Volume 95 Janua] 1997 Number 1

SIMS' NEWS =^
Plans for 1997
It is the year that Hong Kong returns to China. It is reach 50 years since our first arrival in Japan on Novem-
only 3 years until the new Millennium, with which it berl5. (We left our homes in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
seemscomputeisandmanyotherpartsofmodemculture 10 days after our marriage there and went to Hawaii to
and its various people will have difficulty coping. And for serve 6 months in the work started by Owen and Shirley
us, this yearwill be an important milestone: we will have Still which is now Sunset Beach Church of Christ and
been married 50 years on March 21 (a family celebration School, whilewaitingfor the U.S. OccupationAuthorities
is being planned for this event a little later), and we will to give us permits to go on to Japan.)
Retirement
In September I will become 73 festedbymanyreadersovertheyears, some income to supplement monthly
years of age and, while thankful for includingsome duringlast summer's Social Security, so we believe we will
be adequately provided for, and we
We hope to continue receiving are most grateful for that.
We plan to leave Japan shortly
good health and the opportimities to trip to the U.S.
continue servingthe Lord and urging
from our Japanese co-workers that financial support for our Sims Tokyo
we stayon, I feel the time has come to Mission work during this calendar after mid-June, to attend the North
retire. (If health permits, and things year, but to close the books and cease American Christian Convention in
can be worked out, we would like to receivingsupport as of DecemberSl, Kansas City, and to be moving into
return for short visits every year or 1997. The Eustis, Florida church, the Florida location before the end of
which has been our forwarding agent July. Until that time we plan to con-
two.)
So we expect that the Fall issue foraboutSOyears.andhasbeenaccu- tinue preaching at Joel Home every
will be the last of this Tokyo Chris- mulatingaretirementfundfromyears first and third Sunday of the months
tian. which was started by Mr. W.D. when we had surpluses of income and at Mejirodai eveiy second Sun-
Cunninghambackin October of 1901. overexpendituresandfromdonations day . We will visit some of the other
I had hoped that it would be able to designatedforourretirementbymy2 churches on fourth Sundays. The
continue for 100 years, but there is no younger sons and some others, is yearly Convention (48th) of our Japa-
onenowonthefieldoranewmission- going to purchase a "Life Lease" nese Christians will be March 26-28
ary recruit who is able to take the apartment in the Sunshine States this year in Okinawa, and we are hop-
financial or other responsibilities of ChristianHomes inTavares, Florida ingto attend that. We also hope to be
this paper. We appreciate very much for us to live in. There will also be a led and enabled to make suitable ai>
the comments and interest mani- Trust Fund established to provide rangements for the continuing of the
Panoramic view from our front porch in Rokkaku-bashi Yokohama.
camp work and proper handling of the property
still held inthe name ofYotsuya Mission, and the
funds related to that. It is going to be another
interesting year, and we tsk that all of you con
tinue to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance upon
us so that God's Will be done, and His Kingdom
endure and grow.
Thanksgiving
The Japanese have a Thanksgiving Day every
year on November 23, as do many other cultures
of the world. After all, it is Harvest Time all over
the northern hemisphere. Traditionally, this is
the day on which the Emperor eats the first rice of
the year's crop and, after that, others start eating
it. They can tell the difference between fresh rice
and last year's, but most of us foreigners can't.
Anjrway, the holiday happens to have been sig^
nificant through the years:
1. I preached my first sermon in Japan,
through an interpreter, on the last Sunday in
November 1947 (2 weeks after arrival) in the Lee
home, where they were beginning efforts to re
start Mikawashima Church afterthe buildingwas
destroyed and members scattered during the lat
ter months of World War 11.
2. We held the first SundaySchool andWoi>
ship Service that resulted in the Nakano Church
on Thanksgiving Sunday in 1950, in our living
room, a month after moving into the house there.
3. We had the first service at Mejirodai on
the first Sunday of November 1970, and had the
first "carry-in, pot-luck" (translated in Japanese
"bring together") anybody there had heard of on
Thanksgiving Sunday the following year. We
always have everyone present, including young
children, and make a short speech on "This year
I amthankful for..." after the enjoyable, plentiful
fellowship meal.
4. This year we had our first Thanksgiving
mealtogetherhereatJoelHomeonNovember24,
after the worship service. We found out it was a
special day here also because the first Sunday
worship servicewas heldonThanksgiving6 years
ago. They were hesitant about "pot-luck," so Lois
bakeda piece ofrolledturkeyand pumpkin pie. It
was the first time most of them had eaten turkey
in their lives. Mr. Oka said he had only eaten it
once when, as a young man over 40 years ago, he
worked in a PX on a U.S. base and was invited to
an American friend's home for Thanksgiving.
The piewas also a most unusual andspecial treat.
One ofthe older members at Mejirodai phoned
the next day to saythey had missed us very much
at their fellowship meal the previous day, and
imagined that we were sitting down here feeling
lonely and sad. She was happy when we told
about the smaller, but joyful, gathering here.
Another member wrote in her Christmas card
about their Thanksgiving, 'We are keeping the
traditions that you began and the torch you lit
burning." That filled us with joy and thanks.
Misoionaiy prayer meeting at the Warricks' houee, November 29.
Missionary Prayer Meetings
We have fewer missionaries in theTokyo areanowthanin past
years, but we still value the fellowship times and try to meet once
every month or two.
On November 29 we met at the Warricks' home and enjoyed a
very good time of visiting, prayer and a "turkey and all the
trimmings" evening meal together.
On December 27, after all special Christmas events were over,
we met here in Yokohama for "ham and lots of other stuff' and
relaxed fellowship around a program of Scripture and songs
planned by Lois inwhich eveiyone took part. The attendance was
16 adults and 5 children, because 2 couples, one single lady, and
2 children came down from Niigata to spend a little vacation time.
Skies were gray all winter up there in "snow country," so they
especially enjoyed the nice blue sky that day. Also, the
Christiansens were in town from Nagano-ken with their 2 daugh
ters and a friend back from Pacific Bible College for the vacation
time. All 4 of their children were "home for Christmas" this year.
Miseionaiy Christmas gatheriog at Joel Home. December 27.
Christmas 1996
This was probably our last Christmas in Japan. Our last one
in the United States was back in 1967, so long-time readers know
I usuallywrite something special about each Christmas inJapan,
and even have a habit of saying this was the best ever. This time,
in a letter to our family and close friends, after it was over I even
wrote an individuali^d version of the old song "12 Days of
Christmas," describing 13 different days and experiences so they
might be sungto that tune, but I will not duplicate that here. Just
a few things this time.
1. We always send out a Christmas letter to our mailing list
- over 400 to the U.S. and about 200 to friends we seldom see face-
to-face in Japan. This year we were
latergettingitwrittenandprinted(with
Bro. Kishimoto's help), and it was by
far the longest ever-12 pages, describ
ing various events as we closed our
ministryof25+years inMejirodai and
moved down to Joel Home in
Yokohama, and then our trip of 4
months through the U.S. and finally
our return and settling into the in
terim ministry here - a very busy but
abundantlyblessedyear. Printingand
mailing these, with many short pei>
sonal notes added, took many hours
during December until a week before
ChristmasDay.
I believe we have received replies
from over 25% of those, and we con
tinue to get daily mail. The local P.O.
seemed to appreciate our business,
and even did daily deliveries on the
holidays. Postage rates went way up
this year, and business was down in
general. The best letter was probably
the one from a young lady I baptized
earlier this year: "When I said 'I am a
Christian' for the first time inmylife, I
went home and cried. But it was tears
of joy. How long I have waited to be
able to say this one sentence!" We
fastened cardsaroundthe doorframes
in the house here and others enjoyed
the colorful variety as well as we did.
2. We left many of our decora
tions in Mejirodai for the church to
use, so were somewhat limited inthat
area. But Lois found a small false tree
and some things, and we bought a
small wreath for the front door and a
stringoflittle lights forthe tree andput
our small wooden manger scene on
the entrance hall shelf. We also re
ceived some gifts of potted and cut
flowers, adding to the beauty and at
mosphere. So, we had no problem
feeling like Christmas was here, and
enjoying the meaning and the great
traditions of this season.
3. The first Christmas meeting
was the Ladies' Meeting at Nakano
Church on December 12. There were
only 4 people there besides Mr. and
Mrs. Itagaki and us, and one of those
announced that this would be her last
meeting, as she was going back to her
home in Nagoyawhere her husband's
workis. Also,we heardthatoneofthe
long-time members who had been un
able to attend for some years because
of being bed-fast, had died recently.
But we had a good meal and fellow
ship, includinggood memories of the
past 40 Christmases Lois had shared
with this group.
4. On December 19 we attended
the city-wide "Christmas by the Bay"
program on the 9th floor of Sogo De
partment Store, sponsoredbymost of
the churches inYokohama. The audi
toriumwas full of nearty 1,000 people
for theafternoonprogramwe attended
(2:30 - 4:30), and there was another
scheduled for 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. that day.
They had a Christian TV singer give a
special musical program, and also
some songs sungbyagroup ofIndone
sian Christians now living in Japan.
The speaker, whose messagewas very
clear, well-delivered and full of gospel
joyandtruth, was aformer missionary
to Indonesia.
5. We printed 500 hand-bills giv
ing the address, phone number and a
map ofJoel Home, andinvitingpeople
to attend our special Christmas Eve
CandleServicefrom7:00p.ra. onChrist
mas Eve, and bought 500 full-color
tracts with a message on the meaning
of the Savior's Birth to go with them.
I got some good exercise and also
a good knowledge of the make-up of
theneighborhoodbydistributingthese
to all thehouses ina.11directions around
us during the warmpart of most afte]>
noons inearlyDecember. lamsonyto
report that we did not have oneperson
cometothat service because ofgetting
the materials I had put in their mail
boxes. Butwedidhavel6peoplehere,
whichis twice ouraverage attendance.
The visitors were mostly people from
the companyMr. Okausedtoworkfor,
orpersonalacquaintances. Somewere
in such a church service for the first
time.
6. We received information by
phone that Mejirodai had a good at
tendance of 20 adults and 30 children
for a special children's program on
Saturday, December21, and 40 adults
and 15 children present for the wor
ship onDecember22. We don't know
the exact number for their Candle
Service, but they had a good one, and
we were most surprised and happyto
hear also that on the morning of
Christmas Eve, they had the regular
4th Tuesday Bible Study which I did
for some years and Bro. Kishimoto
has continued, even with a few, since
we left last May.
We also heard from several other
churches about better than usual at
tendance at Christmas worship, and 2
churches reported baptisms.
7. On Christmas Day, between 11
a.m. ourtime (late atnightinlowa) and
11 p.m. (early Christmas morning in
America), we got long, wonderful
phone calls from all 5 of our children,
including most of their children. Joy,
Joy, Joy.
Opening the Ox Year
We stayed up until midnight
watchingspecial TVprograms to wel
come in the newyear. We went down
and bought 2 prepared buckwheat
noodle meals at the local 7/11, which
is the traditional Japanese meal for
that time. It was a quiet night, so we
could hear the local temple gong toll
ing 108 times - once for each sin of
mankind. But it was our first time to
hearthe boat horns inthe nearbyport
and other whistles of various facto
ries blowing full blast at midnight.
NewYear's Daywe had a worship
service here attended by 5 people at 1
p.m. to greet one another and begin
the new year in prayer and reading
the Bible and encouraging one an
other. Allpresent were over 70 years
of age.
At the worship in Mejirodai the
same time, the same day, one of the
girls who is past 30 and not married
yet in spite of many trying to find a
suitable match for her, announced
her engagement, showed her ring,
and introduced her fiancee to the
group. They later said it was really
excitingandhappyforeveiyone. The
Japanese always say, "Congratula
tions," to everyone they meet that day
because, bythe old cultural tradition,
everyone becomes a year older that
day. They don't emphasize the exact
date of birthlike we do inthe western
world. But at Mejirodai, they were
saying the word to the newly-an
nounced couple.
News Notes
Nancy Homback is a profes
sional singer anda member of Chapel
Rock Christian Church in Indianapo
lis. She has been working as a part of
the entertainment team on the Japa
nese cruise ship ASUKAwhich oper
ates in and out of several Japanese
ports and goes to various places in
Asiafor about a year, andwill soon be
returning to the United States as her
HaroldwithAlice Hombackfrom Indianapolis
and 2 Filipino Christians who work on the crew of
theJapaneseCruiseshipASUKAwherethis picture
was taken.
contract ends.
Her church gave her our address
andwe got in contact and went down
to meet her and see the ship when it
was in port on November 21. There
were not guests that night, but the
entire crewwas busily decoratingfor
Christmas, includingthe cooks build
ing a beautiful icing-covered ginger
bread village, and countless lights
being strung all over. We had some
time for getting acquainted and also
met 2 ChristianPhilippine menofthe
crew whom she had met during the
trips. We asked about prices, but the
$400 and up per night was much too
rich for our blood.
Other such people who come to
Japan for various purposes should
also be given our address and try to
look us up while in this area of the
world. We might be able to helpthem
see or experience a little more of
"where the people live."
The house of the next door
neighbors of one of our Christian la
dies caught fire andtotallyburned up
during the night of December 22-23.
Infact, thewall oftheirhouse and roof
was partiallyburned. Buttheirdaugh
ter is now married and living in an
other city and busy taking care of
small twin boys and the son is also
nowawayfromhome andworking, so
they had 2 empty rooms and took the
neighbor family (including the eld
erly mother) into their home until
they can rebuild.
A group of about 20 J apanese
preachers and Christians are on a 10-
daytrip to the Biblelands ofEgypt and
IsraelJanuary 3-13. We prayfor their
safety in these times, and will have
more informationabout it in the next
issue.
Mr. and Mrs. StanleyButtray(retired),
R.D. 2, Box 180, Meadville, PA 16335.
Mr. and Mrs. AndrewFatten (retired),
#6 Tanglewood, Carl Junction. MO
64834.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 4-17-30
Roklnku-baBhitKanagawa-kuYokohamar
ehi 221, Japan. ForwardingAgent: First
ChurchofChrist.SlSE. OrangeAvenue,
Eustis.FL32726-4194.
One year donationS2.00
Tokyo ChristUn (USPS 776-920)
Published four times a year in Janu
ary, April, July, and November for the
missionaries of the Church of Christ,
CunninghamMission, Tokyo, Japan by
Mission Services Association, 7525
Hodges Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN
37020-9731. Periodical postage paid at
KnoxvlUe.TN 37901-2427. POSTMAS
TER: Send address changes to Tokyo
Christian, c/o MISSIONSERVICES AS
SOCIATION. PO Box 2427, Knoxville.
TN 37901-2427.
Harold Sims preached in
SakurayamaChurchonNovember 17
and Yokosuka Church on December
17 and, in both cases, enjoyed lunch
with the congregationandsomevisit
ingafter the worship service.
Harold Sims has been asked
to performweddings on Saturdays at
a hotel in Tokyo for several months
until another ministerwho does it on
Sundaysis ableto do the job onSatur
dayalso. Idonotliketodothisjustas
a job - a sort of "Marrying Sam" as it
used to be called in the comics, but it
is interesting at my age to have the
direct contact with the young folks
andtheir parents, andtoperhaps have
a small influence ontheir future hves.
Most arenot Christians at aU, but have
chosen to have a Christian wedding
instead of a Shinto ceremony, even
though the Shinto one is slightly
cheaper, because they don't have to
pay an organist, use real flowers, etc.
Many young girls like to have a long
white dress like "they have in the
movies." Since October I have p6i>
formed about 30weddinginthe first-
floor chapel ofthe hotel, which has a
verynice organandbeautiful furnish
ings.
A worship service at Joel Home. Mr. Oka is at
IroDt left, his daughter at his right shoulder, and
his wile at his left shoulder.
A special worship service at Joel Home on
December 8 whenwe had 5 citizens of Bangladesh
present, some in a Christian service for the first
time in their lives. Others in the audience are
members of a Japanese project team established
byMr.Okaforerectingsohoolsinthatcountiy. Six
have been built so far.
Tanemaki-kai - seed-sowing meeting at Osaka Bible Seminaiy on November 4.
Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address to
MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION. PO Box 2427, Knoxville. TN 37901-2427.
Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.
Christian
"Goye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume 95
April 1997
Number 2
SIMS' NEWS
48th Convention in Okinawa
Lois and I were glad to be able
to fly down to Okinawa for the
annual gathering of our group of
missionaries and then our Japar
nese Christian brothers and sis
ters March 24-28. This was the
third time for the Convention to
be hosted by the people down
there. It is an expensive trip to
make, but the Christians there
are veiy zealous about attending
the Conventions in the other parts
ofJapan, andthere are more Chris
tians in ratio to the population on
that island than in any other pre
fecture of Japan, so a number of
our folks make a special and sac
rificial effort to go.
The usual time for the Con
vention is mid-summer, when
many working people can easily
take a fewdays off, but it is miser
ably hot in Okinawa and the ho
tels are very crowded at that time
and hard to reserve, so they took
the advice ofthe travel agents and
planned it for the week before
Easter. This was inconvenient for
most preachers, and moreso for
salary men, because it is the end
of the fiscal year when all finan
cial and other reports must be
done. So, the attendance was
somewhat downfromaveragethis
time, but not too bad. They had a
total registration of over 290
people, including44 childrenwho
had a separate programprepared
for them by some of the younger
people. About half of the total
were from the Okinawa area
churches.
Originally the plan was to
have Mr. & Mrs. HarlanWoodruff
return from retirement and a cel
ebration of the beginning of the
work there 50 years ago when he
was still a Chaplain in the U.S.
Military stationed there. But he
was unable to attend, partly be
cause of the timing just before
ResurrectionSundaywhenhe had
ministiy responsibilities in the
U.S. But they sent a nice letter of
congratulations which was read
to the Convention. I am sure they
are most thankful that there are
now 16 churches in Okinawa,
ministeredto bycapableJapanese
leaders carrying on the work in
spite of the average range ofprob
lems that can be found in the
workofGod's Kingdomanywhere.
continued on page 2
i
Okinawa Convention planningconunittee on the stage on the final day. Overhead sign aaya:
*48th Church of Christ All-Japan Convention.* Theme: Christ, Our Peace (Eph. 2:14-16).
50th Wedding
Anniversary
We were married March 21, 1947.
We celebrated the event quietly, but
very happily here in Yokohama. We
want to thank the many people who
sent us cards from various churches
across the U.S. and, of course, also the
family and personal friends.
Our 5 children are planning 2 cel
ebrations after we return to the U.S. -
one at the NACC, and the other on Au
gust 3 in Cincinnati, Ohio when all 5 of
our children plan to be present. We
also received several beautiful bunches
of flowers-2 fromthe U.S. Oneofthose
was from our 5 children, and the other
from the First Christian Church of
Charlottesville, Virginia which we vis
ited on our honeymoon 50 years ago
and has supported us faithfully all these
years. We got some interesting gifts,
including a box from daughter Sylvia
containing various "gold" things -
Golden Grahamcereal. Golden granola
bars, goldfish crackers, gold wrapped
Hershey kisses, etc.
We even ventured out on the town
in Tokyo that night to see the opera
"Porgy and Bess" which was being per
formed for the first time in 50 years in
Tokyo, commemoratingthe 100th anni
versary of the birth of Ira or George
Gershwin. So we feel we are having a
proper celebration, and are certainly
grateful to God for this half-century of
health and happiness in His service.
hit
Harold and Loie Sims after 50 years together.
Convention
continued from page 1
There have been, no missionaries
from our churches in Okinawa for a
generation now, but the work has
been well-established and put down
roots in the soil there.
The Japanese Convention began
on Wednesday p.m., and the theme
was: "Christ, Our Peace." Bro.Itagaki,
from Nakano Church in Tokyo,
preached the sermon that night. He
hadties with manypeople there, hav
ing made a number of visits to the
island for special meetings over the
years, and having had a number of
the Christians from Okinawa attend
the church where he preaches when
theywereinTokyo for advancedstudy
or jobs.
The following morning, the
preacher was Stephen lijima, from
the Minato ChurchinYokohama, who
also had long and deep ties with the
brothers in Okinawa, and who "re
members interpretingforBro. Wood
ruff from the days when he wore a
U.S. military uniform." That after
noonwe took a bus tour to see places
connected with Okinawa history -
back when they were an indepen
dent Kingdom and had a king, pal
ace, relations with China, etc., and
then a memorial parkcontainingthe
names of all military and civilians
killed in the weeks of the battle of
Okinawa in 1945 - over 200,000.
After returning from the tour, we
quickly changed clothes for the ban
quet and what they call the "fellow
ship market," at which every church
representedis introduced, important
announcements and introductions
are made, and various musical pro
grams are enjoyed. This time we had
singing in Okinawa dialect, a Man
dolin and guitar band, a quartet from
one of the Tokyo churches, several
songs by the children's group and
other things, along with a fine Chi
nese feast.
My part on the program was all
on Friday, the final day. I was to give
the morning devotional message at
6:30 a.m. to one of the 4 adult groups,
and was rather surprised at the good
attendance at that hour. Then I was
to preside at theworkshop conducted
by Bro. Okawithwhomwe work here
in Yokohama from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
That also went very well. Among
otherthings, he said his choice ofthe
top news story of last year was the
peace between races that had been
achieved in South Africa.
The Convention ended just be
fore noon, and we had scheduled a
returnflight for 2 p.m. As soon as we
got settled into the airplane seat, I
dropped off to sleep and Lois wak
ened me as we were about to land in
Tokyo. Therewassomefatigue,butit
was a good experience for us.
We got back to our home to be
greeted by our son, Robert, and his
family who had arrived from the U.S.
the night before. We had arranged
for someone to be here and open the
house for them when we found out
that was the only day they could re
serve space. He was here on busi
ness, and has since made a trip to
Taiwan. The family was taking ad
vantage of frequent flyer credits and
American Airlines' reductions be
cause of the recent strike.
I need to add a little about the
MissionaiyGatheringhere. Aslsaid
above, there is now no missionaiy
from our U.S. churches in Okinawa,
so Keith Summers andAudreyWest,
from Okayama prefecture, planned
the convention. Earlyonwe thought
veryfewwouldcome, andmanycould
not afford the price of airfare and
hotel-especiallyiftheyhad children
still at home. But we were happythat
16adults and 5 childrenwere present.
We hadsome goodsongservices and
messages and times to just visit and
eat refreshments.
Our meeting was held in one
room of the Pacific Hotel where the
Japanese also met. The first meeting
was onMondayp.m. withTimTurner
preaching. Tuesday a.m. I preached
and Tuesday p.m. Walter Maxey.
Then on Wednesday a.m., Audrey
West, the oldest one there, talked.
Mark and Pauline Maxey were also
able to attend. We are in a numerical
decline here over the past decade or
more, andthere seemto be slimpros
pects of new folks joining the corps
here in the nearfuture, but those who
are on the field here are keeping on
in good spirits.
Next year's Conventions are to
be held in the Tokyo area, at the end
of July 1998. Tim Turner will be
leadingthe planningfor the Mission
ary part, and Bros. Kishimoto from
Mejirodai, Nishiyama from
Sannobara, and Yokomizo from
Yokosuka.willbecooperatingto host
the Japanese one at the nice YMCA
facility in Gotemba at the foot of Mt.
Fujiyama, about 70 or 80 miles south
of Tokyo. They are already insistent
that we plan to return to Japan for a
period of time next summer that will
include the week of Convention and
some time at Shinshu Camp, and we
are inclined to conform to that plan,
our health, finances, schedule and
other things permitting, because we
enjoy the fellowship.
Japanese
Christian Group
Goes to Israel
Nine preachers (including one
missionary, Tim Turner), one Bible
college student, and 4 male and 6
female members of our churches in
Japan, went on a brief tour of Egypt
and Israel from January 3-13 this
year. For the majority of them it was
their first such experience. Those
who said anything to me about it
after returning agreed enthusiasti
cally that it was a wonderful time,
and increased their interest in the
Bible, although there was some sick
ness and, of course, fatigue because
of the rushed schedule.
They climbed Mt. Sinai at night
and hit the most important places of
interest in Israel. In addition, they
were able to visit Mr. Saito (a mem
ber of Mejirodai Church who had
been working for Toshiba Electric
Co. in Cairo for about 8 months); Mr.
and Mrs. Lonnie Mings who, for
years, were missionaries in the
Osaka area of Japan and now have
been working in Israel for several
years; and Mr. George Awwad, some
of his family and the people of the
Christian Church in Ramallah, just
north of Jerusalem. Of course, all
brought backmany pictures and sto-
Soma of the Japanese group who went to
Egypt and Israel. Seated in the front row are
Lonnie and Coral Mings.
Minister George Awwad and his family eating
with some of the tour group from Japan.
Taninari Family
Leaves Shinshu
Camp
1 Taninari be-
serving
same year the
was erected.
Mr.Taninarispeakingat (Stan and Ma-
farewell meetingFebruary Buttray
had lived in a
house built on the property for sev
eral years before that time and man
aged the first few camps there.) He
was a graduate of the Osaka Bible
Seminary, and had served as the pas
tor of a small church in that area for
several years before coming to help
in the camp.
Inafewyears he became in effect
the "manager," and did most of the
workconnectedwith publicizing, tak-
ingcare ofthe buildings and grounds,
and even the cooking at the camp,
although there were various volun
teerhelpers withthe latter evelyyear.
In due course he married a young
lady from Okinawa who had been a
kindergarten teacher and helper in a
camp in the suburban area of Tokyo
which is operated by the German
Libenzeller Mission. They nowhave
5 children - the oldest boy having
just graduated from elementary
school and the youngest (a g^rl) just
over 1 year old.
The rural Nagano Prefecture
where the camp is located (and the
site for the 1998 winter Olympic
Games less than one year from now)
is very conservative in politics and
religion, so evangelism is difficult.
But, for all these years he had contin
ued to have Sunday services at the
camp. One young lady from a family
in the neighborhood who had at
tended from childhood was baptized
The main camp building in February.
some years ago and nowworks as a
nurse in ToIq^o. Prom several years
ago, Bro. Taninari has expressed a
feeling of fatigue from the amount of
work required of him, and also a
desire to do more direct pastoral work
in a local church. Along with this,
the number of campers has been de
clining the past few years, making a
serious financial crunch in the man
agement of the camp.
So he announced at the end of
1996 that they would be resigning
from the camp at the end of March
and would move to Okinawa. Her
parents have a rather large house in
Naha, and have said they could live
there with them for a year until they
find a suitable job and housing in
that area. They have enrolled the
children in the local school for the
new school year starting in April,
and moved down there during the
final week of March.
On February 16 (Sunday after
noon), a farewell meeting to express
appreciation for his service was ai>
rangedbyourYokosukaChurch, with
speeches, refreshments, albums of
pictures from each year of the camp
on display, etc. A large offering was
also received to help pay for their
moving expenses. About 50 people
were present on thewinter afternoon
- most of them younger working
people who had attended camp a
number of times as students of
Middle, High and college ages and
have happymemories ofthose times.
The camp has averaged between 100
and 200 campers every year, so a lot
of people have been influenced by
that place.
As mentionedabove, Stanleyand
Mabel Buttray lived and worked at
the camp in their last few years be
fore retiring in 1983, and they were
the ones who called Mr. Taninari to
that work and paid his salary for the
first few years. Then the Pattons
moved there and served happily un
til they retired in early 1990. Mr.
Taninari and some other preachers
in the Tokyo area expected that we
would be the next ones to go up there,
but we do not like the cold winters,
and we feel more at home in the
greater Tokyo city area where we
have spent most of ourlives, although
we have perhaps taken more young
people up to the camp and given
more financial support than most
others.
During my remarks at the fare
well meeting, I introduced the old
English expression "Chief Cook and
Bottle-washer" to the Japanese audi
ence, and said that might be an apt
description of Taninari's work - he
did almost everything. We are thank
ful for his giving many years of dedi
cated service there.
At present there is no one living
on the campgrounds, which is not
the ideal situation. One neighbor,
and our fellow missionary Warren
Christiansen, who lives about 10 or
15 minutes' drive away, have agreed
to look in on the place at least once a
week, and various preachers and
missionaries from the Tokyo area
plan to travel up there to cut grass
and do other tending and upkeep
work about once a month. A camp is
being planned for the first week of
August this summer, using volun
teer help inthe kitchen and, ofcourse,
in teaching, etc.
We are prayingand thinkingear
nestly for God to lead us to someone
fitted to do the workthere, or to some
suitable solutionto this problem, and
would be grateful for our readers to
join us in prayer about this.
News Notes
Mr. Oka, the founder of Joel
Home, also founded an organization
of mostly Christian people and
Yokohama citizens to raise moneyto
build schools in Bangladesh 5 or 6
years ago. He had become aware of
the poverty and large percentage of
the people who were illiterate
through various news reports of the
cyclones and other disasters there.
With a little investigation he found
out that a 7 room concrete block
school building could be built there
using local supplies and labor for
about $30,000. The building would
be used by children in the mornings
and adults in the evenings and as a
refuge in cyclones and floods. He
thought this was something that the
Japanese could do on a non-govem-
mental, practical level. He is a good
money-raiser because he has many
well-to-do friends from his days as
Vice President of a private railway
line and trustee oftheYMCA, Gideons
Mr. & Mre. Oka
member, etc.
During the last week of Febru
ary, he made anothertiip down there
to dedicate school number 7. He told
us one of the visiting dignitaries told
the local folks they could be proud of
the only building in the village with
glass windows! Some people from
Bangladesh (Muslims) visited our
services one Sundayand praised him
for this local-level help - better than
big governmental projects.
On the afternoon of February2,1
was invited to preach at the
Mikawashima Church on the occa
sion of ordaining2 newelders there.
Those older readers with exception
allygood memories might recall that
this was the first place we ministered
in Japan: 1947-501
Mr. Cho, who is about myage and
a good friend when he was minister
there some years ago and has now
been called backfromretirement for
a second ministry, specially asked
me to come for that occasion. He left
that church back in 1975 to become
the preacher at a mostly Korean Bap
tist Church in the Seattle, Washing
ton area, andservedthere for 20 years
while all of their 4 children went
through high school and college. All
of them are now married and living
Mr. and Mrs. StanleyButtray(retired),
RD. 2. Box 180, Meadville, PA 16335.
Mr. and Mrs. AndrewPatton (retired),
#6 Tanglewood, Carl Junction, MO
6483^..,
; Mrs. iiaiold Sims,'^17-30
Rokkaku-bashi,Kanagawa-kuYokohama-
ehi 221, Japan. ForwardingAgent: First
Church ofChrist, 315 E. OiangeAvenue,
Eustis, FL327264194.
One year donation$2.00
Tokyo Christian (USPS 776-320)
Published four times a year in Janu
ary, April. July, and November for the
missionaries of the Church of Christ,
CunninghamMission, Tokyo, Japan by
Mission Services Association, 7525
Hodges Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN
37620-Q731. Periodical postage paid at
KnoxvlUe.TN 37901-2427. POSTMAS
TER Send address changes to Tokyo
Christian, o/o MISSIONSERVICES AS
SOCIATION, PO Box 2427, Knoxville,
TN 37901-2427.
in the U.S. and Mr. & Mrs. are both
well and active.
Someyears had passedsince our
last visit to that church on the other
side ofTokyo, but wewereveryhappy
to see many familiar faces and even
some pictures from half a century
agowhenwe livedthere. The2elders
I helped ordain a number of years
ago were both present and active.
Mr. Cho translated my sermon
from Titus on the qualifications of
elders from Japanese into Korean,
and then we had the ordination cer
emony. One of the new elders is the
vice-minister of the S. Korean Em
bassy in Tokyo and the other one is
the president ofametal-workingcom-
panyinthe neighborhoodthere. Both
wives are also active in the church.
One is the choir director and a good
singer andthe other does signingfor
deaf people at all services.
There seemed to be a good spirit
in the congregation and we enjoyed
some good hotly-seasoned Korean
food and conversation in the down
stairs room after the service.
I have been preachingeveryfirst
and third Sunday of the month here
at the Joel Home where we live. Last
Sundaywe had a lady and her 2 chil
dren visit the services. It was their
first time ever to be in a Christian
meeting. Sheworks atthedeskwhere
Lois goes to get her blood pressure
checkups and knee shots, and asked
what we did. So Lois invited her and
she came. We average only 7 or 8 in
attendance, so all are most happy to
have not only the regulars, but occa
sionally someone new like that.
Then everysecond Sundaywe go
to Mejirodai where we lived and
worked for 25 years. We always en
joy those times.
On the 4th Sundays, I have been
going to various other churches in
the area. On February23,1 preached
at the Minato Church and we ate
lunch with a group of 18 friends at a
nearby Chinese Restaurant. On
March 23, I preached at the Onta
Church, where Bro. Akada, who was
brought to Christ during our time in
Nakano, preaches. They had a pot-
luck fellowship lunch after the ser
vice there. The Akada's onlyson had
just graduated from college a few
days previously, so it was a combined
party for that. April 27 we plan to be
with the Nakano Church.
We are having a lot of happy
times, but still plan to return to the
U.S. onJune 20 this year and to be at
the North American Christian Con
vention July 1-4.
Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address to
MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.
Form 3579 Requested. PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.
Tokyo
Christian
'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume 95
November 1997 Number 4
Tokyo Christian
Ceases Publication
As we have mentioned in some
previous issues, this is the final issue
of the Tokyo Christian. So, first of all,
I will attempt a brief history of it and
the work it has represented "for the
record."
(1) W.D. and Emily Cunningham
and their baby daughter, Eloise, ar
rived in Tokyo in October 1901, and
before the end of that year the Tokyo
Christian, printed in and mailed from
Japan, was being delivered in the
United States. It was published
monthly from that time as long as Mr.
Cunningham lived, and well reflected
his personality by recording brief and
optimistic memos about various visi
tors to their home and Japan, inter
esting facts and observations about
Japanese culture and society gleaned
from newspapers and magazines, lists
of contributions received from sup
porters of the work, quotations from
letters accompanying them, and re
ports about the churches and Sunday
schools and Bible classes being sup
ported -- without any special head
lines or editing. It seemed that it was
being written in a notebook as he
went about his daily work.
Since he was not represented or
sustained or governed by a Mission
ary Society like almost all other mis
sionaries were, this was his only means
of maintaining contact with his "rope-
holders," and, aside from becoming
widely circulated and read, it perhaps,
in some measure, became an example
for many missionary publications
which have appeared among our people
during this century.
(2) After Mr. Cunningham passed
away during a furlough in the U.S. in
1936, Mrs. Cunningham and Mr. &
Mrs. Owen Still, an evangelist from
Georgia who joined her in the work in
Tokyo in 1937, continued publishing
the Tokyo Christian; but it was not
printed in or mailed from Tokyo as
previously, and it was not monthly but
several times per year. Then as the
clouds of WW II thickened and the
Still family returned to the U.S. in
SIMS' NEWS
1940, the paper was to-
tally discontinued for a
while.
(3) After Mrs. Cun-
ningham returned to
the homeland aboard a
Swedish prisoner-ex-
change ship in 1943, the
late Morris Book, of
Orlando, Florida, pub-
lished a combination of
his own Christian Hori-
zon magazine and To
kyo Christian quarterly for a few years.
It was in that paper that pictures of me
and Andrew Patton as recruits to. Ja
pan first appeared. Both of us were
then students at Atlanta Christian
College and our nation was at war
with Japan; but Mrs. Cunningham
visited the college and was forcefully
recruiting young people to continue
the work to which she had given her
life and for which she still had hopes
and dreams.
(4) During 1947, 2 years after the
end of WW II, Owen and Shirley Still,
Mrs. Cunningham (returning) and
Sam and Emily Saunders, Harold and
Lois Sims and Andrew Patton [Janu
ary 1948] (new personnel) arrived in
Tokyo to restart the missionary work
which had been established in 1901.
Stanley and Mabel Buttray, also from
Atlanta Christian College, joined us in
1950. Thus began the post-war pe
riod, or what might be called the
second phase or generation of the
work which Mr. Cunningham had al
ways called "Yotsuya (Yoh-tsu'-yah)
Mission." This was the name of the
area where they bought a lot and built
in 1906 and always lived. It was also
the name of a Bible school founded by
Alice Miller, a single lady missionary
of the non-instrument Church of
Christ, in an effort to help some poor
people who could not pay for educat
ing their daughters in that area of
downtown Tokyo. Miss Miller had
asked the Cunninghams to look after
her work while she was on furlough,
and he happily adopted that place
name. Mrs. Cunningham preferred
the name "Cunningham Mission" af
ter he passed away. During the war
years, with the help and advice of
HaroldandLoisSims infront oftheir newapartment
inSunshineStaieChristianHomesinTavares, Florida.
their life-long friend, Judge Hathcock,
of Atlanta, Georgia, "The Church of
Christ Cunningham Mission" was in
corporated in that city. Miss Eva
Green, a member of the Jefferson
Park Church in East Point served as
the voluntary bookkeeper and for
warding agent for the Mission for
some years. For the first 7 years I was
associated with this work, all offer
ings were sent to Atlanta and all bills
were paid, including our salary checks
and general expenses, by checks mailed
out from the Atlanta office.
By the end of 1947, the newly
assembled Mission group in Tokyo
was having regular business meet
ings. Among our responsibilities were
writing articles and taking pictures
for the Tokyo Christian every quarter
in Tokyo and sending them to Atlanta
for editing, printing and mailing. The
editing responsibility was held by
many different people over the years,
including my father while he was min
istering in Turtle Creek, PA. For
many years now this service has been
done by Mission Services, and we
appreciate very much their capable,
faithful and cheerful service and coop
eration.
(5) In October 1951, a very large
meeting was held in our Setagaya
Church in Tokyo. This was the only
one of 8 pre-war church buildings to
survive the bombings of Tokyo during
WW II, and it had recently been recon
structed and enlarged, so was the only
place able to contain the crowd. The
purpose was to commemorate a half-
century since the Cunninghams be
gan the work. Most of the old-timers
who could come were present. There
was great joy in the faces and words of
every one of them as they remem
bered the distant past rather than the
suffering and loss of the past 10 years.
Mrs. Cunningham was invited to visit
the home of the younger brother of
the late Emperor, and also received a
medal from the Japanese government.
God, in His great wisdom and grace,
granted her the privilege to lead in the
rebuilding of her home and her be
loved "First Church" on the same
foundation and with the same plans as
had been used back in the early 30s.
Also, 2 missionary homes and 7 or 8
church buildings (almost all on land
purchased before the war) were
erected in those early post-war years.
Even the 2-story Tokyo Bible Semi
nary building was completed before
she passed away in her Tokyo home
on Christmas Day in 1953.
(6) There was quite a bit of trouble
and change in the Mission during the
latter half of the 50s, which might be
summarized as:
(a) The Yotsuya or Cunningham
Mission, Inc. in Atlanta was dissolved,
and the Buttrays, Fattens and Simses
became independent, directly sup
ported by their several churches, and
having their own forwarding agents;
(b) The 3 families continued shar
ing in the duties and costs of publish
ing the Tokyo Christian, which until
that time had been paid from the
Atlanta office;
(c) We served as the trustees of
the former Yotsuya Mission funds and
properties, which had been incorpo
rated in Japan March 31, 1939, in
accordance with the will of the late
W.D. Cunningham. We adopted the
policy of turning over the deeds, lands
and buildings to local churches when
they became able to incorporate un
der Japanese regulations about num
ber of members, financial account
ability, etc. Most of our churches in
the Tokyo area have completed this
process some years ago and are now
completely independent of the Mis
sion, self-supporting and self-govern
ing. I should add that the Japanese
government recognizes that we of the
Church of Christ are the ONLY Chris
tian group that operates this way (au
tonomous local congregations), which
is normal for us in the U.S. The
Baptists in Japan have a central orga
nizational structure. The Congrega-
tionalists went into the highly struc
tured United Church of Japan
(Kyodan) before WW II;
(d) While continuing our own
evangelistic activities with the Japa
nese churches next door to our homes
and Bible classes, etc., in our homes.
we cooperated with each other and
withother missionaries fromthe Chris
tian churches not directly associated
with the Yotsuya Mission in various
camps, rallies, conventions, and other
joint activities. During the second
half of this century there has been
increasing unity and cooperation be
tween our people throughout Japan;
(e) We experienced a decline in
the number of students attending
Tokyo Bible Seminary during the
1950s. There are many possible rea
sons for this, but because the last year
we operated we had only 3 students
and had no one to enroll for the follow
ing year, we closed the operation of
the school in March 1958. The build
ing is still being used for a local church
and an English school;
(f) In 1954 we adopted a firm
policy of not pajdng any Japanese
preacher firom Mission funds and to
encourage freedom and self-support.
This means that the majority of our
Japanese ministers do some part-time
work to support their families - tutor
ing the children of the neighborhood
in late afternoon and evenings, deliv
ering newspapers in early a.m., driv
ing taxis, etc. This may be slower in
producing evangelistic results, but we
are convinced this is a sound, long-
lasting and reasonable way to advance.
These policies described above (a-
f) have been working now for over 40
years. They have produced peace,
stability, strength and growth among
the Japanese churches. The people
are working together with joy, and
have an increasing sense of identity
and unity in Christ.
For example: our 49th Annual
Convention is scheduled to be held at
the end of July next year. For many
years now this meeting has been
planned and paid for by the Japanese
nationals themselves. They make
great efforts to gather and fellowship
and encourage each other in the faith.
The Osaka Bible Seminary is moving
year-by-year toward being entirely
supported by the Japanese them
selves.
(7) The Buttrays retired to
Meadville, PA in 1983. They are now
83 years of age.
The Fattens retired to Joplin, MO
in 1990. Andrew just celebrated his
80th birthday October 4.
The Simses retired to Sunshine
State Christian Homes in Tavares,
FL in July this year. This is near the
First Church of Christ in Eustis, where
Harold graduated from high school in
1941 and went into the ministry and
was ordained. The church has served
as their forwarding agent for about 30
years. Harold was 73 years of age in
September. They went to Japan on
November 15, 1947, which was 50
years ago. This year was also their
Golden Wedding anniversary, cel
ebrated in Cincinnati, OH August 3
with all their children and grandchil
dren present. In fact, all who were in
our wedding party in 1947, but Lois'
sister who lives in Arizona and was
not well and my father who died in
1972, were present.
REASONS FOR CEASING
PUBLICATION AT THIS TIME
1. As the above history shows,
there is no longer any missionary in
Japan directly associated with the
Yotsuya Mission.
2. There is no other mission
ary or Japanese person willing or
able financially or otherwise to give
the time and money to keep it going.
I admit a deep sense of failure and
regret that I was unable to recruit
missionaries to take our place on the
field there. I do not believe they are
no longer needed, or would not be
accepted by the local people; but the
fact that must be faced is that they are
not in place at this time. The other
fact is that the basic work of preaching
the gospel in Japan will go on by the
Japanese believers there on the
ground. Maybe it is significant that
this situation happens near the begin
ning of a new century and that the all-
wise God has plans that we cannot see
at this time. In any case, we can trust
in God and pray for his work and
workers there and we will continue to
do this.
PERSONAL FEELINGS
ABOUT THIS
1. I will miss the challenge and
stimulation of having to sit down
and write another issue every 3
months. But I have less to write
about now that I am retired and far
away.
2. For a long time I have wanted
to reach a 100 Anniversary Issue. But
it occurs to me that such a thing would
not be noteworthy at all if there were
nothing to follow.
3. Your faithful reading and oc
casional comments about the Tokyo
Christian have been an encourage
ment, and we are deeply grateful for
the prayerful support of very many
wonderful Christians over half a cen
tury.
4. So let us not be despondent
or discouraged, but thankful for
what God has done through us
and many others.
5. Let us not forget to pray
for the continuing work for Christ
being done in Japan under faithful
leaders -- both missionary and
national.
6. I have an almost com
plete file of all issues since 1945,
but missed a few while traveling
on furloughs in the U.S. over the
years. I think some of our Bible
Colleges probably have pretty
complete files if someone might
wish to do research some day.
The Sims family ai the 50thAnniversary.
Harold and Lois Sims Celebrate Golden Wedding Anniversary
On August 3 at 2:00 p.m., our 5 children planned and very capably and happily carried out a wonderful celebration
of our 50th wedding anniversary in a room at the White Oak Church in Cincinnati, OH. We were amazed at how quickly
everything about decorations, refreshments, program, etc., came together and went so smoothly, considering how far the
children live from each other. We were also happy and surprised at the great number of people who came, some from
great distances, as well as the large number from the Cincinnati area and a good group of former missionaries to Japan.
Some of these friends we had not seen for years.
The gathering included all 5 of our children and all 13 of the grandchildren and the 1 great-grandchild, and all but one
of the "wedding party" who had stood at the front of First Christian Church in Turtle Creek, PA 50 years before. Aside
from Lois' sister, Dorothy, who lives in Arizona and is not very well, all of our brothers and sisters were also there, and
some cousins. So it was truly a "gathering of the clan" and a most memorable day of our lives.
News About the Work of Christ in Japan from Letters Received
Shinshu Bible Camp
Warren and Eileen Christiansen, who live and work in
the same Nagano Prefecture where the camp is located
(and also the same prefecture where the 1998 Winter
Olympic Games are going to be held) volunteered to live
and work at the camp for this summer's season. We
appreciated this very much. They lived there for about 3
months -- from late May to late in August. With them to
serve at the camp and in other ways and places during the
summer vacation were their youngest daughter, Karen,
and a fellow student from Pacific Christian College who
wanted to see what missionary work in Japan is like with
a view to possibly becoming one. I will quote some lines
from their Kansai Christian Mission newsletter:
"We were not completely moved when Ben and Karen
arrived on 5/23, but with some help from them, we were
able to finally get settled" (in the house where the Buttrays
and then the Pattons lived). "There was still much to do to
get the grounds ready, but others came to help, too, before
and during work camp (7/23-24 . . . Two camps were held
for university students: 7/31 - 8/3 and 8/11-14, with
registration of 27 and 19 respectively. Of course, there was
a number of staff above those figures, so I cooked for about
42 for the first camp and 30 for the second. Practically all
meals for the first camp were 30 minutes late, but things
were easier the second time around. I was always forgetting
something but, fortunately. Warren had bought us cellular
phones at the beginning of summer. My thanks for all those
who helped in the kitchen. The students were asked to fill
out a response sheet on the last day. Many said they really
enjoyed the camp and want to come again next year. Eight
expressed an interest in becoming Christians, 33 said they
want to go to church, and 3 requested counseling. David
Cole and Tim Turner, who work in the Tokyo area, have
taken those names for follow-up.
"The Junior and Senior High School Camp was held 8/
4-8 and was planned and staffed by Japanese ministers and
their wives and some other Christians from the Tokyo area.
A Japanese lady headed up the kitchen and had a lot of help
from the preachers' wives. There were 18 campers, 3 of
them from our own Saku church. (Later on we heard that
3 girls were baptized in their home churches as a result of
decisions made at this camp.)
"Our Sunday School Camp is usually held for one night
at our home in Asashina, but this year we were able to hold
it at the camp on 8/9-10. Wehad 23 present (3 were former
members who have moved away, and a new friend they
brought with them, and the rest were our regular SS
children and their friends.
"The Camp Committee members came to close up the
building after all the camps were finished on 8/18-19, and
on 8/23 we moved back to our house."
Another letter, dated September 8, from Bro. Kishimoto
who is now the minister at Mejirodai Church said (in part):
"The following are news of our churches in Japan. J
think you may want to know it:
"(1) Youth Retreat in Okutama.
"On July 20-22, the youth retreat was held in
Okutama. The theme was 'Christians in Society' and the
speaker was Mr. Yamazaki, a Secretary ofKGK(Intervarsity
Japan). Thirty young people attended it and studied time
scheduling, devotional life, etc. The deans were Bro. Shingo
Tsuda and Yohei Akioka, and they served and led the youth
group very well.
"(2) High School Student Camp in Shinshu (Mostly
covered above)
"The speaker this year was Mr. Yozo Takekawa, who
now serves as part-time teacher (Bible) of Kwansai Gakuin
High School. He gave us powerful messages, and some
young girls made decisions to accept Jesus as Lord. One
girl, from Ono Church, was baptized into Christ at the end
of last month, and 2 girls, of Yokosuka Church, were
baptized yesterday. Hallelujah!
"(3) Bro. Obana's service at Joel Home this summer.
"Bro. Tetsuya Obana, Senior at the Osaka Bible Semi
nary, served in Joel Home during his summer vacation. In
addition, he preached in the Mejirodai Church and helped
in the VBS in the Sannobara Church and in the camps. Now
Mr. Yukio Oka has a plan to invite Bro. Obana to Joel Home
as an associate minister after his graduation. Please pray
for the plan.
"(4) The 49th All Japan Convention
"We are preparing for the Convention next year. We
have decided the main speakers . . . The Convention News
No. 1 was published in August. It was very unique. Bros.
Shioya, Yabu, and Otani were the editors.
"(5) New Church Buildings in Japan
"The Nakaburi Church (Dr. Paul Clark and Noriaki
Kimura, ministers) in Osaka will soon finish building. The
Miyazato Church (Mr. Ryomei Onaga, minister) in Okinawa
have finished. The Shime Church (Mr. Ben Hirotaka,
minister) and the Machida Church in Tokyo also have
plans.
"(6) Bro. Shingo Tsuda's Wedding
"You may be surprised, but Bro. Tsuda is going to get
married. His fiance is a member of Machina Church. He
will come to the Mejirodai Church to preach and announce
this next Sunday. This is our joy. Please pray for him
becausehe is very busyplanning for a newchurch building.
Other bits and pieces from letters include:
... A card from Mrs. Tsuda in Mejirodai announced
the birth of a baby boy to Yohei and Kayo Akioka on October
5 and also a baby boy to Daisaku and Sa5airi Kume on
October 6.
... A good letter written on October 10 was received
from our long-time associate and friend Stephen lijima,
who is still goingon at age 76. He writes in English (in part):
"You say, 'after a very happy, blessed trip across the U.S.,'
and that reminded me of the same experiences I had 30
years ago -- even to the same place - Eustis, Florida. You
mentioned the dear ones to me, Mr. & Mrs. Bain. They are
unforgettable persons for me. Please remember me to them,
and give them my Christian greeting."
After that he changes to Japanese, "because I believe
you can still read it, and I don't want you to forget it." He
tells about being asked by the leaders of his small town to
help them entertain about 20 Jr. High students who will
soon be visiting there from Iowa, U.S.A. In return about
the same number will go to the U.S. from that area of Japan
to the U.S. in 1999, and he hopes his grand-daughter will
be among them.
Also he said the Minato Church is making plans for a
Fifth Sunday Rally on November 30.
He told about visiting the small groups in Okayama
prefecture, and sent a picture of one of the meetings.
Okayama meeting. Stephenlijimaand veteranmissionaryAudreyWest are sealed
in the front row.
. . . For my birthday we received a gift and nice
letters from Mr. and Mrs. Oka, who are carrying on the
work at Joel Home where we lived for 9 months last year.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray (re
tired). R.R. 2, Box 180, Meadville, PA
16335.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fatten (retired),
#6 Tanglewood, Carl Junction. MO
64834.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims (retired).
do Sunshine State Christian Homes, 1557
Sunshine Parkway, Tavares, FL 32778.
One year donation $2.00
Tokyo Christian (USPS 776-320)
Published four times a year in Janu
ary, April, July, and November for the
missionaries of the Church of Christ,
Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan by
Mission Services Association, 7525
Hodges Ferry Road. Knoxville. TN
37920-9731. Periodical postage paid at
Knoxville, TN 37920-0111. POSTMAS
TER; Send address changes to Tokyo
Christian, do MISSION SERVICES AS
SOCIATION, PO Box 13111. Knoxville,
TN 37920-0111.
Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address to
MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, PO Box 13111, Knoxville, TN 37920-0111
Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 13111, Knoxville, TN 37920-0111.