Introducing the Mehns

Biographical Sketches

for printed bulletins, verbal announcements, media pieces

John and Elaine Mehn: Converge WorldWide (BGC) -International Ministries, BGC Japan Mission

John and Elaine Mehn have served as BGC missionaries in Japan since 1985 with the primary ministry of cross-cultural church planting, direct evangelism and outreach, mobilization and equipping for church planting, leadership development, and spiritual renewal mentoring. (For more information on their current ministries click here.)

Since 1985 they have lived in the world’s largest city: Tokyo. Currently they live in Machida City, a large suburb of Tokyo with nearly 500,000 people (For address or contact information click here). Their home, in addition to their residence, is the headquarters for the BGC Japan Mission, the operations center for the Church Planting Institute (CPI), and a renewal center for women in ministry called The Spring.

John and Elaine Mehn have two children, Tim and Beth, who are living in northern Illinois.

John and Elaine Mehn Biographical Descriptions

John became a Christian when he was 17. He was discipled in college and was involved in leadership with Campus Crusade as a student at Northern Illinois University.  After an internship in church planting, he attended Trinity Seminary and received a M.Div. degree from the School of World Missions and Evangelism.  He pastored a Baptist General Conference (BGC) church in a transitional neighborhood in Chicago for about 3 years.  He also was a short-term missionary in the Philippines.

After arrival in Japan in 1985, he has been involved in church planting with the BGC.  Currently he is the director of the JEMA (Japan Evangelical Missionary Association) CPI (Church Planting Institute), a network of over 120 organizations committed to church planting movements.  CPI mobilizes and trains foreign missionaries and Japanese church planters for church planting movements and spiritual renewal.  To date over 2,500 different leaders have been trained by CPI.

John cooperates with the Japan Baptist Church Association (Rengo), and works in evangelizing the un-reached urban masses in Japan.  John is the Field Coordinator for the BGC Japan Mission.  He also coaches and trains local pastors and church planters. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry in Missiology degree at Trinity Seminary researching leadership for reproducing churches.

John loves science fiction, ice skating, stamp collecting, and the city of Chicago (hometown).  Favorite foods: veal parmigiana (US) and barbecue eel (Japan).

Elaine became a Christian after college.  She has a BA in education and theatre/speech. She worked as a director of a Christian day care center at her home church near Chicago.  She has also done some graduate seminary work and served as a short-term missionary in the Philippines.  After arrival in Japan in 1985 she has been involved in church planting ministries with the BGC.  She has been primarily working with women in Bible studies, craft and cooking classes.  At present her main ministry focus is mentoring women in spiritual renewal. Elaine has published a book of devotionals called Thoughts Along the Way, which is available at www.GOspelRest.com or through Amazon.com . She also writes and sends out weekly devotions by e-mail.  Elaine has also been instrumental in establishing LeadNET coaching groups for Japanese pastors’ wives.

Elaine loves cooking, reading, handicrafts and walking. She is married to John and they have two adult children.

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