Thankful for turkey, the trimmings, and friends (not necessarily in that order) at Thanksgiving
Hope despite questions
“‘How can this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:34-35).
It is not unusual for us to look around Japan and wonder how—or even if—it is possible for God’s Word to penetrate the unreceptive soil that characterizes Japan. Truthfully, we can’t see that much has changed as far as the impact of the Gospel upon Japan in the nearly 30 years we’ve lived and worked here. Churches are still small; Christians are still only about one percent of the population; there is still an average of only about one church for every 16,000 people, and there aren’t enough pastors to fill the pulpits of even the few churches there are. (Tarumi Church, for example, is still seeking a Japanese pastor 4 ½ years after we left to come to Tokyo.) Things don’t look very different from how they were when we first came to Japan as SAMs (special assignment missionaries) in 1976. Honestly, there are times that we ask God, along with Mary, “How can this be?”
As we enter December, we do so with the assurance that Gabriel gave Mary in reminding us that we have hope because the Holy Spirit is at work, even here. We can look forward to the day when the power of the Most High will overshadow Japan and make the impossible possible—exactly what Gabriel declared in saying, “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:38). We don’t know how it will happen, and neither did Mary. But she accepted the angel’s words of hope despite her questions. We want to do the same.
December plans
We’re looking forward to going to Kobe from December 22-January 4. During this time, we’ll speak at two Sunday services, the Christmas Eve candle service, and the New Year’s Day worship service at Tarumi Church. It is always our joy to return to Kobe, and we’ve been privileged to do so monthly this year. But it will be extra special for us to be in Kobe with Benjamin, Donald, and Stephanie (not to mention Little Ben in utero) It will be “like old times,” considering that Kobe was our home for 21 years—the place Ben and Stephanie grew up. Of course, it’s not our home anymore, so we’re grateful to SAM Millie Michael for opening her home to all of us. Please pray that all the year-end services will bring glory to God, encouragement to the church people, and provide evangelistic opportunities that will draw new people to Tarumi Church.
We’re also looking forward to December 16 at Hagiyama Church, on the outskirts of Tokyo, where we serve as cooperating pastors. Bernie will have the joy of baptizing two individuals that day, bringing to four the number of people he’s baptized at Hagiyama Church this year. (He also baptized two at Easter at Tarumi Church. Praise the Lord!) We’re excited about all that God is doing in this church through the ministry of Pastor and Mrs. Ogata. We feel so positively about this couple and their ministry—a second “career” for Pastor Ogata who entered the ministry at 55 years old after many years as a physical education teacher at the elementary, high school, and university levels. (Bernie says he wishes he could clone them for Tarumi.) Please pray for the Ogatas who’ve had some discouraging challenges lately. Pray also for the two who will be baptized, that they will continue growing daily in their newfound faith.
Fall staff meeting
We’re thankful for a successful two-day fall staff meeting on November 23-24. We met the first day at Tamagawa Seigakuin for sharing annual fall reports, praying together for individual concerns and needs expressed in the reports, discussing business (only a little), and playing games (much more fun than the business part). On the second day, our staff of 10 was joined by 5 guests for Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey and most, if not all, the trimmings. The food was great and the fellowship was even better, if that was possible. We can’t remember the last time we’ve laughed so much and for such a long time as we did on the 24th. Games are so GREAT for team building, and we played some extra fun ones this year. For details, ask us about “Human Twister,” “Artist, Model, and Clay,” “Big Boodie,” and the artist’s version of “The Telephone Game.”
We’re also thankful for our missionary staff. As you pray for us, please also remember our other staff members and their important, but sometimes difficult and discouraging assignments: Rachelle Bargerstock (Tama Sei and Nishi-Kunitachi Church, Tokyo); Mike and Makiko Boyle (Hagiyama Church and its English program, Tokyo); Alina Croall (Seiai Kindergartens and Nishi-Kunitachi Church); Millie Michael (Kansai SAM and Tarumi Church, Kobe); Zonia Mitchell (Saga University and Saga Church, Kyushu); Abby Spear (Tama Sei and Nishi-Kunitachi Church); and Mike Wagner (Tama Sei and Hagiyama Church, Tokyo).
Christmas is coming
Even here in Japan, Christmas has "hit" the stores. You'd almost think you were in the United States with Christmas carols being played, "Christmas products" adorning the shelves, and a slightly Japanese-looking Colonel Sanders in a red Santa suit standing outside a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken. For comparison, when we first lived in Japan, there were no signs of Christmas anywhere except in churches. But merchants know a good thing when they see it, and Christmas has become big business in Japan, too.
Of course, our prayer is that one day the "Christmas hype" will somehow lead people to the Babe in the manger even as the star, against all odds, led the wisemen. Even though it's still November, we wish you a MEANINGFUL and MERRY CHRISTMAS. God bless you!
