The life of a missionary is always in transition. This month I will complete my stint as the missionary fellowship business manager and as a member of the field committee. One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects has been managing special relief offerings. Our missionary fellowship was able to send supplies and teams and provide over 300 bicycles and 266 fans this summer for Japanese churches to distribute to neighborhoods directly affected by the Great East Earthquake of 3/11. As a result, new churches are being birthed through these outreach events. For more info, see www.japanagmfrelief.blogspot.com.
Another transition is saying goodbye to short-term workers. This month our ministry team honored Amanda Fosburg and Liz Dunagan for their ministry among university students in Tokyo. They both touched so many lives that August was filled with goodbye parties.
Still another transition is re-focusing on campus ministry. This summer a new campus ministry was started at Meiji University in central Tokyo. So from this fall I will help lead that ministry as well as continue at Waseda University and at the University of Tokyo each week.
Also, at Tokyo Urban Church where I serve on staff, I will become more involved as we shift our ministry schedules among 3 different locations.
From September 5-12 I will go to Taiwan for a missions trip. We will perform music and minister in schools, culture centers, churches, and in bars. Please pray for our team’s preparations, safety, health, and for anointed ministry to set captives free.
As always, I want to say thank you for your prayers and faithful giving in spite of the economy. The exchange rate is at its lowest, but God is our provider. Let’s keep our hearts and minds fixed on Him as we look for His return!
volunteered along with the Japan A/G Bible school students at Shichigahama Volunteer Center. I worked with a team drying out photo albums and documents recovered from the beach. A TV crew came by and filmed the work as individuals came to search for lost photos in hopes of recovering lost memories. I was especially struck by the life experiences I was viewing as I laid out family photos of weddings, baby pictures, school graduations, family vacations, etc. I spoke to one lady who found two photo albums. She was really happy to be reunited with snapshots of her family.
This year has passed so quickly! With God’s grace I have served as the business manager for the field office while balancing ministry at two campuses, Tokyo Urban Church, and the Global University Japan office.
This fall our ministry team hosted 2 more teams from churches in Hawaii. Hawaiian dance and ukulele lessons were a great way to meet and interact with students on 3 campuses and with people at 7 churches. At one church, over 90 people came for Hawaiian night on a Sunday night. The pastor said it was the most first-time visitors ever for an outreach event they had every had!
Twice a month we have prayer using the International House of Prayer format of worship music and prayer. In October we joined with Tokyo YWAM and Son Rise, a ministry team from Australia for prayer for Tokyo. On November 23rd (a national holiday) we had a Giant Monopoly Game day. Students and university office workers joined us for a day of fun and building relationships.
During the Christmas season Japanese will be most open to the message of Christ because they want to experience Christmas. Please pray for outreach events from December 10-19.
At the end of October, I returned to the U.S. for my grandmother’s sudden passing away. Louise Pace, better known as “Mamaw,” was my “2nd mother” and was very much loved by all who met her. I appreciate your prayers and words of comfort. Incidentally, I will be returning home to Alabama for the Christmas holidays.
I appreciate your faithful support and prayers in the past year. You are helping to bless many lives. May Father God bless you, your family, and your ministry during the holidays! May you have a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A
BLESSED 2011!
By Susan Ricketts and Joyce Kitano
NOTE: This article was written for the Japan A/G missions newsletter, The Works.
The Malaysian Assemblies of God Youth Department hosted the 3rd Asia Pacific Youth Alive Conference at Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia from December 10-12. Over 2,000 young people from 29 countries were represented. Asian countries included Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. Joyce, Yuri (Chi Alpha staff member), and I joined the 35-member group from Japan to participate in the conference.
The guest speakers from Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK spoke on the theme “Speak to the Nations” with the desire “to empower Asia Pacific youth with vision for their nation and for the nations beyond…John the Baptist was a voice in the wilderness crying out, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’ Our youth will declare, ‘Prepare the way of the Risen Lord!’ While the nations cry for truth and salvation, let the youth rise up and be a voice to the nations (taken from the conference flyer).”
At the last Asia Pacific Youth Alive conference two years ago, eight people went to represent Japan. We were excited that this time 35 people from Japan were able to attend!. On the second day, after the session “Hearing the Voice of God,” there was a time to listen to what God is saying to the nations of Asia Pacific. We Japan delegates were greatly encouraged as we heard the following prophetic words that were given specifically for Japan. There were more prophecies for Japan than for any other country.
#1 (Pastor Iris Lee, ministerial staff, Metro Tabernacle A/G, KL)
When I see Japan, when I talk to different ones, the impression that I see is that God is going to move Japan among the young people. The old is past. There is a new generation. It will be strong and a lion for Jesus. They will preach the gospel. The old culture will pass away. The new is coming. God is bringing a new season, new direction… to your country. A fresh new(ness) is coming to Japan. God, release newness to Japan.
Young people, take your position to rise up to respond. God hears your cries. God knows you’ve been crying for your nation. God is going to use you powerfully. Believe and trust God. God is going to bring revival to your generation. Be faithful...Your labor is not in vain because God sees your heart and God knows He will bring it to pass. Young people, set your vision and get ready to see the freedom of revival brought to your nation.
#2
I see a tsunami from Japan. Now, Japan, is your time. A tsunami for Japan…Revival… a tsunami from Japan will spread around the nations.
#3
The land of the rising sun, the Son of righteousness has not forgotten you. The Lord has not forgotten you because many people are praying around you and within you. There is a budding forth. I see a budding forth from the land of Japan, the land of the rising sun. There will come an awakening, a fresh awakening within the churches. Many churches will be planted. Many more churches will be planted. It has been a hard ground, but the Lord will say to the believers of Japan, “Do not be disheartened for your day will surely come. Do not give up for the Son of righteousness will rise upon you.”
#4
This word is for Japan also. God is not slow in keeping His promises. The kingdom of God is stronger than the kingdom of darkness. Your prayers can break the bondage of sin and unbelief.
#5 (Rev. Michael Lim, Youth Pastor at Charis Christian Centre, KL)
This word is for Japan. This picture kept coming to my mind. It’s the picture of the flag of Japan. The flag of Japan has a round red circle. What I sense the Lord is saying that this red portion represents that revival will come to Japan. God is going to pour out His holy fire. The red represents His holy fire that He is going to pour forth upon Japan. It is going to keep on falling upon the land of Japan. And I see the white portion (of the flag). God says the white is that He is going to do a cleansing, a cleansing before the holy fire comes. He’s going to do a cleansing. The old tradition shall pass away, and new things shall come and consume Japan. The men will rise up mightily for His glory.
#6 (Rev. Clement Wong, Pastor/Northern District Superintendent/Director of Youth Alive for Malaysia A/G)
During his message based on Ezekiel 37 that night, he prophesied the following to Japan:
The Lord says, “The old has passed away. All things have become new. God is raising a new generation who will take Japan for Jesus. God wants to bless Japan and as He has blessed Japan economically, He will bless you spiritually. Get ready, the Church in Japan, because there will be a great transfer of wealth from the secular to the Church. And when that happens, Japan, rise up, for you will lift up the nations of the world. For too long you have looked within yourself. You have been inward-looking and you have said, “We’ve been too small. We are so few. How can we even touch other nations? We are interested in touching our nation first.”
But, Japan, I am asking you, “Lift up your eyes and see beyond the boundaries of your nation. For when you see beyond the boundaries of your nation and touch other nations around you, God will bless you. God will bring increase to your churches. God will bring increase and bring people into the kingdom of God. The church in Japan will grow.
There is a new generation. There are young people coming into the kingdom and into the church. Young people pastoring churches in Japan. God says, “Rise up and bless other nations. You have sent your Toyotas and Mitsubishis. Now send your missionaries. Now, send your finances. Now, send your people. Do not say, “We are small, for you will do great things.”
…I will live to see the day when men of God from Japan start preaching in different nations of the world. Teach your young people English lessons. I’m serious. Teach them English. Force them to speak English. We have a lot of Toyotas and Mitsubishis. We want missionaries…It’s time for the Church to rise up.
This past year has been an amazingly filled year of ministry. This past winter our ministry team began planning for summer teams. In the spring we held a training seminar and began the new school year at Waseda University and at the University of Tokyo. In May the Japan Assemblies of God (the organization that I partner with as a U.S. Assemblies of God missionary) celebrated 60 years of Protestant missions and then the next day the first summer missions team arrived to help with ministry on campuses and in churches. The second team arrived right after the first team left to carry on the momentum. In June eight summer workers arrived for orientation training and then six were sent off to various churches to teach English while two worked directly with our Chi Alpha team in Tokyo. Three more teams arrived in succession and continued the momentum.
An amazing part of hosting all the teams is that several students sensed God solidifying a call to Japan. Anna Lightcap who came with the last team this summer returned this fall as a short-term missionary working with a church in Yokkaichi. This month the team from the University of South Alabama Chi Alpha led by Mason Corwin and a team from International House of Prayer University led by one of our summer workers Robert Monson returned to help with Christmas outreaches. A few others are contemplating returning to Japan to serve on a longer-term basis.
From December 9-14 our ministry team went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Asia Pacific Youth Alive Conference with the Japan group. Twenty-nine nations were represented as we heard God's challenge to "speak to the nations." Six different prophetic words that were spoken directly concerning Japan has stirred great expectation for an unprecedented move of God among the young generation of Japan.
December is always a ministry-packed month of outreach because the people of Japan love the atmosphere of Christmas so much that they open their hearts more to the gospel than at any other time of the year. This past Sunday Tokyo Urban Church, the Japanese church that I attend and where I serve on the leadership team, had a Christmas service. Several non-Christians came to hear our Christmas Live Concert of a euphonium and a gospel singer. The gospel singer was me, by the way. This week my bilingual cell group will host a small Christmas party as an outreach to non-Christmas friends and co-workers.
On a personal note, I traveled to Thailand during the week of Thanksgiving to celebrate with my brother Jason and his family who serve in Thailand as missionaries. My dad took his second international trip and joined us. It was really wonderful to spend time with family since I will not be going home to Alabama for Christmas this year. Instead, I will be spending Christmas with my missionary family here in Tokyo so I will add the Southern flair to the meal with my grandmother’s cornbread dressing.
As I review the past year that has flown by so quickly, I believe that this year has been a time of preparation. God has been calling out new laborers from the summer teams to come partner together in the harvest of the youth of Japan. I so appreciate your steadfast prayers and sacrificial support during what has been a difficult financial year. You are part of the preparation for God's purposes in Japan. Thank you so much for believing with me and our ministry team as we look forward to what God has in store for 2010.
Have a Merry Christmas and a very blessed 2010!
r 13-16 was the Japan Assemblies of God annual missionary fellowship meeting held in Karuizawa, in the mountains outside Tokyo. It was refreshing to fellowship with the Lord and with other missionaries serving all over Japan in such a beautiful place. At the business meeting I was appointed the business manager for our missionary office in Tokyo for next year. From now until next February I will be in training. Transitioning into this new responsibility will mean adjusting my ministry schedule with Chi Alpha campus ministry, Global University, and Tokyo Urban Church. Please pray that I will have wisdom with this transition.
This summer has been the busiest I have ever had in Japan. From May 8 to July 7, our staff hosted five teams who came to serve at universities and churches.
The first team came from Trinity Bible College, an Assemblies of God college in Ellendale, South Dakota. They ministered at the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, ICA Tokyo and GAP Church (bilingual churches in Tokyo) and in Niigata prefecture.
The second team came from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. They ministered at our Chi Alpha ministries in Tokyo as well as at two Japanese churches. They did a powerful drama which impacted the seekers at one of the churches. Personally, it was great to host my first team from my home state and the university where I used to do ministry.
For several years the Japan’s Youth Committee has partnered to host American college students to teach summer English classes at various churches. This year’s group was the best ever! They came from churches and Chi Alpha groups in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, and Hawaii to teach for 2 months. Robert and Amanda, 2 of the 8 students, are working directly with me ministering on campuses and at churches.
A team of Chi Alpha students from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, spent their first week in Tokyo reaching out to students from their sister university, Asia University. They spent the next 10 days working with a church in Yokohama teaching English classes and ministering at the campuses to which that church reaches out.
The next team came from my missionary colleague’s home church, First Assembly of God in Honolulu, Hawaii. They only spent 2 days with us but they ministered at our monthly Tokyo area prayer meeting. The next day they ministered at the University of Tokyo using Hawaiian dance and music, another popular way to reach out to Japanese youth.
The last team from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale has been coming for the past six years. They made up the largest team which made logistics around Tokyo a little more challenging, but it was a great time of ministry.
This year we had a new ministry opportunity open up at Seikei University. A professor who is a Christian teaching at a secular college invited us to speak in his English classes all week. While there is freedom of religion in Japan, in practice that is not always true. Amazingly, we were allowed to openly share the gospel. The team shared stories, conversation, gospel music, and drama in the classes and passed out Gideon Bibles and 200 copies of Book of Hope.
Later in the week, the professor told me the following. One student had returned to class after having been absent. A high school friend had committed suicide the previous week and the student was still struggling with the tragic loss of his friend. As the team shared about hope in Jesus in class, the professor noted that the student was fighting back tears. It was apparent that God was speaking to him probably for the first time in his life.
In hosting all these teams, it's clear that the Lord of the harvest is raising up workers. Other missions organizations here have also been hosting many summer workers. God is pursing the Japanese with His relentless love to bring them to Himself. Japan may be less than 1% Christian, but God is busy planting seeds in the lives of the youth of Japan through these summer workers’ lives. Please pray that the Lord will show us how to better cultivate what has been planted.
The past few months are now a blur with all the activity that took place. In March We started weekly prayer at the student center. We held a Chi Alpha Boot Camp for student leadership training on March 13-14. We tried to make it fun and practical.
At the end of March, I went to district youth camp. The guest speaker from Singapore challenged the youth to dedicate themselves to serve God wherever they go. I was most impressed during the testimony time that all GUYS boldly stood up and shared their vision of what God wants to do through them. God is raising up a new generation here in Japan!
On April 13, we kicked off the new school year with Power Praise Night at the student Center. Several Christian freshmen at secular colleges came and they seem really excited at how God will use them on their campuses this year.
Also, we started up weekly ministry again at the University of Tokyo and at Waseda University. Our group at the University of Tokyo has been reduced because of graduating students so we are looking forward to our summer teams coming to help us reach new students. Also, at Waseda we need to reach new students. We weren’t able to register as a formal group this year, so we have to be creative in how and where we meet.
This month (May) teams from Trinity Bible College and University of South Alabama will come right after the Japan Assemblies of God Missions Conference. In June teams from Central Washington University, 1st Assembly (Honolulu, Hawaii), and Southern Illinois University–Carbondale will come and help us minister on campuses. Please pray for us and these teams.
In addition, 8 summer workers will come to teach English at various churches or to do campus ministry in Tokyo. We will be doing an orientation with them from June 2-5 after which they will go to their 2-month assignments. Please pray that they will be able to adjust quickly to a new culture as they serve the Japanese people.
Lastly, I’d like to report an answer to prayer. Ayame, a staff member who has served with us for the past 8 years, resigned at the end of May. She was burned out due to taking care of both of her invalid parents. We’ve prayed that she could get them into nursing homes, but God not only answered that prayer but enabled her father to become a believer! “God is good and what He does is good (Psalms 119:68.”
How's your Christmas season so far?
The "Unforgettable Christmas" outreach went well Friday night (December 12) at the Chi Alpha Student Center.
Shelley Carl, U.S. missionary, sang and played a couple of Christmas songs on the guitar and then spoke. She based her message on a new Christmas song "A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill. You can hear it on YouTube here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2o1uxzI-hA&feature=related
At different times she had us get in small groups to discuss her points. We talked about unwanted pregnancy and what we would do if we knew someone in that situation. I think it was really good for Asian young people to openly talk about this. Sexuality is rarely discussed in a Christian setting in Asian churches.
