Vol 47_1, Spring-Early Summer 2016

Dear Friends,

Mary and I arrived in Japan to begin our ministry here forty-five years ago this August. After getting off the ship at Yokohama, we found a small apartment in the suburbs of Tokyo to live in for our year of language study at International Christian University; then we headed down to the southern main island of Kyushu to visit my parents (Mark & Pauline Maxey) in Kanoya. 

Three days later, on the first Sunday morning after arriving, I preached my first sermon in Japan at the Kanoya Church of Christ. Since my Japanese was not up to speed yet, the minister of the church, Hideo Yoshii, translated for me. Forty-five years later, on June 19th this year, Mary & I were again at the Kanoya church. I had been invited to speak for their annual Guest Speaker Sunday. In my opening remarks, I joked that, after preaching in Japanese for over forty years, I might be able to get by without a translator.

In addition to preaching for their worship service, I had been asked to talk about the mission work of my parents, which began in Kanoya sixty-six years ago; so after a fellowship lunch, I gave a PowerPoint presentation of their work. In preparation, I had gone back and read some of my father’s accounts of their first evangelistic efforts. I was surprised to read of an evangelistic meeting attended by 1000 people in the small town of Sueyoshi and of another meeting in Kanoya that was attended by 2500.

Post-war Japan (1950-1955) was very open and receptive to Christianity. Eight of our churches in Kagoshima Prefecture were established during that period, while two more were established after we arrived in 1972. Gradually, as Japan recovered from the war and the Japanese became more affluent, this widespread openness to the gospel dried up.

The ministry in our area of Japan today is somewhat like that of the prophet Jeremiah, who was sent intentionally by God to the people of Judah who would not listen or respond to Him. Jeremiah persisted forty years, refusing to give up (Jeremiah 17:16) because he understood God’s desire to give everyone a chance to repent (Jeremiah 36:3). Although Japan is a resistant field, we strongly believe this work is important; God wants all people to turn to Him (Acts 17:30) and be saved (I Timothy 2:4). 

Here are some of the highlights of the past few months. January 11th, nine members of the Yoshino church attended an all-day conference on personal evangelism at a church nearby in Ijuin. All those who attend this annual conference leave with a good understanding of the Biblical basis for evangelism and some specific ideas and suggestions of how to do that in Japan. 

February 22-23, I attended the annual meeting of Christian Prison Chaplains in Kyushu, which was held in Tosu (two hours north by train). The program included a visit to the only women’s prison in Kyushu, which is located in Tosu. I have been a prison chaplain for over thirty years, but this was my first time to be inside a women’s prison. The majority of the 307 inmates (43%) were serving time for doing drugs, and surprisingly, 10% were there for murder. 

The Kagoshima prison, where I minister as a chaplain, is for repeat offenders, and the majority of them are also there for drug offenses. One of the inmates who attended my Bible class at the prison is now living and working in Kagoshima. He has contacted me twice this year for advice and assistance to help him over some rough spots as he struggles to support his wife and young daughter as a day laborer.

The middle of April, Mary and I began a new semester of classes at our respective colleges. (The new school year here begins in April.) I always begin the semester by introducing myself to my classes and explaining that, in addition to teaching English at Kagoshima University, I am also a minister and prison chaplain. When I open it up for questions, I am always asked, “Why did you come to Japan?” I reply, “I came to introduce people to the Bible & the main character of the Bible, Jesus Christ.”

April 28th, we were in Kanoya for the annual trustee meeting of the Kyushu Christian Mission. As the head trustee of the mission, which was started by my parents, one of my main responsibilities is to manage our small Christian bookstore there. I do this by making monthly visits to Kanoya and keeping in contact with Mr.  Shimoda, who keeps the store open twice a week. We sell about $5000 worth of Bibles, hymn books, Christian books/magazines and Christmas items every year. It is not enough to cover expenses, but we believe, since this is the only Christian bookstore in that part of Kagoshima Prefecture, we are providing an important service.

Our May 10th ministers’ meeting at the Kagoshima church was a little larger than usual. A team from Osaka Bible Seminary (4 students & 3 faculty) joined us for worship and lunch afterwards. They were on their way to Kumamoto (2 hours north) to work as volunteers helping people whose homes had been damaged by the earthquakes there in April. Kumamoto was hit by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake on April 11th and a magnitude 7.3 earthquake on April 16th. These quakes killed 49 people, injured 3000, and caused extensive damage to 4700 homes. These were the most powerful earthquakes to ever hit Kyushu. The Yoshino church took up a special offering to help cover the expenses of the OBS volunteer team.

May 17th, the ladies of the Yoshino church were in charge of the annual women’s meeting for our churches in Kagoshima Prefecture. Mary worked closely with the ladies to help them prepare for this all-day meeting that was held at the Kagoshima church. The guest speaker this year was Mrs. Ano, a minister’s wife and mother of a large family. She spoke twice about the importance of protecting one’s faith and growing in faith. Thirty-seven ladies from six of our churches attended.

May 26th, the husband of Mrs. Uchikura passed away after being hospitalized several months following a brain hemorrhage. Mr. Uchikura was not a Christian, but his wife and two adult children are. At their request, I conducted a Christian funeral for him on the 28th at a local funeral home. This was the first time for most of those in attendance to experience a Christian funeral. It was an opportunity for me not only to comfort the family and relatives, but also to share the hope we can have for life after death through Jesus Christ. Following cremation (mandatory in Japan), his ashes were interred at the Yoshino church mausoleum. The Yoshino church now has four widows, and I have conducted the funerals for each of their husbands (three of whom were Christians).

I want to close with some prayer requests. For the past several months, I have been having one-on-one Bible studies with Ms. Uezono and Mr. Tokunaga. Ms. Uezono comes to our Sunday services occasionally, and Mr. Tokunaga is physically handicapped and needs a wheel chair to get around. Both are seeking to know Jesus Christ better. Please be praying that they will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Also be praying for our evangelistic outreach program, which will be held at the Yoshino church on October 22nd. 

We want to finish with several pictures of recent activities:

20160619 IMG 0940 KanoyaPresentationWEB


                                            Preaching 45 years later in Kanoya   

         

20160327 P1010692 EasterMemorialWEB

 

                Easter Memorial Service at the Yoshino Church Mausoleum


Bokushikai 2016 WEB

                             

                                            Church of Christ Ministers‘ Meeting                  

20160427 P1010701 Yoshino Bible studyWEB


                             Yoshino Church Wednesday Bible Study

4148 Goudou Fujinkai WEB


                                                    Prefectural Ladies‘ Meeting                 

With our deep thanks for your prayers and faithful support of our ministry here. 

In Him,                                             
Walter & Mary 

© Kagoshima Christian Mission  2016