Thanks for following the blog throughout our trip. Though our on-trip ministry is over, the ministry with the college students continues at the church and through our prayers.
During our trip, we were reminded that a big aspect of our ministry is prayer. We prayed often during the trip and we had faith that God would work in the hearts of the students. Though we are not able to hang out with the students anymore, we can still continue our ministry by praying for the students and praying for the church and their followup with the students.
Since our ministry is still going, we’ll try to update the blog throughout the year until the next Japan 1 STM team, Lord willing.
This past Sunday, 4 college students came to church, 3 of them came for the morning service. Some stayed and hung out with the church members after lunch.
Eri was able to come for the morning service and apparently she has been enjoying it. She told one of the church members that she really liked the sermon by Kondo sensei on Romans 15 and has been trying to apply what she has been learning at church. She wants to keep God in the center of her life, despite being busy with school and other things. This has been very encouraging for us as we continue to pray for her and watch her grow in her faith.
One of the Nara Joshi students who came to church our last Sunday at HBC was also one of the 4 students that went to church this past Sunday. It was her first time attending the church service and she still does not fully understand the Gospel. One of the church members was able to get in contact with her and we hope that she continues to come back to the church.
One of the OU students has been coming to church in the last few weeks and I think he likes the church and the people because he keeps coming back! Kondo sensei was able to talk to him and I hope that greater exposure to church and the preaching of the Word will help him in his understanding of the Gospel. He’s also friends with Kondo sensei’s son so that’s been really helpful in helping the student connect with the church. We can keep praying that he’ll keep going to HBC and that the church members will love him and share the Gospel with him often.
The OPU student who has been coming out to church lately has also been hanging out with some church members. Last week, she was hanging out with a couple of the ladies at church and it’s been apparent that she is hungry for the Word of God and wants to learn more. They were able to share the Gospel with her again. She says she believes in God, wants to live for Him, and wants to continue coming to church. She was given a Japanese New Testament which she says she has been reading everyday! However, she attended a Catholic kindergarten and from time to time, she has visited the Catholic church with which the school is associated. We don’t know how much of Catholicism she understands but during one of the conversations with the church members, she showed them a picture of a statue of Mary at the Catholic church and said that sometimes she goes there and “gets power.” The hope is that as she continues to go to HBC, she will be exposed to biblical truth and that the relationships with the church members will allow for clarification and explanation of the Gospel. As a result, it was encouraging to hear that she went to church yesterday. She continued to talk to some of the church members who are following up with her and she seems to still have some trouble understanding how she can have faith in Christ and have a relationship with God. During youth group on that night, Kondo sensei preached from Romans 1 and talked about how human beings fall short before a holy God. She was there to hear the message and afterwards, a Japan Team 2 member and a church member talked to her, answered some of her questions, and directed her to Bible passages. It seemed that the message really helped her in her understanding of faith. The cool thing about her is her genuine interest in the truth. She is very teachable and a willing learner. Please continue to be praying for her as it seems that God is really working in her heart.
Prayer requests!
1. For HBC’s follow up with the students.
2. Spiritual growth for Eri.
3. The girl from OPU: Please pray that God will keep working in her heart and help her to understand the Gospel.
4. Okada-sensei’s visa still hasn’t been approved. Please pray for his situation to work out and that he would trust in the Lord.
5. Oumi-san’s continued speedy recovery.
6. Joy Joy 5 Days which is ongoing and for team 2. Check out their blog for updates!
-Ed
During our trip, we were reminded that a big aspect of our ministry is prayer. We prayed often during the trip and we had faith that God would work in the hearts of the students. Though we are not able to hang out with the students anymore, we can still continue our ministry by praying for the students and praying for the church and their followup with the students.
Since our ministry is still going, we’ll try to update the blog throughout the year until the next Japan 1 STM team, Lord willing.
This past Sunday, 4 college students came to church, 3 of them came for the morning service. Some stayed and hung out with the church members after lunch.
Eri was able to come for the morning service and apparently she has been enjoying it. She told one of the church members that she really liked the sermon by Kondo sensei on Romans 15 and has been trying to apply what she has been learning at church. She wants to keep God in the center of her life, despite being busy with school and other things. This has been very encouraging for us as we continue to pray for her and watch her grow in her faith.
One of the Nara Joshi students who came to church our last Sunday at HBC was also one of the 4 students that went to church this past Sunday. It was her first time attending the church service and she still does not fully understand the Gospel. One of the church members was able to get in contact with her and we hope that she continues to come back to the church.
One of the OU students has been coming to church in the last few weeks and I think he likes the church and the people because he keeps coming back! Kondo sensei was able to talk to him and I hope that greater exposure to church and the preaching of the Word will help him in his understanding of the Gospel. He’s also friends with Kondo sensei’s son so that’s been really helpful in helping the student connect with the church. We can keep praying that he’ll keep going to HBC and that the church members will love him and share the Gospel with him often.
The OPU student who has been coming out to church lately has also been hanging out with some church members. Last week, she was hanging out with a couple of the ladies at church and it’s been apparent that she is hungry for the Word of God and wants to learn more. They were able to share the Gospel with her again. She says she believes in God, wants to live for Him, and wants to continue coming to church. She was given a Japanese New Testament which she says she has been reading everyday! However, she attended a Catholic kindergarten and from time to time, she has visited the Catholic church with which the school is associated. We don’t know how much of Catholicism she understands but during one of the conversations with the church members, she showed them a picture of a statue of Mary at the Catholic church and said that sometimes she goes there and “gets power.” The hope is that as she continues to go to HBC, she will be exposed to biblical truth and that the relationships with the church members will allow for clarification and explanation of the Gospel. As a result, it was encouraging to hear that she went to church yesterday. She continued to talk to some of the church members who are following up with her and she seems to still have some trouble understanding how she can have faith in Christ and have a relationship with God. During youth group on that night, Kondo sensei preached from Romans 1 and talked about how human beings fall short before a holy God. She was there to hear the message and afterwards, a Japan Team 2 member and a church member talked to her, answered some of her questions, and directed her to Bible passages. It seemed that the message really helped her in her understanding of faith. The cool thing about her is her genuine interest in the truth. She is very teachable and a willing learner. Please continue to be praying for her as it seems that God is really working in her heart.
Prayer requests!
1. For HBC’s follow up with the students.
2. Spiritual growth for Eri.
3. The girl from OPU: Please pray that God will keep working in her heart and help her to understand the Gospel.
4. Okada-sensei’s visa still hasn’t been approved. Please pray for his situation to work out and that he would trust in the Lord.
5. Oumi-san’s continued speedy recovery.
6. Joy Joy 5 Days which is ongoing and for team 2. Check out their blog for updates!
-Ed