Pastor Ishida Motomu is scheduled to be sent as a missionary from April 2020 to Sycamore Congregational Church in El Cerrito, California, which is on the West Coast of the USA. His commissioning service, sponsored by the Commission on Ecumenical Ministries, was held on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 at Nishinomiya Church in Hyogo District. Commission on Ecumenical Ministries Executive Secretary Kato Makoto officiated at the ceremony, during which Commission on Ecumenical Ministries Secretary Kondo Makoto gave the sermon. Kondo had also been sent as a missionary to Pine United Methodist Church on the West Coast of the USA. He spoke about his experiences and about the joy and thankfulness he felt because he could serve as a pastor at a church attended by people of Japanese ancestry. In addition, he told about the diversity and the possibilities of his work. At the reception following the ordination ceremony, many encouraging messages were given, beginning with Hyogo District Moderator Furusawa Keita's congratulatory address. These messages showed that Ishida had faithfully served Nishinomiya Church as its pastor and was loved by many people.

Yoshioka Yasutaka, who is currently at Sycamore Congregational Church, is scheduled to finish his five years of service as a missionary at the end of March 2020 and return to Japan. (Tr. KT)

           —Kato Makoto, Kyodan executive secretary

石田求宣教師派遣式報告

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　加藤　誠

　2019年11月24日（日）午後2時より兵庫教区西宮教会を会場にして、2020年4月からアメリカ西海岸カリフォルニア州エルセリートにあるシカモア組合教会に派遣される予定の石田求宣教師の派遣式が世界宣教委員会主催により持たれました。司式は加藤誠世界宣教幹事、説教は世界宣教委員会書記の近藤誠委員。近藤委員は同じくアメリカ西海岸にあるパイン合同メソジスト教会に宣教師として派遣された経験を踏まえて、日系人教会に牧師として仕える喜びと感謝、そして奉仕の多様性と可能性を語られた。派遣式後の茶話会では古澤啓太兵庫教区議長の祝辞を皮切りに、多くの励ましのメッセージが寄せられ、石田求教師が西宮教会で担任教師として忠実に教会に仕え、多くの人に愛されている姿が証された。なお現在シカモア組合教会に派遣されている吉岡恵生宣教師は2020年3月末に5年間の宣教師としての働きを終え帰国する予定です。