Ministry Updates and News from the Mehns
SPOTLIGHTS FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE 1. Elaine’s outreach at the Crossroad church making cards went well last month. Another is planned for the 9th. Pray for contacts with new people. 2. We will be inviting our Agape group for a special Christmas dinner party on 11/23. Pray they would move closer to Christ. 3. Elaine will end November very busy as she prepares for the year-end Christmas Tea on December 2nd. 4. In addition to…
It sounds like a mouthful but it is very cool. I have been active with the South Kanto Church Multiplication Network for the last two years. Pastor Nakano of the Crossroad church joined this network when it started after the tsunami in 2011. There are 5 churches from various denominations involved. The goal for this three-year program is to see each of these 5 churches daughter its own new church. Crossroad has targeted a nearby…
SKIN-SHIP Last month brought planning for our Rengo church planters summit in November. We were talking about what program to have with our dozen church planters. We knew they needed a time to chat, a time to learn, and a time for coaching on their personal and ministry lives. We talked about how uptight they might be about sharing especially after the formal Japanese annual meeting. One suggested that we give them all a ticket…
CPI CONFERENCE (Nov 11-15) SPECIAL PRAYER NEEDS (4 weeks and counting) 1. Registrations are nearly 260 at this time. Pray for each one that God may bless them as they prepare to come. 2. Ask God for special blessing on the gospel renewal curriculum project. We hope to have a new manual ready by November. John and Elaine and very heavily involved in this. 3. Pray that God would fill one key position related to…
1. Elaine has a special outreach on Sat the 19th at the Crossroad church making cards with ladies. 2. Lots of meetings in September, all good meetings. We even spent some time hanging out with friends we have not seen in a while. 3. Elaine has had a great time restarting her classes after the summer break. 4. Our financial support has been very strong the last several months. Thanks for your prayers and generosity.…
In one of my favorite movies, “The Shawshank Redemption” there is an interesting and memorable phrase. One of the old classic actors, James Whitmore (who advertised MiracleGro), plays a librarian. He introduces the duties in the library to the main character and says, “Easy, Peasy, Japanesey.” That phrase rhymes well and it sings. Maybe his prison library was easy, peasy (not likely) but I wonder about Japan. I don’t think it is “Easy, Peasy, Japanesey.”…
The CPI National Conference is being held November 13-15 near Hakone. WANT TO BE INVOLVED? Already a ministry team of volunteers is preparing to come to Japan to assist in the program, office work, and children’s programs. This team could use more members. If you are interested please see videos, brochures, and more at the website http://japancpi.com/. Please pray that this volunteer team would recruit the required workers for the conference.
Excitement oozed out from my phone handset as I talked to a Japanese speaker about the theme for this fall’s CPI National Conference. I could tell he was smiling and he was very excited as well. “Do Mission” sounds somewhat odd in English but it is great Japanese English. Japanese often use the phrase DO ___. In an Ishinomaki shopping mall I recently saw a sign saying “DO MALL.” We had stumbled on a timely…
1. We have been doing well in the summer heat. Elaine is sensitive to heat stroke but throughout August we both have accomplished much and have not flagged in our energy. 2. John’s messages at Nerima Baptist Church on August 18th were well received. John begins a six-month small group leaders training program for 12 leaders at Nerima beginning September 29th. 3. Thank you for praying for our financial support situation. June was a very…
This summer we visited 3 churches and gave live brief (3:40) updates. This video includes the PowerPoint slides as well as the audio. Great for your small groups or worship meeting.(Recorded at Faith Church, Grayslake IL). http://youtu.be/0tQv0AHnF5o