Robert Flaherty, Gospel Preacher
Nickname: Rob
Hello from Japan! My name is Rob Flaherty, gospel preacher for Kobe Bible Fellowship. Thank you for clicking on our gospel messages. I did not start studying the Bible to train to be a pastor or preach. I studied, because I desperately needed direction for my life and I was tired of people’s conflicting advice. I needed God to guide me and heal me so I could have hope for this life. I sensed that if the God of the universe knew me, forgave me and loved me - I could become a new person. Much to my surprise, the people around me were interested in what the Lord was showing me.
34 years have passed since that search began and by God’s grace and a lot of help from people, Kobe Bible Fellowship was started in 1989. In July 2014, I was told I would die in a couple of months from advanced prostate cancer that had spread to my bones all over by body. But much to the surprise of the doctors and everyone, by the power of Jesus the cancer disappeared and I am cancer-free by God’s power. Join me as we at KBF go after the dream of many thousands coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I will be travelling Japan preaching the gospel. Any prayers and financial support would be greatly appreciated.
Blessings,
Rob Flaherty
Akira Tabata, Pastor
Nickname: AT
I was thinking it was my style to serve God, working as a businessman. But in 2008, when the Lehman Shock hit, my company decided to leave Japan and I became the unemployed. As I was walking and praying, “How to live from now on?”, I heard one voice saying “Now will you work for me full time? I’ve been waiting for 25 years.” I was amazed by God’s kindness, who waited for me for a long time and left my life of chasing after the sales amounts. Now, I want to cooperate with God’s work from my heart.
Katsumi Ishizaka, Pastor
Nickname: Kattchan
I first started coming to KBF in April of 1994.
Until then God was someone very distant and had no idea of even having a relationship with this God. I think I was what you would call a “My Way Christian”.
From that time though I began listening to the messages every week. After the Hanshin Great Earthquake I became more and more involved with church fostering a deep relationship with God in my everyday life.
This soon changed to a realization that I wanted to follow and live side by side with this God who accepted me and loves me just as I am and from 2001 I have been serving as a pastor.
In 2014, as Rob was miraculously healed of cancer, I was able to strengthen my conviction that I am a part of God’s great plan to move toward the vision of KBF in reaching “Many Thousands”. I was also able to once again take a deep look inside of myself to follow this vision.
As a church at the threshold of God’s Kingdom, everyone is invited to come as you are to listen to messages from the Bible and to get to know God.
Please when you come to KBF, come and look for Kattchan. I am looking forward to meeting all of you.