Dear Friends,
Many months have passed since we last wrote, and we are assured more than ever, that the message of Christ crucified is the power of God to transform lives. This year has been filled with all the usual activities: weekly worship, cafe, and Bible studies plus Saturday English classes, Friends' Lunch, cooking class, and visitation.
One special blessing the Lord gave us this past year was Missionary Associate Sue Bickett whose life, faith, and witness in Yamamoto touched the hearts of many. A tireless and gifted servant for the Lord, Sue quickly adjusted to Nozomi Church and Center activities showering the love of Jesus to all around her. As her friendships were blossoming this spring, we were all surprised that the Lord called her back to care for her sister (and her sister's husband) following serious surgery, requiring months of recovery. We cannot give thanks enough to Sue for her joyful service and to the Lord for the immense help and encouragement she was here.
We give thanks:
For continued good attendance and pray for conversions at our regular outreach activities: Cooking Club and Friends' Lunch.
For the ongoing support that the mission has received through the Committee for the Support the OPC Japan Mission.
March 11. For the 14th annual memorial of the 2011 disaster, U.K. missionary Catherine Porter played a marvelous harp concert at Nozomi. Also, Nozomi sponsored a joint concert with other area evangelical churches at a Community Hall which drew many to hear the gospel. Pray the Lord will continue to use the seeds planted to bring neighbors to faith in Christ.
April 11. Etsuko Sato was called to meet the Lord. We give thanks she had been attending worship and Bible study for most of 5 years and for her increased faith in Christ. We miss her very much. In her will, she requested to have her husband's remains (a Christian) transferred (out of a Buddhist cemetery) to be buried with her in a Christian cemetery. That is a significant testimony to her unbelieving son and others. Pray for his and his daughters' conversion.
April 29, Kid's Pizza Party led by Sue Bickett was a fun time with lots of kids and a Bible message.
May. For Rev. Stephen Lauer's installation as a Pastor at Covenant OPC, Tucson, AZ, and for former (2024) intern Paul Lauer's seminary graduation from RPTS.
June, July. For Paul Lauer's internship with Rev. Kaz Yaegashi at Yamagata Presbyterian Church and (August) pray for his current internship in Kobe under the Japan R.P. presbytery.
For the many who served this summer at Nozomi. Pray for continued fruit from their labors:
volunteer Brianna Zera's (Cornerstone OPC, Ambler, Pa.) service in the first half of June, contributing daily at Nozomi to the work and activities.
the team from Korean Christian Church in Honolulu who taught several days of hula classes for adults and kids, cooking class, Hawaiian pigeon English for kids, and served up a barbecue for 70.
the team from CrossPoint CRC in mid-July who taught cooking club, served the neighbors by yard work, cafe, and a California luncheon on Saturday.
volunteer Elley Buehler (Harvest OPC, Wyoming, Mich.) who worked alongside staff through various activities in mid-July.
Rev. and Mrs. David Thibault's 3 week visit to the mission in July-August, and for his preaching (at Megumi and Nozomi) and messages at cooking club and Friends' Lunch; Amy and David's teaching at Megumi Chapel's creation seminar and Amy's teaching a craft class at Nozomi; Amy's extensive help with VBS using Charlie the Gospel Worm materials translated into Japanese. They were super busy!
Pray for these items:
This week especially pray that Japanese Christians and inquirers who believe but have yet to be baptized as they face intense pressure from family and society to participate in Obon will withstand such pressure. Obon is the three day festival of receiving the dead ancestral spirits back from a place of suffering, offering light for their path and food to sustain. Mrs. Mori says the Buddhist priest visits every one of the 20 homes in her neighborhood to pray for the dead, and she thinks she cannot refuse him.
That Mr. Muranushi's understanding of the faith would be grounded in Scripture alone. Mr. M, in his 70s, is considered an evangelist in a holiness church but has been drawn to worshiping at Nozomi. Woody and he have begun studying Machen's Introduction to the New Testament.
For fruit from frequent visitation of the sick. For faith for Mr. and Mrs. Yoshino and spiritual growth for Mr. Inomata.
For Woody's seminary teaching at Kobe Theological Hall.
For OPC, Sewickley, Pa. intern Isaiah English's September exploratory visit to the OPC Japan Mission that the Lord might call him to this work.
The Lord would send two new Missionary Associates to join the work at Nozomi Church.
The Lord to raise up four new missionary candidates for the OPC Japan Mission and new members (ministers, elders or deacons) for the Support Committee.
The Lord to humble us before Him, weeding out sin in our hearts, disciplining us for our good so that we may share His holiness and yield the fruit of righteousness (Heb.12:10-11). Pray also that the Lord would sustain our strength and health as we pursue His calling here.
Yours in Christ,
Woody and Laurie Lauer
OPC Japan Mission, Yamamoto, Japan
Offerings can be given through the www.opcjapan.com website or directly to the Committee for the Support of the Japan Mission :
Please make checks to "Emmaus OPC - Japan Mission" and send them to the following address:
Emmaus OPC- Japan Mission c/o Gary Wood, Treasurer
1727 N.Grandview Lane #319
Bismarck, ND 58503