The beginning of Seikyo Gakuen was unique. It started in the confusing and uncertain times after World War II. The Sunday school students of Kawachinagano Church in southern Osaka began to pray enthusiastically that they would always be able to learn according to the Bible at school. If you look around the world, you will see that it is still quite rare to find a school that was created by student……
by Saito Naomi, missionary (education) Reformed Church of America, Kyodan representative
In the warmth of the early sun, I arrived at Chiang Mai International Airport in Thailand on Sunday, Jan. 27th, and quickly spotted the sign that read “PCUSA.” Soon after, I met a fellow participant in the consultation, and immediately I found the joy of fellowship with a brother in Christ. Though I was very ……
At the beginning of February this year, I informally visited Etta Hesselink, wife of the late Dr. I. John Hesselink, with my wife Hoshiko. Dr. Hesselink passed away on Oct. 28, 2018 at the age of 91. He worked in Japan for 20 years and, after teaching at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary (TUTS), held several prominent positions, including the presidency of Western Theological Seminary (WTS) in Holl……
The second Executive Council meeting of the present two-year (41st) Kyodan General Assembly period was held Dec. 27-28, 2018 at the Kyodan headquarters, with 28 members in attendance. After a period of self-introductions, Moderator Ishibashi Hideo began by saying he will pursue structural reforms while at the same time continuing to emphasize unity around the Kyodan Confession of Faith, the church……
The 16th Joint Church Consultation between the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and the Kyodan was held Nov. 13-15 at Howa Seminar Plaza and Minamiyama Church in Aichi Prefecture, with 13 participants from the PCT and 30 from the Kyodan. The theme of the gathering was “Suffer Together, Rejoice Together” (1 Cor. 12:26). In a workshop prior to the consultation, the Kyodan participants learned abo……
by Ishibashi Hideo, Kyodan Moderator
During the period of April 30 and May 1, 2019, the present emperor is scheduled to abdicate his throne and the new emperor is to be enthroned. We wish to express our opposition to the various ceremonies related to these events, particularly the daijosai ceremony [in which the new emperor makes an offering of rice to the Shinto gods]. Following are th……
by Hirasawa Noboru, pastor Morioka Matsuzono Church
It is with a grateful heart that I make this report on our annual Ou District Retreat from July 30 to Aug. 1. It was held at the Yumori Hotel Kaikan in Tsunagi hot spa area. The main speaker was Fujimoto Mitsuru, pastor of Immanuel General Mission Takatsu Church. The theme of the retreat was “A Church Living In Hope; Learning From History.” The ……
My Disease Makes Life Seem More Precious
by Hoshino Takuya, member Sugamo Tokiwa Church, Tokyo District
I am a 47-year-old man, and since May 2014, I have been commuting to a hospital three times a week for dialysis treatment due to chronic renal failure caused by a……
The following reflections are excerpted from the newsletter Yorokobi (Joy), Sept. 20, 2018 issue, which was published by the Kyodan Board of Pensions’ Program to Support Retired Ministers.
In God’s Grace
by Kato Hisao
(On his service in Aichi Prefecture)
On Aug. 15, 1945, I experienced defeat in war at the Kakoga……
As we enter the new year of 2019, we hear many joyful reports from Kyodan churches of people who have been baptized at Christmas, joining together with those already experiencing resurrection life in Christ. At this time, when the aging of church members leads to an increasingly reduced ability to engage in evangelism and when Japanese society is increasingly apathetic toward or skeptical of relig……
