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Prayer Letter
February 2010
Dear Pastor and
Praying Friends:
Blast-Off
for 2010!
The New Year opened with
a BANG the first week of January during our
annual Home Missions Conference meeting at the Bible College!
Ken Board was the main speaker and really rang the bell with the
keynote “PUSH” starting new churches in
“NEXT TOWNS!” “PUSH
Until
Something
Happens!”
The front was filled with many of us
praying with tears, and asking God to help us make something
happen this year for planting new churches!
During that
meeting I was asking, “Lord, is this the start of what we’ve
been praying for so long?” Then I got a Jolt! My cell phone rang
right there in the middle of the service! I had forgotten to
turn it off! A member on the missions committee of CBT was on
the line asking if I would go and see a good place in
HACHIOJI
CITY to start a new church! Wow, talk about timing for
“seeing
something happen?” I hung up thanking the Lord for the “jolt”
answering our prayers so quickly!
Two weeks ago Pastor
Ishikawa and Pastor Tokoro along with Dr. Takasaka, Brother
Uchiyama, Brother Kashiwagi, and Sister Yasuba went with me to
see that “good place” where Sister Saito lives and who is the
lady who sparked this challenge. She has been holding children’s
meetings the last five years in the community hall near her home
with great turn out of kids and parents !
I tried to get
into Hachioji City 40 years ago but the Lord didn’t open the
door. Instead He opened the door in Chofu – and the result has
been Chofu Baptist Temple! With these “happenings” I feel Him
nudging me, “Try Hachioji again! The door’s open now!”
And try
we will! Hachioji has doubled in population and is over half a
million and still growing! I am looking forward to helping CBT
plant their 6th extension church! It’s a great challenge! Please
put this new satellite church on the top of your prayer list.
God is indeed opening doors the devil has tried to keep closed
for centuries!
The past year I have been on the
“Anniversary Circuit,” speaking in 7 churches, and believe it or
not, challenging each church to “Focus on the Future Planting
Churches in the Next Towns!” Many have filled the altars praying
God will give them a part in starting a new church. The first
one was the 20th anniversary of my Evelyn’s call to glory.
Needless to say, but the altar was full of CBT praying for
courage to be a witness like Evelyn Sensei! She still lives in
the hearts of everyone, especially mine! My Lord has been so
good to this missionary – in the valleys and on the mountain
tops! In that valley of tears 20 years ago He gave me Clara to
climb back up to the mountain top !
In October we had the
privilege of having Dr. Jon Konnerup, our Missions Director
visit each of us missionaries in our homes and churches from one
end of Japan to the other – a first! This was a huge
encouragement to every missionary. CBT also welcomed him as
speaker on our 41st anniversary. I believe you read his report
in the latest Tribune..
The last anniversary was an
8th
anniversary of the Tachikawa BBC and Pastor Iguchi. He led his
people to accept the challenge I gave them eight years ago to
“Go Dream!.” That dream they embraced was for land and a
building for their church to get out of their rented house
meeting in only two rooms.! Pastor Iguchi is
one of Clara’s
“preacher boys” and his church is a mission out
Takiyama BBC,
which was started by Clara’s first husband Alvin Marsden.
The Tachikawa church is seeing their dream COME TRUE!
They
have raised the equivalent of US$400,000 together with their
home church ! Although they lacked $50,000 they found a builder
who would finance their shortfall and build their building as
well! God rewards His people who dream right!
This is the kind
of churches and people the Lord gives us on this difficult field
the devil has tried for centuries to close off to the Gospel!
God is at work in Japan!
I am happy to announce:
Brother
Irie is ordained and installed as pastor of the Miyota church.
That means “I am now free to move about the country!” preaching
in mission conferences, revivals, anniversaries while
encouraging church planting. It looks like it’s gonna be an
exciting year! My goal is to “Ignite Churches to Start
Churches!” This year is my 60th since coming to Japan and I have
a secret goal for encouraging 60 new churches to be started!
Don’t tell anybody –shhhh, just pray with me ‘til it happens!
Now, last but not least, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR
CLARA!. She has come through the operation to repair her hip
after the fall. She is finally beginning to take a few steps
with a walker and a nurse supporting her. I even helped her take
a few steps recently! Now God has sent me another blessing!
I
have been able to move Clara to a new care home closer the Chofu
and Takiyama churches where more can visit her! The Lord has
been so good to this missionary in these times of coping!
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support each
month. It is such an honor to represent you to the Japanese
people. I am forever grateful.
Again,
Thank You !
Lavern & Clara
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Clara says: Thank
You for Praying for me
and my husband! |
The
Iguchis with
their “Dream” |
Survey Team with the sprawling city
of Hachioji in the background |
Note: Hachioji is pronounced Ha-chee-oh-gee
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here to download
this letter in MS Word Format (160kb)
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