Ministry Updates and News from the Mehns
This month begins a new Reaching Japanese for Christ (RJC) online course on John’s latest book Sowing the Gospel in Japanese Soil: Understanding Japanese Religious Beliefs. A community of like-minded people endeavoring to reach Japanese study together the book and its content. This will be one of their largest courses offered so far. For more information see https://academy.rjcnetwork.org/enroll/
1. Thank God with us that the move got done and we are in disbelief that it did. There were many miracles from God. Thank God for the smooth travel back to our home in Illinois. 2. Pray that God would protect us from possible risks of the virus, and we would be diligent in our hygiene and for our self-isolation for two weeks in our US home basement. 3. Ask God for wisdom and…
We are well and safe in Machida. But we are on schedule tomorrow to leave Tokyo for Chicago. We considered with our mission colleagues Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D but God had us continue for Plan A: leaving on our scheduled flight on April 9th. We will leave Japan about 10pm CDT on your 8th. We thank God for his help in the steps in our relocation. The house is empty, clean, and…
Hello from Tokyo Japan, As we write you we are both well. We are finishing our packing, enjoying our farewell parties, emptying our house, and keeping an eye on this world health crisis. We anticipated lots of change with this transition but this health crisis is magnifying change. Just a few quick comments because I am sure you have questions on your mind. Japan is doing better. As we wrote you before, Japan several weeks…
Today March 11th marks the 9th anniversary of the triple disaster, earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown in Northeast Japan (Tohoku). That disaster directly affected over 82 cities and towns in three Prefectures and affected the whole nation and still does today. That crisis transformed the church in Japan and mobilized Christians to be engaged in mission. Today everyone Japan battles against a possible epidemic of Covid-19. The nature of this current crisis is preventing the…
“Other Japanese leaders should hear these stories of God’s movements through church multiplication.” For each session of the Global Summit one national leader shared how God is multiplying disciples and churches through movements extending beyond 3 or 4 generations of disciples. These movements were from regions all over the world. Pastor Nobuyoshi Nagai, from Vision Festa, and I were those sent from Japan last month to this summit in Thailand and have been longing for…
First, we and everyone we know is well. Since the outbreak of Coronavirus in nearby China beginning in December, Japan has been monitoring the situation. In Japan a few infected individuals were identified quarantined and treated. The real problem developed when a cruise ship landed in Yokohama with infected on board. Since then most of those passengers have been released from the ship. That began a series of decisions that have affected life throughout Japan.…
Our States of Transition – Moving Thank you for your prayers, interest, and encouragments as we prepare for this major transition of relocating to the US and John assuming a new position on the Converge Asia Impact Team. GOD ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS. Less than two weeks ago we heard that our shipment to the US must be moved up 3 weeks. We sent out a special prayer alert as we had less than 10 days…
John got back last night from attending the second Church Multiplication Vision Festival National Strategy meeting in Kobe, Japan. Eighteen leaders attended this year including Pastor Seima Aoyagi from our CPI Leadership team. We were all considering a national strategy for Japan, one that includes the vision of 50,000 churches (currently <8,000) and 2% of the population Christian (now <1%). Never in our careers has there been this faith, enthusiasm, and focus on saturating…
Thank you for your prayers, interest, and encouragements as we prepare for the major transition this year of relocating to the US and John assuming a new position on the Converge Asia Impact Team. Please pray for the ongoing physical preparations and also the changing feelings. Saying Goodbye (for a while) – We said goodbye to the Tokyo District churches of the Rengo on January 19th at the Nerima Baptist Church. This was a marvelous…