Newsletter, November (English ver.)

 

Happy Thanksgiving! This year I, again, prepared a Thanksgiving Dinner. About 15 people came to my place and had great time of fellowship. It was my first time to prepare this dinner, including the turkey, by myself (with some help). It was a great opportunity for me to recognize what a joy it is to serve. This break was a good time of rest. Now I would like to report my ministries for the past months.

■Joy of Salvation and Growth■□
September was a time of great news! Tomomi, whom I have gotten to know through surf school, began joined the Gospel choir in May. Around the same time, her grandmother in Japan became physically weaker and this condition brought us to pray together. While she was in Japan taking care of her dying grandmother, I was reminded to continue praying for her and her situation. She told me she felt that she was being prayed for while she was in Japan. After her visit to Japan, we decided to being studying the Bible together. One Friday after Gospel practice, we had an opportunity to come over to my place to talk and have Bible study. She had been involved in Gospel Choir for several years even before her coming to the States. That was why she was familiar with and had an interest in Jesus Christ, for the lyrics of the songs were all about Him. Then, a surprising sentence came from her mouth. "I think my God is Jesus Christ." I was a bit overwhelmed by those words. I explained the Gospel, our sin, God's love revealed upon Christ's cross, and His resurrection. She was listening and nodding. Then the next sentence she said was, "What a thing I did to Jesus." She clearly understood sin and Christ's redemption. Her heart was already cultivated enough to be reaped. Then, we prayed together before God that she accepted Christ into her heart. I am also amazed by how fast she has been growing spiritually. We continue to meet once a week to learn what it means to become a Christian and how to live as a Christian by listening to the Bible. She has been transformed by the word of God. I am so thankful and joyful that I can report about this. Please continue to pray for Tomomi so that she may grow more in the Lord.

□Trip to the South□■
In October, I visited the South for about 2 weeks. I was able to visit 31 different people and fellowships in Texas, North & South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
In Texas

I visited Dallas and Houston in Texas. I had opportunities to meet with and listen to how Japanese ministries and returnee follow up are taking place from Japanese pastors and church staff from 3 different Japanese churches in Dallas. I also visited the church that has previously sent many students to equipper conference and saw familiar faces. It was a valuable time to meet the pastor and church staff so that I can share the importance of returnee ministry. In fact, they all became Christian outside of Japan, and they understood and agreed with its significance.

I saw a common concern amongst the different churches I visited. Students attending a Christian college and who became Christian are attending English-speaking churches, and do not have enough discipleship training in their mother tongue prior to their return to Japan. I praised God that these churches have recognized such needs. To be able to have such training would be of great value for the students. However, in reality, it is difficult for Japanese churches to collaborate with English speaking churches to prep the students for their eventual return. My prayer for them is that somehow that they can become closer and work together so that more returnees may be prepared before their returns.

In the South, North Carolina, and Tennessee
God sent me a partner to travel with to SC, NC, and TN. She is a staff worker of a ministry called "Second Level" (www.secondlevel.org) located in Atlanta that emphasizes on discipleship and utilizes online resources. We visited Japanese pastors, international ministries staff workers, and Japanese students in those states. In NC, we visited two Japanese pastors. One church is located in the area where Japanese business men and their families live. In order to effective in ministry, that church outreaches to such families and their children. Another church pastor has a heart for cities that do not have Japanese pastors. He visits neighborhood cities and states to encourage the local Japanese people. I witnessed "customized" ministries that specifically target the various needs of the Japanese at each location. Those differences are necessary to build the Kingdom of God. Every responsibility is entrusted by One God for His Kingdom. Also, seeing that people are constantly returning to Japan or moving around to different locations, I recognize how "being equipped" is applicable to each person.

In Georgia
I stayed in Atlanta. I had opportunities to visit pastors from three different Japanese churches. There is a JCFN regional chapter called "AJCF" in Atlanta monthly. It focuses on equipping Japanese Christians in the South (particularly Atlanta). People from other states also drive hours to attend this monthly meeting. It was my first time participating in AJCF. Each month, volunteer staff workers plan the meeting with the focus to equip. Also, AJCF is the place for people from different churches to get together. Most of the AJCF volunteer staff attended WIT leadership camp in the summer, and I was encouraged to be able to observe how they have grown so much since the summer. Following the AJCF meeting, we had a chance to reflect on that night's service, dinner together, and plan for the next meeting. I am so thankful that we have such a connection regardless of where we reside. Please pray for AJCF to be further used for the glory of the Lord.

□SEEK 09□■
The day after I came back from my trip to the South, I attended an event called "SEEK09." This event is used by Christian Japanese students in Los Angeles to evangelize to other Japanese students. They gather from different churches and ministries, but have the same vision to reach out to Japanese students. This was the second event since last year. It was not only meant to be an evangelistic event, but also to bring blessings to the local churches. It was made up of three parts: An athletic event, dinner, and stage performance. There were people visiting from Northern CA and other states in order to encourage them. I am not sure about the exact number of attendants, but I have heard that approximately 300-500 people came. People accepted Christ at the event and following the event. A vision from the verse, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch" was shared at SEEK. Now is the time to prepare the net prior to fishing. The net represents networking. When the time comes, we will catch the entire nation of Japan with this net. That is why people coming from different state and people in different countries prayed for SEEK. I was very excited to see with my own eyes this part of the vision at SEEK. At the same time, I felt privileged to know that equipper conference plays a big part in creating this net for networking. What a privilege it is that I can help God fish! I want to keep praying and working for this net so that the mesh may be become even smaller and smaller.

□What's Going on with Chihiro□■
I am gathering more documentation and references for my application of the green card. I believe the next step following this process is to have someone sent from Immigration to our JCFN office. If everything goes well, I should be receiving my card. Now is the time to wait. Please pray for each upcoming process.
Urbana Conference in December, Second Level Ministries meeting in January, and Japan trip for All Nations Returnees Conference around February or March. I will continue to have different trips each month from now on.
Dec. 27th - Jan. 1st: Urbana09 (MO) I will fly to St. Louis on 25th and come back to LA on the 1st.
Jan. 15th - 18th: Second Level Ministries Meeting (GA)
Mar. 19th - 22nd: ANRC10

■Prayer for Chihiro■□
♪ Thanksgiving ♪
 For the protection and guidance of my trip to South.
 For supporters continuously being provided.
♪ Requests ♪
 For the green card application process.
 For wisdom when I relate with and minister to others.
 For each trip to be safe and protected.
 For financial supporters to be provided consistently.

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このページは、COが2009年11月29日 07:20に書いたブログ記事です。

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