Partner churches and organizations In Japan
Updated March 22, 2011
We have contacted our partner churches and organizations in Japan and are continuing to hear back from them.
Japan Partner Churches and Organizations
From the Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ)
Thank you for your warm attention to our tragedy. Above all else, such encouragement makes us realize in Christ we are not alone.
As you have already known, the total damage of Japan is devastating…Refugees are in short supply of commodities even a week after the disaster. Especially, the lack of gas and heating oil is serious. This is even affecting transportation of emergency relief materials.
We have regular aftershocks in large areas of East Japan.
As you might know, the most serious problem is ongoing accidents in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.
It seems to end up with the hardest result, by which we cannot even imagine what will happen to our everyday lives in East Japan.
As for KCCJ's situation, we have already organized a Special Committee for East Japan Earthquake Disaster, which now mainly deals with issues of transporting relief materials to KCCJ churches in the North East Japan. In the devastated area we have nine churches, with no loss of life in any of them. However, some of these churches are under serious deprivation of daily essentials. Many members of Sendai Church have to stay in temporary shelters away from their own homes in order to get food and relief materials. Some churches had serious damages to their church buildings.
The Special Committee will move into a donation campaign for the rehabilitation of these churches. Until this Sunday, information about the campaign will be provided to all KCCJ churches in Japan. The donation will be used primarily as funds for relief materials, secondary as funds for rehabilitation of church buildings, because in this disaster, members desperately need places to pray, worship and share.
We need your continuous prayers for us. Many thanks again for love and care you have shown to us.
Sincerely,
Rev. Songwan Hong
General Secretary
The Korean Christian Church in Japan
From National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ):
ＮＣＣＪ Emergency Appeal for Relief of Earthquake Victims
In the name of our Lord, the Suffering Servant, we bring to you the overwhelming needs of our fellow citizens who have suffered great loss of life and property in the series of record-breaking earthquakes and huge tsunami that have inundated a wide swath of communities along the northeast coastline of Japan.
We are still in the early stages of assessing the damages, but have been encouraged and strengthened by the many messages of support from Christian brothers and sisters all over the world. Our immediate request is for you to keep us in your prayers as we take the first steps in the process of coordinating a network of local support for those most severely affected.
This will require a major effort that will move from emergency to longer-term recovery. At the earliest possible date, we will be contacting you with the details of our relief program and the best way to remit any emergency funds or other aid.
With the breakdown of communications in the areas most affected, we are still working on ways of confirming the safety of so many of our colleagues. In the meantime, we ask for your understanding of our situation and want you to know how grateful we are for your expressions of support and solidarity.
On behalf of all our member Churches and Christian organizations in Japan.
Rev. Isamu Koshiishi, Moderator,
National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ)
Send all enquiries to: general@ncc-j.org
From Kinjo Gakuin Junior College:
Fortunately, there are no major damages reported in Nagoya area. Even from hundreds of kilos away from the affected area, we were frightened by the unusual long swing when the earthquake occurred.
We cannot imagine how awful it has been in East Japan. We send our deep and abiding sympathy and prayers to the victims and their families and friends, and for the speedy recovery of those affected. Our thoughts are always with them.
Thank you again for all your support.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Tetsuo Kashiwagi
President
Kinjo Gakuin University
From Asia Rural Institute (ARI):
ARI, a training center, has suffered considerable damage and may be in need of rebuilding. No injuries. Water on some parts of ARI has been off but on at other parts. All buildings have been damaged badly as well as the livestock facilities. It is hard to determine the extent of the damage everywhere until the aftershocks have stopped and ARI has a chance to look around completely. One of the hardest hit buildings is the Koinonia building which is the main building or the "heart of ARI” where classes, meetings, gatherings, etc. are held. They cannot get into the building now with all the glass broken from the windows and plaster from the roof. Plaster has fallen in many of the other buildings from the ceilings. Everyone spent the night in the cafeteria with no electricity as there was concern as to the safety of the dorms with plaster falling from the ceilings.
Right now they are deciding as to whether they should evacuate or not. There is concern for the radiation leakage from the fire of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant 100 kilometers away. Someone at ARI heard on the news that the government officials have been advising everyone to evacuate if they are 100 to 200 kilometers from Fukushima. (People near the plant have already been evacuated.) Half of the ARI staff and volunteers have already left and more are leaving.
From Yodogawa Christian Hospital in Osaka:
Thank you so very much for your kind words and prayers. Thankfully, our hospital patients and staff and their families are all safe, but our heart aches as the earthquake disasters are spreading in other parts of Japan. We are praying for God's protection and comfort over those people in the earthquake affected areas. He is our refuge and fortress.
Would you please pass this message to our PC(USA) partners and we truly appreciate your continuing prayers for us all.
Sincerely in Christ,
Masaaki Mukubo, Superintendent
Kimiaki Fukushima, Business Administration Chair
Please pray for our other partners in Japan.
- Korean Christian Church in Japan
- Reformed Church of Japan (RCJ)
- United Church of Christ in Japan (Kyodan) (UCCJ)
- Council on Cooperative Mission
- Shikoku Gakuin University
- Okinawa Christian Junior College
- Tokyo Union Theological Seminary
