New Church Momentum

The dream is to see many church planting movements in Japan. For many years, as the church in Japan has been declining in several areas, little vision was seen for new churches in Japan. We are overjoyed that God raised up the “Church Multiplication Vision Festa.” In 2014, 65 leaders from all over the country gathered with a vision for church multiplication. Last year those numbers grew to 180 leaders! Last month many of these…

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Pray for the CPI Conference

October 1, 2015 Hello fellow partners in ministry, On November 10-13 will be held the Japan CPI 2015 National Conference.  Hundreds of leaders from all over Japan will participate in this church planting conference.  Over 15 Rengo pastors will also be attending. Pray for us and the dozens of leaders preparing for this conference.  Ask God to grant skill and energy to our tasks. Ask God to equip the many counselors which are coming to…

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Prayer in July

GOD ANSWERED Thank you for your prayers for the new home and guest house building project in Higashi Kurume. Planning and work is proceeding well. Pray for safety as the old house is torn down this month. Thanks for your prayers for our new missionary family the Rob Wrights. Their visa approvals came on time, they are at 100% support! Pray for their remaining outgoing expenses to come in and for their many preparations. John…

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FAQ – Natural Disasters and Japan

In Japan earthquakes and other disasters are a constant possibility (over 700 per year) and lead to much preparedness by the Japanese. For us, people from the Midwest, earthquake was a new concept when we arrived in Japan about 30 years ago. We cannot say we have gotten used to them but maybe we I have learned to live with earthquakes. Over the last several months there has been much seismic activity. We had a…

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Technology and Disaster

On June 30th, we along with Japan was shocked again about another tragedy in this technological savvy country. John was talking to a pastor by phone and was asked if he had heard the news from yesterday. A man from Tokyo committed suicide on the bullet train by dosing himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. We both ride this same train many times as year making it hard to believe. This…

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Pray in June

GOD ANSWERED 1. Elaine had a good trip to Kansai Christian School board meeting last month and helped Lori Harms pack up a bit for Home Assignment. 2. We are nearing the end of the planning phase for the new home and guest house in Higashi Kurume. Pray as these plans go to the city and the builder gears up to begin work in August. In preparation we are having a mission workday there on…

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Core Values

Ministry is vision directed but values driven. Vision is like the steering wheel, determining the direction. But our ministry values, what we believe strongly, passionately, and deeply, is the propulsion. Many ministries do not have much drive because they are not sure what is truly important to them and what is less important. Currently John has been mentoring several church planters who have been honing down their core value statements. The effect oozes out in…

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Death and Life

We had the most unusual Easter ever. We spent the day at a funeral. Normally Easter is upbeat and full of celebration. The hope of life after death is really something to cheer about, and cheer about every day. But this year a father of a dear Japanese Christian friend was dying in the hospital during Holy Week. Also in the US our dear friend and former mission leader, John Marrs, had been in a…

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May Prayer Items

GOD ANSWERED God continues to bless us and others in all our mentoring relationships. Continue to pray for these leaders as they grow in their spiritual life and ministry skills. Recently many of those we mentor have commented how much it has helped their marriage. The team working on the new missionary home and guest house (Elaine, John, and Jane Fischer) is going very smoothly. Pray for continued blessing of this major building project. PRAYER…

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April Prayer Items

GOD ANSWERED God answered prayer by blessing the 19 who came to the CPI Gospel Seminar in Japanese. The manual also underwent a major upgrade. John was able to preach with great freedom in the spirit at the meeting with the Philippine churches. Our Converge Worldwide had a great spring Field Council including the farewell party for the Ellisons, great sharing times, and beautiful snow. PRAYER PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS The mission has made a decision to…

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