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The purpose of our lifetime ministry in Japan is to encourage both the vision for church planting and the development of evangelical theology which gives rise to that vision. Reconfiguring our Church Planting Ministry in Tokyo Over the past several months, we have encountered several obstacles to our church planting project in Tomioka city. We were denied use of the community center for our evangelistic English conversation classes, even though we had rented the center for 18 months. The core family who were the only members of the church planting team living in Tomioka have chosen, without any explanation, to no longer be involved in the outreach aspects of the project. The mother church pastor and his wife, who have been the primary initiators of our Tomioka church planting project and with whom we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship, have resigned from pastoral ministry and will be returning to their former Bible translation ministry with Wycliffe. These circumstances have forced us to ask whether we should quit this church planting project. But at the same time, seeing the ten ladies in Ann’s evangelistic English conversation classes reminds us that God has blessed our Tomioka church planting project. As a result of the Bible teaching that Ann includes in each of her English classes, three of the ladies recently purchased Bibles. During tea time at the end of each class, some of the ladies are beginning to discuss personal issues, allowing Ann to share Biblical application. A number of them have young children who attend a nominally Christian kindergarten. Most of the ladies are well situated in their community. All of them want Ann’s classes to continue. One lady has offered the use of her ballet school facility for the classes. Seeing these encouraging results despite the negative setbacks in the mother church, we have been wondering whether quitting the project would please God. How do we decide our next step? Do we quit our Tomioka church planting project and find another place in the greater Tokyo area to plant a church, partnering with a different mother church or churches? Or do we reconfigure our strategy at Tomioka so that the project no longer depends upon a mother church? We ask you to pray for wisdom as we consider our church planting ministry options over the next few months.
Leading the JEMA Theological Commission Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) consists of most evangelical expatriate missionaries in Japan, with individual membership currently standing at 1125. Its purpose is to network and equip its members for making disciples of Jesus Christ in Japan. Dale leads the JEMA Theological Commission which was established in order to respond to a recent theological publication of the Japan Evangelical Association (JEA), titled “Fundamentalism.” JEA represents most Japanese evangelical churches and denominations in Japan. The Japanese theologians who contributed to the publication were motivated by a concern that evangelism in Japan might be hindered by what is perceived as American evangelical support of the Iraq War. The publication was an attempt to place some theological distance between American and Japanese evangelicals. It has become popular reading among Christians in Japan. A number of articles in “Fundamentalism” are helpful and constructive. But some argue that key evangelical theological teachings such as Biblical inerrancy are to blame for the US initiated Iraq War. One stated implication is that these kind of key theological positions need to be modified or discarded by Japanese evangelicals. The JEMA Theological Commission has been given the task of responding to this JEA publication. Dale is writing the first draft of this response. Further information, including English translations of the articles in “Fundamentalism,” can be found on Dale’s website, http://www.jtheo.net.
Keeping Up With Our Family Activities of our family this summer include short term ministry for Bryan in June, camp for Bryan and Matthew in July, a move back to Tokyo for Kristy in July, and vacation for several weeks in August for all five of us at Takayama near Sendai in northern Japan. We look forward to escaping the summer heat and humidity of Tokyo and enjoying cooler ocean air. In the fall, Bryan will be in grade 12 and Matthew in grade 10. Kristy plans to live with us in Tokyo for a year. She hopes to find a job which will strengthen her financial base for future graduate studies in counseling psychology.
Short Term Workers Needed for Nagoya In early July, Anna To and Kristy Little finished teaching their evangelistic English conversation classes in four churches in Nagoya city. The EFC of Canada Mission, along with the EFC of Japan Central District, is now seeking short term tentmaking teachers for the academic year beginning in the fall. We are looking for two single ladies or one couple, Canadians or Americans.
Anna: “I enjoyed sharing my life as well as the Good News with the people around me. Relationship building is key. It's a big step for people to be stepping into church for the very first time (to learn English), so the impression we give them is important.” Kristy: “If you know of anyone who might be (or if you yourself are) interested in spending ten months ministering, teaching, learning, being spoiled by incredible Japanese generosity (!), and enjoying the fellowship of Japanese Christians, let them know about (or consider yourself) this opportunity!” For further information or the EFC of Canada Mission (). You can also get further information at http://www.efccmj.net.
Kids Korner - Bryan’s short term ministry In June Bryan joined an evangelistic outreach known as HiBA Gospel Teams (HiBA = High school Born Againers). For two weeks each summer HiBA Gospel Teams, using high school short term missionaries from Japan and the USA, hold daily evangelistic rallies for Japanese high school students. Each day the teams rise early (5 AM) in order to give Japanese high schoolers tracts and invitations to a rally planned for later that afternoon. During the rallies the team members do skits, play games, sing, give their testimony, talk to Japanese high schoolers, and encourage them to listen to the Japanese evangelistic message. Bryan was required to raise his financial support and keep prayer supporters up to date on requests. Here is a quote from his thank you letter to his supporters: “Sometimes while handing out tracts I would juggle with little hackie sacks to attract attention (and it worked a few times!). One thing God taught me during Gospel Teams was that he rewards confidence in Him. It was a great experience for me and I hope I can do it again next year!”
Prayer Items * Give thanks for the ten ladies who have regularly heard the Bible taught over the last two years in Ann’s evangelistic English classes at our Tomioka church plant. Pray that the seed sown will bear lasting fruit. * Pray for clear direction from God as to whether we should continue our church planting ministry in Tomioka or develop new church planting options elsewhere. * Praise God for the good evangelistic English class ministry of Anna and Kristy in Nagoya. Pray that God will supply short term tentmakers in the fall to carry on this ministry. * Pray for wisdom as Dale leads the JEMA Theological Commission and as he writes the first draft of an official response to the JEA publication, “Fundamentalism.” * Pray for a refreshing family vacation! * To see EFCCM Japan field monthly prayer requests, go to the blog linked here: http://www.efccmj.net.
Dale and Ann Little | |
