Sunday, September 12:

Glory to God in the highest!!!

ATTENTION PRAYER WARRIORS: You may want to print this out, it's basically a long prayer request list.

"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)

It has been a long time, almost 2,000 years, so sometimes I forget about the intensity of this great commission. I get caught-up in activities and plans for preaching the gospel, but I forget my first love. In His glorified body, this was one of the last things that Jesus told His disciples just before he ascended to heaven ­ it is huge! It is not the job of missionaries; it is the job of the church! How sad when we don't give everything to fulfill it. When I remember that my purpose is to obey this commandment, I am filled with joy and fear of a great and holy God, of whom I'm not worthy to worship. But we who believe have been allowed to worship with boldness because of the life of Jesus, which He sacrificed for us on the cross.

The strength of the Christian is directly connected to his joy in the Lord. "…the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) Please pray for me that I will be filled with the joy and the strength of the Lord.

I have been praying more than ever in my life, and sometimes it's so draining, but I know that God is working. He answers prayers when we pray in His will. Many people have prayed to receive the forgiveness of sins from Jesus Christ. Each soul requires so much prayer, even more now than when they first believed.

Please pray for the following people who have expressed faith in Christ in the past few weeks. Please pray that they will understand the saving grace of God and will grow and connect to the living church. Also, most of them have several problems and need God's healing "the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Nazuna (21y girl) I just got an email from her as I was writing this "I had a great time, I want to read the Bible more and more." She prayed to Jesus for the first time this morning.

Sachi (21y girl) She just put her faith in Christ yesterday when we went to Osaka to have a meeting with some of David's friends from a church that he previously worked with. (One of the families is pro-soccer player, Matsunami, his wife and their parents. Another is the wife of Nomura, who just won three gold-metals in the Olympics for Judo.) I met Sachi in the San Francisco airport when our plane was delayed. She lives in Osaka, so pray that she'll get connected with a church there and bear fruit for His glory, full of joy!

Chiharu (20y guy) He put his faith in Christ a few days ago at our pharmacy English/Bible study. His sister and mom come to our Chigasaki chapel, but his dad is not a Christian. He goes to school in Chiba, about 2 hrs away. Please pray that he will be sure that he is forgiven and that I can go see him in Chiba and spend time discipling him and encouraging his faith.

Tomoe (20y girl) She put her faith in Christ last Friday at our Hagizono prayer meeting. She now lives in Japan, but we met in AZ. She has been interested in the things of God for a long time, but never was able to understand enough to commit to Jesus, though she wanted to. Please especially prayer for God's protection over her, physically and spiritually. Also, pray that God will destroy the strongholds of Satan in her life and to cast out evil spirits.

Hiroyuki (28y guy) I first met him at the train-station about a year ago. He is always playing Japanese folk songs on his guitar. He put his faith in Christ last Thursday (the first time he came to church) at our weekly dinner that is between the kids' and adults' English class times. I didn't really get to talk to him, but Pastor Kikuchi and David said that he put his faith in Christ. Please pray that I can follow-up with him and that he will truly understand the forgiveness of sins and continue coming to church.

Pray for the following seekers and possible seekers, pray that I will be faithful in following-up:

Abe (21? guy) I met him at the corner convenience store. A smart, English-speaking college student here in Chigasaki. He said he's willing to go through a thorough Bible study with me, but that he will never ever "become Christian." He doesn't know the meaning of that statement. Please pray that he will become a believer. All others will be condemned. Also, I haven't called him for about a week to encourage our meeting to study the Bible ­ I'm too busy and need help.

Hiro (21? guy) I met him in the video store across the street from Abe's convenience store. Like Abe, he came over for some food in my apartment. He's interested in the Bible, but doesn't understand that Jesus is The Truth.

Taka (30's guy) He came to my English classes last time I was in Japan. He always wanted to argue about Buddhism. He went to America and brought back a picture Bible. Now he keeps showing up to church on Thursday nights and can't decide if he should commit to English class or not. He was moved by Mel Gibson's Passion movie and has many questions. He has been changed since the last time I was here. Pray that God will fill him up, by bringing him near through Jesus' blood. He is depressed and unemployed ­ he needs healing!

Sho (22? Guy) Very open guy who speaks pretty good English. He works at a flower shop at the train station and his friend, Satoshi, is a nominal Christian (raised in a Christian home), which makes Sho more open.

Satoshi (21? Guy) He is the nominal Christian mentioned above. He doesn't have a job, but is always too busy to meet. His friend, Sho, told me, "take him to church!"

Tadamichi (24 guy) Shinto priest in Hadano. Not very open, but not hostile like some Shinto priests. Is willing to come to the church and is interested in English. Especially pray that he will come to English class.

Wakako & Yu (20's girl and her 17 year-old brother) These two are friends of a church member, Hitoshi, in Hadano, where we are planting a church. They all came to Chigasaki and had lunch in my apt. Wakako said she was interested in my testimony and that she needs love. Yu was very excited to talk about spiritual things, but is depressed and refusest to go to high school (a common thing in Japan.)

Pray in general for many more, these are the ones that especially came to mind.

If you read this whole email very soon, please pray that God will bless us as we go to the park near the trainstaion tomorrow (Monday) night (Monday morning, AZ time). We went last week and met a group of about 25 high school students. They listened to our music and David and my testimonies. Next time we will go back with Nozomi, a great Japanese Christian girl, and play some more music. They said they were touched by the song "You Were Born to Be Loved." Pray the seeds will grow and even be harvested tomorrow night! Pray that we can connect with them and continue sharing.

Here is a list of what I'm up to, please pray for each of them:

English classes: 6 per week. We need more students, and we do Bible studies each time. Thursday night miniature parties at Hagizono chapel. Occasional meals at my apartment. 7 prayer meetings a week. The church has a gospel music class for outreach Meeting with people for evangelism/discipleship (no fixed schedule yet, pray that God's sheep will commit) More prayer Also pray that I will be safe and healthy

Please pray for these others to become disciples, who have prayed to Jesus for the first time:

The Satous: Rasuta (high scholl guy) and his little sister, Sera. Both come to English class. Rasuta is a musician and is kind-of famous among high-scholl students in Japan.

Also Furukawa Tomo (19/20 guy).

Thanks!

On a final note, I have been thinking about the beginning of the disciples' ministry a lot: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4b-5) I think this is what the Japanese church needs. (Actually, some missiologists think that there is no Japanese church.) I also need an attitude of waiting on the Lord.

Thanks for your prayers! It's the hardest work in the world.

May God bless you,

Kevin

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