Summer Mission 2015

As we prepare to launch our JEMS South America Mission for 2015, we are grateful for the doors that have been opened to us.  At the same time, we are disappointed at not being able to respond to all requests for workers this summer.  The words of Jesus ring true today as they did when he uttered them:  "the field is white to harvest, but the laborers are few."

JEMS South America Department is pleased to work this year in partnership with the Holiness Youth Choir, led by Bonnie (Paul) Nakasuji and Mary (Ken) Tabuchi. They will be serving in ten cities for just under three weeks (click for itinerary), July 8 to 28.  Sadly, my travel schedule will not be crossing paths this group at all.  :(

We are pleased to move forward with our international discipling program as three Brazilian Nikkei young people will serve with JEMS this summer.  Our third international missions team will launch on July 15th, taking a mixed team from Los Angeles and from São Paulo to serve in northern Brazil, in the Amazon basin.  The team of five will work with the ICEA (Igreja Cristã Evangélica de Amazônia).

Koh Ikeda (bottom, left) will serve as team leader.  I will be serving as field coordinator and church liaison for this team.

Our most recently organized team (confirmed April 27th), will be the JEMS Pompéia team.  The team made up of the Dallas Okada family and Greg Oda (LA) will be serving in the state of São Paulo with the Holiness Church in Pompéia.

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My own summer mission will begin in mid-June until the end of August.  My specific travel itinerary is available here (Please click).  I will travel to Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Japan.

One important component of my Brazil travel this summer will be in the introduction of newly hired JEMS Sports Ministry Director, John Lee, to the pastors, churches and leaders in (principally) São Paulo state.  John Lee has a burden for missions and for utilizing sports as a means to share the good news of Jesus.  Pray for John (pictured here with Pastor Rick) as we begin the planning and networking process. 

The later Japan leg of the mission will involve meeting and ministering to Brazilian churches in Japan which are serving the Nikkei worker population there.  

Depending upon outcomes of the pastoral search at the West Los Angeles Holiness Church, I may or may not be returning to interim pastoral duties there. 

Please remember to pray for our teams, the choir and for PJ.  Thank you!