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
by Whitey | Mar 2, 2010 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I’m writing to you today from the home of some close friends in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I’m on the way home from a full and fulfilling weekend in Digby and Yarmouth, where I got to share my testimony and vision 3 times at 2 churches. Home ministries are going really well. I’ve enjoyed re-connecting with many churches and supporters, and I’ve been able to meet many new connections as well.
Please pray for…
1. Safe travel for my Japanese friend Kenji who is coming to visit me from March 12-19.
2. The Japanese church’s denominational annual conference next week.
3. My continuing home ministries — safe travels, effective ministry, and more prayer and financial supporters.
Thank you for your prayers during this time of home ministries travel!
– robin
by Whitey | Feb 4, 2010 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I’m writing to you this time from Wood’s Harbour, Nova Scotia. I traveled to NS last week during the snow storm — which meant a long and rough boat ride, but thankfully I made it in one piece. Between Saturday and Tuesday, I had the opportunity to connect with 4 different churches, sharing about what God is doing in my life and in Japan. This coming weekend I’ll be visiting two more before driving back to New Brunswick. I’d appreciate your continuing prayers for safe travel and fruitful ministry.
As most of you know, a big part of the purpose of my home ministries time is to strengthen my financial support base before returning to Japan later this year. How can you help? I’m glad you asked…
If you’ve been supporting my ministry thus far, please consider re-committing. Unless you’ve told us otherwise, GP will assume that your commitment ended with my first term. If you’re planning to continue giving, you can do so by simply sending me an email telling me two things: how much and how often.
As always, your prayers and giving are greatly appreciated! Without you, this ministry would not be possible.
Just a couple of quick reminders: If you haven’t already, please check out the special edition of my newsletter talking about my vision for ministry in Japan:
http://www.robinwhiteonline.com/ministry-info/vision
Also, you can see where I’ll be over the next little while by visiting my online ministry calendar:
http://www.wesleyan.org/gp/mschedule2/WM04-0316/2010-01
Thanks again, and stay warm!
– robin
