As we head toward a week of Christmas festivities at the church (and new church plant), this past weekend we were able to get together for some music practice at the first church plant.
Right after Christmas is the New Year. In Japan, this is a season of immense idolatry. Many people go to shrines and temples on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day. As a preemptive strike, our theme on Sunday night was “How to interact with traditional Japanese religions.” When we announced the Sunday night topic on Sunday morning, one older lady came to me afterward and asked where in the Bible we would be studying! She is not able to drive after dark, but wanted to read for herself about what she is to do.
There are many pressures people face concerning idolatry, especially from family and relatives. Ultimately, a believer’s conduct concerning idolatry is to point others to Jesus. Please pray that those who have been coming will be able to do that over the course of the New Year.
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We can’t bring things back from the dead, but what if they never died in the first place? See the news section.
Praises
- Teaching on idolatry well received
Prayer Requests
- Rosie’s Japanese studies
- Christmas party at our house on the 20th
- New church plant starting Dec 22
- Christmas service at first church on 22nd
- Hope Baptist Church and the Hill Family
- Ten Hundred Thousand Churches (details here)
- Our people as we head into an idolatrous season
From the News
A little while back, Toys R Us made the headlines when they closed up shop in the US. But in Japan, they never missed a beat. There are other brands that have been gone in the US that are still thriving in Japan. If you’re curious about what they are, be sure to read this article.