A patriarch and leader of the Church of God in Japan was inducted into the Church of God Theological Seminary’s Hall of Prophets. Kazumoto Yatsuzuka, pastor of Tokyo’s Shimomaruko Zion Church and national overseer of the denomination, accompanied by his wife, Akemi, was honored by the establishment of an endowment scholarship in his name.
Ed and Letha Heil, former missionaries in Japan and long-time friends of the Yatsuzukas, participated in the induction ceremony. Other participants were Max Morris, Lovell and Robert Cary, Jim and Doris Burns and Wayne Heil. Yatsuzuka has served two congregations in the 44 years of his pastoral ministry.
Yatsuzuka studied at Kyoto University, Yokohama Bible Institute and the Church of God Theological Seminary.
Induction into the Hall of Prophets, according to Seminary president Dr. Steven Land, is reserved for ministers whose service to God’s Kingdom has been meritorious. A candidate for the honor must have dedicated a significant portion of his or her life in ministry, be approved by the Seminary president and board, and be sponsored by a minimum $25,000 endowment scholarship.