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Rev. Keisuke Sakai, with his wife Rieko and their daughter, Kotomi.
He is part of the RCJ group that arrived in South Africa yesterday.
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RCJ (Reformed Church in Japan) group's visit to SA
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Dear Supporter,
The main purpose of this news flash is to say: be on the lookout for a minibus full of Japanese! A delegation of 7 ministers from our sister church, the Christian Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ), just landed in Cape Town for a 12 day visit.
May it – as before – again be that the Japanese cannot stop talking about the warm hearts and open hands with which they were received everywhere, by their South African sisters and brothers.
Why does this group come all the way from the Far East? What are the goals of the visit? I’ll name a few:
- To further develop long term relationships between the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) Family and the RCJ.
- To thank Mission Japan’s supporters themselves for many years’ support.
- To provide RCJ with first hand exposure to various congregations, Christians and church leaders in the SA context.
- To investigate the future of diaconal involvement (especially by means of the existing project in Botshabelo, and also perhaps new areas of involvement).
- To extend theological-academic ties (at the Theological Faculties in Stellenbosch and Bloemfontein).
- To create awareness of the work in Japan.
- To have meaningful meetings and discussions with Mission Japan’s management and others involved.
- To meet the leaders in the wider church family (thís time especially in the Western and Southern Cape and Free State synodical regions).
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Where will they go?
The main points of visit and dates are as follows:
Western Cape Region –
Wed. 6 and Th. 7 May: i.a. meetings Stellenbosch Theological Seminary and DRC Stellenbosch-West.
Fri. 8 May: i.a. meetings at Goudini (Synod of DRC in Western and Southern Cape) and at Swellendam (i.a. with Witness Groups of DRC Swellendam and Buffeljags, as well as Uniting Reformed Church (URCSA) Railton's members)
Southern Cape Region -
Sat. 9 May until Mo. 11 May: various meetings and worship services in George, Herolds Bay and Wildernis areas, with church leaders and other role players.
Free State (FS) Region -
Tu. 12 May travel to Bloemfontein via Oudtshoorn and Graaff Reinet.
Wed. 13 till Fri. 15 May: i.a. discussions with young ministers of the FS and Mission Japan’s management; visit to Botshabelo diaconal project; attend 150th celebration of FS Synod in Thaba Nchu, visit FS University.
Sat. 16 May: attend 150th celebration of FS Synod in Winburg, and travel to Gauteng.
Gauteng Region -
Su. 17 May: various meetings and worship services at DRC Andrew Murray (JHB) and RCA Charisma (PTA) congregations.
Mo. 18 May: departure back to Japan
For more details, please contact Salome at 051-406 6729 or missie@ngkvs.co.za (Mission Japan’s office).
Please support and pray with us that this visit will be especially meaningful and blessed. Please also remember the Mission Japan team who will accompany the group, translate and attend to the group etc. Some of those involved are: Gideon Van der Watt (Secretary); Victor Pillay (Chairman); Johann Winterbach (Vice-chairman) and Tobie and Annalie de Wet (committee members).
God’s Peace
Stéphan, Carina, Annlie, Cornelius, Lodewyk and Stephan (Jnr)
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Prayer Requests in May 2015:
Thank the Lord with us for:
- A blessed and enjoyable time of leave (20 – 25 April)
- Good progress with home schooling - click here
- RCJ Tokushima congregration’s two new church members
- The ordination if a Korean missionary-pastor at RCJ Shimizu Mission Post in the south of Shikoku Island.
- Mr Y, a young Christian believer who will be baptized shortly (7 June)
- The visit of the RCJ group (as mentioned above). Grateful to all whose hospitality will contribute to their warm reception.
Ask with us for the Lord’s blessing and providence for:
- The visit of the RCJ group (safe trip, meaningful meetings etc.)
- Carina’s multiple responsibilities with home schooling.
- Our family and marriage life, health, household, preparations, ministries etc.
- Gys and Linda Olivier at SEIWA Christian School in Kochi City, their marriage and family life, work and witness in the school, church involvement, little Linie’s Kindergarten.
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