God has been working in so many ways this Summer it’s hard to wrap our minds around all of it! Our church has done more outreach in this last month than any other that I can remember since we’ve been attending. We have ten people who are preparing to becoming members of our church, two people preparing to be baptized, one of whom just became a Christian last month. Our church is also considering overseeing a Church plant in the coastal city of Miyako and has encouraged us to join the church planting team. We’re teaching English to about a dozen adults and half dozen kids, and at the end of the month we hosted a Summer Festival which had our biggest turn out yet in terms of people from outside the church attending. And English Cafe has been welcoming more and more people each month. It’s been an exhausting period of ministry, but at the same time the most exciting one since we’ve been here, and we’re praising God for all the new people He’s brought us into contact with, and praying for opportunities and wisdom in how to follow up with all of them.
Summer English Program
In June we welcomed two interns, Addison and Keifer, both from Texas who came to teach a seven week English course for kids and adults. Together with Pastor Kondo’s wife Chiori and a new Korean missionary at the church, Lucia, we have been hosting group lessons for kids, and one on one lessons for adults. We scheduled Addison and Keifer to each have four adult students, however we had more people sign up and had to add more classes. It got so full that I had to step in and teach one class to meet demand! This has been a lost of fun as I participated in a very similar ministry on my very first trip to Japan when I was in college. The adult program is using a curriculum based around the JESUS Film which has opened the door for many interesting conversations about faith and spiritual issues.
Baptisms!
I previously wrote about Jun, who I’ve been meeting with to study the Bible on a regular basis. He will be sharing his testimony at our next church meeting and will be baptized this Summer. Jun became a Christian watching a Japanese pastor on YouTube, and shortly after sought out a local church to join. In addition to Jun we now have a young woman at church who recently accepted Christ and hopes to be baptized in the fall. She was brought to church by her boyfriend who was himself a new believer. Please keep them in prayer as they take this next step in their walk with God, and pray for God’s word to bear similar fruit in the hearts of those who have been able to meet with this Summer!
Looking Ahead
In the midst of all of this God has also been giving us further direction on where He wants us to serve next term. We’re planning on returning to the US in about two months time, but before then we’ll a summer team from California to put a VBS, and I’ll preach one last time at our church. It’s been an amazing four years serving at Morioka Bible Baptist Church, and working alongside the church leadership and members. We’re so excited to continue this partnership in the future as they look to take a leap into Church planting. Please pray for God’s direction as these plans come together, and especially that he will bring the right people together to form a team to accomplish this new work in Miyako city!