Dear Friends,
It's hard to believe that we are well into 2013! The biggest events of January were our mission team's 'pray and plan', and then the Nisshin Christ Church annual meeting. Our team is growing! This year with most of our career missionaries on their HMA (home ministry assignment), the time was spent focusing on first-term-issues, and really trying to fold in our new team members. It's so encouraging to see so many young couples committing themselves to ministry in Japan. We have the Carters finishing up language school and moving to their internship under Pastor Aoki, the Sinks just starting language school, the Gees approaching their one-year anniversary as short termers in college ministry, and the Burns, a JEMS (Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society) family moving to Nagoya to work with us in March. We feel blessed to get to work with these families, and excited to see what God does as we expand to new locations and ministries.
Do you ever wonder what kind of experience a short term mission trip in Japan can be? Team member Jake Gee recently created a wonderful video showing what college ministry (particularly the summer ministry of the Veritas team) is all about. Please take a look HERE! And if you are inspired by the beauty of Japan, the need of Japan, or the impact of Japan in peoples' lives, please CONTACT us about how you can get involved. We are ready to welcome short term teams, individuals, and families to join us in what GOD is doing here.
As exciting as our growing team is, we are also happy and encouraged about how our Japanese brothers and sisters are growing in Christ. This year could have been a difficult one, with several of the missionaries who serve in Nisshin Christ Church on HMA. But as so often happens, when there is hole, God provides. People have really stepped up and taken ownership in their church. It's been a time of growth, challenge, and blessing. Jake also made a video for the NCC annual meeting. Even though it's in Japanese, it's a great visual of the activities and life of the church. Please check it out HERE!
Between now and Easter, we have the happy privilege of baptism preparation and membership transfer class. We started last month, and have five adults preparing to be baptized, and five preparing to transfer to Nisshin Church. What a thrill! One of the people who will be baptized is Mrs. N. A few years ago, her husband Mr. N. was baptized, and Wayne also performed their wedding. Mr. N faithfully shared God's story with his wife--using the Jesus Storybook Bible, just as Wayne had done with him. She has come to faith, and another Christian family has been born! Praise God for his wonderful work in the hearts of his people.
We have many of these stories to share, and will do that over the next few months leading up to a joyous Easter celebration. What better time for the sacrament of baptism than on the day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ! Please pray for God to protect these brothers and sisters, as often the spiritual warfare before they are baptized is fierce.
Thank you, partners and friends, for standing with us in this ministry. Without you praying, supporting, and participating, we would not be able to be in Japan. There are many who are financially committed to our Nagoya team, and to our family specifically. We would like to give an update on our status, as we have some information to share. Please go to this LINK to learn more about our current situation.
May God's richest blessings be yours in Christ,
Wayne and Amy Newsome
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