Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)
Photo showing Japanese Amado shutters...not our actual neighbours' house...
Answered Prayer
Someone has been eavesdropping on our prayers!
Have you ever felt this way?
As a brother from our church family (Pastor Funahashi) has said, when God starts answering your prayers it is a bit scary!
Since we first moved to Japan there has been a house across from ours that always keeps the shutters closed whether day or night. A boy our son's age lives there with his parents so we hoped that they would become friends.
Over the past four years we have prayed many prayers for the Blackfield family that lives there. Sometimes passionate commanding prayers, sometimes humble petitioning prayers, sometimes sighs or prayerless looks.
But suddenly the mother showed up at our door asking for English help for her son! Now she (not her son) is coming to our house weekly to study English with us! Although this is a small answer to prayer we are filled with a sort of awe. An awareness that God is at work and that we need to pay attention to what he is up to. Please join us in praying for the Blackfield family - that Jesus and all his light will fill their house and home.
God has been impressing on me that "to pray is to be answered". That is to say, there is no prayer that is not answered - in God's way and in God's time. We say yes to God! Yes to your way! Yes to your time!
My Japanese teacher Asako and her family have been praying for her husband's parents salvation for more than forty years. During the last year both of them finally submitted to Jesus! Her mother in law committed to Jesus at the last minute and was able to finish her life singing hymns to God on her deathbed. Her husband was so impacted that he believed in Jesus as well and now attends worship services with great devotion!
Our whole church family has been greatly encouraged by this simple family and their prayers.
To teach ESL classes and help Japan MB churches to reach out to their communities?
If you want to find out more, please reply to this email!
↑ Photos
Top: Ishibashi Church kids at Ai no Ie - Giving Christmas greetings to the poor
Bottom Left: Christmas outreach at nearby train station
Bottom Right: Lamb Lamb (Mum& Baby Group) Christmas Party
Praise Items:
We thank God that He sent about 20 adults and children from our church to serve at Ai no Ie on Dec. 26th. People of Ai no Ie (mostly single old men) enjoyed interacting with young children!
Praise God that three 17 year olds decided to join Multiply's SOAR Heartland this year. Cory will be bringing Hayato, Nana and Yoshiwaki to join Canadian youth teams.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for our servant-leaders Pastor Minamino and Pastor Funahashi - that they will have much faith and courage to follow Jesus in their calling
For our neighbours that the light of Jesus will reach and fill their homes.
Feb. 8th&9th Men's discipleship retreat weekend
Feb. 14th and 28th, Bible Café at Ishibashi Church.
Feb 22. MB Japan Church Planting Prayer Meeting
Feb. 22 to 23 Visiting Toyota Higashi Church: Pray for wisdom and encouragement as they go thorough pastoral change
For Feb. 7th and 19th as our small group gather to prepare our hearts for SOAR Heartland
