Associated with the Christian Church/Church of Christ

March 2004 Newsletter

SAY YES TO JAPAN

Associated with the Christian Church/Church of Christ

Dear Friends,

CONVENTIONS

Last fall it was great to have the National Missionary Convention here in my own Cincinnati. I conducted a workshop on “Promoting Missions—the Best Job in the Church.” The SAY YES TO JAPAN exhibit handed out information on “how to be a fan of Japan.” A crew of missionaries, former missionaries, and mission recruits assisted me. I thank them! And thanks to those who furnished our exhibit with a bazillion little Japanese give-aways (chopsticks, erasers, etc.) Very effective! An estimated 8,000 attended this convention, with one-fourth of those being teens with their sponsors. Decisions were made for mission work: 168 college age and adults, 47 teens. This truly is a wonderful convention. (NMC: nationalmissionaryconvention.org; NMC teen convention: nmc-windows.org.) The next NMC will be in Peoria, Sep. 30 – Oct. 3, 2004. But before that, I will have my first-ever trip to Phoenix for the North American Christian Convention on July 5 – 8, 2004.

AND SPEAKING OF CONVENTIONS . . .

The World Convention (of Christian Church/Church of Christ, the Church of Christ, and the Disciples of Christ) will meet July 28 – August 1, 2004 in Brighton, England. In addition to a full slate of workshops and programs, several exciting tours are planned, flanking the convention dates. The “History of Christianity in the British Isles” tour, for example, covers Ireland, Scotland, and England. Check the convention Web site for more info: or e-mail .

WHAT’S A POM?

A new organization exhibited for the first time at this past NMC: the Parents of Missionaries (POM). This group started when Clovernook Christian Church members Ed and Diane Stortz, parents of missionary recruits, were struggling with the idea of their daughter and her husband going to the field. The professional clinical counselor at the church, Cheryl Savageau, wanted to help. Together, they began searching for resources for parents of missionaries . . . and came up empty.

Seeing a big need in this area, they began to reach out to others. Their first convention exhibit brought an overwhelming response. Currently POM meets quarterly with interested people in the Cincinnati area. Ideas for newsletters and online resources are in the works. Visit the POM exhibit at the NMC in Peoria this fall.

Spread the word! If you know of missionaries/recruits whose parents need help—or have valuable experiences to share—I strongly recommend you introduce them to POM. Contact the Stortzes at: or Cheryl at . These are great people who care and understand.

HIGHLIGHTS

(Next newsletter, I promise to glean more tidbits from missionary newsletters. But for now, just a few highlights.)

1) Two short-term groups under Team Expansion will go to Japan this summer. Jenna Lusby (her third straight summer in Japan) will lead the Osaka group; a student from last year’s team will lead the Tokyo group. To see what a small group can accomplish in a few weeks in Japan, here’s a recap of their 2003 work: participated in 14 different worship services (speaking, singing, skits), distributed thousands of flyers/tracts, taught classes for all ages, did yard work and cleaning, painted church walls and VBS backdrop, practiced English with 22 college classes and several English-Bible classes, made crafts for camp and convention kids, had lots of informal discussion, and took an amazing prayer journey to Ise. Jenna has cool armor of God T-shirts (armor pieces labeled in Japanese), adult sizes only, $15, order ONLY TILL EASTER. E-mail her at .

2) Recruits Corey and Nicki Shields and little Skyler are almost on their way. Hoping to leave for Japan (Osaka area) in the next few weeks. Check my Web site for their information.

3) Missionary Al Juve reports the baptism of an F-15 fighter pilot with the Japanese military. He has been influenced in the past few years by an American Air Force pilot.

4) Missionary Walter Maxey spoke to our Japan missionaries on the past, present, and future of the work there. He emphasized, among other things: recommitment, positive thinking, strategy, turning “from inner maintenance to outer-engagement,” and launching out into the deep—accepting our own limitations, taking risks, and trusting the Lord. He also cautioned against replacing primary goals with secondary ones, pointing out the tendency to aim for secondary goals when the primary ones become difficult.

5) Machida Church of Christ hosted an unbelievable 200 children plus their parents and grandparents for an event last fall that was “a complete success in every way.” (In my days as a missionary in Japan, crowds like this were practically unheard of, especially those with parents and grandparents. PTL!)

GONE HOME

During the fall of 2003, our Japan missions community felt extreme loss as four former Japan missionary veterans went to be with the Lord: Stan Buttray (33 years in Japan); Donnie Mings (15 years in Japan, then 25+ years in Hawaii); Mark Maxey (over 50 years in Japan); and Paul Pratt (38 years in Japan). These men said YES to Japan for a combined total of well over 100 years. Wow!

STATISTIC

The Southern Baptists held a commissioning service to set apart new missionaries (fall 2003). In a written report: “About 475 people were projected to be ready for long-term appointments in 2004, but due to the gap in giving, only 300 are expected to be appointed. . . . Southern Baptists are being asked to increase their giving by 33 percent to this year’s offering so more workers can go.” Some SB churches are “becoming strategic partners” with the SB International Mission Board. Check out:

CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE

1) At the Greater Cincinnati Japanese Worship Christmas services (attended by about 70 people this time), a Christmas carol medley was performed by ladies playing the koto.

2) Doug Collins, young missionary doctor in Cambodia, offered food for thought on Eastern religions. When he said the people in Cambodia have a mix of Buddhism and spiritism/ancestor worship, I immediately thought of Japan’s combination of Buddhism and Shinto. Doug said the Cambodians consider Buddhism to be all about after death—religion for later. But they want something now. The ancestor worship, superstitions, and rituals fill that need. He called this “folk Buddhism” and challenged us not to think this way about Christianity; that is, not to think that Christianity is for later, and we need something to fill the gap now. Christianity is for now AND later. He referred to 1 Timothy 4:8: “Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

3) The Evangelical Press world news report a few months ago referred to Christian/Western wedding ceremonies in Japan. “In 2002, the number of weddings held in marriage chapels was twice that of weddings held in traditional Shinto shrines. . . . Japanese couples are opting for smaller services incorporating elements found in weddings in the Western hemisphere.” But don’t look to religious reasons for the change, said the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. “Poor economy was the main reason.”

4) The Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society newsletter (Oct. 2003) ran an article titled, “Is God Opening a New Door to Amakusa?” Amakusa is located in southern Japan. This is the same general area known for “hidden Christians”—which relates back to the time after the samurai warlords persecuted Christians and pushed the church underground. The JEMS article notes that several different people recently seem to be receiving a call to this area. Various possibilities are being scouted. If this strikes a note with you in any way, you are invited to contact JEMS: E-mail: .

WHADDYA THINK?

David Empson, who directs the teen part of the NMC, has an idea and wants feedback. In a nutshell: Since America has so many trained youth ministers, and so many teens are wanting to go on short-term mission trips, and so many missionaries are desperate for more help. . . . What if a specific youth minister along with his youth group sort of adopted your mission? Instead of the teens going to various places every year, they would go to your place every year for three years (or however long). They would be your youth workers, helping you to develop/expand your youth ministry. I personally can see many merits to this idea. I believe the mission would benefit not only from the fresh ideas, but also by having the same people return every year. I would hope, too, that out of these U.S. youth groups, a few of the young people would catch the vision and want to return long-term. David has asked for feedback from around the world. I would love to see the Japan missionaries catch the first wave of this vision. You may contact him at: .

FINANCIAL REPORT (Feb. 13, 2003 through Mar. 27, 2004)

(For the benefit of first-time readers: Though contributions are appreciated, SAY YES TO JAPAN does not solicit funds. Contributions are not tax deductible. I offer the financial information merely as an informal, friendly report to anyone interested.)

INCOME—balance brought forward: 1426.93. Contributions received (including 5000.00 from personal funds): 8864.00. Income side total: 10,290.93.

EXPENSES—conventions (that’s exhibit fees, hotel, travel, meals, helper stipends): 2560.35; Web site related (online fees, Webmaster, computer repair): 1078.33; office supplies and resources: 98.75; office help (including 3000.00 to me, first salary ever received since starting this work in Nov. 1998!): 3402.50; postage (including mailing supplies to missionaries/ministers): 409.70; printing, promotional, display materials: 237.58; long distance phone: 114.94; non-convention travel: 78.00; teaching supplies furnished to missionaries/ministers: 79.18; bereavement flowers and cards: 50.00; interest, bank fees: 68.81. Expense side total: 8178.14.

Ending balance Mar. 27, 2004: 2112.79.

TAKE THE TRAIN!

The Wall Street Journal said: “Driving the length of Japan, a country smaller than California, rings up $330 in tolls.”

SPREAD THE WORD

Remember to invite people to visit the SAY YES TO JAPAN Web site. It’s an easy way to learn about Japan mission history, current missionaries, job opportunities (There’s a newly arrived teacher in Nishinomiya because she spotted the job on the site.), Christian resources in Japanese language, and culture stuff. There is also ordering info for my book, Debt Free College—We Did It! (Gotta keep our young people out of debt so they can go to the mission field.)

Thanks to all who SAY YES TO JAPAN by being pray-ers, fans, and warriors!

Sincerely,

Lynn Lusby Pratt

11745 Olympia Way - #226

Cincinnati OH 45240

513-674-1839

Please do not send forwards of jokes, devotionals, etc., to this address. Please ask for your name to be removed from this list if the newsletter is junk mail to you. (The newsletter also can be read on the Web site.)