Kenneth "Kenny" Robert Joseph

Kenny Joseph, long-time missionary to Japan, passed away in Fullerton, California, on January 12, 2017. He was 88 years old. Joseph, who was profiled in biographer Dan Woodings book Gods Ambassadors in Japan, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 30, 1928. Raised in the Presbyterian church, he accepted Christ at a Charles E. Fuller rally held at Soldier Field when he was 17 years old. After attending Moody Bible Institute and Bob Jones University, Joseph traveled to Japan in 1951 at the age of 23, to begin serving as a missionary with TEAM. In 1954, he met fellow-missionary Lila Finsaas, the two were married in 1955, and they served together in Japan before relocating their ministry to the USA in 2012.



Joseph served in numerous capacities in Japan, editing publications that served the missionary community, including Japan Harvest and The Japan Journal, and he later founded and published REAP Magazine, which he published and edited for a decade. He also authored the Japan Missionary Language Handbook first released in 1955 and later re-released in 1982 as Combined Japan Missionary Language Handbook. He was a tireless and enthusiastic advocate of the theory that Christianity arrived in Japan far earlier than commonly understood. He advocated that the Christian faith first appeared in Japan in the second century, not in 1549, when many scholars believe Francis Xavier first brought the Gospel to Japan. He had recently completed his final book, Japans Christian Roots at the time of his passing.



A pioneering missionary who used innovative techniques to spread the Gospel in Japan and Asia, Joseph also promoted what he termed ad-vangelism: buying advertising in secular publications. He later championed the cause of using Christian weddings to promulgate Christianity in Japan, performing them himself and facilitating opportunities for other missionaries to perform them, as well. He was also involved in Bible-smuggling efforts throughout Asia and traveled beyond Japan to countries including Korea, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand, and other nations. He performed the final evangelistic crusades in Viet Nam before the fall of Saigon. In the 1970s, he was involved with anti-Communist organizations in Asia. Since 1976, he pastored Grace Church (Megumi Kyokai) in Tokyo. He is survived by his wife Lila, sister Barbara, and four sons Robert (Bobb), Mark, Ken, and Jim as well as fifteen grandchildren.



Kenny Joseph expressed his love for the Lord by obeying the command to feed His sheep, noted REAP Mission Chairman William F. Turner, who supervised Josephs missionary work since 1978. He ran the race, he kept the faith, and completed his remarkable journey on this earth.



Joseph returned to the USA in 2012 and continued a busy schedule until the end, working on his forthcoming book and conducting speaking engagements. A lifelong Cubs fan who once tried out for the team in high school, he lived to see his beloved team win the World Series. A celebration of life service was held in Southern California on January 21. More information about Kenny Joseph can be found at www.kennyjoseph.org.