Dear Friends,
It is widely known that Japan is an aging society, but recent data underscores how serious this problem is. The government reported recently that the population decreased by a record 284,000 in a one-year period. This is the largest population decline since the government began keeping records in 1950 and the first time the population has declined for two consecutive years.
For the first time, the number of people 65 or older exceeded 30 million. Elderly people now make up 24.1% of the population, which is a record high. A major factor behind these statistics is the decline in births, the number of which was the lowest ever last year--down 27,000 from the previous year. It is believed that late marriage and a shrinking childbearing population are causing this decline in births, which has consequently led to a serious drop in population.
These trends are reflected in churches throughout Japan, where the majority of members are older people, and attendance at Sunday School is rapidly dropping. It can also be seen in the fact that the average age of our ministers (in churches of Christ) is fifty. This reality means we must adjust our ministries to meet the needs of the elderly and, at the same time, make every effort to reach the youth of Japan.
Children’s Christmas Program
One of our efforts to reach the children of our community with the gospel has been our annual children’s Christmas program at the Yoshino church. The ladies of the church passed out flyers at the two local elementary schools, and twenty children came to the December 15th program. It was a fun time, with games, a Christmas video, and a brief talk about the true meaning of Christmas.
Christmas also provides an opportunity to share the gospel with my students at Kagoshima University. This year the last day of class before winter vacation fell on December 24th. At the end of each of my three classes, I gave my students a Christmas quiz as a way to share with them who Jesus really is. I also encouraged each student to take home one of the English-Japanese New Testaments I had brought to class and read about the first Christmas themselves. The majority of students in each class took one.
Other Christmas activities included a Christmas program at the Kagoshima prison on December 8th, Christmas worship & a fellowship dinner at the Yoshino church on December 23rd, and a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. We closed out the year with our New Year’s Eve prayer service.
Yoshino Church of Christ
In February, we were blessed to have our son Trent, his wife Libby, and two sons, Amory (6) and Henry (4) spend three weeks with us. Trent, who is presently on sabbatical from Amherst College (where he is an associate professor in the history department), came to Japan in January to spend four months doing research for his next book. He brought his family over to spend February with him in Kagoshima.
With Trent, Libby, Amory & Henry
Libby had been to Japan & Kagoshima before, but this was the first time for Amory and Henry. The three weeks was the most time we had ever had with them at one time, and it was fun to see them interact smoothly and eagerly with the Japanese. They were not afraid to greet people with the few Japanese words they had learned and never forgot to say arigatou (thank you). We visited all the “hot spots” in Kagoshima--including the zoo, aquarium, and park. They seemed to especially enjoy visiting the famous historical Japanese castle in Kumamoto. While here, Trent preached for me twice & also spoke for our ministers’ meeting. It was good to be able to share these days together.
Kumamoto Castle
Libby & the boys flew back to the States on March 2nd, while Trent remained in Kyoto to continue his research until May. He has enjoyed the fellowship of & preached at the Nakaburi church in Osaka & was asked to give a lecture to 800 students at Doshisha University, where he is staying. Recently he was speaker for Founders Day at Osaka Bible Seminary, so he has stayed busy, though it has been a lonely time for their family.
Activities here in Kagoshima in March included leading the regular meeting of the executive committee in charge of planning the 64th All Japan Christian Convention, which will be held in Kagoshima July 31st~August 2nd. This convention, which has played a major role in keeping our seventy churches throughout Japan connected for over sixty years, has not been held in Kagoshima for 17 years. We are working hard to make it a meaningful & memorable convention.
March 6th, I spoke at the meeting of the Kagoshima Evangelical Association--a group made up of evangelical ministers who want to work together in sharing the gospel throughout Kagoshima. One of the programs we work on together is the annual seminar on personal evangelism held in January.
March 19th, Mary & I went up to Kyoto to spend a couple of days with Trent. Before we returned home on the 22nd, I attended the trustee meeting at Osaka Bible Seminary. March 28th, Mary met with the ladies of the Yoshino church to elect new officers and plan their schedule of activities for the year ahead.
Easter Sunrise Service
March 31st, members of the Yoshino church gathered at the church mausoleum on a hill overlooking Yoshino for our Easter sunrise service. We also took time to remember & give thanks for the lives of two of our members who went to be with the Lord last year--Brother Nakamura & Sister Yamauchi.
We have been blessed & encouraged at the Kokubu church by the return of the Matsui’s (front left) from Nagoya, in central Japan, where they had been attending church for the past ten years. Kokubu is their home church, & Mr. Matsui’s retirement from his job has allowed them to move back. Their return has added a new spark to our small group of believers.
Kokubu Church of Christ
The events in Boston and Texas have been a large part of the news here, and the Boston events especially set off an alarm for us because of concern for our daughter Shelley and family, who live there. Fortunately, we found out they were not in any direct danger at any point (though no one knew where the suspects were for a while), but their routines were affected and Shelley was actually driving near downtown when the bombs detonated (and sensed a blast of some sort). They have friends who live/work near or in some of the areas where dangerous events took place, and they themselves have to travel in those areas. We are all thankful that things seem to be returning to normal.
As we close, we want to let you know how grateful we are for keeping us in your thoughts & prayers. We could not continue this ministry without your sacrificial and faithful support.
In Him,
Walter & Mary