Purpose/Vision

The purpose of CAN is to connect, equip, train, and encourage creative individuals to be effective leaders of church renewal and growth.

CAN accomplishes its this purpose through the projects listed on this site and by cooperating with a broad range of individuals, churches and ministries who share our vision and values.

Core Values

Encourage all levels of artists

Exercise spiritual gifts & talents

Edify the church & fellow artists

Excel in artistic expressions

Engage with not-yet-Christians

Empower for effective ministry

Advisory Board

Bob Holmes United Airlines executive (retired)

Dr. Leland Eliason Provost Bethel Seminary St. Paul, MN

Masaki Iwamoto Song writer, arranger, performer

Mark Joseph Producer/Author/Promoter & President of MJM Entertainment Group

Risa Yamakoshi Radio Announcer, Inter FM Tokyo

Byron Spradlin Founder & Executive Director of ACT

Makoto Fujimura Painter, IAM Director, Member National Council of the Arts (USA)

Leadership & Organization

CAN is a growing international network of creative, artistic Christians. An “open” network with no official membership, we have a flat organizational structure that enables us to respond rapidly to new opportunities and challenges. CAN is an official project of, as well as financially accountable to, TEAM Japan.

Director: Paul Nethercott
Paul and his wife Nancy live in Japan and are members of a mission called TEAM. Church planters for 18 years, they love music, people, Japan and have a vision for using the arts to communicate the gospel in winsome, effective ways, and to build up the church in Japan.

Associate Director: Ken Taylor
Ken and his wife Bola were professional jazz musicians in Asian nightclubs. After meeting Christ, they became Conservative Baptist missionaries to Japan. Ken and Bola are warm, hospitable people with a heart for Japan and a vision that is contagious.