Kitchen & Plumbing - We are glad to report that we found a good Christian contractor and were able to have badly needly kitchen plumbing repair and renovation work done at the GreenHouse.  Needless to say, this greatly helps our outreach programs.

Big Snow carport collapse - The Winter was rather cold and we had a rare big snow that completely collapsed an old carport, which was attached to the GreenHouse youth center. Fortuntely, there was no major damage in the collapse, as the steel beems fell just millimeters from the gas heater.  

We can feel and even see your prayers and support in many ways.

Between 50 and 60 students attended the recent GreenHouse event introduction event, which was held on the campus of one of the area private high-schools. This was a great chance to introduce the GreenHouse afterschool program to the students. This is a real answer to prayer. 

One of the four local schools has invited us to do a "portable GreenHouse" event at their school. The last time we were able to hold such an event it was very well attended and many students then began attending the weekly gatherings at GreenHouse. Praise the Lord for this opportunity!

We are glad to report that the Lord is blessing the student outreach with teachers and students from all four of the area junior and senior high mission schools. This means we have a chance to reach up to 4,800 students and this is just the student program.

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hop in God…” (Psalm 78-5-7a).

 The Lord is raising up youth leaders

One of the primary purposes of our mission is to help raise up the next generation of youth leaders. At the GreenHouse youth center, here in Yokohama Japan, we are blessed with a small team of Christian teachers from area junior and senior high schools, who offer their time and energy to the afterschool program. Combined we have the change to reach literally hundreds of students. We consistently see two-dozen students every week and many more at special events. This year, a Bible teacher from one of the area Christian schools recommended a young chaplain-in-training from the seminary, to join our efforts at the youth center. We could provide the mentorship and an opportunity for the Japanese seminarian to share his faith with the students.

Retreat planning
Nathan was invited to help plan for an area youth retreat. The committee is comprised of a young pastor and a handful of seminary students from Tokyo Union Theological Seminary (TUTS) where one of our mentors, Rev. Wayne Jansen, is teaching. This is a great chance to help with the follow-on razing up young leaders. The retreat is being reschedule due to inclement weather but working with young leaders is at the core of our mission. 

Encouraging young pastors
At a recent pastor’s conference, Nathan reconnected with and encouraged a young pastor, Rev. Yuichiro Sekikawa, who is serving a congregation in the heart of the disaster area. Each of the long-term RCA missionaries have been reaching out to encourage this young pastor. Please keep him and the congregation at Ishinomaki Yamashirocho Church in your prayers.

Children in Worship in Japan
At the C&W training seminars, we began to notice a trend. There was always at least one who would cry. At first, the individual would be in tears sharing about his/her burden for the children, but feeling wholly inadequate to the task. Then, came, tears of joy at finding C&W, as they exclaim, “C&W is not just another program! It is a worship experience that can nourish both children and adults.” Recognizing that, in the Japanese context, many Christian educators came to faith later in life missing Sunday School themselves. Now the C&W team decided that in addition to the training seminars, we should also open C&W worship experiences to adults once a month. The Christian educators who attend say, “Thank you. We are being refreshed and filled with the spirit to return to the churches and share the experience of worship with the children.

The traditional Japanese tea ceremony bears a fascinating resemblance to Christian communion. Attending one of our partner churches, there is a women who is a professionally trained in the “way of tea”. She is a strong Christian, whom we believe the Lord is calling, to share the gospel through her talents. For this reason we asked her to hold a tea ceremony in tandem with a recent seminar at the GreenHouse, during which she could feel free to share her faith. Many responded positively.

Praise report
The Far East Broadcasting radio network’s, interview of Nozomi, about our mission is generating many positive responses. Praise the Lord!

Prayer requests:

1. for the GreenHouse youth center at Yokohama, for the volunteer team and especially our students.
2. for the Japanese seminary students like Mr. Ueno (there are precious few).
3. for young pastors like Rev. Yuichiro Sekikawa (there are precious few).
4. for the Children & Worship to spread across Japan.

We ask for your continued support and that the Lord would bless you for your sacrifice.

Dear Friends

Heartfelt needs
The heartfelt needs are broad and deep now. The mega-quake generated a massive tsunami overwhelming everything in its path, even destroying the cooling system of a major nuclear power plant, causing multiple meltdowns and the release of significant amounts of radiation. It is tragically ironic that the city, after which the nuclear plant was named, is “Fukushima”, which meant "blessed island". Now much of that area is a “No-go-zone” and instead of being blessed people feel cursed. There are even discoveries of radiation in our area, so we can imagine what must be an ever present fear for those from the immediate area around the plant. Then there is the background fear of the next major quake. Yet we continue to believe that Lord has sent us here for such a time as this.

Our Inspiration
The story of Jesus' first followers inspires. Remember how Philip, went to invite his friends to meet Jesus. Philip was not shy. He went out an found Andrew and Nathaneal. At first Nathaneal disregarded the invitation, looking down on Jesus. But by the end of their meeting, Nathaneal is no longer looking down but rather up to Jesus saying, "You are my Lord." With your support we have the privilege of introducing the next generation in Japan to Jesus. Please keep the following ministries and needs in your prayers.

Children & Worship update
The Children and Worship program is being well received. Not only are children hearing and experiencing the Bible stories but youth leaders are being trained to tell the stories. In this way, both the children and adults are being nourished in spirit. We continue to meet Sunday school teachers who literally cry for joy at finding C&W. They have longed for such an excellent tool for sharing the “wonder of the Gospel” with children. 

Nozomi and the C&W team are supporting the opening of another training center North of Tokyo. Our vision is to hold training seminars in closer proximity to the heart of the disaster areas. Please pray for the: children and youth workers; pastors and parishioners at the churches, kindergartens, and schools.

Radio broadcast
Nozomi was inteviewed by the FEBC Far East Broadcasting Company. The half hour interview is scheduled to be broadcast on May 5th and will be available online at www.febcjp.com from that day. It is an excellent interview which shares our heart for this mission. The interview is in Japanese so please share this with any of your Japanese friends. 

GreenHouse youth center update
The school year in Japan begins in April, so the afterschool youth outreach is back in up and running. Attendence is solid ranging between one to two dozen students with many more for special events. We are especially glad to see a core group coming, as often as they can. This gives us a chance to share a little deeper. 

The day programs for the Children & Worship chapel time and the hospitality ministry for the young mothers continue. These are especially important as the community grieves the passing of our dear friend Minako, whose life and testimony touched so many. 

Accepted to public high school
Our eldest son Ken is accepted to a fine public high school. This is great news because in the Japan there are only a limited number of seats at desireable public schools such that many students have to fall back on private schools (at substantial cost). Of course there are also high level private schools but such school are beyond our ability to afford. Ken’s acceptance into the public school of his choice is a real answer to prayer. We thank God for making a way for Ken.

The promise
The triple disasters of: the mega quake, Tsunami, and nuclear meltdowns clearly exposed the vulnerability of all that we have taken for granted: from the ground we stand upon, to the water we drink, to the air we breath. People are wondering about the meaning of life. It is for such a time as this that we are called to point the way toward Jesus. The Good News of eternal life in Christ has the power to make all the difference in the world. This Gospel sets us free from fear. The promise of eternal life grants hope and future, come what may.

Gratitude
Thank you for support of the outreach to the next generation in Japan. We ask for your continued support. 

Sincerely,

Nathan & Nozomi Brownell
with sons Ken, Ray, and Luke

God is blessing the after-school program for the junior and senior highschool students in many ways. Four more teachers have joined the outreach. Each of them, responding to the Lord’s call, came to Japan and are teaching at schools in the vicinity of GreenHouse youth center. The new teachers: JoAnna, Stephanie, Beth, and Autumn are helping us lead the outreach. Stephanie and Beth came to Japan this September, even after the triple disaster (Quake, Tusnami, and nuclear disasters) hit Japan. Autumn and JoAnna felt the call to remain in Japan despite the disasters. We are so grateful to God for having sent these wonderful women, granting them the faith to come and/or remain in Japan “for such a time as this”. The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, subsequent mega-tsunami and nuclear disaster is causing many to "ask, seek, and knock..." Now the after school program has a total of nine committed Christian teachers from: the U.S., Canada, and Singapore who are eager to share their faith and hope in Christ with the students. While each of the schools, which we serve, has a daily chapel and Bible classes, we believe there is a need to augment by granting the students the chance to put what they are learning about Christianity into the practice of seeking Christian community by once a week by stepping out of their regular routine and coming over to the the GreenHouse. Here through fellowship, songs, and the messages of their foreign teachers: students can experience, again, the love of God.

Children and Worship Update

Green House has the model worship center for Children and Worship program (C&W). We offer weekly chapel for preschoolers and scheduled training seminars. Now we have begun a new monthly gathering centered around this program. We are calling it, “Worship for grown-ups with Children and Worship”. This is for those who have the desire to see children experience the program but without the pressure of ‘being trained’ to officially ‘start the program’. The leadership of C&W Japan felt the great need to help nourish those facing the various challenges of children’s ministry. Due to the significant decline in birthrate in Japan, along with the struggle to pass on the faith to the next generation, many Sunday School teachers are discouraged and are overwhelmed by the pressure to reach out to the children. After the earthquake, this is even more so. Yet people are becoming more aware that they need to seek spiritual foundation and nourishment in order to be able to stand. We did not know how many would come to the first gathering, but God drew ten people! One women who experienced C&W for the first time shared that she had been teaching 4-6^th grade students in the church for many years and that she was very nearly overwhelmed feeling that the decline of the youth might somehow be her fault for not holding good classes for them. She was desperate for the Lord to touch her. “The Story of Light and The Creation” that was shared on that night touched her deeply and she experienced a healing from the Lord. We are continuing this special program throughout the year so that more youth leaders can experience the program with the liturgical calendar year.

MISSION SCHOOL UPDATE

Nathan continues teaching at the mission school, where he can share with over 400 students a week and invite many to the youth center. Nozomi is working at Green House. We are hoping to grow more and more in the Lord, including our boys: Kenneth, Raymond, and Luke. May the Lord grant blessing upon you as we partner in mission.

Hope in God,

(Youth Mission, Yokohama, Japan)

"He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man but of God" (John 1:11-13)

POWER TO BECOME

Have you found what you need? Have you found what you need to become all you are to be? Sometimes we are tempted to think that life is just about degrees or positions but let's look again at what the Lord is teaching us.

All that we really need is to become children of God. But, How? The Bible teaches us that the power to become children of God is in accepting that we are here only because of God. We are not born by accident. We are not here just because of our families. We do not make it to where we are in life because of  degrees, position, or any other power except God.

I still remember the first time I met Dr. Voskuil at Hope College. When I stepped into his office, I noticed the famous logo "Veritas" on a beautiful chair in the corner. Automatically, I said, "Wow, so you are from Harvard!", to which Dr. Voskuil said, Yes but it is not the name of the university or your degree or position that matter but rather the direction of your heart. Is your heart turned toward God or away?" The year I graduated from Hope, Dr. Voskuil became the President of Western Serminary and I followed him across the Pine Grove to the seminary.

At WTS, I met long time missionaries to Japan. Through them I learned again that we are only here because of God. Do we realize just how life giving this worldview is? Now, living half way around the world in Japan, I can see firsthand how crucial this worldview is. If God enables us to receive the truth that we are not born just of blood, or human desire, or human will but born of God, then our whole world -- the direction of our heart changes. 

Because of Jesus,

This past Summer we were able to spend approximately six weeks in the U.S. on home assignment. During those six weeks, we were able to visit approximately 15 churches. We really appreciate your hospitality: the warm welcomes, prayers, meals, and invitations to your homes and churches. We ask the Lord's continued blessing upon you.  

The need for reaching out with the hope of the Gospel in NorthEast Japan cannot be overstated.

Ten years ago, we experienced 9-11-01 in New York City. Nathan served on “Ground Zero” at the WTC and as with many of you we are not unfamiliar with suffering. Yet the sheer scale of 03-11-11 triple disaster in Japan: Quake, Tsunami, and multiple reactor meltdowns would overwhelm us if it were not for the Lord. More than 15,000 fatalities, 8,000 missing and thousands more injured. Whole towns and cities wiped out. Now imagine this scene stretching for more than 250 miles! We cling to the fact that He is not unfamiliar with suffering and from this we draw courage to be witnesses in such a time and place.

DELIVERING AID
A family from one of our supporting churches in the U.S. has relatives in the devastated area. Imagine their distress, being half-a-world-away, unable to contact loved ones. This young couple, living in the U.S., determined to come to Japan and bring relief to their relatives and those around them. We responded, to our brother and sister saying, “Whatever we have is yours. We have a van, and can help gather supplies, and get you there.” It took a month to make preparations but in mid-April our friends arrived from the U.S. We received them here at the GreenHouse youth center in Yokohama; “filled our van to the gills” with the supplies -- gathered both locally and from contacts across Japan. Another friend from one of our partner churches, here in Yokohama, joined our team. Due to travel conditions and the meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant, we had to take a wide detour to reach the area North of Sendai. Nathan was on that small team bringing supplies, reaching out to a grieving family and encouraging a church (Yamashiro-cho Church in Ishinomaki City / Pastor Sekikawa) in the disaster zone.

Thankfully, the family to which we helped deliver aid responded by attending church with us (it was their first time). Please pray, as some family members are still missing and are believed lost in the Tsunami. We pray that introducing this family to the church will touch them and also encourage the church. We pray for Pastor Sekikawa, a young pastor sent to the area just out of seminary.

We were also able to visit the Emmaus House (student center) at Sendai, which is a major hub of volunteer mission for that area. We attended a prayer meeting there hearing their cries of the volunteers, praying with, and encouraging the director.

Please pray for the Sanjo family, Pastor Sekikawa and the congregation at Yamashiro-cho Church, The Emmaus Center in Sendai, and of course the GreenHouse here in Yokohama.

SENDING RELIEF

Many people related to the GreenHouse youth center donated supplies. Nozomi gathered the parents to sort and pack the disaster relief items, sending more than 10 large boxes to the churches and distribution centers in the devastated areas. We were encouraged to see a sort of generosity and volunteerism hitherto uncommon here. God is moving the hearts of many.

CHILDREN AND WORSHIP

It is in this context that Nozomi continues to minister to the children and parents via weekly Children and Worship chapel times, and sharing the gift of the Children and Worship program with the Japanese church by holding seminars to help raise up Sunday School teachers for the sake of the next generation.

2011 Home Assignment and financial need

We are scheduled to be back in the U.S. this Summer on Home Assignment. We very much hope to see many of you. Presently, we are planning stops in California, Michigan, Iowa, and New York. We may have use of the mission car but if any of you have a five seat vehicle available either for use or for reasonable rent please let us know. Please pray for us as we must travel to several new churches seeking support for: the youth mission, the GreenHouse, and to share about the long-term needs emerging here in Japan. Due to changes in a partner denomination, we have a need of at least $30,000. If you or your church is able to renew or increase support please contact us.

The Lord opened a way for us to deliver aid directly to the disaster area. There is a family related to one of our supporting churches in the U.S. with relatives in the devastated area of Northern Japan. They requested supplies to be sent to the GreenHouse Youth Center here in Yokohama. Another volunteer related to one of our partner churches here in Japan, joined our team so that we could drive the supplies to Higashi Matsushima. What we saw defies description. Whole towns and citys were completely destroyed. The scale of the destruction in Ishinomaki city alone is staggering.

Thankfully, the family to which we helped deliver substantial aid responded by attending church with us (it was their first time). Please pray, as some family members are still missing and are now believed lost in the Tsunami. We pray that introducing this family to the church will be a help both to them and to the church. We pray for Pastor Sekikawa for whom this is his first congregation out of seminary. Pray that he would be sustained by the Holy Spirit.

We were also able to visit the Emmaus House (student center) at Sendai, which has become a major hub of volunteer mission for that area. We attended a prayer meeting there hearing their cries, praying with and encouraging the director.

Please pray for the Sanjo family, Pastor Sekikawa and the congregation at Yamashiro-cho Church, The Emmaus Center in Sendai, and of course the GreenHouse here in Yokohama.

March 28th Nozomi gathered the GreenHouse related moms to come and sort and pack the disaster relief items, which we have been collecting to send to the churches and distribution centers in the devastated areas. They were so generous in what they brought and how they offered their time to this relief effort. God is moving in the hearts of many here. 

Let us share some of what we are doing at the GreenHouse youth center since the triple disasters: quake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor crises. Since so many foreigners evacuated from our area the international schools had to close early due to lack of teachers and staff -- including Yokohama Union Church Pre-K and Kindergarten. For the past two weeks we have opened GH to the children and parents who did not leave. During the first week, people were afraid of the unknowns: Would any of the aftershocks do serious damage to this area? Would The Quake trigger the feared Tokyo quake? and what of the damaged nuclear reactors and the radiation?

We gathered GH related people reading the Bible and praying. We hosted the end of the school year gathering and had 40 people (children and parents). We prayed and shared meals together.

On Saturday March 19th, Nozomi led the Children and Worship seminar which had been scheduled well before the quake. We thought about canceling, since the trains were unpredictable and we were still feeling significant aftershocks but we went ahead and held it by faith. Six people (pastors, elders, and Sunday School teachers) showed up! 

The second week, we opened the GH again for the children and moms in the mornings. We held daily chapel time. On March 27th, we held a youth group meeting at GH. with five junior high school students. We showed one of the Narnia movies, had a meal with them and talked about where they were when the quake hit. It was a good time to share and decompress.

Nathan preached two Sundays this month at Yokohama Union Church, for Pastor Ken Saito, who was in hospital for an operation. 

March 31st we will hold another prayer meeting as we prepare to reach out anew to the students who will come back to school in April.

At one of the mission schools we serve, close to 100 students could not go home on the day of the quake and had to stay overnight at school. Some of the graduation related events were downsized or cancelled. The students are experiencing many unsettling changes. School activities and clubs have been cancelled. Many will need spiritual care and the schools may need help with this. We would like to welcome the students anew with the Love of Christ. We believe that the GH is here for the students for such a time as this.

Today again we hosted many children and parents from the area at the GreenHouse youth center (watch for the photo in the top right of this page). They came in part because their school closed early due to a lack of teachers but more so because of heartfelt needs, during this particularly challenging time in Japan. We opened the gathering with a prayer, had a meal, and encouraged one another. Because of your prayers we have the peace that passes understanding that only the Lord can give. We are so grateful for several encouraging emails from you reminding us that we were called for such a time as this...

The pastor of Yokohama Union Church, Rev. Saito has been in hospital for a cancer operation. His surgery was scheduled and held just four days after the quake. During this time, several people integral to the church school have left the country resulting in a lack of teachers, and a great financial stress for the ministry. We can only imagine the various concerns which must have weighed on Pastor Ken going into the surgery. Today, March 17th I was able to visit in hospital. I asked if he had a message for the church. With a tear he said, "Stay put! Let us trust the Lord together even through the difficult times. Thank you and your family for staying with us." 

In the wake of the quake and tsunami compounded by the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant the nerves of many people are frayed. Yet perhaps we were sent here for such a time as this to share the Gospel and the peace that passes understanding which comes only from the Lord. This morning Nozomi and I opened the GreenHouse as usual to the parents of the children in our area. We shared this peace that the world does not know and toward the end of the time Nozomi read the Bible and held a time of prayer with them. 

Japan has just experienced the worst earthquake and tsunami in it's recorded history. The coastal North East of the country has been devastated. The damage and the death toll is climbing.

Even here at Yokohama, we felt the quake as a mag 5 plus. A nearby factory in Honmoku caught fire but was extinguished quickly. Across Tokyo bay an oil storage facility tank exploded and burned through the night.

We are being shaken by countless aftershocks. There is an ongoing emergency at the Fukushima nuclear plants. The situation is serious. Many thousands have been evacuated from their homes near Fukushima and along the North Eastern coast.

Please pray that the Japanese people would find their solace in the Lord. We will try to send further updates soon.

Recent graduates of the mission schools in this area, who came to Green House youth center during their student days, exclaim how much GreenHouse meant to them. Some alumni even want to volunteer at the center before or after foreign exchange study. Several senior alumni of the area schools even exclaim -  how they are envious of the present students - wishing that they could have had such a time and place when they were students. Thank you to alumni and friends for volunteering your time and advocating for the Green House in your circles.

Our dear friend, Minako, is facing a diagnosis of stage 4 stomach cancer. Her doctor has said it is too late for surgery. She is valiantly facing this diagnosis. We can not imagine how difficult this must be for her and the family. Minako and her husband Rich have two children: Noah and Maya who are about 6 and 4 years old. Rich and Minako's heart cry is how to tell the children? How to raise them making the best of life despite this situation?

Fortunately, Minako has been attending the GreenHouse, where Nozomi has been pioneering programs reaching out to mother's of the pre-k. Minako was baptized at church this past Easter. Minako says, "I just thank the Lord for reaching me before all this. I can not imagine what it would be like if I did not know the Lord..." Their situation and testimony move us to tears. Please pray for Minako, Rich, and family.

Several pastors from the district mission committee called a “Get to know GreenHouse” evening at the youth center. They invited chaplains and representatives of the area mission schools. It is significant that these local pastors, chaplains, and teachers spent their valuable time learning about and sharing the vision of this youth center. We thank God for their support.

During our brief return to Michigan during Summer 2009, we were so glad to help welcome one of the recent graduates from the mission school where Nathan is teaching in Japan. One of his star students, Hanna Ogawa, is now a full time four-year student at Hope College! She is active in the Japanese fellowship there. Please keep Hanna in your prayers during her years at Hope. 

We thank God for our mentors, the retired RCA missionaries. We are truly blessed to have been taught and raised up by: Russ and Ellie Norden, I. John and Etta Hesselink, George and Joyce Magee, Gordon and Evon Laman, Trudy Vander Haar, Ann Anderson, Glenn and Phyllis Bruggers, Mary Flaherty, and the Unzickers. Please know we now see the fruit of your labors of love. Your sacrifices for the mission in Japan are appreciated. We are reminded of the lyrics of the mission song by Ray Boltz, "Thank you for giving to the Lord, mine is a life that was changed. I am so glad you gave..."

Thomas Brownell, died on May 2, 2009, of complications arising from Multiple Systems Atrophy. MSA is a condition akin to Parkinson's or Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 67 years old. In the midst of his suffering, Tom would quote the passage from The Chronicles of Narnia, "Aslan is not a tame Lion, but he is good and you are safe with him..."

In Japan, students: rise early, commute to school, attend their school clubs, a rigorous school day, and often spend evenings at cram school, returning home as late as 10pm. Many of the school clubs or cram schools even meet on weekends. Our mission teachers recognize that students have little or no chance to step out of this routine. While we recognize the importance of establishing academic discipline, we observe that students should also be allowed to  step out of the regular routine at least once a week - a sabbath if you will.  Our bodies learn by routine, so for good wholistic health we need to provide such an opportunity.

There is a special dynamic that happens when students attend an optional Christian event at GreenHouse. We can see this on the student's faces and in their responses.

This year we have invited mainly, by word of mouth, focusing on the smaller group model. Our surveys indicate that more than 80% of the students see the GreenHouse youth center as a special place where they can spend time with their foreign teachers and hear about God. This is why we have been intentional about not trying to overwhelm with big groups. Of course we also hold various big seasonal events but our focus has been on smaller groups.

The program consists of fellowship and refreshments, then praise songs and a message or a skit. When we hold special events, we can range as high as 60 to 120 students!

Our Christmas outreach to the nearest school was attended by more than 100 students. At that time of year, that was more than 10% of the school population. In a country, which is said to be less than 2% Christian (and by some estimates less than 1%) the GreenHouse is a special phenomenon. God must be doing something special, because such numbers are even beyond the Gallup poll, which found 7% of Japanese youth have a favorable interest in Christianity.

"Young people in Japan are... in need of the healing hand of Jesus. Compared to their U.S. counterparts, Japanese teens are bleak in their outlook on life." - Gallup Poll on the state of religion in Japan 2006

Key findings from the report:

* 22% of U.S. teens but 85% of Japanese teens say they often wonder why they exist.

* 76% of teens in the U.S. say they always see a reason for their being on Earth, but only 13% of Japanese teens say this.

* 12% of U.S. teens wish they were someone else, but three times this percentage 36% of Japanese youth respond this way.

* 3% of U.S. teens would go so far as to say they wish they had never been born. But more than three times as many Japanese teens 11% give this startling response." Gallup poll statistics.

According to the World Health Organization, Japan has one of the highest suicide rates among the developed nations. This has continued at a rate of more than 30,000 per year for the past ten years. This means that 300,000 have ended their lives here over the past ten years alone. While the U.S. had a similar number of suicides per year, the U.S. three times the population. Thus the percentage shockingly higher in Japan. This can be called a "silent disaster".

1. How has the reception of Children and Worship been in Japan?

 This program was first introduced to Japan by an RCA minister's wife who was serving at Yokohama Union Church almost 20 years ago. Over the years, several people from Japan (including myself - Nozomi) attended Dr. Stewart's workshop at Western Theological Seminary in Holland Michigan. Each of the workshop participants were greatly influenced by the C&W approach to Christian education. A group was formed to start a movement inspiring children's ministry among the churches here. Since 2004, this group has held several seminars at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary raising awareness among church leaders and preschool staff of the importance of "worship" for children. This group commissioned the translation of the textbook "Young Children & Worship".

Meanwhile, as my husband and I prepared to become missionaries to Japan, I had the privilege of taking the Children and Worship Trainer certification so that I can help raise up more certified leaders here. Since our arrival in Spring of 2007, I have been working with the group to bring forward this program. During the summer of 2008, we celebrated the opening of the first full model C&W Center in the Green House youth center in Yokohama. This center was prepared by generous donations from RCA congregations and individuals in the U.S. Our purpose is the training of potential C&W leaders in Japan. We celebrated its opening with more than 50 people attending.  This demonstrates a great interested in this program.

The translation and publishing project of the textbook is progressing. We expect the book to be printed by Easter, 2009. *Praise the Lord the textbook was successfully translated and is now available in Japanese.

Most essentially, there are eager and supportive Christians who attend the seminars; the C&W program is being positively received by several Japanese churches beginning in the Tokyo/Yokohama area.

2. How many leaders have you trained so far? Where have Children and Worship programs been started? Where do you hope to start the program?

I have been to several local churches introducing the program. As described above, the seminars have been held seven times since 2004 and each time between 30 - 50 people gathered.

We are planning the first major training workshop next spring (2009) after the publishing of the textbook. Until now we have all been "plowing the field" so that when the book comes out and the actual training begins, the program will be rooted and grow well. We have potential to start the program among local churches as well as Christian preschools and other institutions (orphanages, etc.).

3. What does it take to get a Children and Worship program started?

First, we have to raise awareness among the churches of the importance of worship for children and with children. We are aware that many Sunday school programs aim only to entertain, whereas we believe C&W can help bring Sunday School to another level.

Secondly, C&W worship leaders need to be well trained. Since Japan does not have a Christian faith background in its society, it takes a significant process to cultivate one's knowledge of the Bible and a Christian way of thinking/living. When we introduce the C&W program, we have to be aware of the process of personal growth in understanding neccessary to raise up good worship leaders.

Thirdly, we need to support the worship leader’s material needs in support this program. Since the Japanese churches are struggling financially, we need to find a good way to provide the wooden figures and other materials -  either making our own or establishing a route for purchasing them easily.

4. Has anything stood out to you as you've taught Children and Worship in Japan? Are there any specific kids who have really enjoyed the program or a specific story that had great reception?

I have been leading the program at Yokohama Union Church on Sundays since last year and also once a week for the five and six years olds from the preschool. We began the preschool chapel this September (2008). Recently one boy started to pray out loud during our prayer time. He was filled with thankfulness and literally could not help but giving thanks to God! This week another boy joined the prayer! It is amazing to hear their heartfelt prayers because originally they did not have any particular religious backgrounds. This confirms that there is a place for God in each child's heart.

5. How is children's and youth ministry helping to revitalize the Japanese church?

For the Japanese church it is absolutely crucial to reach out to the youth. The Japanese birth rate has been low for many years. Consequently, the church is aging even more rapidly than the general population. In order to pass the torch to the next generation, raising the youth is a most urgent matter. The Japanese church hardly has teenagers attending  the demands from the world (study and clubs) and the withering of many youth programs. The Children & Worship group is hoping to expand its ministry from the young children to older children, even to teenagers in the future, for the sake of the Japanese church and future.

Many Japanese who have experienced Christian faith overseas are struggling to maintain their faith after they return to Japan. Unfortunately, many cannot endure the lack of fellowship or even social isolation, especially in the rural areas. Without help they can be overwhelmed by the waves of intense work schedules and or by emotional depression. It is said that approximately 80% of Japanese who come to faith overseas fall away upon their return to Japan. 

Nathan and I served eight years for the Japanese American United Church, in New York City, and while we were there we sent many of our members back to Japan. We have been praying for them, that they would be connected to the churches in Japan and keep growing in faith. Since the beginning of our journey as missionaries, it has been our hope to receive such returnees from abroad, in order to support and encourage their experience in Christ. Over the past year, God introduced us to more such folks and finally last week we were able to host several of them. Thank you Lord and protect them we pray.

Let us tell you about the summer of 2008 in Yokohama. We had a wonderful Vacation Bible School in August at Yokohama Union Church. Eleven volunteers from the U.S. helped to make it possible for the church to serve fifty-six children and their families. We are grateful for Grace Reformed Church in Chicago, IL and Chinese American Church in Sacramento, CA for sending wonderful people to Yokohama. They worked very hard decorating the sanctuary, leading the children in the program, even during the extremely hot and humid weather. When the parents found out that the volunteers came from the States sacrificing their own resources and time, and with the support of their churches, they were utterly in awe. They were amazed at the love of Christ moving people in such a way to give themselves to the little ones in a foreign country! They have never met such people.

Please know that the church here is helped and grateful to God because of you.

During the Summer of 2008, Nathan served on the team that planned for and received the youth exchange group from the churches in Taiwan. It is vital for Japanese Christians to see that they are not alone (despite their small percentage in Japan) and to know that they belong to a vast family of faith. We need to revive such exchange programs between the Japanese and the churches in the U.S.

What is the Manga Messiah and why did receiving a copy in the mail encourage me so much? Manga is a modern Japanese style of illustration which is very popular among the youth all over the world. The other day, just when I was feeling a little bit discouraged, the Lord lifted us. I received a copy of the Manga Messiah. Some of the missionary teachers report that their students could hardly put it down until they had read it cover to cover! I was and am overjoyed, because God allowed me to participate in the Manga Messiah by baptizing Kelly Shinozawa, who would later become the illustrator of this contemporary version of the Gospel. The text is excerpted straight from the Bible, but the illustrations are new and exciting.

We want to purchase several boxes of the Manga Messiah to distribute at the youth center. If you can help us with funding please contact us or RCA Global Missions and donate to Brownell-Program Support. The Manga Messiah is also available for your church in English.

Nathan was was asked to travel to visit, and pray for the parents of a woman whom we had helped when we served in New York City. Through the testimony of God’s work in their daughter's life, the parents now wanted to become Christians! Nathan prayed with them, introduced them to the pastors of a local church, and later attended their baptism. We were overjoyed!

There is a statute of a faithful dog called, Hachiko, at Shibuya train station near Tokyo. As the story goes, the loyal dog waited every evening at the station for his owner to return. One day the owner died and did not return; yet the dog continued to faithfully come to the station every day at the same time for 11 years. 

This statue has become a famous meeting place. It is ironic that this statue to a faithful but lonely dog, has become such a meeting place. Today so many Japanese are lonely even in crowds of Shibuya. It is not strange for God to make such a lonely place as the cross, a great gathering place.

You are not alone

Imagine how lonely Mary (the mother of Jesus) must have felt when pregnant out of wedlock. Who would stand with her now? Imagine how alone Joseph (the adoptive father of Jesus) must have felt when he was told, 'There is no room in the inn', even in his hometown. And what must they have felt, when an angel ordered them to flee their homeland, until it would be safe for their return? 

Imagine how alone in the crowd Joseph and Mary must have felt, when they realized Jesus was missing. They found Jesus in the temple, but until then what did they feel? 

Imagine how alone in the garden Jesus felt, when his closest friends could not stay awake to pray. Imagine what Simon of Cyrene felt, as he was forced to carry Jesus' cross on the last part of the journey to the hill of crucifixion. 

When Jesus cried out from the cross, "My God, My God why have your forsaken me?" He was quoting the first line of the Psalm 22. By this he was calling to mind the whole rest of that Psalm and many of the people would have known those verses well. In those days teachers would call out the first few lines and the people could respond with the rest of passage -- it was an oral culture. Please take a moment to read the rest of Psalm 22. While the lament continues and does not soften the description of the agony. Notice how it ends. "You, who fear the Lord, Praise Him! And stand in awe of Him for He did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from me but heard when I cried to Him … Posterity will serve Him. Future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim His deliverance to a people yet unborn…" (Psalm 22:23-24; 22:30-31). 

The Good News of the Gospel is that God turns even the cross -- the place of total abandonment and lonliness -- into the greatest gathering place. At the cross we are never alone.

Since we have three sons, I have been watching some Japanese children’s animations. One animation that is special is called “Anpanman”. It is about a baker and his assistant who sing, “Give us living bread”. As they sing and bake their bread comes to life as a superhero. This hero is called “Anpanman” (pan means bread in Japanese and "an" means sweet bean). AnPanMan always comes to the rescue of those who cry out for help when they are being teased by the bully, Baikinman (germ boy). Anpanman rescues others by sharing a piece of his own sweetbread face with those in need. Often Anpanman gets beaten up in battles with "Germ boy" or he is exhausted from sharing a part of his face but then the baker makes him a new face and he is revived. 

I recently shared at our school chapel service about the connection between Anpanman and our “Living Bread.” It seems that many had not noticed the connection. 

The author of this hugely popular animation is a Christian. Many teachers and parents were inspired upon learning of this connection to the gospel. Most importantly many of my students translated the core of the message back into Japanese.

This is the power of what we call “redemptive analogies” connecting points already embeded in the culture. The Anpanman animation series began some 40 years ago and is known by most children and young parents. It has become a part of the common culture from which we can share.

May The Lord continue to bless Mr. Takashi Yanase the author of Anpanman. His work is truly an inspiration.

Typhoon #9 blew directly over our area. Everything was shut down for about 24hours. It was quite a storm, but fortunately we were protected by a grove of Himalayan Cedars. These cedars were planted generations ago by the early missionaries. It is our prayer that the seeds of faith we plant today will grow in the hearts of the youth we serve. We pray that they would become great leaders who will be strong enough to face  whatever comes -- bending but not breaking -- protecting many lives.