On November 2, 2022, Josephine and I returned from a ten and a half weeks trip to Japan. It has been three years since we were there to minister. It was good to be in Japan. This will be a report of some of the things we did during those weeks.

Warm greetings at the airport and upon arriving in Tachikawa

Upon coming out of immigration and customs at Tokyo Haneda Airport on August 23, we were surprised to see Ruku Obata (pronounced Luke) waiting for us. We have known Ruku since he was in grade school. He is twenty-three years old now. After graduating from college, he began a special four-year course in Bible and theology. He graciously drove us from Haneda Airport in southeastern Tokyo to Tachikawa in western Tokyo. He also carried our luggage up three flights of stairs to our dorm room in the Tachikawa church building.

Sister Sano was at the building to meet us when we arrived. She was a great help over the time we were there. She serves as the church secretary and also cares for the flowers around the church building. We were blessed on this trip to have time to deepen our relationship with her.

Fukushima receiving the Hogan-Cate Mission Award at Harding School of Theology 

We left on Monday, August 22, and arrived in Tokyo the following day. Our first priority was to set up housekeeping and get a functional office together. This is something we did each year for twenty-three years until the pandemic started in early 2020. Our primary ministry on this trip was to fill in for Nao and Noriko Fukushima while they were in Memphis studying at the Harding School of Theology. While I shared lessons with the congregation each Sunday, Josephine reached out to members and studied with those interested in English Bible Study.

Lesson topics for the Tachikawa church

For the eight Sundays we met with the Tachikawa church, I chose to preach through John 13-16. This was Jesus’ message to his disciples the night before he was betrayed and killed. On our first Sunday, there were two assemblies. One in Japanese in the morning and one in Chinese in the afternoon on the fourth Sunday of the month. One member is from Mylasia and speaks Chinese. I wrote out my sermon in English and she translates it into Chinese. At the assembly, I read the sermon in English and she read her translation in Chinese. I did this for three Sundays while we were at Tachikawa. The first sermon was written two weeks before we left for Japan to give time for translation. The following sermons were prepared each week.

Visitation for brother Shigekuni – minister, teacher, principal

Since our main work on this trip was to minister to the Tachikawa church, we stayed in the Tokyo suburb of Tachikawa most of our time. We did get out several times. On Monday morning September 12, we traveled an hour and a half to Ochanomizu to meet up with a group going to Hitachi Ota three hours and two prefectures away. We went to the Ota church building for the visitation for brother Nobuyuki Shigekuni. This building was the place where Josephine attended her first Japanese worship assembly in the summer of 1969. The brother we had come to pay respect for was the minister at that time. He later visited us in Memphis in 1975. He was a high school teacher and principal for Ibaraki Christian High School.

Another occasion to get out of Tachikawa was afforded by a brother from the Yokota church. He offered to take us to Haruna in Gunma Prefecture to see brother and sister Shiro Obata. The Obatas helped us numerous times while we were full-time workers in Japan (1977-86). Brother Obata was one of my mentors. He fell in July 2019 and suffered a serious injury to his spine. After much healing and physical therapy, he is back walking and continues to preach for the Haruna congregation each Sunday while seated. Sister Obata suffered heatstroke this past summer and is now in a care facility. It was a blessing to be able to visit them.

Japan School of Evangelism Lectureship via Zoom

In addition to speaking at Tachikawa, I spoke at the fall lectureship for the Japan School of Evangelism with Takeshi Kushida minister for the Hitachi church. My topic was Paul’s understanding of the church from Ephesians. Paul pictured this gathering community of believers in several ways. But I focused on my favorite image of the church as a household of God (Ephesians 2:19).

Our two-week rail pass began on September 28 with our going to Kojima in Okayama Prefecture. This is like going from Memphis to Austin, Texas. We went there to visit with Sandy Rogers. Over twenty years ago, she and Brent moved to Kojima to teach English and started a congregation at the same time. Brent died three years ago but Sandy remains to work with the congregation. Their school closed just before the pandemic broke out. On our return to Tachikawa, we visited a couple Josephine and I had English Bible classes with while they were in Memphis.

Tuesday Bible class with some of the Numazu church members

During the second week of our rail pass, we made a day trip to Shizuoka. I taught a class for the Numazu church at their Tuesday morning Bible study. Sarah Andrews started that congregation after WWII. There are three other congregations she started before the war in that area – Okitsu, Oiwa, and Shimizu. We received a delicious sushi lunch after the class. We visited with brother Tomoyuki Shinozaki former minister for the Numazu church as well as brother Fumio Maeda minister for the Nakada church and his wife Sachiko before returning to Tachikawa.

Later that week of the rail pass, we started our long trip north. It began with the Tomobe church. The church members knew we were coming so they planned an impromptu meeting for that evening. It was a “tea party” with fifteen gathered of which three were non-Christians and one of them came for the first time. I shared a lesson and answered questions during that meeting. We appreciated the members quickly organizing the meeting.

While in Tomobe, Jeanne Ray was our host. She has opened her home to so many over the years. She and Marlin came to Japan in about 1972 to teach English. This gradually changed to re-establishing the church in Tomobe. It has now been over 35 years since they started ministering in Tomobe.

Joel, Hiro, and Seika ministering to the Mito congregation

While in the Ibaraki area, we visited Joel Osborne and Hiro Akahoshi who team minister to the Mito congregation. The church secretary, Seika, also came with them. We had a wonderful meal together and discussed the work in Mito and in Japan in general. We worked with Joel and Hiro in 2011 following the tragic earthquake and tsunami.

From Ibaraki, we went further north to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture. This is like going from Memphis to Chicago. Twelve of us gathered on Sunday morning for worship. It was such a blessing to be with these brothers and sisters. They rented a room in a local hotel for the occasion. They usually meet in a member’s home. Following the worship, we had a wonderful bento lunch and then an impromptu ladies’ class. It is always an encouragement to see those who have the desire to learn more about God.

Lunch with the Hachinohe congregation after worship

On our way back from Hachinohe, we stopped at Omika in Ibaraki Prefecture. I spoke in chapel for the Ibaraki Christian University. That afternoon, Josephine was asked to share a lesson with some of the ladies. She taught from Habakkuk. Later that week after returning to Tachikawa we had lunch with a couple we taught while in Memphis. The husband teaches at Nagasaki University and the wife works for a research group.

While we had to secure visas to enter Japan, 0n October 11 the borders of Japan were fully opened to foreign tourists. This means that travel to Japan can be done pretty much as it was before the pandemic. This gave us hope for a spring trip in 2023.

Visit with Leslie and Sara Taylor ministering in Matsudo, Chiba

The week before we were to leave, we were finally able to squeeze in a visit to Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture to see Leslie and Sara Taylor. They had worked with the Matsudo church for five years with Steve and Debbie Carrell. They returned to the states for two years before returning two years ago in the midst of the pandemic. They are now working full-time with the Matsudo congregation.

Our final Sunday was spent with the Ochanomizu congregation in downtown Tokyo. They sponsored us when we came as full-time workers in 1977. Over the years, we have benefited from their encouragement and help. I spoke for the Japanese assembly in the morning and then for the English assembly in the afternoon. We stayed in the old building in 1969 as college students. Brother Obata, mentioned above, was the minister at that time. It was like coming home.

Speaking at the Ochanomizu congregation

On Monday, October 31, we began the process of packing and closing up housekeeping. We had tried to go to Japan in 2020 and 2021 but were not allowed. Having finally been able to enter and minister, we are very thankful. It has been great to renew friendships and minister once again in Japan. We are ever indebted to those who encourage and support our ministry. Our prayers have always been that God is glorified through our efforts.

Yet Another No Trip Japan Report – October 8, 2021

This will be yet another no-trip Japan report. The borders of Japan are still closed for those using tourist visas. Permanent residents may even have to quarantine when they return from certain areas.

JSE Zoom Founding Day Lectureship

However, there are positive signs that things may be changing. For the last two weeks, the number of new covid-19 cases in Tokyo has gradually dropped from a high in July of over a thousand new cases each day to less than 100 per day. This is also reflected in other parts of Japan. Vaccination rates have also increased. The last report I read said that 64% of the population had both shots and another 20% have had one shot. Hospitals are beginning to see some relief.

Lesson for October Ministers’ Meeting

The state of emergency issued for nineteen of the forty-seven prefectures including Tokyo was lifted at the end of September. It had been in place for six months and deeply affected the economy and the lives of the Japanese. Churches can now resume in-person worship. You can imagine their joy at being able to worship together again. We have experienced that ourselves. There is hope that things will gradually get back to somewhat normal in Japan.

The Lord’s Supper lesson

We have not been idle while we wait. We were able to be a part of a Zoom lectureship centered on the work of Sarah Andrews single lady missionary to Japan from 1916 until 1961. It was a great encouragement to see familiar faces at the Zoom meeting and remember one of several single lady missionaries to Japan. There were forty-four who logged in representing about seventy individuals.

At the next ministers’ meeting, I will speak from Psalm 3. The intent of the lesson is to encourage us in the midst of this pandemic. These meetings are held Monday morning in Japan which is Sunday evening in Memphis.

Being encouraged by these recent changes, we have tentatively planned two trips next year in early spring and then in early summer. We have made plans for the last two years and had to cancel, but we pray that we will be able to go in 2022.

The Letter to the Ephesians

Because of the pandemic, a six-lesson study of Ephesians for the spring of 2020 had to be canceled. That will be one series that is ready for the next trip. Additionally, I have done some study on the Lord’s Supper. The pandemic has affected the manner in which we remember our Lord. I feel a review of why we meet on Sundays and the importance of this time will help us appreciate what it means spiritually to each believer.

Thank you again for your patience and support. We’re ready to go when we are permitted and continue to pray toward that end.

Dwight and Josephine Albright | 5745 Park Ave | Memphis TN 38119

Limiting seating at Ochanomizu church

Individually prepared Lord’s supper bread and cup

For the past twenty-three years, Josephine and I have made our way to Japan to minister to churches and encourage those ministering there. We had planned on going in the spring this year as we had done in 2017 to attend events that we usually can’t attend with our late summer early fall trips.

But this is 2020. The year of the Corona-19 Pandemic. Starting in mid-March things began to shut down and countries began closing their borders to tourists and other visitors. Japan was one of those countries. Because of that our plans went on hold hoping things would improve for a late summer-early fall visit. It soon became apparent that we were not going to be able to go at that time either.

2019 JSE Lectureship

The pandemic has stopped so many things here and in Japan. The weekly meetings for congregations stopped immediately and they scrambled to provide some type of worship via Facebook or Zoom. The April 29 meeting of churches on the campus of Ibaraki Christian University was canceled and made into a zoom meeting. The June all Japan ministers’ meeting was also canceled. The Japan School of Evangelism’s fall lectureship was also canceled. These and other events are important times of fellowship and learning.

2019 Hitachi Christian Camp

The May work camp for Hitachi Christian Camp was canceled as was the camp sessions later in the summer. Camps and retreats for individual congregations also had to be canceled. All normal routines were changed with no hope of quick restoration.

McDowd’s (back left) first Sunday Back at Kojima church

Two missionary families were prevented from returning to Japan. One finally was able to return in September but was quarantined for fourteen days. The other family is hoping to return by year’s end.

Prayers for a fall trip this year have turned into prayers for a spring 2021 trip, April-June. There are indications that restrictions on tourist travel to Japan may be eased in the spring. While cases of the virus are below those in the U.S., it is still a concern in such densely populated areas such as Tokyo. We pray that restrictions will be eased so that we can safely go in spring 2021. At this time, all we know is that God is in control and we try remotely to make contact with and encourage those in Japan as we are able.

Our ten plus weeks in Japan is quickly drawing to a close. In our first report, we talked about the first five weeks of work (five Sundays). I want to talk about what we did during our last five Sundays in Japan.

The sixth week began with a visit to Uenohara Wednesday night. Twice a month there is a mealtime provided at the church building. Two ladies who are members of the congregation help coordinate these meals. What is interesting is that those who come are all relatively new to the area. One couple moved there to get out of the city and grow vegetables and do artistic work. Another one works with urushi, Japanese lacquer. Useful things like bowls or trays are painted up to thirty times to produce a beautiful hard lacquer finish.

This meal became a reunion of former Uenohara church members. It was so good to see three couples who were members there when we worked with the church 1980-86. We were able to reconnect as older adults. Josephine and I had just turned 31 when we went to work there.

The lessons for the Japan School of Evangelism this year were from the book of Galatians. The book has six chapters so I took each chapter as a lesson for six classes. These were recorded and made available to churches and individuals through the school. Each lesson was about 45 minutes long which fits well for a Bible class or Sunday service.

Galatians is a unique book in that Paul is concerned with these new Christians who are being upset by false teachers. They are being told that simple faith and trust in Jesus Christ is not enough to be a full member of God’s family. In addition to faith in Jesus Christ, they need to become followers of the law of Moses in order to be a full member. This was especially centered on the command to be circumcised. Paul goes to great links to show the truthfulness of his message that faith and trust in Jesus Christ are sufficient. He shows that faith and trust lead to a life that strives to keep in step with the Spirit.

These lessons lasted for three Thursday mornings and covered two chapters each time. The video sessions were well attended. Several former Uenohara members also attended. Each session ended with a mealtime together. What wonderful fellowship!

Our sixth Sunday was spent with the Ochanomizu church. They are currently in a process of reaffirming elders and appointing new elders. I was asked to speak on this topic at the camp back in August, in the sermon, and on Wednesday evenings.

Over four Wednesday evenings, I taught on the eldership. The material, while a review of lessons from years before, was very important. The Ochanomizu church is the only congregation in Japan with elders. Currently, they have four faithful brothers who are leading the congregation. We talked about leadership qualities, the differences in the lists in Timothy and Titus, what qualities are necessary for elders, how to go about appointing elders, and finally about deacons. The classes were well attended.

Our next Sunday was spent with the Tomobe church. We went up the Saturday before and stayed with Jeanne Ray. Her husband, Marlin, died in October 2018. She continues with grace and perseverance to serve the congregation that they have worked with for 35 years. This is a wonderful congregation and we are always encouraged when we worship with them.

Brother Oh and sister Ryu host a Bible study in their home on the fourth Saturday of each month. Brother Oh is one of the elders at Ochanomizu. We were able to participate in their September meeting. There is a time of praise and fellowship followed by a Bible study together. Following that there is a time for discussion. Then we break out the food Korean (kemchi) is always on the menu. It is always a fun time to be together. Oh and Ryu’s non-Christian neighbors usually attend.

Traditionally I’m asked to speak in chapel at Ibaraki Christian University. The school was started by missionaries in the late 1940s and gradually has grown into a well-respected university. One of the Ochanomizu elders serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees. This year there was a very large number of students who attended the meeting followed by curry rice provided by the Omika church.

This year Josephine was asked to speak at the 45th Ibaraki Ladies Seminar hosted by the Tomobe church. Forty-six attended from eleven congregations. Josephine spoke from 2 Kings 5 about Naaman and his Israelite servant girl as well as Elisha and his servant Gahazi. There is a lot in that chapter as you think about each person mentioned and their role in the story. Josephine also delivered that same message at the Ochanomizu and Tachikawa congregations.

The last three Sundays we worshiped with the Tachikawa church. I spoke each Sunday which allowed the minister, Naoyoshi Fukushima, to conduct seminars at two other congregations. It is a bit unusual for us to worship with the same congregation for several Sundays. It allows us to come to know the members better and feel more at home with the group.

Two days before we left, we participated in the Shizuoka Area-wide Worship. I was assigned to speak from Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Fear of God’s power leads to trust in his promises, which leads to an understanding of his love for us, which causes the fear to turn to a loving, trusting, respect for God. This respect is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of God and a desire to know him better.

Well, this concludes ten Sundays in Japan for 2019. With the Olympics coming to Japan in late July and early August next year, we prefer to come in the spring next year. This will give us the opportunity to participate in the Ibaraki Joint Worship on April 29 and to attend the All Japan Ministers’ Meeting in early June.

We remain ever thankful for the opportunity to minister in this way each year. Thank you for your interest and prayers on our behalf. It is always our prayer to be an encouragement to everyone as well as a means to come to know our Savior better.

— Dwight & Josephine Albright

This past Tuesday, September 10, marked the halfway point of this trip. Over the past five weeks, we have worshiped with six congregations from as far north as Hachinohe, Aomori, and as far southwest as Kojima, Okayama. Most of the time in between has been dedicated to studying and lesson preparation. We were asked to cover three Sundays at Tachikawa at the end of the trip so our usual schedule of travel was moved to the first part of the trip.

Our first Sunday we worshiped with the Yokota military congregation in the morning and the Yokota Japanese congregation in the afternoon. Both congregations use the same building.

The following Sunday we traveled to Shirosato, Ibaraki, to worship with the congregation which meets there. Jim and Noriko Holmes started the congregation in this area. Sixteen gathered to worship. One member was overcome by the heat during worship which disrupted things a bit. This congregation usually has a question and answer time following the sermon. We shared a meal together with good fellowship.

The Ochanomizu church’s Hakone Bible Camp is always a great opportunity to get out of Tokyo. The theme this year was “The Lord’s Challenge” centering on 2 Corinthians 4:16. This congregation is in the midst of reaffirming and appointing elders. I spoke on terms used in the New Testament for elders and the work of elders implied by those terms. There was another lesson on the church’s response to the elderly and a lesson on the history of two missionary women. There were good times for fellowship and discussion.

On the last day of camp, we worshiped with the Numazu church. This has become a tradition at the end of camp. It is a great time to encourage that congregation and to renew friendships. Following worship brother and sister Takahashi took us to see the gravesite of Sarah Andrews. She worked as a missionary in Japan from 1916 to 1961. The gravesite has deteriorated over the past 70 years. I was investigating for her nephew who wanted to help restore the site.

On our rail pass, we went to worship with the Kojima church in Okayama Prefecture. This is a church plant by Brent and Sandy Rogers. Brent died two years ago and Sandy has continued to minister in the area. They have run an English school there for over twenty-five years and endeavored to plant a church there. Twelve attended the worship assembly. I spoke from Exodus 34:6-7.

On the second Sunday on our rail pass, we went to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture. We have made it a point to visit the congregation each year since we were invited to speak on one of their retreats many years ago. This is a “remote outpost” because it is some distance from where churches of Christ are concentrated further south around Tokyo and Ibaraki.

This small congregation meets in an upper room of the home of one of the members. We squeeze twelve into a small room for worship. We were with them for two days and I spoke three times.

In between these times, we have been preparing for future lessons. Josephine has worked on the lesson she will give at Ochanomizu, the ladies’ day in Ibaraki, and Tachikawa. I’ve worked on lessons from Galatians as well as lessons on elders. These are days glued to a chair reading, writing, praying, and thinking about ways to share Christ. The last five weeks of the trip will be filled with Thursday classes, Wednesday classes, a house church meeting, worship with the Tomobe church, the thirtieth anniversary Japan School of Evangelism lectureship, JSE teachers’ meeting, Sundays with the Tachikawa church, and a Shizuoka area church retreat. We are scheduled to return to Memphis on October 16.

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement and for the opportunity given to us to minister in this way.

his past Tuesday, September 10, marked the halfway point of this trip. Over the past five weeks, we have worshiped with six congregations from as far north as Hachinohe, Aomori, and as far southwest as Kojima, Okayama. The time in between has been dedicated to studying and lesson preparation. We were asked to cover three Sundays at Tachikawa at the end of the trip so our usual schedule of travel was moved to the first part of the trip.

For our first Sunday, we worshiped with the Yokota military congregation in the morning and the Yokota Japanese congregation in the afternoon. Both congregations use the same building.

The following Sunday we traveled to Shirosato, Ibaraki, to worship with the congregation which meets there. Jim and Noriko Holmes started the congregation in this area. Sixteen gathered to worship. One member was overcome by the heat during worship which disrupted things a bit. This congregation usually has a question and answer time following the sermon. We shared a meal together with good fellowship.

The Ochanomizu church’s Hakone Bible Camp is always a great opportunity to get out of Tokyo. The theme this year was “The Lord’s Challenge” centering on 2 Corinthians 4:16. This congregation is in the midst of reaffirming and appointing elders. I spoke on terms used in the New Testament for elders and the work of elders implied by those terms. There was another lesson on the church’s response to the elderly and a lesson on the history of two missionary women. There were good times for fellowship and discussion.

On the last day of camp, we worshiped with the Numazu church. This has become a tradition at the end of camp. It is a great time to encourage that congregation and to renew friendships. Following worship brother and sister Takahashi took Josephine and me to see the gravesite of Sarah Andrews. She worked as a missionary in Japan from 1916 to 1961. The gravesite has deteriorated over the past 70 years. I was investigating for her nephew who wanted to help restore the site.

On our rail pass, we went to worship with the Kojima church in Okayama Prefecture. This is a church plant by Brent and Sandy Rogers. Brent died two years ago and Sandy has continued to minister in the area. They have run an English school there for over twenty-five years and endeavored to plant a church there. Twelve attended the worship assembly. I spoke from Exodus 34:6-7.

On the second Sunday on our rail pass, we went to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture. We have made it a point to visit the congregation each year since we were invited to speak on one of their retreats many years ago. This is a “remote outpost” because it is some distance from where churches of Christ are concentrated further south around Tokyo and Ibaraki.

This small congregation meets in an upper room of the home of one of the members. We squeeze twelve into a small room for worship. We were with them for two days and I spoke three times. We celebrated our forty-ninth wedding anniversary with them.

In between these times, we have been preparing for future lessons. Josephine has worked on the lesson she will give at Ochanomizu, the ladies’ day in Ibaraki, and Tachikawa. I’ve worked on lessons from Galatians as well as lessons on elders. These are days glued to a chair reading, writing, praying, and thinking about ways to share Christ. The last five weeks of the trip will be filled with Thursday classes, Wednesday classes, a house church meeting, worship with the Tomobe church, the thirtieth anniversary Japan School of Evangelism lectureship, JSE teachers’ meeting, Sundays with the Tachikawa church, and a Shizuoka area church retreat. We are scheduled to return to Memphis on October 16.

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement and for the opportunity given to us to minister in this way.

One more time, we are heading to Japan again this year. We leave tomorrow (August 5, 2019) and will return on October 16. During that time we will connect with thirteen congregations from as far north as Aomori Prefecture and as far west as Okayama Prefecture. Their sizes range from over a hundred to two or three families.

We are thankful to the Park Avenue church for permitting us to do this each year. This will be the twenty-third consecutive year to make such a ministry trip. There are other individuals and congregations which help with the expenses for this trip. Our prayer is that we can honor God and encourage all we meet. We would appreciate your prayers.

Office, classroom, and library for JSE and Meeting place for the Tachikawa Church of Christ

JSE – Japan School of Evangelism

Japan School of Evangelism (JSE) began September 15, 1989. Originally located at the Ochanomizu Church of Christ building, the school was subsequently moved to the Tachikawa Church of Christ building about 1994. Tachikawa is a city in Tokyo.

The Tachikawa building has a library, classrooms, main office, and dorm rooms which are available for the students. Besides the regular academic studies, a weekly chapel time and lunch together are some of the weekly activities at JSE.   The courses offered at JSE are designed to provide students with a good foundation of Bible knowledge, biblical tools, and useful skills for preaching and teaching, as well as some practical experience as they visit area churches and hear lectures from brotherhood speakers.

Classes on the Bible, ministry, and related subjects

The strong emphasis is laid on a proper understanding of the Restoration Movement, which explores the unique roots of the churches of Christ and helps focus on our identity as New Testament Christians. JSE seeks to train students in the skills they will need to carry the Good News of Jesus Christ to many in Japan. We are thankful for the many prayers and efforts made to provide a good Christian education.

Dr. Lewis sharing a lesson at a JSE teachers’ meeting

Dr. Jack P. Lewis served as honorary dean for the school from its inception in 1989. Through the years he has been a source of encouragement and support as well as giving special lecture series. Many of the faculty are his students and his influence continues to be felt through them.

Japan Contact: Naoyoshi Fukushima / JSE / Kashiwa-cho 1-1-9 / Tachikawa-shi / Tokyo / 190-004 / Phone/Fax: 042-535-4482 / Email: dendogakuin@ybb.ne.jp

USA Contact: Dwight Albright / Park Ave Church of Christ / 5295 Park Ave / Memphis TN 38119 / Phone: 901.682.1220 / daa5295@gmail.com

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This is the twenty-first consecutive year we’ve ministered in Japan. This year was special in that we made two trips (April 24–June 23; August 14-October 11). The purpose of these trips is to share lessons to help build up the church and to encourage Christians and churches.

One of the first things we do upon arriving in Japan is to set up housekeeping and an office. We are taken to Costco to get some food for the time here. This is much less expensive than purchasing smaller quantities at the local grocery store. This is also a time to get back into the Japanese language.

Three days after arriving we participated in the Ochanomizu Bible Camp which is a tradition. This year their theme had to do with preparation for their seventieth anniversary next year. They wanted to reaffirm their vision as a congregation. I shared a lesson on encouragement from Hebrews 10:24-25. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Vision must be purposeful and deliberate. We encourage each other to fulfill the vision.

For Sunday sermons, I shared the story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet and the parable of the two debtors Jesus used to confront Simon (Luke 7:36-50). It is hard to see our true sinfulness which makes it hard to see the vastness of God’s love and forgiveness. The Japanese Interconfessional Translation puts it pretty plainly: “You can tell how much she loves by her actions.” Our appreciation of God’s love is proportional to our understanding of how much we have been forgiven. Paul’s prayer for better understanding of God’s love in Ephesians 3:14-21 is worthy of repeating.

The topic for the Japan School of Evangelism lessons was The Atonement. I had spent a considerable amount of time preparing the lessons in English before coming and then worked to get them into Japanese once here. One brother who is fluent in English has been a tremendous help in checking my Japanese and teaching me some of the nuances of the language.

The format this year’s JSE lessons was to have 6 thirty to forty-five minute lessons shared on three Thursday mornings. This format would allow congregations who do not have preachers to share them in a Sunday morning class or worship assembly. Each was recorded on DVD with PowerPoint slides and a class handout to follow the lesson. Lesson topics were: Sin and Atonement; Old Testament Sacrifices; Suffering Servant; Divine Justice; Redemption; While We Were Helpless (a review and meaning of the cross). Some of these were also shared with the Ochanomizu church on four Wednesday evenings.

We met with the monthly ministers’ meeting for Tokyo-West ministers at Nogeyama, Yokohama. The minister there shared comments about Martin Luther on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his work.

On the third Sunday in September, I shared a bi-lingual sermon with the Ochanomizu church. This congregation has a joint Japanese-English worship each third Sunday followed by a fellowship meal together. That afternoon Josephine shared a lesson from Jonah about our inner spiritual struggles.

An older minister spoke for the JSE Founding Day Lectureship September 18. He gave some of the history of his work. Following the lectureship, the teachers meet for an overnight planning session. It was encouraging to hear their discussion. The school currently has three students: one is retired and “re-tooling” to work with his home congregation; one is middle aged and is preparing to do what she can in her local congregation; another is younger and soon to be married who is preparing to do what he can in his local congregation.

We’ve worshiped with congregations as far north as Aomori and as far southwest as Shizuoka. Twelve of us met for worship in Hachinohe, Aomori, filling a small room. Eight congregations in the Shizuoka area came together to worship and study on our next to the last day in Japan. Getting to both of these involved several hours of travel.

The Tomobe congregation has a coffee hour once a month. We participated in that, and I shared a devotional on giving thanks. Several non-Christians who are students on English classes the church offers attended. The Tomobe church has an intern working with them at the present who is a big encouragement. Marlin Ray recently had surgery and continues to be hospitalized as he recovers. This surgery was a follow up to a traffic accident in July 2016 when a person ran into him just before he was to share a sermon with the congregation. Jean continues to minister to Marlin and the church. Marlin had permission to leave the hospital in order to attend the worship assembly. He continues to preach once a month.

That’s a quick overview of the past eight weeks. Leaving is always bittersweet. We’re sorry to leave behind people who are being faithful to the Lord in the midst of a dark society. We’re looking forward to reuniting with family and church family. God has promised that every effort put forth to share the Good News is not in vain. Ours is to remain faithful to Him and continue to “spur each other on to love and good deeds” which is a response to the forgiveness we have received in Christ.

— Dwight & Josephine Albright

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As I begin writing this report, we are three days away from leaving. I’ve delayed writing this because of our schedule of activities, but must finally put an account of the last six weeks of activity.

Josephine and I took an overnight trip to Kamakura and Enoshima. This was the location of government in Japan between 1192 and 1333 and also the period when Buddhism spread and particularly Zen Buddhism. It is the home of the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) which was cast in about 1252. Enoshima is an island just off the coast of Kamakura. It has been a resort area for Tokyo and Yokohama for many years

The next day we went to the museum for “Hidden Christians.” Following WWII, Miki Sawada (1901-1980) founded the Elizabeth Saunders Home to help American-Japanese mixed-race children. She fought much prejudice and opposition from the community for her work. This caused her to become interested in the “Hidden Christians” who were persecuted when Christianity was outlawed during the Tokugawa Era (1601-1868). She set about collecting many articles associated with Christianity when it was introduced into Japan in the mid-sixteenth century and later outlawed and persecuted. She would retire to the room where these items were kept for prayer and meditation. Like these earlier persecuted Christians, she gained strength to continue with her work with these children in spite of opposition. She was a member of the Anglican Church.

We worshiped with the Shirosato congregation May 14. This is a small congregation started by Jim and Noriko Holmes. They operate an English school. The next day we met with several ministers at Matsudo. This is always a time of encouragement.

The following Sunday we worshiped with the Haruna church. This congregation was started by Shiro and Rumiko Obata after he retired from his work with the Ochanomizu church in Tokyo. The church is composed mainly of women. The church is involved with the community and has a good reputation for service. The Obatas continue to work with those displaced by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Northeast Japan.

While with the Obatas, we visited the first Protestant church started by Japanese in Annaka, Gunma. Joseph Neesima (Niijima) went secretly to the U.S. in 1864 near the end of the Edo Era. While in the states, he became a Christian as well as graduating from university and seminary. He is the first Japanese to receive a bachelor’s degree. Upon returning to the Annaka area, he converted others, and they formed the Annaka church in 1878. He later moved to Kyoto and in 1875 started what later became Doshisha University.

We were able to attend a house meeting at the home of brother Oh and sister Ryu. He is one of the elders of the Ochanomizu church. Most of the year they host a gathering in their home on the last Saturday of the month. I shared a lesson from Psalms followed by a fellowship meal together.

I took a break from preaching on May 28. We went to worship with the Ochanomizu church. They were surprised to see us. One of the older members took us out for tea that afternoon. It was a beautiful day in Tokyo.

We took brother Nao Fukushima and his wife, Noriko, out for breakfast for his birthday, May 29. They both are wonderful hosts for our times in the Tachikawa church’s dorm. Their apartment is down the hall from us. We rely on them for many things during our stays.

The first two Sundays in June I preached at the Tachikawa Church. The commute is great – from the third floor to the first floor. These lessons were in a series Nao Fukushima is preaching from Chronicles. The first had to do with giving based upon the gift giving for the building of the temple by Solomon. The second was about the new temple of the Holy Spirit, the Christian, based on God’s Spirit filling the temple after it was built and purified.

Most of the weekdays for the previous four weeks were spent in preparation for the All Japan Ministers’ Meeting June 6-8. I was assigned to speak on women’s roles in the church. I began preparations in early February when I received the topic. I finally began to write down my thoughts and study ending up with seventeen typed pages. The next task was to translate that into Japanese so it could be corrected. This was finally completed the day before we left for the retreat. The presentation seemed to accomplish what was wanted. I will now check the Japanese and add footnotes so it can be published as a record of the meeting. Brother Ikeda, who preaches for the Megumi Christian Church in Kobe, also made a presentation discussing trends in the Christian Church.

Upon returning to Tokyo June 8, we met the Fowler family at the Palace Hotel in Tachikawa. They will stay in Japan for two weeks. Rachel lived in Japan from age three to twelve while we were missionaries. Clay and Rachel worked on a Let’s Start Talking effort twenty years ago before they married. Both Anna and Benjamin have had some Japanese language classes in school. This was an opportunity for Rachel to share some of her growing up in Japan with her family. But that’s for another report.

Grace and peace in Him, Dwight

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