by Whitey | Apr 3, 2012 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
March was a pretty busy month, including a trip to Tokyo for the Immanuel Church’s national annual conference. It was great to get to connect with pastors, fellow-missionaries and friends from around Japan.
Meanwhile, our new kids’ English class has gotten off to a good start, adding to a growing ministry here in Nagoya. I now teach 3 adult classes and 2 kids classes per week, with a total of 43 students — most of whom are from outside the church. It’s been encouraging to see so many connect with a local church for the first time. Some of these non-Christian students have also started attending other church events where the love of Jesus is shared more openly. Pray that God keeps making these connections stronger, and that He will be these seeds of His love to fruition in the form of changed lives.
Thank you for your prayers and support! I would not have the opportunity to build these spiritual bridges with you.
This Month’s Prayer Points:
• English Cafe — this Friday night.
• Cherry Blossom Picnic with English students — this Saturday.
• Worship leading at prayer meeting — Wed, Apr. 11.
• Kids/English ministry at Shizuoka Church — Sun, Apr. 22.
• Youth ministry at Nagoya-Higashi Church — Sat, Apr. 28.
• My regular English classes & Japanese studies.
Blessings,
– Robin
by Whitey | Mar 1, 2012 | Ministry News
Building Spiritual Bridges Teaching English!
Hi everyone,
Greetings from Nagoya, Japan! I have lots to be thankful for and lots to pray about this month. Please join me!
The above picture is from my kids’ English class. We just completed our first year with this group, and it looks like most (if not all) of them will be continuing during year 2. Most of these kids come from non-Christian homes; in fact, only one is from our church. In March we will be starting a second kids’ class, with 9 signed up so far, all of whom are from outside the church. I’m so thankful to see our church building relationships with families in our community through this ministry! Please pray for these kids, their families, and this important part of my ministry.
As you may remember, I also teach 3 adult English classes. Most of these students come from outside the church as well. There are a couple of students in one of these classes who seem to be becoming more open to the things of God. Please pray these students — and for me as I try to speak God’s truth and love into their lives.
Recently the Immanuel Church elected our new daihyo (president or superintendent) Rev. Fujimoto. Please pray for this time of transition, our leaders, and for our annual national conference being held March 19-21.
And last, but not least, I would ask you to pray for Japan. It has been almost one year since the March 11 Great Tohoku Earthquake. As memorial events are held, especially some big outreach events in the Tohoku area itself, pray that God would turn people’s hearts to Jesus. Many seeds have been planted over the past year as Christian organizations and churches have reached out in practical ways to those affected by the disaster. Pray that God will bring a harvest.
Thank you so much for your partnership, through prayers and giving, in building spiritual bridges in Japan!
– Robin
by Whitey | Feb 1, 2012 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers over the past month! Unfortunately I’ve been sick with the flu this week. But God has been at work in my ministry anyway.
I had to skip
English Club this Sunday, but fortunately I have a good group of volunteers who proved their worth by taking over for me at the last minute. An American friend was helping out this time, too, and I had her on deck to do a testimony instead of my usual devotional. So that was well timed. I’d also sent not only a schedule for the event, but detailed instructions for the games, so they could lead those without me.
It feels like God knew I was gonna get sick and led our plans accordingly. And it turns out we had
the biggest crowd yet, with 35 people, 17 of whom were guests. I’m so thankful for the ministry team I’ve got at my church, and that this ministry is bigger than me. And best of all, spiritual seeds were planted in the hearts of 17 guests!
I’d still have rather not gotten sick, but it’s been a good reminder that it’s not about me. God is at work in Japan, and sometimes He works through me… but sometimes
in spite of me.
Here are some things you can be praying for this month:
1. The Immanuel Church (the denomination GP partners with in Japan) is having their
General Conference this month, where they’ll be choosing a new Superintendant and making other important descisions about the future of the denomination. Please pray that they’ll know and follow God’s heart in these meetings.
2. Please pray for this
Friday’s English Cafe. Pray that I’ll be feeling better, for a good turn-out, and for good conversations that point to Jesus.
3. Pray for me as
I lead worship on Feb. 8 during at my church’s prayer meeting.
4. Please pray for my ministry with Nagoya-Higashi Church
youth group on Feb. 11.
5. We’re preparing to start a
new kids’ English class in March, and will be doing a demo lesson / Q&A time for parents on Feb. 14. Please pray for new students.
Thank you for partnering with me in building spiritual bridges in Japan!
– Robin
by Whitey | Jan 6, 2012 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Happy New Year! Here’s a link to my latest newsletter. Please check it out:
• Low resolution (for viewing on computer)
• High resolution (for printing)
Thanks for your continuing prayers and support!
– Robin
by Whitey | Dec 2, 2011 | Ministry News
Thank you for your prayers over the past month.
In November I took a trip to Northeast Japan, where I worked for a few days with a group doing relief and rebuilding work for those affected by the March 11 disasters. While it was heartbreaking to see so much devastation, and that there is still so much work to do, I was encouraged by the full-timers I met there, and the good work they are doing. For more on my trip, please see the the previous post on this blog.
With Christmas time fast approching, there is a lot going on in December. Please be praying with me for the following:
1. Leading worship at prayer meeting — Dec. 14
2. Speaking at Youth Christmas event at Nagoya-Higashi Church — Dec. 17
3. Our annual Christmas celebration / outreach event at Nagoya Church — Dec. 18
4. Traveling to Canada for Christmas! (Dec. 23-Jan. 4)
Thank you for your partnership with me, building spiritual bridges in Japan! I hope you have a great December and a marry Christmas!
– Robin
by Whitey | Nov 1, 2011 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers for me and my ministry this past month! In early October we held our first English Cafe, and a few foreign friends came to help out, along with several English students and other Japanese friends. The total was about 15 people, over half non-Christian. Praise God that one of our missionary guests got to share her testimony with the others in her group.
In October I also started teaching a new English class on Tuesday evenings. There are 8 students in this class now, and 7 of them are from outside the church. This includes two ladies I met at a coffee shop randomly the day before our first class.
This past Sunday, the Nagoya church celebrated our 60th anniversary. It was a great day of celebration, especially since it also included the baptisms of two of our young people.
I’ve been really impressed that our pastors and leaders have been using this 60th anniversary season as a time not only to remember and give thanks for things in the past, but also to cast a vision for the future. In addition, we are holding an outreach event on November 13 related to our anniversary, as a way of saying thanks to the community and welcoming them to come and check out our church. Please pray for this special event.
Please be in prayer for these things as well:
- English Cafe – 11/04
- Leading worship at prayer meeting – 11/9
- Helping with Nagoya-Higashi Youth – 11/12
- Relief work trip to Sendai – 11/20-25
- English Club (now every other month) – 11/27
- My weekly English classes & Japanese studies
Thanks again for all your prayers, encouragement and support!
– Robin
