Dear Friends,
We are jubilant at Thanksgiving as we remember how God has led and blessed throughout the year. We pray that you will joyfully return thanks and give glory to God for all he is doing in and through your church at this time of the year! Give thanks with us for:
1) Blessed fellowship we share with our brothers of the Japan Presbytery of the RPCNA. In May, they joined us in Yamamoto for a 2 day retreat in which we exchanged lectures on various topics including the problem of the Japanese emperor being tied to Shinto practices. Together, we encouraged one another in our labors for the Kingdom of Christ. We also are thankful for the opportunity Woody has to teach at Kobe Theological Hall and pray for God's blessing on those training for the ministry there.
2) A team of Japanese Christians coming from the Kanto area to help out in flood -stricken Marumori this weekend and for the East Sendai Church volunteers who helped on Monday. As of today, half of the sidewalks in Marumori still need mud removal; likewise, much mud remains to be removed in and around homes as city officials are beginning to worry about the spread of disease. We praise God for the diaconal gifts from the Kobe RPCNA churches to support this work. We are thrilled that two volunteer carpenters from the U.S. are arriving next Monday to help with rebuilding. We pray that the Lord will send more volunteers with carpentry skills (Dec.1-21). Volunteers, please contact David Nakhla (david.nakhla@opc.org) or Matt Filbert (Matt Filbert <proclaimchrist@rpmissions.org>)
3) The OPC mission attended the PCJ General Assembly this past weekend to learn about and discuss the possibility of working together to build the Kingdom of Christ with the Presbyterian Church in Japan. Murray Uomoto gave warm greetings for the OPC which were well-received. A very weighty discussion took place of what should be the church's response to the Shinto ceremony: the Daijousai (in which the emperor makes offerings to the gods and sleeps overnight in a special room with the goddess Amaterasu to become divine), a part of the new emperor's coronation. The ceremony, paid for by the Japanese people, cost upwards of 25 million dollars. We were encouraged to hear several of the men speak passionately from Scripture and the Westminster Confession of Faith in responding to this problem. We continue to pray about the possibility of working with them to establish churches. [For further reference about this ceremony, see https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/14/national/emperor-perform-thanksgiving-ceremony-key-succession-rite/]
Please pray:
1) For the Bible messages: Including Sunday worship, Cooking Club, Friends' Lunch, and English classes. Please pray God will speak to the hearts of the hearers and grant to them saving faith in Christ. Last Thursday, we read through the latter part of Rev.20 and the first part of 21. That was an eye opener for most! The plain message of an Almighty God executing judgment on all men, and having mercy on him whose name is written in the book of Life. They learned of the glory to come with God living among his people, making all things new, and receiving the living water without cost through Jesus. What a contrast from the Buddhist whose future is to become "nothing" in Nirvana in the afterlife if he avoids reincarnating as a lower form of life. The Bible's message is at once fearful due to our sin and glorious due to God's mercy, justice, and love in Christ. Mrs. H talked about this message for 2 hours after everyone else went home. Pray for these dear people to put their trust in Christ.
2) For God to send 10 new evangelists to come to preach the Word of God in each of the 5 prefectures in Tohoku as well as new missionaries committed to teaching in a seminary. Pray that God will provide the finances to train the men in the language and support their labors in the future. As Paul wrote, "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 10:14)
Thank you for partnering with us in building Christ's Kingdom in Japan,
Woody and Laurie Lauer
For more information and pictures, please visit www.opcjapan.com and Facebook pages: OPC Japan and Nozomi Center.
The OPC Japan Mission is funded through offerings sent to the Committee for the Support of the OPC Japan Mission.
Donations can be made 1) through the OPC Japan mission website http://www.opcjapan.com/ or 2) through checks written out to "Grace OPC - Japan Mission" and sent care of the treasurer:
Grace OP Church - Japan Mission
151 South Broadway
Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410
