Joy Snodgrass
Hajimemashite, or nice to meet you. My name is Joy Snodgrass, just a normal person (well, I maybe slightly stranger than most), but one saved by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is good!
Growing up in a Christian home, for as long as I can remember I have heard about the amazing grace and love of God. And even though I did pray through a small children’s tract at the age of five, accepting Christ into my little heart, it wasn’t until later in my teens that the reality—the true wonder—of the God of Heaven and Earth’s love, for all people, even for one such as myself, began to crack through this hard head of mine. After struggling through sudden and scary health issues within my family, fighting an eating disorder in my own life, and then facing the darkness of despair, I experienced the love of Jesus anew because I know it was He who held onto me and pulled me through; He never gives up on those He calls His own, nor will He cast them aside, despite their many failings. And so, I can confidently say that if weren’t for Jesus, then I would not be alive today. This world, though created good and lovely, is broken and tarnished by the consequences of sin. There is no true, lasting hope or meaning to the pain of life apart from Jesus. The hope of Jesus saved me, and now “the love of Christ compels” me, constrains me to share the good news of Jesus to those who are still lost in darkness (2 Cor. 5:14).
Japan is known to many as ‘the land of the rising sun.’ But the “Son’s” light still has yet to reach the hearts of more than 98% of the Japanese. Nearly 9 years ago, the Lord placed in my heart a passion for Japan. The Lord loves the Japanese, and so if I follow His heart, I must seek to reach them for God’s Kingdom.
I have been on three separate short-term trips to Japan with the Christar Family. Currently, I work at Christar’s main office as a receptionist, as I prayerfully pursue returning to serve in Japan long-term. My prayer is to be light for Christ wherever He leads, for He is good and worthy of all!
Growing up in a Christian home, for as long as I can remember I have heard about the amazing grace and love of God. And even though I did pray through a small children’s tract at the age of five, accepting Christ into my little heart, it wasn’t until later in my teens that the reality—the true wonder—of the God of Heaven and Earth’s love, for all people, even for one such as myself, began to crack through this hard head of mine. After struggling through sudden and scary health issues within my family, fighting an eating disorder in my own life, and then facing the darkness of despair, I experienced the love of Jesus anew because I know it was He who held onto me and pulled me through; He never gives up on those He calls His own, nor will He cast them aside, despite their many failings. And so, I can confidently say that if weren’t for Jesus, then I would not be alive today. This world, though created good and lovely, is broken and tarnished by the consequences of sin. There is no true, lasting hope or meaning to the pain of life apart from Jesus. The hope of Jesus saved me, and now “the love of Christ compels” me, constrains me to share the good news of Jesus to those who are still lost in darkness (2 Cor. 5:14).
Japan is known to many as ‘the land of the rising sun.’ But the “Son’s” light still has yet to reach the hearts of more than 98% of the Japanese. Nearly 9 years ago, the Lord placed in my heart a passion for Japan. The Lord loves the Japanese, and so if I follow His heart, I must seek to reach them for God’s Kingdom.
I have been on three separate short-term trips to Japan with the Christar Family. Currently, I work at Christar’s main office as a receptionist, as I prayerfully pursue returning to serve in Japan long-term. My prayer is to be light for Christ wherever He leads, for He is good and worthy of all!