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.
“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.
