March Newsletter

To Our Friends and Family,

As another month has quickly past, as it seems with much of our time in Japan, it is hard to believe that we have been here for over a year now! What an exciting and fast-paced year it has been! Within this year, the Lord has certainly stretched us and grown us in areas of ministry that we did not imagine we would be a part of so significantly. We have also experienced ways in which God has shaped our passions and talents for His glory, which has been both rewarding and challenging at the same time, such as with Jeremy’s video productions and Kathy’s worship leadership. And, as we continue our time here in Japan for the next several months, we continue to desire to deepen and blossom our relationships with the Japanese non-Christians we have met with the hopes of leaving the imprint of Jesus’ love on their hearts.

This past month we were a part of many conferences all around Japan from the Tokyo area to the southern most part of Japan in the islands of Okinawa. In the beginning of the month, we joined with a group of Dokkyo University students to visit a very active and blossoming church in Osaka, Japan, called J-House. This church is known for being able to bring many non-Christians to a saving knowledge of Christ through their dynamic outreach programs, such as their Friday night ministry called “Funky Party.” Here, many college students are invited to the church to experience fellowship, fun, food, and a “funky talk” (a message). Coming to this church, we were able to extract many ideas and ways in which we can be more creative and effective in our own “Youth Alive” young adult ministry as well as with Dokkyo Bible Study. It was a great learning experience that left the whole group eager and excited for the new college semester to begin in this month of April.

Further preparing for the university life to begin once again, we also were a part of the annual Chi Alpha Evangelism Training Seminar, which was held over a weekend in mid-March in Tokyo. About 50 students gathered, representing colleges all over the Tokyo area as well as some students from colleges in the Osaka area. At this conference, students were exposed as to how to start a Chi Alpha bible study on their individual campuses if there was not one already. And, students were also given new ideas of how to expand and flourish within their existing campus XA clubs. Focusing on evangelism, the main speaker ministered in a way that encouraged and energized the students for the coming semester. There was also a passionate time of prayer over each campus as well as prayer over rising freshman students. In the end, the conference achieved to prepare purposefully and equip effectively the many students who desire to see their campuses won for Christ.

Finally, in the last week of the month, we had the wonderful opportunity to go with the Bible school students of Riverside Chapel for a missions trip to Okinawa. Although this area is known for its tropical climate and hospitable people, it is also an area of Japan that thirsts for spiritual fulfillment. Since the migration of Chinese to these islands, the people of Okinawa have long since participated and incorporated ancient religious practice of Buddhism, Shinto and native traditions into their worship. Thus, during this time, we visited many historical sites, from castles to beaches to shrines, where ancestral worship and cultic strongholds still reside. Together, we prayed for God’s deliverance and victory. Moreover, we also ministered at various Okinawan churches. As a team, we offered special numbers, led worship, presented testimonies, as well as delivered the main messages. During the last several days of our trip, we were joined by Riverside’s head pastor, Pastor Amano, who was the main speaker at an annual youth revival seminar called Fire Typhoon International Conference. Over three days, we not only ministered to others through special songs, human videos, and skits, but we were blessed to see many young people pour their hearts out and cry to the Lord for their homeland. It was so encouraging to witness the overwhelming passion and ardent faith that these young people had as they prayed and worshipped God. By the end of our time in Okinawa, the experience was both sobering as well as inspiring as we first discovered the deep presence of pagan worship but also found a fervent fire for God’s power spreading among the youth of these islands.

As we reflect on this past year, we certainly see the way the Lord has guided our steps, used us in ways in which we did not even imagine as well as stretched us to trust in him faithfully. Although our commitment of one year in Japan has already come and gone, we humbly thank you for continuing to support us financially and spiritually as we believe it's the Lord’s will for us to stay for several more months. This mission in Japan has been a blessing to so many people, especially us, because of all the love, help, support, and prayers that have been selflessly and consistently given by all of you back home. There have certainly been moments of trial here in Japan, but more than that, this has been such a joyful and growing season in our lives in which you all have played a significant part. Thank you so much.

Always,
Jeremy and Kathy