View source for Takeda Jiro (b. 1932)

Jiro Takeda, the first pastor of the [[Nihon Menonaito Burezaren Kyodan (Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference)|Nihon Menonaito Burezaren Kyoden]] (Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference), was born in Kyushu. His father was a casualty of World War II, which greatly prejudiced Jiro Takeda against foreigners. But while seeking employment in Osaka, to fill a void in his life he visited various churches and the former [[Mennonite Central Committee (International)|Mennonite Central Committee]] center which had become the Konohana church ([[Mennonite Brethren Church|Mennonite Brethren]]). The peace position greatly appealed to him. He was baptized on 23 June 1955.

In April 1957 he entered the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute's first class. The following year he married a fellow student, Sumiko Yagi. Upon graduation, he assisted missionary Jonathan Bartel and subsequently became pastor of the Konohana church, later relocated at Tamagawa, where he was serving in 1986. In April 1969 he was ordained to the ministry. He has served as chairman of the Mennonite Brethren Conference, and was active in cooperating with other evangelicals, having served as vice-chairman of the Osaka Crusade, office manager for the Billy Graham Crusade, and chairman of the Kansai area Japan Protestant Conference.

Two sons were born into the family and the elder, Shinji, was the first second-generation pastor among the Mennonite Brethren. Pastor Takeda's younger brother was also a pastor with the conference.
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[[Category:Persons]]