David & Kathy Sedlacek

Ministry Update: May 2026

Encouraging the Church in Japan and Around the World

At Legacy Bible Church, one of our greatest privileges is partnering with faithful servants who are helping proclaim the gospel around the world. We recently had the opportunity to reconnect with David and Kathy Sedlacek and hear updates about what God is doing through their ministry.

David and Kathy continue to serve through spiritual coaching, discipleship, leadership development, and missionary encouragement across multiple nations and ministry settings. Their work stretches from Japan to Europe, North Africa, Greece, and beyond, helping pastors, missionaries, church planters, and ministry leaders remain healthy, faithful, and effective in their calling.

One of the major focuses of their ministry right now is Japan.

A Growing Opportunity in Japan

David and Kathy are preparing for a return trip to Japan later this year, where they will reconnect with churches and leaders they have invested in for decades. One of the churches they helped plant in Okayama continues to serve faithfully, and there is a growing opportunity for deeper partnership and encouragement.

While Christianity in America can sometimes feel familiar and accessible, David shared that the church in Japan is still incredibly small, with less than half of one percent of the population identifying as Christian. Many churches are small, under-resourced, and working faithfully in spiritually difficult soil.

Yet the need is not simply for outsiders to “come fix things.” Instead, the greatest opportunities now come through partnership, encouragement, discipleship, and relationship-building alongside Japanese believers and pastors already faithfully serving their communities.

David described how many Japanese churches value missionaries and ministry partners who are willing to simply love people well, build friendships, encourage leaders, and help strengthen local ministry efforts.

Coaching Leaders Around the World

In addition to Japan, David and Kathy are walking alongside ministry leaders serving in difficult environments across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

They are currently coaching:

• Church planters in Madrid working through cultural and generational team challenges

• Ministry leaders serving international students

• Gospel workers in East Asia, Central Asia and Australasia

• Missionaries and pastors facing burnout, family strain, isolation, and spiritual fatigue

• Young Japanese Christian leaders stepping into greater ministry responsibility

Much of this work happens quietly through long-term relationships, prayer, encouragement, and discipleship conversations.  David and Kathy shared that one of the greatest needs in ministry today is simply having trusted people who can listen honestly and walk alongside leaders without judgment. Many pastors and missionaries carry burdens they cannot easily process within their immediate ministry circles.

Looking Ahead

We are excited about the possibility of growing Legacy’s partnership with David and Kathy in the years ahead.  As they continue reconnecting with churches in Japan, we hope to:

• Support and encourage churches and pastors overseas

• Explore future small-team trips

• Help connect people from Legacy who are interested in missions and discipleship opportunities

• Learn how we can better serve churches already faithfully preaching the gospel in difficult places

The Sedlaceks reminded us that missions today often looks less like “going to build something” and more like showing up with open hands and asking, “How can we serve alongside what God is already doing here?”

That spirit of partnership, humility, and gospel-centered encouragement deeply resonates with the mission of Legacy Bible Church.

Please continue praying for:

• David and Kathy as they prepare for Japan

• Their family as they care for loved ones facing health challenges

• Churches and pastors serving faithfully in spiritually difficult places

• Open doors for gospel partnership and discipleship around the world

“And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” — Romans 10:14–15