Updates/News – Page 14 – GOSPELREST – John & Elaine Mehn

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JAPAN SOCIETY & CHURCH WEATHERING ANOTHER CRISIS

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…

God’s Movements

“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…

CoronaVirus and Japan

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.…

Prayer & Moving March

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…

Networking & Strategizing for More Churches

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…

Our States of Transition – January

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…

Praying in January

John leaves Monday for the Global Church Planting Network – Global Summit for Church & Disciple Multiplication in Thailand. Over 200 global leaders will be gathering to consider how to complete the Great Commission by saturating nations with churches and engaging all unengaged people groups by 2025. John will be the co-leader for the East Asia group of about 5-15 leaders. Pastor Nagai, from Vision Festa will also be attending from Japan. Pray as there…

New Transitions

We wish you a Happy New Year. We are excited for this New Year and a new decade. For us 2020 brings big transitions in our ministry and new opportunities. As we enter our 35th year of ministry in Japan we are also preparing for the major transition this year of relocating to the US and John assuming a new position on the Converge Asia Impact Team. Most everyone knows about these changes and now…

JAPAN IMPACT

It was the biggest CPI National Conference ever! It took faith to move to a new venue but God filled it up, and He blessed and we did not have to turn one person away. Attendance was over 700 people for the first time. The children’s ministry had 218 children in it! We continue to minister to the new families God is sending to Japan. “I saw the need for vision and equipping our…

Transitioning for Asia Impact

God has been leading and we are excited about our future. Converge has asked John to assume a new position with the Asia Impact Team beginning November 2020. This transition means fresh opportunities: Change in Location – We will be relocating our home base to Illinois where we will serve leaders with online training and mentoring and traveling to Asia 2-4 times per year. Change in Position – John will not retire but continue with…