Leadership Team
Jonathan Okinaga, Ph.D. Director | Biblical Counseling Certificate Program | Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Tetsuo and Mayumi Watanabe, who are serving as Japanese Strategy Coordinators for the disciple and church multiplication ministry of No Place Left Japan.
No Place Left Japan works in partnership with the No Place Left International Coalition (www.noplaceleft.net). Borrowing from the words of Paul concerning the ministry the Lord had given him, the desire of NPL Japan is to proclaim the gospel and train laborers until there is no place left to work.
Dr. Chris Moore is a disciple of Jesus, Lead Elder of New Heart Fellowship, a Protestant (NCMI) Church in Nagoya, Japan, and President of Inter-Translation Services, Inc., a translation and interpretation company.
Chris has a D.Min. from Tokyo Graduate School of Theology. Since graduating with a major in Biblical Counseling from the International College of Biblical Counseling in 2001, Biblical counseling has been a key component of his more than 20 years of ministry in Japan helping people dealing with issues including substance abuse, domestic violence, anxiety and depression, and grief and crisis situations.
Chrys Mori. Born in Tokyo, Japan. Graduated from International Christian University in 2021. Previously worked in project management at a Japanese social media and IT company. Currently, Chrys works as a staff member at both Matthew 13:23 Ministries and also at OneHope Japan as a coordinator for online evangelism.
Chrys also previously started a Japanese social media organization called Timothy Seisho. Chrys also runs the #1 ranked Japanese podcast for Christian teenagers and young adults.
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University's Department of Education in 2023, she joined Mynavi Corporation and worked there for two years. She then left her job to attend CFNJ Bible College in Hokkaido.
After one year of study, she now serves as staff at Matthew 13:23. As “Jesus' Princess,” she works alongside Shekinah to share the gospel through social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
Graduated from Hosei University with a major in Global Business and gained professional experience at the advertising company UNICORN Inc., focusing on digital advertising and brand strategy. Later became an independent social media manager, working with The Chosen and Timothy Seisho.
Currently, Shekinah manages MajiEpi for Matthew1323 Ministries Japan and The Chosen for the Come and See Foundation.
As a child, he traveled back and forth between Japan and the U.S. due to his father's work. After graduating from Bob Jones University in 2009 with a B.A. in International Economics and a minor in Chinese, he entered seminary in 2009 with a major in Pastor Studies.
In 2010, he graduated from Bob Jones Seminary. He became an Associate Pastor of Victory Baptist Church in British Columbia, Canada in 2011. He did a pastoral internship at Uchinada Bible Church in Japan for six months in 2015. He became a Mission Pastor of Bridge Community Church in British Columbia, Canada in 2016. He became a Pastor at Uchinada Bible Church in November 2017.
He is now focused on supporting the local churches in Japan through evangelism and discipleship.
Keith S. Lindley (ThM, 2016) is the Board Secretary and Head of Strategy for Matthew 13:23 Ministries and is currently completing a PhD in Theological Studies at DTS. He is an ordained pastor, a missionary, and an active member of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.
He also serves as an instructor of Bible and theology at the Opened Bible Academy. His main research interests include theology, philosophy, and the intersection between faith and popular culture. He and his wife, Megan, live in Plano, Texas with their daughter, Ava, and their dogs, Fitz and Faith.
Abby has engaged in missions since 2017, focusing on Japan. She received a film degree from John Brown University. Before joining Matthew 13:23 Ministries, she worked with HBO as a producer's assistant on season 3 of True Detective, CV Global as a Content Specialist, and then Media2Movements with EastWest Ministries after moving back from Japan as a missionary.
She and her husband, Kevin, now serve in a bilingual Japanese church in Coppell, Texas and assist their short term mission program.
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, they have gained a unique perspective on the needs of 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 the community.
