We are searching for a mission team that we can work with to establish our new ministry in Japan. We've started the search, however, it is a long process and there will be many questions along the way. It is an aggressive timetable in which to accomplish many things for this to succeed. We cannot do it alone; we can't do it without God leading the way.

Lord, please connect us with the mission team that we can share in the blessings of furthering Your kingdom's mission. Help us to ask the right questions, give the right answers, and never lose site of the vision You have given us. Make this decision less about what we want, and more about what You want. Your ways are higher than ours. May the team You've chosen for us share in Your vision for Japan and also in our enthusiasm to be a part of it. May the glimpse of Your glory that You've shown us be reflected in the way we live. In the things we say, and in the things we don't say. Listen to our hearts, Lord Jesus, and fan the flames of the Spirit you've given each of us to do Your will. Amen.

Labels: prayer

Crystal, our friend from Florida, invited Weiling and me to the weekly Bible study she attends at the local Starbucks. Phil was kind enough to drop us at the train station where we rode one stop away from Tokyo to meet up. They use the Jesus Life House study guide, and Crystal got to lead the group. Each person took turns reading Bible verses and interacting during the discussion questions.

Something special happened during our gathering that none of us were really expecting. A girl who had been sitting in the booth a few feet from Crystal was reading her magazine and drinking her latte and seemed anxious. Before she went to the washroom, I noticed she didn't have the ubiquitous cell phone appendage to keep her occupied, so I mentioned to Crystal that she should invite the girl to join the study in the future. Crystal introduced herself and struck up a conversation. The girl didn't speak English, but thanked Crystal for the offer and quickly dismissed herself from the store. 10 minutes later, we finished up our study and began our prayer time at the end and, as I was praying aloud, the girl came back in and started talking to Crystal. She asked if this was about religion and Crystal gave the perfect answer. She said "It's not a religion, it's a relationship. And we get together each week to learn about God and our relationship with Him and each other." The girl was surprised. She asked, "What made you decide to talk to me?" Crystal said, "That crazy American over there made me."
Okay, maybe she didn't say it that way, but I was fascinated to see the life come into this complete stranger's eyes as she was talking. She didn't seem as disconnected to reality this time, and she seemed genuinely interested as she probed for more info. Crystal invited her back for next Tuesday's study. Whether she'll come or not, I don't know, but I'll continue to pray that she would consider seeking God as the answer to what's missing in her life.

Labels: outreach

A few weeks before our departure, Goldie, the children's coordinator for CPI asked if I could lead a Bible lesson for the kids. They were going to be learning about the Full Armor of God from Ephesians 6. She was hoping to have me dress as a samurai and talk about the different pieces of the outfit and how it relates to the spiritual battles we face as Christians. Since I had dressed as one of my favorite samurai characters - Amidamaru, I happily accepted the invitation. The trick was going to be the sword.

Bringing a sword (real or fake) through the airport would be a hassle, so I decided it would be best to find one in Japan. Little did I know that they are few and far between. We searched for two days, but to no avail. Finally, I resorted to introducing myself to Yoko, missionary wife of Brian Broaddus, who is fluent in English and Japanese. I explained my predicament, and she helped translate for me as I inquired at the hotel front desk. Management didn't know where to look for a sword, but after a few minutes of asking around, along came Shimanuki-san who worked in the gift shop. He spoke no English and explained that "not possible to get sword without license." I reiterated that it was just for showing to the kids and part of our Bible lesson. In Japanese he said, "Very difficult to find, but will try. Come back tomorrow and I see what find."

In my prayer that night, I said to God that it would be nice if we had a sword to correspond to the Bible passage that reads "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Not a lot of words, but I was trusting fully that if God really wanted me to do this, He'd take care of the details. Well the next morning I met Shimanuki-san at the front and he carefully revealed one of the training swords to me. I was amazed at the blade. It was shiny steel that I could faintly hear the shiiinnngg sound you hear in the movies. He handed me another sword, this one longer than the first, and explained how to draw it from the scabbard. When I asked where to return them to him once the lesson was over, he said "they are gift." Yoko, my new best-friend and translator, had an astonished look on her face as she explained to me that he was, in fact, giving me the two swords. I didn't know how to respond. I mean you can only repeat domo arigatou gozaimasu so many times before you start feeling like a retard, so I thanked him in English and Japanese; bowing like only a stiff American can. Before I could finish thanking him, he also handed me a large poster-size photo of Mt.Fuji which he had taken years earlier. He must have known I was a photo buff, so I continued thanking him.
So here I have two authentic Japanese swords used by samurai to train for battle. If I had any reservations about sharing the message in front of 40 kids while being dressed as a samurai, those fears quickly vanished. Weiling spent the rest of her free time that day finishing the armor which was made of craft foam and cardboard. By the time 7:30pm came around, I was fully equipped to share the lesson and their response was overwhelming. For 20 minutes I shared with all of the kids how to be fully equipped; trusting in God's word for all things. They got a first-hand look at what a Christian warrior might look like fighting the good fight. For the rest of the week, I was referred to as Samurai-san by all the kids.

The next day I presented Shimanuki Sensei with a photo of me in full attire, and he got a kick out of it. He asked me about the second sword and was laughing because I had it on the wrong side. He says both swords should be on the left. I also gave him one of the Jesus video tapes translated in Japanese that we picked up at the conference. After I thanked him several more times and recalled the delight of the children who got to see it, Yoko conveyed to him my desire to be a missionary in Japan. Shimanuki-san asked me to please come back and see him. "One more thing I have to give to you." I hadn't done anything special to warrant his generosity. Clearly the Lord was answering several prayers that day. If God's provision had ended there, I would have still been satisfied, but several other "signs" would be given to Weiling and me in the coming days as evidence of God's desire for us to help feed His sheep in Japan.

Technology can be a good thing (when it works), and we were fortunate enough to be able to communicate between family back in Florida via video conferencing using Skype. It's totally free and uses the web cam on your computer to connect to anyone else who has a free Skype account. What's more is you can send files and text messages during the call. Just another way to stay connected. My Skype address is just garry.kline. Real original - I know, but feel free to hook up if you see me online.

Labels: webtech

On November 2, 2007 we made a formal decision to step out on faith and begin the next phase of our spiritual walk... flight that is. This decision will take us 7,770 miles from the comfort of our home in Kissimmee, Florida to Tokyo, Japan - a land where an unseen battle had been raging for the last several centuries. In our carry-on luggage we have:

• Belt of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Footwear of readiness
• Shield of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit (more on this in later posts)
  

It is the sword of the Spirit of God, His Holy Word, that compels such a drastic action on our behalf. Being a Christian isn't a spectator sport, it is a battle. It is not a way of life, it is the way of life. Japan is unique in that less than 1% of the total population understand this reality. In fact, nearly 2,400 Japanese people die die every single day without a relationship with their Creator. What's ironic is the vast majority worship His creation as part of their culture and ancient tradition, but God's Word says they have no excuse for not seeking the one behind it all.

With that, we will attend the Church Planting Institute's conference in Hakone to meet other like-minded followers of Christ, embrace the challenge before us, and strategize how to become better equipped to enter the battle. It's going to be an exciting journey no doubt. There are still so many unasked questions, but it is the peace that surpasses understanding that is leading us into this new mission. We're confident that God can use what little we bring as an offering to further His kingdom. Amen!