by Taino Keiko, member
Kawakami Church, Ehime Prefecture
Kawakami Church was founded by a U.S. missionary in 1909 as a place for the Japan Methodist Church to hold lectures. At the time of its founding, there were already many Christian farmers. Pastor Matsuda Suzuo, appointed in 1947 just after World War II, got involved by providing land for the establishment of Galilee Home, which is part of Airin-en Special Nursing Home for the Elderly. This facility is a social welfare corporation, which at that time was still rare in farming towns. For a long time, he operated a kindergarten named “Olive Garden.” It closed ten years ago, but until then it had contributed greatly to community welfare and education. After his death in 1983, there were intermittent periods in which there was no pastor, and then the baton was passed to Pastor Mori Kenshiro, Pastor Imai Makio, and Pastor Hirosawa Mikio. Since 2015 the church has been experiencing its third period without a pastor. At present, Pastor Ota Tatsuo of Matsuyama Eiko Church in Ehime Prefecture is overseeing the church, which is a small congregation of 17 resident communicant members. He comes to hold worship services and attend church board meetings. Kawakami Church is also assisted by other pastors in the subdistrict.
I was baptized when I was 22 years old at Iimorino Church in Hyogo Prefecture. I transferred to Kawakami Church when I got married 54 years ago. I thought, “I want to marry someone with whom I can go to church.” That was the reason I married a Christian man. However, his family operated a dairy farm with 40 to 50 cows. It was all we could do to observe Sunday worship. It was about ten years ago when I was finally able to go to the prayer meetings. I am now 79 years old. Even during periods when there was no pastor, Kawakami Church maintained its prayer meetings, never once canceling them. Prayer meetings used to be held on Wednesday nights; then about 50 years ago it was moved to the afternoon, and now it is held from 10 to 11 a.m. There have been fewer attendees as time has passed because members have died or stopped coming for other reasons. Including myself, there have been three people who have always attended. Even so, there is never any talk of discontinuing the prayer meeting. We are continually encouraged by the words of Ueda Noriko, who is now 92 years old and still active as a Sunday school teacher. She says, “As long as there are people who can gather together, even if it is only one or two people, I want to continue the weekly prayer meeting.”
When Pastor Ota took on the role of overseer of the church, we considered moving it to the afternoon so that he could also participate. However, because there would have been someone else who could not attend, we decided to continue holding it in the morning, as a prayer meeting for the laity. For the first half of the prayer meeting, we study the Bible. We are presently studying the books of the Chronicles. The person whose turn it is to lead reads the Bible passage ahead of time, and then comes and shares his or her thoughts with everyone. Though there are many sad things happening in today’s world, as we study this subject, we think about what Jesus is saying to us now, and we all discuss it together. After that, we follow a booklet issued by Shikoku District called “Inoro Shikoku no Kyokai” (“Churches of Shikoku, Let’s Pray as One Body”). We pray for Kawakami Church, for the people connected to it, for the many children who gather in the facilities related to the church, and for each other.
Whenever I think, “Today there is a prayer meeting,” it is very encouraging for me. In life, there are many unpleasant things, but if you go to church and pray, God will listen to everything. Since my husband died I have been living alone, but it is reassuring to realize that God is with me so I am not really alone. Whenever all three of us look at each other and feel the same way about something, we are thankful and say, “It is so good that we were able to come to the prayer meeting today.” Our prayer meeting is also a place to confirm such blessings from God.
Although Kawakami Church is small, in 2014 we were able to construct a new building. The old church, built in 1934, was a two-story wooden structure that had badly deteriorated. It was also inadequately retrofitted to withstand earthquakes. It had reached the limit of how much repair could be done to stop the rain from leaking in. The church was on a mountainside, where transportation was definitely inconvenient. A long time ago, the road in front of the church building was also the main road that ran through the center of town, so there was a lot of traffic. However, since then a bypass and a highway have been constructed, and the circumstances are completely different.
We decided to rebuild, using our fund of 20 million yen that had been saved by the church for 40 years, adding donations from churches all over the country. We relocated to level ground. We had prayed for this for 40 years, and it became a reality. We were blessed because when the church was founded, missionaries had prepared for us a large sanctuary for worship and a parsonage. Proceeds from the sale of the large plot of land and the buildings could be used for covering the cost of repaying the debt. We are thankful for God’s wondrous guidance. (Tr. KT)
—From Shinto no Tomo (Believers’ Friend), January 2017 issue. Summarized by KNL Editor Kawakami Yoshiko
受け継がれる教会の業
無牧教会で信徒が担い続ける祈祷会
愛媛・川上教会 田井野圭子(Taino Keiko) たいの けいこ／川上教会員
川上教会は日本メソヂスト教会の講義所 として、
私は、兵庫県の飯盛野教会で22歳 のときに洗礼を受け、54年 前に結婚と共に川上教会に転会しました。「
大田牧師が代務になったとき、午後に移 せば牧師も参加できるということで検討しましたが出席できなくな
私にとって、「今日は祈祷会がある」と いうことは大きな励みです。人生、
川上教会は小さな教会です。しかし2014年 に新会堂を建てました。1934年 に建てられた木造２階建ての旧会堂は劣化が激しく、
そこで、教会では40年間蓄えてきた資金2000万 円に全国の教会からの献金を合わせて建て替えることとし、
by Kato Makoto, executive secretary
In March 2017, Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) personnel, namely, Rev. Dr. Kerstin Neumann (Head and Deputy General Secretary of the Department of Mission and Partnership), Rev. Solomon P. Benjamin (Liaison Secretary for East Asia and India), and Dr. Carola Hoffmann-Richter (EMS member) visited Japan. The purpose of their recent visit was to attend the anniversary meeting that was to be held in remembrance of the East Japan Disaster—to attend it on the date that the disaster occurred (March 11) and at the actual place it happened—and further, to meet leaders of the various Japanese churches and institutions affiliated with EMS and deepen their friendly relationship with them.
From March 10 to 13, I accompanied them as we followed an itinerary that took us to Sendai, Ishinomaki, Fukushima, and Asian Rural Institute (ARI). Since Secretary Neumann and Secretary Benjamin joined in the work of EMS last year, this was their first visit to Japan. As a former EMS mission co-worker, member Hoffmann-Richter had previously spent eight years in Japan, working primarily in the Kansai area. This time she came to Japan to provide translation and serve as a guide. At 2 p.m. on March 10, we met at the Kyodan Tohoku Disaster Relief Center, Emmaus in Sendai to hear presentations by Tohoku District (which has shouldered the burdens of Emmaus), the Aizu Radiation Information Center, and the Kyodan Tohoku District Nuclear Disaster Relief Task Force, Izumi concerning their work. Following these presentations, the ensuing discussion period was marked by a lively exchange of opinions.
On the morning of March 11, we moved to Ishinomaki to observe directly what is currently being done in the disaster area. At Ishinomaki Yamashiro-cho Church, from 2:30 in the afternoon, we participated in the East Japan Disaster Six-year Memorial Worship Service, which was sponsored by Tohoku District. Rev. Sato Masashi, who had been sent by the Kyodan to serve as a director of Emmaus, delivered the sermon.
On Sunday, March 12, we moved to Fukushima Church, where we participated in another worship service commemorating the sixth anniversary of the East Japan Disaster. Rev. Hoshina Takashi, pastor of Fukushima Church, gave a sermon entitled, “Especially in Weakness.” He is also vice-moderator of Tohoku District and head of the Izumi Room of the Kyodan Tohoku District Nuclear Disaster Relief Task Force (which deals with radioactivity issues).
Late afternoon on the same day, we visited ARI in neighboring Tochigi Prefecture and shared in the dinnertime fellowship. We stayed in the guest room; however, the construction of the building was different from that found in Germany, and the coldness of the night in Nishinasuno caused some difficulty. The next morning, we participated in the morning program. After experiencing various farm chores, we had breakfast and shared in the morning worship service led by missionary Jonathan McCurley, who comes to us from the United Methodist Church. There are no students there at this time of year, so this gave us an opportunity to hear from the staff concerning ARI’s programs.
On March 13 we met with Kyodan Moderator Rev. Ishibashi Hideo and a number of other pastors and executive secretaries at the Japan Christian Center. After that we visited the Korean Christian Church in Japan, the National Christian Council in Japan (which is in the same building as the administrative offices of the Kyodan), and in the afternoon, the Tomisaka Christian Center.
Later EMS personnel visited the Kansai region; (I did not accompany them for this portion of their schedule in western Japan). On March 18 they completed their scheduled activities and returned to Germany. (Tr. DM)
EMS代表団の日本訪問
Kato Makoto, executive secretary加藤 誠
2017年３月に、EMSの カースティン・ノイマン副総幹事、ベンジャミン・
10日から13日までの、仙台、石巻、福島、アジア学院への旅程
３月11日は午前中に石巻に移動 し、被災地域の現在の取り組みを学ぶフィールドワークを行った。
13日は、東京のキリスト教 会館でまず、日本基督教団総会議長石橋秀雄牧師以下数名の牧師・
by Iijima Makoto, executive secretary Kyodan East Japan Disaster Relief Projects Planning Headquarters
The International Youth Conference on “Aiming to Realize a Sustainable Energy Future,” hosted by the Kyodan in Kyoto March 28-31, was a very significant event in the ongoing efforts to consider issues associated with nuclear power generation and energy consumption, in the following three respects.
1. The conference was held in Japan, which has experienced radiation exposure three times—in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Fukushima.
2. Not only did the conference clarify problems of nuclear power generation from a variety of viewpoints, it provided suggestions about how to realize a sustainable energy society in the future.
3. The conference, which was planned and implemented by youth leaders, gave birth to the possibility of a network that is rooted in the church and based on shared awareness among Christian youth from 12 countries, including not just Asian countries but also Canada, the USA, and Germany. There were 110 participants, with 20 from overseas.
These points are explained further below with corresponding numbers.
1. In 1945 Japan suffered the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and, after the East Japan Disaster on March 11, 2011, also experienced the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. We therefore bear a special duty, now more than ever, to alert the world to the grave effects of radioactive contamination on our lives. At this conference we did not limit ourselves to speaking out; we were able to invite youth from other countries that listened earnestly to our voices and were willing to engage in new challenges with us.
2. The conference made it clear that the nuclear power plant accident of 2011 caused irreparable harm and dire situations in the following ways.
1) There are people who cannot return to their homes due to high levels of radiation.
2) Not only has mandatory evacuation destroyed local communities, differing viewpoints on radiation risks have also caused division in families and among friends.
3) Harmful effects on the health of children resulting from radioactive contamination are growing more serious with the passage of time.
Such problems were illustrated through the use of meticulous materials, and the situations and initiatives in other countries were also introduced. Through this, participants were also made aware of how important it is for us to adopt sustainable energy options into our daily lives; for example, going “off-grid.”*
3. The fact that this conference was planned over a period of one year and was carried out by young people is very meaningful not only for the future of the Kyodan but also for the Christian community in Japan. As we look forward with anticipation to the rich relationships that may develop among the youth who gathered, including those from abroad, we in the Kyodan must ask ourselves what we can do to foster such relationships.
Fellowship can take many forms. The special characteristic of the fellowship experienced at this conference was that participating youth discovered the importance of collaborating across denominational boundaries while remaining firmly grounded in the Gospel faith. Also noteworthy is the fact that 16 of the Kyodan’s 17 districtswere represented at the conference. (Okinawa sent no delegate.) It is encouraging to know that the Kyodan can come together like this to engage a single issue as one body.
Aside from the closing day’s plenary session, where we discussed and adopted a final statement, the conference was an intense event that featured 20 lectures and presentations in 21/2 days. The young organizers did a wonderful job of implementing the program. We can say that this youth conference inherited the spirit of the Kyodan’s first international conference, held at Sendai in 2014, and bore fruit beyond our expectations.
The tasks that lay ahead of us are: (1) to ensure that the issues of nuclear power transmitted from Japan will be deeply and widely received abroad and (2) to work with overseas partners who sent youth to this conference to host in those countries, on a rotating basis, a series of conferences focused on nuclear power issues.
With heartfelt prayers to the God of history, this concludes my report on the conference. (Tr. DGM)
*Going “off-grid”: Disconnecting from the power distribution network (“grid”) of major electric power companies by installing and using one’s own power-generation facilities.
「国際青年会議in京都―エネルギー持続社会の実現に向けて」
京都で4日間にわたって行われた「国際青年会議in京都―エネル
（１）ヒロシマ・ナガサキ・フクシマと言う3度の被爆を経験した
（２）
（３）青年の世代による運営がなされ、アジアのみならず、
以上である。以下、順次会議の意味を振り返り、確認したい。
（1） について。
1945年のヒロシマ・ナガサキへの原爆投下、そして2011年
（2） について。
３・１１の原発事故は、以下の点で、
➀放射線量が高い故に、
②強制避難によって地域社会が崩壊したのみならず、
③放射能汚染による子どもの健康被害が年を追って深刻になってい
これらの問題が綿密な資料をもとに確認されただけでなく、
【注：自前の発電設備によって大手電力会社の送電網（グリッド）
（3） について。
今回の会議が、約1年の歳月をかけて、青年たちによって準備・
交わりには様々な在り方がある。
会議は、最終日の声明文採択の時間を除き、2日半で20の講演と
課題は、日本から発信された原発問題が、
歴史の主なる神の導きを心から祈りつつ、会議の報告に代えたい。
The mission activities of the 40th General Assembly period (2016-2018) have now begun. As at every general assembly, various commissions and committees gather together to support the work of local churches and schools and other organizations related to the Kyodan, which is where our mission actually takes place. The standing committees of the Kyodan are:
• the Commission on Mission,
• the Commission on Cooperative Ecumenical
Ministries,
• the Commission on the Ministry,
• the Commission on Ministerial Qualifications,
• the Commission on Faith and Order, and
• the Commission on Finance.
Likewise, the following focus committees also operate under the Commission on Mission:
• the Committee on Evangelism,
• the Committee on Social Concerns, and
• the Committee on Education, including the
Office of Evangelism Promotion.
In addition to these committees and commissions, the assembly established the Research Institute on the Mission of the Church, which began the process of revising the “basic theory of mission” during the 36th General Assembly Period (2008-2010). This process is still ongoing, with the discussion during the 40th General Assembly focusing on the very premises of the debate, that of “mission” and “evangelism.” “Our conclusion is that ‘mission’ is primarily communicating the gospel message—in other words, ‘evangelism.’ However, true evangelism must give birth to ‘witness.’ (Revised Basic Theory of Mission draft, I-2-4)*” [*Social action and activities] There is much debate within the Kyodan concerning this draft. It is my hope that this debate will not end merely with definitions of words but with the gospel of Christ spreading in various ways to every place.
As the National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ) celebrates its 70th anniversary next year, “Mission Conference 2018” and its lead-up gatherings are being planned. The four events, each with a separate theme, have been or will be held on the following dates:
1. “Mission: Kerygma and Youth”: Sept. 24, 2016
2. “Service: Diakonia and Life”: Feb. 4, 2017
3. “Witness: Marturia and Collaboration Between
Generations”: Sept. 9, 2017
4. “Prayer and Worship: Leitourgia and Diversity”
: Feb. 3, 2018
Not only are the member denominations, churches, and other organizations participating but there will also be a Roman Catholic presence, thus making this a truly ecumenical mission conference. Preparations for the main conference are well underway, and the Kyodan intends to cooperate in every way possible to make it a success. (Tr. TB)
—Dohke Norikazu, acting general secretary Executive Secretary of General Affairs
日本基督教団第40総会期の宣教活動が始まります。
36総会期宣教研究所委員会の発議によって「宣教基礎理論」
本作業は今総会も引き継がれますが、
NCCは、2018年に創立70周年を迎 え、「宣教会議2018」を開催します。そのプレ集会が4回企画
by Kawai Nozomu, ministerial appointee Pine United Methodist Church, San Francisco, CA
In 2016, I was appointed to serve Pine United Methodist Church in San Francisco as a Kyodan missionary. However my visa has yet to be issued. As of January 2017, I still remained in Japan. Given this situation, the Commission on Ecumenical Ministries decided to send me to visit Kyodan-related Japanese churches abroad to learn more about their circumstances and chose three churches in Europe. I visited the Cologne-Bonn Japanese Church in Germany; the Kobylisy Church in Prague, Czech Republic; and the Brussels Japanese Protestant Church in Belgium. In each of the churches, I had richly rewarding experiences. There are many things I would like to share, but here I will focus on two in particular.
First is the fact that people gathering together in Japanese churches abroad are yearning for relationships in the Japanese language. All of them are working and experiencing daily life in German, French, English, and other languages and generally have no serious difficulty communicating in a foreign language. However, there is still a strong desire for a church where they can hear a sermon in Japanese and enjoy fellowship in their native language. I think this is based on that deep influence and love of one’s mother tongue. A person who has been living in Germany for more than 45 years told me, “When speaking in German, there’s considerable mental and physical energy required. But when speaking in Japanese, it’s so easy.” These words are deeply embedded in my memory.
Secondly, I found that the missionary pastors serving in those churches are also experiencing loneliness. In Japan, there are neighborhood pastors to whom one can go and seek counsel and cooperation. However, when abroad, visiting a Japanese pastor might require hours by car or public transportation. Missionaries feel difficulty in talking about their worries and hardships with their congregants. As a result they keep these feelings inside and begin to experience added stress. If possible, I think the Kyodan should provide pastoral care for missionaries abroad by sending qualified personnel periodically to their areas of service.
Let me add a personal thought. When I was at the Brussels Japanese Protestant Church, I was the celebrant for the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. This congregation too has been waiting for a missionary to come from Japan, but also due to the delayed visa for that missionary, it had been a long time since the congregation had been able to celebrate communion. During the service, I served the cup and the bread to each member individually, and I could not help but feel the parishioners’ strong sense of joy and thanksgiving as they received the elements. Their deep desire for communion together was palatable. As a pastor, that moment filled me with exultation. I realized anew that I love this ministry to which I am called.
Even if distance separates us from each other on earth, our distance from God is always the same. All of us who share this earth together are held in the warm embrace of God. However, even believing this, Japanese Christians living abroad experience loneliness, alienation, and discrimination. Insuring that Japanese Christians abroad have more concrete means of experiencing God’s love is one of the tasks of the Kyodan. Through this trip to Europe, I thought to myself, “If there is anything I can do to accomplish this goal, I really want to do that.”
(Tr. JS)
*Editorial note: In mid-March, after this article was written, the missionaries being sent to Brussels (Rev. Kawakami Yasushi and Rev. Kawakami Masaki) have received their visas. However, Rev. Kawai’s visa has not yet been received.
「ヨーロッパの日本人教会を訪問して」
パ イン合同メソジスト教会（赴任予定）
川 合 望（かわい・のぞむ）
私は、日本基督教団の宣教師として、アメリカ・サンフ ランシスコにある「パイン合同メソジス ト教会」へと、2016年中に派遣される 予定でした。しかし、なかなかビザが 発給されずに、2017年1月 の今でも日本に留まっています。そこで、この時間を利用して、
このヨーロッパ研修の旅で、私は3つ の教会を訪れました。ドイツ・
ひとつは、海外の日本人教会に集う誰もが、日本語 での交流を求めているという点です。彼らは皆、
もうひとつは、それぞれの教会に仕える宣教師（牧 師）も孤独を感じているという点です。日 本であれば、近所に仲間の牧師がいて、気軽に相談したり、
個人的な 思い出をひとつ。ブリュッセル日 本語プロテスタント教会の礼拝で、聖餐式が執り行われました。
聖餐式 で、私は、一人一人に直接、パンと 杯を手渡したのですが、教会員のみなさんは、
たとえ地上で遠く離れても、神からの距離は、どこでも同じです。
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