I am in Japan

I've made it to Japan. I arrived on May 27th since then I've gone through a day of orientation, moved out to Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC) and have found an apartment and moved in. Getting all of my paperwork in order has gone very smoothly. In the last few days I've registered my address with the city office, opened a bank account and now have a cell phone. All I really need to do now is transfer my driver’s license.

Monday, June 17th, will be the start of Joy Bible Camp our ministry to English speaking children.  Our theme this year is Treasured from beginning of Isaiah 43:40; "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you." Please pray for safety as we have fun and share the love of Jesus.

I've had the opportunity for the last two weeks to attend Ozaku Christ Church. It has been a privilege to be a part of this Christian community. I'll be involved attending there and participating as much as possible when it doesn't contradict with my obligations at OBC.

Your Brother in Christ,

Karl Friesen

Spring Update

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

It’s been a very long time since I last wrote an update. In my update last fall, I informed my supporters that SEND and my mentor thought it would be beneficial for me to take a season of mentorship; we have worked through Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby this past winter. It’s been a very good time of refocusing on God.

The quotes that stood out the most to me while working through Experiencing God were about the importance of my relationship with God and how I can’t be passive about it;

“God loves you. He wants to have an intimate relationship with you. He wants you to depend on Him when you seek a word from Him. He wants you to learn to hear His voice and know His will. Your relationship with Him is key to hearing when God speaks to you.”

“Remember, you will know what you should do through your relationship with God. Never bypass the relationship.”

“He may want to develop a deeper relationship with you before He gives you your next assignment. He may have you wait because the timing is not right.”

While reading through Psalms and Proverbs in my devotions, during my time in Experiencing God, I read in Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT); My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

For me this has been a season of discipline; no, I wasn’t a “bad” child of God but I wasn’t a “good” child of God either. It was a time when I heard God telling me to smarten up, put my focus back on Him and how He wants me do that. God doesn’t only discipline his children when they are morally wrong, he also has the right to correct us if he thinks there is an opportunity for improvement. It is our choice to respond to the correction that God brings into our lives. At first I knew I needed to submit to the authority of the Personnel Director and my mentor; now I’m grateful for this growing opportunity that has resulted.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

Last fall while taking time to refocus, my previous Certificate of Entry(COE) papers expired so at the beginning of March a fresh application was sent to Japan.  This has been an act of affirmation for me from the SEND personnel department and the SEND Japan office that I’m ready to serve in Japan. The application is for a 27 month term starting by June 1st, which, means I’ll be in Japan for 3 summer seasons at Okutama Bible Chalet to fully use my experience in camp ministry. During my last long-term service in Japan I found that the last three months were the best because I knew what to expect and l liked knowing what to expect. I’m anticipating a similar experience this next term. I am looking forward to the opportunity of serving the church in Japan as well.

Currently I am working at EV Logistics as a product selector which means I drive a motorized pallet jack, selecting product and stacking skids of perishable food for the Overwaitea Food Group. Most days I’m working in the freezer and I am really starting to enjoy the job. I have passed my probation period which is an answer to prayer.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY SUPPORT?

I have been asked this question a number of times. The short answer is that it is still accumulating in an account designated for me once I arrive in Japan. The long answer is these funds will be first used for initial costs (flight, accommodations...) and the balance will be divided by 27 and will become monthly support. 

Since my arrival was cancelled in the fall I put aside all of my networking activities. My desire is to do the Father’s will. Please pray for me as I reconnect with my supporters and that I will honour Him in how I network during these last months.

August Update - I have the Go

Three Months to Go

Please permit me to share some really good news; I have received the “GO” from the SEND Japan office to go to Japan this fall. The last several weeks SEND Canada, SEND Japan and I have been in communication with each other about my anticipated arrival in Japan. In my last update I indicated that I needed to raise just under half of my monthly financial support; no, I do not have 100% of my support, however, SEND Japan is inviting me to serve at Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC) in Tokyo for a 2-year term while several full-time staff are on consecutive home service 2 years.

I will be serving at OBC and doing language studies part-time so a large portion of my out-going support that was designated for 2 years of full-time language studies has been freed up for other areas of my ministry support. There is still a need for financial support totaling $8792 over the next 2 years (or $365 per month for 2 years). This is very exciting for me.

At the end of the two-year term I am hoping to continue ministry in Japan as a “tent maker”, one who financially provides for his own ministry, by teaching English. This is not the “ideal” situation but through discussions with friends and trusted advisers this past month it seems that this may be the direction God is leading me. A job as an English kindergarten teacher during the weekday could potentially free my evenings and weekends for ministry and connecting with the Japanese people.

While I writing this letter, the visa application forms from the SEND Japan office have arrived!!! I will complete the forms and forward them to the SEND Japan office where the process will be completed. My understanding is that it can take 1.5 to 3 months before I get the approved documents and then I take them to the Japanese consulate in Vancouver for my Visa to be stamped in my passport. So, sometime in the next 3 months I will be on a plane to Japan. The last time I went to serve in Japan for more than a year was Sept. 26, 2006. It’s hard for me to believe that it has been 6 years since I first really met and got to know Japanese people one on one.  Through those relationships my heart desires more than ever to see the Japanese national church grow even more.

PLANTS in Toronto

This month I’ll be going to Toronto for the Principles of Language Acquisition: Natural Tools & Strategies (PLANTS), this course will prepare me to learn Japanese in the most efficient way for me.  While in Toronto I have made plans to connect with a number of Japanese churches in the area. I am looking forward to sharing with a new community of believers of where God is leading me to serve in Japan.

On another note…a little less than a year after demolition started on Family House at Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC), the new Ome House its replacement, is now complete; the keys were handed over on August 6^th. Ome House will provide new office space and another floor of dorms that the previous building didn’t have.

Please Pray

• That the visa application process will go smoothly
• The last of my financial support will come in quickly
• Wisdom and God’s leading as I share during these last months here in Canada

The other day I posted a blog by Megumi Glosson on my Facebook page, about 違う, chigau, the Japanese word for different and wrong.  She wrote that because there is no difference between these words in the Japanese language, there is a strong negative view of being different. In Japanese culture because of 違う, chigau, there is a very strong sense of community and conformity, which results in a morality based on the group rather than the individual’s values. Also, since being different is looked down upon, standing out as a Christian can be difficult in Japan. One of my friends asked me after reading Megumi's blog, “if the church has difficulty with contextualization?” My natural reaction to the question would be yes, but now I think I am wrong…here are my thoughts…

Because community is so important to the Japanese, the church strives to build community for its members. One example I have seen in all but one church I have visited is that the congregants have a meal together after every service as a way of building community.

Another way the church has tried to be culturally relevant is by using popular media to reach their nation. Manga (comics) is one of the most popular mediums for entertainment in Japan and has covered every genre, from classic folk tales to adult entertainment. The Bible has been produced into a number of manga volumes.  The Manga Bible has become a very useful evangelistic tool and I’ve met people that have become seekers through reading the Manga Bible. Christian stories have also been produced by manga artists. In popular music the worship band Growing Up has produced great worship music for the Japanese. They are known to use traditional Japanese instruments which are being popularized by contemporary artists.

In the summer of 2007, Power to Change alongside the Japanese church put on their own “Power to Change” outreach campaign in Japan called Power for Living which was very similar to the Power to Change campaign in North America in the mid 1990‘s. For this campaign they produced television commercials and a book that included the testimonies of well-known Christians in Japan as an evangelistic tool.

These are just a few examples of how I believe the church in Japan is trying not to appear 違う, chigau, from those in the communities around them.

Check out my Financial Blog to see my support stats.

I also posted a video this month, I hope you enjoy a Quick May Update.

Your brother in Christ,

Karl Friesen

May Update

March Update

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

A must watch

Very good video on ministry after disaster and hope in Christ.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/June/After-Japan-Quake-Pastor-Finds-New-Purpose/