Dear Family and Friends,
Hope. This was the theme for last year’s Advent season at Komyo Christian church and also the attitude I have this new 2014 year. I pray that hope permeates your life as you trust in His Almighty love and power.
I am currently making plans and preparations for my home assignment year which will begin in April. I hope that I will be able to meet many of you who have faithfully been praying for me these past 4 years in Japan!
I also have hope that the good things that have happened over the course of these past months will bear more fruit for God’s Kingdom. One of the highlights this past quarter was of course the Christmas season. It is always a great time to share the good news of Jesus. We had many events such as a Ladies Lunch making Christmas cards and a movie night showing, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. The Christmas movie classic brought forth good discussion and new comers to the church. We also had a great turnout at our Christmas Eve candlelight service which was highlighted by our Sonshine Gospel children and adult choirs. We had our greatest turnout from the community so far. One lady who came to it has been now regularly attending our Bilingual worship service in the evenings!
Another highlight of the Christmas season was to be able to go to the seniors home that is located right behind our church to sing Christmas carols. We have been trying to teach the church members to become more community minded so this was a great opportunity to do so. I could tell by the interaction that Seniors love music and children. We are hoping to develop more opportunities to serve and volunteer here in the future.
It is always exciting for a church plant to have a new member join. As I write this letter, one lady who has been coming to our church regularly for over a year has decided to become a member. She is a single mom of a 6 year old daughter. She became a Christian and got baptized in the States. We met at the Wings Gospel choir that I am a part of and I invited her to our church. She felt right at home. She has excellent English and is a regular interpreter for our Bilingual services every Sunday evening. She and her daughter will make a great addition to our Komyo Christian Church! Please pray that other regular attenders will consider making a commitment to become a member as well.
FUTURE TRANSITIONS:
Please pray for the Japan field as the Japan mission family will be reduced to only two missionary units by the end of spring this year! Please pray for Shan Reed and Paul and Melissa Ewing as they will be left to manage everything. The Tsu English Center will no longer be managed by missionaries. Please pray for the Japan Baptist Conference leadership to have wisdom and vision for the possibilities and opportunities for future ministry here.
When I come back in 2015, I will not be soley working with the Komyo church plant. I will be working with other JBC churches to help produce leaders among women and small groups. The JBC church leaders are still in the process of praying and making a decision regarding the specifics of my placement, so please pray with me that I will be placed according to God’s perfect plan and will. I am hopeful that God will lead both the JBC and me to the people and places where God’s glory can be magnified.
Please pray that I would finish my term here well with all the English classes, Bible classes and preaching assignments that are still yet ahead of me. We still have many events such as a Ladies Lunch (February 25) and a Live Gospel Café event (March 29) that we are hoping will bring new people to our church.
HOME ASSIGNMENT:
My home assignment will be from April 2014-end of March 2015. I praise God that I don’t have to worry about a place to live as my parents are glad to have me live with them again for a short while. (I hope!) I am thankful too that I can buy a cheap used car that is already set aside for me to use. God is the great Provider! I will fly back to Edmonton, Alberta in time to spend Easter with family. Then, the travel and speaking begins!!! I am currently trying to contact churches to set up dates to report on the mission work here. Please pray for me as this is a new experience for me to go on home assignment! I am a nervous driver and directionally-challenged so I appreciate your prayers for all the traveling I have to do. I look forward to meeting you, my supporters, to thank you in person, and to also pray with you and worship with you.
Always grateful to be serving here in Japan on your behalf,
Yuri Nakano