Pastor Jocelyn “Kahiwa” Aki was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised up in the Catholic Church. In April 2005, a friend invited her to New Hope Christian Fellowship where she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.

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Since 2005, she has served the church and God’s kingdom in many different capacities.  Starting out as a greeter, welcoming everyone who attended; to pastoring a home church, Wellspring Church Ministries Okinawa, in Okinawa, Japan.

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Pastor Kahiwa feels fortunate that her job as a medical coding trainer, allows her to “pack her bags” when the Lord says, “It’s time to go”. Her first assignment abroad was in 2008 in the US Territory of Guam.  While working at Andersen Air Force Base during the weekdays, she immediately started serving, evenings and weekends, at a church in the local community.  It was in Guam where she met Pastor Sally McCarley, who became her mentor, teacher and whom she calls, her spiritual mom.  Pastor Sally ordained Pastor Kahiwa, in February 2016, just 2 weeks before God reassigned her to Okinawa.  Five others were ordained with her, and some visited her often to share a message with the church and ministries.  She facilitated two women’s Bible studies, an English and Japanese one.  She gives God all the glory for every heart that was transformed, especially during the 5 years she lived in Okinawa.  

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Besides partnering with the Holy Spirit to help others see themselves how God sees and loves them, she is zealous to see every church come together as one body in Christ, beginning with Okinawa and Japan.  To reach the entire nation of Japan, she partners with Empowering Japan (EJ), a ministry, founded by Evangelist Ryan Denlinger.  He is young in age, but a spiritually mature missionary, from Pennsylvania, who has a heart for Japan and now calls Okinawa his home.  EJ is currently 20 members strong, from Okinawa, Mainland Japan & US Stateside, and they are passionate about revival in Japan, and winning the lost for Christ in evangelism.  They are also focused on equipping the Body of Christ with the tools of the Kingdom, and living a lifestyle of loving as Jesus loves, being the light of the world!

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In April 2021, God called Pastor Kahiwa to step out in faith and move to Cottonwood, Arizona, where the main church, Wellspring Church Ministries Cottonwood, is located.  There He has reassigned her to assist Pastors Mike & Sally McCarley with church administrative responsibilities.  The Lord also encourages her to continue her passion of uniting churches in the valley and sharing the love of Christ, especially with her senior community.  Pastor Kahiwa no longer holds services, but remains active through Empowering Japan, whose main hub is located in Okinawa.

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​We work with new believers. Our goal is to help every believer find out who they are in Christ.

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​Freedom is so important and once a person finds their Identity in Christ, they can be set free from the things that bind these tender-hearted people.

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​Our goal is to see Japan unified as a nation for God.  Partnering with Empowering Japan, we do outreaches, street ministry, healing and deliverance.

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​If you are looking for an adventure with Christ - come join us!