GospelRest

Last week I had someone ask about our financial situation. I thought more of you would like the facts. We have ended the last two years over 100% of our needed financial support. But due to the overall global economy and the declining dollar against the yen this year will be the most challenging. When we came to Japan the dollar was 200 yen, now it is 75, an all time low. This means gasoline (reg) is $7 a gal and milk is $7.50 a gal. Our personal support is behind about $900 per month. We could really use any increase to continue the work of equipping church planters and meeting practical needs through disaster relief. Consider a one-time gift or maybe regular giving throughout the year.

To give to our ministry see the Converge Worldwide website http://www.convergeworldwide.org/give/49651 Just click donation.

In addition, we have some projects we are raising money for. Church Planting Summits for the church planters in the Rengo. Funds for further development in CPI training and support for church planters. Please contact us directly about this.

Some of you may be unable to give financially but there is something very important you can do. Pray that God would supply these financial needs and that His Kingdom would be advanced.

The 1,000 year tsunami occurred over 8 months ago but the struggle continues for victims. Since May Converge Worldwide has sent 8 disaster response teams focusing mainly the in Shintate and Urayashiki neighborhoods of Ishinomaki, one of the cities the tsunami hit the hardest. Over 60 volunteers from 11 different churches have worked over 5,390 man hours (1) distributing relief supplies and goods to 874 individuals totaling over $2,800 dollars and (2) removing the mud and sludge left by the tsunami from 25 homes and preparing them for carpenters to rebuild them.

“Without you here with us, we would lose all hope.” Tsunami Disaster Victim

Evangelism has occurred with personal sharing of faith stories with over 50 victims’ families, distributing literature, and community outreach events. Future ministry will connect more with people through cafés, sports clubs, children and youth ministry. The call has gone out for more volunteers especially carpenters and builders.

After the 3.11 quake we almost cancelled the CPI National Conference. I am glad we didn’t. This biennial conference was bigger than in 2009! On November 9-11, nearly 340 missionaries, pastors, and laypeople gathered (along with over 100 children). The theme was “together” church planting in the wake of the quake. Many of those in attendance were from the Tohoku disaster areas or had worked there in ministry this past year.

“We were struggling hard, but we got new encouragement, courage, and vision through CPI.” 2011 Conference Participant

The conference was a time of spiritual refreshment, inspiration, encouragement, and challenge for those attending. This was the first time the main sessions were from an all Japan cast. These speakers, who have been extensively involved in disaster response ministry, including two pastors from the disaster area, challenged those attending to be gospel-centered in all they do and to be compassionate like Jesus as the church extends to new areas. The main sessions used a new small group format for integration and application.

The conference had 20 Core Training sessions on evangelism, discipleship, small groups, prayer, worship, and other church planting training. Several sessions on personal care and support for those in ministry were sponsored by JEMA Member Care.

Over 50 leaders met with CPI leaders where the leaders listened to them answer this question. “Over the next 2-5 years, what are some practical ways to advance God’s Kingdom to increase the number of disciples, leaders, and churches in Japan?” We are still compiling the answers which were extremely creative and helpful.
As well many attendees felt that now is a great opportunity in Japan. Over 90 missionaries and 30 Japanese reported they plan to start new ministries, groups, and churches in the next 2-5 years. They believe that the church as a sending agency would plant more churches. This would extend Christ’s great compassion to Japan and beyond. Pray that God would make that happen.

Upcoming ministry will be Church Planter BootCamps in various regions (Kanto Nov 5-7, 2012) as well as more support and resourcing of church planters. The dates for the 2013 CPI Conference were set for November 11-15.

Happy Thanksgiving. If anytime where was a time to be thankful in Japan it is now. So grateful that God has sustained us through the disasters and empowered us to mobilize others to help. The whole situation is sobering about how fragile life is and how easy it would be for civilization to break down. We are thankful to God for these and many lessons from disaster victims. God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Let’s thank God for his provision for us and many, many others. (While writing this right now there was just a small earthquake.)

Please pray for John and Elaine Mehn this November!
1. Disaster Response Team Nebraska (team #8) leaves Nov 3 until the 12th. Yas Yoneda will again be leading the group; pray that God would use them to minister in word and deed with disaster survivors. This will be Tim’s last team trip before he leaves Nov 19th. Pray as we plan for more teams to come help.
2. CPI National Conference Nov 9-11. This conference, in spite the effect of the disasters, will be bigger than the last conference. There are nearly 325 adults coming with 100 kids! Ask God to bless everyone who comes that they may have a new vision for church multiplication and that God may ignite us with His renewal. Pray as preparations continue that the entire staff may be encouraged. Both John and Elaine will be training in renewal, John on church planting and John has the closing main session on The Church Sent in Compassion. Ask God to surprise us with his presence and also work miracles in Japan, a country with little true hope.
3. Pray that God would supply all the funding for Rengo pastors to attend the church planting summit and the conference. God has been generous the last several weeks but it appears we are a bit short.
4. Throughout the month, we have lunch appointments with our Japanese friends, outreach classes, Bible studies, and mentoring meetings. Pray we would have tender hearts and energy to help everyone we meet.
5. Nov 22-23 John and Yas Yoneda head to Shizuoka for the Rengo Annual Meeting. Pray that every church leader would be obedient to God’s will for their church.
6. Nov 24-26 Converge Worldwide Japan Mission Fall Field Council. Elaine and John will be giving our pre-home assignment term statements to the mission. We will be discussing disaster response, ministry assignments, and future plans. Ask God to grant his great wisdom and that we may have new insights to old problems. Pray that as we meet along with Asian Director, David Jahnke, that God would touch all our hearts.
7. Nov 27-30 Elaine, John and Yas’s trip to Tohoku to give Christmas greetings to our friends. Pray that we may have skill in sharing the gospel in a sensitive way with each family. Also ask God to grant great wisdom for the JEMA Tohoku Relief Consultation meeting in Sendai we will be attending.
8. We are also beginning preparations for Home Assignment and our Mehn 2012 Compassion for Japan Tour. Ask God to grant that our entire schedule would be completed before we leave Japan in mid-December.
9. OTHER STUFF – A series of articles highlighting the results of John’s doctoral work began with the fall 2011 issue of the Japan Harvest. “Lessons from Japanese Leaders Reproducing Churches.” Let us know if you would like to take a peek at this article.

1. Praise God that the Retool Kit training event went very well in Kyoto at the beginning of the month. Ray Swatkowski and Gary Harrison were the trainers. John was able to participate.
2. Thanks for praying for Elaine’s meeting with several Japanese pastor’s wives in coaching, prayer and fellowship for their LeadNET group.
3. We hope to have a dinner party with the “Agape Kai” group of Japanese couples at our home on 10/30. Pray for the opportunities to share Christ.
4. October will be a very busy time preparing for events in November. November brings a disaster team from Cameroon, the CPI National Conference, Rengo Annual Meeting, Japan Field Council, and Elaine, John, & Yas’ trip to Tohoku. Pray for wisdom, patience, efficiency, teamwork, and faith in God amidst the pressure.

CPI National Conference (11/9-11) preparations are going very well. Over 250 are registered already . Both Elaine and John have many duties. John was “drafted” to give the closing message on “Compassionate Church Multiplication.” Pray for preparations, teamwork, and even more people to register. There is still time for some people reading this to volunteer as a children’s worker or other key positions. If you are interested just let us know. www.conf.jcpi.net.

The next volunteer team “The Michigan Team” will leave on the 17th and return the 28th. Our new Disaster Team Coordinator, Yas Yoneda, will be leading this team. Fortunately they are a small team with only one who is not a veteran and cannot speak Japanese. They will continue ministry in Shintate and Urayashiki neighborhoods of Ishinomiya. The team will also be involved in some outreach events. Tim Mehn will again join this team. Please pray for safety, good teamwork, and lots of opportunity to share about Christ. To pray for Japan and Japan relief check out the special website: http://groups.google.com/group/Pray4Japan.

Thanks for your prayers as John spoke in a church in the disaster area on 9.11, 6 months after the triple disasters. John had nothing to say but God had a lot to say about what Jesus would do if he was in Tohoku.

Carpenters and Builders Now Needed
Along with general volunteers, we need builders and carpenters to come help us with the rebuilding phase. Along with teams this fall we need teams for next spring and summer. Pray that God would raise up these workers for this important neighborhood rebuilding ministry. Please contact Converge Worldwide if you are interested in joining a team. http://www.convergeworldwide.org/reach-nations/japan-relief.

John
I was so happy to be a part of Converge Worldwide mission team. We all made such a great team together. Like you said we could of never picked this team from all over the place, coming together as one time and not knowing each other. . I was happy to see these people’s faces when we were done. I never wanted these two weeks to end it came so fast like it did. Thank you for all the planning that you did to make this trip possible. Thank you for your hard for and for all the work you’re still doing in Japan.
Elaine, it was really nice meeting you for the short time I was there. Thank you for all the work you and John do for the Japanese people.

MAYBE JOIN ONE OF OUR DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS IN JAPAN. ENJOY BEING USED BY GOD, DEVELOPING GREAT TEAMWORK, AND MAKING GREAT FRIENDS. PRAY ABOUT COMING.

On Friday our Mars Hill team finished “mudding out” Ms. D’s house. On Tuesday we will be power washing it and bleaching it. Then we will let it dry before it is rebuilt. But even though we are done there is even more help coming. The day it was completed the Samaritan’s Purse construction manager came and inspected the house and gave approval for it to be in their rebuilding plan. So they will pay for basic remodeling costs. Praise God!

BUT HELP! Now we need to help recruit carpenters and builders to help in this next phase of helping Ms. D have a more normal home before winter. Please pray for Ms. D. that she may find Christ as her savior. Also pray that carpenters would be soon recruited to rebuild her house.

CARPENTERS NEEDED

Help Converge Worldwide rebuild first floors of homes damaged by the tsunami in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse. The types of repairs to be completed are: installations of floor/wall insulation, sub-floor, drywall, exterior walls, and enclose window and door openings.
Samaritan’s Purse will provide team members with orientation, instructions, power tools and supplies to do the job. All we encourage you to bring your own hand tools (hammer, tape-measure, tool belt, squares, cutting knives). While volunteer teams may have little experience, it is necessary that some individuals with each team have some experience in carpentry. Carpenters will be assigned for work with Japanese carpenters or lead carpenters. Please apply at the Converge website www.convergeworldwide.org/japanmission.