OUR TEAM

Welcome to our missionary team…

Kelly&Kimberly Smith

Word of Life Japan Coordinator

Word of Life Bible Institute (‘01-’02)
Liberty University B.S. in Business and Religion (‘07)
Himeji Mission Japanese Language Institute (‘18-’20)

Kelly and Kim were married in 2011 and together felt a burden for Japan and sharing Christ with the Japanese. They moved their family to Japan in 2018. Kelly served as the SYME Director in 2020-2022 and in 2023 he became the Word of Life Coordinator.

Kazuaki&Mana Shiobara

SYME Coordinator

Word of Life Bible Institute (‘11-’12)

They both are graduates of the SYME program, and served within the ministry as local staff for several years. In 2024, God led them to join Word of Life as full-time missionaries. Through this ministry, they hope to share the love of Christ with many young people in Japan.

Takaaki&Lindsay Shirakawa

Youth Ministries Coordinator

Word of Life Bible Institute (‘23)

Takaaki was called to serve as a missionary to the youth of Japan based on his childhood experiences. He became a Christian in June 2019 through a missionary couple who graduated from the Word of Life Bible Institute. He met his wife, Lindsay, at his home church, and they were married in August 2022.

Jodi Davis

SYME Dean of English

Word of Life Bible Institute (‘87)
Tennessee Temple University (’91) B.S. in Elementary Education
Cairn University (’00) M.A. in Administrative Leadership
60-hour TEFL certificate

After teaching middle school for 15 years, God opened the door for Jodi to serve in Japan in 2006 with Word of Life Fellowship, Inc. She joined the SYME program as the Dean of English. In this role, Jodi’s primary responsibilities include training and orienting new teachers and staff, developing curriculum, creating schedules for both students and staff, as well as teaching and providing personal counseling.