Returning to Asunción, Paraguay

The ministry of JEMS began in Paraguay in 1992, with PJ visiting the border town of Pedro Juan Caballero. In 2008, in response to an invitation to visit the capital city, PJ went to Asunción for the first time.

Over the years, it has been a blessed time of relationship building with the community youth, the local church and with other mission organizations. In 2015, the Nikkei church in Asunción would face a big challenge as the missionaries serving there returned to their home in Japan. I wanted to see how the leadership transition was progressing.

Local church ministry: caring for the new church leadership.

Fellowshipping with the local church children and youth


Meeting with the family of my father's cousin. He immigrated to Paraguay in the 1960's


Networking with church and mission leadership in the city of Asunción, working to connect them together.




Fellowshipping with youth from the Asunción community

Argentine ministry and partnerships

It was both a blessed and busy week as my ministry began in Buenos Aires. I arrived in-country with much trepidation regarding my Spanish ability. But after spending the first three days with my non-English-speaking Nikkei pastor, I found that the Spanish I had learned in August of 2014 was able to flow much easier.

The week was spent reconnecting with churches and leaders as well as having evangelistic opportunities. I traveled from city to city speaking as the occasions arose.

An evangelistic Bible study in the city of Quilmes, Argentina:




Teaching the Bible in Burzaco, Argentina

Tutoring barrio children and working with camping staff in Moreno, Argentina




Dinner with youth from the Nikkei community of Buenos Aires


Preaching at the Megumi Christian Center in Buenos Aires.


Thank you Lord, for open doors and opportunities to share the good news of Jesus in Argentina. Please pray as plans are underway to field a JEMS team from Brazil to serve in Buenos Aires in January 2016.

WLA Holiness 60th Anniversary

June 14, 2015 - 60th Anniversary Celebration of the WLA Holiness Church

Worship and Celebration Service

Sunday, June 14, 2015; 10:00am

Joint Service (English and Japanese) with guest speaker, the Rev. Kenneth Ashitomi (First English Department pastor), and the Rev. Eiichi Paul Suzuki, former Nichigo-bu pastor.

Commemorating God's faithfulness over the years and to express appreciation to long-time members and friends of West Los Angeles Holiness Church

Celebration Luncheon to follow!

History 
 The origin of the West Los Angeles Church dates back to 1936 when home meetings were held in the Sawtelle area. Along with Kumaji Yoshimoto, Kamako Nakada took an active part in leading home Bible study groups. Unfortunately, due to the war and the relocation and incarceration of Japanese on the west coast, the group was forced to abruptly terminate their fellowship. 

After the war ended and the West Los Angeles residents returned, the mission commenced with renewed zeal. In 1949, the Los Angeles Holiness Church initiated a regular outreach into the area. Kyujo Nakada, husband of Kamako, was one of the converts baptized at the Los Angeles Holiness Church. A Bible study group began meeting once again at the Nakada home. This group later became the core of the West Los Angeles Holiness Church. 

Five years later, in the spring of 1955 with the purchase of some property on Iowa Avenue, the mission church was born. Eighteen Los Angeles Holiness Church members transferred to and became charter members of the newly organized West Los Angeles Church in June of 1955. 

All photos below may be clicked to be enlarged!

 
Dedication of the Iowa Street Building in 1955. Those in attendance included pastors and members from other southern California Holiness Churches. (Click photo to enlarge)

     
The dedication service was held in July 1955, and Kumaji Yoshimoto was appointed as lay evangelist. Kenneth Ashitomi was appointed as student pastor in September 1956. He organized and laid the foundation for the inception of the English-speaking Department. 

Upon his graduation from the Fuller Theological Seminary in June 1961, Ashitomi was appointed as the first full-time minister of the English Department. In 1962, David Hosomi came from Japan to enroll at Azusa College. He assisted in the ministry of the church.









 

2015 JEMS SA Pre-Mission Introduction

Previewing and asking prayer for the 2015 team ministries of JEMS South America Missions Department