Interesting facts and information about Japan and ministry in Japan.
On 04/18 John Mehn talked briefly with famous Japanese artist Makoto Fujimura during his visit to this work site in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. John and volunteer team member Roger Olson were removing the flooring to be able to clean out the mud that entered this house. There were other volunteers helping as well. John mentions to Makoto there were more deaths in Ishinomaki than in the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe in 1995. Also that…
I (John) leave today to head to Ishinomaki City in the hard-hit area to join a team which left on Thu. Would appreciate your prayers for strength, health, and a big heart. TODAY BACKUP TEAM LEAVES FOR ISHINOMAKI The relief team from the Kokubunji church arrived safely in Sendai Miyagi Prefecture on Thursday. They have been busy in several locations in Ishinomaki (see http://groups.google.com/group/Pray4Japan/browse_thread/thread/2c34f33bbdc99cba) working cleaning out houses and dealing with water damage from the…
To provide a wider group for intercession for Japan we are migrating Converge Worldwide related prayer items to our new google groups site. You can read them online if you wish or please sign up to receive these updates directly as they are generated. http://www.gospelrest.com/japan-prayer-group/ This site will be used for prayer and information related to the ministry of John and Elaine Mehn. More general disaster response information will be posted at the Google Groups…
Please Join to the Pray for Japan – Disaster Response group! This is a prayer group for those interested in praying for the Christian response to the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 3/11. Prayer requests and answers will be shared regarding the coordinated efforts for spiritual, emotional and physical ministry of Converge Worldwide Japan mission team, the Rengo association of churches, and other broader cooperative organizations like CRASH, JEA, and JEMA. This google…
INTENSIVE PRAYER TEAM John and Elaine Mehn Accelerating Spiritual Renewal and Church Planting Movements Converge Worldwide (BGC) Missionaries to Japan APRIL 2011 JAPAN SUFFERS GREAT DISASTERS – As many of you already know Japan suffered a 9.0 magnitude earthquake on 3/11, followed by a devastating tsunami, and a growing nuclear crisis at one nuclear plant. The effect of this triple tragedy is today still staggering. CRISIS OR OPPORTUNITY? – Many of us serving Christ in…
The SCOPE OF THESE DISASTERS is staggering. – The earthquake was the largest in Japan and one of the world’s largest earthquakes on record. The quake was 1,000 times larger than the quake that hit Haiti in 2010. The effect of the quake was felt nearly all over Japan. In Tokyo, 120 miles away, we had a 5.0 magnitude quake, it was that powerful! – The tsunami was one that Japanese say only hits Japan…
On Monday I attended the monthly Pastors’ meeting of the Tokyo district of the Rengo. This was the first pastors’ meeting since the quake since the last one was canceled due to transportation disorders. I was very interested in hearing each of the pastors’ personal experiences, reports from their churches, prayer requests, and hearing their response to this disaster. We were given reports before that no Rengo church had suffered any major damage. Several pastors…
1. Thank God for the incredible unity of the Christian church in their response to this triple tragedy. Organizations like JEMA and JEA are working closely with umbrella organizations like CRASH to coordinate response to these disasters (see previous posts). PRAY that God would energize this unity into great opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ in this large unreached people group. 2. The Converge Worldwide Japan Field Council met last week and…
Cherry blossoms came early to Tokyo this year. Traditionally Japanese would have a cherry blossom viewing party (hanami) to celebrate the coming of Spring and to inaugurate the new year. But this Spring is no time for celebrating. The governor of Tokyo has made public announcements to encourage people from refraining from holding these hanami parties in Tokyo parks due to the mood of the nation after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and power blackouts.…
An historic church in Fukushima city was reported demolished today due to extensive damage. The Fukushima Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan, as the first commissioned work by American missionary/architect William Merrell Vories was a cultural asset registered with the Japanese government. This church, founded in 1886, was far too damaged to repair. PRAY for this church and the other 27 churches in Fukushima city that they may have a renewed sense…