Dear Friends,
Greetings from Sendai, the educational and administrative center of the Tohoku (NE Japan). I must inform you of the deep needs of this Buddhistic wasteland that on the surface is quite liveable. As I slowly walked to Sendai Station in the darkness instead of taking the subway after having 4 radio messages recorded at Sendai Reformed Church, Tue., 11/26, for airing in March on the RCJ Media Ministry sponsored “Tohoku Asa no Kotoba” (Morning Words), I could only praise God for His watch care over an incredible two months. In His mercy everything was blessed though events had few attendees. I will recap.
Sept. 19-27 found me flying 6000 miles from Sendai to Denver via Narita (north of Tokyo), then by car to Fort Collins, then on to attend the Presbytery of the Dakotas meeting at the OPC in Lander, Wyoming. Tue.-Wed., 24th-25th. It was good to fellowship with saints and many thanks for the hospitality of the (Pastor) Coppeses in Denver, the (Pastor) Allisons in Fort Collins, and the Andersons south of Lander on the high plateau though we never saw the 700 head of cattle because we left before dawn and returned late. I am so thankful for the opportunity to present through word and slides at Fort Collins in the morning, then back in Denver, the evening of Sun., the 22nd, and to catch up with old friends from Sendai, Chuck (and Barbara) Smith from Fort Collins, who did research at Tohoku U. in the early ‘90s.
We cannot thank my sending presbytery enough for taking over supervision of the Mission from the Presbytery of Ohio, and for the latter’s taking over supervision from the denomination’s Comm. on Foreign Missions in 2016 when the OPC ended ties with the Reformed Church in Japan begun before WWII (over the issue of women ministers and elders).
Sun., 9/29, we enjoyed our 2nd creation seminar of the year on “Look at the Flowers of the Field—Existence First? Purpose First? (Evolution vs. Creation)” led by United Church Pastor Sakae Toita driving from Akita Prefecture 3 hours north on the tollway with wife. We thank the Lord for sending Mr. Hayasaka, an elderly gent who saw the poster. We pray for his salvation. We are thankful for the 13 who attended including the Lauers from Nozomi Center down south, and for over 2500 flyers distributed.
On his 3rd Japan tour, Oct. 26, Greg Hager, award winning western-country singer from Valley City, ND near Fargo, presented through guitar weaving in testimony though only 5 attended the Sat. afternoon concert—after distributing over 4000 flyers with the help of a firm. Amazing! We take comfort in helping arrange for the concerts of Izumi Park Town Christian Church nearby (OMF missionary Joel Lovestrand), Sendai Evangelical Christian Church down south (OMF missionaries Rod and Glenda Thomas), and at Nozomi Center served by the Lauers—around 25-45 attendees, praise God!
With so few believers, Sat., 11/2, I had the privilege of officiating downtown at my first wedding. Tears welled remembering bride None* (name changed) who’d just turned 3 when she and mom began attending when our chapel began 22 years ago in our home. Groom Michael hailing from Gospel Life OPC in Chicago has been teaching English in schools in Niihama, Ehime Pref. and Sendai for around 2 years. Pray for the 50 or so who heard the gospel, wording culled from directories of worship from the OPC, RCJ and PCJ.
Nov. 3, we enjoyed our 3rd creation seminar of the year on “God’s Present to the Country of Japan: Rice, Rice Plants, Paddies” presented by (retired) Pastor Kiyoshi Takahashi of the Conservative Baptist Church in Nishitaga in SW Sendai, with 15 attending and advertised on the backs of the 4000 concert flyers. The topic is Pastor Takahashi’s specialty as former associate professor at Tohoku U. in Sendai and researcher at the U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor and for NASA. The Lord has chosen vessels, though few with his credentials. We are thankful the next generation of leaders is being raised up and for the influence of the tiny movement beyond her numbers. When I returned to Japan in 1984, there was only one organization; now there are around 4 or 5. One, Love Creation, has the backing of the large Onnuri Church in Seoul, Korea. In the early ‘90s, a few of us pastors, missionaries (Lauer, Thomas) and brethren held monthly creation workshops at Pastor Takahashi’s church in Nishitaga—so Sendai has been blessed with pastors seeking to proclaim the God of creation in this Buddhistic wasteland of Japan—though on the surface so modern and comfortable.
Tue., 11/12, I had the privilege of substituting for a pastor at the nearby TU* campus morning chapel with about 230 attendees, as well as leading the Mon. evening chapel service, 11/25, at the girls’ dorm on the same campus, with around 35 attending.
Tue., 10/22, the Emperor’s coronation was attended by dignitaries from around the world. Thur.-Fri., 11/14-15, the Emperor supposedly became divine during the Shinto Daijosai rites. We are thankful the Presbyterian Church in Japan general assembly in Tokyo, 11/22-23 (Fri.-Sat.) passed a rare note of protest for state sponsorship of rites costing millions of dollars. I brought fraternal greetings from the OPC and the Mission thanking God for the 60 years of personal fellowship and the “love call” from the PCJ ecumenicity committee to work together.
Thur., 11/21, we attended the one year anniversary graveside service of Miss Fumiko Yoshida, faithful sometimes live-in helper to early missionaries, the McIlwaines in Fukushima, and our family in East Sendai Chapel in the ‘60s. Those remembering the old days are few.
Tsuruko asks for prayer for Mrs. Tanaka who has been studying the Bible for around 10 years that she be granted a certain faith and repentance. She recently suffered from a stroke but is recovering.
The Lord be with you all. For now.
Murray (for both of us)