Emily and I were blessed to attend the Nationwide Ministers Conference held at the Shinshu Bible Camp in the mountains of Nagano. John Mark Hicks led a study over the course of three days focusing on our practices of assembly, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. What a wonderful time of renewal in God’s word and being able to spend quality time with brothers and sisters! A handful of preachers couldn’t attend this year, but the group picture above represents the majority of congregations in Japan. We pray that the renewal gained during this time will help each of these churches be a blessing to their communities, and that the Lord will receive all of the glory. Thank you to the Ibaraki area ministers for planning such a special time together.
I preached on Prayer again this week, exploring the notion of how our relationship with God encourages us to pray in ways that include asking God to change. It was a challenging topic to consider, and I’m cautiously optimistic about how the sermon came out. I pray that the Spirit helped my feeble words take root in those listening. We were joined this Sunday by some visitors from the US. Jason and Rebekah Smith, along with their daughters Ruth, Lydia, and Julia, have been planning a family vacation to South Korea and Japan for some time and wanted to spend a few of those days with us. The Smiths also attend the White Station congregation in Memphis, and we have been friends for a number of years. Additionally, Jason is a member of White Station’s Global Missions Team. It is always a joy to share the work in Japan with others, so we treasure the opportunity for the Smith family to be here.
Monday and Tuesday of this week were spent visiting the sights in Tokyo. The Smiths had a number of places on their list to see (and shop!), and Emily and I tried to mix some local flavors in where we could. We managed to visit most of those and a few others, too. It was an exhausting two days! Most importantly we got to spend good time with friends.
The non-sumo fans in our group obliged Emily, Jason, and I with a stop at the Kokugikan in Ryogoku, Tokyo. This, of course, is the home of Grand Sumo and plays host to three of the six annual tournaments. The place was very quiet because most everyone related to sumo is currently in Nagoya making preparations for the July tournament. Still, we enjoyed the visit and found a couple of neat things to do.
There are a great many shrines and temples in Tokyo. Some are Buddhist and some are Shinto. A number of places reserve space for both religions. Most of them are small in size, but some of them are very large. Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine surrounded by an immense forest. It features broad gravel pathways leading toward wide open courtyards and understated shrine buildings. It is a quiet and solemn place dedicated to Emperor Meiji who died in 1912. He was instrumental in guiding Japan through the transition from being a land dominated by Shogunates & Samurai to becoming a country open to the West and embracing new ideas. Up until the end of World War II, the Japanese Emperor was thought to be divine, and this shrine was setup in 1920 to venerate and pay homage to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken for their efforts to lay the foundations for modern day Japan.
Just a few train stops away is Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo. The atmosphere surrounding this temple seems like the complete opposite to the grounds of Meiji Jingu! Senso-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple in the Tokyo area. It was finished in the year 645 and stands to pay homage to Kannon, the goddess of mercy, after two brothers found a statue of her in the nearby Sumida River. The grounds are highly popular with tourists for the many classic picture spots and the whole neighborhood is alive with an endless variety of shops hoping you will buy their goods.
Located roughly halfway between Meiji Jingu and Senso-ji on the Yamanote Line is a small museum tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. While it attracts a tiny fraction of the visitors as the other two, the Zōshigaya Old Missionary Museum has a special meaning for those of us in the Churches of Christ. More commonly known to our faith tradition as “The McCaleb House,” this residence played an important role in early Japanese mission efforts. John M. McCaleb arrived in Japan in 1892 and worked to evangelize the Japanese from his home in the foreigner’s settlement in Tsukiji. Wanting to expand his presence and ability to meet needs in the community, he built this house in the Zōshigaya district in 1907. He went on to also build a church, preschool, and Bible institute. Notably, his residence also served as a gateway location for other missionaries such as Sarah Andrews and O.D. Bixler. When a new missionary would arrive, this house was a safe place to live in the first couple of months while they got their bearings, identified their target mission field, and made arrangements for longer-term housing. In 1982, Toshima City purchased the property and restored it to its original condition to preserve it as a museum. In 1997, the Zōshigaya Old Missionary Museum was registered as a “Tangible Cultural Asset” of Tokyo.
Music class this week was truly special for me (Clay). Soshi (with the brown shirt) and his mom Makoto have been some of our most consistent attendees. Normally, I sit on the edges of class and try to help with the singing, work the light switches, and get some pictures of all of the fun. Well, this week Soshi was having none of that! He really wanted me to join in with the class and even sat with me for several of the activities. Such a special relationship I am honored to share. God has a plan for his life, and I pray that I am able to be a part of it in the years to come.
Our casual party this week was a great time sharing fellowship and fun. We enjoyed snacks and Kool-aid, sampled some Texas Country Music, and played a game learning about our favorite flowers, vacation spots, and memories. I love how each person there found a way to engage in a lively and authentic way! Emily and I both remarked later that this hardy group of Christians is starting to truly feel like it is our spiritual family, too.
For my parting shot this week, I’m offering a photo that you may have already seen on my Facebook page. It’s too good not to share again! We went on the roof hoping for a cool breeze and maybe a sunset. A small cloud came over and it began to lightly sprinkle. As the sun dropped below the edge of the clouds in the west, a gorgeous double rainbow began rising through the sky. I was able to grab this shot as the monorail went by. God’s creation is available for anyone to enjoy, but for those who have eyes informed by the Spirit, nature becomes a song of praise for the Holy One. My heart gladly joins in and gives Him the glory!
~ Clay
Fowlers in Japan 