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.

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.

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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Another two weeks have passed. The big event during this time was the Ochanomizu church’s Hakone Bible Camp. The word “camp” is probably a misnomer as it is held in a very nice hotel near Hakone with excellent meals.

The theme for the camp as well as for the year is unity taken from Ephesians 4. I was one of three main speakers and thankfully I spoke first from Ephesians 4. My title was “Traveling Together.” The flow of Ephesians leading up to the admonition of walking worthy of your calling (Ephesians 4:1) and doing what is necessary to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3) begins with Paul’s statement in chapter one about receiving the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). In chapters two and three Paul adds that this makes us God’s family (Ephesians 2:19-20) and through that family (the church) God’s wisdom is manifest (Ephesians 3:10-11). Therefore, Christians are to walk worthy of their calling and endeavor to maintain the unity of that family. I modified the lesson and used it as a sermon the next Sunday at the Tachikawa church at the minister’s request.

The Hakone Bible Camp is an opportunity to get out of town and enjoy time with the Ochanomizu church family. This was the first time at this camp for about one-third of the participants. From young families to older members, it was a great time of fellowship. One-third of the regular Sunday morning attendance were at camp. This left the remainder to worship together in Tokyo. We missed several regular attenders due to health and scheduling issues.

One highlight of the camp is worshiping with the Numazu congregation in Shizuoka Prefecture. This congregation was begun after WWII by Sarah Andrews. Brother Shinozaki is their full time minister and their Sunday morning attendance is about twenty to twenty-five. They had just finished a Let’s Start Talking effort with a group from Pepperdine University. About eight years ago this small congregation built a new meeting place next to the multipurpose house Sarah Andrews lived in until her death in 1961. It is truly a blessing to see two church families worship together.

Josephine continues to meet with three ladies on Thursday afternoons. They are studying John, but many questions are asked about other things on the minds of these ladies. These are marathon study periods lasting up to two hours for each lady. We sow in hope.

At the end of last week, she received her topic for the ladies’ class at Ochanomizu later in September. She has been preparing that lesson for translation. She writes the lesson and has it translated and printed for the ladies. This is given to those in the class which prompts discussion when she teaches. Josephine works through a translator, but knows enough about Japanese culture and Japanese to adapt what she teaches to those in the class. She had a compliment and eager expectation for her class while at camp.

Most of the time in between these events are filled with study. I’m sharing three lessons for the Japan School of Evangelism on the topic of the Trinity. Most of these lessons have been written in English so most of my time is spent preparing presentation slides in Japanese, having them checked for errors, and working up vocabulary. Language study never ends. Language is an amazing thing and most of us have trouble mastering one. Thankfully I have some very good brothers who check my Japanese and help pick out the right words.

Additionally there are new assignments for our meeting with the Tomobe church later in September. I’m still waiting to hear from the group in Hachinohe as to what they would like to study. Then there is another lesson for the Shizuoka retreat the Monday before we return to Memphis. All of these are great opportunities to get into the Word and study Japanese at the same time.

Weather wise we have been blessed with cooler temps. But these have come with overcast skies and off and on rain making everything damp and susceptible to mold. So far we have not been affected by any typhoons.

Thanks again for your encouragement and support in this effort.  — Dwight

Typhoon #18

As I begin to write this report, we have just been through typhoon #18. Our travel plans for today were canceled because the morning schedule for the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) was suspended due to heavy rain and high winds. Within six hours the typhoon had blown further north and we welcomed blue sky and bright sunshine.

Kimata family

On September 23, a holiday marking the beginning of Autumn, the Kimata family visited us. They live in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. We have known them since they were in Memphis while Dr. Kimata did research at the University of Tennessee. They now have two children and Dr. Kimata is in charge of surgery at the Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital.

Enjoying children

They took us to a restaurant where the food is served via a train. The children enjoyed that a great deal and we enjoyed being with them. Afterwards we went to the Edo-Tokyo Outdoor Architecture Museum. They also had a special exhibit for models and pictures of some of Studio Ghibli’s movies. It was a wonderful day and a good break from study.

We had our final class with the Ochanomizu church September 24. This will be the last time we would see many of them until next year’s visit (if the Lord wills). Each year of late it seems that someone we’ve grown to know and love dies so saying good bye is meaningful.

Meeting with school vice-principal

Brother and sister Obata escorted us to Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, where we did some work following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 (Japan’s 311, three eleven). We jumped at the opportunity to revisit the area three and a half years after the disaster. We first visited the temporary housing complex where we had a barbecue for the residents in November 2011. I even played with one of the children that was so interested in our barbecuing techniques back then. His little sister was only a little more than a year old at the time.

Sitting in on meeting with Strakers

We also visited Jonathan and Michiko Straker who live in Ishinomaki and are working to help the community rebuild as well as to plant a church. Great strides have been made, but there are still several thousand living in temporary housing. There is also a great deal of work being done to level mountain tops and prepare level safer places for permanent dwellings. We revisited the city of Onagawa where our team worked three years ago. We also visited a school in Minami Sanriku that was heavily damaged, but all students and teachers were saved by quick thinking administrators. The school has been refurbished to provide escape paths to high ground as well as moving classrooms to the second floor. Brother and sister Obata were at the opening ceremonies for the school.

We’re all sinners, but there was One who was sinless (Heb 4:15-16).

After these two long days revisiting the areas struck by the disaster, we turned around and traveled to Tomobe to have an evangelistic meeting. Saturday evening a group of about twenty assembled with three of those being non-Christians. I spoke on why I became a Christian.

Meeting with the Tomobe church.

Then Sunday morning for worship I shared a lesson about Jesus healing the leper. Like leprousy, we are walking death because of sin and there is nothing we can do to heal ourselves. Jesus came to heal us, to save us, and restore us to a right relationship with the Creator God. Several appreciated the parables and examples I used to explain sin and God’s forgiveness.

New Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Akita

The day following our work with the Tomobe congregation, we began our two week Japan Rail Pass. This is a very inexpensive way to travel to churches more distant from Tokyo. We traveled to Omika to speak in chapel at Ibaraki Christian University and to visit with the Noguchi family. They suffered a total loss of their house and possessions a year ago, but now have a new house. We also enjoyed playing ball with their two children.

Helping with homework?

While we have the pass we often travel to places of cultural and historical interest in between Sundays. This year we went to Akita which is about on the same latitude as New York City. This was the first evangelistic outreach by a missionary from the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. The Charles E. Garst and George T. Smith families moved to Akita in 1883 to plant a church. To their knowledge there had only been one other foreigner to visit the area before them. Imagine the novelty of having foreigners in your city and especially ladies with blonde hair.

They moved to Akita shortly after the Meiji Restoration which restored power to the Emperor from the Tokugawa Shogunate. There were only thirty-six miles of railroads at that time in Yokohama-Tokyo and Kobe-Kyoto. They traveled by ship up the east coast of Japan over the top and then down the west coast to the port which serviced Akita. It took a great deal of courage to do that. Mrs. Smith and one of their children died during their time in Akita. According to records, they were buried in a Buddhist cemetery (the only kind they had at the time). It makes you appreciate those who went before at great sacrifice.

Worship with the Mito church

On our next to the last Sunday on this trip, we traveled to Mito to meet with that congregation. It had been two years since we worshiped with them. Last year we exchanged our time with them to go to Okinawa for an evangelistic meeting with the Naha congregation.

The Mito church continues to exercise a positive influence in the community through their Agape Ministry helping the homeless. They have English Bible study twice a month with about seventy, many non-Christians, meeting to study the Bible in English. There is also a group of Assistant English Teachers from the U.S. who help with these English classes. They also have a Karate Club twice a month and several other avenues to reach out into the community. Joel Osborne is resident missionary working with Atsushi Tsuneki, the minister.

This brings you up to date on our activities through October 5. Our last week is upon us which brings with it a lot of mixed emotions – leaving Japan, being reunited with family in the U.S. Thanks again for your continued interest in our ministry and your support.

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JSE Class

With only three more Sundays remaining for this trip, the pace of the travel picks up. The past three weeks have been very exciting. The three lessons for the Japan School of Evangelism went very well. These are recorded and the DVD’s made available for use in churches.

The first lesson was entitled “Baptism: A Birth from Above.” In that class I surveyed twelve passages in the New Testament dealing with baptism as the believer’s birth into God’s family. The second lesson was entitled “Praise: The Fruit of Lips Praising God.” Here we surveyed the history of praise from the time of David through the New Testament, a change from a worship centered in physical actions and performances to one centered on the Spirit. The final lesson was “God’s Very Great and Precious Promises.” Here we learned principles about God’s promises from Paul’s voyage to Rome and then looked at seven specific promises God has given his children. That class lasted two hours. That’s a lot of Japanese.

Ochanomizu class

In addition to these classes for JSE, we journeyed to Ochanomizu on Wednesday evenings to share the lesson on God’s promises with that congregation over four evenings. This coming Wednesday evening, September 24, will be our last meeting with that congregation on this trip.

On September 7 we met with the Matsudo church where Steve and Debbie Carrell minister. Leslie and Sara Taylor also work with the congregation while Leslie completes language study. Following the morning sermon we had a tea time and fellowship period. This was followed by a class.

Visiting Debbie

That afternoon we visited Debbie who was hospitalized the week before we came for a recurrence of cancer. We were able to have fellowship around the Lord’s Table as we remembered God’s love shown through his Son. She has since improved enough to continue her chemotherapy as an out patient. Jim Chen, a graduate student now living in Sendai with his wife, came down to visit for the weekend. He accompanied us to Matsudo.

Nogeyama ministers’ meeting

The next day, Monday September 8, we traveled to Yokohama for the monthly ministers’ meeting for ministers from Tokyo west. This was hosted by the Nogeyama church which was started by E. A. Rhodes following World War II. They also have a kindergarten.

Worship with Shirosato church

On September 14 we visited the Shirosato congregation for the first time. This is a church plant by Jim and Noriko Holmes who moved into the area several years ago. It is located west of Mito about thirty minutes by car. Fourteen gathered to worship followed by a time of table fellowship. It was a beautiful Sunday and it felt good to get out of Tokyo for a bit. Jim and Noriko have an English school on one side of the building they use for their school and the church meets on the other side.

Dr. Lewis visit

The big event during this time was the visit of Dr. Jack P. Lewis (95), one of my former professors at Harding School of Theology, and his son, Jerry. They arrived Friday evening, September 12, though their luggage did not arrive until the next day. Dr. Lewis is honorary dean of JSE and has been a great encourager for the school.

He spoke Sunday morning for the Tachikawa congregation with Nao Fukushima translating. Monday, September 15, was the twenty-fifth anniversary lectureship for JSE. He spoke twice for that meeting with Nao Fukushima and Masa Nonogaki translating the morning and afternoon lessons.

Lewis Lecture

Following the lectureship the teachers met for an overnight retreat to discuss curriculum and other matters. Dr. Lewis spoke to the teachers the next day with Tadayoshi Aikawa translating.

Wednesday before the Ochanomizu class Nao Fukushima took us and the Lewises to see Sky Tree and Asakasa in downtown Tokyo. This was about the only time they had to do touristy things. It was our first time to see Sky Tree up close. They left Japan the next day, September 18, and had a safe trip back to Memphis and Boston.

On the third Sunday of each month the Ochanomizu church has a joint worship with English and Japanese speaking members. For the last several years we have attended at this time so that Dwight could speak. The Ochanomizu congregation was our Japan sponsoring congregation when we came in 1977. Following the worship they always have a pot-luck fellowship meal.

Former Friend-to-Friend students

For the past several years our visit with the Ochanomizu church has been the occasion for seeing several of Josephine’s former “Friend-to-Friend” students. These are ladies Josephine studied English Bible with while their husbands were in Memphis with a company or doing medical research. Some of the friendships have lasted for over fifteen years.

Josephine had a ladies’ class after the meal. She was asked to prepare a lesson on “Evangelism and Feelings.” The church’s theme for this year is on evangelism with 2 Timothy 4:2 as their theme verse. Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.

Earlier in the summer we hosted some Ochanomizu members on their visit to Memphis. As a thank you, they invited us to supper following all the Sunday’s activities at Ochanomizu. We were escorted to the twenty-first floor of a local building to a Chinese restaurant for a wonderful meal and great view of the city of Tokyo. As we ate night fell and the city lit up. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with two wonderful Christian families.

Panorama view from 21st floor Chinese restaurant

Three more weeks to go until we begin to pack up and break up “housekeeping” here in the dorm. But there are eight lessons to give during that time, several people to see, and many places to go. Thanks again for your encouragement and prayers.

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We have completed four weeks of this ten week trip. The past two weeks involved one of the highlights of the trip, the Ochanomizu Bible Camp. When we use the word “camp” here, don’t think of tent or small rustic cabins. Rather think of a nice hotel perched between Mt. Fuji and the Suruga Bay with great meals.

This year’s camp was attended by sixty people and its theme was evangelism. Yoshiya Noguchi spoke from Mark 5:1-20 about the healing of the demon possessed man. He wanted to go with Jesus to the other side of the lake. But Jesus did not let him. Rather he told him, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19) There is the essence of evangelism, simply telling what the Lord has done for us.

Then Tadayoshi Aikawa gave us a history lesson about two brothers who gave a lot for missions in Japan – George Pepperdine and Robert King. Pepperdine founded the Western Auto stores and used his wealth to help fund many projects and people in Japan. He visited Japan in 1928 and met with the missionaries in Hitachi Ota.

Robert King, on the other hand, was a postal carrier and served as an elder with a Nashville church for forty years. He never traveled outside of the states, but did have a keen interest in foreign missions. He corresponded with missionaries and gave as he could. He also entertained visiting missionaries. Barney Morehead, a missionary to Japan in the late 1920’s, used funds from King to start the King Bible School in Hitachi Ota to train ministers. With the advent of WWII, the school stopped but was the forerunner of training schools after it.

On the second day of the camp, I spoke on why we came to Japan. The reasons go back a generation or two before us as our parents and grandparents played a part in pointing us in the direction of mission work. 1 Peter was written to those who were persecuted or maligned for their beliefs. Using it as a backdrop, I made the point that even though our faith may be maligned, we must “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope [we] have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15b) Though we live among people who do not believe, we are still to be a blessing to those around us so that even if “they accuse [us] of doing wrong, they may see [our] good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:12).

But camp is not all study. We had wonderful times of fellowship and activities together. This year the weather did not cooperate as it was rainy and overcast most of the time. But Mt. Fuji did appear on our last day together. On that day we went to Numazu and worshiped with that congregation. Tomoyuki Shinozaki, minister for that congregation, spoke from John 15 about being attached to the “Vine” so we can bring forth fruit. This was another opportunity to visit with folks we have known for many years. One brother died in the past year who was a key leader in the congregation and a wonderful encouragement to us. We give thanks for his years of ministry.

After camp activities we mainly studied and did preparation for classes. Naoyoshi Fukushima, minister for the Tachikawa congregation in whose dorm we are staying, has checked my Japanese slides. This is a big help so that if what I say is not very understandable at least they can read what I intend to say.

Our fourth Sunday was spent with the Omika congregation. This congregation started out on the campus of the Ibaraki Christian University. As the university came more and more under the administration of non-Christians, there was a push to have the church meet off campus. They now have a meeting place about a twenty minute walk from the university and continue to evangelize on campus.

Hideki Ataka is the minister, but will be retiring at the end of September. The congregation is now seeking a full time minister to replace him. He is from Kodaira which is a part of Tokyo. When in college he met someone who believed in God. He could not believe someone believed in God and was amazed. This peaked his interest, and he began attending a Bible class and eventually became a Christian. He was also a missionary in New Guinea from two years before his marriage.

The elders of the Omika congregation asked that I share a part of the lesson I’m giving on baptism for JSE. Rather than taking from that lesson, I spoke from Acts 8:26-40 concerning the Ethiopian eunuch’s baptism. Philip, using part of Isaiah 53, “told him the good news about Jesus.” Part of that “good news about Jesus involved baptism because the eunuch asks about baptism when he spots water. He was baptized and went on his way rejoicing. Baptism is God’s work in response to our faith and request for his mercy (1 Peter 3:20-21).

Since our last report the Tomobe congregation has added a brother to God’s kingdom. Takeshi Nishimura (front left) was baptized August 22. We rejoice with the Tomobe church and with Marlin and Jean Ray who minister there.

We began our fifth week yesterday (September 2) by celebrating my 65th birthday. In a few days we will celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary. God has been good, but has treated us as sons and daughters through the years (Hebrews 12:4-11). We give thanks for the opportunity to minister both here and in Memphis. Thank you for your part in making that happen.    — Dwight

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Today (August 19) marks two weeks into this Japan trip. Our travels here from Memphis were uneventful but it continues to be a long trip. One surprise this year was the limitation of only one checked bag each by Delta Airlines. Not that we had checked two bags apiece before, but we did usually have an extra box of books and gifts.

Practically all of our books are now electronic. This reduces weight considerably. Also having access of Costco permits us to buy some gifts once we get here. This allowed us to reduce what we bring further. For the seventy-two days that we will be here we have two checked bags (46 and 47 pounds) plus a carry-on (24 pounds) and a laptop case. There was no need for the extra expense of an additional bag. This also saves a bit on handling things once in Japan.

Hot and humid described things when we arrived. We try to use the air-conditioning sparingly to conserve energy. But there are times when it is just necessary, particularly at night and when street smog gets bad. We have been blessed with some overcast and cooler days particularly after the recent typhoon.

The first day we made a trip to Costco to purchase items for the trip. I set up my office while Josephine unpacked clothes and settled us in to the dorm room and kitchen/office.

For the past two weeks I have primarily concentrated on writing two lessons and then beginning translation. I have three big lessons to give for the Japan School of Evangelism. I am working diligently to get these ready. In the midst of this I also wrote a lesson for the Ochanomizu church Hakone Bible Camp (August 22-25). Please check out our trip schedule.

Our first Sunday here was spent with two congregations, the Yokota military congregation and the Yokota Japanese congregation. Masa and Mari Nonogaki minister to these congregations which both utilize the same building. The U.S. military congregation meets in the morning and the Japanese in the afternoon. A typhoon just happened to be in the area on this Sunday. While Tokyo did not get a direct hit, it did feel the effects of it through rain and wind. Attendance was off a bit because of this. Sixteen at the military assembly and ten at the Japanese. At least three families were absent at the Japanese assembly because of the weather. I shared a lesson with each congregation and one military family invited us to lunch with them. They live “off-base” so it was easy to visit them. On base visits require registration and other paper work.

The second Sunday we worshiped with the Tachikawa church. Naoyoshi (Nao) and Noriko Fukushima minister to this congregation. This is the congregation which we visited in 1969 when it was a military congregation and then worshiped with while in language school (1977-80) after it became a Japanese congregation. They graciously let us stay in the third floor dorm.

This particular Sunday Nao went to minister to the Sendai congregation in Miyagi Prefecture. This was timely because I could cover for him in his absence. I found out two days before that I would also be teaching the Bible class. Thankfully it was on Acts 1 so the preparations for that did not take too long.

Following worship we had a meal of cucumbers, ham, and egg over ramen. These times are always great opportunities to fellowship and get to know one another. There were twenty-three for the worship period.

That evening we took two wonderful ladies/sisters out for supper at a local restaurant. Noriko Fukushima and Akemi Sano are two very diligent workers behind the scenes for the Tachikawa church. We enjoyed the time with them and so very much appreciate their ministries.

While we are involved in preparations for classes, we do try to take some time to get out of the dorm. Because of the heat and humidity we usually walk early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Any grocery shopping is done at Inageya across the street from the church building. These walks among the neighborhoods and fields in Tachikawa are restful. Even though they have very little space (most houses are zero lot houses and I mean zero), they seem to always have some pretty flowers. We enjoy looking at these and seeing new building being done in the area.

Camp is coming up at the end of this week. We will be able to get out of Tokyo and into nature a bit more. We will meet up with the Ocahomizu church in downtown Tokyo at 9:30 a.m. to board a bus. Hakone is very beautiful and the place we stay is a very nice hotel with views of Mt. Fuji on one side and Suruga Bay on the other.

One bit of very exciting news came from Steve and Debbie Carrell. They are ministering at the Matsudo church where we will visit in September. Steve wrote, “During our worship this morning [August 10] at the Matsudo Church of Christ, Mr. Keiichi Yukusue confessed his faith and was baptized into Christ. We are thrilled that he has decided to commit his life to Jesus and we pray that he will grow in his faith each day.” This gives meaning to all we do. We rejoice with the Matsudo church and give thanks for this new brother-in-Christ. You can read the Carrell’s reports on the Park Avenue church website.

Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement. – Dwight

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Josephine and I are once again in Japan to minister to congregations. We arrived August 5 and will return to Memphis October 15. Below is a schedule of our trip.

 教会に奉仕するために、ジョサフィンと私はまた日本に滞在します。8月5日着きまして、10月15日に帰ります。私たちのスケジュールは以下にあります。

August / 8月

• 10 ~ Yokota church (Tokyo) (Military, Japanese) 横田教会（米軍、日本人）
• 17 ~ Tachikawa church (Tokyo) 立川教会
• 22-24 ~ Hakone Bible Camp (Shizuoka) with Ochanomizu church 箱根バイプルキャンプ、御茶ノ水教会
• 31 ~ Omika church (Ibaraki) 大甕教会

September / 9月

• 3 ~ Ochanomizu church mid-week Bible study – “The Great and Precious Promises of God #1” 御茶ノ水教会の水曜日聖書クラス、「神の尊い、すばらしい約束」第一
• 4 ~ Lecture for Japan School of Evangelism – “Baptism: Birth from Above” 伝道学院の講演～「バプテスマ:上からの誕生」
• 7 ~ Johoku church (Ibaraki) 常北教会
• 8 ~ Ministers’ Meeting at Nogeyama church (Kanagawa) 伝道者の集い、野毛山教会（神奈川）
• 10 ~ Ochanomizu church mid-week Bible study – “The Great and Precious Promises of God #2” 御茶ノ水教会の水曜日聖書クラス、「神の尊い、すばらしい約束」第二
• 11 ~ Lecture for Japan School of Evangelism – “Praise: The Fruit of Lips That Praise God” 伝道学院の講演～「賛美:御名をたたえるくちびるの果実」
• 14 ~ Matsudo church (Chiba) 松戸教会
• 15-16 ~ Japan School of Evangelism lectureship and teachers’ meeting キリストの教会伝道学院の記念礼拝と教師会
• 17 ~ Ochanomizu church mid-week Bible study – “The Great and Precious Promises of God #3” 御茶ノ水教会の水曜日聖書クラス、「神の尊い、すばらしい約束」第三
• 18 ~ Lecture for Japan School of Evangelism – “God’s Great and Precious Promises” 伝道学院の講演～「神の尊い、すばらしい約束」
• 21 ~ Ochanomizu church, bilingual (Tokyo) 御茶ノ水教会
• 24 ~ Ochanomizu church mid-week Bible study – “The Great and Precious Promises of God #4” 御茶ノ水教会の水曜日聖書クラス、「神の尊い、すばらしい約束」第四
• 27-28 ~ Tomobe church (Ibaraki) 友部教会

October / 10月

• 5 ~ Mito church (Ibaraki) 水戸教会
• 7 ~ Ibaraki Christian University chapel (Ibaraki) 茨城キリスト教大学チャペル
• 11-12 ~ Hachinohe church (Aomori) 八戸教会