2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the Aroma of Christ to those who are perishing and those who are being saved!”
A few years ago in Nagoya, I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Rocky (Hiroaki) and Marla Ayatsuka. This musically gifted couple has been ministering in Japan with Aroma Ministries since 2000. Together with their children Hana and Kai, they do music evangelism, relationship evangelism through teaching English and the Bible, and much more. The Ayatsukas live in Kitakyushu but they travel throughout Japan giving concerts.
Marla writes on their blog that while serving for two years as a student minister at an all-female Christian school in Kitakyushu, Rocky was her translator and ministry partner. “Before the end of my two years we could see God leading us to continue to do ministry together for the rest of our days! We married in March 2000.”
Rocky adds that he was born into a Christian family, a very rare thing in Japan. He met our very good friends Mark and Sharon Bennett when he was a student. “The Bennetts had a weekly Bible study in their home and spent lots of time with myself and our family. I quickly began to learn that there was something very different about their Christianity. They loved Jesus and had a daily relationship with Him. Through their ministry my walk with God began to be powerfully changed.”
From their website: “Rocky and Marla are actively seeking to make Christian music available in a form and style that young people enjoy listening to…they seek to write more original songs, praise and worship songs, and translate many of the praise and worship songs that God is moving through. Aroma Ministries seeks to make those praise songs available to Japanese Christians to use in their worship and ministry, plus expose non-Christians to this music so the Holy Spirit can move in their hearts as they listen to it.”
They have just released a brand-new album which you can download for purchase here. Find them on Facebook for more info!