GospelRest

These are rough pictures caught by a family member. We hope to have the photographers photos up soon.

Click here for Newsletter PDF file teaming-leaders-may-2008

While many of you are worried about rising gas prices in the US at 3.89 per gallon, gasoline is also rising in Japan. This month gas is running over 170 yen per liter or $6.20 per gallon. Needless to say we monitor our driving carefully.

A new meaning to rush hour

Several observations from our experience:

(We did not take this video, nor ride this train)

1. This is no doubt the morning rush hour
2. This is one of the Seibu commuter lines (we used to live out there)
3. Notice people are trying to get into the first cars, the cars farther back are not as crowded. (Makes us think this is the Ikebukuro line).
4. This is undoubtably an express train most likely a commuter express.

Leave a question or a comment if you would like.

Japan has wide-reaching influence

The lifestyle, customs, entertainment, and technology of Japan continue to exert international influence.  Along with these cultural influences comes the influence of the Japanese on global culture in general accompanied with ethics, morals, values, and worldview.  Japan is also a leader in Asia, home to over 60% of the world’s people.  Key historical persons in Japan who have been Christians have had large influence nationwide, regionally, as well as worldwide.  Japan must be evangelized to use this global and regional influence.

Japan is needy and becoming needier

The great Japanese post-war economic experiment has failed, which is leading to untold disintegration in every area of society.  Suicide rates in Japan, affecting even school age children, young adults and the elderly, are the highest in the world.  The divorce rate has climbed rapidly in the last several years.  Many marriages do not last their first year!  Abortions continue to run over twice the rate of the US.  Reported abuse of many kinds including bullying is on the rise.  Japan struggles with alcoholism.  Japan is known for the unique psychological disorder, Hikikomori which is known essentially only in Japan affecting over 1.2 million people.  This disorder is a tremendous social fear forcing people to truly shut themselves off from society for over 6 months at a time. These social realities coupled with the largest aging society on the planet means these issues will only be compounded in the future.  Normally people are not drawn to pity the Japanese but these facts reveal that compassion is what they need for an “ideal society” that has failed. 

Last week there was an earthquake in Illinois (our US home). No reported damage.

On April 4th, Tokyo got a 5 point earthquake. Japan is in an earthquake area for several large tectonic plates meet. So 20% of the world’s biggest earthquakes are in Japan. This is relatively close to our home.

Why Japan? The Case for Missions

Several months ago I was asked by a volunteer short-term worker why Japan was so important compared to Darfur or other needy places. My answer was simple. People without the salvation of Jesus face eternal punishment regardless of where or who they are. This is why missionaries have gone to the ends of the earth, not to civilize people, but to introduce them to the Savior Jesus Christ. But because Japan seems so together and advanced it often does not receive the mission interest it well deserves. In many human ways Japan is not to be pitied, but we must have the compassion of Christ for all Japanese for several important and strategic reasons.

Japan is an unreached people group Read the rest of this entry »

URGENT NEED IN JAPAN

Dear Friends in Christ,    The BGC Japan Mission team would like to thank you for your support of BGC mission work in Japan.  We are celebrating the addition of Lori Harms to our team, and reflecting on the many years of service of the Sorleys as they head into retirement this year.

One of the passions of our mission is the education of missionary children (MKs).  Jane Fischer continues to reach out to children at Christian Academy in Japan, and we are looking forward to Lori teaching at Kansai Christian School (KCS) after completion of language school.   We are grateful for these ladies who have committed themselves to Christ and the lives of MKs in Japan.  As you can imagine, it is a difficult task to recruit teachers for schools like these.  As one of the supporting missions of KCS, we would like to send a unified, urgent request for teachers for the coming school year (beginning September 2008).  KCS is searching for teachers for the following positions:  Elementary Education, HS Math, English and Science.  If you are willing to invest two years of your life impacting the lives of MKs, contact Debbie Castic at the BGC ( dcastic@baptistgeneral.org) and Jeff Chapman (jeff4japan@yahoo.com) for more information.  Please apply soon to allow time for visa processing.  Education majors in their senior year are encouraged to apply. You can learn more about the school on their website:  http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~kcs/.  Read the rest of this entry »

Enjoy this video about the CPI Conference on YouTube.

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