"HE IS RISEN. HE IS RISEN INDEED!" This morning we started our Easter service with this familiar greeting, and ended it with testimonies and baptisms of THREE new believers at our local international church, Kurume Bible Fellowship. We have been privileged to be a part of this congregation since last Fall, where Gerald is able to join Debbie when he isn't scheduled to preach elsewhere.
Next week we look forward to being at Hope Bible Church, where we had the privilege of ministering for several years. Gerald will be preaching and we hope to invite friends this week from the Mitaka area who are NOT going to church anymore. Sometimes it is helpful to be the "visiting" speaker, encouraging people to come to church just because we are only there occasionally.
Janice Lee, a 10-year-old Korean girl to whom Debbie teaches English and Bible, was so excited to find out that Jesus rose from the dead. All this time she thought that Jesus dieing on the cross was the end of the story. She beamed with joy when she realized that Jesus is alive today! Janice always listens so attentively when Deb tells her Bible stories and it is evident that the Holy Spirit is working in her to believe His Word.
At Family Forum Japan (FFJ), the sexual abstinence seminars are keeping the staff busy. Training pastors, youth leaders and church members to effectively teach young people Biblical abstinence is an urgent need both in the church and in Japanese society in general. Please pray that Family Forum can find ways to share this important material to this needy society, perhaps even in schools, opening the door to the Gospel. We're SO thankful for recent gifts that were sent to Family Forum. Paying the salaries of our Japanese staff continues to be a HUGE challenge however. If the Lord lays it upon your heart to partner with us financially in impacting Japanese families for Christ please let us know. We'll be glad to let you know how to participate.
Our gospel choir has grown in number, and hopefully in volume and quality as well. Some Christians from Hope Bible Church have joined this group of young ladies, giving us even more opportunities to share what Jesus means to us.
Our kids are on Spring Break this week in Portland. Alecia is staying with Grandma and Grandpa Reece and Aaron is at his apartment nearby. With Aaron and Amanda's wedding coming up on June 7th, they're getting out invitations, getting their rings fitted, and all those fun things that couples do before their BIG day! The wedding will take place in Singapore at the church where Amanda's dad, Henry Ng, is the senior pastor. Gerald has been asked to give the message. They are expecting about 500 people to attend the wedding, mostly church people and Amanda's relatives, who all live in Singapore. We are so happy that God has provided a wonderful help-mate for Aaron.
Have a Blessed Easter, and may His hope fill you anew.
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