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CBI JAPAN & CHURCH FACILITIES

Welcome to the Koinonia Cafe, the heart of CBI Japan! Our Bible College campus is located in Ginowan City, right at the heart of Okinawa. We share a building with our host church,  Calvary Chapel Ginowan. There are many convenient stores, supermarkets, post offices and laundromats in the area which makes running daily errands an easy task.

Senior Pastor Tommy Ruiz and his wife Joanna lead the church while one of the assistant pastors, Pastor Jona Betsumiya directs the Bible College. Because the church and college are so intimately connected, coming to CBI Japan is very similar to joining a church on the mission field. The Koinonia Cafe serves as our common area to study and do homework as well as a place to hold fellowship nights, Wednesday night services with the church, and night classes during the week. Wifi and study resources are freely available, and students can even buy local roasted coffee beans and wold famous HARIO brand equipment to make their coffee.

We are open to the public, and even though we are not a cafe business, many locals come and visit for coffee and information about church or English classes. We find that this is a great opportunity to share the love of Christ with anyone who comes through our doors.

College Dorms

The campus dormitories, also known as the Girls & Guys Discipleship houses, are walking distance from the Bible College. The Girls live on the first floor of our church owned building in Nagata and the boys enjoy a spacious Japanese studio apartment above a Japanese - Mexican fusion restaurant. Japan is very safe and students can walk freely back to the dorms at night without worrying. There are various supermarkets, convenient stores and laundromats near the dorms.

Guys' Dormitory

​Girls' Dormitory

Daily student life

Mondays to Fridays are regular school days. Students and interns gather for breakfast at 9am at the Cafe and start their day with Morning Chuck Tracks. Throughout the day there are various classes and M199 service requirements. Students typically finish their day after dinner at 6pm unless there are classes, Bible studies, or events they are attending afterwards. In that case they finish at 9. The students study and work mainly at the church and return to their dorms only at night. As students arrange their course schedule, they also get their daily service tasks assigned such as cleaning, meal prep in-between classes, or ministry placements on Wednesdays or Friday Nights. 

On the weekends the students and interns clean their dormitories and go on fun outings and sight seeing trips around the island. As the Bible College and the church are closely connected, Sundays are our ministry days, where we serve in various ministries at the church including: Children’s, Youth, or Coffee ministries or join in with the main service to build friendships with our congregation members.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do I need to know Japanese to come to CBI Japan?

No. If this is your first semester at CBI Japan or if you have never taken a Japanese class, we offer a beginner’s Japanese class here at the college. You will learn cultural do’s and dont’s, simple conversational Japanese, and how to read the Japanese alphabets. Ministry at the church helps provide an opportunity to practice what you learn in the classroom.

Will I be able to participate in ministry with locals?

Yes. We have various ministries and Bible Studies in our church that reach all over the island. There are many Japanese churches we minister to, and even have connections to local community service organizations you can attend to make connections and share the Gospel.

Will I have time to travel or explore on my own?

Only a little. The semester is very busy and we do not have fall or spring breaks at the college. In the 16 weeks at CBI Japan there is much to see. While you are able to explore the island with locals, attend the South Korea missions trip or go on other scheduled weekly outings, personal travel will most likely not be possible until after you have finished your semester. That being said, our interns often take trips to other islands, as well as to mainland Japan for ministry or missions conferences and frequently take the students along.

How much personal space will I have in the dorms?

Personal space is limited. Every student has a bunk bed (top or bottom) and a personal closet. The size of the closet spaces vary due to the fact that Japanese houses generally have very little storage space. Students and interns share rooms, so we respect each other's space and privacy. Look at our videos to see what storage and personal space is like! 

Will I have Wifi at the dorms?​

Yes and No. The Girl’s house has Wifi, but the Guy’s dorm does not. Students can use Wifi freely at the church and usually only spend nights at the dormitories.

How much free time WILL I have between classes and on weekends?

Saturdays and Sundays are the days without classes. The students have time to do their homework, visit local cafes, the malls or the beach on these days. Dinner is provided at the college even on off- days but some breakfasts and lunches are “on-your-own.” The Bible College schedule and ministry is very busy and there is little free time during the week to go out.

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