Memories of the Misawa Baptist Mission

The Misawa Baptist Mission was located in Misawa, Japan, a city in the Aomori Prefecture in the northern region of Honshu, and adjacent to the Misawa Air Base, which is a joint operation by the U.S. and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. This work is an account by Clyde Wilton of the history of The Misawa Baptist Mission from its conception in 1958, to its name change to Memorial Baptist Mission in 1961, to its organization into the Misawa Baptist Church in 1988. When Clyde Wilton arrived for military service as a USAF Chaplain at Misawa Air Base in 1959, the idea of a Baptist church among the Japanese people at Misawa was just a vision of several military staff at the base. Clyde Wilton joined that group and became a motivating influence to encourage the establishment of the Misawa Baptist Mission in Misawa City. During his stay at Misawa, Clyde was involved first with the rented mission facility, and later he saw the culmination of many dreams with the construction of the mission's own building in the city. The mission began as a combined congregation of both Japanese and Americans. After Clyde left Misawa in 1962, the mission continued to grow, but it eventually divided into an American group and a Japanese group. The Japanese group eventually was recognized by the Japan Baptist Convention as the self-supporting Misawa Baptist Church. Over the years since he left Misawa, Clyde kept in close contact with members and friends of the mission/church, and in 1991 he was privileged to make a trip to Japan to meet with the church in person once again. Clyde continued to support the church from a distance, praying for the work and doing his part to spread the Gospel message.