by Whitey | Jun 9, 2007 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I’m writing to you tonight from Indianapolis, Indiana, where I’ve been attending Missionary Training Institute. MTI is part of the preparation Global Partners provides their new missionaries with before sending them to the mission field. It’s been a great week of learning and discussing missions and related issues.
One highlight, of course, has been getting to know so many other missionaries. There were around 30 of us here this week, making us the largest group of people ever to attend a single MTI in Wesleyan history! It’s been exciting to hear everyone’s stories and to get a glimpse of the vision God is giving each one. It’s been encouraging, too, to be reminded of the great big team I’m a part of as a GP missionary.
Several of the MTI participants have already left for home now; those of us in the career and intern tracts are here for another two weeks. Please pray for us as we continue to learn and grow together as missionaries.
I’d also ask that you pray for my upcoming summer travels and continued support raising. Please pray for more opportunities to share my vision, and for more churches and individuals to join my team. In addition, I’ve been having some car troubles lately, and am soon going to have to decide whether to repair or to replace my car (fortunately I flew to Indy so the car wasn’t an issue for this trip). Either way, I need God to provide.
Thanks for your continued prayer, support and interest in my ministry to Japan! Please check my website in the coming days and weeks for more news from MTI and updates on my support raising.
Blessings,
– robin
by Whitey | May 24, 2007 | Ministry News
After 3 weeks at home, my busy summer begins this weekend. I’m driving to Ontario first thing in the morning, where I’m speaking at 2 churches (in Orangeville and Dundalk) on Sunday. Next week I’m home for a few days and then flying to Indiana for Missionary Training Institute, where I’ll be for 3 weeks, along with several other Global Partners missionaries. After that, it’s back on the road for more ministry and support raising.
Please be praying with me for safe travel and successful team building. Also pray that God will use this time to teach me more about Him, myself, and being a missionary.
I’ve posted some updates to my weblog this week; please take a look around while you’re here.
As always, thanks for your prayers and support! I couldn’t do this without my team!
by Whitey | May 22, 2007 | Uncategorized
I’ve discovered a great resource lately called Operation Japan. It’s a daily prayer guide, published by the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, that takes you through each area of Japan, giving statistics, stories, and prayer requests. It’s been really helping me to pray more specifically and regularly for Japan, and I know it would be a great help to any of prayer warriors out there with a heart for the people of Japan. I’d encourage you to check it out. You can buy it online HERE.
More recommended resources coming soon…
by Whitey | Apr 25, 2007 | Ministry News
Sorry for the lack of a Photo of the Week this week; I’m on the road and it’s been harder to upload pictures than usual. I’ll try to get back on a regular schedule when I’m home again.
I’m writing from Harrington, Delaware today. To those of you praying for my journey, thanks. It’s been going great. I’ve reconnected with some old friends. I’ve also connected with a couple of churches who are now a part of my support team, both in fairly significant ways. It’s definitely been worthwhile to come all this way, and the journey’s only about half over. I’ve got a combined service tonight in Bethel, and then it’s back to Keymar, Maryland, where I have a few days to relax before speaking in two services on Sunday morning.
I’m enjoying the journey…
by Whitey | May 24, 2006 | Ministry News
In May I had the priviledge of spending about two weeks in Japan. I am a part of Global Partners, the missions department of the Wesleyan Church. In Japan we partner with an indigenous denomination called Immanuel General Mission. My purpose in visiting Japan earlier this month was to meet IGM leaders and pastors in person so that we could get to know each other better, and so that we could get a clearer picture of how we might work together in the future.
To the left is a picture of the Immanuel Church in Nakameguro, Tokyo, where I spent my first couple of days. The pastor in Nakameguro is Isaac Saoshiro, who is also the president of IGM (regrettably I didn’t get a photo of him). I had a great time getting to know Dr. Saoshiro and his wife, who are former missionaries themselves. I also participated in their mid-week prayer meeting.
From Nakameguro, I moved on to Yokohama, with a brief stop in Funabashi along the way. In Funabashi I attended an Undokai (kids’ sports day) that the church was putting on. Many people from the church and community came out to participate; it was a fun time, and seems to be a great way for the church to connect with the community.
In Yokohama I stayed at our Wesleyan Mission House (pictured to the right), which is actually divided into two apartments: upstairs is home to fellow-GP-missionary Andrea Swarthout; downstairs (where I stayed) is home to our Asia Area Director, Paul Turner, and his wife.
In Yokohama I visited the local IGM Church, as well as the denomination’s Bible Training College. I had the opportunity to share my testimony in both settings.
Below is a photo of me with a few of the many people I met in Yokohama….
While in the area, I also hopped the train and visited with Kevin Zirkle, a WGM missionary to Japan. I took part in one of his weekly Bible studies at Rykyo University (see below). In addition, I had the opportunity to address a meeting of IGM’s district superintendents.
After my time in the Tokyo area, I rode the bullet train to Osaka, where I not only got to relax and visit with some old friends, but I also met with another IGM pastor — Benjamin Tsutada — whose church in Sakai is active in reaching young people through soccer.
Many details about my future appointment in Japan are still to be worked out. But this trip was definitely worth the time because of the relationships that have begun to be built between myself and our partners at IGM. Not only that, but I have also come away from the trip with a fresh perspective and new motivation to raise support and study Japanese.
After this trip to Japan I am more convinced than ever of both the greatness of the need and the greatness of the opportunity in Japan. For those of you who are helping me with your giving and your prayers… thank you. If you are not yet a part of this team, please consider joining me in this great adventure. Your giving and prayers are investments that help us to strengthen and expand the Church in Japan.
