God created us for relationships. From our first breath, we reach for connection—to be seen, to be loved, to belong. Around the world, people seek connection in various ways. In Japan, this longing has taken on unique forms: paid companions, synthetic partners and screens that promise closeness but leave us lonelier. Others turn to technology, attempting to build bonds with AI. These attempts reveal a deep ache: a generation yearning for intimacy, but unsure where to truly find it.

Why do we look for connection in these places? Because belonging is not optional—it is part of how God designed us. To be human is to be relational. We long for love, affirmation and shared life. Yet when our search leads us to substitutes, we are left with shallow ties that cannot satisfy the soul.

Blaise Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the Creator.” Our hearts were designed for the kind of closeness only He can provide. When that space is filled with substitutes, loneliness remains.

Jesus offers what every human soul craves: genuine intimacy with the One who knows us fully and loves us completely. He calls us His friends (John 15:15). He promises never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Out of that relationship flows the ability to connect deeply with others—not from emptiness, but from wholeness.

This is the hope I long to share with the people of Japan: that true love, true belonging and true connection are found in Christ. In a culture where synthetic relationships can be rented, Jesus offers an authentic love that is free, faithful and forever.

As I prepare to serve in Japan, I invite you to join me. Your monthly support will help carry this message of connection to a nation searching for intimacy. Together, we can point people to the Creator who craves a relationship with each of His children.

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