A letter from Bill and Ann Moore serving in Japan
November 2014 - A Week in Our Life
Dear Friends and Partners in Mission,
As the focus of our mission work in Japan has changed, a number of our supporters have asked us to give them a taste of what our day-to-day activities are like so that they may pray for our work more specifically. Bill works as the Representative Director of Japan Mission in mission partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), known better as “Japan Mission.” This Japanese “religious corporation,” which is based in Kobe, provides the legal, financial, and administrative framework for the activities of the PC(USA) in Japan. Ann, a member of the board of the corporation, is also involved in the daily running of Japan Mission and undertakes special projects for it. We hope the following account of our activities during the third week of October 2014 will give you a feeling for the work that we do in Japan on behalf of the gospel
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The Wadayama Reformed Church
During the first part of the week we travel to Osaka and give greetings to the annual General Assembly of The Reformed Church of Christ in Japan. The PC(USA) has been a close partner of this Japanese denomination since their beginning soon after the Second World War. The highlight of the meeting is the long awaited passing of an action to allow for the ordination of women to serve as both elders and ministers. This is a controversial issue in the Reformed Church so the matter is thoroughly debated before coming to a vote. There is fear that this action will result in churches and pastors leaving the denomination as well as the severing of relationships with partner churches both overseas and in Japan, so for some it is a difficult decision. However, this change has the potential for revitalizing the Reformed Church in Japan by enabling women to serve through all its offices.
• Please pray that the Reformed Church in Japan may maintain its unity and that mission partners may continue their cooperation with her.
• Pray that many gifted and dedicated women will be called to serve the Reformed Church in Japan in these new ways.
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Sunday School at the Wadayama Reformed Church
After the General Assembly concludes we jump on the “Bullet Train” for a day trip to visit the Japanese Ministry of Culture in Tokyo. Our Japan Mission Religious Corporation has revised its constitution and the changes require approval of the Japanese government. This approval process also provides the opportunity for the government to review our entire governance, finances and activities to ensure that they conform to regulations for religious corporations. Thankfully, the official who has been handling our case is very helpful in letting us know what we need to do to remain in good standing with the Ministry of Culture. It has been two years in process, so we hope very much to have our revised constitution approved by the end of the year.
• Pray that our revised constitution will be approved in a timely matter so that we may soon have a sound legal framework for our mission activities.
Friday is the day that various meetings are held at Yodogawa Christian Hospital in Osaka, which was founded by the PC(USA), continues to be operated by Japan Mission, and is presently our largest mission activity. Bill first meets with the chaplaincy staff for a time of prayer and sharing the needs of particular patients. We also discuss how the six chaplains and two assistants can effectively minister to patients and staff as well as very practical issues like: Where can we store a dozen large artificial Christmas trees when they are not on display?
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Some members of the Wadayama Church
Both of us serve on the Executive Committee of the Hospital Board, so next we attend a meeting where we get to deal with the nitty-gritty of running a large general hospital. By necessity, much of the discussion centers on financial and operational matters, but we also see our role as making sure that mission and evangelism continue to be a top priority. Yodogawa Christian Hospital touches thousands of lives every month and the hospital’s aim is that all experience the love of Jesus Christ through healing of body, mind and soul.
• Please pray that Yodogawa Christian Hospital may continue to have a strong Christian witness to predominately non-Christian patients and staff.
• Pray that the Hospital may maintain a steady financial basis so that resources for ministry may increase.
Finally, our week ends on Sunday, when we head out into the mountains north of Kobe on a two-hour drive to preach at a small country church in the town of Wadayama. The Wadayama Reformed Church is yoked with another congregation in a neighboring town that worships at the same time, so every other week their pulpit needs to be filled. It is an inspiration and pleasure to preach at Wadayama once a month. The church has about 20 members and there are about that many in attendance this Sunday. Christians in Japan make up less than 1 percent of the total population, but in rural areas they are an even smaller minority, so it takes a lot of tenacity and courage to remain faithful to Jesus Christ when all your neighbors, co-workers, and often even family members are non-believers. Every Sunday these believers gather for worship and then share a simple meal that they prepare together. Through fellowship around the table we encourage one another and share joys and sorrows. This Sunday a gentleman shares with Ann how he became a believer through a Christian literature ministry, so he feels led to share Christian books with his neighbors and friends. These believers are truly functioning as the salt of the earth. Just as a little bit of salt goes a long way in flavoring a dish, their numerically small presence in the community makes a large impact for the gospel.
We leave the Wadayama Church encouraged by what God is doing through this small congregation. This encouragement gives us the hope and enthusiasm to start a new week of witness and service in Japan.
• Please pray that the many small churches in Japan like the one in Wadayama may continue to boldly reach out to the wider community through witness and acts of love.
We give thanks to God for your support and prayer that allows us to be used by God for mission in Japan. We feel incredibly blessed to be part of what God is doing in Japan and your gifts for our support are vital to sending us here.
With thanks to God and to all of you,
Bill and Ann
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 234
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