July 11, 2010

Dear Supporters,

Thank you so much for your constant prayer and support. We have had an awesome week and a half here at Shinkoiwa Baptist Church. We hosted our Sarang Summer Festival this past Saturday (July 10^th), which was an equivalent to our church’s Easter Hope Festival. We prayed for over 100 people to come out, and to prepare for that we spent the week prior to Saturday passing out tracts at parks and in homes. Our team partnered with church staff members to create the event. Despite the gloomy and rainy weather prior to Saturday, it was bright and sunny the day of the festival, and around 100 people came out! Praise the Lord. Throughout our stay here at Shinkoiwa, we have been thoroughly blessed and encouraged by our interactions with the Shinkoiwa Church members. As we close out our ministry here at this church, we ask that you pray for the following:

       ·   For all those who came out to the Sarang Summer Festival. Over 50-60 non-Christians came out to the event, and even though some of those people only stayed for a few minutes, please pray that their perspective of the church has changed for the better.

       ·  For Shinkoiwa Church. The church has just recently created a second service and it has been a difficult time of transition for the members. This month, the church is also focusing on missions and outreach. Please pray for their upcoming VBS at the end of this month. Please also pray for Pastor Yoshio Kawaguchi and the church staff.

      ·  Pray for our team’s smooth transition to Akabane Bible Church. We will be leaving Shinkoiwa Church on Thursday (July 15^th) for Akabane. We will be starting ministry right away with tract passing, park ministry, and English conversation meetings. Please pray for our STEM team as we partner with this church for the first time, as well as for the pastor and the church staff.

Thank you again for your continued partnership and support through prayer and intercession. We hope to update you all again as soon we make the transition to Akabane Bible Church. Arigatou gozaimasu! (Thank you!)

-J1 2010