A pair of ELCA missionaries in Tokyo set to return to the U.S. in the fall report a "boom" of baptism after two years of ministry and are looking to prepare the workings of their ministry to allow a new pastor take on the role.

Rev Eric and Christie Hanson, who are serving with Tokyo Lutheran Church and the Honggo Student Center noted in a blog post on Saturday on the ELCA website that for the first time in many years, the church is providing intentional ministries of social outreach and evangelism in both English and Japanese.

They reported a "boom" of new baptisms and membership growth in the past two years. The pair said the church has been "blessed with the fresh energy and gifts that our newly baptized members have brought into our community, and we are riding the Spirit that they bring to continue making Tokyo Lutheran a place where people of many nations and languages can find a spiritual home for worship, prayer, spiritual growth and social outreach."

They report that that head pastor, Rev. Kazuhiro Sekino, recently spoke with a couple of women who used to live near the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, but were forced to leave after high levels of radiation plagued the area.

The couple said they had relocated to Tokyo and had been attending the church.

They "have been so thankful that they could find a church in Tokyo that could help them get through the painful experience of their sudden relocation," they said.

The pair said they were grateful for providing that kind of ministry for people in need, especially after the disasters in Japan in recent years asked for continued prayers for them "so that we can continue being living examples of the love that God has for his children, especially those who are in search for relief from sin and pain."

The pair encouraged others in their respective mission fields and invited congregations to contact them about to ask questions or curiosities that they have about their work in Tokyo.