GospelRest » Video

Thank you. Arigatoo!

John — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:47:06 +0000

Though there is much work to be done, disaster victims do have time to thank those who have helped them. If you donated funds, worked as a volunteer, or prayed for disaster response ministry this video is especially for you.

Thank You for praying and caring for Japan!

For Many Life is Temporary

John — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:42:52 +0000

Over 9 months later, people in the disaster area still live in temporary homes. Half of the 61,000 homes in Ishinomaki were lost in the tsunami. Difficulty still continues. More homes need to be rebuilt.

Video from YouTube about Temporary Housing situation in Ishinomaki. CLICK HERE.

One singer at the end is Mika san who we know personally and has done concerts in the Shintake neighborhood.

Christmas Tea a Hit

John — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:23:38 +0000

Every year Elaine invites all the women from her various cooking, needlepoint and Bible classes to our home to celebrate Christmas. They sing Christmas Carols (note the video) and share a Christmas message from an invited guest. Today, December 5th, 24 women came and heard Chiho Nakano, our pastor’s wife, share the meaning of Christmas with them at the Tea. The house is packed with women who really have a great time. They all went home with the Campus Crusade produced Legacy CD of light jazz music and message. Except for Elaine and Chiho all of these women are pre-Christians, pray for the message of Christmas to become real to them.

Partnering with Samaritan’s Purse

John — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:21:05 +0000

Since May 2011, Converge Worldwide teams have been working in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse (SP) and their associates in Ishinomaki. This video highlights the kind of ministry that SP does throughout the region, like distributing home kits and being involved in reconstruction. Many of us have met country director Matt Svenson and a few of us worked with kickboxing pastor Kishinami.

If you are interesting in working as a volunteer we can introduce you to wonderful people like those hightlighted in this video.

SEPTEMBER UPDATE ON JAPAN DISASTER RESPONSE

John — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:43:20 +0000

The ministry of Japan Disaster Response is the cover article for Converge Point our church movement publication. This article highlights the work of John and Elaine Mehn (among a myriad of others). You can read the article online at http://cvrg.us/fall2011. A great summary of our last team ministry together was blogged at Phil Tsai’s website http://www.filtsai.com/blargh_comments.php?blarghId=2154.

We have had over 4 teams from the States from 8 churches and volunteers totaling nearly 50. Our compassionate response to the disaster has taken several thankful turns in the last several weeks. 1) We are beginning to see people return to their homes and our outreach/community events are gathering them together. 2) We have broadened our scope by also working in a community neighboring Shintate, 3) We are in an aggressive rebuilding program partnering with Samaritan’s Purse. We need many more volunteers to help complete mudouts to prepare these homes for rebuild.

CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS NEEDED

John — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:41:03 +0000

HELP NEEDED: CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS NEEDED
From our work in Ishinomaki mudding out and deconstructing homes, One Converge Worldwide relief partner is Samaritan’s Purse which has a rebuilding program. They want to rebuild over 300 homes by Christmas. In short, as they say, they want to rebuild everything we tore out of the homes. See their video http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/waves_of_grace/

Along with general volunteers, we need builders and carpenters to come help us with the rebuilding phase. We need many more workers this fall. Teams will be sent this fall and more can be formed. 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.

GET MORE INVOLVED IN JAPAN RELIEF

John — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:40:07 +0000

HELP NEEDED: GET MORE INVOLVED IN JAPAN RELIEF
1. To serve in Japan individually or in a team go to www.convergeworldwide.org/japanmission.
2. We also need you to pray. To pray for Japan and Japan relief http://groups.google.com/group/Pray4Japan.
3. We are constantly posting new updates on Japan disaster response and our ministry updates including videos and blogs are at www.gospelrest.com. Check them out.
4. Elaine and I recently posted a VIDEO outlining our disaster response ministry. Please share this video widely and also encourage your church to show it in their worship meetings. http://www.gospelrest.com/how-are-you-doing/.
5. The triple disaster in Japan has done at least one thing, eroded or destroyed hope. As missionaries our task is to bring lasting hope to people through the good news of Christ. After several teams have ministered in Japan we developed a PowerPoint summary of ministry through July. http://www.gospelrest.com/hope-in-the-wake-of-disaster-video/ .This PowerPoint VIDEO outlines relief ministry of Converge Worldwide to bring hope to victims of these terrible disasters.

Hope in the Wake of Disaster – Video

John — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 08:07:53 +0000

The triple disaster in Japan has done at least one thing, eroded or destroyed hope. As missionaries our task is to bring lasting hope to people through the good news of Christ. This PowerPoint video outlines relief ministry of Converge Worldwide and specifically John & Elaine Mehn designed to bring hope to victims of these terrible disasters.

Disaster Response

John — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 07:01:24 +0000

Thanks to God we are doing well. These last few months have been far from normal. Living in a country where the largest natural disaster has occurred changes normal significantly. For many people here their lives and businesses are ruined and they have to start over. We have been doing our best to mobilize our Converge Worldwide family along with our Rengo partners to be engaged in this process of transforming Japan. This has led us to travel to the Tohoku region with Japanese and US Converge teams. We are seeing people helped in practical ways and also seeing God work in their lives leading to the planting of new churches.

First Converge Team Success!

John — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:06:19 +0000

A high school assistant principal, an artist, a business woman, and an engineering student made up the first Converge Worldwide disaster response team. Workers were based at the Samaritan’s Purse’s Tone base and worked with missionary Dean Bengston and Mr. Abe of the Ishinomaki House of Prayer in the Shintate neighborhood of Ishinomaki City. Team members have taken out walls, floors and removed mud from homes affected by the tsunami. Also the team cleaned yards, streets, and gardens throughout the neighborhood. The team also had an American Barbecue which fed nearly 100 in this neighborhood. Important supplies were also distributed to residents and also those in an evacuation shelter. The team worshipped at Mr. Abe’s church and also prayer walked though several areas in Ishinomaki.

The following video is from early work in the Shintate neighborhood working on the Mr. and Mrs. N’s house. There is an interview of Mr. Abe. The street that is shown in the video was cleared just a few weeks ago. John worked with Roger Olson in mid April, who interpreted for Mr. Abe in this video. Continue to pray that more volunteer work will result in people knowing Christ. The video is a bit long but Mr. Abe, an award winning Chemistry teacher, explains the affect of the earthquake and tsunami on the people of Ishinomaki and the role you can play in this neighborhood’s recovery.