Fukushima

[Bethanie Frick]

Partnering with a small church in Fukushima city, two of my friends are seeking to open doors for ministry. They haven't yet joined this group, but they do have a blog: http://byfaithinfukushima.blogspot.com

There are churches in Fukushima, but they don't usually want to work together. My friends are there in a really small church where at least the pastor is excited to work with other churches, and there is at least one other church with the same mindset. Prayers for unity among the Christians in Fukushima, and prayers that the students who are beginning to attend the English school might be brought to faith.

[Cindy Charlton]

I am Cindy, one of the missionaries in Fukushima, and a friend of Betsy's (the wonderful girl who started this group).  This morning I was praying and felt a familiar frustration that I didn't have a place/vehicle for sharing praises and specific prayers for life and ministry here in Fukushima.  I knew I wasn't supposed to just create "another website" or Google group, which is always my tendency, but I didn't know what to do.  I gave it to God and moved on with checking emails.  There was an email from Pray! that I opened (with the intention of scanning it and then deleting it).  I clicked on the link to the site because I realized I hadn't checked it out in awhile and had forgotten what was even on it.  I started looking around and realized it was exactly what I was looking for...a "facebook for pray-ers", so I updated my status update and moved on.  Later I thought, "but I really need a group specific to Japan and the ministry here" and so started searching the existing groups, having forgotten that Betsy had already started a group exactly like that...months ago!  I didn't realize I hadn't joined when she invited me in August.  However, I am today praising God and laughing at his wonderful ability to go before and prepare the way...and then guide and direct us to those preparations when the time is ready.

 

Looking forward to seeing how God uses each of us and this group to intercede for the people and ministry in Japan.  

[Bethanie Frick]

Prayers for the members of Fukushima church. Recently, the pastor and missionaries organized a week of 24 hour-a-day prayer. It was a blessing to the community in many ways, but there was not a lot of participation by the members. My prayer is that the members would grow stronger and more mature in their walk with Christ, that they would know Christ's love so abundantly that they would take joy in prayer and praise, and in the unique ways God has equipped each of them to serve in His kingdom.

See the blog, linked above, for a firsthand account of the week of prayer.