The importance of being open

Pastor John falando sobre a importância de ficar aberto para a orientação de Deus durante uma pregação em Belém do Pará. Uma lição em aprender uma outra lingua para que possa comunicar as boas novas de Jesus Cristo.



Pr John preaching in Portuguese about the importance of being open to God's leading. During a Sunday service in Belém, Pará, Brazil in September 2014.

Click the link for the message: http://www.icea.org.br/mensagem/video/msg20140921pmp4.html

Reaching for 2015

Robert Browning wrote the immortal words, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" It speaks of the necessity of setting goals that may seem improbable, but provide us with a potential trajectory for future plans and dreams. 

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  (James 4)

January, February and March
JEMS South America missions recruitment and invitation. I plan to travel to US churches within JEMS' sphere of influence to share and encourage participation in our JEMS Summer program to South America. 

The goal is to assemble a minimum of three teams to work in various cities and churches in Brazil this July.  Requests have come from South American churches asking for JEMS workers. 

Learn more:  http://youtu.be/fV_sLCu1NRU

Beginning Your Application Process Link  

April, May and June
These months will be devoted to the training of workers in preparation for service overseas.

July
In addition to leading teams into South America for JEMS' own summer mission program, I will be assisting the Holiness Youth Choir in preparation for their Brazil Concert Tour in July.

August
August 5-8
                                    

COPANI (the Convention of Pan-American Nikkei) will hold its biennial conference in the Dominican Republic. COPANI is a community-based program that explores the question of culture and tradition within Nikkei communities outside of Japan. 

Though it is not a Christian conference, in 2013 COPANI was the catalyst for JEMS to establish initial contacts in Peru as well as to strengthen its newest community bonds in Argentina. As JEMS South America has an interest in making contact with the Nikkei community in Bolivia, COPANI may potentially serve as a networking resource.

August 10-30

I am prayerfully considering an invitation to visit (with Pastor Rick) a Brazilian church ministering to a dekasegi community near the city of Nagoya, Japan. The Brazil Holiness and Free Methodist churches have established churches in Japan to reach the over 250,000 Brazilian, Peruvian and other Nikkei who are working there as contract laborers.

Family together

The year end brings the joy and tradition of family spending time together.  It's wonderful to have my daughter and her husband visiting from Atlanta, and enjoying the hospitality of my son and daughter-in-law's home in Cypress.  Our best wishes to you for a blessed New Year!

O final do ano traz a alegria e tradição da família passar o tempo juntos. É maravilhoso ter a minha filha e seu marido visitando de Atlanta, onde ambos trabalham como advogados. Nós nos encontramos juntos na casa do meu filho e sua esposa em Cypress, California. Meu filho trabalha como um pastor de tempo integral em uma Igreja Batista e minha nora é uma enfermeira de oncologia. Sua filha tem 19 meses de idade e uma segunda criança está chegando em janeiro. Nossos melhores desejos para você para um ano novo abençoado!

*  *  *

El fin de año trae la alegría y la tradición de la familia pasar tiempo juntos. Es maravilloso tener a mi hija y su marido de visita desde Atlanta, donde ambos trabajan como abogados. Nos reunimos en la casa de mi hijo y su esposa en su casa en Cypress, CA. Mi hijo trabaja como pastor a tiempo completo en una iglesia bautista y mi nuera es una enfermera de oncología. Su hija tiene 19 meses de edad y un segundo hijo está llegando en enero. Nuestros mejores deseos para usted para un Año Nuevo bendecido!

Year End and Christmas Greetings!!

As we come to the end of the year, I am so grateful for your prayers and support of my ministry with JEMS.  The year has been an incredible expression of God's faithfulness as doors were opened for ministry in Argentina and Paraguay, as well as slightly ajar for exploratory visits to Lima, Peru.  

As much as it has been my honor to serve you and the Lord in these endeavors, the year has not been without its challenges.  Recurring back problems have threatened to limit travel and ministry.  And yet, God is gracious and provides strength for each day as I was able to invest close to five months in South America in 2014.  

While I am currently recuperating from a spinal epidural procedure, and will not travel to South America as part of my January schedule, my prayer is to return to the field in July.  In the meantime, I hope to use the spring months to visit churches and to share about the wonderful opportunities God is giving to us in South America.  JEMS hopes to field at least five teams for mission service in response to national church requests that we have received for the month of July.

As the Christmas holiday rolls around, I am blessed to be able to visit with my son, Brandon and his wife, Alyssa.  Because they live locally, I am able to get together with them periodically throughout the year here in southern California.  The four of us (including my granddaughter, Kaya) will get together the days around Christmas.  These days will also be preparation for the arrival of Brandon and Alyssa's second child in January. 

Last minute schedule changes (as of Dec 22) will include the visit of my daughter, Tracey and her husband, Will who were not scheduled to come out west.  But the good news now is that my children, my granddaughter and I will be able to spend some time together around Christmas.  

They send their holiday greetings:

Merry Christmas from all of us!!

A Brazilian Christmas?

How does one celebrate Christmas in Brazil?  In a country of palm trees, beaches and tropical climes, it seems far removed from the image of reindeer, freshly fallen snow and sleigh rides.  By the same token, the landscape of Palestine doesn't lend itself very well to the Nordic scenes we in the US tend to associate with the holiday.

Many of our snow and winter-related customs can be traced to the appropriation of traditions such as Sinterklaas and St.  Nicholas, Europeans combining the holiday with the pre-Christian observance of the Winter Solstice and the Victorian celebrations in England.  Personally, I think the old Coca Cola ads probably reinforced this idea as well. In the 1930s in the US, there were no less than six ads featuring Santa and winter images.

Bing Crosby has us longing for a "White Christmas."  And one of the most popular non-religious Christmas song has us "dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh." (Which interestingly enough was originally written as a celebration of Thanksgiving, not Christmas).  

So Christmas in the USA is done up in trees of spruce and pine, flocked with artificial snow and tinsel to represent the sparkle of a wintry night.  Aaand this is where we can get stuck.  We get caught up in the accouterments of the holiday.  The external, peripheral stuff.  And in so doing, we miss the heart of the celebration. 

My children were born in La Mesa, near San Diego.  When I remember their birthdays, my focus isn't on the Chargers, the Padres or Sea World.  That would be ludicrous to substitute the joy of Tracey and Brandon's births with such minor trivialities. 

In much the same way, Christmas isn't about the where.  It's not whether we celebrate in Brazil, in southern California, in Japan or in the Netherlands.  It isn't even about the what.  Not what trees are best, not what our holiday table will include, not the best deals, not what should go beneath the tree.

Christmas is about the who.  Christmas is about Jesus. He is the focus of our celebration, the source of our joy.  I invite you to find a quiet time and place to rediscover the wonder and the heart of the Christmas season.  To find comfort and consolation in the presence of the wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.  And may we find no end in his rule, his peace and his lordship over our lives.  

Blessings to you from Pastor John.

USAF Band at the Smithsonian

I loved this expression of celebration during this holiday season!

Medical Updates: December

Spinal column xray. Not mine.

I am looking to answer your questions about the involvement of JEMS in South America this January 2015. I was awaiting some news about my health before deciding whether or not to lead a team to Buenos Aires in January.

I am hoping to receive medical treatment for my spinal column, which has been experiencing more pain. Some days it's difficult to walk or even to stand for any length of time.

It seems that my treatment process will begin with an MRI next week and continue during the beginning of 2015.

I think it best not to make any commitment to lead a team in January. This is unfortunate as there is a Brazilian team interested in serving in Argentina, however as there would be no experienced leader to provide spiritual and emotional guidance, we thought it best not to participate in January. What a shame.

I hope to be able to be back on my feet and able to serve on the field by July of 2015. In the meantime, I continue to meet with other mission partners, I will move forward with planning our short term projects for next July, recruiting and preparing teams and speaking at churches about the opportunities to serve with JEMS in South America.

(Português)

Estou querendo responder às suas perguntas sobre o envolvimento do JEMS na América do Sul em janeiro de 2015. Eu estava aguardando alguma notícia sobre a situação da minha saúde antes de tomar uma decisão ao respeito do ministério em Buenos Aires em janeiro.

Eu quero saber mais sobre o tratamento médico para a minha coluna espinal, o que tem vindo a registar mais dor. Alguns dias é difícil de andar ou até ficar de pé por muito tempo.

Parece que o meu processo de tratamento vai começar com uma ressonância magnética na semana que vem e continuar durante o mês de janeiro. Para mim, é melhor não tomar qualquer compromisso para fazer uma viagem em janeiro. Do mesmo, tendo uma equipe brasileira interessada, não há um líder com os contatos e experiência para fornecer a orientação espiritual e emocional. Então nós pensamos melhor não participar em janeiro. Que pena.

Espero ser capaz de voltar ao campo missionário em julho do próximo ano.

* * * *

(Español)
Estoy queriendo responder para su pregunta sobre la participación de la JEMS en el enero de 2015. Yo estaba esperando alguna noticia sobre mi salud antes de tomar una decisión acerca de liderar un equipo a Buenos Aires en enero.

He estado esperando para aprender más acerca de mi tratamiento médico para mi columna vertebral, que ha estado experimentando más dolor. Algunos días es difícil caminar o estar de pie durante mucho tiempo.

Parece que el proceso de mi tratamiento comezará con una resonancia magnética en la semana que viene y continuará hasta el mes de enero. Para mi, es mejor no tomar ningún compromiso para viajar en enero. Mismo que tiene un equipo brasileño interesado, no hay un líder para proporcionar orientación espiritual y emocional. Entonces pensamos mejor no participar en enero. Que lastima.

Espero que voy a ser capaz de volver al campo misionero en julio del próximo año.

Standing on shoulders

I had the opportunity to serve with a former pastoral colleague yesterday.  It was a privilege to work together and to be reminded again of God's faithfulness throughout the years. 

Introducing me to his church family, Pastor Furuyama said that we served together 30 years ago in the San Gabriel Valley.  I was incredulous!  I had to mentally calculate the years to come to the realization that his math was correct and that thirty years had indeed passed!!  I would say that "time flies," but frankly, that's what older people say all the time. I'm trying to resist the temptation to include that phrase in my vocabulary.

What was perhaps even more of a confirmation was the reminder that God has been faithful throughout the years.  That he has blessed me with ministry partners, co-pastors, who have invested their time, experience and wisdom into me through their very association.  

I remember as a young seminary student, that my dad told me that I would be privileged to build on the foundation laid by others before me, to stand on their shoulders, as it were.  It was a strange expression to me at the time, but it turned out to be one that was based on some comment by Isaac Newton.  It is also the title of a recent book by Stephen Hawking.  They both reference "standing on the shoulders of giants." (Source) 

After many years of service, I can look back and see the privilege that has been mine to learn from those with whom I have served.  Whether in the US or in South America, any "success" that I might be able to claim is the direct result of those who have unselfishly and graciously shared their wisdom and their resources with me.  

Pr Yuasa, pictured behind PJ, was a key in opening doors for JEMS in Brazil

Pr Amakawa, who personally introduced me to ministry in 
Paraguay and Argentina. Before his death, he was a wonderful 
friend and co-laborer in Brazil.

Rev Sam, who served as a missions mentor and who 
expressed much grace in enabling me to be restored 
to ministry, both as a pastor in 2005 and in my return 
to JEMS in 2007.

My prayer going forward is that I, in turn, may be able to serve as a "shoulder" to others to catch the vision and continue the ministry to communities in South America.

Activity is not achievement

As quotations go, John Wooden isn't a bad source.

There is an inherent danger in life and ministry to confuse activity for achievement.  To imagine that all that we do are the ends in themselves. 

We can't all be Wooden.  Coached UCLA to the national basketball championship ten times.  Won eighty-eight straight games during that fantastic record.  Was named national coach of the year six times.  An overachiever, that guy.

Yet for all of his success, he was a man characterized by balance. In his book, They Call Me Coach, Wooden writes, 

"I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior."

For each mission that is undertaken on behalf of JEMS, we try to make certain that amidst the certainty of activity, that there are clearly achievable standards for ministry. 

• Outline clear objectives.  
• Establish measurable goals.  
• Lay out a plan of implementation.

For each JEMS worker, for every JEMS mission team, and every time Pastor John travels to South America, JEMS must make certain that these three standards are in place in order to assure a successful result.

The song, "Let Your Kingdom Come" by Sovereign Grace, asks that God would allow us to fulfill the following:

May Jesus Christ be known
Wherever we are
We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown
The cross has saved us so we pray
Your kingdom come

Let Your kingdom come
Let Your will be done
So that everyone might know Your Name

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

I've been back in the US for three weeks after an extended mission trip to South America that spanned the months of July to October.  It's a joy to be back home and to be able to share with friends and supporters about God's goodness during this mission which covered four countries.  

The LA Holiness Church and Pastor Seigo was kind enough to invite me to share this past Sunday.  I am also available to share with other friends, supporters and churches as well. 

 

Perhaps the most tangible expression of God's care came during pastors' meetings in Lima, Peru.  We were gathered outside a local Starbucks in a fairly upscale shopping center.  Our meetings had gone well as we met with various Nikkei leaders and pastors.  

We were in our second set of meetings when we were addressed by a young man in English.  After asking his question, he walked off.  At the same moment, I happened to look down at my feet to notice that my backpack, which had been next to me on the ground, was no longer there.  "Where's my backpack?" I asked no one in particular.  The other pastors, Lima locals, jumped up and immediately sprang into action.  One pastor had seen someone go down the stairs with a black backpack, but he didn't know it was mine until I called attention to the fact that it was missing.  

This photo was taken about five minutes before the incident

It was a gang of four.  Three of them, including a ten-year old girl, had casually seated themselves at the table next to ours.  They were well-dressed and looked like any family taking a break from shopping.  The young man who asked the question was the diversion.  While our attention was focused on him, the three who were seated behind me, casually took my backpack and walked away in the opposite direction.

God's care took the form of my notion to check for my backpack.  No reason.  I wasn't suspicious of the circumstances at all.  But as soon as I alerted the others, they reacted.  

The three pastors gave chase and caught three of the robbers about 200 yards away, walking quickly through the mall, trying to stuff my backpack into another white plastic bag.  The pastor grabbed my backpack and tenaciously held on.  The other pastor called the police who were patrolling close by.  When the policemen approached, the man holding my backpack let go and ran off.  We were left with the other male accomplice and the ten year old girl.  

We made the report with police.  Unfortunately, there were no consequences for the thieves as I could not make a court appearance the following week to press charges.  Sadly, they were free to find another victim. 

But I have to say again that God was caring for us.  There was no particular reason for me to look for my backpack.  In fact, Akira, one of the young men with whom we were meeting said, "If you had discovered it missing thirty seconds later instead of when you did, it would have been gone for sure."  It would have been somewhat disastrous as all my money and my travel documents (passport) were in that backpack.  

We learned an important lesson about vigilance and also the need to establish a specific security protocol for work in Lima.  But more important was the lesson we learned about the faithfulness of God.

It goes without saying that I treated my backpack rescuers to lunch later that day.