Jesus laid down His life for us.
And this is how you know it was Christ’s love working in my heart during the three days of our kids camp:
There is simply no other explanation for how I could spend several days handling bugs of all manner, especially the beast picture above.
More photos and stories at sdunited.org.
I hope everyone from Southern California is safe and sound today. I couldn’t believe the news about the earthquake — we used to live in Chino Hills, the epicenter of the quake. My heart aches to protect our daughter; understandably, she was very frightened by her first earthquake but here I am, thousands of miles and an ocean away in Japan.
If you are able to, please remember to keep our Japan team in prayer. We’re heading into the homestretch of our outreach here — I’ll be disconnected as we head out for a three-day children’s camp. Please pray for our team as we seek to share the love of God across language and culture barriers with kids who have no connection with Christ at all. And please lift up a special prayer on my behalf — I’m definitely feeling my age during this trip (and all of this before we even get to camp).
I’ve posted another update with photos at sdunited.org.
…literally. I’m like an overstuffed couch here :)
I posted some photos over at sdunited.org in case you’d like to see a bit of what we’re up to right now.
Greetings from Japan, friends!
I am writing from Katsuta Church in Hitachinaka, outside of Mito City (a bumpy two and a half hour bus ride from Narita International Airport in Tokyo). I am leading a team of five people from our church community in San Diego for a twelve-day outreach in Japan.
While less than 1% of the population here follows Christ, we are privileged to be partnering with a beautiful church here. The congregation here has been nothing but hospitable, warm and gracious — and we see in them a vibrant faith that is often missing back home.
We did not come here with any colonial notions of “bringing Jesus” to the “pagans” of this nation. In fact, we have tried to maintain a missional mindset from the get-go: God is already at work in the world, and we are simply participating in whatever He asks us to do. And it has been very clear that much of our work here will be as learners.
Katstuta Church planted a church in a nearby city, Ohmiya, a couple of years ago. I had the privilege of sharing my testimony there this morning. At first glance, the church might seem small — only about ten adults and four children. However, consider that they are the first and only Christian church in the city. In this light, the two people who have given their lives to Christ and been baptized through the ministry of this church are nothing short of a revolution. Our church has a lot to learn from their example.
One really great phrase I have heard throughout the day here is the word Subarashi for the Gospel. Subarashi can be translated as “wonderful, awesome, great.” I often hear that phrase used in animes — so it definitely tickled my ears to hear it used during a church service. But more than that, I love that image of the message of Christ as wonderful, awesome and great — subarashi news!
I will try posting photos tomorrow (I foolishly left my memory card reader — and camera charger! — at home). Please keep our team and this church in prayer if you have the chance. More updates soon!
Check out the Ecclesia Collective site (just redesigned!) for a new article Jason Evans and I wrote together, What Would Ian Do? In it, we discuss how the punk/DIY movement of the 80s and 90s (which was so formative for both of us) has much to say to those of us longing for a more authentic, grassroots expression of our faith.
headsparks* 