, written in February 2003

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF 2002

Home Assignment

Fall Home Assignment began with a short trip to Maine in order to visit with Ann’s family. For the remaining three months we lived in BC, Canada. This was in order to visit our BC and Alberta supporting churches, and to be nearby Kristy as she settled into her first year of college at Trinity Western University. Dale also made two separate trips to churches in the eastern states. We also spent many hours filling out medical forms and taking trips to the doctors. We were provided with free housing, car and a cell phone, courtesy of members of Free churches in the area. We were also delighted to spend time with two guests from Sunrise Chapel for a few days.

Church Planting at Sunrise Chapel

2002 was another busy year for the people at Sunrise Chapel. Ann continued working with the church ladies in the twice a month ladies English conversation class. In addition they held two special English class parties, one in the spring with guest speaker Mizue Uchida and one at Christmas time with a winter craft. Our second annual outreach summer English program, was held July 22-26. Five teachers came from various parts of the US. We were pleased to have 75 students! A full team of six teachers is promised from the Woodlands EFC in Wisconsin for our OEC in July 2003. Two ladies were added to Ann’s English classes as a result of the summer program. In addition to the English program we held two outreach programs for kids, hosted the CAJ hand bell choir, held a May barbeque and baptism, and had a baby dedication for two of our newest members. Christmas activities included choir caroling, a church choir concert at a nursing home, and a Christmas sax concert.

Other than during our fall home assignment, Dale led the church plant and carried most of the preaching load in 2002. Ann shared in the Sunday piano playing, and helped lead the English outreach. We also prayed and prepared for the coming of Sunrise’s first full time Japanese pastor.

Theological Education

Dale completed his second year of teaching contemporary theology to the fourth year class at Japan Bible Seminary. In March he met with Trinity Evangelical Divinity School faculty and EFCM leadership to discuss our region’s proposed CPIT (Church Planting Institute of Theology). In August he joined the Japanese committee entrusted with planning for Dr. Millard Erickson’s visit to Japan in March 2003. The first Japanese volume of Erickson’s Christian Theology will be available that same month. The EFCM in Japan is contributing to this significant translation and publication project. Dale presented a paper on Lesslie Newbigin’s theology of religions at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in November, this time held in Toronto.

FAMILY

By June 2002, Matthew had finished 4th grade, and Bryan 6th, while Kristy had graduated from high school. Bryan began playing the French horn in band, and thinks that middle school (6-8 grades) is much better than elementary school. Matthew continues to be our resident computer expert (next to Dad). Mom was the boys’ teacher in the fall while on home assignment. Both boys enjoyed a week at Joy Bible Camp in Tokyo and we all had our usual fun time at our Mission owned cabin in northern Japan.

Some highlights of the year for Kristy were her class trip to Philippines, graduation, counseling at Joy Bible Camp, youth group involvement, and the big step of moving away from Japan to begin university studies.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR 2003

* Effective ministry at Sunrise Chapel for our July outreach English class team of six short term teachers

* A Japanese pastor for Sunrise Chapel

* Guidance from the Lord for our next church planting assignment after Sunrise, and for the balancing of church planting and theological education ministries

* New believers to be added to God’s kingdom and to Sunrise Chapel

* Continuing adjustment for Kristy into college life in Canada, and for wisdom from God for deciding on the direction of her life

* Personal funds for Kristy’s college education in Canada, and for our boys’ orthodontistry work in Tokyo

* Full support package (We are at 88%.)

* Funds for the purchase of our next used vehicle

FINANCIAL NEEDS FOR 2003

We are lacking about US$14,000 per year ($1170/mo) for a maximum support package, and US$8000 for our Car/Ministry.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES FOR 2003

* Host our third annual English outreach program at Sunrise Chapel in July with teachers from North America

* Guide Sunrise Chapel through the transition to pastoral leadership if a Japanese pastor is called

* Ann: Continue with the ladies’ twice monthly outreach English classes

* Ann: Perform a puppet program at Sunrise this year

* Dale: Publish at least one theological article, and continue writing his column entitled “Thinking Theologically About Church Planting” in The Japan Harvest magazine

* Dale: Finalize plans for the academic housing of our region’s EFCM Church Planting Institute of Theology within a theological institute in Japan