CELL CHURCH PLANTING
In my past updates I’ve talked about the effectiveness of camp ministry; having said this however, it has become clear to me that camp ministry is not church but a tool that can be used to build the church.
At both the Member Orientation Program (MOP) and the Reaching Japanese for Christ (RJC) conference there were sessions about cell church planting. At RJC Richard Nakamura, a fellow SEND missionary to Japan, shared of his experience in a cell church plant in East Tokyo. He and his wife focus their ministry on discipleship and mentoring the people in their faith. One aspect of their ministry is to train others to share their story so they can go out into the community and share their faith. The purpose is not to bring people to "church" but to bring Jesus to the people. There are many dysfunctional families in Japan; the Nakamura’s hope is that a close, small group environment models what healthy relationships can look like. When they meet together, they study the Word in participatory Bible studies, they pray, sing and encourage each other, etc. Their house church plant started in Shin-Koiwa and has grown into a network of four churches. Although each house church is independent, the network is important, they depend on and hold each other accountable, they encourage and support one another.
SEND’s mission statement is “to mobilize God’s people to engage the unreached in order to establish reproducing churches”. Whether through camp or in a cell church, our mission is to establish reproducing churches. Would you help me join the frontline team in establishing reproducing churches?
JUNE DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER
Determining a departure date –
- SEND Japan asks missionaries to arrive a few weeks before the beginning of language school
- The visa process takes 3 months and is needed before departure
- The visa process cannot begin before the missionary is at 85% of required support.
My departure date –
- I need to arrive in mid September for language school in October
- I need to begin the visa process in June
- I need another $1,800 pledged to bring me to 85%.
Prayer Requests:
- The continued relief effort in northern Japan and that Christ will be spoken of boldly there.
- That I’ll continue to seek God’s guidance as I learn about cell church planting in Japan.
- That people will prayerfully consider becoming involved with me in ministry to the Japanese through prayer and finances.
Your Brother in Christ,
Karl Friesen
