Staying connected with the Mehns

1. We send out monthly Intensive Prayer Memos via email. You can subscribe to these mailings at our website http://www.gospelrest.com/phplist/public_html/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1 . We have had scattered reports that some people who signed up are not receiving it. So please check your spam filters and permit them through. If you still do not receive them, then let us know. (We are also addressing the technical issues.) 2. This website is usually updated usually weekly, definitely monthly. If…

Continue reading

John now a Doctor

Thanks for your prayers for John as he returned to the US to defend his doctoral research project on Oct 22nd. John passed! In fact, he said that it was stimulating and at times fun. The discussion will make the project better. John has some minor revisions to complete and then wait for official graduation in December. More information on John’s research is at http://www.gospelrest.com/research. John was able to visit both our kids, Tim and…

Continue reading

Reproducing Churches in Japan

John is just wrapping up his doctoral research project on Characteristics of Leaders Reproducing Churches in Japan. The purpose was to understand what makes some leaders who reproduce churches in Japan effective. Through CPI and other avenues we want to clone and develop these kind of leaders. More information is at http://www.gospelrest.coJohn is just wrapping up his doctoral research project on Characteristics of Leaders Reproducing Churches in Japan. The purpose was to understand what makes…

Continue reading

Hot Time Summer in The City

Ah, summer in Tokyo. Some say it has been long with typical days in the 90s with 80% + humidity. With Elaine a bit tied down with her foot and John with his busiest summer ever we have stayed in Tokyo most of the time. Fortunately, both of us have not had any physical problems with the heat (except cabin fever). We did have a few glorious vacation days by the lake near Mount Fuji…

Continue reading

JAPAN A CLOUDED OUTLOOK

The August cover issue of Time Magazine Asian edition caught my attention: A Clouded Outlook. Over these last few years, we have felt being in Japan that the hope index in Japan has been dangerously eroded. People in Japan are pretty beat down these days. Time observes, “Japan’s political leadership is paralyzed, its corporate elite befuddled, its people agonized about the future.” These are the same people we live and work with everyday. Decades ago…

Continue reading

Crisis in the Japanese Home

In this current age of crisis, we are facing major problems in Japanese homes. Society has a major influence on couples and family sexual morals. Abuse and violence are problems in the home. Our mission is to bring recovery to family relationships and to help families grow in a healthy manner. This society does not create a healthy environment for children. While children are growing, they get caught in the pressure of competitive society and…

Continue reading

Grandparents!?

We have some good family news to share with you.  Beth and Dustin are expecting a child in December!  Elaine and I will become grandparents!  The baby is expected just before Christmas. So far Beth is doing very well and dealing with all the changes. We were already planning to go back for Christmas for vacation and family visits so this is great timing.  Elaine plans to stay two more weeks and help out while…

Continue reading

More on Tokyo 2010

The Tokyo 2010 consultation was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Edinburgh 1910, the first global missions conference. The first conference was historic in many senses and sparks from that first conference continue today. Tokyo 2010 attended from delegates from over 140 countries was modeled after the original Edinburgh conference though this time a majority of the attendees were non-westerners, sending missionaries from anywhere to everywhere.  Tokyo 2010 was the first of four…

Continue reading

Crisis in Japan

In Japan, abuse at home, bullying at school, unemployment problems, drug addiction, and impulsive indiscriminate killings show the increasingly serious problems of society. Moreover, the political right is gaining strength, as can be seen in schools where the national anthem and the national flag are enforced, as well as in the movement to revise the pacifist Constitution. Therefore, mission in Japan is in the midst of severe circumstances. Church members are aging and the number…

Continue reading