Leadership Team
Dr. Jonathan Okinaga serves as the Chair of Biblical Counseling at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is dedicated to training the next generation of counselors. As the Director of the "Hope for the Heart" Biblical Counseling program, he is committed to spreading Christ-centered counseling resources to people around the world.
Dr. Okinaga specializes in addiction recovery and discipleship. As a Fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), he bridges the gap between sound theology and practical application. He has also conducted extensive training for church leaders across Japan and possesses a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing the Japanese church. His teaching, grounded in a deep love for God and profound biblical insight, continues to provide hope and practical solutions to many pastors and students.
Tetsuo and Mayumi Watanabe serve as Strategic Coordinators for "No Place Left Japan," a ministry dedicated to disciple-making and church multiplication. In partnership with the No Place Left International Coalition, they are driven by the vision of spreading the Gospel until it can truly be said that there is "no place left" where the message of Christ has not been heard.
The Watanabes are passionate about sowing the seeds of the Gospel in every corner of the community and raising up disciples who love the Lord. Their ministry focuses on practical, biblically-based training and the dedicated support of the next generation of laborers, continuing to provide hope and guidance to many churches and believers across Japan.
Dr. Chris Moore is a disciple of Jesus Christ, serving as a Lead Elder at New Heart Fellowship (NCMI), a Protestant church in Nagoya. Alongside his pastoral ministry, he serves as the President of Inter-Translation Services, Inc., a translation and interpretation firm. He holds a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Tokyo Christian University. Since graduating from the International College of Biblical Counseling in 2001, he has made biblical counseling the cornerstone of his ministry in Japan for over two decades.
He has dedicated himself to supporting individuals facing various crises, including substance abuse, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, and grief. Through biblically-based counseling, he continues to provide hope, healing, and guidance to many who are in need.
Chris Mori was born in Tokyo and graduated from International Christian University (ICU) in 2021. She previously worked in project management at a Japanese IT and social media company.
Currently, Chris serves as a staff member at Matthew 13:23 Ministries and OneHope Japan, where she coordinates online evangelism. In addition to founding her own organization, "Timothy Seisho," she hosts the #1 ranked podcast in Japan for Christian teens and young adults, continuing to share a powerful message with the next generation.
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, she graduated from the Department of Education at Aoyama Gakuin University in 2023. She subsequently worked at Mynavi Corporation for two years. Following a clear calling from God, she enrolled in the CFNJ Bible Institute in Hokkaido. After a deep study of the Scriptures, she now serves as a staff member for Matthew 13:23 Ministries.
Through her social media presence as "Jesus' Princess," she collaborates with Shekinah on YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms. She is deeply passionate about utilizing digital media to share the hope of the Gospel with today's youth.
She majored in Global Business at Hosei University. After graduation, she joined the advertising agency UNICORN Inc., where she focused on digital advertising and brand strategy. Later, she went independent as a Social Media Manager, supporting the operations of major projects such as The Chosen and Timothy Seisho.
Currently, she oversees "MajiEpi," a program under Matthew 13:23 Ministries Japan, and serves as a strategic leader in digital evangelism in partnership with the Come and See Foundation, the organization behind The Chosen. By integrating her expertise in business and creativity, she is dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Christ with the next generation.
Takayuki Hayashi grew up between Japan and the United States. After graduating from Bob Jones Seminary, he gained extensive pastoral experience serving as an associate pastor and missionary pastor at two churches in Vancouver, Canada. Following his time in Canada, he served as the pastor of Uchinada Bible Church in Japan from 2017 to 2025, where he was deeply committed to the pastoral care and growth of the local church.
Currently, he serves as a missionary with ACCI, based in Canada, dedicated to evangelism in Japan and raising up the next generation of laborers. Leveraging his deep understanding of both Japanese and North American cultures, he is passionate about building networks to foster church multiplication and is committed to empowering local churches across Japan.
Keith S. Lindley (ThM, 2016) serves as the Board Secretary and Director of Strategy for Matthew 13:23 Ministries. He is currently completing his PhD in Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and serves as an instructor of Bible and Theology at the Opened Bible Academy.
An ordained minister and missionary, Keith is an active member of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. His primary research interests lie at the intersection of theology, philosophy, and faith within popular culture, as he seeks to develop biblical approaches to digital-era evangelism.
As an expert in digital strategy, he explores how to effectively communicate the Gospel in modern contexts, providing multifaceted support for next-generation evangelism and church formation. He resides in Plano, Texas, with his wife, Meghan, their daughter, Ava, and their dogs, Fitz and Faith.
Abby Kleppe holds a degree in Film Studies from John Brown University. Since 2017, she has been actively engaged in mission work with a primary focus on Japan, serving there as a missionary. Upon returning to the U.S., she built her career as a media professional, serving as a producer’s assistant at HBO for True Detective (Season 3). She subsequently worked as a Content Specialist at CV Global and contributed to the Media2Movements project at EastWest Ministries.
Now serving with Matthew 13:23 Ministries, she leverages her professional background in film and digital media to develop strategies that effectively communicate the Gospel through visual storytelling. Additionally, she serves alongside her husband, Kevin, at a bilingual Japanese church in Coppell, Texas, where she is deeply passionate about training and supporting the next generation of laborers through short-term mission programs.
Lare and Binho have dedicated their lives to serving God in Japan. With over 20 years of life experience in Japan, Lare offers a deep understanding of the culture and people. Binho, with more than 10 years, has joined in this journey of faith, learning to fully integrate into Japanese society. Both hold degrees in theology and share a passion for living out Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20).
Their professional background spans industry, design, photography, video, journalism, and social work. Through this experience, they have gained a unique perspective on the various needs within Japanese society. By working closely with people facing disabilities and social challenges, they seek to bring compassionate care, hope, and the love of Christ to their community.
