Transformed Lives
The Hallelujah Gospel Family
Japanese choirs singing black gospel music? Unlikely as it may seem, “black” gospel choirs have become all the rage in Japan, with thousands of the singing groups cropping up all over the country since the sound was first popularized there by the movie, Sister Act, in 1992. However, in God’s divine timing, wisdom and, some might add, humor, it has also created a “perfect storm” of ministry opportunity for WorldVenture missionaries, Ken and Bola Taylor.
Often referred to as “musicianaries,” Ken and Bola were both successful professional entertainers in Southeast Asia when they accepted Christ their Savior in the 1980s. Since 1997 they have served as WorldVenture missionaries in Tokyo, Japan, where their goal has been to share the Gospel through church-planting strategies with a focus on music and creative arts.
One of the most creative and unusual outreaches the Taylors now lead is the Hallelujah Gospel Family (HGF), a growing network of over 40 black gospel music choirs, hosted mostly by local Japanese churches. Surprisingly, 80% of the approximately 700 HGF participants are, as the Taylors like to call them, “not-yet-Christians”! Nonetheless, by strategically partnering with local churches all over Japan and developing relationships with other choirs and choir members, the Taylors’ HGF singers regularly share the Gospel during rehearsals, regional and combined concerts and even on international tours. Through this surprising and improbable ministry, thousands of Japanese—one of the most difficult people groups in the world to evangelize—are now regularly being exposed to the Good News, and a steady number of choir members are becoming Christians.
Ken and Bola’s work is also gaining attention from the worldwide missions community. On Wednesday, July 21, 2010, during WorldVenture’s missionary Renewal Conference week, Steve Moore, president and CEO of The Mission Exchange, announced that the Taylors are this year’s recipients of the organization’s Innovation in Ministry award. In acknowledging the honor, Ken thanked WorldVenture for giving he and Bola the freedom to pursue such an outreach and expressed their own amazement at it all, saying, “Who would ever have thought that God would take two Filipinos, move them to American and then send them as missionaries to Japan where they would lead a ministry of Japanese people singing black gospel music?” On Thursday evening the Taylor’s opened WorldVenture’s public Community Event with a rousing taste of the Hallelujah Gospel Family’s music, which had the audience on its feet, joyfully clapping, swaying and singing along.
The Taylors have produced a 14-song CD and DVD, The Hallelujah Gospel Family Live!, a live recording of 300+ HGF choir members with a number of guest vocalists, including Bola. Both are available through their website at kenandbola.com for a suggested donation of $20 each.
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