Japan: Tsunami Recovery Project

Each month from the date of the tsunami disaster until June 2018, one or more members of our church in Tokyo traveled to Northeast Japan to minister to those still suffering in the aftermath of such intense destruction and sorrow. Initially, supplies and survival goods were delivered. Now, as many basic needs have been met and people begin showing a great hunger for real meaning in life, Bible studies, children's outreach, sharing meals and just listening to people's painful and tragic accounts occupy much of this ministry. Intense stress and bitterness, hopelessness and despondency need to be replaced by the deep meaning and healing God gives us through Jesus for this life and hope for the life to come.

Hallelujah! Since June 2018, Michiyo and Shinya Fujita have been LCM tent-making missionaries, sent out from Kotake Mukaihara Christian Church in Tokyo to the tsunami area of Sendai! They have moved from the comforts of their home in Tokyo, to lead this church-planting project, ministering to the contacts they had made over the previous seven years while visiting the displaced victims of this vast destruction. This young church-plant covets your prayer and financial support as Michiyo and Shinya gather the seekers in a tiny renovated store-front, living in their small apartment on the second floor. Pray for souls to open to the Gospel message, and for healing to flow into their broken lives.

Japan: Tokyo Building Project

LCM Japan's headquarters is in Tokyo at Kotake Mukaihara Christian Church. This small building has been greatly compromised over the years through earthquakes. Contractors have declared it unstable, and therefore 2020 is the year anticipated for reconstruction and expansion. As the home base for present and future church plants, the congregation hears God's challenge from Isaiah 54:2-3.

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities.

Thank you for your fervent prayer for the Tokyo congregation, and for any financial help you may offer for this costly but necessary undertaking. May it culminate in more church plants and more souls being saved.

Japan: Story 1

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing!  

I Thessalonians 5:16~17

For fifteen long years, Dr. T’s family prayed. They prayed that their father would accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Soon after arriving in Japan, we met Dr. T at our church. As a physician, he had a great interest in the German and English languages, and we soon became friends. He came to church several times, but could not accept the fact that man is sinful. A year later, while hospitalized for a terminal illness, we visited him. He was still not ready to commit his life to Christ.

Suddenly it all changed!  Two weeks ago when he called us to his hospital bed, his heart was prepared.  I explained the Gospel again and read the Word with him, showing him that we are all sinners who need God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Dr. T nodded as he listened. Then he asked Jesus to come into his heart. Shedding tears of joy, his daughter witnessed the faithfulness of God in answering prayer to save her father. As we left his room, Dr. T was smiling gratefully. 

Recently, we were asked to return to the hospital. His family and a few church members gathered around his bed and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we baptized Dr. T. It was a peaceful and inspiring celebration, even though we were standing in ICU with doctors and nurses rushing by. We blessed Dr. T in Japanese and German. We know he appreciated that. A few hours later, he passed into Eternity. How we praised God at his funeral for opening Dr. T's heart! Throughout all these years, his wife and two daughters never gave up praying for his salvation. 

Japan: Story 2

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

~ Psalm 46:1 NIV

Since the great catastrophe on March 11, 2011, Psalm 46 is the most widely read Bible passage by Japanese Christians. Few experience losing everything in their lives, but surely all have lost something of monumental importance, such as a loved one, health, wealth, or their job. When we lose even one of these, our lives drastically change. Can you imagine losing each and every one of them in a single day?

It is when the foundation of our very existence, the ground upon which we stand, is violently shaken that we begin to consider the true meaning of life. For what purpose did I put such a great deal of effort into all my work?  Why am I even alive?

A pastor in Fukushima said the bar with which we measure happiness was lowered since this tsunami. "Because we're so thankful to still be alive, we feel happiness if we have even just one piece of bread we can share together!" As they were being evacuated from the hazardously high radioactive area, some people who had attended his church asked to be baptized.  They said they were simply shocked to the very core by God's existence and overwhelming power. So as that church held a memorial service for many of their members who perished in the disaster, during that same service three new believers were also baptized.

When we are frightened to death by the circumstances around us, on what do we focus? What do we see? Do we see the things we lost or were destroyed? Or can we see looming out of the debris and rubble God's powerful and mighty hand and His sustaining power?  Can we find His help in our time of need?  

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

~ Psalm 46:10 NIV

Japan: Story 3

Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

~ Proverbs 22:6

Little boy S is only 11 years old, but God is already using his testimony at our church. His mother, who faithfully comes to church every Sunday, is his role model. Boy S also observes his mother intently during our Tuesday prayer fellowship and our cell group meetings. Her prayers are always vibrant and deeply grounded in the Word of God. All this has had a strong impact on this little boy, who wishes to follow in his mother’s footsteps.  

Evangelism seems to come naturally to Boy S, as he takes our flyers to school and distributes them with a big smile to each of his friends. It was therefore not surprising that more than 100 children from his neighborhood attended our Christmas Program last year! This large turnout encouraged us to start a new ministry to preteens. 

How we praise the Lord that sixteen children between grades 4 and 6 responded to our preteen invitation. The parents of three of the children gave them permission only to participate in games played outside the church building. Nevertheless, we still enjoyed a good time of playing basketball while getting to know our new friends. The other thirteen children joined us inside the church where we brought them a challenge from God's Word. For most of these children it was the first time that they had ever entered a church building or heard a Bible story. It was the first time that many of them met Boy S’s mother, who led the class in prayer to our Lord Jesus that day. A seed of faith was planted in their hearts; the building of a bridge to our Heavenly Father was begun!

Japan: Story 4

One of them, when he saw he was healed…threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him.

~ Luke 17:15

The Japanese Ministry of Health estimates that approximately 700,000 young people, mostly teens, suffer from an illness known as Hikikomori. These youths withdraw from social life, refuse to attend school, and often lock themselves in their homes, sometimes even for years. Affecting both boys and girls, they appear apathetic and shy, and often lose their friends. Their return into Japanese society is difficult because of the huge expectations placed on the maturing new generation.

At his baptism on Christmas morning, 18 year-old Mr S shared about his struggle with Hikikomori. A year ago, his family contacted our church for help. It was quite difficult for him to attend youth group because of this sickness. He soon began, however, to feel accepted and understood by the other young people. Mr S participated in youth meetings and camp with increasing joy and anticipation. He soon asked to be in a one-on-one Bible study and began attending Sunday services. Our congregation gently took care of him, and soon came to enjoy his company. Best of all, Mr S discovered the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and began having a daily Quiet Time. Everyone could observe the steady healing process.

We were reminded of Jesus’ words to the ten lepers: "Go, show yourselves to the priests" (Luke 17:14). Mr S did exactly that, showing himself to our great high priest, Jesus Christ. He accepted Him into his heart and life. At his baptism, he gave thanks to our Lord for providing a way out of his illness and for helping him pass the university entrance exam. It was a very inspiring Christmas service for us all. We not only celebrated our Lord’s Nativity on earth in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago, but also this young man’s new birth here at our church! Please pray for Mr S , as well as three other teenagers from our neighborhood who suffer from Hikikomori. There are still more victories to win!