Hi, I was invited by whomever runs your Twitter account to tell my story and connect with others here.

My name is Stephen Shores. I was first exposed to Japanese culture through anime (specifically 'Robotech') when I was in high school, back in 1996. Being a Christian, I became concerned at the immoral nature of much of the anime and manga that was finding its way to our shores. I quickly discovered the truth about Japan, that it was less than 1% Christian, and that there were comparatively few mission efforts (when compared to 'developing' nations in South America and Africa, for example). I heard of the difficulty in reaching the Japanese people, and my heart was convicted. I knew I had to do something.

A missionary couple invited me to Tokyo to stay with them for a couple of weeks. I explained my heart for Japan and the Japanese people to my parents. They were quick to discourage me, thinking it just another passing obsession, and said that they didn't have the money to send me there even on a short-term trip (though my father made a six-figure salary). Eventually I gave up on the idea of going to Japan until I became an adult and could high-tail it out of Snellville, GA.

(Charismatic alert) Keeping missions in mind over the years, I received a prophetic word in 1999 or 2000 from a well-respected and mature pastor of a local church, who told me and my wife that we were called to ministry. I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in 2001, and God told me that that I was called to be a 'king' before I would be a 'priest'.

That dream quickly crumbled as my wife (whom I married that same year) and I entered over eight years of poverty due to the post-9/11 IT industry crash and several dishonest employers. My wife and I with our two daughters, 7 and 3, have been living in the red for years, literally under the federal poverty level, struggling in debt.

In March of 2008, my Japanese interest got rekindled when I visited http://alljapaneseallthetime.com and realized that maybe, just maybe, it was possible. Maybe I could actually learn Japanese. In order to 'keep the vision before me', I started using the handle '2nihon' ('to Japan') and created a new email address, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I started connecting with people who were interested in Japan through blogging (http://2nihon.com), Twitter (http://twitter.com/2nihon), and Facebook (http://facebook.com/2nihon). In May, I started learning Japanese in earnest using the AJATT method (see the aforementioned http://alljapaneseallthetime.com for details). I didn't have enough money for books and materials, but people kept emailing or buying the books I needed for me.

Not long afterwards, I hooked up with a missionary to Japan, Paul Nethercott, through a blog that I 'happened upon' (http://worshipandthearts.blogspot.com). He invited me to Japan to help with a Christian film project in July of this year. While I received many encouraging 'signs' (random Internet people emailing and buying Japanese materials for me) along that year, the trip to Japan fell through for lack of support, and my dreams crumbled again.

I have been in earnest prayer over a 'calling' to Japan, whether this is actually a figment of my imagination 'confirmed' by false signs, or something real for which I am receiving constant discouragement and persecution. I had several (what I believe to be) prophetic dreams earlier this year and, after much thought and prayer, finally became aware of something that may be a 'missing link' in reaching Japan: the business world. The curious phrase 'Business Missionaries' came to me, and I started to get the impression that my family and I were called to Japan for me to work there in the IT industry, to both raise money for the Kingdom and reach businessmen (??????) for Christ.

Let me explain a little bit about this phrase 'business missionaries'. I believe that God is raising up businessmen all around the world to travel to Japan not to necessarily do 'missions work', but to work in the business world. I believe that if the men of Japan are reached for the Gospel, the women and children of the nation will follow. Until these are brought forth, I believe the return on investment, in terms of the spiritual harvest compared with the amount of missionary effort invested, will not be realized.

As I have said, I have had extensive discouragement in several areas, most notably from financial problems (we are still in extensive debt from years of poverty) and from lack of family support. My parents think that this is 'just another stupid obsession'. My aunt (who is on antidepressants herself) is wrongfully convinced that I am insane and refuses to talk to me any more. My mother-in-law is somewhat co-dependent, depressive, and fearful that we will go off and leave her alone. I only have one local friend who is into Japanese culture, and he isn't saved (yet). I have many Internet friends who are Christians and into Japan, but they are in similar situations and cannot help us.

Despite the constant discouragement, I still feel called to Japan. I am looking to connect with Japanese Christian businessmen and others who may feel called as 'business missionaries' to Japan, in order to either a) network my way into an IT job there or b) start a company there. I have been studying Japanese over a year and, while I am far from fluent, I have memorized the kana and over 2,000 kanji (using Heisig), and can understand and participate in (very) simple conversations.

That's my story. Sorry to ramble on so long. Please help me connect with other businessmen through email, LinkedIn, or the other sites mentioned above. If you can send me on a short-term trip, can assist financially or have wisdom to pass my way, please do so. Thank you very much.