Wishing you every best for the Christmas season!

Did 2010 go by quickly?  Or am I getting older?  Maybe a little of both? 

It was a year in which ministry continued by the grace of God.  I am blessed to serve with the Celebration congregation in Camarillo, supported by the leadership team of the Japanese American Christian Chapel (pictured below).

In my second job, working together with the JEMS staff has been a delight.  Although I only work in the office part-time (once a week), the staff is very welcoming and helps me to meet my workload challenges.  

This past year included travel to South America in January and again in July-August to continue JEMS' relationship with churches and leaders in Brazil and Paraguay.

JEMS Headquarters staff pictured above.

JEMS Brazil Evangelistic Basketball Team with Pr John pictured below.

It was a tremendous joy to spend a few days this fall visiting my daughter and her husband in Atlanta.

My how they've grown!  I'm thrilled whenever my adult children are able to get together with their dad. 

Will, Tracey, Brandon and Alyssa

I am grateful for your expressions of love and support through the year.  May I take this opportunity to convey my warmest wishes for you and yours during the Christmas and New Year holidays.  Look forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings,

John

Autumn Updates

As a consequence of the fall that I took in Marilia, Brazil on August 4th, I've had X-rays and an MRI taken.  My doctor called this afternoon to say that my medial meniscus is completely torn and tibial collateral ligament is partially torn. Next step: orthopedic surgeon for possible arthroscopic surgery. My doc's recommendation: "stay off the leg." 

Any orthopedic surgeon suggestions are welcome.  Please email me.

My JEMS Office schedule is being scaled back through the next two months as I need to increase my financial support.  This is difficult as my Sundays are occupied with my ministry in Camarillo thus preventing opportunities to share with other churches and congregations.  Should the Lord lead you to consider supporting my JEMS ministry, it would be much appreciated.  You can now make a contribution online with your credit card by going to this link! 

 

(Under categories and funds, please go to category: South America International Ministry, and sub-category, Rev John Katagi.  Thank you!)

On the positive side, news comes from our JEMS volunteer, Justine Morey:  "Just wanted to let you know Pastor Daniel and I went to the Federal Police station today, and I am officially cleared to stay 3 more months. Praise the Lord!!!" 

...Please continue to pray for Justine's ministry in Marilia. Also visit her prayer blog at:

http://justinekeiko.blogspot.com/

Also, as a direct result of my July-August visit to South America, JEMS has received five to six requests for JEMS workers to serve in projects in 2011.  Please join me in praying now that God would supply workers for his harvest field in Brazil and Paraguay.


Links you may have missed:

End of Summer Ministry Report

Celebration Camarillo Outdoor Worship and Picnic Video

Thank you for remembering JEMS South America ministry!

Pr John

Atualizações do setembro

Como conseqüência da queda que levei em Marília, Brasil, em 04 de agosto, eu fui tomar de raios-X e uma ressonância magnética. Meu médico ligou nesta tarde para dizer que o meu menisco medial é completamente rasgado e ligamento colateral tibial é parcialmente rasgado. Próximo passo: cirurgia artroscópica. Por favor, fique em oração.

Meu horário no escritório da JEMS está sendo reduzido durante os próximos dois meses, porque eu preciso aumentar meu sustento financeiro. Isto é difícil como o meu domingos são ocupados com o meu ministério em Camarillo, perdendo oportunidades de compartilhar com outras igrejas e congregações sobre meu ministério com JEMS.

No lado positivo, a notícia vem do nosso voluntário da JEMS, Justine Morey: "Só queria que você saiba Pastor Daniel Abe e eu fomos à estação de Polícia Federal hoje, e estou oficialmente aprovada para ficar mais três meses. Louvado seja o Senhor! ! "

... Por favor continuem em oração para o ministério de Justine em Marília. Também visite seu blog em oração:
http://justinekeiko.blogspot.com/

Além disso, como resultado direto da minha visita de julho e agosto na América do Sul, JEMS recebeu 5 pedidos de obreiros ou equipes para servir de projetos em 2011. Por favor, juntem comigo em oração agora que Deus iria levantar obreiros para a sua colheita no Brasil e no Paraguai.

Links você pode ter perdido:

Relatório do Ministério de Verão

Video de minha igreja:  Celebration Camarillo (culto ao ar livre e piquenique)

Obrigado por lembrar JEMS ministério América do Sul!
Pr John

New Celebration Worship and Picnic Video (Summer 2010)

Just as summer launched, our church had its annual worship and picnic at Mission Oaks Park in Camarillo.  You're invited to enjoy the fun!

To read the most recent update on the summer mission, please click this link.

Three P's - Paraguay, Pompeia and (São) Paulo

Thank you for your prayers as the summer ministry teams arrived at LAX on Tuesday night, August 10th.  I wanted to share just briefly, and mostly through photos, the last two weeks of ministry we shared in South America.  

My apologies as this belated post is due in part to the unavailability of a computer while on the field, but I want you to know that your prayers made a significant difference. The fact that I didn't break my leg in an awkward fall down a metal spiral staircase in Brazil is a testament to God's care.  You'll have to ask me about that.  

As the poster indicates, 2011 will be the two-hundredth anniversary of Paraguay's independence from Spain.  2011 will also provide opportunity for possible ministry as the local Nikkei church in Asuncion has asked for a JEMS team in July of next year.

The church continues under the leadership of Pastor Koki and Mari Nowada.  The ministry has a strong outreach to children.  2011 will be an opportunity to provide a VBS program for them in Asuncion as well as in the farming colonies of southern Paraguay.

My visit included an opportunity to speak, to engage long-time friends, to visit family and to see the ministry firsthand.

Pastor John preaching in Asuncion's Free Methodist Church

Pastor Koki Nowada leading Sunday worship.  Sadato Yoshizaki on guitar.

PJ with Eiji. We met in 1993 maybe.

A happy moment.

Really, a children's ministry!  Won't you consider serving in 2011?

Asuncion bonus:  time with my relatives (my dad's cousin and family)

Meeting friends who met the JEMS team in 2009

Upon leaving Paraguay, my next stop would be an important one on the way to Pompeia.  Six hours from the city of São Paulo is the small town of Marilia, where JEMS worker, Justine Morey is serving.

I was able to meet with Justine and with the pastor and leadership of the church to get an update on her ministry there.

Justine and Pastor Daniel Abe

Leadership of the Marilia Free Methodist Church where Justine is serving

Justine was also able to travel to Pompeia to spend time in fellowship and ministry with the JEMS basketball team.

The team enjoyed meeting Justine and vice versa.

Matt Asami working with at-risk kids in Pompeia

Garrett Nakasuji sharing his testimony at half-time

Jonathan Nitao sharing on another night in Pompeia.  Many thanks to Ivan Shiozawa for his interpretation ministry and many other expressions of care and support for the JEMS team.

The JEMS team's last night together in Pompeia.
Please pray for Justine as she continues her ministry in Marilia until December 11, 2010.

Huge appreciation to Pastor Guto Umeki for the open door and warm hearts.

Then it was back to São Paulo and a final dinner with our friends . . .



. . .  and then, good-bye at the airport

Ministry is never a solo, but a symphony.  There are many people who contribute to a ministry's effectiveness.  Much of the success of our ministry and opportunities in São Paulo was made possible by the hard work of several key leaders.  I want to thank Wellington Tsutsumida and Patricia Tokuyama for their investment of time and energy.  Prior to our arrival, they organized, coordinated, invited others to be involved in this project.  They also took a number of days off during our stay to accompany the team and to make certain that we were welcomed and well cared for.  Thank you so much!

"Ton" and "Patch" pictured with Mrs Tsutsumida.  Muito obrigado!

It was a wonderful three weeks of ministry, and its impact will continue to be seen in the lives of the people we were able to meet.  Please pray that the many seeds of the gospel shared would take root.  Pray as well for the four initial (and early) requests I received for JEMS workers in 2011.  Pray specifically if there is a place in your schedule for missions next year! 

Greetings from Asuncion, Paraguay

Paraguay is sometimes called "the heart of South America" because of its geographical position in the center of the continent.  I love being here with missions pastor, Koki Nowada and his wife, Mari. 

(Pictured: Asuncion Thursday night dinner and discipleship group. Tonight!)



Pastor Koki and Mari sensei are faithfully serving the Nikkei community here despite many challenges.  It is an opportunity for me to hear how God is working in their church, and how JEMS can support and partner in their ministry. 


The past week has gone by quickly.  We departed LAX surrounded by friends and family and arrived just last Thursday. 

The ministry started right off at Camp Shalom, joining the Okada family and Greg Oda in the youth program.  Camp Shalom is an extremely rustic version of Mount Hermon.  But how great to be able to be in Brazil with one of my long-time friends, Mark Okada.

After an overnight stay at Shalom, we traveled to the city of Sao Paulo and began preparations for the JEMS basketball ministry.  We estimate that in the two days of competition, almost 300 either came to watch the games or participated directly.  Many new contacts were made on behalf of the local churches here.  And the team was blessed with new friendships.  They continue their ministry this week in Londrina and next week in Pompeia, Brazil.




On a personal level, it was wonderful to connect again with long-time friends.  Many of them now married and with children.  Several I spoke to are now involved in church planting ministries and other ways that enlarge the kingdom of God.




Sunday morning began early for team member, Daichi Tsuruta and me as we were paired to serve at the Liberdade Holiness Church in Sao Paulo.  Daichi was able to lead the congregation in worship. 

Following Daichi, I preached the morning message in Portuguese!  Thank you for all your prayers. I think that it was well received.

(Above):  PJ pictured with Pr Key Yuasa of the Liberdade Holiness Church.  Below, PJ preaching with interpreter (to Japanese).


A very special blessing came after the worship service as Pr Key Yuasa invited the leadership of the church to join together in the laying on of hands and prayer for me.

Also following the service, Daichi graciously responded to a last minute invitation to share with the college and professional Sunday School class of over 70.

Tuesday evening, I met with Margaretha Adiwardana (pictured below, right), the president of AME (Associacao Missionaria Esperanca - Hope Missionary Association) to discuss possible future ministry partnerships with JEMS.  Much appreciation to long-time friend, Ullisses Shimizu for setting up this meeting.

In reviewing this post, I noticed that I wrote "long-time friend" many times.  It is a measure of how ministry is cultivated in South America, through the relationships that have been formed over the years.  Thanks to God for these relationships and lasting contacts that form a basis for ongoing ministry.


Blessings to you,
Pr John

Close to launch

Leaving for Brazil on Wednesday, July 21st with the JEMS Evangelistic Basketball team!  Woo hoo!  Please pray for our safe travel!  And for language rebirth.  Why?

I received an email from Brazil this past Sunday.  It came from the Liberdade Holiness Church where I will be speaking on July 25th:

"PJ,
Quick question: during the Sunday service, will you speak in Portuguese during the sermon?  We need to know so we can arrange an interpreter. For us will be easier if you speak in Portuguese, since we have to have an interpreter translate to Japanese."

Oh my!  Preaching in Portuguese on my first Sunday in Brazil, just a few days after arriving.  You can pray with me that God will turn that part of my brain back on!  Really!  An almost ten-year layoff from ministry in Brazil creates some uncertainty and anxiety in my heart.  At the same time, I know that God is faithful.  Please pray for the ministries that I will be involved in this summer.  

In addition to accompanying the JEMS basketball team after their arrival in São Paulo, I hope to visit Greg Oda and the Okada family who will be ministering at the Holiness Youth Camp at Shalom Camp about an hour from the city of São Paulo.  

The basketball team and I will go our separate ways during the second week of ministry.  The team will go to Londrina, a city of almost five-thousand Nikkei families eight hours south of São Paulo.  

I will be meeting with Pastor Koki and Mari Nowada, a missionary couple serving at the Asunción Free Methodist Church in Paraguay.  JEMS hopes to continue this partnership in Asunción.  Paraguay is known as "The heart of South America" due to its central geographical location on the continent.

 


The third week of ministry should find me back in Brazil and on my way to Marilia to visit JEMS six-month worker, Justine Morey. (click here for Justine's prayer blog)

After spending time with Justine as well as the pastor and leadership of the Marilia Free Methodist Church, I will move on to the city of Pompeia, to meet up again with the basketball team.  

Pompeia is about one-half hour from Marilia and six hours from São Paulo.  Our host church there is one of the largest churches in the Brazilian Holiness denomination with an average Sunday worship attendance of 700 (mostly non-Nikkei). 

Our ministries will wind up with debriefing in São Paulo on our last day (August 9) and our departure from Brazil and return to LAX on August 10th.


Please pray for the many miles and varieties of ministries this trip will call for.  Flexibility and a strong sense of dependence on God will be an important ingredient to pack in our luggage and hearts as we will define ministry tasks sometimes in the spur of the moment.  

Remember Marc and Tami Takamine, Matthew Asami, Leighton and Lilly Okada who are serving in South America for the very first time.  The other team members and teams have all had prior experience in Brazil either through JEMS or through Holiness Youth Choir trips.  


Experience notwithstanding, we appreciate every prayer that you can lift up for us even now.  Last minute preparations include message, testimony and lesson preparations, material and craft purchases, prayer letters (like this one), omiage selections, making sure our packing is under weight limitations.  It's a combination of the ministry and the mundane, but all of it is so important.


Thank you again so much for your prayer AND financial partnership.  Without your financial support of our JEMS teams and my own ministry, this would not possible.


God bless you!

July Calendar (Click on calendar image to enlarge)




August Calendar (click on calendar image to enlarge)

JEMS Basketball Team flyers from Brazil

Publicity for the city of São Paulo (click on image to enlarge)

Publicity for the city of Londrina (click on image to enlarge)

Summer Ministry

The JEMS Board of Directors and Celebration church in Camarillo have approved Pastor John Katagi's mission to South America this summer. Please be in prayer as PJ accompanies teams and visits workers, pastors and leaders. The schedule is tentatively as follows:

July 21 - Depart from Los Angeles with JEMS Basketball Team

July 22 - Arrive in São Paulo (Guarulhos) - Training and Acculturation Day

July 23 - Training and acculturation.

July 24-25 - Sao Paulo Basketball Tournament. Please contact Wellington Tsutsumida, William Tsutsumida or Teo Imuta for local time schedule and venue information.

July 26-27 - PJ in meetings with pastors and leadership in Sao Paulo.

July 28 - PJ travels to Asuncion, Paraguay

August 2 - Return to Sampa

August 3 - Travel to Marilia to meet with JEMS short term worker, Justine Morey

August 3-8 - Visit Pompeia for the JEMS basketball tournament and other ministries.

August 9 - PJ and BB team return to Sampa

August 10 - Return from Sampa to Los Angeles

All in all, a busy schedule, but please take time to pray over travel, meetings, ministries and other informal opportunities to meet over cafezinho or a meal. May God use these JEMS teams and workers to honor him and to make Jesus known in the communities in which they will serve!

God bless! And if you're in Brazil, I hope to see you soon!

Pastor John

Short Team Video from JEMS website 

Invitation to serve in South America July 2010

Please take a moment to watch the newly created video inviting friends of JEMS and South America to serve this coming July. It's only a minute-and-a-half in length.

If you or someone in your church is thinking about a two to three week mission project this summer, JEMS would like to invite them to serve the Lord in Brazil or Paraguay. Teams are being variously organized to teach conversational English, to lead VBS, youth sports outreach, cooking classes, hip-hop dance and other creative ways to reach seekers for Christ. Our deadline is very quickly approaching. 

Specific ministry opportunities are listed HERE (please click)

If you or anyone you know might be interested, please have them contact me at JEMS:   johnk (at) jems (dot) org

Summer 2010 is just around the corner and JEMS needs you!

JEMS is currently recruiting volunteers to serve in Brazil and Paraguay during July 2010.

We have received requests from various cities and churches asking JEMS to send teams to serve at youth and children's VBS programs, hip-hop dance programs and to conduct an English language camp. JEMS Sports Ministry is also organizing an evangelistic basketball team.

In spite of the current recession in the US, we are hoping that some will answer the call of God to serve for a two to four week project in South America. If you are interested, or know of any who may be interested in serving this July, please contact Pastor John Katagi at johnk (at) jems.org

Basic requirements:
1. Love for Jesus and for people

2. Complete JEMS' written application process and interview. 

3.  Approval by your local pastor and the JEMS Board of Directors.



4.  Raise prayer and financial support before departure. (Approximately $2300-$2500)

5.  Receive cross-cultural and ministry training through JEMS.

Project Opportunities:

--- One hip-hop dance team is needed to work with two churches in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  

• Dates are July 12 - 25, serving consecutively in the two churches.

--- Two 4-6 member VBS teams are needed to work with children and youth in Paraguay). Japanese and or Spanish language skills would be helpful.

• Asuncion Team - July 10 - 27 (3 Sundays inclusive)
• Pedro Juan Caballero Team - Dates TBD

 
--- One 4-member VBS team is needed to work with youth and children in Manaus, Brazil 

• Dates are set for July 12-25.

--- One English camp team is needed in Manaus (5-6 native English speakers) - 

• Dates: July 14 -21

 
--- One six-member team to serve in a camping ministry outside of the city of São Paulo at Camp Shalom.  The setting is rustic and the ministry requires some energy, but it has been a real blessing.  Campers are ages 11 to 17. 

• Dates: (not confirmed, but leaning toward July 12-24)

--- Five basketball players are needed to complete a team of eight which will travel in southern Brazil playing in tournaments, offering clinics and working with children and youth. If interested in the basketball ministry, contact Marc Takamine, JEMS Sports Ministry director at marct (at) jems.org

• Dates July 21 - August 9

Even if circumstances don't permit you to GO this year, please PRAY! It will be amazing to see how God will work!



Thank you,
Pastor John