Interview: Mary Chikagami Lee, choir director of Stream of Praise

A very unique member of the Stream of Praise Music Ministries, Mary Chikagami Lee, is a Chinese born in Japan. She has composed and sung the first SOP Japanese gospel song.
Jan 01, 2006 05:00 PM EST

A very unique member of the Stream of Praise Music Ministries, Mary Chikagami Lee, is a Chinese born in Japan. She has composed and sung the first Japanese gospel song produced by SOP, which is called "Send me Lord". Meanwhile, she is a full time staff at SOP serving as a vocal coach, choir director and pastoral care.

Official figures show that Protestant Christians constitute less than 1 percent of the total population. Gospel Herald has invited her to speak briefly about her vision for Japan.

R: Reporter

M: Mary

R: Mary, you are born in Japan, how do you think music can change the nation and how music can help to bring the Gospel to the Japanese Christian?

D: If I know the answer, I will go and change the nation. I think one of the things I thought about last time I visited. I think the whole country just needs more praise and worship and what I learned from SOP is that even when SOP went to countries that are not Christians to lead the praise and worship, and not all of the congregation are singing, but when we praise and worship God. When we praise God, God inhabits in God’s people. Even though it is a small meeting and maybe not many people are singing, I just feel the whole country needs more praise and worship by flowing it out in the air, so that’s something that I could do. Not I could do, but somebody can do to change the nation.

Mary Chikagami Lee was born in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Master degree in Music Education. Prior to joining SOP, she served as the tour director for the Christian evangelical choir "The Japanese Continental Singers" for three years. She has extensive experience in teaching vocalists.