With Gratitude for the Past Half-Century and Hope for the Future: Sendai Stake Center Open House and Farewell Ceremony for Former Kamisugi Meetinghouse

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From June 18 to 28, 2026, the Sendai Stake welcomed community members and invited guests from various organizations to tour the new building and participate in fellowship events. During the open house, 261 visitors attended. On June 27, a farewell ceremony was also held for the former Kamisugi meetinghouse, which had served members in the Sendai area for nearly 50 years. A total of 209 former and current members and friends gathered from across Japan for the occasion.

The new building was constructed approximately 200 meters from the former meetinghouse, which had become increasingly difficult to maintain due to age. The open house was organized with a desire to make the new meetinghouse a place of welcome for the community and to provide an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the Church, its beliefs, and its activities.

Visitors participated in guided tours led by Church members. Exhibits highlighted humanitarian service, family history efforts, and educational programs, while the baptismal font and chapel were also open for viewing. The chapel particularly impressed many guests, who commented on its peaceful atmosphere and the sense of calm they felt while there.

Throughout the open house, a variety of community-focused activities were held, including disaster preparedness cooking demonstrations, rope-tying workshops for emergency situations, children's English classes, cultural exchange gatherings, and study-abroad information sessions. Families, students, and local residents participated in these events. The disaster preparedness cooking activity was especially popular and provided both practical instruction and opportunities for meaningful interaction among neighbors.

The open house also welcomed representatives from religious organizations, local government, and community groups. In addition to learning more about the Church's facilities and programs, visitors engaged in conversations about faith and community service, fostering warm relationships that transcended differences in background and belief.

Guests shared positive impressions such as, "I felt peaceful just being in the chapel," "I was impressed by the Church's educational and volunteer initiatives," and "The emphasis on family history and honoring ancestors was particularly meaningful." For many, the exhibits provided their first introduction to the scriptures and teachings of the gospel, making the event a valuable opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the Church.

During the open house, a farewell ceremony for the former Kamisugi meetinghouse was held on June 27. For nearly five decades, the building had served as a center of gospel activity in the Sendai area, where countless members strengthened their faith and experienced important milestones in their lives.

The ceremony included the screening of historic footage from the chapel's construction as well as personal testimonies and memories shared by members who helped build the meetinghouse and those who worshipped there over the years. At the time of its construction, members organized fundraising bazaars and donation drives, making significant sacrifices and giving countless hours of service to bring the project to completion. Images of young members working side by side on the construction left a deep impression on those in attendance.

President Yuji Sato, president of the Sendai Stake, reflected on the building's legacy:

"In this meetinghouse, I received countless blessings and grew in the gospel alongside many friends. The relationships we build with one another are precious and eternal. I hope we can carry forward the faith of those who came before us as we look toward the future Sendai Japan Temple."

Elder Motoshige Karino also shared a message of hope:

"The closing of this building is not an ending but a new beginning. The Lord loves the people of Sendai."

Even after the ceremony concluded, reunions continued throughout the building as old friends renewed acquaintances and shared memories. Across generations, participants reflected on experiences that demonstrated how the meetinghouse had been far more than a building. It had been a place where faith was nurtured and lives were blessed.

President Koji Ishizaki, first counselor in the Sendai Stake presidency and chair of the open house organizing committee, said:

"I believe those who visited left with a feeling of joy. That was possible because Church members serving during the open house reflected the light of Christ through their example. This experience has become a new starting point as we look ahead to the future Sendai Japan Temple."

The open house for the new Sendai Stake Center and Kamisugi meetinghouse, together with the farewell ceremony for the former building, provided an opportunity to express gratitude for nearly fifty years of blessings while renewing hope for the future and the eventual construction of the Sendai Japan Temple.