| Compared with the other districts in Japan, Shikoku has a relatively high number of churches, 328 in all. In fact, all four prefectures in this district have a higher ratio than the national average. Kagawa is second only to Okinawa for the largest number of churches per population in the nation. However, the district growth in number of churches started in the last ten years is the worst in the nation, with only 37 churches added in the past 10 years. 16 of these were started in Kagawa. A number of these new churches were the result of |
efforts by Ralph Cox (TEAM) and his cooperating missionaries. He has been able to begin these churches and then successfully turn them over to Japanese pastors. During the Meiji era, the missionaries from the Southern Presbyterian Church (USA) ventured into the remote mountain villages to share the gospel. Many leaders of small villages became Christians and the ministries grew. The ridge-end tiles engraved with a cross on the old tombstones still stand as a powerful witness to their faith. |