Dear Friends,
From prison, the Lord's Apostle exhorts us, "Rejoice in the Lord" (Phil 3:1) and once more, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Phi 4:4)." Our trials are minor in comparison to Paul's, but especially in comparison to our Lord's own trial and suffering on the cross. How can we sincerely so rejoice in our relatively small difficulties, sufferings and setbacks? "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom 8:18).
Please join us in prayer:
1. For 2 regular attendees, Mrs. M and Miss I, and 1 member, Mr. C, who have stopped coming to weekly worship. Only Miss I is attending a different church (her former one).
2. That the Lord will lead either 2 men, 2 women, or 1 married couple to join the OPC Japan Mission as missionary associates (M.A.s), primarily to help at Nozomi Chapel here in Yamamoto Town, an hour south of Sendai, in southern Miyagi Prefecture. Helping staff with regular Nozomi activities and worship are a large part of the work here: planning, cleaning, cooking, gardening, distribution of monthly flyers, helping with short term mission teams, and developing friendships with neighbors to open doors to share the gospel . Additionally, the Saturday English class outreach program established by prior M.A,s, most recently Susan Bickett and Sara Lauer, are in need of new teachers. We are thankful for David Lauer's teaching the afternoon adult and teen classes, standing in the gap as it were until new M.A.s come, despite his very busy work schedule.
Give thanks with us:
3. For the Lord's work in the heart of Mr. A. He lost his wife and son in the tsunami 15 years ago. He came to Lord's Day worship frequently during the Corona lockdown--when places he usually visited such as the local library were all closed. Recently at the weekly Friday cafe, Mr. A. and Woody have been reading through Kyuukyokutekiu Shitsumon (Ultimate Questions). Last Friday, he said, "I believe in Jesus." After finishing reading Blanchard's tract, we plan to begin working through Calvin K. Cummings Sr.'s Kirisuto wo Kokuhaku Surutameni (Confessing Christ).
4. For Greg Hager, North Dakota Western and Country musician, who both composes his own Christian music and intermingles the gospel with various songs. Aside from Corona virus years, Greg has been coming yearly to help us since 2017. Please pray God will bless Greg's concerts and strengthen himthroughout his three and a half week Japan tour. He is to travel from Tokyo to Sendai this Thursday (4/16) to play for our Friends' Lunch outreach and for an afternoon concert on Friday. Nineteen people have signed up for the luncheon; almost all are non-Christians.Please pray God will use the Bible message and Greg's music to reach the hearts of the hearers with the gospel. As to the latter, please pray for the nine new people who attended our March 11 memorial concert on the 15th anniversary of the great tsunami disaster; pray they would return again for this Friday's concert and begin attending worship. We pray God will fill the building with people He is calling to be His children.
5. For our upcoming two day conference with officers from the RPCNA Japan Presbytery to be held in Kobe in early May. Please pray the Lord will bless our fellowship and cause us to strengthen one another to build the Kingdom of Christ here. Both Rev. Murray Uomoto and Woody will be giving mission-related presentations.
6. That all seven of our English students who graduated elementary school are continuing on with us and taking the teen classes where they will continue to hear Bible messages. Pray God will grant faith in Jesus to these teens and their mothers.
7. For all our former MAs and the blessing of their labors! Again,please pray for new M.A.s and for new career missionaries.
Cordially in Christ,
Woody and Laurie Lauer
OPC Japan Mission, Yamamoto, Japan