In Memoriam
Pastor Tokio Satake
We respectfully announce that Pastor Tokio Satake, founder and associate pastor of Kokubunji Baptist Church (KBC), has returned to the Lord. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your prayer, support and fellowship with him over the years.
Pastor and Mrs. Satake were visiting their daughter in the US from early-May for about two months. About three weeks before their planned return trip to Japan, Pastor Satake became ill and was given medical tests and treatments. However, a few weeks later, his health condition deteriorated greatly, and he fell unconscious. After consultation with the medical team, his wife and daughter decided to wait for the Lord’s time. At 7:45 on July 19th local time (22:45 JST), in the presence of his wife, daughter and her family, he was taken to the Lord. He was 86 years old.
His funeral took place in the US, with his son-in-law, a minister, conducting the ceremony.
As all of this happened in a short period of time outside of Japan, we are only able to give this announcement now in this way. In the near future, we would like to hold a memorial service at KBC, after consulting with Mrs. Satake about her thoughts and wishes, and we will make an announcement about the service in due time.
Pastor Satake graduated from Japan Bible Seminary and was committed to pastoral work at Yamagata Dai-ichi Bible Baptist Church (Conservative Baptist Association of Japan), founding Shinjo Higashi-yama Church (Conservative Baptist Association of Japan), and served as Resident Hall Director of Sendai Baptist Seminary. In 1965, he founded Kokubunji Baptist Church in Tokyo. In founding the church, great help and support was extended by many fellow pastors and missionaries such as Akira Izuta, Takeshi Yokoyama, Joe Gooden, and Setsuko Suyama, as well as KDK (Kokunai Kaitaku Dendo Kai) and neighboring churches in the area. For three decades after that, he literally devoted his life to building up KBC.
Pastor Satake always walked together with the church even after he retired from full-time pastorship in 1995. His earnest prayer and passionate sermons have never ceased to encourage us. Our sense of loss of having such a pastor go to Heaven so suddenly is just immeasurable.
How his sermons told in a dynamic voice over the years have brought Christ’s hope and guidance into the hearts of so many people! We have utmost respect for Pastor Satake, who stood on the Lord’s calling as pastor, devoted himself to the Lord, and with all his strength, ran the race God gave him.
Outside the church, Pastor Satake served as Secretary General of KDK, helping plant many churches throughout Japan, and devoted his time and energy to help people who are mentally ill or struggling with various weaknesses.
Now, looking up to Heaven from Earth, we embrace the hope for reunion with him before the Lord. And, while inheriting his pioneering spirit, Kokubunji Baptist Church has renewed its commitment to sharing the Living Gospel with the world in this era.
Again, we would like to express our appreciation for your continued prayers for Mrs. Satake, her daughter, her family and KBC.
May the Lord bless you all.
July 25th, 2019
Kokubunji Baptist Church
Hiroaki Yonai, Pastor
Isamu Maruyama, Chief Board Member
All church members of KBC