Update from Japan – Saturday 3/12/12. Thank you to so many for your kind thoughts, prayers, and concerns for Elaine and I, our Converge Worldwide Japan team, and Christ’s Kingdom efforts in Japan. Currently over 1,100 are killed or missing and the extent of the damage is still not known.
In our area it seems that things are returning to semi-normal. Public transportation is now working in most areas of Tokyo but not on the north side. There are scattered reports of damage but apparently not serious in our area. But we have been requested by Machida city to conserve electricity as they are unable to keep up with demand after the damage and power outages yesterday.
Throughout the day I will be getting updates from the situation from the Rengo churches. So far there are no reports of problems. So far all missionaries and friends in the affected areas we know have reported being fine.
I will be posting information on our website www.gospelrest.com probably daily for the time being.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
BE IN PRAYER –
1. Ask God to grant wisdom and strength to the 454 churches in the area and the 86 missionaries assigned in this region.
2. Pray for CRASH relief efforts as they assess needs and resources and begin mobilizing people for relief efforts.
3. Pray for the spiritual needs of this region. The areas affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki are some of the most spiritually needy places in Japan. With over 4.9 million people yet only about 9,000 active Christians (about 0.15%). Fukushima has the lowest average worship attendance with only 19 per church. There is one city and 44 towns still with no church. Pray God changes the spiritual situation.
4. Beseech God that Christians in this very unchurched area would be bold in their witness and tireless in their good works to bring opportunities for evangelism and new churches.
BE GENEROUS – Converge Worldwide are taking donations at this website. http://www.convergeworldwide.org/give/30292
BE INVOLVED IN RELIEF EFFORTS – People are being mobilized in Japan on a Facebook group CRASH Tohoku Quake Relief crashjpquake@groups.facebook.com. CRASH is directed by my friend Jonathan Wilson and is a ministry endorsed by the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) and the Japan Evangelical Association (JEA). This is a place to report all needs and resources available as we mobilize the Christian community in Japan to minister in this time of need.