For Prayer – Page 28 – GOSPELREST – John & Elaine Mehn

Archive by category "For Prayer" (Page 28)

Japanese Pastor Repents

At the recent Tokyo 2010 Global Missions Consultation, a highlight was one highly respected Japanese church leader who had a heartfelt and very open confession, public repentance, and an appeal for forgiveness from nations and people who had suffered during the Pacific War. He did not mince words but spoke more honestly than I have heard from other contexts. Even after 65 years this is still an emotional topic. Along with his contrition and appeal…

Reading on Leadership

In preparation for our CPI Leaders’ Summit last month on Gospel-centered Leadership I was reading and reviewing books on leadership especially the heart idols that leaders are most susceptible. (Elaine and I developed a list of heart idols that leaders often encounter). Good books have been Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby (Experiencing God fame). Other good books have been Dangers, Toils, Snares, The Heart of a Servant Leader on Jack Miller and Overcoming…

Interested in Japanese Buddha?

Today I was pruning our hedges and two women came by and asked if I would like to read a book on the Japanese Buddha. I commented that I can read Japanese but I am not interested in the Japanese Buddha but I am interested in the creator of the universe. I think it caught them by surprise. Buddhism does not have a concept of a creator in which we are accountable. I am not…

April News&Prayer Letter

April 2010 Both of us have been on a busy treadmill since we returned to Japan early last July. So much has been accomplished and God continues to bless ministry on many fronts. Last November we had one of most successful CPI National Conferences as we touched the younger generation, saw more indications of life transformation, and renewed ministry vision. God blessed and we also made money in this difficult global economy. CPI is basically…

Gospel Music in Japan

I was recently visiting a downtown Machida music school building: POP. Outside was an inventory of what music and instruments they could teach. As expected there was piano, guitar (all kinds), trumpet, trombone, clarinet, cello, electric bass, and drum. Also listed was GOSPEL CHORUS. Since the big hit and subsequent boom in Black Gospel Music after the movie Sister Act, Black Gospel music as become part of the culture. Many churches and ministries have ministry…

More Encouragements

Last week John met with a Japanese church planter. He told us that he was able in 18 months to gather 50 people in worship! As the average church in Japan is only 36, and if churches are able to break the 50 and 80 barrier fairly rapidly they will become large healthy churches. Another Japanese leader reported they have 17 church planting parenting networks throughout Japan and they plan to have 20 by the…

Who Will Go to the Unreached?

Over 9 days Levi and Diane Velasco visited Japan. Levi is the Director of Recruiting for Converge Worldwide and they wanted to sense the needs here so they can better recruit people to come to Japan. This is from their newsletter sent from Japan. What pictures do you conjure when you hear the word “unreached”? In my mind, I see huts, muddy, potholed roads, crowded housing, slums, favelas and civil mayhem. What if I told…

Why We Are Encouraged

Three people shared stories at the JEMA meetings how Japanese who attended years ago are using our CPI training materials in their ministries. One missionary between last November and last month has received from God a new vision for church planting and Japanese partners. What a turn around. CPI is playing a part in helping people on the frontlines of ministry. We had a great but short visit with Dan and Sandi Peterson, district executive…