MEDIA MINISTRY:
Last week we went on a filming shoot for a another church video. Special thanks to the sponsorship of asialink.org who made this video possible!
https://youtu.be/WzpXh4wo4XE?si=yE-ycGeNVM6ZW5D2
Now editing begins…
There are many in Japan who are hesitant to come to church for fear that they might be shamed by those around them or that they may not be welcomed if they are not a christian.
We pray that this video would help draw local residents and clearly show that all are welcome to the Father’s house.
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THE MEDIA GAP:
There is a media gap between the Japanese church and society, where great work is being done in the church but it is not shared effectively online.
CHURCH- 70% of pastors approaching retirement age, average church at only 30 members, lacking the funding or talent needed to effectively use media in engaging the next generation for Christ.
SOCIETY- +94% of Japanese are connected to the internet, +90% of users actively browsing through mobile devices.
HELP US CLOSE THE GAP
There are churches that would like to create a promotional video for their church but don't have the funds to get the project rolling.
If you feel led to partner with us in this mission to close the media gap with the Japanese church, please contact us!
For more information:
BABY!
On March 26th we welcomed the newest member into our mission family!
Edward and Josephine Zimmerman were blessed with the birth of a healthy and beautiful baby girl, Jodie Ema. We want to thank everyone who prayed for a safe delivery. What a precious gift from the Lord!
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord: The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3).
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
FRESH BEGINNINGS
In Japan, April is the beginning of everything!
It means the start of a new year for companies, back to school for kids, and the beginnings of so many other things in the daily lives of the Japanese.
Pray with us for Japan as the Cherry blossoms come out, and the Japanese move forward to fresh beginnings in 2024!
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
FYI: The Japanese version is available now! (link at the bottom)
BIBLE STUDY
One of JM’s earliest English outreach team members from over 30 years ago, Esther Maxton, recently published a Bible study.
“The Lord helped me to publish a Bible study. Would appreciate prayers that the Lord will use this little effort to bless His church.”
-Esther Maxton (PhD)
Please pray for Esther as she prepares the Japanese translation also.
So blessed to have our sister in the area still serving in Japan!
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0C9K6K2F9?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_M4ZVBKF7KJFD2NBTKHQ1&language=en_US
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
MORE THAN WE COULD HANDLE:
One missionary recently sent out a newsletter and requested prayer for new students at her churches. Within weeks there was a new student at every church, and one church had so many new kids that she was concerned the church could not handle them all!
Sometimes its not more of our effort that is needed, but prayer… Thank you for praying with us.
John 21:6
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
A LONG ROAD
There is one elderly woman who has been attending church English classes for years… Missionaries here have been praying for her on the regular, as her health gradually began to degrade. She would share openly about her concerns and had shed tears in class on many occasions. Even with these struggles something would not let her surrender these things to the Lord.
Finally, she recently accepted Jesus, and has laid the heavy burdens of this life at the feet of the Lord. We pray that she would be able to rest in the warm embrace of the Lord as she walks with Him.
Pray with us for wisdom for the church leaders as they guide her on this new way of life!
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
CAYA KINDER OUTREACH:
Tomorrow we will have our CAYA (Come As You Are) Kinder graduation celebration as many of the kids are moving on to elementary school. We will have a total of 11 graduates this year!
Pray with us that CAYA Kinder will be a place where kids and their parents can encounter the love of God, and find Jesus as they develop a deeper relationship with the Japan Mission team and members of the local church.
See more:
https://japanmission.org/ministries/english-outreach/kinder/
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
CAFE MINISTRY:
Tomorrow we re-open the seasonal CAYA Cafe for the community.
We pray that it would be a place where people can truly "Come as they are" and feel the presence of the Lord.
Pray with us!
See how it all started here:
CHINESE WEDDING:
JM missionary shared:
I had a most unusual experience a few weeks ago. I was invited to perform a wedding for a group of 17 travelers from the interior of China. Their native tongue was Chinese (Mandarin) and they did not speak much Japanese. Most of them seemed to speak and understand some English, although their pronunciation was poor.
I cannot speak Chinese, so I performed 90% of the wedding in English and a little in Japanese. During the vows I attempted to say their names and believe it was 80% correct. I struggled because the names were tonal and some of the sounds seemed to originate from the deepest parts of the throat. After they both voiced their agreement to the English vows I said, they also read their own vows to each other in Chinese. I could not understand a word, but I saw tears streaming down the bride’s face. As I prayed a prayer of blessing upon the couple, many said “Amen” heartily together with me at the end of the prayer.
After the wedding, we moved outside to congratulate the couple by throwing rose petals up into the air as they walked down the steps. As we waited for the couple to come out, my eyes met the eyes of those in the wedding party. I gazed at their smiling and beaming faces and instantly sensed that we were kindred spirits.
I asked the lady next to me if they were Christians from China and she nodded. I encouraged her by telling her, “We are praying for you in China!”
To think, these Chinese people had to escape to Japan to enjoy the freedom of having a Christian wedding!
These are the fortunate ones who have money to travel abroad. There are many poor and oppressed Christians in China who cannot experience these freedoms.
Please join us in prayer for these people.
PRAY, SHARE, GIVE, JOIN THE TEAM!
japanmission.org/partner-with-us
