by Whitey | Mar 2, 2013 | Ministry News
Thursday’s kids’ class — 2 year finale.
Hi everyone,
The photo at the top of this letter is of the Thursday afternoon kids English class I teach at my church. This past week, we finished our second year together, and most of these kids have been coming since the first day. It’s been fun seeing them grow and learn over the past 2 years. I’m thankful for the opportunity to invest in the lives of these kids, most of whom come from non-Christian homes. Thank you for your investment in this bridge-building ministry!
This is a season of re-focusing for me. The past year I’ve done a lot of traveling, and various opportunities have opened up. Now I’m trying to cut back on monthly commitments elsewhere so that I can give my best to my 40+ English students in Nagoya, while still being available for occasional special events and speaking engagements.
Please Pray With Me About the Following:
1. I’m preaching at the Immanuel Shizuoka Church on March 10. It’s the last Sunday of my monthly commitment there, and as usual I’ll be teaching the youth Sunday school class as well.
2. As part of our English ministry in Nagoya, we’re holding a special English Club event on Easter Sunday, March 31st.
3. March 12-14 is the Immanuel Church’s national annual conference. Please pray for the pastors and leaders taking part in these important meetings. Also, as this is when new appointments are announced, please pray for those who will be going through transitions in the coming months.
4. I’m hoping to start an English Bible study for any of my adult English students who may be interested. Please pray for direction about the details, and for a good group to join.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
– Robin
PS — For more of my recent photos, please check out the previous post!
by Whitey | Jan 31, 2013 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
January was a fairly quiet month for my ministry. I did, however, take my usual monthly trip to Shizuoka, where a couple of interesting things happened: I had prepared a short message in Japanese for the Sunday school lesson. Usually this class is mostly high school girls, but this time there were some younger kids involved too. My message didn’t really seem like a good fit anymore, so I improvised. I was thankful for the fact that I had an interpreter, because it’s a lot harder to improvise in Japanese! We talked about the lyrics of one of the songs we’d been singing, which were taken from the Psalms. It turned out to be a great opportunity to talk about God’s greatness and love in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Please pray for God to reveal Himself in these kids’ hearts and lives.
Another highlight of my Shizuoka visit was that we had a first-time visitor to my adult English Bible study in the afternoon. Please pray for God to keep working in this lady’s life, and for her to keep connecting with the Shizuoka church.
As things got back into full-swing in Nagoya, I also had a new student join my Saturday morning English class. Please keep praying for my English students!
As 2013 gets into full swing, I‘d appreciate your prayers for God’s continued direction and provision for my ministry. And pray for Japan, too!
Thank you!
– Robin
by Whitey | Jan 9, 2013 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Happy New Year! Please follow the links below to check out my newest newsletter…
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12247320/019-print.pdf (hi res, printable)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12247320/019-web.pdf (low res, quick view)
Your prayers and support are much-appreciated! Here’s to a great 2013!
– Robin
by Whitey | Jan 2, 2013 | Ministry News
Happy New Year from Japan! Please click on one of the following links to view/download my latest update:
Printable Version (hi res)
Web-friendly version (low res)
As always, thank you for your prayers and support!
by Whitey | Dec 1, 2012 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all doing well as we enter the busy holiday season. This month there is lots to be thankful for:
1. I preached my first Japanese sermon in November, and it went well!
2. One of my non-Christian English students has joined a ladies’ Bible study group at my church.
3. Our English Club Thanksgiving event was well-attended — about 35 people came, including a good handful of guests.
With Christmas fast approaching, December is going to be a really busy month. A secular version Christmas is celebrated in Japan, and because of this interest, it’s is a great opportunity for the Church to share Jesus.
Please pray with me about the following:
1. I’m helping lead a Kids Christmas outreach at Immanuel Shizuoka Church on Dec. 9.
2. On Dec. 16, I’m preaching in Japanese at my own church in Nagoya.
3. On Dec. 23, the Nagoya Church is holding our Christmas celebration and outreach event.
4. On Christmas Day (not actually a holiday here) we’re having a Christmas party for my kids English class students.
I really appreciate your prayers and support! Thanks for joining with me and being a part of what God is doing in Japan! I hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
– Robin
by Whitey | Nov 1, 2012 | Ministry News
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your prayers during October! In between English classes and other ministries, I was able to get away for a few days to attend the Global Partners Asia Area Retreat. It was a great time of worship, prayer, fellowship and fun with fellow missionaries who work in various parts of Asia. I came back feeling refreshed and with a new perspective on my ministry here in Japan. I’m really thankful I had the opporunity to attend.
The end of the year is shaping up to be a busy time of ministry for me. Please pray with me for the following:
1. This coming Sunday (11/4) I’m preaching at a church in Yokohama. This will be my first time doing a Sunday morning sermon in Japanese! It’s an outreach service too, so please pray for any non-believers in attendance.
2. The following Sunday (11/11) I’m scheduled for my monthly ministry at Shizuoka Church, where I’ll be teaching English and the Bible to teens.
3. On November 17, we have a special outing for my English students. We’ll be visiting a big park for some hiking and to see the fall colours. Please pray that through this, deeper relationships will be built.
4. On November 24, I’ve got youth group at Nagoya-Higashi Church.
5. On November 25, we’re having an English Club “Thanksgiving Party” outreach event.
6. I’d also really appreciate your prayers as I plan for the new year. It looks like there will be some new challenges and opporunities to take on. Please pray for God’s direction and for clearer vision as my ministry in Japan continues to evolve.
Thank you for being a part of our ministry here in Japan! Your prayers and support mean more to me than you can imagine!
Blessings,
– Robin
