Article from INVISION: A bi-monthly e-newsletter of Mission to the World

Opening the Doors for the Gospel in Japan

Following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, MTW church-planting teams and partner churches in the Tokyo and Nagoya areas responded quickly to help the people affected by the tsunami. The teams were led by MTW missionaries Dan Iverson, Wayne Newsome, and Japanese pastors Makoto Fukuda and Seima Aoyagi. The stricken area, the Tohoku east coast, is an area of small, coastal fishing villages and small cities. Churches from the Tokyo and Nagoya areas have sent over 100 individual truckloads of relief supplies and volunteer teams, helping stabilize the area. Though government relief efforts have been relatively swift and effective, there are still many people who are homeless or living in temporary shelters. And, as a result of the deaths of approximately 25,000 people, there are now many shattered families and orphaned children. However, there seems to be a new spiritual openness among the Japanese, particularly those directly affected by the tsunami. This openness presents an unprecedented opportunity for MTW missionaries and partners to work in cities virtually untouched by the gospel. Relief efforts have noticeably changed from carrying supplies to carrying love—serving hot meals, performing concerts, playing with children, and simply listening. And as Japanese Church members and missionaries listen, they are making friends and opening doors for long-term relationships. “We have been warmly welcomed by the residents of the region and anticipate an ongoing and lengthy effort to help,” said Bob Drews, assistant team leader of the Chiba team. Only about 0.22 percent of Japanese are evangelical Christians. Most Japanese do not know a Christian and have no knowledge of the Bible, much less of a sovereign and loving God. Moreover, Tohoku is the least-churched area in all of Japan. Currently, there are no Presbyterian Church in Japan (PCJ) works in Tohoku, though MTW is actively working with evangelical churches in the area. The ministry dreams of renting a facility, or purchasing land or a building, establishing a permanent facility for church-planting teams. The facility will provide opportunities to work with children, elderly, and families. The ministry also hopes to jump-start future business ventures. “Having a physical footprint in a community is vital to a long-term relationship that can bring the gospel transformation to individuals and communities,” said Drews.

Just 4 months!

October is the goal we've set to leave for Japan!

When you think about it, 4 months really isn't very much time and we still need to raise about $3500 more per month. Or, to put it another way, we need 35 more partners to pledge $100/month (70 at $50, 140 at $25, etc.). It seems like a large amount of money, but it's a small thing to God and we're trusting that He will provide as He always does.

If you have been planning on sending in a pledge card, now would be a very good time to do it :-)

If you have been considering partnering with us, we'd be happy to answer any questions (Triston 704-441-3011, Kim 704-288-9323).

On the homefront, we just returned from a work/vacation trip to the beach. Last week was our denominations General Assembly in Virginia Beach and Triston had the opportunity to help man the MTW Booth in the Exhibit Hall. We had the opportunity to attend a Japan Partnership Meeting/Dinner where we had the privilege of meeting Pastor Makato from Grace City Church Tokyo. He shared with us about all the open doors right now, how God is using believers in Japan and the great need for more helpers because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. MTW's Country Director for Japan, Dan Iverson, was also there and talked about the great need for theological training in Japan. On Thursday we hosted a table at the MTW Luncheon where we met some nice folks from South Carolina and Monterrey, Mexico and also got to spend some time with our former pastor (and friend:-) Patrick Womack. On Friday we drove down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for some family time (and our 16th Anniversary:-) before heading home late Saturday night.

And now it's "moving" time! We have been living in the manse (parsonage) at our church for the past year while the church has been searching for a new pastor. Praise God, He has brought us the man of His choosing and we are so excited! This, however, means we need to move and a very nice family in our church has offered us a home on their property in Mint Hill (only about 20 minutes away from where we're living now). We are quite accustomed to moving (this will be our 9th move in the past 6 and one half years :-) and this will help us "purge" before our move to Japan. The house we are moving to is slightly smaller, so that will also help us to prepare for our quaint little Japanese home (emphasis on little!). We are starting to think about what kinds of things we need/want to take to Japan, what we currently need, what to put in storage, and what to get rid of (hopefully this will be the biggest group!).

It is challenging at times to always be living in such a transitional state, but at the same time it is a good reminder that this is not our "home". The Steven Curtis Chapman song, "Not Home Yet", sums it up well.

"I know there'll be a moment

I know there'll be a place

Where we will see our Savior

And fall in His embrace

So let us not grow weary

Or too content to stay

'Cause we are not home yet"

In Christ,

Triston & Kim Craven

June 10, 2011 - Update from MTW

THE PRESENT
Approximately 25,000 people lost their lives in Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami. And even in the country that is arguably the best prepared and organized for disaster in the world, many of its citizens are still homeless, living in shelters, or houses unfit for habitation. The Tohoku East Coast, made up of small coastal fishing villages and small cities is also the least churched. Many people are leaving, except in Sendai, a city of 1.4 million and Ishinomaki with a population of 160,000.

The Presbyterian Church of Japan (PCJ) has no churches in the area, but there are a few other evangelical churches with whom they can partner. Relief efforts have changed from carrying supplies to carrying love. MTW missionaries and Japanese church members are serving hot meals, performing concerts, playing with children, giving massages, and just listening. And they are making friends and opening doors for long-term relationships.

PICTURE OF THE FUTURE?
(as stated by MTW country director Dan Iverson)
Our church-planting teams and the PCJ are all praying that God will open doors for the gospel in Japan as never before.

We are praying about renting a good facility or even purchasing land and building. Having a physical footprint in a community is vital to a long-term relationship that can bring gospel transformation to individuals and communities.

So far, we are concentrating on the area around Ishinomaki. We plan to have a full time staff member, a permanent facility, and eventually, a church-planting team there. We hope to have many short-term teams come. We have opportunities to work with children, elderly, families, and perhaps even jump-starting business ventures.

Also see Dan’s video “Should We Leave Japan?” http://vimeo.com/24201609

PRAY
In addition to the dreams mentioned by Dan, please pray for the commitment, stamina, and health of the MTW teams in Japan and for the members of the PCJ who are struggling to answer God’s call and respond to the door He has opened.

Thank you for giving and praying!

Update from our teammates in Japan

Relief Work Update

Our team will be leading a trip up to northern Japan the week of June 20-24... The amazing aspect of this trip is the group was invited as Christians to come into the public schools to speak and do crafts with the children. In Japan this was shocking to our veteran team leaders (20+ years in Japan) an amazing opening by God. Please pray for wisdom as the group prepares for this trip. Pray for this to not only continue to be an avenue for evangelism amongst those suffering in northern Japan but to also be a way for other Japanese Christians to display Christ's love to others through acts of mercy ministry. We are seeing first hand many hearts softened to the Gospel and God using this horrific event to strengthen and mobilize his church. Reaching out has been a great weakness in Japanese churches and praise God for growing his Church in this area!

Please Pray!

This is part of a recent email from an MTW missionary serving in Tokyo who has been making trips up to the tsunami affected area.

"The Holy Spirit was so obviously moving on those trips. There is no other explanation for the openness of the people and the clear healing taking place. On the other hand, there is also an obvious spiritual battle going on around the community of Tsukuda/Tsukishima. The town is literally divided over whether or not to partner with or even associate with Christians. Three separate individuals have gone to the retirement home where we have been storing supplies telling them to stop because Christians are dangerous. Our closest Japanese friends have been in long meetings every day from vocal members of the community who want them to stop working with us. Many arguments between friends. This is taking up a lot of people’s time and energy. Please pray!"

Our battle is not against flesh and blood. The people of Japan have been in bondage for centuries and Satan is not going to give up the battle without a fight. But he ultimately knows the war has already been won and he is defeated!

Please pray for these Japanese Christians who are experiencing persecution because they are proclaiming the name of Jesus and pray that they will remain steadfast in their boldness!

Update from Triston - Still in Iowa!

Hey all,

Thanks so much for your many prayers. It has been really neat to see God at work here in Iowa. Things have fallen in place in a way I could never have arranged them. The connections that I've made have been very encouraging and not just in ways of financial support, but hearts that are sincere about the Great Commission.

Yesterday I met with a pastor that knows a Japanese man who has been coming to the US once a year for the past 25 years on business. When he comes he stays with them and as a result has been converted to the Christian faith. He is now expressing an interest in seminary. I have the privilege of introducing him to some of our team in Japan and hopefully making some positive connections that will bring about fruit in Japan. This is exciting as this is what we want to see in Japan. Japanese men being called into the ministry for the sake of evangelism throughout Japan. Very few Japanese men are even Christian.

I have met many Christians here in Iowa that are serious about the advancement of God's Kingdom among the nations and that is encouraging!

What better desire to have in our hearts than to see Christ exalted among the peoples of the world where there are no Christians or where the Church is so small, so frail, and so non-missional that it is unrecognizable. May we long to see the supremacy of Christ in ALL things to the joy of ALL peoples - okay I've been listening to a lot of Piper on this trip :-)

It has been good and I appreciate your prayers and support. Also thank you for keeping Kim and the girls in your prayers. I'm off to Holland now (Holland, Iowa that is).

In Christ,

Triston

58%

Praising God for new partners bringing us to 58%!!!

Here is the latest update from MTW:

May 9, 2011 - Help Japan Update from MTW

Would you be surprised to know that more than 30,000 Japanese commit suicide every year? That is double the number of Japanese who have been confirmed dead, so far, in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Japan has one of the highest per capita rates of suicides in the industrialized world, and some experts believe the numbers are much higher than previously thought. The number of suicides is rising every year, with depression given as the most common cause. While many factors contribute to this deadly toll, it is clear that Japan is in spiritual crisis.

The tsunami has come and gone, leaving devastation in its wake. Even though the shock and immediacy has passed, the larger crisis will not be over for a long time, and our teams in Japan are still working to minister to the survivors. The earthquake did terrible damage, especially to the east coast nuclear reactors, and believers are braving the dangers to reach out those who live within the reactors’ shadows. They are traveling to the tsunami area and cooking hot meals. They are coaxing out personal stories, weeping with those who weep, sharing the hope of Christ, and praying for fruit. And they are seeking God as they develop a long-term strategy in response to the recent events. But none of the damage that stretches for miles and miles is as severe as the increasingly chronic loss of hope by many of the Japanese people. And fewer than .5 percent know the true hope for the world—the hope found only in Christ and the gospel.

Rebuilding homes, businesses, and lives is important, but the single most critical need is to build the Church of Christ in Japan.

Would you continue to pray for the believers as they reach out with the gospel in word and in deed? And would you pray that this would truly be that longed-for day of opportunity in which God will open the hearts of many Japanese people.

Thank you for caring for Japan!