Makiba (meaning "pasture"), which is operated by Chubu District in Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture, is a Kyodan-related home for elderly persons that provides nursing care and is included in the category of facilities that charge fees. The institution was founded in 1997 to support the spiritual life of retired pastors and believers. Now, 13 years later, 52 persons ranging in age from 63 to 99 are ……
by Okada Naotake, Kyodan missionary
As a missionary from the Kyodan, I started a Japanese church in Brussels, capital of Belgium, in the spring of 2006. Before I came, the people there had been gathering for worship one Saturday a month for 24 years. I studied in Trier, Germany from 2000 to 2005. Sasaki Satoshi, who had been helping with this gathering, became ill in October 2004 and asked me to t……
Those of us in the Kyodan who are eager to see progress in evangelism should keep an eye on two books published recently by the Kyodan Board of Publications. One is Our Evangelism, edited by the Committee on Evangelism, and the other is Believers' Guide, edited by the Research Institute on the Mission of the Church. I was asked to give brief reviews on each of them.
Our Evangelism is a collection ……
The 5th Executive Council meeting of the 36th General Assembly period was held at the Kyodan headquarters July 12-13. In opening the proceedings, Kyodan Moderator Yamakita Nobuhisa followed the lectionary, reading II Cor. 10:1-10, and led the council in prayer.
New System for Electing Executive Council Members
One noteworthy item on the agenda was discussion on the process for electing Executive C……
This year, the Fellowship of Kyodan-related Prison Chaplains came to an end after 40 years. It was replaced by the Association of Kyodan-related Prison Chaplains. From 1950 to 1968, the activities of prison chaplains were the responsibility of the Prison Evangelism Committee, under the auspices of the Kyodan's Committee on Evangelism. After 1969, such activities were conducted by volunteer chaplai……
The EMS Mission Council 2010 was held July 9-12 at the academy of the regional State church in Bad Herrenalb in the State of Baden. Bad ("hot spring" in German) indicates that the area is a mountainous spar. But we had no chance to take a dip in the hot spring. In order to be in time for the 9: 30 a.m. meeting schedule, we stayed the previous night at a lodging facility for Catholic pilgrims, than……
Nishi-Chugoku District
Nishi Chugoku District's West Subdistrict held its 30th Joint Japanese-Korean Worship Service on March 14, 2010. The subdistrict has worked cooperatively with the Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ) in Shimonoseki City since before the Kyodan and KCCJ established a mission covenant.
Two annual events are scheduled. The first is the joint worship service, held on the seco……
by Nishinosono Michiko, associate pastor
Wesley United Methodist Church
San Jose, California, U.S.A.
I have served as a Kyodan missionary at Wesley United Methodist Church (UMC) in San Jose, California, U.S.A. since May 2009. The UMC organization is different from that of the Kyodan.* Here, I sometimes feel the need for intercultural communication between the nichigo-bu (Japanese speaking sectio……
Hokusei Gakuen remembers three U.S. missionaries, in particular, as women who gave completely of themselves for the establishment of the school. Hokusei Gakuen was founded by Sarah C. Smith, who established the educational principles of the school. Following Smith, Alice M. Monk brought further development through her leadership and innovation. After World War II, Elizabeth M. Evans led the school……
The 38th Northeast Asia Church Mission Conference was convened June 10-14 at the Sapporo City Education and Culture Hall, the 38th such conference to be held in 38 years. Local pastors and lay people in three countries--South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan--take turns raising the necessary funds and making the logistical arrangements.This year it was Japan's turn. The Japan Committee, with Pastor Miyauc……
