Singing in Chinese in 1992

Today as I was looking for some info online, I happened across this video posted by another University of Alabama Chi Alpha alumnus, Mike Wilhelm. Although this video is not directly related to Japan, it is indirectly related to my going to Japan. When I was a student and then later on staff at the University of Alabama with Chi Alpha, I met many students from around the world. I found that I was intrigued with Asians, in particular, and wondered if God might call me to Asia someday.

A Chinese student taught us the Chinese pronunciation and lyrics within two weeks for the Chinese New Year's celebration at The University of Alabama on February 8, 1992. I remember obsessively practicing so much that I picked up my guitar to help with singing an Asian melody. I also remember that afterwards folks thought that we all had been studying Chinese for a while. They were surprised to hear that we had learned the song in just two weeks.

Later, I sang this song to connect with university students when I visited China in 1999.

Interestingly, the guy introducing us in Chinese WAS studying Chinese and is now a seminary professor in Japan. His sister and her husband are missionaries in Japan. She was the one who introduced me to Chi Alpha when we were students at The University of Alabama.

Promotional Video for the Chi Alpha Student Center

As I've said in previous blogs, Chi Alpha Japan now has a student center. It is presently being renovated. Please watch the following video and let me know what you think.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Great news! As of February 25, I received financial clearance from my missions organization, AGWM. That means that my budget has been raised and that I can purchase airfare. Soon thereafter, I bought a one-way ticket with a departure date of May 7 from the Huntsville, Alabama airport to Tokyo on Continental Airlines. It will be an early departure (6 AM) so I don't envision anyone except family being there to see me off. Needless to say, I'm excited about returning.

God has been so faithful in the support-raising endeavors. In fact, I haven't felt any real pressure to meet the budget goal, but I've sensed Jehovah Jireh's incredible grace. I still have two months of scheduled services to go, but I plan to enjoy ministering and connecting with people here at home. It's actually amazing that I'm now having to say "no" to invitations. WOW!

Almost There

As of this month my support base is at the 95% level. That means that about $200 in monthly support remains to be met. Thank you to those of you who have either joined my support team or have stepped up your support during the past few months.

Join me in praying that I can finish up this month and get the financial clearance that I need before buying airfare. Due to the fact that a missionary co-worker will return to the U.S. in June, I need to return in early May so that we can transition ministry responsibilities.

You might remember in previous news that our ministry team was given a church building from the Japan Assemblies of God to use as the Japan Chi Alpha Student Center for discipleship/evangelism. The building is rent-free but needs renovation. In January we received an initial estimate of $200,000. After more consideration, we now have an estimate of $80,000 for:

* Soundproofing the sanctuary

* Putting in a new kitchen

* Dividing the bathroom into men's/women's

* Putting screens on all the windows (upstairs and down)

* Upgrading the electricity box from 30 amp to 60 amp

Our missionary fellowship has already given us a loan for $70,000 which will cover the upfront costs for the contractor which need to be paid in cash. We have to pay 1/3 in cash when we sign the contract, 1/3 in the middle, and 1/3 when the work is finished.

We also need equipment like drums, keyboard, mikes, etc. for the center. This would be a great project for youth groups.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is always a wonderful time for evangelism in Japan. People want to experience Christmas and thus are very open. About 130 people attended this year's Japan Chi Alpha Christmas event. This year it was a jazz concert with Steve Sacks, an American saxophone player who is also a Christian. Many people who were first-time visitors/non-Christians responded how touched they were during the evening.

Also, this year the Japanese version of "The Nativity" movie has been released in the theaters in Japan. According to one missionary, non-Christians have been very moved seeing this movie.

Yesterday I read an article from which I'd like to share an excerpt:

"Jesus Christ is all in all. This is the testimony of Scripture. Moses, by whom came the Law, testified that grace and truth would come by Christ. He is portrayed in Genesis as the Promised See, the Isaac who was not spared, the Joseph sold by his brethren and exalted as Savior and Prince.

"He is the sacrificial Lamb of Exodus, the Perfect Offering of Leviticus, the Sin-Bearer of Numbers, and the all-sufficient Guide of Deuteronomy.

"Throughout the Psalms, the Prophets, the four Gospels, the Acts, and the Epistles, Christ is all in all. Little wonder that the millions of the glory world join with loud voices in proclaiming, 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' (Revelation 5:12)."

He is the One in whom we live, move, and have our being. As we go about our activities during the holidays, may we be mindful that we are preparing for that day when all the nations will come and worship Him not as a baby but as the King of kings and Lord of lords. May the Lord richly bless you and your family.

Have a blessed 2008!

"Building" Ministry

Praise God for a good first term as a career missionary in Japan. I miss Japan, but I am also enjoying being back home with family and friends. Since July, I've been on the road, reconnecting with supporters and sharing what God is doing.

Just before leaving Japan in June, it became official news that our ministry team had been given a church building to use as the national Chi Alpha Student Center. The church had closed, but national leaders donated the building to be used to reach the youth of Japan, the most open age-group in Japan.

While waiting for the news to become official, our ministry team had many vision-casting discussions. It will be utilized for evangelism and discipleship:

For evangelism purposes, we envision Alpha and Quest courses, fellowship meals, gospel music workshops and concerts, coffee house, music lessons, study sessions, computer access, etc.

For discipleship, we foresee small group leader training, classes for campus leaders, theological/training retreats, prayer meetings, discipleship training in live-in settings, counseling, etc.

Also, we will have an office and maintain a library of resources. Two apartments are available for staff and/or short-term workers, as well as a kitchen and fellowship room.

To attract young people who think "English is cool", the student center has an English name, Live House J.

While I'm in the U.S. until next summer, missionary housing in Japan is slated for renovations. In Tokyo I live on the 2nd floor of the first Japan Assembly of God church. It's 80 years old, and my apartment is in need of renovation. If any skilled workers would like to go help, let me know so that I can connect you with Marty Jesski, the contractor who is coordinating the renovations within the next few months.

SAYING SAYONARA

The past few weeks have been busy with wrapping up ministry and saying "sayonara" (Japanese for "goodbye.") The farewells started last month when a Chi Alpha team from Sam Houston State University came for 2 weeks of ministry at various churches and university campuses in Tokyo. This team was the most relational one our staff has ever hosted. Everywhere they went, even on the trains, they found ways to communicate the love of God. Also, they were great in passing out Book of Hope and flyers and inviting students to our May Festival outreach at the University of Tokyo.

Along with hosting the team, preaching, witnessing, singing, and directing gospel choirs, I cleaned, packed, and attended farewell parties.

The Lord provided a place to live before I returned to Alabama and it's near my family. This is the first time that I have my own place in my hometown area. I am now situated in my new place, and I thank God for it.

After spending time with family and at School of Missions, I will begin a year of itineration. If you would like me to minister in your church, small group, or any other setting, please contact me. I will be available July 2007 - June 2008.

Thank you for all of your generous giving and your faithful prayers. I look forward to seeing you in the next year. May God bless you richly!

The Human Heart Is Like Dirt

This was the title of my first Japanese message (based on Luke 8:4-15) that I preached recently at my home church here in Japan. I didn't preach just once but TWICE in one morning. I was glad to see that my first Japanese teacher came.

In preparing for the message, I thought about Japan's historical resistance to the gospel in view of Jesus' parable of different responses to the Word. Despite the fact that the first missionaries came in 1549, still only less than 1% of the Japanese population is Christian. There have been pockets of revival, but still the gospel has yet to produce 100-fold fruit due to past physical persecution, societal pressure, and modern materialism that tries to choke out spiritual desire. However, there is strong conviction that God will visit Japan with an unprecedented move of His grace and truth.

The same weekend that I preached, our ministry team held our annual campus ministry training seminar. It was quite encouraging to see the college students taking leadership—over 80 people participated over the 2-day event. By reaching the young people who are most open to the gospel in Japan, the seed of the gospel is spreading and growing. In my 3 years here, 1 university church and 11 new campus ministries have been started, and they have been started by students and churches. In 2003, I began to believe God for 10 new campus ministries and 2 university churches (one is in the making), and He has answered that prayer!

Celebrating Christmas in Japan

Christmas is the best time for evangelism in Japan. People are most open to hear the gospel because they want to experience Christmas.

On the 16th, our campus ministry team held a Christmas dinner/concert for all of the Tokyo area Chi Alpha students. While planning the menu and the food, I kept thinking about Jesus' feeding the thousands and praying that God would multiply the food. (Turkey is expensive in Japan.) Thanks to a lot of prayer and help, over 80 people enjoyed eating turkey and dressing with all of the fixings--many for the first time. Afterwards, we heard a gospel concert and ended with a candle service.

For many young Japanese, Christmas is about romance so couples often reserve hotel rooms. On Christmas eve, I joined with other Christians to sing Christmas carols and pass out flyers about the true meaning of Christmas at a popular hotel plaza. They probably thought we were drunk because we exuberantly sang about Jesus, but, praise God, many took the flyers and stayed to listen, and some even joined in singing.

In the past few months, there have been changes in national church leadership, and there is a sense that God is preparing Japan for a spiritual breakthrough. Please continue to pray that God will send an unprecedented move of His Spirit across Japan.

On a another note, I can't believe that this year will complete my first term. I am now preparing to come home on June 16. After spending time with family and going to School of Missions, I will begin a year of itineration.

If you would like me to minister in your church, small group, or any other setting, please write, email, call, fax , or SKYPE me. I will be available July 2007 - June 2008. I look forward to catching up on what God has been doing in and through you. May this year be our best ever!

GEARING UP FOR FALL MINISTRY

After July, ministry slowed down as students went on summer break. I've spent the past two months praying more and reading, studying Japanese for an international test in December, teaching English, preaching, and working with a 60-member gospel choir, as well as exercising and becoming more physically fit.

Working with a 60-member choir and a talented couple in my church, Kaz and Noriko Kato, has been a wonderful experience. Most of the choir members love music but are not Christians. It’s been a cross-cultural challenge each week to find relevant ways to teach the lyrics to songs like “My Life Is in Your Hands” and “Thank You for Your Grace” and lead into a message. One week as I taught on the presence of God through the song “We Acknowledge You,” we could literally feel the presence of God in the room.

We are preparing for a concert at the city hall on Monday night, October 9, and are expecting 300-400 people to attend. Would you please pray for this outreach to the community?

Next week students return to their universities, and campus ministry will start up for the second term of the school year. (Yes, that’s right! The school year in Japan starts in April and goes until March.) Last weekend (September 23) we had a picnic near Tokyo Bay in a newly-developed area called Odaiba. A pastor we've been working with since last term brought his youth group and other student leaders came out for the first day of autumn.

Next Monday (October 2) will be our Tokyo area Chi Alpha monthly prayer and praise meeting. What’s exciting about this is that the praise time will be totally led by students from the first university church in the Japan Assemblies of God. Please pray that more students will catch a vision and be empowered to reach out to their campuses.

As always, I want to say “thank you” for your faithful prayers and sacrificial giving so that I can serve as a spiritual ambassador to Japan. May God bless you with 100-fold fruit for your labor of love to the Japanese.

HOSTING SUMMER TEAMS

At the end of May, 2 ministry staff left and the 3 of us left wondered how we would do ministry. Although transition is never easy, it is still part of the growth process.

God has answered our prayers for help. Karen Dickey, an MK studying at Southeastern University in Lakeland FL, came as a summer worker. Because she grew up in Japan, she is fluent in Japanese and knows Tokyo well. She has been a great help.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-CARBONDALE CHI ALPHA TEAM
Also, most of the teams who came this summer have been coming to Japan for the past 3-4 years. The first team from Southern Illinois University -Carbondale brought their own translators for their 2 groups: both Ayumi and Sayaka became believers through Chi Alpha while studying in the U.S. God has raised them up to reach their own people.

The Tokyo group ministered each week at 6 campuses. At Waseda University, 2 students prayed for salvation. A graduate student who had been seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit received her prayer language at the train station. There were quite a few stares as people must have wondered what language they were speaking.

At Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, the team used break dancing to attract attention. A crowd of over 30 attended. However, university officials decided this was not “healthy” and banned outsiders -including us missionaries-from coming on campus. While there is great spiritual hunger among students, there is also spiritual warfare that attempts to thwart the work of God. As of now, we’re meeting with the student leaders off-campus.

At Rikkyo University, a local pastor has joined us each week. He recently prayed with a student for salvation.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON U TEAM
Jessica Hyatt came last summer as a summer worker. This summer she led a team from her Chi Alpha at the University of Central Washington University in Ellensburg WA.

Last summer God used her greatly in leading Mura, a Waseda student, to the Lord. Earlier this year we lost touch with him after he experienced opposition from his parents after becoming a Christian. However, because of renewing last year’s summer relationships and after much prayer, Mura finally came back. Thank you for your prayers!

Also, Jessica’s team had a God-given opportunity to connect with their sister university in Tokyo. They were invited to speak in 8 classes to over 125 students abd gave a gospel message in response to students’ questions.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN U TEAM
About 10 years ago, when I was doing campus ministry at the U of South Alabama, I met a student named Richard Skinner from the University of Alabama at a retreat. Since then, he has become a campus minister in Texas and has married. He and his wife Dana came to Japan this summer on their first missions trip.

On their first night at Waseda University, Richard spoke and invited students to pray and believe in Jesus. That night Kazumi prayed and talked about her decision with a staff member. (Japanese will sometimes pray just to please the person asking and not really make a real decision to believe.)

Richard and Dana gained a greater perspective on reaching Japan, and we look forward to more ministry partnership in the future.

FAMILY VISIT
A great highlight this summer was that my dad, niece, and her friend took their first international trip to come visit me. I showed them around Tokyo, and they joined me at a university Bible study and in teaching English at my church.

Campus Ministry Training Seminar 2006

For the last few years, there has been an annual campus ministry training seminar. This is usually held in March, just before the new school year starts in April. God has used this to raise up new workers every year who, in turn, start new campus ministries. Last year and this year, the guest speakers have been local pastors who have vision for reaching today's students who will be tomorrow's leaders. This year's speaker, Pastor Amano, is the first Japan Assembly of God pastor to start a university church. His powerful messages stirred several other pastors and church leaders to action. Since then, at least 7 new campuses have been targeted for ministry through churches adopting campuses as part of their mission fields. That brings the total of campus ministries from 22 to 29. At last count, there were 1,221 campuses in Japan. Pray that God will reveal Himself to the students on every campus.

Making Videos

One of my supporters asked me to make a short video a while back. Japan is famous for its electronics, so I went by myself to Bic Camera and asked a sales clerk lots of questions about video cameras.  I learned a new word in the process (Gazo means resolution), and I'm glad to say that I ended up buying a really good Canon camera that can be used in 10 different languages.  Since then I've been learning how to use it and Windows editing software.  Here's the edited version of my first movie:

 

www.dropshots.com/angiesue

 

It seems that missionaries need to use every possible means to stay in touch with support teams. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what's a movie worth?  Does an online movie communicate better than a one-page newsletter?  Let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

What a bilingual message sounds like

Every month during the school year (April to May), we hold a prayer meeting for students and church leaders who do campus ministry in the Tokyo metropolitan area. As of the end of 2005, one of our volunteers put 3 of our meetings online. If you've ever wondered what a bilingual message sounds like in English and Japanese, you can listen to them at the following links:

May-05 Meeting http://takahiroweb.ddo.jp/XAjapan/media/XA0505.wma

Nov-05 Meeting http://takahiroweb.ddo.jp/XAjapan/media/XA0511.wma

Feb-05 Meeting http://takahiroweb.ddo.jp/XAjapan/media/XA0602.wma

Making Music in our Hearts

Monday, September 19, was the 5th Annual Windy Road Concert at Windy Chapel. For those who don't know, I sing with a Japanese choir and we sing Black Gospel style at my church. Black Gospel choirs are extremely popular here and a very effective means of evangelism in reaching young people. They are attracted to the upbeat, joyful music and I believe that they are tasting a bit of the Holy Spirit. I always hear the comment, "I was so moved by the music."

I was asked to give a gospel message based on our theme, "A Present From God." The message I felt led to give was to talk about God's love demonstrated in giving us His only Son, Jesus Christ. Japanese find the concepts of personal sin and Jesus' sacrifice for our sin very difficult to understand, so I really struggled in prayer with putting together this message. I've learned that the best way to communicate the gospel is to use lots of illustrations and stories.

I started by asking "What is the greatest present you've ever received?" and then gave a personal story. Next, I talked about the four kinds of love: storge, phileos, eros, and agape. I noticed some tears among the crowd as I illustrated God's agape love by telling a story about a little boy donating his blood to save his baby sister's life. Although the little boy didn't die, Jesus DID die to save our lives from the disease of selfishness.

Also, several newcomers came to the concert. Usually, flyers are not very effective evangelism. It's said that in Japan for every 2,000 flyers distributed, one person will respond. However, at least 4 people came because of flyers, and 3 or 4 came because of the church's web site.

Here's the website to the church's picture album of the concert.

http://windychapel.com/album/album9/image9.html

Hosting Summer Teams, Part 2

Another Chi Alpha team from Grambling State University in Ruston, Louisiana went to Hokkaido to conduct gospel workshops and evangelistic meetings. This team has come for the past 3 years to serve the same church. I flew to Asahikawa to meet up with the team on July 15.

Initially, I was to supposed to help the team with communicating with the hosting Japanese pastors.  However, because of the need for translation in some meetings, I translated for the first time.  I now have so much more respect for people who can translate on the spot.  By no means was my Japanese fluent, but somehow I managed to communicate.   

It’s said that for every 2,000 flyers passed out in Japan, one person will attend a Christian event.  We passed out 5,000 flyers downtown near the train station, and many people came. 

A church leader’s sister came to church for the first time.  She cried during the service because she had never experienced anything like the presence of God.  She also came to the Ladies’ Wednesday Bible Study. That day she decided to leave her Buddhist cult group because she learned that only Jesus Christ offers eternal life.  That was a major spiritual victory.  Please pray for her to break those ties so that she can know Jesus Christ personally. 

A man who came to the first gospel workshop on Saturday came the next day for the Sunday morning service. Mr. Sakurai’s hobby is multimedia development, so he brought his cameras and filmed the entire service.  Two days later, he volunteered to go with us for sightseeing.  Again, he filmed us enjoying the beautiful, spacious  landscape of Hokkaido.  By the last weekend, he and Pastor Fukumori were discussing faith in Jesus Christ. Please pray for Mr. Sakurai to trust in Jesus Christ.

 

Hosting Summer Teams, Part 1

This summer has been filled with hosting American university student teams.  The planning and hard work that goes into hosting these teams is worth it all to see the impact on students who have never heard about Jesus Christ. 

The first summer team came from Chi Alpha at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.      

The next team came from Inland Church in Los Angeles, California.  This team has  also come to Japan for the last 3-4 years for summer missions.  This team, being Asian American college students, really understand the Asian mindset and presented the gospel in an relevant way to Japanese students.

The team went with our bilingual church  Gospel Assembly of Praise (GAP) to a weekend camp.  Mura, a student from Waseda University, also went and gave his life to Jesus the very first night.  Mura has been coming to the Chi Alpha at his university for about 2 years, but he finally made a radical decision to follow Jesus Christ this summer.  Pray for his spiritual growth.

 

 

 

Southern Illinois Summer Team

The Chi Alpha team from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale IL was here for about 2 weeks in June. This Chi Alpha has sent teams to Japan for the last 3 years. They were great servants ministering on campuses and in churches. They helped with campus ministry by inviting students to their gospel concerts, performing drama, leading Bible studies, and of course praying and building relationships with students at our various Tokyo universities.
 

May 2005

I pray that this finds you well and prospering in the Lord. Here, the colors of Spring are everywhere--camellias, Japanese cherry blossoms, azaleas--and Summer is just around the corner. Just this week the temperatures in Tokyo went from the mild 60s to the 80s. I believe it's going to be another hot, humid summer.

By now, you've probably heard about the tragic train derailment in Japan. I live about 180 miles north of the scene. About 100 people lost their lives and about 500 were injured. Ironically, the place where this occurred is the same area where a devastating earthquake occurred 10 years ago. Would you pray that where the enemy meant it for harm the Lord would turn this for good?

UPDATE on the CAMPUS MINISTRY TEAM

This year our campus missions team in Tokyo has grown from 3 to 6 members. One missionary, Jackie Brock, returned to England for furlough, but the Lord has raised up national workers who have a passion to reach the next generation with the gospel.

Let me introduce them:
Yuri M. studied in the U.S. for 7 years and graduated from North Central University in Minneapolis, MN last year. She joined us last year as a part-time staff. She oversees 2 campus ministries each week in addition to her English-teaching job and translating messages at her church.

Ayame U. studied at Cambridge University in England and this year completed a Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. A gifted translator and writer, she is helping with translating books, teaching,and promotional materials. Also, she does campus ministry in Tokyo.

Joyce Kitano and I are U.S. missionaries. Joyce was the pioneer for campus ministry in Tokyo 8-10 years ago. Since then, campus ministry has expanded to 21 campuses throughout Japan. However, there is still a great challenge to reach the +22 million youth ages 5-22. Truly the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest to "thrust" out workers. (Matthew 9:38) In particular, pray that God will raise up men for the great task of reaping souls in Japan.

TRAINING SEMINARS

In March we held our annual campus ministry training seminar. As always, we invited Japan Assemblies of God pastors and students. Almost 40 people came for the 2-day seminar. Our guest speakers were 2 Japanese pastors who have been doing campus ministry through their church at Kyoto University, the #2 university in Japan. Pastors Murakami and Nagasawa challenged students and pastors to adopt a campus and trust God to use them to reach young people through teaching English and the Bible. Pastor Murakami did some research and found that the percentage of university-age students is twice the percentage of the national population. In other words, 1.4% of university students are Christians while the national percentage of born-again evangelical Christians is 0.7%. Invariably, that is where the ripest harvest is, and we must reap it while it is day.

This past week Ty and Cina Silva, A/G missionaries who oversee youth ministry in Asia Pacific, came and held a Book of Hope seminar in Tokyo. Three years ago, Book of Hope was published in Japanese for young children and also in a bilingual format (Japanese/English) for junior high school to university students. Because students are very interested in studying English, last year, an English conversation teaching book was introduced to accompany the Japanese/English Book of Hope. Our ministry team has been testing and using these materials in our campus ministries. They are so simple to use that we are training our Christian student leaders to use them in leading Bible study. Pray that these student leaders would grow in confidence and trust in the Holy Spirit to use them. For various reasons, most of their pastors find it difficult to release Christian students to facilitate group Bible studies.

Serving as a missionary in Tokyo, Japan