That All Nations May Believe and Obey Him

From December  28-30 I participated in The World Missions Summit held in Ft. Worth, Texas. About  1/4 of the participants responded to "give a year and pray about a lifetime" to missions.

A personal highlight was being part of God's network to save two Japanese exchange students at the conference. I met them in the Asia Pacific Experience Room. That evening at the Meal with a Missionary, the girls prayed to receive Jesus into their lives. Later I was  asked to confirm in Japanese if they understood what they had done. Just as I was about to talk with them, Yoriko Yabuki, Japan A/G missionary, walked by so I called her over to meet them. I sensed the two girls needed to hear from a Japanese Christian. Yoriko confirmed that they understood they had indeed become believers. It was a blessing to be part of not only recruiting workers at TWMS but to also reap the Japanese harvest!

On March 3-7, we will host our annual university ministry training seminar in Tokyo. Please pray for this event!

On April 16, I will return to Alabama and begin itineration. I would love to see you and share what God has done in Japan in the past 5 years. Please contact me!

THANK YOU for partnering in spreading the gospel so “that all  nations may believe and obey Him!” (Romans 16:20)

Thanking God for You

Both Japan and the US celebrate Thanksgiving day in November. However, the biggest difference is to whom thanks is given. The Japanese give thanks to their workers. Thus, their holiday is more like Labor Day than Thanksgiving. 

Our ministry team hosted an Thanksgiving turkey dinner party and fed 23 university students from 5 countries. Afterwards we gave a message about giving thanks to God in everything. Remarkably, we met some new students who we hope connect with our weekly campus Bible studies. 

Thanksgiving Dinner with students

Pray for us as we gear up for Christmas. December is always the most open time to share the Christ of Christmas to Japanese. Pray that they will not only experience the ambiance of the season but also will want to experience the Person of Jesus Christ. 

In October Joyce Kitano and I joined Ty and Cina Silva to meet a South Korean pastor/professor interested in starting campus ministry at a local university. While South Korea is the 2nd largest missionary-sending country (besides the US), there is no Pentecostal campus ministry. We visited 4 universities and 2 churches where we met students, professors, and pastors. Plans were made for starting next year. Praise God!

Visiting Hansei University in Seoul

From December 28-30 I will represent Japan at the World Missions Summit in Ft. Worth, Texas. This conference will bring A/G missionaries and Chi Alpha students together in a format to promote missions. 

Naturally, I want to say THANK YOU to the Lord and to you for your missions partnership. On April 16, 2013 I will return to the US and then begin a year-long itineration starting in May. If you would like to schedule me for ministry, please contact me by email, snail mail, or even call me on Skype. I look forward to seeing you next year.

May you have a very blessed Christmas and 2013!

Partnering Together in the Harvest

Chi Alpha Japan Staff Team

Autumn has finally come and with it the new school term has begun. Our ministry team is back on campuses reaching and teaching students with the gospel. There is an intense expectancy in our hearts for the harvest to come in from all over Japan!  Please join in praying with us. Truly the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!

Praying over Bibles provided for students

I am finishing the fifth year of my second term in Japan. Now it is time to begin another itineration cycle.  My itineration will start May 2013 and go until April 2014.

I am excited about what is happening in Japan and want to share this with you. To those of you who have been so faithful in partnering with me, I really appreciate your sacrificial support and prayers.

My support has dropped about 25% so I need to add new partners to my support team during itineration. If you are a church leader, I would love to visit you and your people. If you are an individual supporter, would you ask your church about having me for a visit?

Provide three dates when you could have me come (between May 1, 2013 and April 30, 2014) and select the way in which you would like me to share. Then email this info to me. This will help to facilitate all of those who would like to have me come.

Thank you for partnering together to reach Japan with the gospel!

Summer Mission Teams

University of South Alabama Team

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Summer is always the busiest ministry time in Tokyo. From May until July our ministry team hosted 3 Chi Alpha missions teams from the U.S. The first 2 teams—the University of South Alabama and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale—have sent teams for the past several years and have become veterans at reaching out and ministering to university students in an Asian context. The 3rd team, the University of Arizona, came to Japan for the first time.

University of Arizona Team

The teams were all instrumental in meeting new students, teaching in Bible studies, ministering, and prayer walking on campuses as well as ministering and encouraging local churches in the Tokyo area. It’s always great to host these teams because they provide momentum for our student ministry. Pray for our follow-up efforts!

 

Thanks to those of you who gave toward the water damage repairs on the Chi Alpha Student Center. The repairs were done at almost half of the first estimate of $15,000. Thank God for His amazing provision!

Rooted and Established in His Love

As the university school year ends this month, we are enjoying special meetings with students. Below is our graduation party with Meiji University students. We partnered with YWAM, Tokyo Urban Church, and two Christian professors to begin this new campus ministry in the past year. Three students became Christians while others remain open to the gospel in our bilingual Bible studies.

In February 11, we held a Valentine chocolate cooking class with a professional instructor. Twenty-seven students and friends enjoyed decorating chocolate goodies. About half of the participants were non-Christians who came because of Christian friends’ invitations. During tea time, I shared a short message about Jesus’ great love based on John 15:13.

Our website has been updated www.chialphajapan.net/en/index.html

Since the earthquake of 3/11, people seem more open to the gospel. On December 23, I was the guest speaker at a church’s Christmas service. The 16-member church had 10 newcomers that evening; for some, it was the first time to ever go to church.

On January 29, I spoke at an international church pastored by a missionary from Ghana. I was privileged to lead 3 Japanese to become believers and to pray for others to be filled in the Holy Spirit. That evening in the English service, I prayed with a young man for salvation and for others for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. God is working and people are responding!

Due to the need for workers and for visa renewal purposes, I have extended my term until Spring 2013. Monthly support has decreased, but I trust God to provide. Thank you for your prayers and sacrificial giving which are helping to spread the love of Jesus here.

Missions in Taiwan and in Japan

In September, our Chi Alpha ministry team and two prayer supporters joined with OneHope (formerly Book of Hope) for a missions trip to Taiwan. We ministered to elderly, youth, school children, indigenous people, and pastors in churches, schools, restaurants, homes, and community centers as part of a OneHope community transformation project.

In one city we ministered mostly to the elderly in Japanese. Their generation lived under Japanese colonialism so they knew Japanese from their school days. Another highlight was a worship service at a district Presbyterian pastor’s church with the General Superintendent of the Taiwan Assemblies of God as the guest speaker. The Taiwan OneHope director said that the meeting was a miracle of unity among churches.

On December 10, Chi Alpha Japan and Tokyo Urban Church will host a Christmas concert with Alfie Silas as our guest. She has sung backup with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and other famous singers and has maintained a strong Christian faith. We expect many to attend the concert.

Also, on December 17, Tokyo Urban Church will hold a charity concert to raise funds for ongoing relief efforts in the Tohoku area.

People’s hearts are the most open to the gospel during Christmas. Please pray for a move of God’s Spirit.

Thank you for your prayers and support through this past year. As we stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas, may we experience the joy of Christ Jesus living in our hearts!

1. Portland, OR, USA


2. York, UK


3. Bellingham, WA, USA


4. London, UK


5. Prague, Czech Republic


6. Buenos Aires, Argentina


7. Denver, CO, USA


8. Shanghai, China


9. Chiang Mai, Thailand


10. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


11. Iguazu National Park, Argentina

• Create your own travel map or travel blog.


• Vacation rentals at TripAdvisor

Transitions

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!