Missionaries to Japan

Serving Christ in a spiritually dark culture

We are the Melton family — Nathan, Stephanie, and our four children — sharing the hope of the gospel with the people of Japan through the local church and biblical counseling.

Partner with us Our story

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:16

Nathan, Stephanie, and their four children

Our Story

A family called to Japan

The Meltons have carried the gospel to Japan for three generations. Nathan was raised on the mission field; today he and Stephanie continue that calling with their own children.

Members of the Melton family together at church in Japan

Three generations in Japan

The Melton family has served in Japan since 1964 — a legacy of faithfulness now carried into a new generation.

Pat & Wanda MeltonServing since 1964
Phil & Debbie MeltonServing since 1987
Nathan & Stephanie MeltonServing today

Our calling

Nathan

Raised in Japan serving alongside his parents' ministry
Master's in Biblical Counseling from Bob Jones University
JBCA Director of Biblical Counseling Ministry Development

Stephanie

Multicultural upbringing in New York City
A love for children and a degree in Music Education from Bob Jones University

Together they share a deep passion for missions and a love for the people of Japan.

Why Japan

The largest unreached nation open to missionaries

Japan is one of the world's least-reached nations. Behind its beauty and order lies a deep spiritual darkness and a growing need for the hope of Christ.

95%of Japanese people have never heard the gospel

0.2%of people in Japan attend church

1 : 16,700only one church for every 16,700 people

70the average age of pastors, in years

34%of missionaries have left in the past 20 years

#1largest non-evangelized nation open to missionaries

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
— Romans 1:21

Our Ministry

Serving the local church

We serve in Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, coming alongside local churches through evangelism, discipleship, hospitality, and children's ministry.

New Life Community Christ Church

Serving alongside missionary family Ethan & Michelle Fisher in a small church plant.

Assisting with practical ministry needs
Providing meals and hospitality for church gatherings
Encouraging elderly members through conversation and fellowship
Helping with children's ministry and church activities

Mino-Seki Grace Baptist Church

Assisting my brother-in-law and sister's church through evangelism and discipleship.

Opportunities to preach to the congregation
Providing biblical counseling in Seki through word-of-mouth connections
Helping with children's ministry
Preparing lunch for the congregation
Encouraging fellowship within the church

Biblical Counseling

Japanese Biblical Counseling Association

Nathan serves with the JBCA, a certified training center with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), equipping Christians in Japan to offer Bible-based, Christ-centered care.

The need

No well-established, church-connected biblical counseling centers equipped for Japanese language and culture
Few equipped, native Japanese biblical counselors
Counseling that teaches coping but not heart change
Care that eases pain but misses true gospel healing

Our purpose

As a certified ACBC training center, our purpose is to equip Christians in Japan to provide Bible-based and Christ-centered counseling, and to serve as the national certifying organization for biblical counselors in Japan.

Growing impact

Counseling workshops

8 leaders and sub-leaders
46 participants
Attendees from across Japan and the U.S. (including Hawaii)
Pastors' wives, missionaries, lay counselors, and church members

Book translation

Christ and Your ProblemsJay E. Adams10,000 copies printed
CrosstalkMichael R. Emlet7,000 copies printed
MotivesEdward T. Welch10,000 copies printed

Church-based centers

We are helping plant church-based biblical counseling centers across Japan and training local counselors. Each planted center will have JBCA-certified biblical counselors within the church.

Conferences

We are hosting biblical counseling conferences in Okinawa and Tokyo (May 15–16 & 22–23). Four seasoned counselors will join us to help equip future counselors, and we look forward to the Lord opening doors for many more.

Long-Term Vision

A Restoration Center for Japan

Our long-term vision is to build a Restoration Center — a place of healing, training, and renewal centered on Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit.

A training hub to certify future biblical counselors
Lodging for long-term counseling in more complex cases
Marriage conferences to strengthen and save marriages
A restful retreat for missionaries facing the rigors of the field

A Japanese bowl mended with gold in the kintsugi tradition — a picture of restoration

Our purpose is to develop biblical counseling centers within churches and dedicated retreat centers across Japan — centered on Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit — providing a safe space for healing from trauma and freedom from the spiritual darkness woven into Japan's culture.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us… And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
— Isaiah 9:6

Happening now

On the ground now

In our first months in Japan, the work God called us to is already underway. Here's where things stand today:

Planting a local church

We're church planting in central Japan, sharing the gospel and building up a local body of believers.

Counseling Japanese men and women

Over the past seven months we've already had the opportunity to counsel Japanese people one-on-one.

Evangelism through a counseling conference

We're preparing an evangelistic counseling conference at Chubu Gakuin University (中部学院大学), a Christian college.

Counseling centers with Greg Gifford

Establishing biblical counseling centers across Japan, alongside Greg Gifford, is in the works.

How You Can Help

Partner with us

This work is only possible through partners who pray, send, and share. Would you join us in reaching Japan with the gospel?

Pray

Pray for the people of Japan, for open hearts, and for our family as we serve.

Send

Partner financially to sustain the ministry, our family, and the work of biblical counseling.

Share our story with your church, small group, and friends who love the Great Commission.

Monthly support goal$4,000per month

$800/mo raised so far20% of $4,000 goal

Our monthly support goal covers the full scope of the work God has called us to:

Ministry costs

Counseling training, book translation, conferences, and church support.

Living costs

Day-to-day living for our family of six on the mission field in Japan.

Furlough savings

Setting aside funds to return to the U.S. for furlough and reporting to supporters.

Give / Partner

You'll be taken to our commissioning church's secure giving page. Please select “Melton's Japan Mission” from the fund dropdown.

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you

Whether you'd like to partner with us, invite us to share at your church, or simply say hello — please reach out.

Email us Meltons2Japan@outlook.com