest revelation of God’s redemptive plan and serves as the key to understanding the Old Testament. Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets, and His life, death, and resurrection reveal the true meaning of earlier Scripture (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27, 44-45; John 5:39). The Old Testament provides the necessary foundation, but its promises and patterns find their fulfillment in the New Covenant through Christ (Hebrews 8:6–13; Galatians 3:23-29). The Church—made up of Jews and Gentiles united to Christ—is the heir of God’s promises (Ephesians 2:11-22; Romans 2:28-29). Therefore, we interpret the whole Bible in light of Christ and His gospel, trusting in the unity and progressive unfolding of God’s saving work.
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We are congregationalists, led by a plurality of pastors.
Our church is governed by a plurality of qualified pastors with congregational involvement in major decisions, including the placement of our own pastors. We believe this promotes both accountability and biblical leadership.
(Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1–3)
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We are Baptistic.
We are a Baptist church that values believer’s baptism based on a personal confession of faith, and a church made up of believers. We believe that the church is a community of people who trust in Jesus Christ and have willingly gathered together.
(Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3–4)
At the same time, we seek to cooperate with other Gospel-centered churches and Christians for the advance of the Gospel and the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
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We are complementarian.
We believe that men and women are equal in dignity and worth but distinct in roles. The office of pastor is limited to qualified men, while both men and women are encouraged to serve in ministry.
(1 Timothy 2:12–13; 1 Corinthians 11:3)
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We are missional.
​We believe every member is a missionary. We live as a Gospel family on mission, making disciples in the everyday rhythms of life. We plant churches that plant churches.
(Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8)
What is a Local Church?
The local church is a group of baptized believers covenanted together in faith and fellowship, marked by the right preaching of God’s word and proper administration of the ordinances. The local church is also a community. The Christian faith is not something we are supposed to do alone. Without a community, we cannot function effectively as a Church. We all have our part to play in the body of Christ. We all have spiritual gifts given by God for the edification of the Church so that we may be effective for the cause of Jesus Christ. Our community is a place where, through authentic and transparent relationships, we build each other up, sharpen one another, and share in each other’s joy and suffering. Doing life together demonstrates our love for one another, and through this love, all will know that we are Jesus’ disciples.
What is a Healthy Local Church?
A healthy local church will be marked by the following characteristics: (1) members who are fruit-bearing believers in Jesus, (2) united by a shared faith in him and submitted to his lordship and Word, (3) baptized in obedience to our Lord’s command, (4) meeting locally at regular and stated times, (5) building each other up with their gifts, (6) led by trained and qualified pastors who teach sound doctrine, defend the truth, and preach the Word, (7) served by deacons, (8) observing the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper,
(9) carrying out the Great Commission, and
(10) exercising church discipline.
MINISTRY PARTNERS
We are grateful to partner with Gospel-centered networks such as The Pillar Network and City to City Japan as we seek to make disciples and see healthy churches established across Japan.
