Needing PRAYERS!

Today as I questioned myself, "Am I ready?", I noticed that the people group that was scheduled for us to pray today by Joshua Project is the Japanese. Perhaps this is the day that the Lord had made for me to remember.

It had been days that I kept having this anxiety and fear for future. Having being rejected from several publications, and realizing the cost for PhD study in Tokyo is much much higher than I thought, I began to have fear.

My projection for a PhD study on hikikomori takes 3.5 year to 7 years. Yet, I only realized that even in Japan, a usual enrollment for a PhD course takes only 3 years. Shorter is better, but not if I aim to draw a cross-country comparison while trying to eliminate as much biases as possible. Sample collection and data analyzation are crucial procedures that determine what kind of result, and how much could we generalize it to the whole population, and all these are time consuming.

Competition for scholarships is fierce and availability of scholarships on this topic is scarce and limited. In Malaysia, while quota had been given to civic servants, with a mere Master degree, I am totally incompetence if not disqualified from scholarships competitions.

The entrance exam in Feb 2010, although Prof. N has faith in me, but I have no faith in myself at all. Reading the past years papers, I felt helpless. Study plans needs to be translated into Japanese for scholarship application, and all of these must be done in a month. Examination fees must be paid in January, and other administration fees occurs too. Air tickets to Japan need to be secure in this month. Accommodation during this period of time is another thing to think about. If I am accepted to the university, the tuition fees must be paid too by March.

3 years, it means I would need to examine my initial study plan in a much critical way, should I continue with that study plan, or should I draw a new study plan? I have not much time left for submission.

I also realize the time that I spend for next three years will shape the path of my future career/expertise. If all I wanted to do is just to disprove the current believe, to correct the current myth, then I remain a non expert in any field. An expert is seen as someone who can provide an answer, a solution and discussions among peers. If I wish to be an influencer in academia, then this is certainly not the way.

Even I had resigned from my job and dedicated all my time to Heart4Japan and hikikomori research, I am still lack of time. There are so much to do. As I am thinking and planning to raise leaders for Heart4Japan, it consumes time. Some of my interventions on hikikomori work, some not. For those who do not work, and for those where salvation were not received, good news were not preached, my heart breaks into pieces. When will this stop? How much longer could I stand with all these unmet demands? How much longer could I endure with this heartache?

The spirit depicted in the Japanese Shonen Manga, Jump Series: persisting for the truth or what one believes, never give up, turning stronger in defeat, etc. encouraged me. The only thing that I could hope for,

No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine (Psalm 33: 16-19)

In my nothingness, this is the promise that I can hold on with. I will wait in hope for the LORD.

I have such small faith. How could I be a leader with such little faith? How could I always have such little faith even I had witnessed myself how much my Lord could supply? I feel dismayed, what a sinner am I?

Would you pray for me? Would you pray for the salvation of the Japanese people? Would you pray for the hikikomori so that they will experience love and be free from lies of this world?

Prayer Reminders from RJC (Reaching Japanese for Christ)

Please pray for SEEK09 in Anaheim, CA. This is an exciting evangelistic outreach for Japanese young people.

Luis Shimba of Brazil says, “Pray for many Nikkei Brazilian descendents that are living in Japan. They are in a bad situation. Toyota Nissan and many company to eliminating many of the workers from South America.


~ updated by Don Wright

THE CRY OF TOHOKU

Tohoku is composed of six prefectures, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima. Except for Miyagi, all the other five prefectures are marked by a high rate of suicide in recent years (suicide rate higher or equal to 30.0/100,000). In this chapter, we will introduce the suicide prevention program in Akita and Aomori.

Akita Prefecture, located on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region in the north of Honshu, has a population of 1,159,022 (2004). In the winter it is characterized by heavy snowfall and a relatively low number of sunlight hours. Since 1997, it has had the highest suicide rate among all of Japan’s urban and rural prefectures.

A series of public health interventions was begun in the year 2001 with the lead of Akita University. The program encouraged civic participation and empowerment concerning suicide prevention, and the results have shown a reduction in the suicide rates of participating towns to half of the previous figure. Japan has now recognized the importance of community-oriented suicide prevention measures based on the experience of Akita Prefecture. (Motohashi et al., 2007) The intervention in Akita focused on raising awareness regarding the dignity of life, reducing the stigma of mental illness, organizing get together activities, and also doing home visitation during snowy winter season. The latter two aimed to alleviate the psychological isolation and loneliness of the elderly people. If you recapture the stories of the early church, the stated interventions are the very basic elements of the church. Instead of shying away, churches should take an active role in joining hands with other community centers, providing aid for suicide prevention. Mat 5:13-16, do not forget that the church is called to be the salt and light of the world.

Aomori, another place that shared similarities with Akita, also has one of the highest suicide rate in the nation. Driving down to the sea is one of the feasible suicide methods in Aomori because of many unfenced harbors. Pastor Shibuya of Joyful Chapel headed a suicide prevention network for the community in Aomori-shi. He shared with us that there were incidents where people came to knock on the church door to seek help after they saw the cross from afar as they were preparing to drive down

into the sea. A church sign viewable from the seaside, and a phone booth with a lifeline signboard remind people about the value of their lives are often life saving tools.

Newsletter available at Heart4Japan.net

newsletters are available to download at www.heart4japan.net

H4J Newsletter

Rose & H4J

H4J Guide 2009-2015

Forum

We'll try to do more about the forum later.... :-) Cheers!

H4J Updates of September, 2009

GIVE THANKS!

1. Praise God! The trip to HK and China was fruitful, I met more people and follow up with many friends and contacts I made during 2006-2009.

2. Just as the trip in north China, States and Japan, I was well taken care of by the joint efforts of friends and churches. I was given places to stay, and had plenty of opportunities to share about Heart4Japan and social research that I am doing: hikikomori and suicide.

3. The interview from Beijing about the observation on internet addiction was finally published in The digital news of The National, of Abu Dhabi Media Company. http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090829/FOREIGN/708289801/1015 Daniel's quotation of my comments was not twisted. Praise God for that!

4. H4J Prayer Meeting and Sharing Session: The Needs of Tohoku ( Sep 4, 2009)

The meeting was held on Sep 4 was great! We had seven audiences and four overseas call. We had some technical problems at the beginning, yet we managed to start and engaged people into discussions. The second half of the session was a great success, in having the Spirit to lead us into deep intercessions and worship. Although most of the audiences were new and knew very little about Japan, but the Lord was seemingly encouraging us by instilling new blood into the team, stirring up great desire of intercessions for Japan! The prayer meeting ended at 3.30am in the morning. If we will have a next meeting, I'll try to fix teleconference with video so that people can see each other as well as capture the presentation and data on the screen.

Pray for the new blood as they catch the vision, the fire will continue to burn in them that they will not stop telling people about the needs in Japan!

Pray that people will rise up in their churches, to give, pray and go to Japan as missionaries!

5. H4J Prayer Meeting and Sharing Session: Noah's Ark, SZ (Sep 13, 2009)

The meeting was held on Sep 13 after the service at around 11.30am, the Holy Spirit swept across the audiences, calling intercessions and repentance. As we began to plead for prayers and forgiveness for Japan, tears flowed, and a sister burst in tears, ran to the front, knelt beside me, and began to pray with her trembling body. Another sister kept crying and crying like a child. Others were weeping at their seats. The atmosphere totally changed from indifference and just curiosity to repentance and love. The audiences then began to share their thoughts with one another, asking for forgiveness for hating Japan and ignoring their rights and needs in God. God is bringing us a step closer to Him as He dealt with the bitterness in us. Now, we have commitments from at least one church in Shenzhen to pray for Japan, we are aiming at an intercession team of 30 people. Hallelujah, praise Jesus!

Pray for the hearts for intercessions to sustain in the hearts of the audiences of this church.

Pray that they will have opportunities to go for short term missions in Japan, so that they will capture His heart for Japan!

6. H4J Sharing in YWAM CDTS, Penang (Sep 17, 2009)

I am visiting Jovita on my way back to Kuala Lumpur who is now a student in CDTS Program Penang. I am given an opportunity to share with the students about Japan at 3pm. Please pray that the Lord will lead the session, so that hearts and minds will be open for the needs in Japan. There will be so many things that I could learn from these anointed people. It reminds me about the time when I met up with Tim and Chris four months back, as they were attending the program in Tokyo. We had wonderful time in sharing and encouraging each other in the lead of the Holy Spirit.

7. FGA KL Prayer Meeting: Peeping Japan Through the Gate of Revival in End Time (Sep 30, 2009)

I am given an opportunity to host the prayer meeting on Sep 30, 8pm in FGA KL. We will have a teaching DVD of Reinhard Bonnke, of Evangelism by Fire, and then I will lead the audience to the importance of Japan and her role in the End-time.

Please pray for hearts to be prepared, and God will send the right people to the meeting!

Please pray for ground to be softened, and God will rise up His people from FGA KL to respond to His altar call for Japan!

Please pray that prejudice would be discard through this meeting!

Additional prayers for Roseline and the ministry:

1. Health: I know some of you had been constantly praying for my back, I praise God for your love and concern. Instead of getting worse because of the intensive trip in HK and Shenzhen, my back seemed to be improving rather than deteriorate. I will be travel back to KL on Sep 19 in the evening, so please continue to hold me in your prayers! Thanks!

2. Missing Luggage: A huge luggage that stuffs with clothes (new and old), little items for Heart4Japan, my best dresses, some important documents and items for friends went missing by mishandling of the airline. Most of these items are to be bring to Japan with me, I will love to have my luggage back, please pray for me. Thanks!

3. Submission of article to journals: The article for journal was finally ready, but was rejected by a journal that I tried. I will continue to try, please hold me in your prayers!

4. Heart4Japan Networking Administrator and Volunteers: I am seeing the needs in putting more effort into research of hikikomori, at the same time I also sense the urgency in networking and raising awareness of the needs in Japan, calling repentance and acceptance of the field. We need VOLUNTEERS that hear God's voice and seek God's heart to help to facilitate the network and admin work, such as preparing newsletter, putting resources into achievable pamphlet for workshops and seminars. A heart that constantly seek God's desire and ability to start small steps with a simple faith in trusting the Lord is appreciated. Please pray for His provision! Please also pray for funds for printing cost and others!

Hope Project!

Today's NHK World talks about the study of hope in Japan launched by Prof. Genda Yuji in Tokyo University.

I want to catch your attention on this matter, it is time and opportunities for Christian scholars and Christian workers to come into spotlight! What we can offer, is HOPE! and that is exactly what Christians are called to.

Encouraging young people to have hope! That's our duty!

PRAY with INFORMATION

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." ~ Mat 18:19-20

The power of prayer is incredible. However most of us had been too held up by our activities, which could be "righteous duties", sometimes.

In the book of Acts, Jesus commanded, "But you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." While the disciples were waiting, they came constantly to pray. It was in the prayer at the upper room, those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. It was during the prayer, that they came across the idea of electing another person to take leadership along with the remaining eleven. The healing of the crippled beggar at Beautiful gate happened as Peter and John were going up into the temple at prayer time. And as they reported the news to their own people, they prayed. And then, the place were shaken after they prayed. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

What did they pray? They prayed, "Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus!" It is about healing, it is about miraculous signs and wonders, it is about proclaiming His name, the name of JESUS! All of these are about witnessing his name. And even with just witnessing His name, we must PRAY!!!

Pray with two or three! And gather with the others to pray! We need to come to congregational prayer meetings, not only to encourage each other, but to gain information to pray!!! Information is so important to prayers, in forming one's prayer life! Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was risen, and they shared this news with each other, and their spirit were lifted up, from doubts to believe, from giving up to pursue the name of Jesus! The Gospel books are information to us, the New Testaments are information to tell us that Christ lives, and then we read the information, and then we believe.

Information is important! Of course, the Holy Spirit can lead us into prayers with or without information, but information will drive us to the edge of what to do, and then ideas will generate with basis of truth, and then as we pray with these information and ideas, the Holy Spirit will put His hand on our sterling in the journey of redemption! Pray!!! and if you can, pray with information, correct information!

Join us in prayer meetings on Sep 4, so that we can pray together for the situation in Tohoku, Japan!

Call a STOP in the power of PRAYER!

I had posted an article on abortion at my another blog to raise public health concern, Public Health and Missions Field after the previous post of Sexual Industry at this blog. I realize that these posts had created a large attention, and I am planning to form an interest group to deal with this problem, either as a brainstorming working group, or a prayer group. Let's join resources together, and begin to identify the potential group in outreach of this matter.

Enough bloodshed on the account of abortion!!! Official record of over thirty thousand lives were taken each year in Japan. Human trafficking in prostitution involve raping the girls and controlling them with AV taken in the process, many ended up in HIV/AIDS infection and abortion when a baby is conceived. Can we call it a stop?

Perhaps we are weak, but GOD is strong! I learned the power of prayers, and I learn that God CAN when we can't. I also learned that when things seem not moving, yet in Spirit, as HE stirred us to pray, and we will see CHANGES when time is deal. The amount of joy and happiness is uncontainable when you see the Holy Spirit place everything in order, and the order is exactly of what you had been praying persistently with tears and countless nights of sensing and responding to His prompting at your heart. PRAY! and you will see changes!!! I need you to pray with me!!! I don't know what to pray about, and how to pray for a stop to this situation, but the Holy Spirit knows!

Romans 8:26-27:

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not now what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

Do not be afraid when you do not know how to pray, and do not be afraid to soak in tears as you pray. Do not be afraid as you begin to sing a new song, and speak a new tongue as you intercede for Japan. God is supernatural, and He is going to do supernatural thing! Do not put God in a box, striving with our limitations, but trust that He is God, and He is going to do great and new things, just as He did in book of Exodus and Joshua's time! It is nevertheless PRAYER and OBEDIENCE that account for the swift of the Holy Spirit. Remember that!!!

Lives were taken away where uncertainties of the future were heavy loaded and burdened and wearied. The fear of tomorrow is the very reason for a mother to make decision for abortion. The fear of tomorrow is also the very reason that holds a person in his or her comfort zone, refusing to take a step out of the cocoon. An old song, yet a powerful song, that reminds you the reason that Jesus came, the HOPE that lies with the empty tomb, a song that perhaps will well minister to the target group above.

"How sweet to hold a new born baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives. "

[God sent His Son/Because He lives by William & Gloria Gaither]

May we be empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Sex Industry - Dream? Hope?

When you walk around Shibuya Station, you will find guys that hang around at the main entrances or exits, stuffing tissues or magazines to the passerby. If you are a young lady, traveling alone, not looking too bad, you probably get one of these.

I received one while I was walking in Shibuya that day. Turning the pages while sitting in the train, I found this magazine that I received was about employment. The advertisements' highlights were on wordings like "limited working hours", "high pay", "flexible working hours", "experienced or non-experienced are welcome"......

What caught my attention was the advertisement in the manga form as above pic, The title was

"ARE YOU NOT LOST NOW?"

A Promise to「Realize your DREAM」!

Don't you wanna start a Easy but High Pay job?

Then, it leads to four square boxes manga, featuring the first(from left to right): The first day, a girl crying in a broken poor look dress. "the phone was barred, no money to pay the rent of the apartment... it's really embarrassed, I don't even have 150 yen in my pocket, I was so lost, and I took courage, and decided to work at this shop."

Then, the second box: The 6th month, "thinking about the what happened half year back, now I can see my dream is close. Now, I am staying in this mansion that cost 13,000 yen a month, and I have a saving of 3,000,000. "

Then, the third box: 1 year later, "I have finally reached 10,000,000 yen savings!! I am 'graduated' from this shop. I am going to my dream land Australia. Thank you, all my fellow friends in this shop, thank you for taking care of me, and being nice to me!

The 4th, probably is not a box, but a girl with "stars" all over her body, shimmering and glimmering with a face full of hope and dream.

Averagely, most of the advertisements promised the same pay. In Shibuya, even girls with school uniforms will receive a magazine as such. Of course, some respond to it, some do not. Such open recruitment may or may not recruit them, but it becomes a form of public education if you need money, come to me; it's okay to work in the sex industry, the workers are happy about it; there is nothing to be shy.......

Yet, the ads are TEMPTING especially in a difficult economic down turn. Having a "side-job" with such high pay, it's no doubt an incentive. It comes back to the moral and social value that an individual holds. My missionary friend Ramone cries for the girls in the red light district in Osaka, he sees girls trading with their bodies as "SLAVES".

I'm not sure if the girls are aware what they are stepping into, the sex industries is perhaps not as easy going as they seemed to promise. However among all these ads, this particular one caught my attention because it had used an innocent medium, MANGA, to illustrate a not so innocent career, and it had used a beautiful word , "DREAM". ひどいよ！In the red-light district, things are blurred, and most of the time being justified with material gains, personal lost, and the complex diverse backgrounds and reasons... for some, this is about gaining "self-worth" and "personal identity".

The concept of "self-worth" and "personal identity" perhaps is very different with mine and yours, but then the essential of "self-worth" and "personal identity", where the basic grounded in creation is never lost. Workers in this field will need to find means to bridge the gap. We have NO TIME to lost.

What is DREAM? What is HOPE? Perhaps these are not only connected to what one desires to do, but a tribute to what was lost in life. What happen in the past cannot be fixed, but our emotions and the inner child could be comfort by either using psychological means (provide a temporary relieve if not long term), or by receiving supernatural inner healing (completely healed). I quote this out of my experience in Christ, where to me, embracing Christ is not about having something to write on the column of Religion when you fill up forms, but accepting Him as Lord and Savior, and looking up to Him for healing of the past, and source of strength for tomorrow.

I am not trying to force my concept on you or any one. Yet, when there is a different measure in terms, we need to communicate, and understand the social courses that developed the concepts. I told you mine, and I am going to tell them mine, just as you would do it to me because of love when you see I am doing something that is totally opposite your values. The reason that you do that is probably not to condemn, but because you love me and you are worried. And the same, I am going to do this out of LOVE, finding the meanings of DREAM and HOPE, and the means to reach them.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

~Mat 11:28-30~

REASONS

Missionaries are in Japan for different reasons:

Some, they have signed up with missions organizations, and there is an opening in Japan.

Some, they think the people and the culture is distinct and amazing.

Some, they felt awkwardly sorry for Japan because Japan is lack of attention in the spotlight of missions sending.

Some, they understood there is a need to have Jesus in urban cities .

Some, they felt that they could possibly contribute their gifts into the untapped area in Japan.

Some, they think this is a good place to live in.

Glen told me when he first set his heart on Japan was when he encountered a Japanese Christian girl that was also his teammate while he went for a mission trip in South East Asia. The Japanese girl seemed to have made a mess in boy-girl relationship and was depressed. The girl committed suicide after she returned from the mission trip. So he came to Japan hoping to build up the youths, to disciple them, and to equip them to win and disciple others.

How about me? I first set my heart on Japan because I felt His sorrow for Japan, a Father's

heart, that touched me deeply that I took the initiative to respond. Now there are many miserable people in Japan, whether in the mainstream culture where people are moving tiredly/aimlessly along the social norms, or self-absorbed of subculture (harajuku, otaku, hikikomori, goths etc.), I see a "lost identity". People who are aware of the emptiness in their lives began to fill their lives with cultic believes, some see small revival in shrines and temples, all of these are most probably efforts to find meaning in life. My heart cries out for them as I see souls lost in transition.

How about you? What is your mission? What is the reason that you go/planning to go to Japan?

"My Grace Is Sufficient For You" - Testimony

God is always amazing and faithful! In my last week in Japan, I experienced a little about what handicap would mean to a person. 

I had a severe back pain that caused me to collapse after teaching in KBI, then I was immobile for a several days before I was able to walk again by myself and headed on to Tokyo by Shinkansen on Monday, that was Jun 15. 

I wasn't able to move even an inch of the lower part of my body because of the pain. As I prayed to the Lord to take away the pain, this verse came to me, "My grace is sufficient for you." Then I thought I would probably be in that position forever as I thought about the accident that Joni Eareckson had. 

I knew exactly the reason why I had suffered that pain: I had been traveling too long with extra loads on my back, physically and spiritually. My body had decided to protest and some parts of my body decided not to response. As I realized how serious it could be, I couldn't help by tears kept streaming down. I checked myself if there was any regret, but my heart was in perfect peace. I will still carry the materials with me, and I will still distribute the materials wherever I go. If there is no one that will help me to carry the loads, I will still carry it. If there is an invitation to share about the visions of Heart4Japan, I will still go. If there is an invitation to share the knowledge of Hikikomori and suicide, I will still go. The Lord said, "reserve these three months for Japan", then that should be, regardless whatever it takes. And that was the perfect timing to collapse, for the benefit of both KBI students and me. For the KBI students, they will probably never forget the lessons about Hikikomori and Suicide that day. For me, I fell into the hands of a group of experts (people who suffered back pain before, nurse, ambulance man, acupuncturist), and of course many prayer warriors to intercede on my behalf. Imagine if I fell a day before or a day after, I would probably be on the street....... Yet, there was a great sorrow when I thought I would never be able to dance and sign again in worship as I used to do.

In His perfect peace, I was able to walk again after putting myself in His great healing hands. I also survived seven hours of journey, with approximately 10 hours of sitting and reached home on June 18. All the dates were significant to me, as June 11, 15 and 18 marked the days when my father had an terrible accident, and finally left us to HOME. Remembering these days as I spent my time dealing with handicap humbled and encouraged me.

Now, it had been almost two weeks since I reached home. The condition of my back is improving each day. I managed to sit for a 4 hours exam on last Saturday, and managed to sit through the Sunday Services. God is GOOD! 

My back is still pain, yet He is keeping me. Some friends had felt that this is a warning sign that God sent me, so that I will know when to take rest.  ^^ I'm not sure if that's true... a warning sign? 

The verse "count the cost" came to me, and the peace in me reminded me again about this, "Counting the cost is about understanding of my limitations, and the consequences that comes with the decision that I make. And after knowing the cost, we will be rest assure that we could only depend on the Lord in fulfilling the projects that He puts in our hands because of our limitations." So understanding my limitations should not be holding me back to response to Him as He calls. Understanding my limitations should cause me to keep preparing, keep going in the trust that the Lord to be my strength and He will provides all that I need as I response.  TIME is in His hands, that includes my time. He never calls at  wrong time. Even in practical it might seems to be "wrong" timing, difficulties might threaten us, but I had learned from this trip that He has a perfect plan, and we have to response by faith and see His plan to be reveal to us step by step. 

Yes, yes, I will rest, and God had already signaled to me that I will take a long rest after the trip to Japan even before I went. Yet, taking a rest does not mean that it will be rightful not to response to His call because my physical health is weak. Yes, I have a weak back, I can't drive, I can't sit for long hours at the moment, it will not hold me from keep sharing the work of the Lord in Japan. If He calls me, this will not hold me from spending time to prepare any work that is needed for this course. Instead of just simply seeing this as a warning sign to the binge of my health, perhaps, we should see that He is calling His people into His service. It is time for more people to step in, to share the burden in Heart4Japan. My advice is:  PRAY and SEEK for His heart and His will for Japan as a Father, and He will guide your steps! I don't head Heart4Japan, Jesus does. That's what I felt about this incidence. 

 

God is my strength! God is your strength too! May this testimony encourage both you and me!

Reassurance of Heart4Japan

For you who have been praying for Japan with H4J, the Lord have been merciful, graceful towards us and Japan! What I could say is that we have been praying along with the Holy Spirit, and this could be testified by the work that He had accomplished and still doing in these 3 years. 

(For the very centre issues that Heart4Japan have been focusing, please refer to the following attached three articles...)

WE WELCOME YOU HERE

WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN PSYCHOLOGY

THIS IS THE TIME MORE THAN EVER

The Key Word in Heart4Japan is: SEEKING   FATHER'S    HEART

The Lord had called and stirred up warriors to take action towards ONCE the LARGEST UNREACHED nation ( - 2008) - JAPAN, to wash their eyes with tears and PRAY and GO! Heart4Japan was formed in 2006 November, starting with two to three to pray, till now an official record of 520 people around the world. The original materials of Heart4Japan (video and brochures) have now been translated to Chinese, Portuguese and  Japanese. Slowly, a step at a time, God spoke to individuals who then fit into a certain position in Heart4Japan, and begin to TRUST God in that area, and began to move on for things that God had stirred them to do. 

When you refer to this article, "The Ministry Map" , Please understand that we are at the bottom level (3rd level): "Interceding", "Equipping", "Connecting". Taking part in this level is simple: check the box that you think you can do, and start focusing on it, and share everything that you do with the people in Heart4Japan. ALL the works that we do will be pursuing the 2nd level, for the vision of 1st level. In the ministry of Heart4Japan, it is about:

His children getting together

putting aside what is in our hands

and

begin to Pray together

Understanding His heart to Japan

Understanding a Father's heart to the Japanese people

and

Work according to His will, 

Stand In the Gap for each other's ministry

One main thing in Heart4Japan is to Stand in the Gap, Keep Watch for each other! 

"...He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful...... No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can  you bear fruit unless you remain in me......“ （John 15: 1-4) May this verse encourage you and me. Let's remain in Jesus, joining Him with our Father, acknowledging every work is done by Him, and accomplished in His name, and then be rejoice to witness fruits bearing season in our lives!!! For JAPAN :-)

Voice

Finding God's voice became more difficult as I travel

Perhaps,

           it is not about "finding"               His voice

           But                    "waiting"     for    His voice

in preparation

       in silent

            in wandering

waiting for His voice

listening to His voice 

                 through the whisper of the wind

                 through the sunshine that peers through the gaps of the shivering leaves

                 through

                           quiet times  

                                            with

                                                   the WORD that never fails

"Be Still, and Know that I AM GOD" Psalm 46:10

                 

父の涙

This is a song originally written in Japanese, by 岩渕まこと。It speaks about the power of love at the cross. As I study this song, I couldn't help to introduce to you, it just touched my soul. The Cross is the cry of our Father in loving His One and Only Son, and that love and that sacrifice turns into living water that flows out from the cross, to reach and heal His people that are so lost, so unsure. 

父の涙　Father's tears

心に迫る，父の悲しみ，

ko-ko-ro-ni-se-ma-ru, chi-chi-no-ka-na-shi-mi, 

(The grief of the Father that caused such a pain at heart)

愛する一人子を十字架につけた

a-i-su-ru-hi-to-ri-go-o-  ju-ji-ka-ni-tsu-ke-ta

(having his only beloved son to be hang on the cross)

人の罪は燃える火のよう，

hi-to-no-tsu-mi-wa-mo-e-ru-hi-no-yo-u,

(human's sin is like the burning fire)

愛を知らずに今日も過ぎてゆく

a-i-o-shi-ra-zu-ni-kyo-mo-su-gi-te-yu-ku

(Without knowing His love, today passes too)

父が静かに，見つめていたのは、

chi-chi-ga-shi-zu-ka-ni, mi-tsu-me-te-i-ta-no-wa

愛する一人子の傷ついた姿

a-i-su-ru-hi-to-ri-go-no-ki-zu-tsu-i-ta-su-ga-ta

(The Father fixing his eyes on the body of the terribly wounded one and only beloved son)

人の罪をその身に背負い，

hi-to-no-tsu-mi-o-so-no-mi-ni-se-fu-i

(It is on that body that carries the sins of people)

父よ彼らを赦してほしいと

chi-chi-yo-ka-re-ra-o-yu-ru-shi-te-ho-shi-to

(and he said, "Father, please forgive them")

十字架からあふれ流れる泉，それは父の涙

ju-ji-ka-ka-ra-a-fu-re-na-ga-re-ru-i-zu-mi, so-re-ha-chi-chi-no-na-mi-da

(The spring that flows from the cross, that is the tears of the Father)

十字架からあふれ流れる泉、それはイエスの愛

ju-ji-ka-ka-ra-a-fu-re-na-ga-re-ru-i-zu-mi, so-re-ha-i-e-su-no-Ai

(The spring that flows from the cross, that is the love of Jesus)

KEIKYO 景教

世尊布施论第三 

The Philosophy of Giving by the Wise: Third Talk

The meaning of the four circles marked on the picture above:

1. 弥师诃 Messaiah

2. 上悬高 hung up high 

3. 有墓自开 The tombs broke open

4. 活起向人people who had died were raised to life and appeared to many people.

A literature translation of “世尊布施论第三” will be “The Philosophy of Giving by the Wise : Third Talk”. The print was discovered in Dunhuang敦煌 in 1912. Dunhuang is a point that was thought to be a major point of interchange between ancient China and Central Asia. The page above recorded the message of Matthias 27, the incident of the cross, and the resurrection too. 

The Mogao Caves, “Caves of a Thousand Buddhas” had been collecting scriptures from the west. Interestingly along the discoveries, there were a few manuscripts that recorded the story of Jesus and Messaiah were found, which then marked the presence of Keikyo景教 in the East. With more and more evidences and scholarly review as well as research on these materials, Keikyo 景教 now is widely accepted as early Christians in the East, China. 

The more cultural related discovery in Japan is the monument found in Kouyasan 高野山 in Wakayama 和歌山, which was presented by a British lady name Mrs. Gordon in Meiji 44. The monument was the replicate of the original in Xi-an 西安 in China.

This Keikyo monument 大秦景 教流行碑 recorded the statement of Trinity, and the account of the birth of Jesus. The scripture on the monument had also recorded that the Scripture reached Chang-an长安 in 635 year.

The importance of this finding does not only tell us about the step of the early Christians, it also raised issues such as (i) if Christianity is foreign to Chinese or Japanese at all if this was introduced in China during Tang Dynasty; (ii) if the culture has an influence of Christian teaching; (iii)how far could we trace back for the presence of Christianity in both China and Japan; (iv) if Christianity was presence so early and being accepted, why it had been seen so much as a foreign God in today’s evangelism, (v) if the scripture was in Hebrew order or Greek order; etc.

Among all these to be explored, a big question that we need to identify is that, what is this to do with Gospel in Japan? 

Things that we need to keep in mind are: how can this discovery help us to preach Good News to the people in Japan? To which group of people that this piece of information will be helpful? And how can we use it as not to offend or destroy, but to build the people that we are reaching out to?

Koyasan in the northern part of the prefecture is known as a sacred place of the Shingon sect founded by Kobo Daish. The Keikyo Monument at Koyasan (Kongobuji金剛峯寺) could probably excite us as it seemed to have some possible connection with early Christianity in Japan. Yet whether the monument actually represent an evidence of early Christianity in Japan is still in debate. Various literature in the internet with regards to Keikyo are interesting. Adding all these together and by our active good will “imaginations”, we might be able to create stories of the connections of Christianity and Japanese believes system. Yet, if we do that, we will lost our Christian Dignity, and we would not be able to travel far with this piece of information.  Again, we need to examine the facts carefully and check our motivations when we use this valuable information whether as a tool of  “redemptive analogy” or “syncretism”.

Christian dignity on presenting the notes as “Yes”  be “yes”, and “No” be “no”, is important.

In this case, if we can be careful with the evidences and have a firm grip on what we understand, be open to the opposite site of the stories if you ever encounter one when you try to use this piece of information, listen more, and keep all these into spiritual prayers, allow the move of the Holy Spirit, and let the Lord guide us into His heart for Japan. 

With the limited knowledge that I have, yet tracing into the thread of Keikyo through these years by reading the internet presentation of Keikyo in Japan, meeting with a few people who had been crazy in this piece of evidence,  and the interview with Kazuhiko Kawaguchi, I would be more comfortable to introduce you to the work on Keikyo by Kazuhiko Kawaguchi川口一彦. His strong understanding of Buddhism background, genuine interest in Kanji, his research spirit and firm ground of bible knowledge is convincing. 

Kazuhiko brought up an interesting fact that: a missionary (Arahon 阿羅本 ) from Persia brought the Syrian Bible during Tang Dynasty, but it does not mean that it was the very first time for Christian to come to China. And the early Christians (Keikyo followers) have been persecuted by Buddhism during that period of time, During the time of Buso emperor（武宗皇帝）, Confucianism follower had deported all the other religions including Keikyo, Buddhism and Manichean from China....... ( ^^ a lot of interesting facts.....)

If you like to know more about Keikyo in Japan, please do not hesitate to be connect with E-grape Publisher, or Pastor Kazuhiko himself. 

川口一彦　Kazuhiko Kawaguchi 

愛知福音キリスト教会

〒486-0917 愛知県春日井市美濃町2-207-2

Cultural Crusade or Jesus Crusade?

MARCH FOR JESUS

May 5, 2009 - Nagoya

The MARCH for Jesus was organized by a group of Brazilians and called out to around 1600 people to join the March on April 5, 2009.

Knowing nothing, understanding not a word, except of sometimes a phrase pop out, "いえすは、あなたをーあーいーしーてーる！”(Jesus loves you), many people joined in the crowd. A crazy move, you can say it is for Jesus, or you can say it is for the love towards Japanese people.

Yet, many thoughts started to flow in even I enjoyed the fun that I have in the march. Is this a prophetic movement that resembling Joshua and the Jews walked around the Jericho city for seven times, and the wall collapsed which signified "Not by strength, not by might, but by the spirit of the God?" But the organizer didn't seemed to have much thoughts about that.....

The worship afterwards... I've been to more "louder" worship, more "crazy" worship, yet there was none such as this that made me feel so alien... this is difficult to explain, and I hope the readers don't get me wrong with this comment. 

It is hard for me to criticize the event when I see so many efforts and good wills that had been put into it to make this come true, yet, accept of this passions to shout and the fun of it, i can't help to feel that it is more of a CULTURAL CRUSADE than a Jesus crusade.

I have no against with the passions that our Brazilian brothers and sisters have for the Japanese, and I respect that. Yet, I think cultural sensitiveness is needed in presenting Gospel to any nation. It reminded me about Corey Grinder's message, "when we bring the message of Jesus Christ to people, we often brought our whole package of culture across the bridge!" It is important for us to realize that our duty is not getting Japanese to know and to accept the our God, but to know that Jesus is their God. We really need to get ourselves back to the feet of Christ, be silent, and listen to His voice and touch His heart... for what does He wants for Japan? and be careful that we are not just doing what we think that is right.

Cultural crusade is not really welcome in any culture I guess...... and I am speaking from a perspective of a third party who have a crazy background in this circumstance...... how well was the acceptance of the street people about this MARCH? Is this a March for Japan? or a March that just a group of people who are crazy for their God?

Nevertheless, this gives us (People who have same visions) a good idea lot of thoughts if we would like to have in the next march.... perhaps we can have a more indigenous Matsuri Walk for Jesus? A more indigenous way, that we can identify God in ways that we can comprehend, in ways that we are once again ensure: Jesus is not a foreign God, but our GOD.

INSPIRE Union Nagoya

Returnees Unite to Keep Faith

Facebook: Inspire Union

LOCATION: NAGOYA名古屋

After CROSSOVER, this is another ministry that marks the movement of uniting the body of Jesus Christ. INSPIRE in Nagoya. 

INSPIRE UNION group message in Facebook goes: 

“Keep the faith! Did you discover the joy and truth of Christianity while living abroad? Want to re-discover that here in Nagoya, Japan? Inspire Union is for you! We are a group of mostly Japanese (with a few foreigners thrown in!), who have travelled to many countries (America, Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand...) and want to meet up with others who have had similar experiences to us. We also want to learn more about Christianity and making our faith a part of our everyday lives. We'd love for you to join us!”

I had a chat with Hiroko who takes initiative to organize the meetings and keeping up with the returnees. After many cries and prayers, we begin to witness he atmosphere started to change over past two years, The formation of BE ONE movement, CROSSOVER movement, INSPIRE UNION movement,  were not too far from each other. 

Heart4Japan movement started in 2005 with a group of 3 expanded to a group of 500 today had caught the train to pray for JAPAN for a spiritual change among the churches: raising up awareness of the needs in the field, challenging resource sharing, seeing the importance of uniting the body of Christ. When there is such evidence that all of us share the same vision, UNITING together for the growth of the Church of Christ in Japan, we know that this movement is not of us, but of God. 

BE ONE, CROSSOVER, INSPIRE UNION are what we had been praying for, more to that, we are not only praying for unity, but also unify spirit in seeking His heart, a Father’s heart for Japan. So, as we pray, please keep this in mind: our God is God of gods, King of kings, yet He is also our Father. And as for Japan, He carries a heart of a Father’s love, a father’s longing to see his children come to him, a father’s desire to be unite with his long lost sons. 

May the Lord bless you as you pray! Amen.

栄国寺

A Buddhist Temple, a Christian Museum, a Kindergarten.

After the visit to Kakure Christian Museum in Kyoto, I had a chance to explore another Christian Museum - 栄国寺 in Nagoya City. It is a place with combination of three themes: Buddhist temple, Christian museum and a kindergarten. 

The temple received the bodies of the persecuted Christians in Edo period, to provide a burial place, and prayers for the rest of their souls after the mass execution. 

The picture (left top): a stone that wrote 遗迹切支丹 Christian Monument. It stood before the narrow entrance to the burial ground. 

The picture (left bottom): a sign that shows us the entrance to the burial ground of the mass execution, where a tomb was stood for a thousand souls. 

The picture (right bottom): a weird combination: A monument built by a Catholic priest, illustrating the stories of the thousands persecuted souls (left), the tomb of a “famous” Christian man of the time (middle), the “worship” monument that states the protection of Buddha over these executed Christians’ souls (right).

“A resting place for the souls...” how kind were these people that had offered a resting place and set their gods to look after the executed Christians, so that the dead could find peace. What can we do to help them to understand the eternal life that these persecuted Christians had even that they had went through time of turbulence. How can we in return help them to realize that they themselves who had portrait such a good example of Samaritan brother could simply have the same eternal life by believing and receiving the name of Jesus?

The picture (right top): a buddha statue which was claimed to be substitute of Jesus in Hidden Christian worship.  

To be honest, I do not think that the Christian museum really give us any concrete account of hidden Christian in Japan. Nevertheless it is interesting to see how the temple or the state officers had valued these artifacts.  

栄国寺, an unique place: a very traditional Japanese style of architecture building adjoint to a kindergarten, with a display room that full of “Christians” artifacts that joined to a meeting room and a Buddhist temple. Let's pray that in this strange setting, it will provoke the interest of the kids to find out TRUTH as they realize the challenging messages that is embedded in this place.

4th Week in Japan

Seeking His heart for this neighborhood

I have known Ramone for two years now through his prophetic artworks. www.art-for-jesus.blogspot.com. Sometimes there are some illustrations that didn’t make sense to me at all, yet most of the time the images are confirmations to what I’ve prayed, or comforts that I need in times. 

This trip will be primarily working with Ramone to see what God had placed in his heart for the area that he works on and also to be connected with his contacts.

The first assignment I have with Ramone is to walk around Tennoji and pray together with him. As I take photos casually at the street, the obasan in the picture approached me, “気おつけてねtake care, young girl! There are many different people here as you walk down the arcade, take care!” So we took the opportunity to sit down and chat  learning about this street, this area, and what she thinks about life. 

Obasan, 70 years old, tough lady, survival of Hiroshima during ww2, her malformed left hand is a mark of harshness of life. The friendliness of the Obasan had opened door to befriend with the other people in the street. 

The old man is a good guitarist and vocalist who plays on the street, and the young man is probably a regular wanderer at this area. This friendship seems to be a good beginning of my tour in Tennoji.

nishinari - 50 YEN drinks

This is the cheapest drinks that I have ever seen in Japan. 50 yen and above, almost half price of the normal 

vending machine. Ramone said it is probably only in Nishinari-ku 西成区, a place where you might find about hundred of jobless people waiting to be employed day by day basis. 

Nishinari-ku christian church 西成区大阪救霊会館

The Christian Church is of 70 years in Nishinari, serving the poor and needy, feeding the homeless and have service every evening. A huge amount of resource is put into this service. 

They also have two vans that goes around to preach about Jesus Christ in the city.  

The cost to pay is really about sacrificing the comfort of having a brand new building, or a set of brand new chairs for service. Everything in this church is just so humble. Yet, they send missionaries to overseas too, actively praying for the nations, for China. They welcome mission teams as well. 

Many homeless have come to the service mainly for food. Yet, in the midst of those, sometimes there will be a few truly came to know about the Gospel and saved. I could see the tears in Sakai Sensei’s eyes, the joy that leap in her eyes as she shared about the salvation of the homeless. Prosperity is not the tune that this church sings, but the love towards the neighbors is!

Add: 大阪府大阪市西成区太子１丁目－１４

Tel: 06-6632-5820

Shitennojimae 四天王寺前

The impressions of Shitennojimae　四天王寺前 are a lot of healthy looking students, quiet temples and a mushrooms of love hotels, a weird combination. The place also included an elderly care center, a blind center, and a YMCA building that located not far from the Subway station.

Be One movement in Kansai - B1 House church (http://www.b-1.jp/)

Jumpei, a English teacher of an international high school, started a cell church together with his student’s father, Keishi, three years back. The interesting things of this meeting place are: (i) it is located at Ame-mura, a sense of Osaka version of Harajuku; (ii) the meeting is free and easy; (iii) yet in all these, you find the spirit moving.

There is a crowd roaring outside the building, and then there is a little corner at the 5th floor inside the building with a little written sign:  #Prayer room#. As you open the door, a scene of people casually sitting and freely chatting in the room will brush away the stagnant image of what a normal service will be. It looks more like a high school club to me, with juice and snacks on the table, someone causally playing guitar, someone concentrating in working on her laptop, someone playing, someone reading...... 

The service starts with worship, and it just starts to pull a string in the heart of the people, and then they are ready for scriptures.... no one will be directly giving a message, but they proceed with bible reading, and then form into small groups discussing and reading, sharing what they feel about it, and pray about it together. The meeting is casual, yet with a sense of unity in the Spirit, AND fun!!!  Fellowship...... that’s the smell of this church. 

Contact# jumpei@b-1.jp 

With limitations yet also with great fulfillment of the Lord, the prayer room is going to shut down at the end of this month, but move to Shinsaibashisuji, a more higher end shopping arcade, to combine with another cell-church that is held in Shimamura’s office. With this piece of information, please pray for the spiritual atmosphere at this place and also the people who walk into Shinsaibashisuji, let them be bless by the present of His body!

The Needs at the Riverbank

Sometimes the riverbank is quiet, sometimes it isn’t, especially during spring and summer. There will be stores set up at the riverbank, featuring from food to entertainment. 

One store that caught my eyes is the palm reading store. A crowd standing outside the store, examining their own palms with the references (pictures of palms) that hang up at the store. 

Probably feeling insecure for the future, probably eager to know what is install next in their life, probably wanna to escape from current situation, they all stopped, mainly middle aged women.  

Coming from a background of unbelieved, I can identify with the feelings of uncertainties that causes a lot of anxieties especially when the present doesn’t seem to work out fine. People need an answer for the experiences that they have, the experiences that they are going through....

The homeless are often being ignored in the park or at the riverbank. The strong desire in Ramone in reaching out to them reminds me about Scott Williams who had the same passions towards these people.  Let us first remove our lenses, and begin to ask God how He looks at these people.Through God’s lenses... this is the key to His Kingdom and His ministries!

Prophetic Art-Ministry

In early 2007, when God led me to Ramone’s blog, I felt a strong connection with Heart4Japan. I often think, if there is going to be a fellowship of the Ring, Ramone would probably be Legolas Greenleaf. Prince of Elf, that could see and hear spiritual things and have an understanding of it. 

On the third day of staying with Ramone, he handed me a picture of Jesus under the pink sakura tree, and told me this is a picture for hikikomori. A scripture that attached to this is Song of Songs 2:14. The beauty of the petals, the long waited season, the joy and cheerful look of this picture, along with the scripture pierced my heart, the hikikomori is precious in His eyes, and he is calling them out from their closet!

Hikikomori might have rejected the world, or vice versa. But God has not reject them. He has a message for them, and that’s why He had brought us into this picture so that we can sense the hearts of the broken ones, and begin to pray and carefully search His heart for them, and work through it with persistence and endurance!

Ramone has a very sensitive heart and tentative ears for the Lord. It is fun to learn about what he had studied and often encouraging and humbling to learn about his visions of the place where his heart is on. I’ll leave it to you to be connected with him, so that you can form a strong team in the future if you have a burden for the poor and needy through interceding and prophetic art. Shalom!

Email: fulfilledinjesus@yahoo.com

website: www.art-for-jesus.blogspot.com

〜moment of relax 〜　長居公園 Nagai Koen

Besides of working and praying, I had an opportunity to relax and just to catch up with all the sleeping time that I needed to regain strength. The extensive travel in past three weeks had been more tiring than I expected. Probably often have to carry not less than 8kg loads on my back and extensive walking are the most tiring part for me...... ^^

There is a beautiful park in Nagai, one station away where I am staying. An International Game is going to be held at the park in May, and prior to that, there was a clean up of homeless in that area. An botanical garden is attached to this park.

In the park on weekends, there were elderly people with their paint brushes or cameras and walking sticks, young families with beautiful children, a few pair of couples, some high school students, having fun, resting and having bento (lunch box) in the garden. 

After an hour walk in the garden, we finally sat down under the sakura tree (where the flowers had almost gone) and had our bento. It was relaxing as the sun was shining, but the weather was just cooling, and there was an old man concentrating on his drawing at the path which is not too far from our left, and another few families sitting not too far at our back. 

Lying down on the Mr.Thomas mat, I fell asleep comfortably, as a Sabbath rest, in the arms of the nature that He created, a relaxing moment, together with Yoko and Timo. 

Yet, in enjoying this, it also finally made me realize why many people had not recognize the problems of the homeless, hikikomori or youths with deviant behaviors. I remember an Osaka lady advised me earlier when I started the work on hikikomori, “Yes, there is a problem. But I believe we have enough ‘normal’ people to function in this society!”

......a pause for you, for me, to think......

Creative Ministries

Gospel concertmama outreach

There is a Gospel Choir Outreach in Jesus Family, where mothers in the neighborhood can bring their children to the church and relax, fellowship with one another, making friends, and singing Gospel music. http://www.jesus-family.jp/

Tel: 06-6697-3502 

Croix, Shinsaibashi

A beauty saloon that turns into an outreach place, where bible study and Sunday worship also take place in this warm Total Beauty Center.

shimamura@croix.jp

Highlights of Next week

Meeting this team in RJC (Reaching Japanese for Christ) remained a blessing to me. They had gone all the way out to meet with Takako Watanabe, a missionary that was sent by the Evangelical Church to Seattle, and brought a little bookstore with them to the conference.

Their love towards the Hiki T-shirt encouraged me! Somehow this turn out to be a wish to work with them in this trip. 

The highlight to this is that we seemed to cross into each other without any prior plans that we made. First, I met a member from the church during the second week when I was in JCMN Summit, and then the day after I left Nara city, Pastor Fukuno came to speak in Antioch Cafe. 

It seems like God is connecting Heart4Japan with the body of Japan Evangelical Churches (JEC). Takako did the translation for the brochures from English into Japanese, and the work with Hikikomori had also led me to Nagano Fukuin Kyoukai and Nara Fukuin Church. 

Let’s pray and see what God is leading us to. Having an opportunity to share with the ladies and the youths in the church is encouraging. Though it is just another two days ahead, I am still reserving a place for the Holy Spirit to move so that the message will be of what He wants the congregation to hear. Please pray with me in this too! Let me not speak out of flesh, but in obedience and tentative to His will and desire. 

It will be interesting to find out more about this church, and leaning towards the Holy Spirit to see what is install in the coming week. Maybe more of hikikomori? maybe more of encouraging the youths to after their dreams in Christ? maybe sessions of comfort and prayers? 楽しみね！

http://r-c-i.net/  Add: 〒584-0092 大阪府富田林市昭和2-2-8, Tel: 0721-25-9788 

Prayer Points for Heart4Japan: 

• Possible connection with Evangelical Churches.
  
• More people will catch the vision and willing to come together to seek His heart for the harvest in His field.
  
• Foundation for future work.
  

Prayer Points for Roseline:

• Speaking with Discernment.
  
• Chances to work with hikikomoris.
  
• Being an encouragement to the family of hikikomoris. 
  
• Faith and Trust
  

3rd Week in Japan

On April 9, I came to Nara to work with Robin Adam. A beautiful American lady, 75 years old, laboring with love and care, spending her last pension penny in this beautiful place.

Robin Adams works in two places in Nara, Antioch in Nara city and Haibara Prayer House.

After 20 minutes of walking from the train station with the heavy luggage, we were welcomed by Ako’s warm hospitality in Antioch. 

The next day, we headed back to Haibara, went back and forth Osaka and Nara in next few days, visiting different churches, and also some sightseeing with a couple of friends that Robin wishes to reach out to: a Jewish family and a Japanese family.

Syncretism or Redemptive Analogy?

Robin teaches English, and through friendship building she aimed to reach out to the neighborhood and she has a strong passion in reaching out to buddhist monks and shinto priests. 

For this she is convinced to use a lot of tools about Keikyo, Nestorian Influence of early Buddhism and Shintoism, the meaning of Kanji. If you wish to work with Robin Adams, please contact her via this email: robin.adams@mail.com

The argument of syncretism and redemptive analogy still remain controversial and I believe it always will. 

I will carefully record what I’ve seen and learn in this trip, and also share with you what I sense in the embrace of the Holy Spirit. 

Amenominakanushi

I have no doubt that God had put a great desire in the heart of the Japanese to worship Him, the creator of Heaven and earth. That could be observed in e every single effort to seek harmony with the nature that turned out to be the way of life of the Japanese. Though not much putting into practice now, ikebana, cha-do, bushi-do still serve as the root of the culture and the way of life that one honor. 

The similarity in Kojiki and Genesis could be the very clue that God had left on this land of the evidence of His existence. In the search of the creator Heaven and earth, Amenominakanushi seemed to have substitute the name of Yahweh.  This finding is exiting yet, it is a huge challenge ahead in pointing them to Jesus with this redemptive analogy, not to syncretize but to reveal the absolute truth. 

Easter celebration - an unbelievable night 

It was an unbelievable Easter dinner on Sunday evening. 

Gill wanted to have Easter Hot Cross Bun with raisins in it. So we worked on it! Of course we can’t find that in the store, so I tried to make a chocolate marble cake, and Robin worked to put a cross on top of it with icing sugar. And then we get everyone to take one raisin in their hand, to symbolize the risen Christ. When we shared the meaning of the raisins, everyone started to raise their hands and shouted, “Bansai, Bansai!” So, they did know about the story of the risen King. 

Yet a knowledge about the resurrection of Christ had not brought them to the meeting place with Jesus. Perhaps knowing the truth does not necessarily prompt people to make the decision to follow Christ. There are something else in their mind that serves as bondage that we need to break.

It was kind of strange Easter Sunday to me, that we had different people of different religions sitting around the table, celebrating the resurrection of Christ, at the same time watching a record of buddhist funeral. Then we kind of formed different groups discussing about different things: strange things happened in church, stories of hikikomori, and then a time of quiet prayers to comfort those who are in sorrow.

A strange and thoughtful evening......

Left to right: Keiko, Miyatani's wife, Miyatani, Shinobu, Kazuhiko, Laurel Fooks, Robin Adams, Gill Fooks, Roseline

Creative Ministries

聴き屋Kikiya 

Kei Takikita ~ Takamatsu, Kagawa.  garichon@k.vodafone.ne.jp

Nara fukuin kyoukai

Calligraphy Outreach. It allows people to come and learn calligraphy for rehabilitation purpose as well as to learn more about Jesus. Wed: 1.30pm Tel: (0742)26-4680

Antioch Church cafe

A creative cafe outreach which serves free coffee and casual snacks for the people who stays in the neighborhood. Ako - 090-9980-6832

Beautiful Sakura Hanami

One thing that I notice is that almost all famous tera and jinja would have beautiful flowers or natures. In this observation, perhaps I’m not too far if I say the Japanese are attracted to the beauty of the His creations rather than the worship of tera or jinja itself. 

This beautiful Sakura tree is the largest and oldest in Nara located in 仏隆寺Butsuryuji. It branched out 2 meters off the ground, and each branch blooms into beautiful flowers. It was a full bloom while we reached Butsuryuji. People streamed to the temple to

 honor the beauty of the sakura. Indeed, it was amazing.  

Perhaps there is one thing that we can do, that is to pray that the Lord will awakened His people that the power of creation and the source of life is more important than anything else on earth, and it is worth to after it. 

~For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~ Romans 1: 20

Pray for LIGHT!!!