Kid's Place Visits the World in 2007

"Surgery" in an imaginary Haitian medical clinic

No sirens were wailing, but it was an emergency anyway. With the infection spreading, Julian’s only hope was an operation. Preparing the toilet paper bandages and her plastic knife scalpel, the doctor prayed and the operation began on the young patient, one of 200 children who joined the Kid’s Place 2007 World Tour and traveled in Hartung Hall on the Anderson University campus during North American Convention, June 22-27, 2007, in Anderson, Indiana.

On the whirlwind three-day adventure, elementary kids wrote in hieroglyphics and joined in an archaeological dig in Egypt, learned origami paper folding and ate rice with chopsticks in Japan, experienced the challenges of living below the poverty line in the United States, met “real live” missionaries from Africa, fashioned kangaroo-like pouches for prayers and threw boomerangs in Australia, and prayed for persecuted Christians in Egypt, among other activities. At the same time, preschoolers traveled to India in Little Kid’s Place, meeting in the facilities of Park Place Church, adjacent to the university campus.

New this year to the 25-year-old children’s program was a daily full group worship experience in Byrum Hall, the original camp meeting venue of more than 100 years ago. While opening kids’ eyes to the mission field around the world, Kid’s Place is committed to challenging them to answering God’s call today in preparation for the time he may tap them to become pastors and missionaries in the future.

“It’s awesome to see the ways God showed up at Kid’s Place,” declared Michelle Parker of Laurel, Mississippi, program director. “We’re expecting the same thing next year when Kid’s Place travels to China for the Olympics.”

By the way, Julian survived the imaginary operation in a medical clinic in Haiti, another destination on the World Tour. As a result, kids saw how missionaries share God’s love through preaching, teaching, and even medicine.

Curricula of past Kid’s Place programs written and/or edited by Cheryl are available at minimal cost through Church of God Ministries (check the Church of God Web site, call 800-848-2464 and ask for Vivian Atkins, or e-mail Vatkins@chog.org). Easily adaptable for vacation Bible schools, children’s church, or other kids programming, these curricula include missions studies of the 10/40 Window, Japan, Costa Rica, Thailand, the southern cone of South America, Australia/New Zealand, the islands of Micronesia, Hawaii, and the Caribbean/Atlantic region, among others. Additionally, a historical look at the Church of God helped kids celebrate the hundredth camp meeting/convention in 2006 through drama and interviews with church pioneers from bygone days.

Please pray with us for the nurturing of the next generation of missionaries, pastors, and church leaders.

On Change

Sagging--in all its splendor!

“Shitsureishimasu,” she announced suddenly.

Roughly translated as, “Excuse my rudeness,” those words are a hallmark of Japan’s traditionally genteel manners that make it possible for people to get along here despite the fact that this is one of the most crowded nations in the world. (For example, there are more than 14,000 people jam-packed into every square mile of Tokyo, where we live.) Perhaps times are changing!

Before I had a chance to respond or even understand what she was really saying, the athletic trainer-to-be grabbed my right hip in her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. Then, to my growing surprise, she declared loudly enough for everyone in the gym to hear, “Just as I thought! Your hips are sagging!”

Recovering slightly, I joked back, “At this age, everything is sagging!”

To which she responded, but without the slightest hint of jest, “Hmmm,” meaning—and not at all subtly—“I agree entirely.” I was joking; she wasn’t, not even a bit.

So there you have it—a one-word evaluation of my physique at 52 years of age: sagging. Whether it’s the bags under my eyes that exceed the allowable size for airplane carry on pieces, the soft undersides of my arms that wave like flags in the wind, or other less noticeable (when fully clothed) areas of my body, the word with which I was branded is unfortunately as specific and accurate as the nutrition facts labels on food products. But then again, isn’t that why we joined the training gym? Believe me, it’s not because we’ve got an excess of spare time to kill!

Sagging. And to think there was a time when one of my biggest worries was how my mini-skirt or striped bell bottoms looked on my still slim legs and how my floppy suede hat appeared on my back-length, straight, yet-uncolored brown hair. (Yes, I was coming of age in the late 60s.) Reading this morning’s headlines, “Hamas takes control of Gaza,” I thought about how times and appearances—and worries—have changed.

In this day of change, I am so glad that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He is the one constant on whom I can depend.

Going to the Dogs

"Hey, I've got a secret! We can live like kings in Setagaya!"

Every time I get on this topic, I have to begin with a disclaimer: No, I don’t hate dogs. It is true that we’ve never owned a dog in our 31 years of marriage, although we’ve had three cats, a rabbit, a couple of birds, numerous aquariums of fish, hamsters named Don and Betty Jo (after the grandparents), and, heaven didn’t forbid, mice that began reproducing way too fast. Still, I repeat it: I have nothing against dogs. Really.

Having said that, however, I do admit I have a problem when I see how dogs are treated in Japan—or at least here in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward, where we live. Setagaya boasts the highest number of registered dogs among the city’s 23 wards. Some 29,200 canines are listed, not to mention all the “illegals.” To give some perspective, that’s pushing twice as many people as live in Bernie’s hometown in southeast Missouri.

So how do Setagaya folk treat their dogs? Let me give some examples.

I can remember when I thought taking your dog for a walk meant that the dog walked, too. What I usually see these days are proud owners strolling with their dogs cuddled in their arms. Fresh air for little poochie, yes, but walk him? I guess that would be cruel and unusual punishment. It’s no wonder diet dog food is sold in the stores here.

And speaking of stores, in our neighborhood there’s a doggie furniture store. How about a couch or an arm chair? And I thought it was extravagant to spend money on Fido’s own special cushion! There’s a computer in the window, too, but surely that’s for the store and not for someone’s pet. But then again . . . .

There are also many pet clinics rivaling the number for people, in addition to more than a few doggie boutiques within easy walking distance. You can buy your beloved pet the latest in fashion, some garments boasting designer names (and prices), too. You do want your poochie to be the talk of the town, don’t you? After all, isn’t she worth it?

Or how about going out to dinner with your dog? There’s the Deco Dog Café where you can order an entrée for yourself from the people menu and your pet’s favorite from his own menu. They’ll serve your beloved dog in a silver dish right there beside your chair. Who knows? Maybe if you ask, they’ll even place a doggie high chair at your table. I’m only half being factitious.

And now, according to The Daily Yoimuri, there are accredited “dog life counselors” in Setagaya, certified to talk with dog owners about improving pet etiquette, training, and health care. The more I read, the more appalled I become. After all, here’s something else I read recently: UNICEF reports that 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. Yet dogs are treated like kings and queens around here. Am I the only one who’s upset?

His Praise Glorious

The cover of Cheryl's new book

Many reasons to praise
“Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!” (Psalm 66:1-2).

We join the psalmist in praising God for many things at the start of this month:

►The 12th international testimonies book that Cheryl has compiled and edited has just been published by Warner Press. Titled His Praise Glorious, it is a collection of 28 of some of the best stories from her previous 11 books, with a new twist—all stories were updated to show what has happened in the intervening years since the testimony was first published. Please check http://www.warnerpress.com/, phone 877-3346-3974, or e-mail wporders@warnerpress.org to find out how to get your copy.

►International Day at Tamagawa Seigakuin was a wonderful success! Bernie reports that 165 third year junior high schoolers responded enthusiastically to the May 16 visit of 42 international guests representing 18 countries. We’re confident many seeds were sown as the girls were challenged to think about God’s call on their lives personally, even while witnessing in this international group that God is working in the whole world, too.

►Many prayers were answered at the national youth convention in Okinawa, May 3-5. Our heartfelt prayer was that some participants would answer God’s call to full-time ministry. In response to these prayers, Cheryl had the privilege of praying with a 10-year-old boy and an adult woman, two who did indeed answer this call. There also were several who gave their hearts to the Lord and/or made a decision for baptism. More than 40 people from 7 congregations joined the convention.

►Eleven people met together for the May Praise Time. Among these were three non-Christian women, one of whom seems quite close to a decision. Please pray that she will have the courage to set her doubts aside and step out on faith.

►Cheryl joined her family at Mediterranean Bible College in Beirut, Lebanon for the inauguration of the Johnson Chapel on May 20. The special event included one student’s graduation and honored John and Gwen Johnson, Cheryl’s brother and sister-in-law, former missionaries there. (Cheryl’s sister, Don Deena Johnson, now serves as MBC dean.) What wasn’t expected was the car bomb that exploded that night near Ashrafieh Church of God, blowing out all the windows in the church and nearby buildings. We praise God for safety for Cheryl in Lebanon and during her travels there and back.

An opportunity
We are continually grateful for your support of us through prayer. Rarely have we mentioned finances in this newsletter. However, we want to let you know of an opportunity to support Japan financially. Three Church of God congregations, Tarumi Church (Kobe), Saga Church (Saga), and Gospel Family Church (Okinawa), are all repaying loans on buildings they’ve constructed within the past 7 years. Each of these congregations is small—typical of churches in Japan—and the debt on their facilities is significant. Tarumi Church, for example, has paid about $20,000 annually for 6 years on its debt, reducing it to nearly $200,000. Although the other two churches owe less, this continued debt is a tremendous burden on the congregations.

If you would like to help, Church of God Ministries has a project called Church Buildings Japan (Project #42.40315). For some time, no funds have been received for this project, so we want to make you aware of this opportunity. Whether or not you can contribute financially, please pray to support these three churches and their ministries. As always, we also ask you to pray that God will soon bless Tarumi Church will a Japanese pastor.

Other ways to pray
Looking ahead, we ask you to remember the following:

►The Kansai SAM position, to be filled by mid-August, is suddenly without a candidate. This is a significant prayer request. Please pray for God to provide this individual very soon so that the English-Bible outreaches of the Kobe and Osaka churches will not be disrupted; and,

►For Cheryl as she travels to the States on June 22 to participate in Kid’s Place, the children’s missions education program at North American Convention. Pray especially that some children will hear and answer the call to missions and ministry.