Sims Harold Lois 1958 Japan

w.
E, McGllvrey
_120S Madison Ave.
Point, N. C.
Forwarding poslage'guaranteed
Go ye into all f/le world the go^f
^CENTS
Tu creature.
Mark 16:1
Vol. 57 Kimberhn Heights, Tennessee,
Lois and I were invited by some of our stu
dent friends to attend a Christmas party spon
sored by the Keio University UNESCO Club.
There were people there from Burma, Ceylon
and several Fullbright students from the
U. S. as well as several Japanese. In typical
Oriental fashion each person was asked to
contribute something to the program, so we
sang Silent Night for them. Some of the
Japanese present were very talented in the
traditional slow-movement dancing, playing
the old Japanese harp, magic tricks, and other
things, so we had a vei-y interesting evening.
Harold Sims
Teaching English
Last October I began teaching English con
versation for two hours at the YMCA and then
I have a one-hour Bible Class for those who
wish to remain. There are about one hundred
siudents in'the conversation classes and the
average attendance at the Bible Class is
twenty-five, but I feel it is a wonderful op
portunity to teach the Bible. This is a night
class and most of the students ax'e older men
and women who work during the day and
study English at night
There is obvious unbelief among many of
them but those who remain for the Bible
Class seem sincere in their desire to learn
more of Christianity. One of them said he
would like to hear more of God because he
needed security and hope. Another asked if
he could become a Christian even though
he did not believe all of the Bible. It is a
real privilege to serve the Lord in this way
and it is my earnest desire that every mem
ber of the Bible Class will come to a saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
About the same time I was asked to teach
a young man how to become a Christian and
I asked him to come on Thursday night.
When he came he brought two friends with
him and that was the beeinn-ns of mv Thurs
day night Bible Class. The class has now
grown to an average attendance of six and
although the primary purpose of most of them
is to learn English there is a growing in
terest in the Bible.
One of the boys happened to begin reading
one of David's books telling the story of
Noah and the Flood, and I told all of them
the story. All of them have a great interest
in the Old Testament and I hope to supply
them with both English and Japanese copies
of the Old Testament.
We ask your prayers for these young people
as they read and study and hear the Word
of God, that their hearts and minds may be
opened to the Gospel. Pray for us too, as
we teach them, that we may be true and
faithful to the Word and have wisdom and
understanding to help them in any way
possible to find the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mabel Buttray
PATTON FURLOUGH
Andrew and Betty Patton and their two
children are booked for passage on the Presi
dent Cleveland which is scheduled to leave
Yokohama on April 11th. This will be the
beginning of their furlough which is due
to begin this year. Six hundred and seventy-
nine dollars have been received for their
travel as of .Ian. 18th. Eight hundred twenty
dollars more will be needed by March 1st.
Any help on this will be greatly
Send all funds to their forwarding agent,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Armstrong, RED 3, Box
310, Piqua, Ohio. Travel funds should be
designated.
After April first all mail for the Pattons
should be sent to them at their forwarding
agent's address. Andrew will be available
for speaking engagements and Christian Ser
vice Camps from June first. All inquiries con
cerning this should also be sent to their for
warding agent.
GRAVE MARKER
On one of our annual hikes over the moun
tainside trails near Tokyo with the students of
the Bible Seminary we came upon this un
usual grave marker near the lop of a high
hill. There had been a crash of a U. S. Air
Force plane killing 8 or 9 men, and the local
people had erected this post in memory of
their souls in the Budhist fashion and then
added the Cross. They also kept the spot
decorated with fresh flowers. When we in
quired at the nearest house the old woman
explained all about it, adding that the crash
had also killed her son-in-law leaving her
daughter a widow with 2 small children. Yet
she faithfully kept the spot honoring the dead
Americans cleaned, in spite of their struggle
for a livelihood. We helped with a small
gesture by buying a round of soft drinks from
her little store.
THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN
PubUohed quarteilx by tho MUticmctrioa of the
Church of Christ Cunaingnam Mission. Tokyo, lopcm,
for tho fnformation ond inspiration of every Christiem
whose heart is open to the cedl of Christ, cmd who is
willing to help in the supremo task oi carrying out the
Qreat Commission of Cl^h Matthew 28:19, 20.
Entered as second doss motter in the Kjwmrille,
Tenn., Postoffice under the act of March 3, 1879.
Two-Yeor Subscripttpn
SulMcription and "Flcmilng Tordi"
_S0 cents
1.00
MISSION STAFF
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 575 2-Chome,
Kamiochlai, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Forwarding agent: Mrs. Homer Anderson,
R. D. 1, Meadville, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fatten,
Furlough address same as Forwarding
agent: Mr. or Mrs. Ray Armstrong, Rt. 3 Box
310, Piqua, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 450 Arai Machi,
Nakano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Forwarding agent:
A. E. Sims, Alexandria, Kentucky.
TOKYO BIBLE SEMINARY
27 Sakurayama, Nodcano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Packages for Japan should be sent direct by parcel
post to one of the missionaries whose oddresses are
shown above. Consult your local postoffice concerning
mailing rules and limitations of size and weight.
If you change your address please notify H. L.
Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, dving both
your old and your new address. If you mome an offer
ing of $1.00 or more you are entitled to receive this
paper if you so request. Churches or groups making an
offering of $10.00 or more may request a bimdle of 10
copies for distribution.
TRIP TO KOREA
Several months ago Harold Taylor of Ko
rean Christian Mission made an appeal to
the missionaries in Japan-to go to Korea to
teach six-week courses in Seoul Bible Semin
ary. There is a critical shortage of teachers in
the school aiid the brethren who are now en
gaged in this work must divide their time be
tween the seminary and other missionary ac
tivities. Therefore I decided to help them by
teaching the first six weeks of their second
semester. This turned out to be one of the
most enjoyable experiences I have had in
the Orient. Arrangements were made for the
other teachers of Tokyo Bible Seminary to
teach my classes during my absence. I flew
to Korea on October 21st and returned to
Tokyo on November 29tih.
For one who has always been accustomed
to a verdant environment the first glimpse
of Korea from the air is unimpressive and
colorless. The bald hills with deep ravines
and gullies running from peak to base are
similar in appearance to a large relief map
of Palestine. But Korea is not so barren as it
seemed at first. A lot of produce comes from
those red-looking hills and vaUeys. The next
things that caught my eye after my arrival
in Korea were that the greater percentage
of Korean cars are U; S. made jeeps, that
the Korean women can carry such heavy
loads on their heads, that the little Korean
Ponies cart draw such enormous loads that so
many of the people are pover^-stricken, and
that Chinese cabbage is a Korean national
delicacy!
The Koreans are a very friendly and open-
heaated people. Among them Christianity
enjoys the advantage of being almost the only
religion now accepted by tbem. The gospel
is readily accept^, so that it is a fairly
easy matter to win several people and estal>
Tokyo Christian
lish a new church in a short time. But the
greatest need right now, it seems to me, is
the edification of the churches which are
already established and use this strengthened
church as a basis for further evangelistic
effort. I am convinced that Korea now offers
one of the best opportunities for the estab
lishment of New Testament Christianity that
is found in the Orient today. The churches
in Korea have a great opportunity and the
possibility of provoking the rest of the Orient
to emulate their love and zeal for the Lord.
There are already about eighty Churches of
Christ in Korea. The next necessary step is
to lead them on from the first principles or
theory of the gospel to a more consistent
practice of the good word of God.
The Korean Christians are avid Bible read
ers. The only two books which most of them
possess are the Bible and their song book.
And dust does not seem to settle on either
of them. It is not an extraordinary happen
ing for a Korean Christian to read the Bible
through several times a year. If rightly used
this can work out to the salvation of a vast
number of peple for God's word is His
means of enlightening and saving the world.
This regard for the Bible can also be the
means of reforming the Korean brethren and
leading them on to perfection.
The Korean brethren like to sing the prais
es of the Lord. They habitually put in their
appearance at the place of meeting several
minutes before the appointed hour for wor
ship for a time of informal singing. They
have no organs and in their singing there is
little that is melodious. The tempo is slow
and the pitch is low, but what is lacking in
beauty is compensated for by volume for
they sing with all their might.
Another characteristic of the Korean church
is its steadfastness in church attendance and
in the Christian life in spite of persecution
and bitter trials. It has a remarkable capacity
for taking an unbelievable amount of punish
ment both from friend and foe without a large
number of souls losing their faith as a conse
quence. The way they have held fast to their
profession in spate of the ravages of war and
the other calamities that have befallen them
is wonderful to behold. Like truth crushed
to earth they rise again.
The church of Korea is famous the world
over for its belief in prayer. While I was in
Seoul every morning before daybreak church
bells pealed out the call of the churches to
their members to come to prayer meeting.
And this call was heeded. Many years ago
a great revival broke out among the Metho
dists and Presbyterians in Korea (the largest
Protestant churches in the land). These early
morning prayer meetings are carried over
from that revival. But, it seems to me, the
form remains without the true spirit and
power of prayer. For they make this more
of a singing and speaking meeting than a
prayer meeting. Numerous songs are sung
and the leader makes a long-winded speech.
Finally the congregation spends about five
m'nutes in prayer, all praying at the same
time but each praying his own prayer. It
seems to be more of a spiritual exercise
rather than a making of one's requests known
Page 2
unto God. But they do pray! and they should
hold fast that good thing. What a power
that can be after they are taught the true
meaning and purpose of prayer. In contrast
to these meetings the early prayer meetings
at Seoul Bible Seminary were like refreshing
fountains of water. One song is sung, a pass
age of scripture is read, and they pray earn
estly one at a time in an orderly way. There
is fellowship and fervor and all who have
the desire have also the opportunity to pray.
This is good for the soul, for the faith, and
for one's Christian practice.
The fact that there are eighty Churches
of Christ today in Korea where there were
but five or six a few years ago is due to the
evangelistic zeal of the Korean Christians
It shows that they have not waited for the
missionary or the preacher to sound fortt
the word of life for them. Neither have thej
waited for a nice building to be built for then
from foreign funds. Rather, they have met ir
their own homes and improvised meetinj
places-, ncoemding to their abiliity. If the
eighty churches in Korea are built up ii
the faith, if zealous evangeb'sts are trainee
and sent out, if a trained Korean faculty ii
provided for Seoul Bible Seminary, there wil
be no longer any need for missionaries oi
foreim mission funds among the Churche:
of Christ in Korea. But this will require
many years of hard work and prayer with s
steady eye upon that goal before that cai
be realized.
While in Korea I was able to visit tw(
of the three orphanages sponsored by Koreai
Christian Mission. I was amazed at the waj
they are able to feed the large number o
orphans in these homes. These <hiildren ar<
clothed from relief packages sent for toa
purpose by the brethren of America. I believ<
that these orphanages are a project w)orth3
of the support of Christian people.
I was a guest of the Harold Taylors whil
in Seoul and we had a very enjoyable ex
change of mdssionary experiences and ideas
They have done a very commendable job h
bringing peace and quiet to the churches, ir
causing them to be self-supporting, and ii
encouraging them to put forth a greater ef
fort for the Lord. I also enjoyed the gooc
fellowship of the Dick Lashes and Miss Guem
sey whom I had met in Tokyo a few monthi
earlier and of Alex Bills who came to Seoul
twice while I was there.
Seoul Bible Seminary has twenty sever
students now. The Taylors, the Lashes, anc
one Korean teacher are the only regular teach
ers of the school. The subjects assigned tc
me were 0. T. History and the Epistles oi
John and Jude. There have been few things
that I have enjoyed more than teachini
those young christens the principles of ttu
Christian faith. The fellowship was superb
making those few weeks a hes^-warming ex
perience for me.
I am thankful for having had this oppor
tunity of seeing the Korean church at work
I came back with stronger faith and a greatei
desire to serve the Lord. It was thrilling tc
know the Korean brethren even for this shorl
time. I shall not forget their many acts oi
kindness, the sweet fellowship which I hac
with them, and the love which they have
for our Lord.
Andrew Patton
Page 3
MRS. KIKUCHI PASSES
Last March when Titus Kikuchi visited us
at Nakano to inspect the repairs being made
on the church parsonage preparatory to his
family's move in as the new pastor he seemed
very troubled about something. Finally he
told us that his heart was saddened by their
doctor's disclosure that his mother had can
cer of the throat. Since both his father (a
ship's captain) and only sister had died the
year the war ended his mother had lived
with him and the main family responsibility
had rested on his young shoulders. His mother
being a very quiet and uncomplaining per
son there was no indication that she had any
thing more than a slight sore throat until
the condition became so advanced and severe
that an operation was beyond consideration
even when they first visited the doctor.
The several doctors consulted advised that
an operation would only be painful, disfigur
ing and weakening. So it was decided to use
X-ray treatments for a while and then let
her return from the hospital to spend the
last weeks with the family. Her remaining
tiire was estimated at 6 months, but because
she W2S in general good health for her 65
years, and because the X-ray treatment was
rather successful, it was well over that.
As she gradually grew weaker and became
unable to eat anything or to sleep without
morph'ne the sympathies of the church peo
ple, friends and relatives were aroused and
many took time for visits which she appre
ciated very much.
On Dec. 1, after about 2 weeks of "anytime
now" strain, everyone knew that the end
wa snear. When Mrs. Kikushi heard the hymn
hymn singing at the worship service in the
a'*d;it rium from her room in the back of the
church she asked for the Lord's Supper. For
the first time in many days she was able to
Tokyo Christian
pass food through her throat as she took the
emblems. Then she sang the Doxology in a
clear voice and laid back to pass quietly
away.
The next day the body was cremated, and
the following day a large funeral service was
held at the Nakano church. After her death
they discovered some poems written during
her sickness which were full of simple pa
tience and faith and left a fine Christian
testimony to her relatives and friends. She
had been a faithful member of the Setagaya
Church of Christ for more than 20 years.
We think Mrs. Kikushi was a good example
of the godly woman described in I Pet. 3:34,
as the Japanese preacher who conducted the
service pointed out to us.
Harold Sims
CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOUSE
Lois Sims
This may sound like we do and think of
nothing for Vi of the year but Christmas,
which would be an exaggeration, but the sea
son always seems long, busy and very pleas
ant to all our family.
Our first thoughts of Christmas come in
October when we must shop for and wrap
some gifts for the home-folte to make sure
they get there on time. Then in November
we always spend a day or two in the pleasant
task of mailing Christmas cards to the friends
in many parts of America and the world.
Early in December comes the Christmas
program at the Christian Academy. This year
Hope and Sylvia sang in the large chorus,
and Hope had to learn the alto part. We had
learned their songs very well before the big
night because of the incessant practice at
home. Perhaps even the bus and train con
ductors heard them singing on the way to
and from school each day.
Always after school is out we try to take
the children to town to see the decorations
in the large department stores. The Japanese
have capitalized on the commercial side of
Christmas, and their artistic sense makes
the stores quite beautiful to see.
On Dec. 22 there were Christmas programs
at all the churches. Here at Nakano our class
of middle-school ^rls presented 2 plays which
were well received by a rather large crowd.
We had the Sunday School program in late
afternoon, and then after giving the children
g'fts and sending them home 36 adults stayed
for supper together and a candle service and
a social meeting. There was 1 baptism and
1 addition by transfer to add to the joys
of the day.
Several days before Christmas we also
packed boxes of food, used clothing, and a
few toys for the preacher's families and
some of the poor folks we know. The children
enjoyed spending hours in the kitchen help
ing to decorate cookies for these boxes, par
ties and our unexpected guests.
Christmas Eve we gave a party at our home
for the Seminary students which was enjoyed
by everyone. It ended with a nice carol sing.
The young people from Mikawashima church
came in the middle of the night and sang In
the street by our house, but we were too
soundly asleep to hear them.
The children had been listening every night
to the American Armed Forces Station which
claimed to be broadcasting directly from the
North Pole. On Christmas Eve they broadcast
the take-off of Santa's sled with very realistic
sound effects, and we noticed Jennie quietly
go gaze intently out of the window looking
for the sled going through the sky.
Christmas morning you can imagine the
good time we all had with the children just
the right ages to enjoy those simple pleasures
to the fullest extent. All of us join in thank
ing those who remembered us in so many
lovely ways.
The children want to have Christmas every
day. Once a year is good enough, but we are
always glad to see the time come.
(Printers Note: Due to a slip
up, we are not sure if this pic
ture goes with this story or not.
We will run it this way and
then make a correction next
issue if necessary.)
The custom in Japan is for all the shop
keepers to give their main customers a little
present at the beginning of the new year to
invite their business again. We received towels,
soap, etc., from the meat-man, rice-man, bread,
store etc. But the top of them all came today
when the Post Office girl gave us a nice box of
soap. We are their best customers.
3 KOREAN MEN BAPTIZED
On Dec. 15 three Korwin men were immers
ed at the Nakano church. All of them had
been sprinkled in infancy, but through study
of the Bible and several conversations they
were convinced that they should be immersed
according to the Scripture teaching.
The first one is a Korean man about 50
years of age who had worked at various occu
pations including a period of years as a Pres
byterian preacher in Korea and some time
connected with the und^ground government
of Korea when the peninsula was under Japa
nese control. He is a relative of the prea-
dent of the Republic of Korea. For the past
several years he has been working with the
organization of ROK sympathizing Koreans
living in Japan. (The majority of those in
Japan, incidentally, seem to stand with the
north Korean side). But in time he grew tired
of the work which seemed almost futile and
very unsatisfying because of the continuing
division of his country and the practical im
possibility of a solution in the near future.
He began to think about how his faith had
deteriorated during his absorption' with af
fairs of the world. He concluded that the
only salvation for his people was in the gos
pel of Christ, and also his own purpose in
life must be more in line with the cause of
Christ. He seems very zealous and wants to
start meetings in a part of Tokyo where there
is no work among fte Koreans.
The other two were younger men. Both of
them are University students, one in Philos
ophy and the other in Physics. One of these
young men introduced the older man to me.
We rejoiced very much in the decision of
these men, and ask your prayers for them
and the small work among the many Koreans
living in Japan.
On Nov. 15, 1947 we set foot in Japan for
the first time, so we now have 10 years of
service and will soon be known as veterans
at least as far as time goes. The mission
aries of the churches of Christ in the Tokyo
area honored us wilth a large decorated cake
at one of the semi-monthly prayer meetings,
and the Bible Seminary students had a special
sukiyaki foreigner's favorite Japanese dish
supper and program to mark the day. We
are very thankful for the many lessons learn
ed, friends made, Christ's sustaining presence
with us and countless other blessings from
God.
^Harold and Lois Sims
During Thanksgiving week-end a short
evangelistic meeting was held at the little
church in Abiko, which is a small town about
30 mUes outside of Tokyo. The attendance
averaged 19. This sounds small, but because
it was over expectations it was very encour
aging to the preacher and the few Christians
out there. There was one confession and bap
tism, and five others signified a desire to
to study and think sincerely about the gos
pel.
Tokyo Christian
THE LAST DECADE
. The great post-war resurg
ence of missionary interest in
Western churches was also felt
among the Chui'ches of Christ
and Christian Churches.
Japan received a major share
of missionary interest. Many
former servicemen returned for
a bigger type of service. There
are today 45 Japanese mission
aries, directy supported. They
are located at Obihiro and Sap
poro, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya,
Osaka, Hirakata, Tanabe, Kut-
sugi, Shikoku, Kaagoshima, Ka-
noya, and Nishinomote on Ta-
negashima.
For purposes of support and
geographical identification the
missionaries by groups selected
these individual mission names:
1) Chrueh of Christ, Cunning
ham Miaaon 2) Christian Mis
sionary Fellowship 3) Chris
tian Radio Mission 4) Hokkaido
Christian Mission 5) Japanese
Christian Mission 6) Kyushu
Christian Mission 7) Mission to
Japan 8) Maebashi Christian
Mission 9) Nagoya Christian
Mission 10) Osaka .Christian
Mission 11) Shikoku Church of
Christian Mission 12) Tanabe
Christian Mission 13) Tohoku
Kural Evangelism.
Of the missionaries 16 are
at the Tokyo and Osaka Bible
Seminaries, Here the Bible is
the chief textbook. Indigenous
church principles are taught,
though we claim no more suc
cess in bringing them about
than others.
Fifteen missionaries work in
cities or are in language study;
14 are in rural or village evan
gelism and one in radio evan
gelism.
From Japanese Harvest
FROM THE MAIL BAG
We received quite a few Christmas cards,
and we appreciated very much the personal
words of encouragement added to many of
them. Also we appreciate the notes that often
accompany offerings, although we seldom ac
knowledge them. Here are some quotations
from the recent mail:
We read the Tokyo Christian and enjoy
hearing of the work done in Japan. Wish
we could send more missionaries and support
them as we should."
Page
"We trust your work in Tokyo is smoothing
out and that-there may be-receptive hearts
for the gospel."
"Just a word to let you know we haven'1
forgotten you. We hope your family is well
and you are able to continue dn your servict
there."
"May God guide, protect and provide foi
you."
"To say we appreciate the work you ar<
doing and that we are praying that God maj
bless and keep you and give you strengtl
for all you do for Him."
"The missionary class of the Church o]
Chi-ist . . . had the opportunity to see the
slides on Sims in Japan in our last meeting
and we enjoyed them very much. Enclosec
is a. small gift to help in promoting the gos
pel to these people."
"I do think of them often and pray foi
them, for I realize the work gets disoourag
ing and hard. I think it is that way aU ovd
the world. Material things get such a hol<3
on people that spiritual things do not come
first as they should especially during holi
day seasons. Thank God for those who are
doing His will and way during these trying
tmes. God has His faithful children all ovei
the world doing what they can, and coming ii
contact with these dear ones brings joy and
gladness."
"I am enclosing a check .. . from the churcli
We are deeply appreciative of these fine
missionaries and the work they are doing for
the cause of Christ."
Tokyo Bible Seminary
1C0R.|:2
Holding forth the Word of Life
Serving Churches of Christ
in Japan
God-fearing faculty
Conscientious in stewardship
your mission project in Japan
Where a LiHie Invesfmenfr
Pays Big Dividends In
Trained Youth
Address correspondence to:
27 Sakuroyoma Mochl
Nokono Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Harrole HcFarland
Box 968
Joliet, Ulinois
im
'mv. 2 ^ -^8
Tokyo Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature/' Mark 16:15
Vol. 57 Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, Spring, 1958 Number If.
PAUL BUTTRAY
MISSIONARY SON GRADUATES
In June, our son Paul will graduate from
Penn State University with a B. S. degree in
Business Administration. We want to take
this opportunity to thank each one of you
personally, who have directly or indirectly
helped in any way to make his education a
reality. Your special interest and kindness
through the years are deeply appricated.
Paul Buttray
Because of present business conditions, it
is only logical that the prospect of immediate
ly finding a job is not too promising. However,
we know that God does provide for His own,
and that all things work together for good to
them that love Him and are called according
to His purpose.
Again we say thank you for your prayers,
your personal interest, and finanical help in
behalf of our son.
Stanley and Mabel Buuttray
Wesley Walker's mother and wife from
Hokkaido were visitors in Tokyo for a few
weeks prior to the annual All Japan Christian
Convention in April.
-0-
Vivian Lemon, coming back from furlough,
stayed in Tokyo for a few days visiting the
missionaries.
Pattons Now Home
Mr. and Mrs. Patton and family leaving on the USS President Cleveland.
Griffith was also on the same ship on her way to Honolulu. Guen is on the left.
Patton is in the center
THE POWER OF THE
PRINTED PAGE
In scattering the Printed Page, we liberate
thistledown laden with Precious Seed, which,
blown by the winds of the Spirit, floats over
the world.
THE PRINTED PAGE never tires or grows
disheartened, it never finches and never shows
cowardice: it is never tempted to compromise,
it travels cheaply and requires no hired hall:
it works long after we are dead.
THE PRINTED PAGE is a visitor which
gets inside the home and stays there: it always
catches a man in the right mood, for it speaks
to him only when he is reading it, it always
sticks to what it says and never answers back,
and it is bait left permanently in the pool.
THE PRINTED PAGE is deathless: you can
destroy one but the press can produce millions
more, as often as it is martyred it is raised
againthe ripple started by the given tract
can widen down the centuries until it reaches
"The Great White Throne."
EVANGELIZE THROUGH LITERATURE
Christian Literature Crusade
STATEMENT ON THE CLOSING OF
It has been about 10 years since the incon
spicuous yet honefiil beginning of Tokyo
Bible Seminary. The school has had a very
interesting and varied history, and we have
enjoyed and profited by our time spent in its
work. We believe that much good has been
done.
From fhe start what we lackrii in exporionco
and ability was at least partially made up in
zeal and vision, for we were convinced of the
importance and necessity of a seminary for
training Japanese leaders. In the past gener
ation the Churches of Christ in America have
been oni.standingly successful in developing
summer Christian camps and Bible Colleges in
different areas, and these have been the
practical and good means of strengthening the
movement with dedicated leadership that
revived the churches. Naturally the missionar
ies tended to believe in the Bible College n>et-
hod.
(Continued Next Page)
THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN
Published quarterly by the Missionaries oi the
Church of Christ Cun^gnam Mission, Tokyo, Japan,
for the information and Gispiration of every Christian
whose he^ is open to the ccdl of Christ, and who is
willing to help in the supreme task of carrying out the
Great Commission oi Christ: Matthew 28:19, 20.
Entered as second class matter in the Knoxville,
Tenn., Poatoffice under the act of March 3, 1879.
Two-Year Subscription
Subscription and "Flaming Torch"
.^0 cents
81.00
MISSION STAFF
Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
R, D. 1, Meadville, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton,
agent: Mr. or Mrs. Ray Armstrong, Rt. 3 Box
310, Piqua, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 450 Aral Machi,
post to one of the missionaries whose addresses are
shown above. Consult your local postoffico concerning
mailing rules and limitations of size and weight
Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, giving both
your old and your new oddress. If you make on offer
ing of $1.00 or more you are entitled to receive this
offering oi $10.00 or more may request a bundle of 10
SEMINARY STATEMENT
(Continued from Page 1)
However we do not hold to such a tradition
or expedient for its own sake. We have been
thinking about the future of Tokyo Bible
Seminary for the past 10 years, and especially
for the past 2 years; and have now reached a
very important decision about which we feel
we should inform the graduates, students and
friends. WE HAVE DECIDED TO CEASE
OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL FROM
MARCH 3, 1958.
A Combination of circumstances and con
victions concerning evangelistic methods has
brought us to this step after long consider
ation. We believe there is sufficient reason,
which we shall attempt to explain briefly, and
we take full responsibility for this decision
and others leading up to it. But we also be
lieve that the Holy Spirit has been leading and
that this is what God would have us do.
In all humility before God and man, recog
nizing our failures, we first in honesty and
good conscience must deny certain reasons
that have been imagined.
We do not admit failure. It is true that the
number of students has declined, but this is
largely because we have made the standards
and entrance requirements higher, and be
cause we do not guarantee financial support. If
these conditions had been different we could
have had at least 6 new students last April.
We believe that the present quality of ins-
struction and spiritual life in the school is
the best we have ever had.
We do not give up because the school has
been boycotted by the Tokyo Bokushikai
and some missionaries.
We do not admit the charge that the school
has gone "No-Church."
Tokyo Christian
Neither do we quit because we believe that
a Bible Seminary is sinful or anti-scriptural.
The reason is simply that we have come to
think that a Bible Seminary and its accompa
nying system is not the best method of build
ing undenominational primitive Christianity
in Japan at the present time.
What is the "accompanying system" that
fits in with a Bible Seminary? It is what we
might call the salaried pastor plan, or perhaps
denominationalism. A Seminary is a necessary
part of the regular denomination's organi
zation. Graduation from the recognized school
is tantamount to a guarantee of life-time
employment. The headquarters take the re
sponsibility for placing each man and seeing
that he has a living. On the other hand anyone
who has not gone to school is not considered
qualified to be a pastor.
Of course our Seminaries in America make
no guarantee for placing their graduates, but
we do have hundreds of churches financially
able to employ a full-time preacher, and
they absorb the Seminary graduates. In Japan
we have very few, if even one, churches that
are able to pay a preacher a living wage, and
we have no deminational headquarters to
handle such matters.
So there are 2 other alternatives. The one
that has been followed mostly is that one of
the missionaries taken each graduate under
h's wing, supports him and directs in the iwork.
From the missionary's viewpoint this seems
all right, although most would feel that this
is not the ideal way and is something less than
indidenous principles. The Japanese in this
situation usually feels at the mercy of the
missionary and, very often has only a vague
understanding of his relationship to the
missionary who gives him some freedom but
still holds the purse strings.
The other alternative is for the Japanese
preachers to get some job for their livelihood
and evangelize in their free time. But for this
our Seminary gives little help-they have no
trade and their diploma is almost valueless in
getting a job. If we are going to put them on
their own at the end of the course it would
seem more kind to the students to let them go
to an accredited college or work at learning
some trade in the day-time instead of attend
ing full-time at the Seminary. Of course this
is not to deny th& benefits of Bible training,
for example, in a night course. Something of
this nature is being defintely planned.
Perhaps we have placed unneccessary bur
dens on the Christians in Japan by imposing
the full-time worker system prematurely. The
main thing is to build up full-grown Christi
ans in whatever calling they may be found and
let them continue in it. This is the New Testa
ment way. More emphasis needs to be put on
Bible training and evangelism for every single
Christian. When men of leadership are found
they will naturally rise to the top and when
the time comes the believers will insist that
they give their full time to the work and pay
them accordingly. Of course we are not op
posed to anyone devoting his whole life-time
to evangelism. Such men are always needed
and should be prayed for and encouraged.
But we believe there is a limit to what should
be done with foreign funds alone. Rightly
understood we believe that this decision will
be a step forward for the Church of Christ in
Japan, and we go forward in the task of evan
gelism with renewed zeal and vision.
Page 2
Finally we wish to add that we do not in
tend any offense or opposition to our Bible
Seminary in Osaka. This is a question of met
hod which each must decide in freedom and
love for Christ and each other. God is able to
bless all and it is our prayer that he will do so
abundantly.
(Signed) Andrew Patton
Harold Sims
Mashahisa lijima
Yoichi Muto
BUTTRAY STATEMENT
Concerning the statement of the closing of
the Tokyo Bible Seminary found in this issue,
I do not concur.
Stanley Buttray
ITAGAKI'S INFANT SON DIES
One would need to know the young preacher
at Kashiwa (Peter Y. Itagaki) and his wife
to fully understand our shock and sadness up
on hearing of the sudden death of their little
six-month-old son. They are both strong in
faith and conviction, engaged in a difficult
pioneer evangelism effort that seeks to be
self-supporting from the start. This bright and
perfectly matched couple made an exemplary
Christian home radiating love and joy through
the whole hew housing development in which
they are located. All their friends and neigh
bors smiled during their months of eager
antiaipation of the baby's arrival and rejoiced
with them when a strong and beautiful little
boy was born. We thought often of how fortu
nate the little one was to be born into such a
loving home.
But although it was difficult to understand
it was nevertheless true that the little boy was
gone. The doctors did all they could, but he
died of dehydration following either intestinal
flu or dysentery.
The funeral was held Jan. 23 with a large
crowd of friends and neighbors in attendance.
Only a few could get into the small room, so
most stood outside in the cold wind during the
simple service. There were 2 sincere gospel
messages, and Jesus Loves Me was sung by the
whole congregation as the tears rolled. Then
each person present laid a flower in the coffin
and the lid nailed shut. The service was com
pleted at the crematory.
To me the unforgetable impression of the
whole day was the living, calm and strong
faith of this young couple, who in their grief
yet firmly believed and confessed God's right
eousness and love and gave thanks for their 6
months of blessing and joy and the hope of
seeing him again. I hope that many of their
neighbors were impressed in the same way.
Surely they were, because the testimony was
very obvious and forced its way into the heart.
Blessed are these few among the millions
here. Their hope clings not to the slender
thread of human life, but to Christ with whom
is real and eternal life.
-Harold Sims
The Mel Byers family on their home fo
furlough stayed a few days with the Juliu
Fleenor family in Tokyo, with whom the;
were classmates. These moments of christiai
fellowship are enjoyed by all.
Page 3
rHAT THEY MAY KNOW THE TRUTH
In order that the people in this neighbor-
bood might come to a better understanding
of the meaning of Christmas, I went from to
house to house placing a Christmas story
tract in each mail box and to those people 1
met, I personally encouraged to read the tract
well. Also taking advantage of the New years
holiday, I again repeated the process using an
appropriate tract for the occasion.
Since then I have had built a 4 ft. by 6 ft.
well-lighted bulletin board and had it erected
on the vacant lot next to our house where
stood the pre-war Kamiochiai Church of
Christ. Thus far I have used four different
posters illustrating simply such texts as John
14:6; 3:16; Matthew 11:28. Pray with us that
God will bring forth fruit from the hundreds
who have already read these "Gem" truths.
Other posters are in the process of being
made. My hope is to put up a new poster at
least once a month.
We are also considering changing our car-
garage, though small, into a place for teaching
Sunday School and Bible Classes. The ultimate
goal: to reestablish a church in this location
and to build a place to meet where the pre-war
church stood.
Also we have a man translating ten sermons
from Z. T. Sweeney's New Testament Christi
anity which I hope will be ready for publi
cation this summer. Translating and checking
is still going on for the two books. The
Christian System and On the Rock. For the
printing of 1500 copies of each of these books,
it will cost approximately $1000.00 per publi
cation. Of the $520.50 received for printing
over the past three years, more than half has
been used for translation work. Therefore,
remember these needs as you bring your tithes
and offerings into the storehouse.
GRADUATION
The final graduation excercises of Tokyo
Bible Seminary were held at the Seminary
building on March 3, 1958. This was the con
cluding event in the ten-year history of the
school since it was decided to cease the oper
ation of the school from that time.
_jr.w.o_sJ;u.d en.ts. were granted Bachelor o f
Sacred Literature degree by the Seminary and
three received certificates showing the com
pletion of a four-year course of study, leaving
only four other students in the school. This
together with the fact that there were no
prospects of any new students for this year
was a factor which helped us to make the de
cision to discont nue operation of Tokyo
Bible Seminary after March 1958. The students
who did not graduate or finish the four-year
course were given certificates indicating the
number of years of study they had successful
ly completed in the Seminary.
Chozo Ishimine and Yujiro Ito were granted
Bachelor of Sacred Literature degrees; Hideo
Fukuda, Goro Hara, and Mr. Sugiura were
given certificates showing the successful
completion of our four-year Bible course; Mr.
Nashiro and Mr. Yamamoto received three-
year certificates and Mr. Nakata a two-year
certificate.
Our greatest concern in the closing of the
school was for those students who have not
yet graduated. Therefore, we are trying to
Tokyo Christian
help those students gain access into other
colleges or universities. Owing to the fact that
thousands of youth are rejected by the schools
of higher education in Japan every year, it is
very difficult for a young person, who has
been put of high school long enou^ to have
become unfamiliar with the sujects of gen
eral culture and who has spent two or three
years in a Bible College, to gain admittance
into a college. Two of our students failed
the rigorous entrance examination for Inter
national Christian University and another,
after being rejected by Tamagaya Univer
sity, took the examination for entrance into
Meiji University and passed. Each of these
youth intend to devote their lives to the
Christian ministry when they have prepared
themselves for that important task.
Chozo Ishimine is a native of Miyakojima,
Ryukyu Islands. He learned English on Okina
wa and there he came in contact with mission
ary Mel Huckins who converted him to the
Christian faith and employed him as his inter
preter. Mr. Huckins sent Chozo to Tokyo
Bible Seminary in 1954 and supported him
during the greater part of the time that he
was in that school. During his school days Mr.
Ishimine served as a part-time interpreter for
the Sieminary. After his graduation Mr. Ishi
mine returned to Okinawa where he is teach
ing in Nago English School and is preaching
the Gospel as he has opportunity.
Yujiro Ito was born, reared, and went to
school in Tokyo. He entered Tokyo Bible
Seminary in 1951, transferred to another semi
nary in 1953, and returned to TBS in 1955. To
enable him to follow the occupation of a public
school teacher while he preaches he has
entered Meiji University of Tokyo for a
teacher-training course. His parents have
promised to support him while he is in schooL
Hideo Fukuda has secured a position in a
paper shop in -order to support himself until
he can reach some conclusion as to whether
he should be a public proclaimer of the (lOspel
or not. Goro Hara .has also secured secular
employment and he also has not fully made
up his mind as to the phase of Christian ser
vice ^hich he should enter. Mr. Sugiura with
drew from Tokoyo Bible Seminary in 1957 be
cause his mother was ill and unable to work
and-he was tho only p e r s o n on- whom-^she'-
could depend for a livelihood. He already had -
received enough credits in the Seminary, how-
ever, to enable us to give him a certificate
from the school indicating the success-
f-.l completion of our four-year course in
Christian Education. His mother's health has
improved enabling him to give up his job and
he hones to spend a year or two in personal
study before entering some fruitful field of
evangelism. Mr. Yamamato and Mr. Nakata
both failed the entrance examination for
International Christian University of Tokyo
and will spend one year in preparation for
entering some university next spring. Mr. Nash
iro has returned to Okinawa to work with
missionary Carl Fish who sent him to school
and supported him while he was in the Semin
ary.
Thus ended the final phase of the history
of Tokyo Bible Seminary. We spent ten
happy and in many respects fruitful years. in
that wo'-k. But the time has come to draw the
curtain and clear the stage for what we hope
to be the most evangelistic and soul-stirring
epoch in the history of the work of the Church
of Christ Cunningham Mission. To our gradu
ates and former students we present the stag
gering challenge of an unevangelized Japan.
To those who have upheld us by their prayers
and offerings during the past ten years we
give our thanks and we wish you to Imow that
this work of faith and labor of love and
patience of hope has not been in vain in the
jLiord. For we are confident that He who began
a good work in the graduates and former
students of Tokyo Bible Seminary will per
form it until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Andrew Patton
BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY
April 8th is celebrated by the Japanese as
Buddha's birthday. On this day special services
were held at various shrines throughout the
land and thousands of people made special
effort to visit these places to worship Buddha.
On that afternoon as I was returning home I
discovered that the sidewalks in front of our
home as well as another main street about one
block away were literally lined with thousands
of people (especially young men between the
ages 01 16 and 25). Being Buddha's birthday
I. thought they were worshipping at some Bud
dhist temple near by. But according to a
neighbor they were Shintoists (worshipers of
the Emperor) waiting for the hearse to pass
by. with the remains of some high Shinto
priest. Two or three. feet apart these people
stood waiting for hours. That was one day
that the Scripture posters on my new bulle
tin, board were well read.
, The. people were kept notified of the
approximate time the hearse would pass by.
So .that, when the appointed time came they
Were -ali with prayer beads in hand facing the
way from which the car came. As the car came
in sight they in unison bowed their heads in
prayer, at the same time rolling their prayer
beads in their hands. As the car passed by,
they ,all turned (heads still bowed in prayer)
in the direction of the departing car. They
continued praying for about two minutes, then
gradually they stopped and started on their
way home, hardly saying a word.
The above example is typical of the môrity
Sfof^be people .of Japan, and onlyTserves Tb
r remind me of the fact that next year the
V. missionaries, and Japanese Christians will cele
brate the hundredth anniversary of the re
turn of missionaries and Christianity. When
we realize that of the 90 million people in
Japan only one-half of one percent are
Christian of any kind, and that only a few
thousand are "simply" New Testament
Christians. And yet, surely the few thousand
who have not returned and bowed down again
to the Gods of Japan are precious in the sight
of Jehovah.
Pray that God will bring forth out of these
people a great harvest of souls in these last
days.
The Bert Ellis family on their way to Pusan,
Korea, to work with the Alex Bills family in
Christian Radio Mission, stayed overnight in
Tokyo. A fellowship get-together to meet the
new missionaries was thoroughly enjoyed by
all.
Tokyo Christian
Household Baptized
Most of you readers have already seen the
above (picture in Horizons Magazine, and know
that this entire family was baptized on Feb. 16
in an unusual case of "household baptism". In
this article I would like to give a little back
ground to this story. Needless to say we are
much encouraged by and thankful for this
victory.
The Mikawashima church, where we have
worked since coming to Japan, is one of a
very small number of churches serving the
600,000 Koreans living in Japan. The only
other one in Tokyo is the Central Church,
which is supported by the United Church of
Canada. Then there are several preaching
points in certain districts where large numbers
of Koreans are found.
One day one of the Christian Korean young
men brought to my house a man of about 50
years who had been working several years for
the political organization of Koreans in Japan
oympathetic to South Korea. He is a cusiani
relative of Pres. Sygman of ROK, and had
some experience as a lay-preacher as well as
various political offices. The man told me
he had become discouraged with his political
activities and conflicts and also felt he had
drifted far from Christ. He wanted to spend
his life for more useful purpose, and felt he
could best serve his country by serving Christ
who was the only hope for Korea. After sever
al more visits he decided to dedicate his life
to Christ anew and was immersed here in the
Nakano church in December.
Immediately he wanted to start a new
preaching point in the Shinagawa district of
south Tokyo where great numbers of Koreans
live and there is no church for them of any
kind. I was a little skeptical of his ability to
lead and also of the possibilities, but agreed to
go with him to a meeting in the home of one
of his friends in the area. It was the home of
the Rhee family pictured above.
We parked the car that rainy morning on
the nearest paved street and then walked some
distance through narrowing, muddy alleys bet
ween crowded and shabby tenements. Soon we
entered one door, slipped out of our shoes and
through a long, dark corridor and up the stairs
to the one room with it's low ceiling, and one
window through which they had acc^s to the
roof that served as their porch. Yet I was im
pressed with the strength of character dis
played in this very crowded home. There were
scriptures quotations papered over the cracks
in the walls. The Bible and hymnal were well
used. The children were polite and clean. I
learned that they had once been rather prosp
erous, but had lost everything in trading ven
tures and were now doing whatever work they
could find. It was largely because of my
meeting this family and the good impression
they made on me that we decided to furnish
the necessary funds for renting a hall and
beginning an evangelistic effort in that area.
We began services on the second Sunday of
January in a rented public hall in the area.
The man who rededicated his life and asked
us to begin work there has proved to be a
zealous worker, and the attendance averages
about 15 adults and 6 or 7 children every
Sunday. The first results of the effort there
were the Rhee family. The mother and father
had been sprinkled, but when they decided
to be immersed all of the children decided
with them. It was a day of rejoicing for all of
them. We believe they will become the nucle
us for a strong church in that section of Tok
yo one of these days.
Harold Sims
THE RHEE FAMILY AND HAROLD SIMS
Page 4
THE KYUSHU CONVENTION
This year the conventions were held at the
southern end of Japan-Kagoshima prefecture
on the island of Kyushu. Since the dates of
April 1-5 corresponded to the spring vacations
at Christian Academy and language School,
Hope and Sylvia and Lois were able to go and
of course Jonnie and Bobble are always availa
ble for a trip on the choo-choo train, so we
took the whole family.
In Japan there are third-class sleepers, and
if you are lucky enough to get reservations
they make traveling fairly inexpensive and
enjoyable. The bunks are narrow, three-deep,
close together and so short I had to sleep with
my head in the luggage rack, but it beats sit
ting up all night and there are no cannibals
here who might poke their heads in and think
they were looking at a jumbo sandwich so it's
reasonably safe. Riding down from Tokyo
with us in our shelf-car were also Grace Farn-
ham, and Mrs. Olive Walker and Mrs. Wesley
Walker and little son from Hokkaido. We left
Tokyo late Monday afternoon and arrived in
Kagoshima the following evening. When we
arrived at the small ferry dock in a driving
rain-me and 3 small boys, and all those women
and 20 suitcases-we created quite a sensation.
There was an American girl down there on a
sightseeing trip who was going to cross the
bay on the same ferry with us. She said she
would surely never see another such sight in
all her travels.
We arrived on the other side of the bay and
were met by Mark Maxey and taken directly
(I am presuming on this word, because it was
an hour-long, bumpy and winding mountain
road) to the Japanese hotel where the con
vention was just ending the first evening
session. We were soon bathed in the hot-spring
and asleep on the straw-mat floor. Wednesday
all day was spent in various discussions and
fellowship with the Japanese brethren from
all over Japan and listening to sermons. There
were about 120 present-perhaps more than
half of them from the local prefecture where
there are several strong churches. Thursday
morning I preached the closing sermon at this
convention. Unfortunately there was con
tinual rain and we could not enjoy the excel
lent scenery the hotel was supposed to provide.
It was beside a beautiful bay and facing a
towering active volcano, but all we saw was
clouds.
Following the ninth Japanese convention
all of the missionaries traveled to the city of
Kanoya by chartered bus for our own meeting
which continued through Friday and Satur
day. We enjoyed the stimulating discussions,
the inspirational singing, good messages, the
Maxey hospitality and other things, and came
home encouraged and strengthened.
We stayed over in Kanoya for Sunday April
6. I attended sunrise services at the leper
colony near there and then preached on From
Death to Life to a packed church that morning.
We have a very good group of missionaries
in Japan: welded together by the fires of trial,
realization of our weakness and the Love of
Christ.
Harold Sims
Guen Griffith, who has been working with
Betty Yarbrough in Cebu of the Philippines,
had a 24 hour stop-over here on her way to
Honolulu where she plans to work in the
Christian Day School.
Tokyo Christian
'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
Vol. 58
Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, Summer, 1958 Number 1
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
by Lois Sims
Summer has rolled around again and
many of you friends in America are busy
helping in DVBS, preparing lessons for camp
classes, or listen.ng to the Word of God being
taught in a practical way to be used after
you return home from a week in Chr.siian
Service Camp. How good it is to have a few
days of the year set aside for study of Gou's
Word! Many of us here in Japan have had
opportunities to have part in DVBS and camps
too.
Daily Vacation Bible School
(picture the 4 Sims children standing
around a cardboard sailor girl which Sylvia
won as a prize for memory work. It had
_been usgd-Jo adyfirtise Lhe_scJiool.)
This June our whole family went to
DVBS for 2 weeks. Many missionaries he p
in tne American Armed Forces Chapel Center
in Tokyo, and early this spring a call for
volunteer teachers went out, so I accepted
a request to lead the singing and teach a class
in the Primary Department. The theme
used for the school this year was "Sailing
With Ch.isL," and the Chapel artist made veiy
attractive decorations for each department
which 7. ore then given to the children as
awards for memorizing the Bible verses (see
above). There were about 75 or 80 In the
Primary Dept., both Armed Forces, m.ssionary
and "civilian" children,
Harold was in charge of the hand-work
and singing in the Intermediate Dept. Those
students were treated to a boat-ride in Tokyo
Bay as a reward tor their achievements.
Hope was in the Junior Dept., Jonnie in the
pro-school and Bobby in the nursery.
During the past year my Ladies Bible
Class met with the larger group from the
nearby Mabashi church of Christ 2 or 3 times,
and several of them spoke of how nice it
would be to have a short summer camp
together. Miss Grace Farnham, missionary
at Mabashi, and the Julius Fleenor family own
a house in the mountains about 3 hours tra'n
ride from Tokyo, and they graciously consent
ed to let the ladies group use the house for
a few days of rest and study.
Women's camp. (PictureLady Campers "On
The Mountain-Top"
Of course it is not easy for these mothers
of large families to take several days of va:a-
tion, but all hoped they 'would be able to go
when the time came. Last Sept. they began
putting aside 100 yen (28c) a piece each
month after the regular meet.'ng and offering
in "Christmas club" style, so that when the
time came they would be able to go. Natural
ly plans were gone over in great detail in
order to make everything as cheap and inter
esting as possible.
Continued Next Page
"Japan is not a Christian country in
that those professing Christianity con
stitute a rather small minority of its vast
population. But the fact is beyond
dispute that Japanese Chiistianshumble
followers as well as outstanding leaders
of the faithhave made signal contribu
tions to the social progress and spiritual
uplift of the nation, weilding a powerful
moral influence out of all proportion to
their numbers through their exemplaiy
conduct, their piety^ their spirit of service
and helpfulness."
Prime Minister of Japan Nobusukc
Kishi at the opening session of the 14th
World Convention on Christian Education
meeting in Tokyo August 6, 1958.
ANNOUNCEME
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patten announce
the birth of their third child, a son, 8'/^ lbs,
on July 8, 1958. He has been named Philip
Holt.
THE TWYO CHRISTIAN
Published Quarterly by the Missionaries of the
Church of Chrial Cunninonam Mission, Tokyo, Japan,
for the information and inspiration of every ChrUtim
whose heart is open to the call of Christ, and who is
Great Commission of Christ: Matthew 28:19, 20.
Entered as second class matter in the KnozvUle,
Tenn., Postoffice xmder the act of March 3, 1879.
Two-Year Subscription
MISSION STAFF
R. D. 1, MeadvlUe, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton,
Fiu-lough address same as Forwarding
agent: Mr. or Mis. Eay Armstrong, Rt. 3 Box
310, Piqua, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 450 Aral Machi,
Nakano-Ku. Tokyo, Japan. Forwarding agent:
post to one oi the missionaries whose addresses are
mailing rules ond limitations oi size and weight.
Hamilton. Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, giving both
your old and your new address. If you make on offer
ing of 51.00 or more you are entitled to receive this
offering of 510.00 or more may request a bundle oi 10
SUMMER ACTIVITIES, Con't
Unfortunately when the time came some
of the women found it impossible to go be
cause of family responsibilities, and we were
all disappointed. However we had 5 from
Nakano and 9 from Mabashi church in at
tendance. They arrived from Tokyo on Tues
day afternoon and rented sleeping mats from
a local dealer. That night we had a chal
lenging message by Miss Corrie Ten Boom, a
fainoiis Dutch Christian who has written many
booklets and traveled widely telling of her
experiences in Nazi prison camps. The fol
lowing morning I brought the devotional mess
age. After some discussion all went to a hot-
spring and did some other sight-seeing. That
night we had another message by Miss Ten
Boom and the following morning Mrs. Fleenor
spoke. After that we climbed the nearby
mountain. Late that afternoon the ladies went
back to Tokyo.
Our family rented a hotel room nearby,
and Harold served as baby-sitter while I help
ed with the ladies camp. We all had a wonder
ful time, and hope to have a similar program
next year.
Evangelistic meetings were held at the
Nakano church June 15-22 and Abiko church
July 13-22 at which several of the missionaries
assisted. The attendance was average or above
and many new prospects were contacted in
both meetings. This is often the principal
result of special meetings in Japan.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kikuchi, ministering
at Nakano, have been warned by the doctors
about stomach uclers. Let us pray for their
health.
Tokyo Christian
DOWNEYS TO OKINAWA,
HAMMONDS TO TOKYO
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Downey and their
2 little daughters left Tokyo July 19 to return
to their work in Okinawa after 18 months
of language study. We are thankful for and
proud of their accomplishments in the langu
age, and also have been glad to have their
fellowship these months. Our prayers are
with them as they go to their chosen field
of service, that God may lead them in His
wonderful way.
We had been wondering what we would
do with the Wakaba-cho missionary residence
after Downeys vacated, because we knew oi
no new missionaries who might be interested.
But about the first of July, as Downeys were
beginning to pack their belongings, we received
an inquiry from the Hammonds who have been
harvesting souls on a little island off the south
end of Kyushu. Because a new Japanese
minister and his bride had been called to lead
in the work there they felt the time for some
more advanced language study had come.
When they found that the house was avail
able they rushed preparations and arrived
in Tokyo for the summer session at the
language school. They bought some things
from Downeys, and everything down to the
details worked so moothy that Hammonds
baggage arrived just in time so Downeys
could use Hammond's stove and beds for a
few days after theirs had been packed and
sent.
God works all together for good, as this
simple, every-day incident shows.
Page 2
The effects of being born and growing
up in Japan are sometimes evident in the
children's play. For instance, the other night
they invited us up to their room for their
drama which they had been planning for
several days. It proved to be a 9 act comedy
(or tragedysometimes there is only a small
line between) for which the main prop was a
Japanese tea set. The mistress (Hope, dress
ed in 2 or 3 of Lois' discards) was shown
at 9 different times between first waking and
bed-time, and each time she asked the maid
to serve her tea. Sylvia, dressed in Lois' old
wedding veil, was the maid. Jonnie was the
court jester, so he wore Hope's skirt for a
cape, and strove to make the mistress laugh.
Finally in the last scene the request was for
coffee, because she had drunk too much tea.
Bobby was a most enthusiastic spectator and
thought it was a howling success. It was un
named.
On July 20 Mr. Rhee Sung Won was
ordained as elder (we prefer) or pastor (he
prefers) of the Slilnagawa Church of Christ.
He has been leading in this work from the
beginning last December and both he and the
12 members requested that he be ordained
so they could be a regular church. Julius
Fleenor preached the sermon and Harold Sims
gave the charge and they both laid on hands.
There was a crowd of 50 or 60, and telegrams
from many other of Mr. Rhee's friends wish
ing him well in his new life and work. After
the service an informal meeting was held
at which most of the people made speeches
in Oriental fashion. Many of the men who
were non-Christians yet gave real exhortations
to him.
Mabel Buttray's Thursday night English Bible Class
'âge 3
FURLOUGH ACTIVITIES
Ândrew Patton
A youth at one of the camps I visited
his summer prayed thus: "Lord, we thank
ôu for the rain, but don't you think you have
iverdone it?" The first three months of our
urlough have been crammed into that short
ime that we are now wondering if we haven't
)verdone it.
Since our arrival in Piqua, Ohio on April
57 we have been staying at the home of our
'orwarding agents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Arm-
itrong, Betty's parents. April 29th I left
)y train for Michigan City, Indiana to attend
he Missionary Rally sponsored by the breth
ren of First Christian Church. Both home
md foreign missionaries participated in the
jrogram and exhibits representing their field
)f labor.
May 4th we visited the^ Sexton church
iearHushville, Indiana. TTHis church has been
iaithful in supporting our work since the time
[ preached for them five years ago. When we
vere in need of travel funds to bring us home
for furlough the Sexton church alone raised
learly half of the funds needed. There we
Bnjoyed the homecoming they had planned
for us. After the morning service a delicious
pot-luck meal was served. In the afternoon
we showed slides of our work in Japan and
explained our items we had on display.
May 11th we visited the church at Piqua,
Ohio. This church has supported Betty since
the beginning of her missionary activities,
September 1949. Both mornng and evening
services were given to us to present the work
in message, song, sldies and display. We had
already met with the Piqua brethren on April
27th, the day we arrived home. What a wond
erful time of fellowship we had meeting our
old friends and new friends and faithful sup
porters once again.
On the evening of May 18th we met with
the Rushsylvania, Ohio church who has sup
ported me for the past ten years. Time was
too short to do all the visiting with these
brethren we wanted to do. On May 19th
Sharon Lee and I left for North Carolina
to spend two weeks with my parents. We
rettâed-to Piniia-on, Mav-29th to prepare for
my summer camp activities.
Early on the morning of June 6th I set
out on the first leg of a long journey. The
missionary group of the Webber Street church,
Urbana, Illinois invited me to speak to them
rn that evening. This was on my way to my
first camp in Iowa. I met many fine people
at that ch"rch and enjoyed the'r fellowship.
While in Urbana I enjoyed the generous
hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Mullikan.
The next day I drove nearly 500 miles
to Scrantcn, Iowa where a former schoolmate,
R bert Stacy, ministers. Bob serves as camp
manager for Central Iowa Bible Camp which
had invited me to serve as missionary during
the next week. I had fellowship with the
brethren at Scranton all day on the Lord's
Day and enjoyed their interest in the evange
lization of Japan. On Monday morning we
started for Central Iowa Camp located near
Earlham, where I served as chapel and vespers
Tokyo Christian
speaker during the week. Thursday afternoon
I showed slides to the Ladies' Missionary
group at the South Side Church, Des Moines.
After the wonderful experiences of the week
at camp were ended I journeyed to Green
Bay, Wisconsin. On the Lord's Day morning,
I spoke at the Green Bay church where
Brother Bruce Burdick is minister. In the
afternoon we started for Mountain, Wisconsin
for a week of camp at the Michicon Christian
Training School. I taught a class on missions,
one of stewardship, one of choosing vocations
and served as Dean of Men.
The next Saturday I drove 565 miles to
Hanging Rock Christian Assembly, West Le
banon, Indiana. On the Lord's Day morning
I went with Hugh Ridlens, manager of the
camp, to the State Line Church. In Camp
I taught two classes on Missions and served
as a group sponsor. Again the fellowship was
superb. I reached home the night of June
27th exhausteîn mind and body after the
242(nniles of travelling but rejoicing over the
memorable experiences which I had had dur
ing the 3 weeks I had been away from home.
The week July 29-July 5 has been the only
time I had been free of camp activities since
June. During this week we tried to make the
many preparations which had to be made to
allow me to attend the camps on my schedule
for the following two months.
I worshipped with the brethren of Sexton
Church on July 6th before attending the
Mahoning Valley camp just outside of Rush-
vfllerlnd. During the week a1 camp I taught
Missions classes and served as chapel speaker.
On July 8th I recei\^d a telephone call from
Piqua, Ohio saying I was the father of another
son, Philip Holt. It was Friday evening be
fore I saw Betty and the new arrival.
I was the missionary guest and chapel
speaker at Western Buckeye Camp near Pique
Ohio during July 13-19th. The next week
was spent at Clearwater Camp, Vevay, Indiana.
The foPowing Lord's Day morning I spoke to
the brethren at Center Square Church. Then
I left for Allendale Christian Assembly in the
afternoon for another week of camp. Besides
teaching 3 classes, I served as chapel and vesp-
week I presented the work to the brethren
at the University Heights church and Fairfax
Church at Indianapolis, Ind.
Only two more camps are scheduled for
the summer months. One is Camp Wakatom-
ika near Ashland, Ohio and one camp at Round
Lake ChrisPan Assembly, Lakeville, Ohio.
Around the first of September our plans
are to move to Cincinnati where I will enter
the Seminary again for one year. While in
school we will be able to accept week-end
speaking engagements within driving distance
of Cincinnati. During our furlough we hope
to visit all our supporting churches and fellow
ship with them. For speaking engagements
contact us by writing to oi'r forwarding agents,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Armstrong, R. R. 3, Box
310, Piqua, Ohio. All funds should be sent
to our forwarding agent.
FUTURE PLANS OF THE PATTONS
We plan to return to our home and our
work in Tokyo, Japan in September 1959.
After that we have several projects in mind
which we hope to be busy with during our
next term of missionary service. Of course,
since we do not know what shall be on the
morrow, these plans are made subject to the
providence, wisdom and mercy of our kind
heavenly Father Who knows the beginning
and the end. Since our home is next door
to the building built in the past to house
Tokyo Bible Seminary, we intend to put this
building to use by starting a new Church,
and perhaps a Christian kindergarten and a
Bible-centered English school there. We will
continue our efforts to help young and weak
Churches already established who need and
want our help to be strong in the Lord and
mighty in the doing of His will. We want to
write, publish and distribute a niunber of
gospel tracts. We will spend part of our
time in f urther^study of the Japanese language
to enable us to more effectively work among
the Japanese people. And if time permits v/e
intend to start more new churches in Tokyo
and vicinity. We have no fear of nmning
our of work for there are more than 8,500,000
people in that one city alone! Will you join
us in prayer that these aims be fulfilled?
Ândrew and Betty Patton
NOSEGAWA CAMP
I was asked this year to be the vesper
speaker for the Young People's Christian
Camp in the Osaka area fromrJuly 26 - Aug.
1. So, taking the slow, smoky train down
through the mountains of central Japan for
a delightful change of scenery, I went. The
camp is situated on a cool river in the quiet
foot-hills just around the comer from the
steaming, bustling Osaka-Kobe industrial
complex. Being so near the city gave the
camp an advantage in one way^people who
couldn't attend for the whole week because
of employment etc. could come for a day or
so. Thus there was some turn over of people
every day as different ones came and went.
The attendance averaged over 60, but perhaps
more than ICQ different people attended.
The theme "Soldiers of Christ" proved
-of_good-
sermons and discussions. Also there were
lively games and swimming every afternoon
in the "hole" in the river. We had a very
profitable time together. There were 2 con
fessions of faith during the camp, and I have
heard of one the following Sunday. At the
campfire on Thursday night many of the
young folks gave very serious and moving
testimonies that were a real encouragement
to me.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Sharon Lee Patton celebrated her fourth
birthday July 30th at the home of her grand
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Armstrong. This
was her first American birthday party. She
invited the neighborhood children and a
supper of weiners, potato chips, ice-cream
and cake was enjoyed by all attending the
celebrated occasion .
DIARY OF A TRIP
May 10 Beautiful weatherwarm and clear.
Woke early and enjoyed the green moun
tains and the narrow sheltered valleys neatly
full of wet rice paddies through which the
train was climbing. At 7:30 Mr. Osumi met
me at the station and we went up to the little
church by bus. The old but well-preserved
building is in a nice quiet location on the
edge of town. After breakfast we toured the
town of Iga Ucno, which has quite a few ap
pearances in Japanese history. We went along
the row of ancient temples, up into the top
of the big white castle on the hill and to a
famous poet's tomb.
In the afternoon we went about an hour
by train to the other side of the plain where
he had an evangelistic outpost with services
every Saturday night. I preached to a nice
group of 10 adults at night after talking to
the Sunday School children in the afternoon,
and was surprised to discover that in the
town of 30,000 people in central Japan this
small effort was the only Christian activity
being carried on by any group. Home about
11 p.m.
Entrance To Ise Imperial Grand Shrine
May 11 Light rain.
We had 22 for the morning service, at
which I preached, and I enjoyed meeting
several of the older members who each had
an interesting life story. After dinner we
decided to visit the Ise Grand Shrine in spite
of the bad weather. The grounds were very
beautiful, because the forest of tall straight
cryptomeria trees and the clear smooth river
had been left almost untouched. The few
buildings were of the simple, unpainted pri
mitive Japanese construction. It was a little
disappointed that we couldn't get near the
building where the sacred objects are stored
and the sungoddess is worshipped. The
common folks were only allowed to go up
to the main gate and worship (WE DIDN'T)
toward the building which was hidden from
view by a white curtain. It reminded me of
the Scriptural expressions about "the veil."
May 12 Clear with a cool breeze
We arrived in Nara at 10 a.m. after a nice
ride on the express train. The efficiency
of the private electric railway in that section
has almost made the former socialist Osumi
into an advocate of private and free enter
prise. I was a little ashamed to admit to him
that after 10 years in Japan I still had not seen
Nara, which is a household word to tourists
and students of Japan's history, religion etc.
A very pleasant 3 hours was spent in strolling
Tokyo Christian
through the quiet lanes between the famous
old temples, pagodas, shrines, gates and other
relics of the days 1200 years ago when this
was the capital and cutural center of Japan,
and it was much more profitable because I
had this preacher with me as a guide.
Harold feeding crackers to deer in the
Nara Park
Besides having the oldest wooden build
ing and one of the largest ones in the world,
as well as the largest bronze statue of Buddha
and the largest temple bell, this town is also
remarkable for the large number of very tame
deer which roam the park all day and the
many old lanterns of both stone and metal.
We went on from Nara by bus to the
nearby city of Tenri, which is the home of
Tenrikyoone of the stronger and more active
sects of Shinto. All of the adherents of this
religion wear short coats with the name of
the religion in large letters in the middle of
the back and their local "church" on the lapels
in front. The town was full of these devotees
going to and from the large temple. We went
in and watched their worship for a while
there was no idol and the people just con
tinually chanted the formula prayer which was
something about asking cleansing from evil
and help for life. Then we went over to
their University and looked at the very well-
equipped library which had 7 drawers full
of index cards listing books concerning Chris
tianity and most of the "name" theological
quarterlies in English, French, German, Latin
and Japanese. This electric religion, which
unblushingly adopts some Christian teaching
also, is very impressive in numerical and fin
ancial power and is a major force in present-
day Japanese religious life.
Arrived in Osaka at 5 p.m. with eyes full
of sights, head full of history, and sore feet,
but was soon comfortably situated beside
Martin Clark's supper table.
May 13 A beautiful spring morning.
Spoke for the chapel service at Osaka
Bible Seminary at 8 a.m., pinning one of Mrs.
Clark's thousands of pink rose-buds to my
lapel as we went over to the school. I had
good visits with various members of the
faculty and student body during the day, taught
the homiletics class, and bought some reading
matter in the book-store. In the evening I
preached at a meeting in the home of one
of the members of the Moriguchi church.
There were about 20 there and we had a very
nice time.
May 14 Another perfect spring day.
Spoke at chapel again in this morning.
Page
Just after noon I left for Nagoya on the ncA
electric special express train and enjoyed tha
fast ride. The Davis and Chambers familie
met me at the station and we went out t
Chambers house for a big chicken feast. Tha
evening we went across town for a specia
one-night stand in the school building wher
the Mukojima church meets. We spen
some time going through the streets announc
ing the services with the loud speaker on th
car. There were about 20 people therever
encouraging, because the attendance was muc:
better than expected.
May 15 Rained all day.
Small meeting in the evening at th
Howard Davis home.
May 16 Back home
Harold Sims
YOKOSUKA
Yokosuka is a Navy base about 40 mile
south of Tokyo. The church there began i
the home of U.S. sailor Ogden R. Robbin
when he and his family were stationed i
Japan. With the help of Stanley Buttraj
a good work was started and a nice churc
building finally erected in 1953. Since tha
time there has been a succession of problem
and preachers, and the work has been practic
ally dead for some months. The former pasto
there was a member of what is called th
Pastor's Association in Tokyo, a group no^
numbering 4 preachers who are lined up wit
Eloise Cunningham and opposed to us.
In April we missionaries heard in a
indirect way that the pastor there was leavin
to return to his home in Kyushu. We viiste
him and ascertained that this was true, s
immediately began making contacts and ai
rangements for another preacher to take hi
place. One of the 1958 graduates of Toky
Bible Seminary agreed to go.
When Stanley Buttray took him and hi
belongings down in the car on May 10 the
were surprised to fine someone unknown t
us occupying the building. He explained thi
the Pastor's Association had asked him to b
caretaker and that they planned to hoi
services Sunday afternoons. Stan B. explaine
to him that we owned the building and
was our prerogative to decide who would b
caretaker. After some argument he left an
2 days later two of the Pastor's Ass'n membei
in Toyko agreed to his leaving and asked thi
their caretaker's belonging be brought bac
to Tokyo by the missionaries.
Just as we thought everything was settle
Sugiura-san (the young man we had asko
to preach there) came with the report th
the former caretaker had moved back in fort
ibiy at midnight and refused to get out of th
buildingon instructions from the Paston
Then began a series of unsuccessful cor
fercnccs trying to work out a solution. Th
Pastor's Association claimed the building a
their "territory" although they had to admi
that the former preacher had failed and thei
plan was inadequate. Every ruse and reaso
was tried to keep us from taking over.
Finally they gave up, and Mr. Sugiur
and his mother are now settled there. Durin
the past month he has been giving the churc!
building a badly needed coat of paint ani
cleaning. He has also opened services, al
though only 1 or 2 attend. Pray for this youn;
preacher and the work down there.
Tokyo
Christian
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 26:15
Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, Fall, 1958
NOW HE KNOWS
Coming home from the Monday evening
Bible Classseveral weeks ago one of the young
men said, "For many months I have believed
that Christ is my Saviour and now I believe
it is time for me to be baptized." My heart was
thrilled by his words and I rejoiced with him
in his desire to obey the Word. Coming home
from his baptism he commented, "Always be
fore when I was asked if I was a Christian, I
never knew whether to answer yes or no, but
now I know."
On Thursday of the same week another
young man came to the Bible Class with this
announcement, "I have made my decision to
become a Christian". How happy we all were
for we have been praying for him for many
months. He was amazed and suprised at h.s
"warm and light feeling" after his baptism.
Truly, these two young men went on their way
rejoicing. We covet your prayers for them in
the coming months, that they will remain true
and faithful, and that they may be used might
ily of God in- winning many others to Christ.
Mabel Buttray
THE NEED FOR MEN
In spite of the fact that Japan boasts almcst
two ordained men for every local church, tlie
need for trained and qualified men for the
ministry is a pressing one. Muny of the present
ministers are not serving in the churches. Of
those serving in churches many are near or
past retirement age. According to the Inter-
board Committee Publicity Office in Tokyo,
156 active ministers of the United Church of
Christ (Kyodan) are beyond the age of 70 and
an additional 136 are over 65!
Japan Cliristian Quarterly, July 1958
GENERAL RELIGIOUS STATISTICS
SHINTO BUDDHISM
Shrines 80,741 Temples 74,102
Churches 24,232 Churches 5,191
Preaching centers10,752
Preaching Centers10,366
Total 115,777 Total 90,059
Priests 182,904 Priests 127,580
Aaherents79,221,216 Adherents39,720,8 4
CHRISTIANITY (Prot.) CATHOLIC
Churches 3,767 Churches 693
Preaching Centers1,239
Catechumens17,177
Total 5,006 Total 17,870
Clergy 11,328 Priests 1,427
Adherents 576,202 Adheients 241,745
From the Ministry of Education's Re
ligions Year BOOK
Japan Clristian Quarterly, July -958
Stanley Buttray
MOTOSU CAMP - 1958
Two years ago we held a camp at Lake Motosu,
which is a bowl of volcanic ash with a 5000 ft.
variegated rim at the foot of Mt. Fuji contain
ing cool, blue, deep and very clear water said
to be "potable". This year we again had an op
portunity to rent the rather nicely developed
grounds (owned by the non-inslrumcnt church
of Christ) for the last week of the season
August 18-23. Several people were cooperating
in the project from the beginning and with the
guidance and help of God we had a very wond
erful week of camp that answered fully our ex
pectations.
Plans were begun late in the spring by a
committee of the 3 preachers of Abiko, Kam-
iuma and Nakano churches and Claude Likins
and Harold Sims. During the summer weeks
the schedule was fixed, campers were recruited
and many other details were arranged. Harold
Sims was camp manager, Claude Likins was
vesper speaker, the 3 Japanese preachers ta
ught classes, spoke at morning worship ser
vices, directed recreation etc. Lois Sims was
camp nurse, and the Japanese preache.'s wives
superintended the cooking-purchasing etc.
Hope and Sylvia Sims and Patty Likins ran a
little store selling apples, gum, and candy to
the campers. So all of us were very busy the
week before the camp mak ng purchases, final
arrangements, finding another cook, settling
disagreements and trying to persuade some
reluctant ones to join in.
"9
The camp is located at the opposite side of
the lake (4 miles) from the end of the uus line
that brings you from the end of the electric
train line. For Tokyo young people it is real
experience to be apart from electricity, noise,
people, news, and other aspects of "civilizat
ion", and I believe they enjoyed that part of
camp life as much as the swimming and games.
We left home Sunday afternoon Aug. 17 with
the car over-packed. Almost 5 hours later at
the end of tortuous, washboard moun.ain loads
we finished the 88 mile trip with a broken
spring and a coat of dust on everything. Claude
Likins took much longer with the trailer full
of sunplies. Then Mon/âv af noon we met the
campers and brought them over to bur side of
the lake.
There were 55 campers, including the 2 mis
sionary families. (We should be included, be
cause we ate Japanese food with them.) About
half of the young people were non-Christ.ans.
Two girls from the Nakano church were bapt
ized, and at the concluding campiire many e.x-
pressed their deep appreciation of the exper
iences of the week and a resolve to stuay more
about the Bible and Christ.
We followed the usual camp schedule, and
we all thought the stunt night was particularly
good. All of the groups presented Bible dramas
such as the Wedding at Cana, Moses in the
Bulrushes, Feeding of 5000, The Man Born
Blind etc. and they then climbed the mountain
and walked back to the camp along the ridge
overlooking the beautiful scene.
The camp was good for all of us, and we
came back to Tokyo refreshed physically and
spiritually.
THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN
Publishod quotrtorir by tho liOsslonaries of tiio
Church of Christ Cuiminghcm Mission, Tokyo, Jopoai,
for the information and i^piiotion of every Ch^tian
whose heart is open to the ocdl of Christ, and who is
Great Commission of Clirist: Matthew 28:19, 20.
Entered as second class matter in the KnoxviUe,
Term., Postoffice under the act of March 3, 1879.
Two-Yeor Subscription
_S0 cents
31.00
MISSION STAFF
R. D. 1, Meadville, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fatten,
agent: Mr. or Mrs. Bay Armstrong, Rt 3 Box
310, Piqua, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 450 Arai Machi,
post to one of the missionaries whose ccdêsses are
mailing rules and limitations of sto and weight
If you change your address please notify H. L
Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, ^ving both
your old and your new address. If you mcme an offer
ing of $1.CK) or more you ore entitled to receive thia
paper if you so request. Churês or groups maldng an
offering of $10.00 or more may request a bundle of 10
FURLOUGH ACTIVITIES
The breast of a missionary on furlough is
filled with mingled emotions. On the one hand,
he feels an urgency in getting back to the
field for he knows that his time in the work,
however long it may seem, is very, very short.
That thought runs through our mind constant
ly. On the other hand, the fellowship of faith
ful and loving friends in the faith of our Lord
is sweeter than honey. We have certainly made
some long trips and met many fine Christians
and friends during our furlough journeys.
The sweet fellowship and kindness from our
brethren at home is like a drink of fresh, cool
water to a weary and thirsty traveler.
In the early part of August we spent a week
at the Wakatomika Camp near Butler, Ohio.
We had visited this camp about six years ago,
but of course the student body had changed
and there were some new faculty members.
During the week mission work was set before
the students in classes and through slides.
Kenneth Wilkin, of Ashland, Ohio, a friend
from Seminary days, arranged for us to speak
at the Eden and Bell Churches near St. Louis
ville, Ohio and the Clearcreek Church where
he ministers, and at the Church at Sullivan,
Ohio.
Betty and the children joined us for our
ninth week of camp, the one at Round Lake
Christian Assembly. Philip was then over two
months old and was ready for his debut as
an itinerant missionary! That wonderful week
and the attention he received convinced him
and the other two children that mission work
has its blessings as well as its hardships, so
they have accompanied their parents ever
since on their itinerary. While at this camp
we visited the Church at Butler, Ohio, where
our good friend Dale Snell is minister, and
the Church at Manchester. A special treat for
us was the meeting of our old friends from
Tokyo Christian
Japan, Miss Lucille Sherman and her Japanese
friend. Miss Kikkawa, when we visited the
Kenmore Church of Akron. We were surprised
to find that we were able to speak a little Jap
anese since coming home! After camp was
over we visited Union Grove Church from
whom we had received offerings during the
past five years. Our final program of the trip
was presented at the Lancaster Church in
Ohio. There we met again some of the young
people we had met in camp and became ac
quainted with other fine people.
Our travels in September began with a trip
to the Painesville, Ohio Church where we
spoke to the Mission group. These folks are
great friends and promoters of world-wide
missions and they manifested a sincere inter
est in the work we are engaged in. We had
the pleasure of meeting there Mr. and Mrs.
J. Franklin Baxter, who has retired from the
Christian Ministry and who have very active
for years in the promotion of missions. After
our return home we set out for Cincinnati in
search of an apartment, but our efforts prov
ed to be futile and we abandoned our plans
and hopes of moving to Cincinnati and going
to school. Another trip to Cincinnati took us
to the Montgomery Road Church where Har
old Sims' brother Ralph ministers, and where
Betty had been featured as the guest speaker
for the women's meeting. It is needless to say
what the topic of conversation was!
On our way to and from the National Mis
sionary Convention we visited Andrew's par
ents at Hayesville, North Carolina. This was
the first time they had seen their two grand
sons, Noel and Philip, and they hadn't seen
Betty for five years! At the National Mission
ary Convention at Winston-Salem the three
Patton children in their beds lined up again
st the bawl-room window seemed to be quite
an attraction!
From North Carolina our path led across
country to Danville, Illinois for a Missionary
Rally sponsored by Second Church where C.
M. Read is minister. Floyd Butler, brother of
Burris, and his good wife were our hosts dur
ing the Rally and what wonderful hospitality
they showed us! The Rally program was good
and the fellowship superb. We believe that
such regional Missionary Rallies are helping
to meet the great need of placing the missions
cause before Christian people.
On October twenty-third we had the pleasure
of renewing our acquaintance with many
friends at the Chase Avenue Church of Cin
cinnati. Former navy man, Hubert McQuire,
who had visited in our home in Tokyo many
times, introduced us to those who attended
the Missionary meeting.
The Church at Orrville, Ohio planned an
"Oriental Festival" for Oct. 23, and we were
invited to be guest speakers. Mr. and Mrs.
Stewart Rodgers whose daughter and son-in-
law, Ermalee and Gerald Downey, are mission
aries to Okinawa, are ministering to this
Church. The ladies of the Church under Mrs.
Rodgers' leadership did one of the best jobs
of decorating the room with scenes found in
the Orient we have seen. The presence of
cherry blossoms. Kimonos, souvenirs from Jap
an, shoji (paper) doors, a Japanese garden and
fish pond, paper lanterns, low tables and cush
ions on the floor, and Japanese dolls added
much to the program we presented to them
on Japan. We only regretted that Mr. Rodgers
who had looked forward to this event for so
Page 2
long was unable to be present because of a
heart condition.
In the latter part of October we visited the
Missionary Rally sponsored by the Churches
in the Greater Pittsburgh area and which was
held at Central Church of Pittsburgh. While
there we visited our good friends of the Du-
quesne Church who have so faithfully helped
to support us during the past five years and
spoke to them of Japan and the Lord's work
there. While in Pittsburgh we enjoyed the
wonderful hospitality of the Victor Bells of
Bryn Maiwr Church. The regrettable aspect
about that was that the nights were too short
for us to get all of the talking done that we
would have liked to have done! The Rally was
well planned and presented, the fellowship
was grand, and are sure that its effects will
be far-reaching. One night during the Rally
Betty presented a program to a group of the
youngsters and she was assisted by a sister of
Lois Sims of Tokyo. On Sunday morning be
fore the Rally started we visited the Church
at Homeville for the first time.
The first week of November was the busiest
of all for us. The College of the Scr ptures
of Louisville had planned a Missionary Rally
for the latter part of that week, so our friend
Tibbs Maxey arranged speaking engagements
for us before and after the Rally. We visited
the Church at Ashland, Kentucky, where
Claude Likins ministered before going to Jap
an, the Church at Hartford, Kentucky who
have helped to support us during the past
five years, the Clifton Heights Church of Louis
ville, the Georgetown and Mitchell Churches
in Indiana, and the Church at Olney, Illinois.
We enjoyed seeing the work of the College
of the Scriptures and the progress they are
making. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Hyatt of the Col
lege showed us some real Kentucky hospital
ity by allowing us to make their home our
headquarters during the week.
After a brief stay at home we turned up
again at the Queen City for the Conference on
Evangelism sponsored by the Cincinati Bible
Seminary. We were guests in the home of Mr.
and Mrs. A. E. Sims, Harold's parents, of Alex
andria, Kentucky during the Conference. We
even prolonged our stay an extra night so
that the Simses and their two sons, Ralph and
Earl, and their families could get together for
a talk fest and a delicious meal at the Earl
Sims home.
Thus went nearly four months of our fur
lough travels during which we enjoyed the
good hospitality and fellowship of brethren in
North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois,
Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Traveling that dis
tance with three small children was by no
means an easy matter but that was turned into
pleasure by the kindness of so many friends
wherever we went. We now pause to thank
God for protection from harm during our
travels and for giving us such wonderful
friends.
Ândrew Patton
Harold Sims is in Seoul, Korea from Oct. 2
through Nov. 28, teaching 2 courses in th
Seminary there and visiting the missionarie
and churches there.
Page 3
PATTON'S SUPPORT
Furlough time flies like an arrow! Only
about eight months from now we hope to be
on our way back to Japan. So lest be caught
wholly unprepared to return to our work in
Tokyo we are already beginn'ng to prepare
for that event. One of the major items along
that line is the raising of sufficient support
to sustain us and carry our work forward
for another term of missionary service. With
out the confidence and support of our breth
ren and friends at home it will be impossible
for us to get back to the Orient. Therefore,
we now make known to our brethren the am
ount of funds required to take us back to
Japan, to sustain us while there, and to carry
forward the work which we have set our
selves to do.
Annual Budget for 1959-1964
Salary for the family ($250 a month) .... $30'^0
General-purpose needs $3000
Children's schooling
Mission help (hired)
Supplies, postage, publicity
Travel expense, car
Help for new Churches
Furlough Fund
Publications
Total amount required annually $60^0
Total amount pledged to date $2516
Amount of pledges yet needed $34:4
Travel and freight expense to Japan .... ?23'0
Most of the $2000 needed for travel and
baggage back to Japan will have to be on
hand by March when we will have to make
our shipping arrangements. The rest of it will
have to be raised by August 1959 when we
will begin our journey back to Tokyo.
If you feel that we are worthy of your sup
port and desire to share regularly with us in
our evangelistic labors in Tokyo please write
us indicating your agreement to help in our
support and the amount you wish to pledge
If SIX Churches pledge $50 a month all of
the necessary pledged support would be taken
caie of. This is merely a convenient and sen
sible way of helping us plan for our future
work and it will obligate no one if it should
become impossible for him to fulfill the pledge,
bend all funds and correspondence to:
Andrew Patton
c[o Ray Armstrong
Piqua, Ohio
LOIS SIMS HAS APPENDECTOMY
Lois had been having stomach upsets and an
aching side from time to time during August,
so she decided to visit a Japanese doctor in the
neighborhood and consult him about it. He
diagnosed it as chronic appendicitis and ad
vised an operation. Since he was highly recom
mended by everyone as one of the best surgons
In town and a specialist on appendix (averages
more than 1 operation a day) we decided to
have him do the operation. The hospital is just
around the corner from our house and would
be a lot more convenient for visiting than our
regular hospital, and besides it would be very
much cheaper. After she entered the hospital
Lois waved from her window to our children
clustered in the upstairs bed-room, and that
was a real thrill for them.
The hospitals here are very informal, and
the doctor gladly consented to let me watch
the operation, which accompanied by the run-
Tokyo Christian
-p
The 2 High School girls from Nakano who
were baptized at camp.
ning commentary was extraordinarily interest
ing. At one point he stopped and said "It is
too hot" and drawing his bare foot out of the
wooden clog he reached up and deftly slid op
en the window with his big toe. After he had
finished sewing up the incision he said to me
"Now you carry her up to bed," which I did
after recovering from the first shock wave.
The Japanese hospitals are built with the
idea that someone will always stay with the
patient to take care of feeding, cleaning, bed
pans etc. There are no buzzers for calling
nurses. We had many offers of help in this,
and appreciated very much the kindness of
Grace Farnham and Mabel Buttray who took
much time and suffered much inconvenience
in order to stay with her day and n-ght, sleep
ing on the straw mat beside the bed and look
ing after her every need. At the time we had
the Faber family from Hokkaido visiting with
us, and I couldn't take much time off to stay
at the hospital. Mrs. Faber managed the house
hold very well though. Everybody performed
like troopers and all things worked out very
well and everyone seemed to enjoy the whole
affair.
The first food Lois was allowed to eat was
the Japanese version of a "soft diet. It was
gruel from cooked rice looked and tasted
like laundry starch. The Japanese preacher's
wife anticipated Lois' difficulty along this
line, so she had a talk with the doctor and
obtained his permission to take tomato soup,
grape juice and milk over from our house for
her food. Everyone really went the second kilo
meter to be kind and thoughtful and we truly
appreciated it,
I believe our Japanese friends felt honored
by our choice of a Japanese hospital, because
she had a constant stream of visitors. And I
felt an extra warm glow when I looked at the
bill a total of $36, for everything.
Lois came home in 5 days and has made a
steady recovery. We thank you folks at home
for your constant prayers and the expressions
of concern and excouragement. God is good.
Evangelistic Meeting In Nagoya
From Sept. 8 14 it was my privilege to as
sist in a special evangelistic meeting in the
town hall of Moriyama city, which is adjacent
to Nagoya, Japan. This city has no church that
we could find, although we learned of some
cottage meetings and saw a tent meeting dur
ing our trips through the streets announcing
services over the loud-speaker. One of the Na
goya preachers works in the Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries Co., one of Japan's largest, and by
means of a contact there with a Moriyama city
councilman he obtained the use of the building
and the opportunity to get the new work off
to a good start. I was invited to help by mis
sionary Bob Chambers and enjoyed the hosp
itality of their home during the week
Each evening movies were shown, or object
lessons were given, the Japanese preacher
spoke on one of the beautitudes and I brought
a series of messages from John.
1., What Seek Ye
2. Cleansing of the Temple
3. The New Birth
4. The True Worship
5. We Would See Jesus
6. I am the Way, Truth and life
7. These are Written that Ye may Be
lieve
The people sat through the 2 hour long
services without losing interest or getting rest
less, Several people didn't miss a meeting.
Some of the people from the two Nagoya
churches came to help, wh:ch was encouraging,
and the most heartening thing was the steadily
increasing attendance night by night. At the
end of the meeting there were 48 names on the
prospect list and the average attendance had
reached above 40.
One night a middle-aged man remained after
the service and told us that he was a meinber
of a Holiness church and had been having
meetings in his home for a long time, but he
had been dissatisfied with that group because
it was "all noise and gestures" and we were
giving the people real Bible teaching. He came
back every night and brought many of his
friends.
Also 2 or 3 High School students asked for
a special meeting to have an opportunity for
questions. This was an indication of deep in
terest.
There were no confessions" and baptisms,
but I believe it was one of the best meetings
I have seen in Japan, and we were very thank
ful to God for his blessings and answers to
prayer. We have hopes for the establishment of
a true church of Christ in Moriyama.
Harold Sims
Material has been sent to Missions Services,
Box 968 Joliet, 111. for a Missions study oacket
on the work of the Harold Sims family in
Tokyo, as requested of all missionarie.s by ]\.r.
MacFarland. This will contain information
about the field, with some recent pictures of
Tokyo and the work and also of the Sims fam
ily. It will be obtainable from Missions Ser
vices as soon as the printing is done, and we
urge all of our friends and interested readers
to make use of this information.
WORK AT CAMP OJI
It is a little over 2 months now that I have
been preaching for the Army Map Service
Post Chapel located at Oji, Tokyo. It is about
fifteen minutes by car from our home in Shin-
juku. An Army staff car comes and picks us
on Sunday morning and takes us home after
the service. The reason is, they either must
pay for or provide my transportation; But let
me tell you how it happened.
It was early August when a telephone call
from Camp Oji informed us that a young sold
ier who had just arrived from the States and
desired to visit the Sims family and other mis
sionaries of the Cunningham Mission. The Sims
family were not in the city at the time, so we
invited the young soldier Gail McCulley to
visit us on the following weekend. In our visit
with Gail we learned that he was from a new
three year old Christian Church in the suburbs
of Champaign, Illinois. Also, he told us that
the Base Chapel had been closed for about six
months because of a lack of chaplains and also
because the Base personnel had been cut to
about three hundred men.
On hearing this, our natural reaction was to
sympathize and offer to help get some service
started. With the result, a week after Gail vis
ited us we had another phone call. It was the
the young man who had called the first time
and had helped McCulley to contact us. He
said that he was on his way to see the Chief
Chaplain (Catholic) of the Tokyo area to ask
permission and help in opening the Chapel, in
order that the boys on the Base who so desired
could have Sunday morning services of their
own. And he wanted to know if I -would preach
for them beginning with the first Sunday in
September. Since I had no special obligation
on Sundays, I said yes, I would be glad to.
Well, this young man, Dale Marsh just twenty
years old went to the Chief Chaplain and got
permission without any trouble. And he was
given the job of Assistant Chaplain. Thus we
have continued until this time, and the Lord
willing, shall continue as long as it is His Will.
On learning there are nine hundred Jap
anese working on the Base. I immediately
started an English Bible class on Tuesday
evenings for them and a discussion period for
the servicemen on Thursday evenin-g. So far
there has been no tangible results, only int
eresting experiences. For example, for the first
Thursday night meeting as a basis for pro
voking thought and question I played Fred
Waring's recording, "God's Trombones". For
the Assistant Chaplain- had informed me that
one of the boys who planned to come was
atheisticaUy inclined. When I arrived and saw
the young men that were already there, it was
obvious by the slightly noticeably belligerent
attitude and jeering smile of unbelief which
one was going to be contentious. But after an
hour and a half, his attitude was changed and
jeering smile gone. The following week I had
bought the book, "The Basis of Christian
Faith" by Hamilton and had the Assistant
Chaplain give this book to this unbelieving
young man as he didn't show up for the second
meeting. The young man did read part of the
book but returned it saying that the writer
was too dogmatic. But in spite of this, the per
sonal influence as well as the sowing of the
seed continues on. Pray for this young man.
BiU Erkland, another young man on the Base
Tokyo Christian
who is from the Parkcrest Christian Church in
Long Beach, California, has been faithful in
attending the Chapel since its opening. He is
thinking of entering Bible College next year
after leaving the armed services. But in the
meantime he is taking advantage of every sub
ject offered here by the University of Mary
land Extension Division. A fine young man.
The morale and morals of the three hundred
men on the Base are clearly evidenced by the
fact that only about fifty persons (Protestant
and Catholic) have taken advantage of these
services. According to Base records there are
eighty-three recorded Catholics and one hund
red seventy-five protestants. The Catholics
have averaged about twenty-three and the
Protestants about nineteen per Sunday. These
facts and figures speak for themselves.
Stanley Buttray
OUR FORWARDING AGENT
Behind each missionary there must stand
a number of quiet, dedicated, and self-sacri
ficing people who make the work of the mis
sionary possible and easier. They hardly ever
are given any publicity or praised for what
they do, but after all that is not the purpose
for which they serve. Undoubtedly, the fore
most position among these servants of the
Lord and co-workers with the missionaries
are the many fine missionary forwarding
agents. We know this to be true concerning
our forwarding agent. They shun the lime
light, but are the first to offer assistance
when they can help.
Just prior to our departure for Japan in
1953 we asked Mr. and Mrs. Ray Armstrong,
Betty's parents, of Piqua, Ohio to serve as
our forwarding agent. They agreed to do what
they could in that capacity but at the same
time they were too humble to admit that they
could do much for us. But as a matter of fact
they have been able to help us tremendously.
While we were in Japan they did most of
our Stateside business for us; they received
banked, and acknowledged receipt of all funds
sent to them for us; most of the clothing for
our family was paid for with own personal
funds; they forwarded all mail sent to them
for us; and they answered inquiries concern
ing our missionary work. And since the be
ginning of our furlough they have shared
their home with us. They have performed
these services without any material remunera
tion whatever and, unfortunately, with too
little thanks from us.
Of course we are very proud to have the
Armstrongs as our kinsmen in the flesh but
aside from that we wish to thank them and
commend them to you as very valuable and
faithful yokefellows in the Lord.
The Pattons
Jesus said, to go into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature. Of course,
this has not, nor is this work of witnessing to
day finished, nor will it be until Christ makes
his Second Appearance. Until then the love
of Christ constrains us to put forth every ef
fort to bring the Gospel within the hearing of
all. True, the "Thy Kingdom Come", of our
Lord's model prayer can never be fulfilled by
Faith or Prayer alone, but by Faith and Works.
There is no substitute nor can there be. There
fore our duty is not only to pray Thy Kingdom
Come, but also to Seek the Lost. I am sure
Page 4
Jesus has taught (by word and example) per
sonal evangelism as the basic approach to win
ning the lost. (For a Spirit filled Christian can
not contain himself), yet, I realize there are
other ways and means equally acceptable and
often used. Among these I wish to mention just
two^literature and intensive, specialized Bible
training.
There is a time and place for everything
under heaven! And surely now is the time to
bring to these Japanese people the "Whole
Counsel of God." And this can be done by the
medium of literature. For the past two year
I have been working towards this goal and by
come from the press. This will be a book of
December first, expect the first material to
231 pages containing ten sermons from Z. T.
Sweeney's books on "New Testament Christ
ianity", which will cost 23c per copy to print.
I plan to sell these at the most reasonable
price in order that every person (denomina
tional or otherwise) w.U be able to afford it.
The Lord willing, two other books will be off
the press by summer of next year. Pray that
God will bless and use these books to His
honor and glory. -Stanley Buttray
SEMINARY STATISTICS
Acting upon the suggestion of a friend re
cently I took a couple of hours to get together
some stastistics concerning the 10 year work
of the Tokyo Bible Seminary, which closed in
April 1958. These figures are not intended to
prove any theory, and of course do not give the
total picture, but I believe the factual informa
tion is interesting and worth passing on to
you readers who have been following the work
of the school.
1. How many students attended Tokyo Bible
Seminary? A total of 80
2. How long did these people study?
25 completed the 4 year course
11 completed 3 years of work
8 completed 2 years of work
17 finished 1 year
19 attended about 3 months
3. Why did so many fail to fail to finish the
4 year course?
4 were dismissed for un-Christian be
havior
6 were forced to quit because of T. B.
5 transferred to other schools
5 girls got married
3 lost their faith, or admitted they had
none
1 concluded he was not called to preach
1 failed
2 died (one drowned during a S.S. swim
ming party)
1 quit because the scholastic level was
too low
1 quit because the scholastic level was
too high
The rest have no reason recorded on their
record sheets, and we will never know the real
trouble.
4. Where are these students now?
19 in active ministry in the churches of
Christ
5 ministers in various denominational
churches
6 ministers wives
6 in work related to Christianityof
fice, kindergarden, etc.
3 additional schooling
12 secular work
27 whereabouts unknow
Oct. 15, 1958
Dear Friends,
Harold received a telegram from Harold Taylor in Seoul about 2 weeks ago
urgently requesting him to go to Korea for 6 weeks of teaching in the Seminary
I there. Because of our long association with the Koreans living in Japan in
connection with the work of the Mikawashima church v;e had developed a curiosity
to see our neighboring land, and since there was no compelling reason to refuse
the invitation and stay in Japan he decided to go. It should be a good
opportunity to compare our work aiid ]earn things, to visit our missionary friends
and the Korean Christians, and to enlarge our vision. Harold will leave Tokyo
by Northwest Airlines on Oct. 20 and is planning to return about Nov. 29. In
our 11 years of marriage this will be by far the longest time for us to be
. separated. Lois will be busy caring for much of Harold's work in addition to
, her-own - Harold, will be teaching every d^. We-osk ycu.r-prp.yers that the. Loi'd""
Wmight ârci...and-.keQp.,uj3.and--tha.t.we"iaj.^t' be-E.tul.e to inEdce nur*"oont'r>hulorr'"'to-'
the,cause of-.Christ-.as-.the-Lar-d-J-aads'-and-gi.vas cpp-ortunj.hy*-- -
Lois..has comple.tely'recovered-from-her ap-pendidtrs'-operaticn-which-was-*""'
done at the first of September by a Japanese surgeon who has a s.T.all hospital
just a few doors from our house. She is now teaching a ladies Bible class
twice a month, a high-school girls class every Sunday afternoon, and a sowing
class in the Home Ec. department at the Christian Academy. Hope is in the
fifth grade, Sylvia in the third and Jennie in the first grade there this year.
Harold preached for one week in Moriyama, near Nagoya, in Septouber.
We believe the Holy Spirit was working, and are thankful and oncouraged. Ihere
was an average attendance of over ^beginning with 12 the first nightand
at the end there were 48 names on the prospect list. All of this in an entirely
new place where there was nothing except an emply tovrn hall to start with.
We had 2 big typhoons hit Tol:yo this Septembers and the bi-ccnd one
caused extensive damage to Tokyo by flooding during the extremely heavy rains.
Aside from the roof leaking (almost 100 percent of the ho-jaes leaked to some
extent) and our gate blowing off we suffered no chuiage. Hcvrover some of the
Christian's houses were flooded. Lois was just in the midsb of sorT.irg clothes
for the change-over from summer to fall, so wo v.'ere e.hle to contribute a large
box of relief clothes to go with the money and other things given to tiê
victims by the Nakano church.
Our home has been gladdened by brief visits from several minsicnary
.. recentlyEarnest Fabsrs-fr-om Nokkaido,-Mark Maxsy and" Isr.bel
from Kyushuand also several men in the U.S. Forces.
Yours in Christ,
,/?

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