A letter from Bill and Ann Moore in Japan
July 2012
Dear Friends,
Planting seeds of faith at the Nishitani Chapel
I am often asked how people typically come to faith in Japan. God lays hold of his people in various ways, but it has been surprising to me to see how seeds of faith planted many years ago gradually come to fruition. Recently an elderly lady who lives a 15-minute drive away has been regularly attending worship at the Nishitani Chapel. Generally speaking, new folks start coming to church because of a personal connection with a member of the congregation, but this lady was known to none of us. Asked how she decided to start attending, she said that many years ago a respected schoolteacher told her she ought to go to church. She never forgot that advice but was unable to follow through on it for various reasons. When our new church development work in Nishitnani began over 10 years ago, she noticed that we were holding services in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Haruki Kondo because of the church sign and lighted cross on their roof. Not knowing what to make of a church in a private home, she continued to observe us from a distance. It was not until we completed our church building and had worshiped there for five months did she feel confident to come inside and join us, to finally after over 50 years act on the advice of her schoolteacher. Now she is making up for lost time as she enthusiastically seeks to learn about God’s love made known to us through Jesus Christ.
The tiny seeds of faith were planted and in God’s time miraculously sprouted and are now showing signs of vigorous growth. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
Having seen God’s power work through seeds planted by others long ago, we are seeking to plant good seeds of faith as well. God has sent delightful children to our Sunday school who are thrilled to hear of God’s love for them. Trusting in God’s power and faithfulness, we are confident that the seeds we are planting in them will come to fruition as God gives the growth.
We are looking forward to a busy summer. Toward the end of July we will put on an international music and English day camp for middle and high school students at the Nishitani Chapel. Classically trained vocal teachers from Korea will come with six of their middle and high school students on a mission trip to help lead the music program. Our daughter Sarah and a friend will take on the English teaching. Families in Nishitani have volunteered to provide home stays for the youth. On the final day the children will perform in a concert for their families and other members of the community. We are trusting that God will use this camp to introduce more people to our church and demonstrate that the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends nationality and culture.
Bill and Ann check out the pulpit of the Yodogawa Christian Hospital's new chapel.
In early August Ann will be headed to Korea with 15 high school students, 10 from Fukushima, which is still experiencing radiation-related problems due to the nuclear plant disaster, and 5 from the Kobe area. Together with Korean students they will take part in a peacemaking camp directed by the Seoul YWCA. As president of the Kobe YWCA, Ann saw the need for providing a time of respite for Fukushima youth who have been living with radiation exposure for over a year. At the same time it is hoped that the Japanese and Korean students will develop friendships and understanding that will transcend the often rocky relationship between the two peoples. We ask that you pray that the two camps may bear much fruit for the Kingdom.
The Nishitani Chapel is making progress on several fronts. In July we will hold an election to select a management committee that will function like a session to lead the congregation. This is one more step toward gaining recognition by Western Presbytery of the Reformed Church of Christ in Japan as an organized church. Please pray that God’s will be done through this election.
Another exciting happening this summer is the completion of a new state–of-the-art hospital building to replace the existing facilities of Yodogawa Christian Hospital in Osaka. YCH was founded in 1955 by the Presbyterian Mission and has grown to be one of the larger general hospitals in western Japan. It maintains a strong Christian witness and an excellent medical reputation. With the move to the new hospital the chaplaincy program is being returned from YCH to Japan Mission management and significantly enlarged. As the chair of the Presbyterian Mission’s Mission Committee, I am closely involved in guiding this transition.
The center of the new hospital building is its chapel, which reaches from the fourth to the ninth floor. This symbolizes YCH’s philosophy of “Whole Person Healing” which is ministry in Christ’s love, serving the patient as a total unity of body, mind and spirit. Through viewing windows on every ward, patients will be able to participate in daily chapel services.
We thank the Lord constantly for the privilege of serving God’s Kingdom here in Japan. It is exciting to see how God is at work here in so many ways. We thank you for the gifts that make our presence here possible.
In Christ’s love,
Bill and Ann
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 200
Write to Bill Moore
Write to Ann Moore
Give to Bill and Ann Moore's sending and support
