Ministry Updates and News from the Mehns
How does God use you? Last month, Elaine published her second book, More Thoughts Along the Way: Grace-based Devotionals for Spiritual Nourishment. This follows up her first book Thoughts Along the Way published in 2002. Elaine’s writing has been a blessing to many people, especially in the area of spiritual renewal. We are so delighted to have this book now available. But we have more writing projects planned and summer is a good time…
GOD ANSWERED Thank God for his mercies in driving 1,100 miles this summer to visit three of our partnering churches in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The visits were a great encouragement to us. HIGHLIGHTS FOR INTERCESSION We continue our time in the US until August 16th when we return to Japan. Ask God to grant us good times with our family, periods of rest, and to complete some Stateside business while we are here. John…
Elaine’s new devotional is just out. More Thoughts Along the Way is another 52 weeks of grace-based devotionals. They come directly from Elaine’s spiritual renewal journaling and are full of stories from her life and from Japan. I am still trying to decide which devotional is my favorite. Both the Paperback and the Ebook are available from Amazon US or Amazon Japan. Her previous devotional book Thoughts Along the Way, was published in 2002, which will…
Hiroshima prompts so many different emotions and thoughts. A city of intersection of tragedy and triumph, science and soul-searching, mightiness versus morals, suffering and future hope. Hiroshima is a symbol of the inner conflicts between the two countries we love – Japan and the USA; and we are so thankful that former animosity of war has been transformed into a friendly partnership. The events of Hiroshima marked the final end of feudal Japan and marked…
Elaine and John will be visiting three partnering churches this month while back in the US. If you are in the area you might want to drop in and say hi to us. Otherwise we would appreciate your prayers for the hundreds of miles we will be traveling. 07/18 WED Torch of Faith, Grayslake IL – Summer Supper 07/21-22 Community Church, Fond du Lac, WI – Morning Worship and Buffet 07/28-29 First Baptist…
HIGHLIGHTS FOR INTERCESSION At the time of this writing Elaine’s new devotional book, More Thoughts Along the Way: Grace-based Devotions for Spiritual Nourishment is nearly completed and for sale on Amazon. Thanks for your continued prayers. We leave for the US on July 16th to visit churches, take care of some business, and visit family. Pray for our preparation, travels, and that we may accomplish much during this trip. Summer brings heat and more downtime…
Do you need more grace? Who does not need more undeserved favor, unconditional love, boundless forgiveness, and complete acceptance? The Grace of God is so important to us. Yet often what we know in our head does not live out in our lives. That is what Grace Week is all about, helping our formal theology match our functional theology. CPI had another of these intensive training weeks in May. Elaine presented with John about their…
John is off to Hiroshima for the first time this month. The Western Japan Missions Seminar is held every 5 years to expand vision and coordination in order to reach western Japan with the gospel and new churches. CPI is participating with the purpose of sharing our ministry. John is privileged to travel with Pastor Makoto Fukuda, pastor of Grace City Church Tokyo, and a great supporter and trainer in CPI. Pray that we will…
I just arrived back home from one meeting and caught Elaine’s Bible study as it finished and the ladies were leaving. I was told that they all needed Kleenex as there were many tears during the study. They had been studying “weep with those who weep” and were being compassionate for some of the people they knew going through suffering. Ministry often brings tears doesn’t it? April was a month full of meetings with key…
We want to thank you for your faithful prayers for us and our ministry. As you all know without generous gifts from churches and individuals we could not be in Japan. Over 30 years we have seen many ups and downs in our financial support. Right now we are facing some challenges. Our financial need has gone up from the last fiscal year by over $1,200 per month. The dollar is now doing better against…