KONKO CHURCHES OF NORTH AMERICA (KCNA)

The Konko Churches of North America (KCNA) is an association of Konko Churches in the continental United States and Canada. First established in 1938 as the Konko-Kyo Federation in America, it developed into the Konko Churches of America (KCA) in 1954, and became the Konko Churches of North America (KCNA) in 1961. The KCNA is a supportive organization for its believers and churches, and currently consists of twelve churches and one propagation hall. The churches are located in: Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada; Fresno, Gardena, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Whittier in California; Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. In addition, a propagation hall is located in Chicago, Illinois.
The KCNA Administrative Office, together with the Ministry Board of Review and the House of Delegates, share the responsibility of directing the efforts of the Konkokyo Organization in North America. KCNA works to strengthen relationships between the Konko Churches and the believers through printed matter and various functions and gatherings. These include “The Konko Review” newsletter, regional seminars and an annual conference. It also promotes the propagation of its Faith by providing information, materials, and consultation for people wishing to know more about the Konko Faith.

KONKO MISSIONS IN HAWAII (KMH)

The Konko Missions in Hawaii (KMH) originated from the Konko Churches of America, and was recognized by the state of Hawai’i in 1971. The KMH presently consists of six churches: Honolulu, Hilo, Waipahu, Wahiawa, Hanapepe and Wailuku.
Supporting the Konkokyo believers and churches in Hawai’i, the KMH Administrative Office plans and hold conferences, gatherings, study groups, youth camps, workshops, and the “Malamalama Newsletter.” Gaining strength in its diverse and exciting youth programs, the KMH works to develop and educate their youth in order to secure their future. Once every five years, the KMH joins and works with the KCNA at a KCNA/KMH Joint Conference, alternating with a KCNA church as the host for the event.

BRAZIL

Konkokyo has six churches in Brazil located in: Birigui, Sao Paulo, Rondonia, Mogi Das Cruzes Butanta, and Curitiba. Believers in Brazil have been growing rapidly in the last few years. The churches hold bazaars, camp-outs, picnics, barbeques, kids’ festivals, and various other activities where believers and non-believers alike can get together, discuss experiences, and enjoy life.
The churches join their efforts to hold a conference each year as well. During these conferences, the adults have study sessions using the Konkokyo Kyoten (Konkokyo Book of Teachings) as their reference, while the kids are very contentedly having fun camping. This group also works on translating materials into Portuguese.

PARAGUAY

The Konkokyo Asuncion Activities Center was established in 1996. Still young and just beginning to grow, the center strives to fulfill the needs and wishes of the believers in Paraguay. They hold services, discussions and gatherings about faith to support each other. The center is currently translating Konkokyo materials into Spanish.

KOREA

A few Koreans became believers in the Konko Faith in the 1990s. These new believers have been developing their faith by making occasional visits to the Konkokyo Headquarters in Japan, and by holding gatherings with ministers from Japan. The strong desire to help people has allowed them to obtain a new facility, and they have officially established Konkokyo in Seoul, South Korea. The organization is called “Konkokyo of Korea,” and is run by an all-Korean staff.
The Konkokyo of Korea Organization holds monthly services at their new church, officiated by Korean ministers who have trained and studied at Headquarters in Japan. There is always someone at the administrative office and the church to help anyone who should drop by the church to pray, or come to the office for information.

GATHERINGS

As the number of Konkokyo believers around the world has begun to grow, these believers, without any churches nearby, have organized to hold Faith Gatherings. To support them, ministers from KIC attend these gatherings at least once a year. So far, gatherings have been held in London, England; Frankfurt, Erlangen, and Tuebingen, Germany; Madrid, Spain; Paris, France; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.
Believers, as well as people who just have an interest in Konkokyo, attend the gatherings to talk about faith, share experiences, and give support to each other.

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