Hello! My name is Mark Burgat and I am a missionary with Youth With a Mission (YWAM). I have received a calling from the Lord to serve the nation of Japan full time. This Give Send Go campaign will be one way you can help out with that mission, by helping me pay my monthly expenses. However, since I have not launched yet, I will also need to pay for other things like moving expenses and visa fees.

By partnering with me via donating to this campaign, you will get me one step closer to doing the work that God has called me to in the land of the rising sun. I plan to launch shortly after this campaign's goal is met. To those who choose to give to this campaign, I thank you. God bless you all

-Mark

WHY JAPAN?

From Childhood, and even into adulthood, I've had an interest in the east asian countries. I've been to South Korea, where I intend to do short term missions, multiple times. In late 2023 I took my first trip to Japan and made friends there fast, thus intensifying my love for the region and its people. After connecting with with Missionaries from YWAM, I felt that this is where God had placed my heart and signed up for a DTS in my hometown of Kansas City, which I have completed this past February.

Japan's history with the Gospel is a turbulant one, as it was somewhat accepted at it's introduction to the country in 1547 but was banned by the Shogun in 1587 and it would not be legal to worship the Lord for another 250 years. Since it's legalization, however, Japanese Christians only make up 1% of the population. The reasons for this is various but among them include pressure from society to be Japanese, this includes not adhering to what is perceived as a foreign religion. It is also said that many Japanese do accept Jesus but they believe in infinite gods, so Jesus is simply one more god for them to accept.

Despite the difficulty, some friends that are already on mission there tell me that the harvest is ripe, and I have been asking the Lord to make me part of the effort to reap it. He has been putting things in motion for this to happen and he almost has me at my final destination.

Even if you cannot donate to me, please pray for the nation of Japan itself. That the people there will be receptive of the Gospel and open their hearts to Jesus.