GospelRest

MEHN US Tour ‘09 - Already since we arrived we had several meetings including a pastor and family and a LeadNET Team event.  We will begin taking the tour on the road for our speaking engagements.  Drop by and see us if you can.  Pray for wisdom, conviction, learning posture, and servant’s hearts as John and Elaine visit our partners in ministry.

Jan 18  Faith Church of Grayslake      Grayslake, IL

Jan 25  CrossPoint Church                  Ingleside, IL

Tim - is back in the US and is all set for another semester in college. He begins classes on 1/12.

John’s research project - John was able to complete all the interviews for the project.  Ask God for wisdom as John sifts through all the research data and strength to complete the project writing by mid-February.

John’s Mom - She went home from the nursing home late November.  She is doing well now at home.  Continue to pray that she may know God’s blessings in a practical way.

A great departure - Thanks for praying about all the activities and preparations before we departed Japan for our US Home Assignment.  Thanks also for praying about the many meetings we had.  God worked mightily, may His name be praised.

Back in the USA - We all had a wonderful celebration of Christmas with our extended family.  Tim experienced his first White Christmas ever.  We have been getting settled, adjusting to US culture, getting over colds, helping out Beth with her new house, visiting doctors and preparing for our church visits.

For Beth - A New Home! A New “Job”! - Beth and Dustin’s house updates and renovations are nearly completed.  They hope to move into the house sometime by the middle of the month.  Beth begins her student teaching this month.  Ask God to grant her wisdom, patience, and energy.

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.

In just a few weeks we will be returning to the US for our Home Assignment and our next US Tour. We will be in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, California and Japan from January through June 2009. We are looking forward to sharing first ourselves and also our ministries with you. God has taught us many new things over this very ministry-filled term. We are looking for individuals and churches to partner with us and our Japanese partners to further Christ’s Kingdom in this great nation. When we see you we will tell you more about it. You can keep up with our US Tour ’09 schedule by checking this website for updates.

We are leaving soon. We take off from Japan December 16th for a six month “US Tour ’09” of visiting our church partners. This Home Assignment will have us busy with church visits, family and study. Before we run out the door, there are many pressing things to accomplish besides packing and getting the house ready. Please pray that we will get everything done before we leave. Also join us in praying for the churches we will be visiting over the next 6 1/2 months. Pray that God may grant his peace and rest to our home in the midst of all these preparations. Also may God grant us the insights and passion that are needed when we visit US churches.
1. Dec. 1 was Elaine’s Christmas Tea for all of the ladies in her classes. She had 16 ladies, 2 preschoolers, the speaker and herself. Pray that God would use what the speaker shared to draw these ladies to Christ.
2. Dec. 5 we are having the ladies from Elaine’s English Bible class plus a couple over for a turkey dinner. Please pray for opportunities to share the truth of Christmas with these 5 people. Read the rest of this entry »

As we return to the States, we will be responsible to make up deficits in our financial support situation. After being fully supported for many years, our support has been waning this year. The Home Office has calculated that we are $648 per month behind which we are expected to make up before we return to Japan next July. We would encourage you to pray and consider contributing to our monthly support sometime in the near future. Even five or ten dollars more a month would make a difference. Also we would appreciate you considering a one time gift as well. If you want to give through the Converge Worldwide (BGC) go to the contribution website and select our name.

We are often asked what a typical day is for us.  Well, we are still out searching for one.  But sometimes we have very untypical days. John was recently on a 4 day trip to 4 locations, 3 cities, 3 prefectures, 1421.7 km (883.4 miles) mainly by bullet train, 2 interviews, a sermon on forgiveness, sermon training for lay people, an ad hoc mission Executive Committee mtg., the Rengo Mission Liaison committee meeting, the Rengo annual meeting, and a presentation to the Rengo Annual Meeting.  Everything God blessed but John is still recovering.  Then there’s Elaine’s days too.

This year our November brought our yearly ministry planning for the mission and a fun time of celebrating Thanksgiving together.  This year it was earlier than the traditional US date (but later than Canadian Thanksgiving Day).  We are so thankful to have our new missionary, Lori Harms with us.  Also the Asian Director, David Jahnke and his wife Carol were also able to celebrate with us.  We are looking for more people to join our Japan Field Team.

It seems that God had orchestrated a “dream team” of church leaders for interviews for his field research on reproducing churches.  The group of leaders is a very good cross-section of leaders from around the country and various organizations.  John is nearly done with the Interview part of the FIeld Research.  Now he moves into the phase of analyzing all the information he has collected.  Ask God to grant strength and wisdom to John as the project will be moved to the US.  For some information on what he has discovered from several churches click here.

Even though Japan is an advanced and prosperous nation there are the hidden human costs of progress.  The image of Japan, and one that the Japanese would love to project, is that this is a society with everything put together right.  One area that has been growing since the 1980’s is the number of people who are working but are just above the poverty line.  An article with a good example can be found in a Yahoo News article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081026/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_working_poor_1/print;_ylt=Av.GTib1YUH7w5dh9iDkbzj9xg8F

One good friend of mine is a social worker in one large ward of Tokyo.  He has told me on and off over the last 20 years that the growing numbers of people on the financial ropes has been growing.  This is causing social and political problems.