Josh McKinley

I grew up in Orlando, Florida, with generational roots in the Church of the Nazarene. I first felt called to long-term global ministry as a high school student on a short-term mission. After this call, I dove into every opportunity I could to serve in ministry, whether on school campuses, in local churches, or even among my peers.

After high school, I took a gap year, where I embraced and participated in intercultural ministry across several countries. In this season, through challenges and shortcomings, I experienced the grace of God in new and mighty ways that served as an affirmation of my call into ministry.

I studied ministry at the undergraduate level and received my Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Palm Beach Atlantic University with my heart and mind set on a future of ministry in Japan. After university, I spent a year teaching English at several public schools in Japan, where I first connected with World Gospel Mission.

I love all things Japan, the power and experience of story, and experiences of intercultural encounter. I thoroughly believe that the Lord has been nurturing these loves within me throughout my life, all the while preparing me for life as a global worker in Japan. I officially joined the WGM team as a global worker in February 2024.

Japan is a nation ripe for harvest, and my heart is for the Japanese people to fully embrace Christ and express their faith through Christ-centered and Holy Spirit-led abundant life. I hope the Japanese people find the freedom to express this faith in a genuinely culturally Japanese way. Through hospitality and heart-level discipleship ministry, I work to foster Christian communities of spirituality in Japan where people can freely explore the questions, “What does it mean to be a Christian as a Japanese person?” and “What does a Japanese expression of Christian faith look like?”