Dear family,
Following on from Senior Pastor Lawrence’s thoughts last week, I would like to share more about our trip to the ‘Land of the Rising Son’.
Before Pastor Rick Seaward passed away, he and Senior Pastor Lawrence planned out a concerted outreach strategy for Japan through LoveSingapore, as a way to reach this 99% unsaved nation, which totals more than 125 million Japanese. So in June, Senior Pastor Lawrence and I went to visit Hope Church in Chiba, Japan – a trip that was planned with Pastor Rick before his fatal trip to Brazil. Despite Pastor Rick’s departure, we proceeded with the planned trip together with his son, Pastor Jeremy Seaward, in loving memory of his great commitment to missions.
Our meeting with Pastor Steven Kaylor of Hope Church was set for Tuesday, so we decided to use the preceding weekend to visit FCBC Sendai and FCBC Yokohama. It was such a heartwarming and uplifting experience to see Pastors Caleb and Christina again, as well as to meet the Japanese and other international disciples worshipping there. On Sunday, Senior Pastor Lawrence preached on “Dreaming God’s Dream” at FCBC Yokohama. Later that evening, over a potluck dinner fellowship, Pastor Caleb recounted how God led us to that ideal venue to plant FCBC Yokohama. It was our first time visiting FCBC Yokohama, and we were in awe of God’s favour upon us.
The next day, we visited Hongodai Christian Church, which was less than an hour’s travel by Shinkansen from Yokohama. There, we witnessed FCBC’s impact upon that church since our International Cell Group Conference days, before we became a G12 church! This church is now pastored by Pastor Keishi Ikeda, who took over from his father. What was most amazing to us was how Pastor Ikeda Senior had modelled his church after FCBC – a cell church with a community service arm. God has blessed his church since, with the latest addition of a soccer field and an Argentinian soccer coach. Pastor Ikeda is now working hard to achieve the dream God gave him in 2014, his 10 x 10 dream – to see 10 million Christians in Japan within the next 10 years!
Wow! What an awesome testimony! I hope both Senior Pastor Lawrence and I have given you a good glimpse of what God is doing in Japan. I believe that Japan will certainly become the land of His rising Son!
- Senior Pastor Nina Khong