To be quite honest Sunday activities at Hamadera Bible Church (HBC) aren't very different from what I've experienced at churches in the U.S. For example there are faithful and loving people, talented musicians, and people that love to hear the Bible being taught. It has been such an encouragement to see people in Japan who love The Lord. Their love for God is expressed in so many ways, and there are three ways that I would particularly like to highlight.
The first is in their worship. The worship of God can take on many forms and it does for the people at HBC. On Sunday I saw worship in their singing of hymns and spiritual songs; they sang Lord I Lift Your Name on High in Japanese. What a classic! And they also sang What a Friend We Have in Jesus, which is one of my favorites. They worshipped also in their giving of offering and their dedication to preaching God's Word. The sermon this Sunday was from Genesis 4:1-7, 5:21-24.
The second expression of their worship, that I saw, was in their service to us and to one another. I saw that the church members care for one another in their greetings and warm hugs. They looked so genuinely excited to be at church where they could have fellowship with their brothers and sisters. There is also a deaf and mute ministry at the church and many of the non-disabled members have learned Japanese Sign Language so as to be able to communicate more. I personally felt served and cared for by one man who said to me, in English, that if there was anything I needed at all that I should let him know. I'm not sure if that includes ice cream, but I hope so, because it's really good here in Japan! :p
The third way I saw their worship was in their evangelism. On Sunday night we were able to work alongside the Japanese college group at HBC, which is called the HOPE group. It stands for: Hear, Obey, Pray, and Encourage. There were around 20 non-believing college students that came to our game night. Over dinner many of us STM-ers were able to tag-team with the HOPE members to share the gospel with the students sitting at our table. It's a blessed feeling knowing we are striving alongside the church, intent on one purpose: to honor and glorify God. We get to share in the associated trials and joys.
Ways you can be praying:
-Pray for the college students who have heard the gospel, either for the first time or the twentieth time. (some of the students have been coming to STM activities year after year)
-Pray for our patience and endurance through long conversations
-Pray that we'll have genuine friendships with them in love (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8)
The first is in their worship. The worship of God can take on many forms and it does for the people at HBC. On Sunday I saw worship in their singing of hymns and spiritual songs; they sang Lord I Lift Your Name on High in Japanese. What a classic! And they also sang What a Friend We Have in Jesus, which is one of my favorites. They worshipped also in their giving of offering and their dedication to preaching God's Word. The sermon this Sunday was from Genesis 4:1-7, 5:21-24.
The second expression of their worship, that I saw, was in their service to us and to one another. I saw that the church members care for one another in their greetings and warm hugs. They looked so genuinely excited to be at church where they could have fellowship with their brothers and sisters. There is also a deaf and mute ministry at the church and many of the non-disabled members have learned Japanese Sign Language so as to be able to communicate more. I personally felt served and cared for by one man who said to me, in English, that if there was anything I needed at all that I should let him know. I'm not sure if that includes ice cream, but I hope so, because it's really good here in Japan! :p
The third way I saw their worship was in their evangelism. On Sunday night we were able to work alongside the Japanese college group at HBC, which is called the HOPE group. It stands for: Hear, Obey, Pray, and Encourage. There were around 20 non-believing college students that came to our game night. Over dinner many of us STM-ers were able to tag-team with the HOPE members to share the gospel with the students sitting at our table. It's a blessed feeling knowing we are striving alongside the church, intent on one purpose: to honor and glorify God. We get to share in the associated trials and joys.
Ways you can be praying:
-Pray for the college students who have heard the gospel, either for the first time or the twentieth time. (some of the students have been coming to STM activities year after year)
-Pray for our patience and endurance through long conversations
-Pray that we'll have genuine friendships with them in love (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8)