Dear Friends,

The WORLD MISSION OFFERING is the annual offering taken by American Baptist Churches to support mission work around the world.  We give thanks for your gifts of support, either through the WMO or directly to International Ministries.  Your support, prayers and partnership in mission make every story we tell your story.  Thank you.

September started with the baptism of Mr. Yamada at the Nishi Okamoto Christ Church.  We want to share a little of Mr. Yamada’s testimony.  He said that recently he had begun to think about retirement.  A friend at work told him, “You need to have a life after retirement.”  Those words stuck in his mind.  In Japan, for many men, their work is their life.  They may have a family, but in many ways work is the center of their lives and it can create a void when you retire.  If for 30 or 40 years your job has been the point or focus of your life, and suddenly that changes, what will life be like after retirement?

His daughter, who lives in the US, was home for a visit last winter and told her father he should become a Christian. We met Mr. Yamada’s daughter a few years ago when she came back to Japan for Christmas break.  She was a college student, studying music in the US.  She called the church and asked if she could use our piano to practice since her parents did not have a piano.  Of course we said yes and we got to know her a little whenever she would come back to Japan for a visit.  In the US she had become a Christian and so she would attend church with us when she was at home.  

Mr. Yamada thought about what his daughter said and decided there was no reason to wait till he retired to start this new life. So one Sunday last spring Mr. Yamada came to worship and told Rev. Takahashi he wanted to become a Christian.  He didn’t know very much about Christianity but he was ready to begin this new life.   

As I listened to his testimony, I wondered how many of us are waiting for “some day” to begin something Christ has been calling us to do?

SUMMER CAMP    

     

At the end of August the junior high and senior high youth from this area gathered for summer camp.  Just like camp in the US, there were campfires, skits and games as well as singing and Bible study.  What is it about camp that allows both the youth and the leaders to let go and be just a little silly?  I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard as I did during the skits one evening.  Is that called the “Joy of the Lord?" What ever it is, I am sure that it is good for us.  

Pray for John as he travels to the Central Region to spend time with the churches of Kansas and Oklahoma during the month of October. 

Pray for the youth of Japan, we give thanks for opportunities like camp to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray for the World Mission Offering.

Thank you again for your support.

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord,

John and Tomoko Armagost