At IGM annual conference in Yokohama, with WGM missionaries, their director Dan Schafer (who was guest speaker) and his wife, and IGM’s president Rev. Iwagami.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers for us, our ministry, and Japan!
This past weekend, we attended the annual conference of Immanuel General Mission (IGM), our partner denomination in Japan. Earlier in the month, I preached, and Yoko led worship at Immanuel Fukui Church; and we led worship together in Immanuel Komatsu Church. We’re grateful for our church connections and partnerships in Japan!
Please pray for IGM pastors, churches, and families going through transitions right now as this is pastoral change season. And pray for us, too, as we explore new church connections and partnership possibilities in the months to come.
Also in March, we released a new manga (The Pool) at Waypoints. This month, we’re posting a new Easter-themed Waypoints manga, and doing some extra online promo and outreach. Pray that God will help us connect with new readers and point them to Jesus.
And speaking of Easter, we’re scheduled to do another English ministry reunion at our former church in Nagoya on Easter Sunday, April 20. Please pray that we’ll have a good turnout, especially from people who don’t normally go to the church, and that we can effectively share with them about the hope we have in Christ.
Thank you for your prayers throughout February! It was quite a month… Here’s some of what’s been happening (or in some cases not happening) this past month:
1. We wrapped up our manga collaboration withZOE Japan, finishing the English translation. ZOE now has both Japanese and English versions in print (as seen in the above photo) to distribute across Japan as they connect with young people and do anti-trafficking education.
2. Early in February, I got the flu, so we had to cancel our trip to Sapporo, and I had several unproductive days at home. Fortunately I’m better now and Yoko somehow managed to not get sick.
3. I traveled solo to Tokyo for a missionary gathering, promoted Drawbridge and had an encouraging time learning and networking with the JEMA community.
4. We’ve been working with three different artists on new manga stories for Waypoints. We’ve also been working on some “next steps” for website visitors who may be open to learning more about Jesus.
5. This past Sunday we were in Fukui (a 1.5 hour drive from us) for church. Yoko led worship, I preached and we closed with a song together. This is a small church that is currently without a full-time pastor, so we’ve been asked to help out and are scheduled to do church there three more times throughout this year.
Some Prayer Points:
1. Please pray that Waypoints will reach a broader audience and be an effective online outreach as we launch into a new season of manga this month.
2. We’re scheduled to lead worship a Komatsu Immanuel Church on 3/16.
3. Immanuel General Mission (our partner denomination) is holding their annual conference this month (3/28-30). This is where church business is discussed and pastors receive their assignments for the next year. This year is also the 80th anniversary of IGM!
4. Please continue praying for us as we explore some next steps for local ministry and prepare to grow our missionary team.
Hope 2025 is off to a good start for you. This month for our update we’ve got a video for you. This was recorded in the US last year, but between editing and then a busy year end, we’re just getting around to sharing it now. Please take a look!
Meanwhile, here are some current updates and prayer points:
My big goal for January was redesigning the Waypoints website, and on the final day of the month it was done, thanks to some help from a friend we met in Michigan last year. Please pray for us as we work with artists and writers to prepare new manga for 2025.
We’ve also been exploring and praying about some new local church partnerships and community involvement. Please pray for direction!
February is shaping up to be a busy month, with guests visiting as well as trips to Sapporo and Tokyo. On February 9, in Sapporo, we’re scheduled to do Drawbridge promo, preaching and music ministry. Please pray for safe travels, energy and effective ministry!
Mount Hakusan as seen from Hakusan City Hall this past Sunday
Happy New Year from Ishikawa, Japan!
For us, it was a quiet new year — especially compared to last year — and we’re thankful. Now we’re getting back into the swing of things after a bit of a break. Here’s some of what’s going on…
Creating new Waypoints manga, with a goal of posting 5 or 6 this year.
An English version of the manga we did with ZOE Japan.
Leading worship at Immanuel Komatsu Church this coming Sunday (1/12).
Praying and seeking God’s direction for how we can better serve local churches and our community.
Preparing to expand our missionary team.
On that last note, we’d like to introduce you to our new teammate, Mickey Veach. Mickey has been appointed by Global Partners as a missionary to Japan, and visited us last February. We also got to connect with him in the US during the summer.
Mickey is now in the middle of support raising and training, with the hope of joining us full-time here this fall. You can check out his first newsletter (and subscribe) HERE. I’m sure Mickey would appreciate your prayers!
Thank you for your continuing prayers and partnership with our mission in Japan! Here’s to a great 2025!
With Mickey at a Japanese garden in Michigan last summer
Thank you for praying for our busy season of travels, connections, and ministry! We just returned earlier this week from GP’s Asia-Pacific conference in Australia. We’re thankful for a good time of re-connecting with our fellow Global Partners missionaries in the area.
And now it’s the Christmas season! Christmas is a big opportunity for outreach at Japanese churches. Our Waypoints manga booklets will be distributed by various churches and ministries throughout Japan, so please pray that they will be effective. Please pray, too, for us as we do Christmas preaching and music ministry the next two Sundays at the Immanuel churches in Kanazawa (12/15) and Komatsu (12/22).
As we approach the end of the year, we want to say a special THANK YOU for being a part of our lives; for keeping us in your prayers; and for your giving which allows us to be a part of God’s mission in Japan.
