Fukuoka, the capital of the Kyushu region and Japan's fifth largest city, is home to a small but varied evangelical scene. The two churches listed here illustrate that variety: 福岡アガペ教会 (Fukuoka Agape Church), located in the Ropponmatsu area of Chuo Ward, belongs to the あいのひかり教団 union (Olivet Assembly Japan), a union that several Japanese doctrinal watchdog sites link to a movement founded by South Korean pastor Jang Jae-hyung, a connection that draws reservations from parts of the evangelical world. 油山シャローム教会 (Aburayama Shalom Church), by contrast, belongs to the more established 日本イエス・キリスト教団 (Nihon Iesu Kirisuto Kyodan) union and has existed since 1955 in Jonan Ward. As everywhere in Japan, evangelical Christians remain a very small minority within a population that is predominantly Buddhist and Shinto.
This page lists two active evangelical churches in Fukuoka, with their addresses, service times, and YouTube channels. 福岡アガペ教会 is located at 3-10-30 Ropponmatsu (2nd floor), postal code 810-0044, with a single Sunday service at 11:00 AM; its messages, mainly in Japanese, are also offered in Korean and English on its YouTube channel. 油山シャローム教会, at 6-15-9 Higashi-Aburayama near Fukudai-mae Station (postal code 814-0155), holds two services every Sunday, at 8:45 AM and 11:10 AM, the latter livestreamed on YouTube since 2025; its senior pastor, Horo Yokota, who holds a PhD in New Testament studies from the University of St Andrews, also founded the Kyushu Christian Disaster Relief Center in 2016. For each church, Efficient Church also provides summaries of sermons linking back to the source video on YouTube.
To choose between these two churches, it helps to first look at which service time fits your schedule and, if denominational affiliation matters to you, find out which union each church belongs to. Watching a church's YouTube channel before visiting gives a sense of its worship style and the language used, an important point in Fukuoka where services are mostly in Japanese. Feel free to contact a church directly through its official website to confirm service times before visiting, especially around holidays or in case of a change of venue.
Evangelical churches we cover in Fukuoka
Frequently asked questions
How many evangelical churches are listed in Fukuoka?
Efficient Church currently lists two evangelical churches in Fukuoka: 福岡アガペ教会 in Ropponmatsu (Chuo Ward), and 油山シャローム教会 in Higashi-Aburayama (Jonan Ward).
What are the differences between 福岡アガペ教会 and 油山シャローム教会?
The two churches differ in their denominational union and history. 福岡アガペ教会 belongs to あいのひかり教団 (Olivet Assembly Japan), a union whose lineage to a South Korean movement has drawn reservations noted by Japanese doctrinal watchdog sites. 油山シャローム教会 belongs to the more established 日本イエス・キリスト教団 and has existed since 1955. Their service times also differ: 11:00 AM for one, 8:45 AM and 11:10 AM for the other.
Can I attend a service without being a believer?
Yes, both churches welcome visitors at their Sunday services. Since services are mainly in Japanese, it can help to first watch a sermon on the church's YouTube channel to get familiar with the format before attending.