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Komyo Christian Church
Our life at Komyo Christian Church has been full of excitement and growth since my last update in May. First, we are happy to have Paul Ewing back and healthy. We continue to praise God for His healing and guidance.
In June we had two major events. The first was praying for Jonah and sending him off on the next steps in his journey. As the body of Christ we are excited to see what God has in store for Jonah and a little sad to see him go.
We also hosted a gospel workshop with our friend, Butch Heyward. We invited area churches to participate, too. Our little church is too small to accommodate the people we were hoping would attend, so we rented an area church near a train and subway station. We were excited to see so many people attend, some for the first time. What a lovely sound hearing the harmony of voices lifted in praise to God.
Gospel Workshop with Butch
Ladies’ Seminar and Family Festival
July found us gathering not only for our regularly scheduled Bible studies and worship services, but also enjoying two special events.
The topic of our ladies’ seminar was emotions. We spent time around the tables discussing the way that we have been created with emotions, allowing ourselves to experience our emotions, and thinking about what is behind our emotional reactions. I appreciated the ladies’ willingness to share with each other on a deep level.
Later in July we hosted a team of seminary students from a seminary in Tokyo. The three students were willing to participate in and contribute to our Bible studies and even English classes. God used the testimonies and attitudes of these students to encourage our church and students.
The main event of their time with us was a family festival. We worked together to make carnival-type games, to plan the events, and then to play together with the people who attended. Two of the children from church even helped with games and crafts. Although we didn’t have as many as we had hoped, those who came had a fun time, experienced God’s joy and heard about God’s love from Pastor Takei and his puppet, Go-chan.
Rest and Camp
The Ewing family and I have both been having a time of rest in August. The Ewings are in the U.S. visiting family and sending their two older boys off to college. I had a week up in the mountains in Karuizawa, where I lived during language school. I was refreshed as I visited friends, attended a conference for missionaries serving in Japan, and spent time enjoying nature.
The second week of August I spent at two Japan Baptist Conference (JBC) camps. We spent a night at our center in Tsu with the college and career young adults studying about the meaning of work, its influence on us and our influence in the workplace. It was a relaxed time of study, fellowship, and praise.
After a day of laundry and preparations, we then had our youth camp for three days. This year we had the camp in Osaka prefecture, which meant I only had to drive 30 minutes! Our theme was “Your shape, what shape is it?” Kensaku and I did tag-team messages about being created in the image of God, the gifts we have been given by God, and the reconciling love of God through Jesus. Although a typhoon raced through the country on Thursday, we were still able to enjoy time together playing in the gym, playing card games, and writing a praise song together. Again, the students encouraged my faith and challenged me to be open to our loving Creator.
Thank you for being part of what God is doing in Japan through your prayers and encouragement.
Shan Reed