Sending
Talitha
to Tokyo.
タリは日本に行く。
I’m stepping out in faith
to serve students in Tokyo,
in a country where so few people know Jesus, through discipleship, community,
and creative ministry.
I’m stepping out in faith to serve students in Tokyo, in a country where so few people know Jesus, through discipleship, community, and creative ministry.
I am moving to Tokyo, Japan, for one year to serve as full-time missionary with Every Nation Tokyo Shibuya. I will support the church’s work in a nation where few know Jesus. My focus will be working with students on the campus, as well as assisting on the creative side. I am raising support and would love for you to partner with me in this journey as I work towards going to Tokyo.
Read the full story.
Faith for finances.
Interested in the full breakdown? View the specifics here.
Ways you can help
View more ways to give here.
The story
of an
unexpected
calling
Dear friends and family,
I wanted to write to you personally to share some exciting and significant news about what God has been leading me toward this year.
How it all started.
For just over two years, I have been asking God where He wants me. During this time, I have moved between feeling called to full-time ministry and pursuing growth in my career. Through it all, God has been patiently shaping me. He has revealed more of who I am and drawn me closer into relationship with Jesus. Again and again, I have found myself waiting for an open door to a stable job, one that offers financial security and places me where I feel I should be at this stage of life. Yet over these two years, those kinds of doors have closed before they ever truly opened. When I honestly reflect on where my passion lies, it is not in using my gifts for a company or investing all my energy into my own business. I find peace only in using what God has given me for His Kingdom, and more specifically, for His Church.
Everyone who knows me knows that I love Japan. I have admired its films, culture, and art for years, yet even as recently as December I was telling people that while I hoped to visit one day, I would likely only do so with someone else, or later in life. I was hesitant to go alone. Before then, I was actively looking for opportunities with churches and organisations across the world, seeking roles that offered stability, familiarity, and environments where I could adapt easily. Instead, I was met with closed doors and silence, one dead end after another. Eventually, I stopped striving to make something happen and chose to trust God with the timing, focusing instead on being faithful in the freelance work I had been given for this season. It was during this surrender that God began placing Japan on my heart in a way that felt real and undeniable, even if I cannot fully explain how it began.
Why Japan?
My heart for Japan began in small, unexpected ways. I initially started planning a trip after being asked where I wanted to travel next and feeling uninspired by going anywhere else. As I researched places like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, that interest quickly shifted. Within a short time, I found myself looking into churches and mission organisations in Japan and questioning the purpose of going simply to explore or take photos.
I watched a video by Radical on reaching Japan, which opened my eyes to the spiritual landscape of the country and the state of Christianity there. At the same time, as I continued watching Japanese films that often portray loneliness, cultural pressures, and quiet suffering, I felt a growing compassion for the people behind those stories. What began as an interest in travel and the arts became, through God’s leading, a genuine love for the people of Japan and a desire to see them encounter Jesus and the life of His Church.
What will I be doing?
Many of you know that I am a videographer, video editor, and filmmaker at heart, and that I love creating visual content. I also do graphic design and some web design for churches, and as a personal hobby, I enjoy photography (mainly landscapes, travel, and occasionally portraits). So what will I be doing in Japan? I’ve been able to connect with Every Nation Tokyo Shibuya. Having grown up in the Every Nation church, I reached out to a pastor there who has been incredibly kind and open to my interest in the country and in serving. His enthusiasm was a welcome surprise after so many doors I’ve knocked on elsewhere, often met with silence or lukewarm responses. He welcomed me wholeheartedly, which led to amazing conversations about how I could contribute.
I’ll be spending a year there as a full-time missionary, primarily serving in campus ministry. I’ll be building relationships with university students through English conversation spaces, discipleship and outreach, creating opportunities to share the hope of Jesus in a personal and meaningful way. Alongside this, I’ll also be using my gifts in design, photography, film, and digital media to support the church’s work, from helping with their online presence to creating visuals and serving behind the scenes on Sundays. For me, this season is about serving the local church, growing in my faith, and being faithful with the gifts God has given me as He builds His church in Tokyo.
What am I believing for?
From what I’ve heard, ministry in Japan can feel very slow. A lot of effort may seem to produce only small results, and I know that’s something I’ll need to keep in mind as I serve. But I have no doubt that God is faithful and that when His Word goes out, it will bear fruit.
I am excited about being involved in campus ministry, and also using my creative skills to serve the church in practical ways. This will look like building genuine relationships with students through conversation spaces, outreach, and everyday moments, trusting that these connections will open natural doors to share the gospel. I’m believing that both the creative work and the relational ministry will work together to reach beyond the church walls and touch the people of Tokyo and Japan. In a media-focused world, I see this as a meaningful way to share His light. And through simple, authentic connections, I hope people will come to see that they don’t have to go through life alone, but that there is a community that truly loves and values them.
I know I cannot do this in my own strength. I need God’s guidance and the Holy Spirit working through me. Yet, I am believing for great things. My trust is that as I serve, the Lord will bless the work of my hands and that the seeds sown will have lasting impact, even if I don’t see it.
As I prepare to go…
Right now, I am in the process of confirming the details needed to begin my visa application, with guidance from the church in Japan. I am trusting that God will open every door in His timing, even though the process may be challenging. In this season, I am primarily focused on learning Japanese and raising support, as the church is small and unable to provide a salary. I will be going as a full-time missionary, fully supported through fundraising.
That is a daunting step, but I have full confidence that just as God has opened every door up until now, He will continue to provide, and that support will come even from unexpected places. I am trusting Him to fully cover my needs. Practically, I am trusting to raise R32,000 / $2000 per month (for the 12 months I’m there), which will cover my accommodation, food, transport and utilities. I am also trusting God for the airfare and visa fees for the trip.
If you feel led to support me financially, I pray that you would seek God about how you can contribute. Any monthly contribution or alternatively, a one-time gift, would be greatly appreciated. Every little bit helps. I also have a partner shop for South Africans, where you can support me by purchasing one of my original photos, beautifully framed. For more information, please visit my Partner Shop.
Above all, I would be deeply grateful if you could commit to pray for me. Please pray for the visa process, for the support I need, and for God’s guidance throughout this journey. I believe that prayer is how God will make all of this possible, working through both His provision and the people He places in my life along the way. Your prayers mean everything to me, and I will be forever grateful for them.
If you have questions or would like to reach out, please email me at hello@talithaneville.com.
Many blessings,
Talitha
Pray for me
and for Japan
Prayer requests
▸ Pray that the Lord will prepare me for this next season.
▸ Pray for open doors for me to go to Tokyo in the next six months
▸ Pray for the visa process, specifically for:
- Favour when Every Nation Tokyo Shibuya submits my application for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) in Japan.
- All the correct supporting documents.
- Once I’ve got the CoE, for ease as I apply for the visa at the Japan Consulate.
- For the process to be complete before my planned arrival in Tokyo.
▸ Pray for me to raise the finances that I need for the year, specifically for:
- Air tickets
- Initial set-up costs
- Monthly rent
- Monthly utilities
- Food, transport and personal expenses
▸ Pray for me to progress well in my Japanese language learning.
▸ Pray for me as I prepare for campus work.
▸ Pray that God will lead and guide me in how to best use my creative skills to reach those He brings across my path.
Pray for Japan
Today, Christianity accounts for only 2% of Japan’s population. With a history of missionaries first arriving in the 1500s, to a ban on Christianity, and eventually legalisation, the church in Japan is in need of prayer, support, and growth.
▸ Japan is second-largest unreached country in the world. Please pray for the church in Japan to be strengthened and to be effective in reaching the people of Japan.
▸ Pray that churches and Christians can find authentic and creative ways to connect with different groups in Japanese society.
▸ Pray that church would be a place where people from all parts of society experience Christ’s presence.
▸ Pray that Japanese Christians would joyfully share their personal lives and testimonies with those around them.
▸ Pray that the Holy Spirit would work in the hearts of Japanese non-believers every time they interact with Christians.
▸ Pray for God to strengthen church members and leaders through worship, the Word and fellowship.
Faith for
finances
Monthly breakdown
| Rent | R16,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Food | R7,200.00 | $450.00 |
| Transport | R2,400.00 | $150.00 |
| Personal | R1,600.00 | $100.00 |
| Insurance | R2,400.00 | $150.00 |
| Utilities | R2,400.00 | $150.00 |
Additional Once-Off Costs
| Initial Costs | R48,000.00 | $3,000.00 |
| Air Fare | R26,000.00 | $1,600.00 |
Total support raised.
Including monthly pledges.
Giving options
Become a Monthly Partner
Commit to give a set monthly amount that will begin the month I go to Tokyo
Start giving your monthly amount now to support preparations (payment via Visa, Mastercard or SnapScan in ZAR)
Give a One-Time Gift
Pay with card, Apple Pay, SnapScan (and more) in ZAR
EFT/Bank Transfer
Bank: Capitec
Account Holder: Ms Talitha Neville
Account Type: Main Account
Account number/IBAN: 1898072874
SWIFT/BIC number: CABLZAJJ
Branch Code: 470010
Reference: Tokyo Gift
Direct transfer from your own bank (ZAR & international)
I’d love to
hear from you
If you’d like to share some encouragement, ask a question or have encountered an issue, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at hello@talithaneville.com.
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We are so excited Talitha. God is going to use you and your incredible gifts and talents in mighty ways. Praying for supernatural provision.
We are so excited. What an incredible door the Lord has opened up for you. We’ll be standing on the sidelines cheering you on and praying. May the Lord grace you to bring His light to many.
When you trust in the Lord and obey Him, He promises to lead and provide for you. Thank you for including us all in your journey. We might never get to Japan ourselves, but through your lens and the stories and testimonies you share, we are excited to partner with you.
Trusting with you for the COE and then visa and whilst this works out that God prepares your heart and character for this challenge. Confidence is in God and when He calls He provides. If He wants to use you in Japan then hallelujah! We cheer you on and will do what we can to assist!