Kobe Aisei Dendo-sho is a new church development effort associated with the United Church of Christ in Japan. Aisei Dendo-sho is a church operating in a social services context. It is closely associated with Kobe Seirei Social Services Community (KSSSC) which has twenty-four centers in the Kobe area related to mentally and physically challenged persons and senior citizens. KSSSC is a member of Japan Christian Social Work League (JCSWL). Aisei Dendo-sho functions as an independent church but has close relations to Aisei-en Residential Facility for Physically Impaired People. They meet for worship at Aisei-en.
The congregation is made up of primarily physically challenged people. People come to Sunday worship in wheelchairs or beds. John Schmidt, a PC(USA) missionary, is one of the 2 pastors of Aisei Dendo-sho. His associate is a Eri Ota, a young woman only 2 years out of seminary.
John and Eri function as chaplains of several facilities in KSSSC. Since KSSSC has responsibility for 24 centers, and has active worship services at about 8 or 9 centers, there is a lot to do.
