Ministry Updates and News from the Mehns
GOD ANSWERED 1. Elaine had a good trip to Kansai Christian School board meeting last month and helped Lori Harms pack up a bit for Home Assignment. 2. We are nearing the end of the planning phase for the new home and guest house in Higashi Kurume. Pray as these plans go to the city and the builder gears up to begin work in August. In preparation we are having a mission workday there on…
Ministry is vision directed but values driven. Vision is like the steering wheel, determining the direction. But our ministry values, what we believe strongly, passionately, and deeply, is the propulsion. Many ministries do not have much drive because they are not sure what is truly important to them and what is less important. Currently John has been mentoring several church planters who have been honing down their core value statements. The effect oozes out in…
Who Do You Think You Are? Maybe you have watched the television show “Who Do You Think You Are?” It’s a show about genealogy and about your ancestors and where you came from. They follow famous people back to learn of their ancestors. They are all interesting stories. In my family, my two grandfathers came from farming families in East Prussia and in Scotland. My one grandfather was a first generation American and other…
We had the most unusual Easter ever. We spent the day at a funeral. Normally Easter is upbeat and full of celebration. The hope of life after death is really something to cheer about, and cheer about every day. But this year a father of a dear Japanese Christian friend was dying in the hospital during Holy Week. Also in the US our dear friend and former mission leader, John Marrs, had been in a…
GOD ANSWERED God continues to bless us and others in all our mentoring relationships. Continue to pray for these leaders as they grow in their spiritual life and ministry skills. Recently many of those we mentor have commented how much it has helped their marriage. The team working on the new missionary home and guest house (Elaine, John, and Jane Fischer) is going very smoothly. Pray for continued blessing of this major building project. PRAYER…
I don’t just watch movies, I study films. Like most people I like movies. Though since I was young was always watching good old classic films. From high school I attended film festivals, took a course in film making, read movie reviews (before they were online) and films were a hobby. Recently a friend asked me what my favorite top 3 movies were. That is too hard to say. On Facebook I have posted my…
GOD ANSWERED God answered prayer by blessing the 19 who came to the CPI Gospel Seminar in Japanese. The manual also underwent a major upgrade. John was able to preach with great freedom in the spirit at the meeting with the Philippine churches. Our Converge Worldwide had a great spring Field Council including the farewell party for the Ellisons, great sharing times, and beautiful snow. PRAYER PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS The mission has made a decision to…
The Bible continues to be the bestselling book in Japan, each year! There are many translations of the Japanese Bible. Some older versions like the bungotai and kogoyaku have been replaced by more modern versions. The shinkaiyaku translation done in the 1970s is widely used in most evangelical churches. This was followed with a similar ecumenical translation. There is also a translation of the Living Bible. Several pastors, including our Rengo’s Dr. Izuta, have translated…
Everyone is sent to share God’s Word with everyone in the world. One great privilege we have is sharing the Bible with many people in Japan. Just last month we had several opportunities to share God’s Word. As an outreach at the Crossroad Church Elaine teaches a class on making greeting cards. Each time Elaine shares a short Bible talk and discussion (Psalm 23). The Agape Group met to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. John…
GOD ANSWERED Thank you for praying for the CPI Leadership Team retreat last month. God really met us personally and corporately with vision, deep prayer, and encouragement. The JEMA Plenary meeting and the Rengo meetings last week all went very well. Relationships for ministry are growing and encouraging. PRAYER PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS 3/11 is the fourth year after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Tokoku. During this time many have troubled feelings. Pray that the church…