by Whitey | Aug 12, 2007 | Thoughts
Over the next little while, I thought I’d share some stories and thoughts from my past experiences in Japan. As many readers probably already know, I spent a year in Osaka, teaching English at Grace English School. I was there from August 2002 until August 2003, and maintained a website where I posted photos and writings on what I was experiencing. The following is one of those journal entries…
Sunday, December 1, 2002: Thoughts on Culture and Ministry
Sometimes when teaching English it is hard to explain simple concepts like when to use “a” and when to use “the”, or the difference between “this” and “that”. It is difficult because I don’t know Japanese and the students don’t know enough English.
A similar problem is found, too, when trying to communicate the gospel. The language barrier is always a factor, of course. But even without language barriers, there are always cultural differences to take into account; things that are different between those from the east and those from the west, those that are churched and those that are unchurched, and so on. These differences can lead to misunderstandings and barriers to sharing ideas.
My fellow teacher and missionary, Samuel, is doing his thesis on this very idea – how to contextualize the Gospel, interpreting and theologizing in such a way that a person will understand and relate to, given their particular background. When ministering in a country like Japan, where Christians make up about 1% of the population (if that), Christians need to overcome the misperception that Christianity is a foreign religion. So those of us ministering here (and in other places where the Gospel seems foreign) need to drop our theological jargon, learn who it is we are trying to reach, and speak to them on their level.
So we need to know how the people we are ministering to think. But we also need to know their hearts. In Japan, ministry is very relational; you need to get to know a person before you can share your beliefs with them. Having said that, I believe that that is true in most cultures. Other methods may work to an extent, but the Gospel – which is all about our relationship with God – is best spread through relationships. If you want to share the love of Jesus with someone, you’d better be ready to share your own love too.
So this is the bottom line of I am trying to express: As Christians, wherever we come from, whatever culture we are in, and whatever the background of those we are trying to reach, we need to speak the truth in love and in a way that our hearers can understand and relate to. And we really need God’s help to do so.
by Whitey | Aug 8, 2007 | Ministry News
I’ve arrived safely at home after about 3 weeks of traveling and team building. To my prayer partners: thanks for praying! I had a great time, met some great new friends and caught up with some old friends too. I also gained some financial and prayer supporters, which is great! I now have close to 550 prayer partners, and am getting closer and closer to my financial goal. Check out the support page for more on that, and on how you can help out if you’re not already. To those of you already committed to giving, thank you!
by Whitey | Jul 26, 2007 | Ministry News
I’ve passed the halfway mark in my support raising!
Due to a handful of recent faith promises, as well as some re-calculations of Canadian commitments (what with the changing exchange rate), my total raised is now at $33,543 (US). Amount remaining: $28,457.
If you’d like to help out, please visit the Support page for more info. Of course you’re free to give whatever you wish, but $30 a month is ideal; at $30 a month, it would only take 79 people to reach my goal.
To those of you already praying and giving: THANK YOU! I obviously couldn’t have gotten this far without you.
by Whitey | Jul 15, 2007 | Ministry News
I’m done at Beulah Camp, and have spontaneously taken a trip to Halifax to visit some friends for a few days. Tuesday I’ll be home. Wednesday I’ll be hitting the road for Ontario and then to the US for more team building. As I said to my friend today, I’m away so much that when I am at home I don’t know what to do with myself!
Camp meeting and conference went well. I took in some great preaching and got to catch up with some good old friends as well. I was able to connect with some pastors I needed to talk to, and with some current and potential supporters, too. And I had the opportunity to talk about my ministry to Japan during the Missions Moment of the Wednesday night worship service.
I have made some progress in my support team building. I now have about $33,636 remaining. At $30 a month per person, it would take only about 93 people to get there. I’d appreciate your continued prayers as I raise these faith promises. I’d also appreciate it if you’d consider helping me reach that goal with your giving. Check out the Support page for more.
by Whitey | Jun 28, 2007 | Ministry News
Dear Friends, Family and Supporters,
First of all, I just wanted to thank you for praying for me during my 3-weeks of Missionary Training Institute (MTI) in Indiana. I had a great time getting to know the 30-some other missionaries who took part, and the teaching and experience were definitely worthwhile. Also, I had asked for prayer regarding my transportation needs; well it turns out my car repairs were not as expensive as I’d feared, and hopefully the old Bonneville will keep me going for at least a few more months.
Please pray for me as I travel this summer to various churches and camps to share my vision and build my support team. You can follow the Calendar link on my website for details. Also, please pray that the summer’s support raising will be successful so that I can get to Japan this fall. I’m close to reaching the halfway mark, so with enough momentum, this should be possible; pray that I’ll be diligent in doing my part and that God will provide.
Below is an update on where I’m at. Please consider joining the financial support team if you haven’t already…
Amount Remaining to be Raised:
= $35,372 (approx. $44,215 CND)
* IF 118 MORE PEOPLE WOULD PLEDGE JUST $25/MONTH (US), WE WOULD EASILY REACH THIS GOAL. PLEASE PRAY ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP!
Thanks for praying and giving so that I can GO!
– robin
by Whitey | Jun 24, 2007 | Ministry News
I’m back from Indiana. I spent most of today in airports and got home to Fredericton in the evening. Now I’m getting ready to hit the road again tomorrow, but this time I’m not going so far. I’m scheduled to speak at Brown’s Flat Fellowship tomorrow night. That’s at Beulah Camp, for those of you not from around here. My family’s got a cottage there, so I may just stay an extra day or two while I get my self re-organized for the upcoming busy weeks of support raising. Fortunately there’s a wi-fi network at Beulah for the summer, so I can still do website updates and catch up on emails.
by Whitey | Jun 9, 2007 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I’m writing to you tonight from Indianapolis, Indiana, where I’ve been attending Missionary Training Institute. MTI is part of the preparation Global Partners provides their new missionaries with before sending them to the mission field. It’s been a great week of learning and discussing missions and related issues.
One highlight, of course, has been getting to know so many other missionaries. There were around 30 of us here this week, making us the largest group of people ever to attend a single MTI in Wesleyan history! It’s been exciting to hear everyone’s stories and to get a glimpse of the vision God is giving each one. It’s been encouraging, too, to be reminded of the great big team I’m a part of as a GP missionary.
Several of the MTI participants have already left for home now; those of us in the career and intern tracts are here for another two weeks. Please pray for us as we continue to learn and grow together as missionaries.
I’d also ask that you pray for my upcoming summer travels and continued support raising. Please pray for more opportunities to share my vision, and for more churches and individuals to join my team. In addition, I’ve been having some car troubles lately, and am soon going to have to decide whether to repair or to replace my car (fortunately I flew to Indy so the car wasn’t an issue for this trip). Either way, I need God to provide.
Thanks for your continued prayer, support and interest in my ministry to Japan! Please check my website in the coming days and weeks for more news from MTI and updates on my support raising.
Blessings,
– robin
by Whitey | May 24, 2007 | Ministry News
After 3 weeks at home, my busy summer begins this weekend. I’m driving to Ontario first thing in the morning, where I’m speaking at 2 churches (in Orangeville and Dundalk) on Sunday. Next week I’m home for a few days and then flying to Indiana for Missionary Training Institute, where I’ll be for 3 weeks, along with several other Global Partners missionaries. After that, it’s back on the road for more ministry and support raising.
Please be praying with me for safe travel and successful team building. Also pray that God will use this time to teach me more about Him, myself, and being a missionary.
I’ve posted some updates to my weblog this week; please take a look around while you’re here.
As always, thanks for your prayers and support! I couldn’t do this without my team!
by Whitey | May 22, 2007 | Uncategorized
I’ve discovered a great resource lately called Operation Japan. It’s a daily prayer guide, published by the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, that takes you through each area of Japan, giving statistics, stories, and prayer requests. It’s been really helping me to pray more specifically and regularly for Japan, and I know it would be a great help to any of prayer warriors out there with a heart for the people of Japan. I’d encourage you to check it out. You can buy it online HERE.
More recommended resources coming soon…
by Whitey | Apr 25, 2007 | Ministry News
Sorry for the lack of a Photo of the Week this week; I’m on the road and it’s been harder to upload pictures than usual. I’ll try to get back on a regular schedule when I’m home again.
I’m writing from Harrington, Delaware today. To those of you praying for my journey, thanks. It’s been going great. I’ve reconnected with some old friends. I’ve also connected with a couple of churches who are now a part of my support team, both in fairly significant ways. It’s definitely been worthwhile to come all this way, and the journey’s only about half over. I’ve got a combined service tonight in Bethel, and then it’s back to Keymar, Maryland, where I have a few days to relax before speaking in two services on Sunday morning.
I’m enjoying the journey…
