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
by Whitey | Jan 8, 2010 | Ministry News
It’s a new year and about time to get back into a more regular blogging routine. So to start us off, here’s my latest ministry prayer letter. If you’d like to receive these by email, send me a message (japancanada at gmail dot com) letting me know. And stay tuned to the blog for more.
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Hi everyone,
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season and are getting the new year off to a good start.
This weekend I’m scheduled to fly to Indiana for some meetings and training at our Wesleyan headquarters. I’d appreciate your prayers for safe travel, getting through customs, and a productive time in Indy. The purpose of this trip is to get prepared for home ministries and my next term in Japan.
Later this month I officially begin home ministries, traveling to churches to share about what God is doing in Japan and what’s next for my ministry there.
My first four stops are:
– Fredericton (NB) First Wesleyan – Jan. 24 AM
– Havlock Wesleyan (NS) – Jan. 30
– Faith Wesleyan (Ingomar NS) – Jan. 31 AM
– Brazil Lake (NS) Wesleyan – Jan. 31 PM
If you’re in one of these areas, it would be great to see you! Thank you so much for your continuing prayers and support!
by Whitey | Dec 15, 2009 | Ministry News, Photos
Well, I’ve safely arrived back in Canada after a really long day of traveling yesterday. Since I was up super early due to jetlag, I had the time to do some photo sorting and editing. So this and the next post will bring you up-to-date on some recent events, in words and pictures…
On December 6 I had the opportunity to lead/host a Christmas outreach event at my church in Nagoya. It was a bi-lingual Christmas party we called “Christmas Around the World” (that’s the event flyer on the left). The event was well-attended and a lot of fun. There were almost 60 people who showed up, a good handful of whom were not regular attenders at the church. After some games and music (but before the sweets) I shared a short message about how Jesus came so that we could find peace with God.
Below are some photos from the party; you can click on any of them for a close-up and to flip through the whole gallery.
It was a great “bridge-building” event — thanks for praying!
by Whitey | Dec 1, 2009 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Happy December! I know this will sound cliche, but can you believe it’s that time of year already?! This month’s email will be short and to the point, because like most of you, these days are busy for me too!
Thank you for your prayers over the past month. Ministry has been going really well, and plans are coming together nicely for both home ministries and my next term in Japan.
I’d appreciate your continuing prayers these next two weeks as I finish up this term and begin the transition back to life in Canada. I’d ask you to especially remember the Bi-Lingual Christmas Party I’m hosting at my church this coming Sunday. Pray that our church members will invite their un-churched friends, and that God will use this to begin to draw some of them to Himself.
Thanks as always, and God bless!
– robin
PS — Just a head’s up: Posting on this blog may be scarce over the next month, for obvious reasons.
by Whitey | Nov 4, 2009 | Ministry News
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your prayers for me during this season of ministry. The young adults retreat in October went really well, and I had a good time ministering in music and testimony in Japanese at the Immanuel Toyota Church a couple of weeks ago, too.
This past weekend I visited the town of Hikone, about 1 1/2 hours by car from here, to do some preaching and music ministry at the Immanuel Church there. The former assistant pastor of the Nagoya Church is now pastoring there, so it was great to have the excuse to visit and catch up with him one last time before I return to Canada next month.
The message I preached on Sunday was called “The Heart of Worship”, and was about what true, authentic worship looks like. We didn’t plan it this way, but Pastor Hirase told me that this message was really well-timed, and that it went along with the series of messages he has been preaching there.
It was well-timed for me, personally, as well. It can be so easy to go through the motions on a Sunday morning, especially since my church is Japanese and I only understand half of what is said. It can be easy, too, in the busyness of life, to rush through my devotional time and not really worship God on my own. So preparing for and preaching this message was a good reminder for me to stay focused on God and really worship Him, both on Sundays and in my daily life.
So I’m thankful this week for the way God is using me, and for the things He’s teaching me along the way. And I’m thankful for you, my supporters, for helping to make this possible.
Please pray with me for the following:
– For my ministry: I’m preaching & singing again this coming Sunday (Nov. 8) in Gifu City. The following week (Nov. 15) I’m doing a testimony & song in Japanese at my own church in Nagoya.
– For my language studies & daily communication in Japanese.
– For the planning I’m doing now for home ministries & my next term in Japan.
On a related note, I need to start booking dates to speak at churches back in North America in the new year. If you are a pastor or missions director and interested in having me visit, please let me know.
Again, as always, thank you praying and giving! And remember, “Prayer is not preparation for the work. Prayer is the work.” (Oswald Chambers)
– robin
Note: The above photo was taken at Atzuchi Castle near Hikone. See the previous next post for more photos from recent events and travels.
