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JAPAN MINISTRY and PRAISE REPORT!
Volume XXXXVI I No. 2 |
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The Good Samaritan
Church in Japan.
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It was a joy to return to Japan after having a
wonderful time of ministry in Guatemala. (See
the last two Good News reports here.)
We had not been back to Japan since we dedicated
the new Church building in Sumoto over a year ago. |
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People gathering in church to receive from the Lord! |
The last part of this mission trip, we had the
privilege of dedicating the new parsonage.
Though it was completed early this year,
missionaries Jim and Darla Snipe said they would wait until we came
back to Japan as they wanted us to do the blessing upon the
parsonage and home. |
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Tony Abram with Aoki sensei interpreting at 25th Anniversary.
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Jim Snipe opens the 25th with the blowing of the Shofar. |
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However, first we held the 25th year anniversary
of the Good Samaritan Church in Kawanishi, located just outside of
Osaka, Japan. Marge and I are ‘Honorary Pastors’ of the church,
school and ministry.
We promised Aoki sensei and the church five
years previously, when we did the 20th year anniversary, that we
would do the 25th. These past 5 years went by so quickly.
The ‘River of Time’ flows quickly and they now
asked us to their 30th. We said, God willing, we would.
We also spoke at their first Sunday afternoon
English service led by Martha Heimsoth. |
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Left - Tony and Aoki sensei in a joyful event Center - Tony
and Marge with the Yamamotos. She is one of the best cooks in Japan.
Right - Martha leading praise and worship. |
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There were about 50 in attendance. In Japan
there are many that are trying to learn English. I said that
this can be a ‘net’ to win Japanese to Christ. They can not
only get a free English lesson but also hear the Gospel. |
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Christmas Service where many Christians came from all over the
Island. |
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Over the years, we have made some very wonderful
friends in Japan.
Jim and Darla had 10,000 of the handbills
given out in the surrounding area of their church for the meetings
where we experienced the blessings of the Lord.
Darla Snipe interpreted for us. Marge also
helped her in their new kindergarten school.
They only have a few but it will grow and the
effect will be whole families will be saved.
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They celebrate
Christmas service early in the month of December. |
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In the photos you can see the Church building
that we dedicated last year, now they have a lovely parsonage
standing beside it.
After the Sunday morning, we gathered outside
and blessed and dedicated the house with the promises of God. Each
one of the congregation came by and laid their hands, praying over
the building. |
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Sumoto Chapel with new
Parsonage. |
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Left - Tony preaching with Darla.
Center - Marge singing is a blessing, note: she has Japanese
slippers on her feet.
Right - Jim and Darla Snipe |
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Since the writing of this report, we heard from
Jim Snipe that the final payment was made on Church and Parsonage
and it is now debt free. The land, building and parsonage cost a
total of just over one million US dollars. (110 million Japanese
Yen).
Jim and Darla believe that this is a miracle
and give God all the Glory and Praise.
Pray for the ministry in Japan. The Japanese
are much like the Laodicean Church in: Because thou sayest, I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: Rev 3:17 (KJV)
They need a National Revival. |
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Left - Tony dedicating the Parsonage. Right
- Marge with 3 of the Kindergarten children
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Sumoto Chapel, Japan |
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Pray also for us as we try to reach as many
as we can in these last days.
God bless you and yours is our daily prayer.
Tony and Marge Abram. |
