Newsletter in English: 2010年6月アーカイブ

Summer has arrived in the States as Japan enters its rainy season. I am praying for you, especially, during this time of year. Ever since I returned back from Japan in early April, I have been in a "preparation period." We had our annual joint staff meeting to plan for the new fiscal year and also focused on planning for events that will follow later this year. In the midst, I had a chance to go back to Japan for a few days to attend my cousin's wedding. I am so thankful that I have been protected everyday. Thank you all for your prayers!!


■Note...Things on My Mind...■□

In June, we had our annual joint staff meeting, which I will get into detail a bit later. I had to turn in my self-evaluation for the previous year. As I reflected on 2009, my third year as a full-time minister, I confirmed the reason I was called into this ministry. I realized that my gifts are being used as I regularly communicate with regional leaders in various places and am personally involved in discipleship and returnees' re-entry preparation. I thank God for reminding me of this.

Some changes will be taking place in JCFN. One staff is going to resign as another is currently raising support to join the team. And yet, another is taking a sabbatical leave for a few months and another is preparing for marriage. Even more, as I write this report, the JCFN US headquarters is still looking for a place to relocate to. Many things are in transition; in this special season, I can feel that God is teaching me to trust.


I have heard that "to worry" is the opposite of "to worship." I was reminded that as worry and become anxious, my worship was becoming sloppy and trusting in God was not being prioritized. I really pray that I will be able to put my trust in His hands.

I may have mentioned it here before, but there is one thing that I always try to maintain, in spite of my conditions. That is to intentionally have a personal relationship with three people. This is something that I learned from Jesus, who had an especially close relationship with three of the 12 disciples. Like Him, I was able to commit to having a personal relationship with three people this past year. I thank God for guiding me through.

Currently, I am meeting up on a weekly basis with a new Christian for her discipleship. I am also mentoring a girl on Skype since last summer. She had lived in the U.S. for 10 years and became a Christian. First, it started as a requirement of her Bible College, but it has continued even after that program has finished. She actually returned to Japan in May. So I had a chance to follow her through her re-entry process both before and after her return. Her goal is to find a body of Christ to belong to and a good mentor in Japan. The third person is a girl who came to the U.S. three years ago to study, who became a Christian a year later. She has been involved with campus ministry, where she came to the Lord. I have been mentoring her and now helping her to prepare for her return to Japan next month. She is actually serving at JCFN as a short-term intern this summer.

Through these relationships, God has been teaching me the importance of first entering into His presence even before I can begin to look after someone else. Also, spending time with the girls has given me the precious experience to try to more closely relate to the returnees. Please remember those who I am meeting with in your prayers.


□ec 10 Planning Committee Meeting□■

As I reported in the previous newsletter, the ec 10 preparation is ongoing. Committee members met face-to-face in June. While I was in the meeting, I was reminded of how I thrilled I had been to lead meetings at the previous conferences. This year, my position has changed and I was mainly there for support. It was interesting and I enjoyed seeing the great team for this year's ec. As I witnessed the committee members seriously praying and discussing about ec becoming a place to equip returnees, I committed myself to pray that God may use ec in a great way. Please continuously pray for the preparation.

The theme of this year's ec is "Reflect His Holiness - God is within You." The hope is for the conferees to be enter into the process of sanctification in order to become more like Jesus Christ. I pray that the returnees have the assurance of faith, stand firmly in it, and be commissioned to Japan and the world as a reflection of God's holy characteristics. Please pray that those who God is calling to ec may be able to attend and that their need may be met.

For details, check the ec website.


□Annual Joint Staff Meeting□■

June 10th - 13th, we had our annual joint staff meeting. For four straight days, we got together for discussion and planning. Last year, it was held on-line. It was good to meet in person. Since we met in the U.S., only the full-time staff got together, which consists of four staff members. Although it was just the four of us, it was a really good to all be together. Besides me, the rest of the staff have been serving at JCFN for more than 10 years. So sometimes, I could not necessarily keep up with what they were talking about. Regardless, I was thankful to have such a wonderful team to work with in God's ministry.

After ANRC (conference) was held in March, new movements have been born amongst the returnees living in various regions of Japan. The next ANRC will be held in November of 2012. Until then, we are looking forward to seeing these movements in each region and good network to follow-up with the returnees. The networking that is occurring has been termed ANRConnection. Returnees in different places will focus on the same goal and follow up and encourage each another. Those who follow up returnees are called "bridge builders" and we hope to see them everywhere. In order to do that, we recognize the importance to visit each region to cast the vision and encourage each other - this was the main topic discussed during the joint staff meeting.

Now, as for my job description for 2010, most of the responsibilities will not change. However, one big thing was added. That is that I will be traveling around Japan for vision casting, which I just wrote about. In April when I received my green card, I prayed that I may be obedient to the opportunities that God gives me. This is a time to obey God. It is true that there are some benefits to travel to/in Japan by having a green card. It will be easier to go out of and come back into the U.S. with this status, and I will be eligible to obtain JR pass which makes the travel reasonably. Moreover, I recognize the benefit of me being overseas so that I may travel around and meet people. Please pray that I may have this trip to Japan with obedience and humbleness.


□What's Going on with Chihiro□■

Summer is here. There will be different events happening during the summer. In July, we will visit retreats held in Southern California to promote ec. Also, there will be a board meeting and WIT leadership camp. Besides, I will travel to Spain for Europe Japanese Christian conference. Then, I will be in Japan from August to October. Please pray for my physical protection and that I may be able to accomplish God's ministry.

Jul. 12th - 15th: JCFN board meeting (Northern CA)
Jul. 22nd - 24th: WIT10 (CA)
Jul. 27th - Aug. 9th: Europe Japanese Christian Conference (Madrid, Spain) and trip to London
August - October: Trip to Japan
Dec. 27th - Jan. 1st: ec 10 (CA)


■Prayer for Chihiro■□

♪ Thanksgiving ♪
- For protection during my trip to Japan (vacation).
- For supporters continuously being provided.

♪ Requests ♪
- That I am able to obey God's voice.
- For my home church, Chofu Baptist Church.
- For the JCFN headquarter relocation.
- For wisdom for planning of my trip to Japan.
- For financial supporters to be provided consistently.