Dear Friends,
We are thankful that Isaiah’s prophecy is true here in Japan!
“Listen to Me, O islands, and pay attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me…
5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, in order that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength),
6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isa 49:5-6)
A kind, soft-spoken Japanese woman whom Laurie recently met remarked, “We are not a religious people. True, when we need help, we might go to the shrine or temple to ask a god for blessing but…”. About the same age as Laurie, Miss Murayama has devoted her years to teaching. While standing long hours on a plane, she was curious as to why we spoke Japanese, where we had lived and what we do in Japan. After briefly reminiscing about our 31 years here, Laurie thanked her for her important labors and expressed our esteem for the dedication of Japanese teachers. They talked about unsettling changes in both U.S. and Japanese culture. Then Laurie spoke of the new opportunity to begin a Christian church at the Nozomi (Hope) Center following the 4 years of dedicated community service by Christian volunteers for the rebuilding Yamamoto after the 2011 disaster. Miss Murayama opined, “We Japanese are not religious, but you have given your life to serve the Japanese people. Why?” Without hesitation, the words tumbled out, “Because the God of the Bible, the one who made the universe and all things, created us to know him and to live daily with him into eternity. As men, we have turned away from him, not knowing him and following the good laws he has for us; we have sinned against him. I owe a debt to him I cannot repay. He sent his only Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for my sins that I might be restored to know him. We want the Japanese people to know God and to live daily with him.” She listened in wonder. She gave Laurie her address and wants to correspond. We pray that God will bless her with true salvation and the knowledge of the eternal God.
Friends, growing up in a pagan society is unlike anything you have experienced. Not only are statues of false gods everywhere you turn even in the “modern” cities, but it is the part of the essence of the culture. Why? Though modern Western cultures would deny and forsake the living and true God, pagan cultures throughout the world seek to know a god, not because of superstition, but because God made us to know him and to live in communion with him! At birth, most Japanese babies are registered with Buddhist temples. The blessings of Shinto priests are sought for infants as well as 3, 5, and 7 year olds. Every public school child visits a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple at least once a year as part of a field trip and is taught to make a prayer for blessing. In July, the students are told to write their prayer requests in class for the festival of Tanabata and in January, they do the same for the New Year’s festival. At many schools, the ritual burning of the written prayers on tree branches is celebrated for both these festivals. In February, young students are taught to throw dried beans at the evil spirits around them outside. Ninth grade students are taken to Shinto shrines to pray especially for their entrance exams to enter high school. Most Japanese homes have god shelves for Shinto gods or for the Buddhist worship of deceased relatives. Offerings to the relatives are to be given daily; an obligation passed from one generation to the next. No, do not make the mistake of thinking that the Japanese are not religious as they do. There is no knowledge of a righteous, holy God and Judge of all men. When they learn about the true God, they see in Christians a daily devotion to serving and worshiping Him. They understand they don’t serve God, but they don’t realize that they are, in fact, slaves to sin and serving unrighteousness (Rom.6).
We, the OPC Japan Mission, are called to proclaim the truth of God’s Word, the blessing of being alive to God in Christ Jesus now and into eternity. We implore you to join us in prayer regularly for the repentance of the Japanese people and for us as the Lord’s servants. “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you.” (II Thess. 3:1)
Give thanks for the following:
- Mrs. U, an inquirer who comes to worship services and has begun an introductory Bible study with Woody.
- Camp – for the ten kids who attended our sports day, and the 12 from our area that attended the Sakura House 3 day camp.
- Mrs. Onizawa, a staff member at Nozomi Center. She recently moved from Tokyo to Yamamoto to live and shift from a regular volunteer to a staff member, and to be a part of the new church.
Please pray for these requests:
- As the first morning worship opens this Sunday at Yamamoto Nozomi (Hope) Chapel, many from the community will come. Pray that the light of Christ will shatter the darkness here.
- That God would gather the children of the community to come for weekly activities, and we be able to start a Sunday school.
- That God call his people to faith through the Bible messages at the Saturday English classes for all ages and the monthly cooking class.
- That God would give understanding and faith to those in the beginners’ Bible study and add to their number!
- For opportunities to spread the gospel at weekly cafés and during home visitations in the community.
- For God’s abundant blessing on the hard-working staff and volunteers at Nozomi Center. Especially pray for Mr. and Mrs. Ono who have served here for several years; he has a weak heart.
- Please pray for our 4 youngest adult children: for Paul as he begins college, for Daniel as he enters his 3rd year of college and seeks wisdom for his future, for the graduates, Jon as he begins his new job, and Sara as she studies for her state board exams. Thanks!
- Lastly, that the Lord would cause us to grow daily in faith and grace, and that we would be able to work tirelessly for the spread of the gospel with boldness and joy in Jesus.
Thankful to be laboring with you,
Woody and Laurie Lauer