Mission Heroes

Edwin Dozier, Missionary to Japan

By Angie Weston

“He is more Japanese than we are,” said one of Edwin Dozier’s Japanese friends.¹Edwin Dozier, born the missionary kid of Charles and Maude Dozier, affected the lives of many through multiple ministry endeavors. He was born in 1908, the product of two cultures — American and Japanese — but the outpouring of a third culture, Christianity.

At a time when Japan had ‘hardly emerged from feudalism,’² his perspective was both the noble way of the samurai and the disciplined and loyal life of a Christian missionary home. His wife, Mary Ellen, spent a lifetime learning how very Japanese her husband was, echoing Edwin’s friend, “You are more Japanese than you are American!” Edwin’s behavior was not always understandable to Mary Ellen. But their love for one another alone was a testament to their love of Christ. In 1928 as Edwin studied at Wake Forest in North Carolina, he wrote to his parents in Japan about his love for Mary Ellen:

She is undoubtedly the loveliest girl I know of. I love her and very deeply … We have been absolutely open with each other. We have told each other of our ideals in every phase of life and also we have confessed to each other our shortcomings … As we were together we would turn to my little New Testament and read portions together and then in the sweetest communion we bowed our heads and prayed earnestly our souls’ desires and asked for God’s guidance in everything we said or did. Her ideals are indeed high and in many places she is my superior. I wish that I might be the man that she is the woman.³

Together, Edwin and Mary Ellen served as missionaries to Japan. They were appointed in 1932. From 1932 until Edwin’s death in 1969, the Doziers were faithful servants to the Christian faith.

Edwin’s life and ministry teachings impacted many. He was the first missionary to return to Japan after World War II and led with a vision the evangelization of the beloved Japanese people. He was diligent in his efforts to establish indigenous churches, churches which could be started and led by the Japanese people themselves, incorporating the unique aspects of their culture and heritage. Edwin was a friend to all and facilitated the birth of friendships between nationalities. “As a teacher and administrator, he gave his life to save a school when other Christian schools were being forced to close their doors because of violent attacks by radical students.”⁴

Edwin Dozier’s motto for life was that of his father’s: KAMI TO HITO TO NI MAKOTO TO AI WO. Truth and Love to God and Man.⁵ By Edwin’s unique background, sharing both an American and Japanese heritage, he became a crucial liaison between United States missionaries and Japanese Christians. “His ability to identify with both groups brought reconciliation and missions advance to people who desperately needed a reason for hope.”⁶ Though he was criticized for compromise and often misunderstood, Edwin was not one to compromise on principle.

He would compromise on methodology when there was a need. Because of his wide experience in committees and conferences, and because of his rich understanding and love for all people he tried to understand both sides of a question.

An understanding such as this is something we can all learn from Edwin Dozier, the missionary of Japan who walked in faith and humility.

¹ Lois Whaley. Edwin Dozier: Man of the Way. Birmingham, AL: Woman’s Missionary Union, 1983, foward.
² Ibid., preface.
³ Ibid., 69
⁴Ibid., preface.
⁵Ibid., 270.
⁶Ibid., back cover.
⁷Ibid., 256.