History of OIC

In 1974, God gave Rev. Peter Okayama a heart to begin an evangelical international fellowship in Osaka. As other Japanese brethren joined in prayer with Pastor Okayama, the vision gave birth to the beginning of the Osaka International Church.

In October 1974, at Rev. Okayama’s invitation, Rev. Jack Marshall began leading services in downtown hotels and Christian Centers. Rev. Marshall served as pastor of OIC for eighteen years until he returned to the United States in 1992. Under Rev. Marshall’s godly and steady leadership, Osaka International Church developed into a spiritual haven for the international community in Osaka.

After Rev. Marshall, Brian Cummins, Ron Hobden, and David Tomko each led OIC for three years each. After moving our meeting location several times, we were able to settle in at the Osaka Christian Center.

From 2002 to 2014, Daniel Ellrick served as pastor of OIC. Pastor Dan and his wife Karen are missionaries with International Ministerial Fellowship, and from 1996 to 2002 they served with a Japanese church in Hiroshima. Dan was the first pastor who was able to preach and counsel in Japanese as well as English, and for over 10 years he led a bilingual Saturday evening worship. Dan and Karen are still in Osaka, continuing with other ministries – their ministry website is proverbs2525.org. Also, from 2011 to 2014 Joseph Totsis was assistant pastor and then associate pastor. He and his wife Amy are now planting Abide – Calvary Chapel Osaka in southern Osaka.

In March 2015, Rev. Alistair McKenna became the new pastor. Pastor Alistair and his wife Wendy were once missionaries in Kobe about 20 years ago. After they went back to U.K., Pastor Alistair served as a pastor for 20 years in London and Sidmouth, Devon and God led him and his wife to Japan again in 2015.