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The purpose of our lifetime ministry in Japan is to encourage BOTH the vision for church planting and strenghtening AND the development of evangelical theology which gives rise to that vision. Tokyo Musashino Evangelical Free Church We are enjoying the blessings and challenges of our one year interim pastorate of the English congregation. For more information see www.englishchurchtokyo.org. The senior pastor of the Japanese congregation recently retired, leaving a leadership vacuum. After our interim pastorate we hope to plant a new church on the eastern side of Tokyo in cooperation with the English congregation. In December, the Joel family lost their 8 year old son to leukemia. Although Pastor Jerry Ehrhardt is on home assignment in the US this year, he returned and the church rallied around the family to put together the first ever funeral for the English congregation. The church was packed with over 200 people: classmates, hospital personnel, and friends. As we celebrated the life of Kaion with hundreds of pictures of his life, his favorite songs, and many comforting words of Scripture, we trust that the hearts of non-Christians were touched with the hope that is in Christ.
Short term workers needed for fall 2008 We have two opportunities for teaching evangelistic English classes in local churches in Japan. Four Nagoya area churches have had an ongoing ministry and four Tokyo area churches are planning to start this fall. We would love to hear from you if you can commit to a one year short term ministry from September 2008. Salary is provided. The Nagoya ministry is available for single ladies or for a couple (no children with them). The Tokyo churches will be happy to also consider a single man. For more details see www.efccmj.net. The ministry would be done under the umbrella of the EFC of Canada Mission.
Japan Evangelical Missionary Association Dale began a two year term as president of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) in February. The purpose of JEMA is to help network and equip the more then 1200 evangelical missionaries in Japan. Ann leads the JEMA Women in Ministry commission. The annual spring WIM retreat events (March 12-15) were held both in Nagano Prefecture and Hokkaido with about 100 ladies in attendance. For more information on JEMA see www.jema.org.
Summer Home Assignment 2008 After visiting for a few weeks in BC Canada, our summer base will be in Maine, USA. We plan to visit some of our supporting churches in the northeastern US. We leave Japan on June 22 and return on August 23.
Kids Korner -- What do you keep in your pocket? Bryan often has a harmonica in one pocket and three beanbags in the other. The harmonica is handy for instant music. (It fits in his pocket better than a bass guitar!) We often hear him practicing a praise song that he heard at church. The beanbags are great for juggling. Last summer he used juggling to attract attention to members of his Gospel team who were passing out evangelistic outreach invitations to Japanese high schoolers. He also performed at the fall senior talent show with three classy lighted balls, even in the dark! His skills will no doubt come in handy next year when he tries to juggle a college schedule. We also hear that Le Tourneau University, where he will begin studying this fall, has a juggling club!
Prayer Requests * Pray for the Joel family as they mourn and adjust to the loss of their son. * Pray for Dale and Ann as they pastor the English department of Tokyo Musashino EFC for one year while the pastor is on sabbatical. * Pray for Tokyo Musashino EFC Japanese pastoral search committee. * Pray for direction for a new church plant in Tokyo in cooperation with Tokyo Musashino EFC. * Pray for Dale and Ann in their leadership responsibilities in the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association-- Dale as president and Ann as chairperson for the Women in Ministry Commission. * Pray for our 2008 Summer home assignment. We are in need of a vehicle to use for our travels.
Dale and Ann Little | |
