Dear Friends,
We praise God for the numerous opportunities the Lord grants in Yamamoto to present the gospel weekly and monthly to the people here. First, we ask urgently for prayer that the Lord would win the spiritual battle in their hearts by granting faith and repentance to many and that He would raise up army of cheerful disciples to follow Jesus faithfully in rejection of their Buddhist and Shinto roots.
Thanksgiving:
1. For the five Lee University student concerts at three churches, one university, and our town hall. Many were challenged to believe a clear gospel presentation. Pray that those seeds would bear true faith. Thankful for the good cooperation among churches in southern Miyagi prefecture who hosted these concerts. (read story below)
Lee University concert at our Local Concert hall with translation of songs
2. For Tomoko Sugawara, our faithful coworker at Nozomi. Pray for the Lord’s blessing and sustaining power for her labors here and at her home church.
Kids Christmas party 2025
3. For continued increasing attendance at Cooking Club, Friend’s Lunch, and English classes (each with a Bible message) as well as opportunities to support elderly and share the gospel at weekly Café.
February Cooking Club and Bible message
February Friends’ Lunch games
February Friends’ Lunch Bible message with 22 guests!
4. Praise God for the baptism of a man who attended worship for three years and many activities of Nozomi in the past.
Petitions:
1. For God to bless today’s concert at Nozomi and grant living faith in the hearts of the people: the 15th Memorial Concert for the 2011 Great Earthquake and Tsunami.
2. For new career missionaries, dedicated to bring the gospel and God’s love to Japan.
3. For one-two new missionary associates to help at Nozomi with daily chores, activities, visitation when possible, and English teaching. With only three staff members, the daily load is taxing, and we struggle to keep up with it all.
4. For Mrs. Mori's (age 88) faith in Christ to be strengthened through daily Bible reading and prayer. Her health now prevents her from attending worship, and her family is discouraging further contact with us. We give thanks for the 5 years she attended worship.
5. For God to bless the faith of a church member who is struggling with depression and has stopped attending.
6. That God would daily shape us into humble servants of Christ offering His Word and love in ways clearly comprehensible to those living in darkness to the praise of His glory.
7. Please pray for strength and wisdom for Laurie particularly as she seeks to find a balance in life while living with weakened health.
How important are concerts and special activities to the spread of the gospel? Here is an example. Mr.Takahashi (coworker of our son David) and his wife attended one of the Christmas concerts. They were amazed and pleased with the professional level performance by the Lee University students. He was shocked to learn that in Christianity we believe in a Virgin birth, the death and resurrection of Jesus, a God who created all things, and that all men are sinners. As a result of this concert, the next day, David had an excellent discussion with him and 3 other coworkers who didn’t attend the concert at lunch. Because of his good relationship and deep respect for David, Mr. Takahashi is still open to discussing more about Christianity. This is a normal response to hearing what the Bible teaches. Christians who grow up in the church may not ever consider how astounding the claims of the Bible are in this fallen world. Please pray with us that the Lord will give Mr. and Mr. Takahashi tender hearts to pursue knowing the only true God. Please pray also for the seeds of the gospel sown today at the 15th Memorial Concert, March 11.
Thankful for our Sovereign God who calls His own and brings them into the Kingdom of Christ,
Woody and Laurie Lauer