Please click here to get a comprehensive video update about what is going on (8 mins) -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P15QbdVUamA
In this issue:
- Encouragement from recent baptism service
- Fruit from past Recon trip
- Prospects from recent Recon trip
- Invitation to set up seminar booth
- Teaching Japanese language class opportunity
- Family update
Praises:
- 74-year-old woman baptized; husband impacted
- Church united in baptism celebration
- Recon visitor returned to learn the language
- Spring recon trip led to ministry interest
- Opportunity for Bible seminar booth downtown
- Starting Japanese outreach for immigrants
Prayer Requests
- Salvation for the newly baptized woman’s husband
- Strength for the returning visitor who is studying Japanese
- Guidance for those considering ministry in Japan
- Success for the March 29th Bible seminar
- Volunteers and wisdom for Japanese classes
- Open hearts in the immigrant community.
Yours for Japan,
James Miyashita
Please click here for a printable version of our prayer letter.
Details discussed in this video:
James and Rosie shared an update on a recent baptism that took place at the end of February. Despite the cold water, it was a significant event as a 74-year-old woman publicly declared her faith. Her husband, who is not a believer, attended for the first time and was emotionally moved by the event. Several unbelievers were present, and the church came together to make it a special occasion, preparing a meal and celebrating with fellowship. This baptism felt more communal compared to the previous one, reflecting the growing unity within the church.
Another update involved a visitor from last fall’s recon trip who returned to study Japanese and has been attending church. While he is struggling with the language barrier, he is persevering. Additionally, the church hosted a curry party during a spring recon trip for five visitors exploring ministry opportunities in Japan. Some of them are now praying about and considering returning long-term. While showing the recon tour participants around, the man in charge of the running the event space that we previously used for our Bible seminar invited James to have a booth on the ground floor to promote the event. We quickly jumped on the opportunity and scheduled a couple more seminars in the upcoming months.
The church is also expanding into new outreach efforts. A gentleman over public safety in the school district near the church reached out, asking if they would be willing to teach Japanese to immigrants in their area, including a Pakistani family. This initiative, set to begin in April, is both a practical language class and an opportunity for gospel outreach. The challenge lies in onboarding volunteers and structuring the program effectively, but they see great potential in reaching communities that would otherwise be difficult to evangelize.
Finally, Silas, their oldest son, graduated from kindergarten and will start first grade in April. With many new beginnings in both ministry and family life, they expressed gratitude and asked for prayers as they navigate these transitions.