Loyd Flaherty, Lead Pastor
Hi Everyone! Thanks for checking out our website – I’d like to say thank you to the many internet listeners, people who are not only in Kobe Japan but from around the world. We’re praying, that you are touched by God’s love and come to know Him more as you make Him known!
I’ve lived in Kobe since 1987. It’s been good to see Kobe Bible Fellowship grow from a small Bible study on a school campus, and then move off-campus to become a church in 1990. That energetic group of young people singing praise songs as loud as we could moved to our present location after the earthquake in 1995. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Spirit of God would have us do together to bless the people who come into our lives with the kind of love only the Heavenly Father can give us.
There are plenty of things going on at KBF, and there is room for us all to be a part of touching Japan with the love of Christ. If you’re in the area, please drop by. I’m looking forward to seeing you here at Kobe Bible Fellowship.
Akira Tabata, Pastor
Nickname: AT
I was thinking it was my style to serve God, working as a businessman. But in 2008, when the Lehman Shock hit, my company decided to leave Japan and I became the unemployed. As I was walking and praying, “How to live from now on?”, I heard one voice saying “Now will you work for me full time? I’ve been waiting for 25 years.” I was amazed by God’s kindness, who waited for me for a long time and left my life of chasing after the sales amounts. Now, I want to cooperate with God’s work from my heart.
Katsumi Ishizaka, Pastor
Nickname: Kattchan
I first started coming to KBF in April of 1994.
Until then God was someone very distant and had no idea of even having a relationship with this God. I think I was what you would call a “My Way Christian”.
From that time though I began listening to the messages every week. After the Hanshin Great Earthquake I became more and more involved with church fostering a deep relationship with God in my everyday life.
This soon changed to a realization that I wanted to follow and live side by side with this God who accepted me and loves me just as I am and from 2001 I have been serving as a pastor.
As a church at the threshold of God’s Kingdom, everyone is invited to come as you are to listen to messages from the Bible and to get to know God.
Please when you come to KBF, come and look for Kattchan. I am looking forward to meeting all of you.
James Brown, Pastor
I was born in Kobe and lived here as a small child before moving to the UK and eventually finding work in Australia. When I was 28 years old, I began to feel God calling me back to Japan and to work for Him in Kobe. I started attending KBF in 2015 where I met my wife and got married in 2017. I have been serving on the pastoral team since 2023 and am really looking forward to what God has planned for KBF in the future.