The day after receiving news of the Kumamoto earthquake on April 14, the Kyodan formed the Kumamoto Earthquake Relief Committee, headed by General Affairs Executive Secretary Dohke Norikazu. Following discussion, the committee decided to dispatch Commission on Ecumenical Ministries Executive Secretary Kato Makoto to the affected area to assess the situation.
Flying immediately to Kumamoto, Kato joined Kyushu District Secretary Niihori Masayuki and traveled to Omuta Shozanmachi Church, where he delivered a message of condolence from the Kyodan. From there, Niihori and Kato headed to Yamaga Onsen, where they joined Kyushu District Vice-moderator Kusakabe Kenji. Hotels within Kumamoto City had suspended operations because of the earthquake. In the early hours of April 16, the strongest earthquake struck Kumamoto. The tremor was also severe in Yamaga, which is 20 kilometers to the north.
The first place visited was Yamaga Church. As it is currently without a minister, staff members of adjacent Reizen Kindergarten were consulted about the damage experienced. The church executives met Kyushu District Moderator Umezaki Koji at Kumamoto Kusabacho Church, and together they paid visits to the Kyodan’s Nishikigaoka Church, Musashigaoka Church, Kumamoto Shirakawa Church, and Kumamoto Joto Church, as well as to Kumamoto Church of the Korean Christian Church in Japan.
Among these churches, the most striking exterior damage was at Kumamoto Shirakawa Church, where many roof tiles had fallen and broken. Interior damage was most pronounced at Kumamoto Kusabacho Church and Nishikigaoka Church, which suffered damage to their pipe organs as well as to many of their dishes. In most of the churches, printed materials and furnishings were scattered around the meeting rooms and ministers’ offices. Amid this situation, every minister was busily trying to confirm the safety of church members. In addition, Kumamoto Shirakawa Church and Nishikigaoka Church were providing overnight accommodations and meals to church members and neighbors who came for shelter.
On April 17 Kyodan Moderator Ishibashi Hideo joined the other executive, and together they delivered most of the relief materials to Musashigaoka Church because it had been opened to provide food to anyone. On April 18, some of the broken water lines were restored, and relief materials were carried into the city with great speed. That night, while staying in Fukuoka City, they noticed the swaying, back and forth, which must have been due to the constant aftershocks. This caused them to consider again how much stress the people in affected are facing. (Tr. DM)
—Kato Makoto, executive secretary
熊本地震視察
加藤 誠
2016年4月14日（木）に起きた熊本地震の報道に接し、翌1
最初の訪問は山鹿教会であった。現 在無牧のため隣接する霊泉幼稚園の職員に被害状況を聞いた。
17日、
—Onoyama Midori, NGO Intern in Musalaha
Israel and Palestine
Standing between Peoples in Conflict. When many Japanese Christians hear the words “Israel” or “Palestine,” they imagine a biblical setting. However, for others, the impression of an unending conflict may be the strongest. In reality, of course, a complicated conflict continues unabated and at the same time, a small community of Christians continues to live there.
Presently I am serving in Musalaha, which means “reconciliation” in Arabic, working to promote reconciliation between Israeli Christians and Palestinian Christians. We are also trying to help to build bridges between Christians, Jews, and Muslims in many ways. For example, we assist with camping that welcomes both Israeli and Palestinian children, with gatherings of older youth in the desert or national parks, with gatherings of mothers and children, and with leadership training. In addition, there are some trips for Palestinian and Israeli young people. They have traveled to Germany, Ireland or Cyprus and it helped them to learn about the conflict in a more neutral place since it is outside of their homeland.
“Reconciliation”—A Topic Close to Home. My great grandmother, grandmother, and mother were Christians, and from early childhood, I read the Bible. One of my favorite passages is Matt. 5: 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” As a small child, I thought “I want to be a child of God!” The church I attended was the one which was planted in Fukui Prefecture by missionaries from Norway and there were opportunities to join a mission trip from there. While visiting places like Mongolia, India, the Philippines, and Myanmar, my small world was enlarged and I started to have a dream to serve God by going out into the world to learn and work if God leads me.
While in college, I used my holidays to carry a backpack and travel to various places. One such trip took me to Israel and Palestine. When I actually saw the region and talked with local people, I realized that what I had learned about this place and my impression from newspapers and media in Japan was only a small part of the story. The experience overseas was the occasion for nurturing my concern for reconciliation. But there was another reason for my growing interest and concern for reconciliation.
After the Second World War, my grandfather became an alcoholic. I think he drank to ease the pain of his wounds and to forget all the terrible memories of experiences in the battle. Drinking led to his death. I believe that the issue of alcohol caused a separation between my grandfather and my father. With that cloud over our family, my father did not fulfill his role in the family, and I failed to bond with him. For a long time, I suffered with the inability to forgive my father. I was troubled because I could not say the simple words “I forgive you.” Through this experience, I came to realize that in my own strength—without God’s help—I could not forgive.
Later, I went to a graduate school in England and while pursuing conflict resolution and peace studies, a classmate introduced Musalaha to me. I was surprised to hear that there are Christians who try to bring reconciliation to a place that is deeply troubled and divided! I started to think that I would like to participate if it is possible and I applied to be an intern. Presently, I am in Jerusalem working on the organization’s website, translating for its publications, and doing publicity. I also help with various other projects as well.
Building Trust Begins with Encounter. I have learned many things from my participation in Musalaha. Perhaps the most important of these is the need for providing a place where the two parties can meet. In many cases, the impression people have about the opposing side is negative. The opinions learned in the family or at school are very strong. As there is actually almost no opportunity to meet the other side and get to know each other, there are many misunderstandings and prejudices.
As mentioned before, Musahala plans various programs to promote trust between the parties. Through Musahala, many Palestinians get their first chance to meet Israelis who are not soldiers. One participant at a women’s meeting made a deep impression on me when she said, “I had held such bad opinions about these people, but for the first time, I realized that she is a woman just like me: a wife, a mother, a real human being.”
At a camp in 2014, the year when Israeli troops invaded the Gaza Strip, an Israeli counselor had a relative who was in the fighting and one of the campers was a Palestinian child whose grandparents were in Gaza. This counselor was taking good care of the Palestinian child in the same room.
Sometimes warning sirens would sound. Then everyone had to go to a shelter, get down on the floor, and cover their heads with their hands. However, afterward one camper wrote about this experience. “At first we were very tense. Then when everyone in the shelter began to sing “Jesus loves me this I know” and we came to the line “We are weak but He is strong,” we remembered that God was watching over us and began to relax.”
I think that campers of opposing groups living together and singing to the same Lord in times of danger was an experience of a lifetime.
All in the Cross of Christ. When I first participated in the work of Musalaha, I wondered how it would be possible for hands of friendship to reach out to each other in the midst of continuing confrontation and tension to join in mutual prayer. The answer I heard from a participant was: “We have many mixed feelings and go back and forth. Forgiveness is difficult by ourselves. However, we know that we have been forgiven and reconciled with God. Now we have received a new relationship with God and with other people.” Everything is joined together through the cross of Christ.
We did not choose the nation or place or family we would be born into, but we believe that all of it was within God’s plan. So then, as an outsider, how should I relate to these people?
I recognized that God has equal concern for each of us and I pray for both with love. I listen to both sides and think it is important to support each of them as much as I am able. I pray that I may walk the path that is pleasing to God by reading scripture attentively and putting into practice what I learn. Day by day I would like to be remade in the image of God.
Happily, each time I return to my own country, I am slowly able to enjoy talking with my father, and our relationship is being restored.
I remember what Christ once did for me and pray for faith to stand firm and to act as I should. (Tr. GM)
対立する人々の間に立って
イスラエルやパレスチナと聞いて、多くの人は聖 書の舞台を思い浮かべると思います。しかし他方では、
現在、私が奉仕している「ムサラハ」（アラビア 語で「和解」の意）では、イエスの教えと生き方に倣い、
具体的には、イスラエルとパレスチナ双方の子ど もが集うキャンプや青少年のための砂漠における出会い、
身近な課題でもある「和解」
「平和を実現する人々は、幸いである、その人た ちは神の子と呼ばれる」
私は曽祖母、祖母、母がクリスチャンで、幼いこ ろから聖書を読んで育ち、
出席していたのはノルウェーの宣教師によって開 拓された福井県の教会で、
また、大学在学中は休みを利用してバックパック を背負い、さまざまな所へ出かけました。
私が和解に関心を持つようになったきっかけは、 海外でのこうした体験でした。しかしもうひとつ、
私の祖父は戦後アルコール中毒となり、それが きっかけで亡くなりました。
その後、イギリスの大学院で紛争解決学と平和学 を学んでいたところ、
私も何らかの形で関わることができればと思い、 インターンに志願しました。
信頼の醸成はまず出会いから
ムサラハの活動を通して教えられたことは数々あ りますが、まず大切なことは、
です。
多くの場合、彼らは自分と対立する側にいる人々 に対して良い印象を持っていません。
前述した通り、ムサラハでは相互の信頼を醸成す るためにさまざまなプログラムを企画しています。
パレスチナ人の中には、ムサラハの催しで初めて 兵士以外のイスラエル人に出会ったという人もいます。
2014年、
また、しばしば警報のサイレンが鳴りました。そ のたびに子どもたちやスタッフ、
対立する陣営の人が同じ場所で寝食を共にし、し かも危機の中で同じ主を賛美したことは、
すべてはキリストの十字架に
当初、ムサラハの活動に参加してみて、衝突や緊 迫状態が続く中で、なぜ互いに友情の手を差し伸べ合い、
参加者から聞いた答えは、「さまざまな感情が入 り混じってそれに左右されることもあるし、
私たちは国や地域、そしてどの家族のもとに生ま れるかを選ぶことはできません。しかし、
では、この地域において第三者的立場にいる私は 今後どのように彼らと関わっていくことができるのでしょうか。
私は、イスラエル・パレスチナのどちらにも偏る ことなく、
幸い、
—From Shinto no Tomo (Believers’ Friend), March 2016 issue
In the midst of a never-ending conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that seems to have no solution, one Japanese woman shares her work for reconciliation through “Musalaha,” a NGO working to build mutual understanding and trust across the divides of ethnicity and religious worldview.
Musalaha is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 by Professor Salim Munayer, an Arab Israeli Christian, to work for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Following the principles of reconciliation taught in the Bible, it strives to implement various programs to build bridges across the several chasms that have developed between Israeli and Palestinian societies.
対話がもたらす真の和解
＃＃
和解のミニストリー
イスラエルとパレスチナの隔ての壁を越えて
＃＃
小野山 翠
おのやま み どり／ NPO「ムサラハ」インターン
＃＃
解決の糸口が見つからないまま長期化するパレスチ ナ紛争。
異なる民族、異なる宗教観での相互理解と信頼関係 構築の
ために地道な取り組みを続けているイスラエルの
NGO「ム サラハ」で働く日本人女性が
その働きを紹介しつつ、自らの
和解の体験を語る。
＃＃（ムサラハとは）
ムサラハ（Musalaha）
アラブ系イスラエル人クリスチャンであるサリム・ ムナヤー博士が、イエス・キリストの生き方と教えに倣い、
＃＃（本文）
by Chibana Sugako, pastor
Paraguay Pirapo Free Methodist Church
The country of Paraguay is located on the continent of South America, surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina, and is roughly 1.1 times larger than Japan. Its climate is subtropical, and as of the year 2015, its population is approximately seven million people. The main industries are agriculture (wheat and soybeans), cattle breeding (for meat), and forestry. The capital is Asuncion, the center of the country’s government and economy. The Gross Domestic Product per capita is about 4,368 dollars. It is certainly not a wealthy country, but the citizens are cheerful and generous.
The native people of Paraguay are the Guaranis. However, in 1535 Paraguay was colonized by Spain and was under Spanish rule for 276 years until it became independent in 1811. During that period, due to intermarriage with Spaniards, the number of native Guarani people continued to decrease, and at present they account for less than two percent of the total population. It was the Spanish Jesuit monks who introduced Christianity to Paraguay in the latter half of the 16th century. Now, 90% of the country is Catholic, and 6% is Protestant, which means that 96% of the people are Christians.
In Paraguay there are six settlements for people of Japanese ancestry. The immigration from Japan to Paraguay began in 1936, and this year marks the 80th anniversary. Immigration to Pirapo (where Pirapo Methodist Church is located) happened in 1960. At present, the population of Pirapo is about 10,000 people, about 1,300 of Japanese ancestry. The farmland averaged 30 hectares per field at the time of immigration, but it has since increased tenfold, so now the average field is 300 hectares. The land yields abundant crops of food, like soybeans and wheat. Generally speaking, people of Japanese ancestry have a wealthy lifestyle. Japanese language and culture have been taught and passed down very well.
Two evangelists, Sakai Kotaro and his wife, lit the fire of the gospel in this land in 1960. The following year, 1961, Pastor Tsukamoto Noboru was sent by Brazil Free Methodist Church, and Pirapo Free Methodist Church was founded. In 1962 the church building was built, and many people from the village were led to the church.
Settlements were pioneered not only in Pirapo but also in Encarnacion, Iguazu, and Lapaz. The first pastor to those areas was Tsukamoto, and he traveled frequently to the churches, providing pastoral care. The second pastor, Sugiyama Hoshinori, resided at Pirapo Church for four years and endeavored to build up the church. Pastor Sugiyama also worked as a teacher at the Japanese language school. He built a dormitory at the side of the church building for the Japanese-language elementary school children who came from far away and looked after them. He contributed greatly to the education of the children in the settlement.
Around 1975, Sugiyama accepted a position in Brazil. For 40 years, from that time until last year, there was no pastor at this church. The church members, praying desperately that the flames of their faith not be extinguished, observed Sunday worship every week. Fortunately, while there was no pastor at the church, other pastors, such as Pastor Arihara Shigeru and Pastor Nowada Mitsuteru came from churches in Encarnacion and Asuncion once a month, serving God by preaching the Word. This was certainly very encouraging for the members of the church in Pirapo, for which they gave thanks.
I had been given a vision for mission to Paraguay. In February 2015, I went to Paraguay. As I was looking for a place to work as a missionary, through the wondrous leading of God, I arrived at the church in Pirapo. I have since been formally sent by the Kyodan to serve there. I have been given by God everything that I need for missionary work, including health. Every day I live in thankfulness to God.
Now the church has 12 members, and the attendance at worship is a small flock of 4 to 6 elderly people, worshiping in Japanese. Church activities include Sunday worship, Wednesday meetings, evangelistic visitation, and meetings once a month in the homes of brothers and sisters who have immigrated to Asuncion.
On March 27, two elementary school students and their grandmother attended Easter worship for the first time. For us, it was a very joyful occurrence. We pray and ask the Lord that not only these three people but also many more citizens of Pirapo may be led to the church from now on, and that God will raise up a harvest of many people whose souls have been saved.
Please pray that the Lord will bless this church and use it.
ピラポ自由メソジスト教会牧師 知花スガ子
主の御名を賛美いたします。
パ ラグアイは南米の内陸に位置し、ブラジル、ボリビア、
パ ラグアイには、原住民グワラニー族(Guaranies)が 暮らしていましたが、1535年 スペインの植民地となり、1811年 に独立するまでの276年間その支配下にありました。
パラグアイには、6つの日系移住地があります。
この地に福音の火がと もされたのは1960年、信徒伝道者の酒井好太郎(Sakai Kotaro)夫妻によってなされました。翌1961年にブラジ
初代の塚本牧師は、ピ ラポ移住地だけでなく、エンカルナシオンEncarnacion
その後、1975年頃、杉山牧師はブラジルへ転任なさい、
私は、以前よりパラグ アイ宣教の幻を与えられていました。
現在、当教会の現住陪 餐12名、礼拝出席は、ご高齢の方々4～6名の小さな群れで、
先日（3月２７日）のイースター礼拝には、2人の小学生と祖母が
主が、当教会を祝し用 いて下さるよう、どうぞご加祷下さい。
(Tr. KT)
by Ando Akiyoshi, pastor
Shunan Church, Ou District
Martin Mosser Smyser (1875-1955), who came from Pennsylvania and had been invited by Yokote Middle School to be an English teacher, began the evangelistic work of Shunan Church, starting with an English Bible class for neighborhood children in his home. Smyser, who believed that “evangelism in Japan should be done by Japanese,” chose two baptized youth from that class and sent them to Meiji Gakuin High School, then on to the seminary there. Following graduation, these two men, Seya Shigeji and Suzuki Kozo became as Smyser’s right and left hands. They moved ahead to promote the evangelization of southern Akita Prefecture. The unique characteristic of Smyser’s evangelistic work was his non-affiliation with any denominational body. Smyser’s support of the two young men covered not only their educational expenses but all their living expenses as well. To do that, he continued his work as a missionary, receiving financial support from his friends in his homeland.
As a band of believers was born in one region, they extended their work to another region. Spreading the gospel through the southern area of the prefecture was their priority. When there was no pastor present, the believers maintained the meetings with testimonies. The meetings did not have any particular building but continued their existence as “house churches.” This method of evangelism also appeared among those that were called the ”Fukuin Kyodan” (Gospel Band). Before the band became a “church,” they identified themselves by saying, “We are a brotherhood led by the Reverend Smyser.” I think this style was a breakthrough for rural evangelism in Japan, which had been frustrated so many other attempts by various churches.
However, in this brotherhood, the waves of history beat upon the shore. Under the “Religious Organizations Law”(enacted in 1940), the Smyser band, as a religious association, changed its name to “Shunan Christ Church,” and in the midst of these difficulties, it became a part of the Kyodan. Concurrently, the church itself was also making decisions that were greatly changing its character, namely, Smyser’s retirement. He had initially resisted returning to his country, but the thought-control police made that a precondition. Seya Shigeji was ordained and became the head pastor. At the same time, Suzuki Kozo left Shunan Church.
Seya was sent to Indonesia during World War II. When he returned to Japan, the meetings in the region were reopened and new churches in the bands formed after the war were also added, but the “house church” base did not change. The Reverend Murakami Eiji was invited as Seya’s successor, and the gatherings planned to build meeting halls in each area respectively. All the believers gave offerings, and in turn six meeting halls were dedicated. Formerly, there were more home meetings but only six remain that were able to construct meeting halls and one place where a house meeting is still being continued. This is Shunan Church at present.
Missionary Choi Jang-Soo and I are partnering and serving in rotation. Worship services at Yokote sanctuary and Asamai sanctuary are on Sunday from 10:30 a.m.; Uenodai sanctuary and Obonai sanctuary worship services are on Sunday afternoon from 2:00 p.m. Worship at Kakumagawa sanctuary is from 7:30 p.m. on Monday, and Omonogawa sanctuary worship is held twice a month at 7:00 in the evening. The house meeting is held in the home of a believer in Kakunodate on the third Friday afternoon of every month at 1:30. The board of trustees meeting is held each month on the second Sunday from 2:00 p.m. at Yokote sanctuary. Yokote was Smyser’s beginning base of evangelism and continues presently as the center. Naturally, in order for the minister and the missionary to be present at the board of trustees meeting, the afternoon worship services are held with the support of neighboring area pastors.
As a matter of principle, both Choi Jang-Soo and I attend worship services together on days other than Sunday. The meeting halls are shelters for the protection of the believers’ faith, but as believers age, maintenance of the meeting halls is presently becoming a burden for Shunan Church. But even so, believing that our active evangelism will contribute to a revitalization of the evangelization of our nation, we continue to move forward. (Tr. RT)
秋南教会の成り立ち
日本基 督教団 秋南教会牧師
安 藤 昭 良
秋南教会の伝道は1914年、 に英語教師として招かれた米国ペンシルバニア州出身のマーティン
ひとつの地域に信者の群が生まれる と、彼らは他の地域へ足を伸ばしていきました。県南全域で、
しかしこの教団に、歴史の波が打ち 寄せます。「宗教団体法」（1940年施行）の下、
戦時中インドネシアに派遣されてい た瀬谷牧師が帰国することによって、地域集会が再開され、
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