American Baptist Historical Society: A Resilient Faith: Japanese American Baptists during WWII
Starting this week, Calvary will have the privilege of hosting a traveling exhibit from the American Baptist Historical Society: A Resilient Faith: Japanese American Baptists during WWII. This will be set up in the narthex not just for Calvary members for the community. We Will have open house hours Wednesday to Friday, 10:00am – 12:00pm for all to come in and look.
Recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
As part of AAPI Heritage Month, this three-part weekly series is being shared by the Anti-Racism Committee. We will draw on historical resources from the American Baptist Historical Society, highlighting the history, faith, and legacy of AAPI Christians within the American Baptist tradition.
“A Resilient Faith”
Part 1 of an Asian American and Pacific Islander Series
One of the most powerful examples of this resilient faith can be seen during World War II. Following Executive Order 9066, a government order that allowed the military to remove people from their homes for security reasons, over 112,000 people of Japanese ancestry were sent to incarceration camps, including Baptist pastors and their congregations. Families were forced to leave their homes with little notice, often taking only what they could carry, and many experienced separation and loss. Even though it was framed as a wartime safety measure, it is now widely recognized as a serious injustice driven by fear and racial prejudice, a truth later acknowledged by the U.S. government in 1988.
Life in the camps was difficult. Surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers, families lived in small barracks with limited resources. Daily life was uncertain, and the future was unclear. Among those affected was Pastor Kihachi Hirakawa, founder of Winslow Baptist Church, who, at 78, was forced to leave his home yet continued to embody a steady, enduring faith. The image above shows Pastor Hirakawa and some members of his congregation during their forced evacuation from Bainbridge Island in 1942.
In the midst of these difficult conditions, they continued to gather for worship, pray together, and support one another. With limited space and resources, congregations came together across denominational lines to form united worship communities, continuing to seek God through hardship. Their witness reminds us that even in the most difficult times, faith can remain strong and steadfast. As a church, we are reminded that we are one body with many members (1 Corinthians 12:12). AAPI Heritage Month offers an opportunity to honor this faith, reflect on this history, and give thanks for the ways God continues to work through all people.
Part 2 of an Asian American and Pacific Islander Series
In the late 1800s, Japanese immigrants began arriving in the United States, many settling in places like California, Washington, and other western states. Some were first-generation immigrants, known as Issei, those born in Japan. Others were second- and third-generation Japanese Americans, Nisei and Sansei, born and raised in the United States, building lives and raising families despite facing ongoing discrimination.
While many Japanese Americans practiced Buddhism, Christian faith communities were also forming. As early as the 1880s, American Baptist missionaries began reaching out to Japanese immigrants. These early efforts were part of the broader work of the American Baptist tradition. At the same time, Japanese American believers themselves began to build and lead their own congregations. Over time, these efforts grew into thriving communities.
By the turn of the century, Japanese American Baptist congregations were taking root. In Seattle, the first Japanese Baptist church was established in 1899. In Southern California, particularly in the Los Angeles area, churches and mission centers continued to grow, serving families working in farming, fishing, and local industries.
These churches became centers of belonging. They offered spiritual guidance, education, and support in a society where many Japanese Americans were often treated as outsiders. In many cases, they also served as places of learning, offering language and educational support for children and helping families navigate life in America while maintaining cultural identity.
Women and young people played an important role in strengthening these communities. Women helped organize gatherings, teach, and support families, while the Nisei generation often bridged cultures, connecting their parents’ traditions with life in America.
In a time of exclusion and discrimination, these churches became safe spaces, where dignity, identity, and faith were affirmed. Through faith, they created a connection. Through that connection, they found strength.
Their story reminds us that community is not just about place; it is about people, faith, and the relationships that hold us together. As we reflect on their journey, we are reminded of the words of Scripture: “From Him the whole body…grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16
“Finding a Way Forward”
Part 3 of an Asian American and Pacific Islander Series
Although many Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated during World War II, not everyone remained in the camps for the entire war. Opportunities were created for some, especially Nisei second-generation Japanese Americans who were U.S. citizens, to leave and begin rebuilding their lives in other parts of the country.
One of the first paths forward came through education. Nisei students who had been forced to leave school were able to enroll in colleges and universities through relocation programs. With the help of organizations supported by religious groups, including American Baptists, students received financial support, guidance, and encouragement.
For these students, the opportunity came with a weight. Many left behind parents and loved ones who remained in the camps as they stepped into unfamiliar places, often knowing they would be seen as representatives of their entire community. Even outside the camps, discrimination did not disappear, but they pressed forward with determination, pursuing education and meaningful futures while carrying the uncertainty of what the future would hold for those they left behind.
Others found a way forward through service. Thousands of Nisei chose to serve in the U.S. military, including in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unit that would become one of the most highly decorated in U.S. history.
Still others relocated for work, moving to new regions where labor was needed. Faith-based organizations played an important role in helping families adjust, offering housing, support, and guidance as they started again in unfamiliar places.
Their story reminds us that finding a way forward doesn’t always mean having a clear path. Sometimes it means taking one step at a time, trusting that even in unfamiliar places, we are not alone.
As we reflect on their journey, we are reminded:
“See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19
“I am doing a new thing” speaks of hope and new beginnings. “Now it springs up” reflects movement and the courage to move forward. And “streams in the wasteland” reminds us of restoration, life returning, and trusting God through unfamiliar seasons. In many ways, this is how people begin finding a way forward.
