What ministries are parents of my English 10 students involved in?

• A café in Tokyo that hosts concerts and art showings to attract non-Christian Japanese and introduce them to Jesus.
• A seminary that prepares the next generation of pastors for the Church in Japan.
• Continuing outreach to the survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Many are still living in temporary housing in devastated towns where harbors and fields still need to be cleaned up, and where industries are still struggling to recover.
• Churches being planted in Tokyo and throughout Japan.

Without leaving my classroom, I am part of these ministries. How is that possible? My classroom is where I teach the children of the missionaries doing these things and more. And by helping to educate their children, I free up these missionary parents to share the Gospel in Japan.
 
What are those children doing in my classroom? When I asked them to write about what happens in my class, one student responded, “In English…the teacher…is trying to teach us how to interpret clues and hidden meanings in books. We learn how to write descriptive, engaging pieces of writing, and we learn how to discuss and collaborate with other classmates. Most importantly, we learn how to connect what we are learning to God and to life.”
 
It’s a great job, and I love it.
 
Thank you for partnering with us to make a difference in the lives of students at CAJ and in the lives of Japanese who are ministered to by CAJ parents.


Thanks for praying

• Ask God to help CAJ parents minister effectively.
• Praise God for providing the energy staff needed to prepare for the 2012 accreditation visit. On Nov. 15, staff completed several reports.

What’s happening?

• Nov. 24: We celebrate Thanksgiving with our mission at our home.
• Nov. 29: Kim’s students submit essays on a biblical basis for human dignity.
• Nov. 30: CAJ staff develop the school improvement plan.
• Dec. 5: Michael facilitates a curriculum meeting.

—Kim

God is using His people! Ralph, a missionary whose kids graduated from CAJ, was driving relief supplies to a designated relief center. When he arrived, he was told his supplies were not needed. As he left and drove down the road, Ralph asked God what to do with the supplies. God told him to turn left. Ralph turned left and arrived in an area that had been overlooked by relief efforts. People in the neighborhood were glad to see Ralph and asked him how he found them. Ralph told them about God's direction. 

CAJ students are applying a biblical perspective! Thursday afternoon, CAJ's 47 seniors gave 20-minute presentations in which they applied a biblical perspective to issues like teenage alcoholism, child soldiers, human trafficking, deforestation, learning disabilities, and consumerism.

Please keep praying:

• Praise God that Christians (like Ralph) are able to provide effective relief for earthquake/tsunami victims and share the Gospel.
• Ask God to stabilize the nuclear plants.
• Praise God that we're having good family time with Caitlin.
• Ask God to help CAJ finish well. The last day of classes is June 9.

We're grateful for your prayers, gifts, and friendship.

—Michael and Kim

Michael and Kim, what has God been teaching you?
Michael: God’s been teaching me that He can use any situation for our good. For example, I had to be in the US for 6 months (Feb. 11-August 14) to comply with the US/Japan social security agreement. And being in the US involved job disruption and family separation. (Anneke and Kim joined me in late April). Though the situation was not optimal, God used it for our good—we got to see family and supporters, the girls got their wisdom teeth out, and Caitlin got her driver’s license.
 
Kim: To be thankful in all circumstances. I found it hard to be thankful when (due to Michael being in the US) I couldn’t be with him or finish last school year. But God helped me. Instead of being apart from Michael until the end of April, God made it possible for me be with Michael for 2 weeks in March. God also provided a good long-term substitute for my classes. Concentrating on God and His provision helped me be thankful.
 
Kim, what are some highlights from 2010?
Michael enjoyed seeing family and supporters while on home assignment. He also enjoyed helping CAJ implement its school improvement process, publishing four 7-lesson teacher training kits, and helping missionaries refine and implement ministry plans.
 
For me, highlights include seeing my English 10 students improve their thinking and reading skills, facilitating a book discussion for teachers on helping students collaborate effectively, and helping secondary English teachers review and refine course objectives.
 
Michael, what are your goals for 2011?
Kim is focusing on helping CAJ students collaborate effectively and helping CAJ teachers align course objectives and assessments.
 
I’m preparing for CAJ’s 6-year school accreditation visit, helping teachers integrate faith and learning, and helping missionaries set ministry goals.

Thanks for praying:

• Praise God for providing an English/social studies teacher for next year. Ask God for secondary teachers for English/social studies, math/science, and resource room.
• Ask God to help Michael prepare effectively for his March 16-18 accreditation visit to Kyoto International University Academy, a bilingual Christian school.
• Ask God for good health. February is cold and flu season in Japan.

What’s happening?

• Jan. 24- Feb. 18: Kim’s students study poetry.
• Feb. 8: Kim and Michael attend a 2-hour curriculum meeting.
• Feb. 16: Michael works with Bible teachers to refine course objectives.

How many reasons are there for doing missions in Japan? Over 126 million, each one a Japanese who has not yet accepted Jesus. Thanks for being involved in God’s work in Japan.

Please keep praying:

• Ask God to save the Japanese non-Christians who attended the candlelight service held at a church that meets at CAJ on December 23 (see photo).
• Praise God that Caitlin arrived safely—thanks for praying! She'll be with us until January 3.
• Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs secondary teachers (social studies/English, science/math, and resource room).

Merry Christmas! And thanks for being involved in God's work in Japan.

—Michael & Kim

Check out our 4-minute video, Impact Japan for Jesus.

Thanks for praying:

• Praise God that we've finished a draft of training materials designed to help teachers use assessment to help students connect God's world and Word.
• Ask God to help CAJ staff and students to finish the school year well. Classes end on June 8, and staff meetings end on June 11.

—Michael & Kim
P.S. Don't forget to watch our 4-minute video.

We're glad you're involved in God's work in Japan. Want to visit a Japanese church? If so, check out this slideshow.

Thanks for praying:

• Praise God for travel safety as I drove from TN to MI last week.
• Praise God for travel safety as Kim flew from Japan to the US on April 24.
• Ask God for travel safety as Kim & I fly on April 29 to see supporters in Anchorage.

—Michael
P.S. Don't forget to check out the slideshow of a Japanese church (see sample photo below).

I'm excited about Japanese getting baptized on Easter Sunday, making a video that explains how to help students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches, and sharing about God's work in Japan with supporters in OH, TN, and GA.

Please continue to pray:

• Ask God for travel safety next week as I drive from TN to MI.
• Ask God for travel safety as Kim flies from Japan to the US on April 24.
• Praise God that though we are separated, we have good family unity.

Thanks for being involved in God's work in Japan.

—Michael

Want to learn more about God’s work in Japan? If so, then check out our 4-minute video!

Michael, how did you see God working in 2009? Students at Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) continued applying a biblical perspective. Our mission’s church plants at Higashi Kawaguchi and Hitachinaka became independent churches. And 8 Japanese were baptized at Kurume Bible Fellowship. Thanks for praying.
 
Kim, what did you and Michael do in 2009? At CAJ in English 10, I taught 105 students from 13 countries. During class, my students reflected on questions like “What’s wrong with the world?” and “Who is my neighbor?” I also served as chair of the English Department and chair of a school improvement group that focused on curriculum.
 
Michael coached CAJ staff and missionaries, trained CAJ staff in how to increase personal productivity and in how to teach from a biblical perspective, and helped CAJ and 2 missions with organizational improvement by providing consulting and web-based resources, including 19 tutorials.
 
What has God been teaching you?

• Kim: Thankfulness for His blessings—family, friends, colleagues, students, and so much more.
• Michael: To pray—particularly for family and for the leaders I help.

Please continue to pray:

• Ask God to help us prepare effectively for home assignment.
• Ask God for a full staff for next year. CAJ needs a technology coordinator and teachers (band, elementary, 8th grade, and home ec).

George Young is a fellow missionary who has served on the board of Christian Academy in Japan. In this video, he shares his ministry.

Here’s a fascinating video by InterVarstiy on the state of Christianity around the world.

We're praising God for the good turnout at the Wednesday night Christmas candlelight service of a church that meets at CAJ. Quite a few newcomers attended and heard the good news of Jesus Christ. Thanks for praying! 

Japanese need the good new of Jesus at Christmas. They don't understand the real celebration. They focus on New Year's, when millions and millions of Japanese go to the temple.

Thanks for praying:

• Ask God to draw Japanese non-Christians to Himself through the special events CAJ parents are doing.
• Praise God that Caitlin arrived safely and that we're having good family time.
• Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, and elementary) and a technology coordinator.

Merry Christmas! And thanks for being involved in God's work in Japan!

Praise God that several Japanese women were baptized last Saturday. One shared, "From now on I want to learn more about Jesus' teachings, and worship Him, and follow Him."

Praise God that Kim's students are responding to the questions Kim asks. Here's how 1 student responded to a short-answer test question, "What is the Cultural Mandate?": "The Cultural Mandate says, 'Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it.' We are to develop the social world (schools, governments, families, law, etc.) and use what we can from God’s creation to create culture and civilization."

Praise God that Hitachinaka, a church started by our mission, will go independent on Monday, October 12. 

Ask God to help the 10th graders grow as leaders. During their upcoming leadership unit that Michael helped design, the 10th graders will focus on 4 key questions: How can you be an effective servant leader? What do you learn about God through studying His creation? What is wrong with the world? How can you make a difference?

Watch kids perform "Jesus Loves Me" on Pentecost Sunday at a church in Tokyo, Japan. Our mission started this church.

On your 4-minute trip to Japan, you'll meet Kazu and hear his testimony, attend mini CAJ teacher workshop led by Michael, and get the flavor of Japanese culture from seeing the kinds of ads posted on trains  and in train stations. To take your 4-minute trip to Japan, just click the 3 links. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for praying!

• Praise God that Kim's work on her English 10 curriculum went well. She was able to further emphasize creation-fall-redemption, particularly in her introductory unit.
• Ask God to help new CAJ staff and students make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ. New staff orientation begins Monday, August 17. Classes begin Wednesday, August 26.

We're grateful for you prayers, gifts, and friendship.

Here’s a description of the June 27 gathering for house church members that Steve Weemes led. Steve is one of the missionaries that Michael helps through coaching/consulting. Michael helped Steve plan the gathering.

Imagine that you’re serving a house church. It’s challenging work. To do that work, you need ETA:

• Encouragement
• Training
• Accountability to apply your training

It’s June 27, and you’ve traveled 2 hours to attend an ETA gathering. You’re hot and tired. You’re sitting in a circle with 9 other Christians involved in house churches. And you’re glad you came because you’ll get to talk with others about evangelizing the lost. Read More...

What did Kim's students learn during the poetry unit?

• “God values poetry….the Bible is full of poetry...that uses a lot of parallelism.”—Korean student
• “Poetry is an important part of many cultures.”—Japanese student
• “Poetry can evoke unwanted and possibly harmful emotions.”—American student

How are participants in Michael's 2/27 workshop applying what they learned?

• “I am starting to reevaluate the things I am doing to see if they fit with my God-given mission.”
• “Today made me think about how to relate my day-to-day activities with God’s calling.”

Thanks for praying!

• Praise God that Mari will be baptized at a mission post on April 5.
• Praise God that the March 2-3 accreditation visit went well. The visiting team was pleased with CAJ's progress.
• Praise God for providing teachers for next year (Bible, learning resource center). Ask God to provide teachers for next year (secondary science and math; elementary classroom and ESL).

Kim, how did you see God working in 2008?
Japanese were baptized, including 7 adults at Kurume Bible Fellowship and Mrs. Tanzawa (Kim’s former English conversation class student). Our mission post at Higashi Kawaguchi continued moving toward independence (scheduled for this spring). And CAJ students continued applying a biblical perspective. Thanks for praying.
 
Michael, what did you and Kim do in 2008?
I provided biblical perspective training for teachers at CAJ, coached over 20 CAJ staff and other missionaries, helped 2 missions with strategic planning, facilitated a network of cell church planters, and published articles in Christian School Teacher and Japan Harvest.
 
Kim helped her English 10 students connect the literature they studied and what the Bible teaches, further developed her curriculum, served as English Department chair, and led a CAJ teacher workshop on reading strategies.
 
What has God been teaching you?
Kim: To trust Him with my kids’ lives—especially Caitlin’s, as she has gone off to college. Caitlin’s just as much in God’s hands when she is far away from me in Canada as she was when she was near me in Japan.
 
Michael: To be patient—at times I want God to work faster, and I’m learning that God’s timing is perfect.

We had a missionary family over for lunch and then spent the afternoon together as a family. It's really great having Caitlin home.

God continues to work in Japan! Praise God...

• That on Dec. 21 at our Hitachinaka mission post, Hiroshi was baptized and Akiko reaffirmed her faith and joined the church.
• That on Dec. 23 at Kurume Bible Fellowship's candlelight service, the real meaning of Christmas was presented to non-Christian Japanese.
• That on Dec. 25, 6 people joined the church of Rev. Ashida, a Japanese pastor whose son is in Kim's English 10 class at CAJ.

Please ask God...

• For travel safety for Caitlin as she flies back to Toronto on January 2.
• To help Kim prepare effectively for her grammar unit (starting Jan. 6) and to help Michael prepare effectively for assisting a mission with strategic planning (Jan. 7).

I like summer! I'll bet you do, too.

Japanese like summer. Like North Americans, Japanese eat watermelon. But the watermelons are smaller and round (like the watermelon beach ball I'm holding). And Japanese watermelons are sometimes square—that's right, Japanese watermelons are sometimes square.

To see a square watermelon, watch this 27-second video:


Read More...