“Fruit of Prayers and Evangelism”
Rev. Mochida connected with Rev. Richard E. Systma while at Synod 2019. The two served together in Japan to plant churches.
Dale Kuiper, Back to God Ministries International
When fellow members of the Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ) asked Rev. Hirotsugu Mochida to attend Synod 2019 as an ecumenical guest, he bought his plane tickets before it was even approved officially.
“If they would have decided to send someone else, I would have come on my own anyways,” said Mochida, speaking through an interpreter.
Mochida’s eagerness to represent his denomination at the CRCNA’s annual meeting of delegates comes as a result of his deep gratitude for the years of mission work done in Japan by the CRCNA’s mission agencies-- mission work that ultimately brought Mochida to faith in Christ.
The Second Son in Numanzu
Much of Mochida’s faith journey that led him to the floor of Synod 2019 reveals itself just in his first name, Hirotsugu.
“My parents took me to a Buddhist priest to give me this name,” says Mochida, who grew up in Numazu, a city near Mt. Fuji. “A lot of boys that year had ‘Hiro’ in their name because it was the name of the emperor.”
The second part of his name, “sugu” means “second son.” Because Mochida was not the first son in his family, he had more freedom to explore the Christian faith.
Listening to the Word
Mochida began listening to Back to God Ministries International’s radio broadcast in Japan in middle school when his father became sick.
“I was searching for the voice of my heavenly father at that time,” said Mochida. “If I had been the firstborn son, that would have been a big deal, but because I was second-born, and because I was just listening to the Word and not going to church, it was okay with my family.”
Mochida’s father’s health continued to deteriorate and later his mother also became sick.
Eventually, the pain of trying to help his two ailing parents became too much for Mochida to bear on his own. After hearing a particularly moving message on the radio from a listener who wrote into BTGMI’s program, Mochida felt compelled to visit the church that he had been passing by every day on the way back from visiting his mother.
Gaining Peace
At the church, Mochida met Rev. Richard D. and Dorothy Sytsma, who were serving alongside the RCJ with Resonate Global Mission (then Christian Reformed World Missions) to plant churches.
Mochida brought the Sytsmas to tears with his story, and their compassionate response soon led Mochida to take the next step in his faith, attending their church and getting baptized by Richard.
Mochida’s faith only grew from there. He attended Bible school and Kobe Seminary to prepare for his many roles in service with the RCJ over the years, and eventually, to Synod 2019.
“I am the fruit of your prayers and evangelism. Thank you!” Mochida shared on the floor of Synod.
Interview with Rev. Mochida took place in Japanese, with interpretation provided by Rev. Richard E. Systma
