WAYS YOU CAN PRAY FOR US AND OUR MINISTRY

1. Thanks for praying for us throughout all the activities and events of two busy schedules each month. Ask God to grant wisdom and focus as there are key mission and Rengo meetings this month.
2. CPI joins the cell church summit this year.  Pray for the growth of old and new relationships at this Feb 10-12 event.
3. Praise God that Hamamatsu Megumi Church will be getting a pastor beginning in April.  John preaches at the Hamamatsu church on 2/21.
4. Pray that John can be a big encouragement to many leaders at the JEMA meetings Feb. 22-23 as we discuss national strategy together.
5. Dan and Sandi Peterson, district executive minister from Converge Midatlantic, will be visiting us and Japan 2/25-28.  Ask God to grant them a clear vision for Japan.
6. In January, Elaine started an English Bible Study at the Crossroad church which is off to a great start.  Pray for the next meeting on 2/28.
7. Ask God to grant focus, energy, and time discipline for John to complete the next steps of his research project.

HOW ARE YOU CELEBRATING ST. VALENTINE’S DAY?

We have also been striving in local outreach and evangelism to the 99% of Japanese who do not know Christ.  At the end of last year, we had a Christmas Dinner Party for 14 people mostly pre-Christians.  Some short term workers from one of our partnering churches were able to join us.  We are planning a Saint Valentine’s Party with about 5 Japanese couples to celebrate St. Valentine’s day on 2/14. Please pray that God would use this outreach to move people closer to the savior.

I just found out I was on Christian Television here in Japan.  I was working with one of their staff on getting a list of names of church planters that they could interview for a weekly show on church planting.  They sent me a web link to see about the program.  When I was at the home page I noticed something about the Rengo.  It was about the Coming of Age celebration on 1/12 where I gave a short greeting to the young people who had just become adults.  I would boast more about it but the video was all in Japanese and I was only in a few shots.  Though I was glad Elaine picked out my tie that day.  If you are interested this is the clip.  http://japan.cgntv.net/_inc/player.asp?pid=2304&type=vod&player=8&bit=high&vid=45898&dreamon=Y;%20text/html;%20charset=UTF-8

One Japanese pastor would like someone to come for over 3 months or more to build relationships with Japanese.  Through these relationships they can share their Christian experience.  This would be with church activities, their interests, English classes and other activities to connect with people.  Depending on gifts and interests an outreach plan can be determined in discussion with the pastor and church.

The pastor along with Church ministry has an NGO (Non-government Organization [Charity organization] which works to help prevent people from suicide.  Japan is a world leader with over 30,000 suicides annually.  There are possible connections there in terms of connecting with people in a mercy and compassion ministry.

The pastor would look forward to having someone come as part of his staff and there is another local missionary that he works a lot with.  His wife is a certified Japanese teacher so if there is interest a short-termer could have regular weekly Japanese classes.

The church will provide a place to live and they think that opening English classes will probably help with living expenses.  The pastor will take either a man or woman worker.  If a woman came the pastor would like them to work with young women, especially those with young children.

There are a lot of Japanese loan words in the English language such as Typhoon, Kimono, Sushi, and more lately I have heard Sukoshi (a little) even on TV shows.  The loan word Tycoon really threw me.  I am from Illinois and value Abraham Lincoln highly for many reasons.  I had never heard him referred to as a Tycoon before. This is the “rest of the story.”

The word tycoon is derived from the Japanese word taikun which means “great lord,” and it was used as a title for the shogun. The word entered the English language in the nineteenth century with the return of Commodore Perry to the United States. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was humorously referred to as the Tycoon by several aides. The term spread to the business community, where it has been used ever since (From wikipedia).

Tokyo has more high rated restaurants than anywhere else in the world including New York and Paris according to the Michelin guide.  We always new that was true as it is the largest city in the world.  Tokyo has such a rich variety of food with Western and Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian to name just a few.  For more in a BBC article see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8364051.stm

As you read this we are winding up our short working vacation back in Illinois.  We return to Japan on 1/5.  It has been frenzied being back but extremely good family times.  Also on the work side have been possibilities for CPI in another Asian country, recruiting career workers, and recruiting ministry teams from a partnering church.  We both hit the ground running when we return to Japan and there are various things in the works for the Rengo, the mission, CPI, and Elaine’s various classes.

WAYS YOU CAN PRAY FOR US AND OUR MINISTRY

1. Thank you for your prayers for future CPI avenues.  God is moving and in the near future we are planning several leaders’ summits, a Japanese language based CPI, and a church planters’ boot camp in November.  There is also a possibility of a CPI developing in one other country in connection with Converge Worldwide missionaries.
2. John will be working heavily on the church reproduction project for next several weeks.  Pray for energy, a clear schedule, and focus for writing.
3. In January, Elaine starts an English Bible Study at the Crossroad church.
4. Tim and Beth are doing very well. Pray for solid jobs for both of them.
5. Several key events in January for John that need your prayer: 1/10 Speaking at the Rengo Tokyo coming of Age ceremony, 1/12 visiting Tokyo Cell church network meeting, 1/17 preaching at Hamamatsu, 1/20 Bible Study with two pre-Christian men.

We try to keep you updated on timely important issues for prayer.  But sometimes it is not obvious what we should pray for missionary ministries.  Of course we should pray for their health, growth in love for Christ, wisdom and energy in all their ministries, their marriages and families, and for good relationships with nationals.

The following link has some good resources in this area: http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/HowToPrayForMissionaries/prayForMissionaries.htm .

Japan is relatively open to religious work by missionaries and the growth of the church.  The doors are open for more ministry due to openness.  From a recent research into global restrictions on religion, Japan was found to be one of the lowest countries with restriction on religion according to research conducted by the Pew Research Center.  (http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1443/global-restrictions-on-religion) . In fact, Japan was lower in government restrictions and social hostilities than even the US and one of the few countries with in the Asia-Pacific region.  There remain social pressures in Japan but this information should spur many of us to be more engaged in Japan while these conditions continue.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of a baby but not just any baby. This was the Son of God being born in a lowly stable. Because He was willing to humble Himself, He lived a perfect life and became the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Christmas in Japan is a mixture of attention given to the surface and ignoring the truth of the depth beneath. The stores are filled with decorations and Christmas songs which include hymns such as Silent Night and What Child is This. Shopping areas are decorated with Christmas lights and draw hundreds if not thousands to see the “illumination”. In the midst of all this “Christmas” the real reason for celebration is completely missed. The fact that December 25 is a work day as any other is a perfect reflection of what Christmas means to our neighbors and friends.
When Japanese were asked what Christmas meant, the answers ranged from Santa’s birthday to a time for partying with friends. Although few Japanese know the true meaning of Christmas, at this time of year they are very interested in listening or taking tracts or CD’s. It will take a work of God to touch the hearts of the Japanese but God is a miracle worker so we can be encouraged.
Please join us in praying that God’s Kingdom will come for many Japanese this Christmas season. Pray not only for those in Japan but for Japanese living around the world. This is the best time to witness for Christ so please pray for boldness shared in love for each of us and receptive hearts for those with whom we are sharing.