by Whitey | May 29, 2010 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Greetings from Napanee, Ontario! I’ve been traveling in Ontario for about 2 weeks now, speaking at several churches and building my support team. It’s been going really well. I’ve been shown great hospitality everywhere I’ve gone — a great reminder of how big God’s family really is!
The good news is that I’m only about $9000 away from reaching my Faith Promise target. And I’m waiting for official word from a couple of churches whose commitments will probably cut that in half. So in reality it’s more like $4000!
I’d been wondering for a while if August was a realistic target date, but now it’s starting to look like I will indeed get back to Japan by then. Of course, I still need the rest of those support commitments to come in, as well as my visa application to be processed in time. Please pray for everything to come together quickly!
If you’d like more information on financially supporting this ministry, please visit the support page at my new blog:
http://japanlog.tumblr.com/support
Please also be in prayer for safe travels as I return to New Brunswick next week.
Thank you so much for your prayers during this busy time of ministry, support raising and preparation!
God bless,
– robin
(posted May 29, 2010)
by Whitey | May 28, 2010 | Ministry News
I’m on the last leg of my Ontario tour. Just two more churches to speak at on Sunday, in Roblin and Napanee. I’ve enjoyed this trip but I’m ready to be done. Ready to be home. Ready to be not living out of a suitcase for a change.
Actually, I’m feeling about ready to be done home ministries as a whole. At this point, I won’t be back in Japan any earlier than August, but I’m feeling good to know that August is a distinct and likely possibility. Of course, it won’t happen without a little more support. And I’ve still got a few more churches to visit, one more big road trip to the US in July, and of course a visa to get… along with a few other details.
Please pray that it all comes together in time. August is not far away, and that’s encouraging. But there’s still a lot of loose ends to tie up.
(Posted:Fri.5/28/2010)
by Whitey | May 23, 2010 | Ministry News
I’m currently relaxing on the back deck at my cousin’s place in Kanata. My road trip in Ontario is continuing to be an encouraging time. I’ve enjoyed some great hospitality, shared my story and vision with a bunch of good churches, and gained some new support. Also, my cousins have a trampoline and a Nintendo Wii. Good times.
Speaking of support, my goal since coming back to Canada has been to return to Japan in August. For a while I was beginning to think that it might be a bit of a stretch, the numbers having stayed about the same for over a month. But this week I went over my support records, crunched some numbers and realized that I’m a lot closer to the end than I’d thought. After contacting a bunch of churches for updates on their support intentions, the numbers have started to climb. August is beginning to look pretty likely after all.
For a more detailed look at where I’m at, what I still need and how you can help out, please check out my newly posted Support page. If you’ve been thinking about joining the team, now would be a great time!
by Whitey | May 17, 2010 | Ministry News
OK, so I’m not lost. But being on the road is really going mess up my Lost-watching schedule, which is sad, this being the last week of the show… Nobody tell me what happens!
Seriously, though, I’m in Ontario for some speaking engagements and team building at various churches, and it’s going really well so far. Over the weekend, I was in the greater Toronto area, where I spoke to two different groups at Milliken Wesleyan on Saturday. Yesterday I visited the Wesleyan church in Orangeville in the morning and then in Oshawa in the evening. It made for a full and tiring weekend, but it went really well. I received some great hospitality, ate some great food, and had some great conversations. It’s been really fun and fulfilling to re-connect with these churches. I love God’s family.
I’m in Ontario for the rest of the month, connecting with five different congregations and catching up with friends. I’d appreciate your continued prayers for safe travel, effective ministry, and more supporters.
by Whitey | Apr 30, 2010 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers over the past month of home ministries. After a really busy March, April was a bit more quiet, though I still had the opportunity to share my testimony and vision at 3 different churches in the area. When not on the road, I’ve been trying to spend more time studying Japanese and preparing for the months ahead.
This weekend I’m visiting the Wesleyan churches in Perth-Andover and Bristol, New Brunswick. Then, in May, I’ll be spending almost 3 weeks in Ontario, connecting with several churches in the province. I’d appreciate your continuing prayers for safe travel and effective ministry. Please also pray for my Japanese studies and financial support.
Financial support update: Currently my Faith Promise (financial commitment) total is at about 63%. As you can see, things are going OK, but I still have a way to go if I’m going to meet my goal of returning to Japan in August.
How you can help: If you were supporting me during my first term, please consider continuing your financial partnership. You may have already decided to do this. However, unless informed of your intentions, Global Partners will consider your commitment to have ended with the conclusion of my first term. If you could simply send me an email letting me know how much & how often you intend to give, that would help me move towards 100%.
NEW financial partners can sign up by using the form at the following link:
http://www.wesleyan.org/gp/makefaithpromise/WM04-0316/missionaries
GP will count your commitment towards my support in advance of your actual giving. So the sooner you can let me know, the better, as GP will let me return to Japan when my commitments are at 100%.
If you have any questions, please let me know. And whether you can pray or give or both, thank you for being a part of my team! I couldn’t do what I do without all of you!
– Robin
by Whitey | Apr 6, 2010 | Ministry News
Sorry for the lack of regular blogging the past few days. If you haven’t seen it yet, though, you should scroll down to the previous post and check out the Waidaiko/Gospel fusion video, because it’s awesome. I may have some more Japan-related video content later this week, but in the meantime, I wanted to post my April prayer letter. I sent this via email last week, but hadn’t posted it here yet. So here it is:
Hi everyone,
Happy Easter!
March has been a pretty crazy month, but a good month over all. It’s been physically tiring but spiritually refreshing. Thank you for praying!
I’ve been traveling a lot. I had the opportunity to minister in 5 churches in 3 provinces. It’s been great re-connecting with friends and supporters, sharing my testimony and vision, and building my support team.
I also had a friend visit from Japan for about a week. Kenji is a member of my church in Nagoya, Japan, and one of my closest friends there. We had a great time doing ministry together, sight-seeing and just hanging out. For more details on his visit, check out this recent post on my blog:
http://www.robinwhiteonline.com/archives/1997
Please keep praying with me about the following…
1. Thank God for safe travel, and pray for His continued protection in the months to come. By the way, you can see where I’ll be in the next little while by viewing my schedule here:
http://www.wesleyan.org/gp/mschedule2/WM04-0316/2010-01
2. Pray that God will continue to build my support team.
3. The Immanuel Church (our Japanese denomination) recently held their Annual Conference. Among other things, this is when pastors receive their new assignments. Please pray for the pastors, families and churches going through transitions at this time. Pray for Pastor Uchiyama at my church in Nagoya, as he takes on the added responsibility of pastoring the Gifu Immanuel Church as well.
4. Pray for Japan: For more missionaries, for Japanese Christians to accept God’s call into ministry, and for God to draw the lost to Himself. Japan needs the hope that only Jesus Christ can bring them!
Your prayers during this home ministries season are much appreciated! I hope you have a great weekend as we celebrate the victory won by our risen Saviour!
– robin
