With the celebration of my sixtieth birthday early next year, I have been considering how I would like to spend my remaining years of life and ministry. This past year has been a time to pray about my future plans. In my prayer times, it has become clear that God's calling for my life has taken a new direction.
The mission trip to Brazil this past July, confirmed God's calling and gifting for me. Maybe as something of a test, I had asked the Lord to strengthen my Portuguese language proficiency by giving me the opportunity to preach a message entirely in Portuguese. That opportunity came in the city of Londrina. This past summer's mission was perhaps the best of my many mission ministries in the past.
In speaking with Rev. Rick Chuman, the executive director of JEMS, the invitation has been extended for me to return to serve as the director of JEMS' South America Mission program on a full time basis. I will be based in the Los Angeles office and will either send or accompany mission teams to South America. My immediate goals are to determine the possiblities of establishing an office in Brazil, to make contacts with churches in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. It is not my intention to move to Brazil at this time.
With this new direction for my ministry in 2012, I will be resigning from the pastorate of the Japanese American Christian Chapel in Camarillo, effective at the end of this year.
I invite you to pray for the church as preparations are made for succession. Please also pray for my housing situation (I will return to live in Los Angeles), for moving and for the re-establishing of financial support for full time ministry with JEMS.
