Pastor

Pastor Kazuhiko Uryu’s Testimony

A conflict with another student in college led to my believing in Jesus as my Savior. I had a conflict with this person and had to quit extra-curricular activities at school. I was on the school’s bowling team. The bowling team was my life, and I could not forgive this person for taking that away from me. However, that incident made me realize for the first time that I had an ugliness in my heart. I began to dwell on “What an ugly person I am.” I’d also lost the purpose in life the bowling team had given me, and it felt like a big hole in my heart. I felt empty and dry inside. I was struggling with life’s emptiness, wondering why I was even alive. As I thought deeply about life, a coworker invited me to church. He quoted Isaiah 43:4: “…you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.” My friend said that Jesus considers me valuable and precious and loves me. He taught me that Jesus died on the cross for me. I was astonished by his words. For nearly 20 years, I had never heard that God loved and died for me. “It is amazing that God would love me so much as to lay down His life for me. But why did Jesus, God, die for me? Does God exist?” All this was running through my head, jumbled all together. At the same time, I just felt thrilled.
(Testimony Continued Below)

Prayer Requests:

K.N., the fiancé of A.H.’s second daughter A attended the Christmas service. Although A had been distant from church and her faith life, she attended worship services several times over the past years and even brought her fiancé to the Christmas service. It was K.N.’s first time stepping into a Christian church and attending a worship service.

• Please pray that A’s faith will be revived and that she will be a witness to K.N.
• Please pray that A and K.N. will be guided in a good direction by the Lord.

K.M. attended our services last Fall. We had been able to stay in touch with K.M. via email several times before, but communication has also ceased, and we continue to lift her up in prayer. She lives within walking distance from our church.

• Please pray that K.M. will develop a deep spiritual hunger and be able to return to church again.

T.M., who was previously listed as a prayer request, is now in his final days. Instead of receiving care in a terminal hospice, he wished to return home, where he is currently receiving care surrounded by his family. Even though I could not visit T.M. at home, I could pray with him over the phone. T.M. told me that a long time ago, he had “accepted Jesus” through the guidance of another pastor.

• Please pray that T.M. will have a clear hope of heaven.
• Please pray for his family, who are providing his care at home, that they may receive strength, comfort, and encouragement from the Lord.　　

K.M., T.M.’s wife, is a church member and has been praying for her husband’s salvation for over 40 years. However, as T.M.’s final moments are approaching, K.M. was infected with COVID-19 in December and was hospitalized. She was deeply worried that she might not be able to be by her husband’s side in his last moments. By God’s grace, T.M.’s condition remained stable, and K.M. was discharged from the hospital.

• Please pray for K.M.’ｓ faith and health as she is still recovering.
• Please pray that the Lord will answer her lifelong prayer—that T.M. will be saved and enter heaven.

At the end of the year, our family took an overnight trip to a campground on the Osumi Peninsula to refresh ourselves. We enjoyed a ferry trip to the peninsula in good weather and were genuinely thankful for the precious time of family fellowship at the lodge

2024 Ministry Report

Pastor Uryu: In December, I caught the flu for the first time in my life. Even in my absence, thanks to my wife’s and church members’ support, we held the worship service smoothly, for which I am truly grateful.

Sonoko: My husband, Pastor Uryu, and our eldest daughter, Eden, caught the flu, and I had to step in unexpectedly to lead the worship service. I was anxious about whether my younger daughter and I would also get sick. However, on the day of the service, Pastor Uryu could broadcast the online worship service remotely from the second floor, and by God’s grace, he managed to fulfill his duties. This experience deeply impressed me with the importance of always being prepared for unforeseen circumstances.

While my husband was struggling with the flu, I, inexperienced with technology, felt discouraged and thought, “Maybe we can skip the online streaming today…” However, Pastor Uryu taught me the valuable lesson of praying and persevering to the end.

Interestingly, we later received a message of gratitude from Mr. and Mrs. H., who had relocated to Korea in October, saying that they had been able to watch the sermon online that day. This reaffirmed the importance of online streaming.

On that day, many members could not attend worship for various reasons. Amid it all, a church member, Sister T.M., encouraged us, saying, “May the Lord bless and reward you for your faithfulness in leading worship no matter what!” These words deeply touched my heart and reminded me of the early days of our church planting. I was once again grateful for offering each worship service to the Lord.

Despite having received a flu shot, Eden, our daughter, still caught the flu due to a widespread outbreak at her kindergarten, leading to a temporary school closure. However, when the postponed children’s Christmas event was finally held, 22 children attended, most of whom were Eden’s kindergarten friends. I am deeply grateful for everyone’s prayers, which have allowed Eden to enjoy her kindergarten life to the fullest and make many friends.

Our regular worship services do not have children of Eden’s age, but at the youth gathering, she met and bonded with a girl one year older. Please pray that Eden will be given more Christian friends and that more children of her age will gather at our church.

Thankfully, our daughter Shieo remained healthy even when Eden and Pastor Uryu caught the flu. However, when Eden was absent from kindergarten, Shion also missed a few days. She soon insisted on going alone, riding the kindergarten bus by herself. This was a moving moment for us, as back in spring, when she first started, she would cry even when going together with her sister.

Three children of Shion’s age participated in the postponed children’s Christmas event. As they continue to interact at kindergarten, please pray that they will also become connected to the church’s children’s ministry.

Many children and their parents have been exposed to the gospel through Shion. We are indeed witnessing the power of prayer. In our church services, there is a four-year-old girl and her two younger brothers whom Shion looks forward to seeing each week. Please continue to pray that evangelism and blessings will expand further through Shion.

Children’s Christmas Event

The Children’s Christmas Event, initially scheduled for December 7, had to be postponed to December 22 due to a severe influenza outbreak in our eldest daughter Eden’s kindergarten class, leading to Eden catching the flu.

On the day of the event, we had the largest attendance ever, with 22 children and 16 adults filling the church hall. It was a joyful and blessed gathering.

For Eden, this was her last Christmas event as a kindergartener, as many of her friends will attend different elementary schools after graduation. Please pray that the seeds of the Gospel sown in this Christmas event will grow in the children’s hearts.

Some of the attending parents expressed interest in future church events, saying, “Please invite us again!” This encouraged us.

Christmas Worship Service

As a tradition, the M Family performed special music during the Christmas worship service. This year, in addition to their instrumental performance, they also presented a Christmas hymn medley as a special choir performance.

Additionally, as mentioned in previous prayer reports, A.H.’s membership transfer ceremony was held. During the worship service, A.H. read aloud her testimony of salvation in front of the congregation, making it a wonderful evangelistic opportunity.

Her eldest daughter, who was mentioned in an earlier prayer report, also attended the service. A.H. was deeply grateful that both her daughters and her second daughter’s fiancé could hear her testimony of salvation.

Due to the widespread influenza and COVID-19 outbreak, we had to cancel the fellowship meal out of concern for members with underlying health conditions and their families.

However, F.O., a church member, brought a large number of handmade mini gifts, which were given to attendees as a Christmas present.

F.O., baptized two years ago during the Christmas worship service, is now growing as a believer and serving others as a church member. We give glory to His name for her spiritual growth.

Because it was Christmas, international students and visitors joined the service. After worship, we enjoyed coffee time, during which laughter and joy filled the room, making it a warm and thankful gathering.

Christmas Youth Gathering

On the afternoon of December 29, following the Sunday worship service, an interdenominational youth Christmas gathering was held, mainly for junior high and high school students. Like the previous youth gathering, it occurred at the same host church. From Kagoshima Izumi Church, Sister A.M. (a university student), Brother Ko.M. (a high school student), Brother K.M. (a high school student), and our pastor’s family attended. Other university and vocational school students also participated, and the gathering was already full of excitement during the icebreaker games.

The junior high school students who joined for the first time this time had a wonderful time, and everyone bonded even further during the fellowship over tea and snacks. We all praised God together, listened to a message from the Word, and ended the event with a lively gift exchange game, making it a gathering overflowing with blessings.

We are especially grateful that, besides the brothers Ko.M. and K.M., a junior high school girl joined them to form a trio for a special musical performance. Since there are currently no junior high or elementary school students at Kagoshima Izumi Church and only the twin brothers, Ko.M. and K.M., as high schoolers, their opportunities to connect with fellow Christian youth are extremely valuable. Please continue to pray for the spiritual growth of the youth in Kagoshima so that they may stand firm in their faith and be witnesses for Christ.

We also deeply appreciate Pastor T.Y. and his wife, who have a strong heart for youth ministry and once again dedicated themselves to hosting this gathering at their church. Pastor T.Y. is currently battling a serious illness, so we kindly ask for your prayers for his healing and strength.

Rev. M.A. was one of my professors during seminary and mentored me closely during my final year at the seminary while I was an intern at his church. He was the guest speaker for a special evangelistic worship service, and it was a profound blessing and deeply moving experience to have him officiate a blessing ceremony for our daughters and five youth members of our church. He also led a seminar, which provided all participants with fresh perspectives and deep insights, making it a meaningful and blessed Sunday. He is a highly capable and gifted leader who formerly served as the chairman of the Japan Alliance Christ Church (JACC, our denomination) and has been a significant figure in leading the evangelical movement in Japan. He suffered from a serious illness last year, which led him to step down from many key positions and take an extended period of leave. Starting this fall, he has gradually resumed his ministry activities. Please pray for his continued recovery and for the Lord’s guidance in his future ministry efforts.

K.K. Sister’s Burial Service
We held the burial service for Sister K.K. Fifteen people, including three non-believing family members and two family members who have distanced themselves from the Christian faith walk, gathered at the gravesite. We sang hymns and shared the Word of God, reflecting on the hope of reunion in heaven. It was a blessed time to remember this hope. Please pray that the family members will turn to the Lord, the giver of life.

Introduced by our friend who is currently studying in the U.S., a couple in their early 30s attended our Sunday worship service together with his parents, who were visiting from the U.S. The husband is an American who grew up in a Christian home but has not been attending church regularly since moving to Kagoshima. His Japanese wife is not yet a believer. Please pray for salvation for the wife and that the couple will visit us again for worship on a regular basis.

Seeing the faithfulness of parents who strongly desired and prayed to bring their son and his wife to church for worship and who continue to pray fervently for their son and his wife reminded us once again of the prayers of all the supporters around the world who are interceding for Kagoshima. Please pray together with us that the parent’s heartfelt prayers may be answered.

Singapore Short-Term Mission Team’s Tract Distribution
Pastor M., also based in Kagoshima City, contacted us to request that we host a short-term mission team from Singapore for a tract distribution ministry. After a time of worship and prayer at church, we shared our ministry updates on Kagoshima Izumi Church and prayer requests with the team.

The team, who made significant sacrifices to serve in Japan, greatly encouraged us. We are inspired by Pastor M.’s coordination of tract distribution not only in Kagoshima City but also in other prefectures and his hands-on participation in the ministry. It was a blessed day in which we experienced the beauty of collaborating across nations and locations to sow the seeds of God’s Word.

Please pray that the tracts and church flyers distributed by the Singapore team will be used to bring people to the church and that those individuals will come to faith. Please also pray that the churches in Singapore that continue to send out workers receive abundant blessings from the Lord.

Viewing of the New Church Property
we have been praying and searching for a new church building of our own as the current location we rent for the church service has become quite cramped. After numerous discussions at the church leaders’ meetings, a candidate property—a secondhand detached house—was presented as a potential new church site. The property is located about 15 minutes by car from the current church building, and it is only a one-minute walk from the nearest station, making its location quite favorable. With renovations, the property could potentially offer a worship hall approximately twice the size of the current one (22 tatami mats≒, approximately 390 sq. ft.). The entire church has been praying to discern God’s will regarding this property, and the leaders’ meetings were held repeatedly and discussions about it.

On the day of the property viewing, after touring the building, we formed a circle in front of the property and spent time in unified prayer. We do not yet know if this property is truly the new church building that God has prepared for us. We will continue to pray as a congregation to seek God’s will and follow His guidance. Please join us in prayer for the acquisition of the new church building.

WF Japan Family Retreat

My family participated in the KDK Retreat (WF Japan) held at Tamagawa Christ Church for the first time. It was refreshing and surprising to experience a bustling big city with stylish streets alongside our daughters. The worship services, lectures, fellowship with the KDK committee members, and interaction with other recipients were all truly blessed moments. The hosting church’s pastor and members warmly welcomed us with delicious homemade dishes. Considering our daughters are still young, one of the committee members also provided transportation to and from the hotel, which was a tremendous help.

During the retreat, we had free time to play with our daughters in the park. Through good learning, fellowship, and relaxation, we were refreshed in both body and spirit. We extend our heartfelt thanks for your prayers and support.

Sonoko Uryu At the KDK Retreat in Tokyo, thanks to the thoughtful arrangements of the KDK committee members, childcare volunteers looked after our daughters, allowing me to focus fully on the  Bible messages and lectures. I am deeply grateful for this. It was a fresh and moving experience to sit beside my husband, listen to the Word of God, and sing praises together. During the retreat’s free time, I enjoyed fellowship with other Whitefields’ support recipients and received personal advice and encouragement from the committee members. Both my spirit and body were truly refreshed.

After the retreat, our family visited my 79-year-old mother, who lives in Saitama, north of Tokyo. My mother, who suffered a compression fracture in her back this spring, has become frail and bent over but still welcomed us with a big smile and shared many fond memories. We also had a lively and blessed time with my younger sister’s family, who also live in Saitama.

As we live far away in Kagoshima, I rely heavily on my younger sister and her husband to care for my mother. I always pray for God’s special care over my sister and her family. Even with a cane, my mother’s walking remains precarious, and she falls frequently. Each time, my sister rushes from her workplace to assist her. The burden of caregiving is heavy, so we are prayerfully considering the possibility of getting support from professional care helpers.

My mother, a former pastor’s wife with experience in church planting, marks the 10th year since my father’s passing this year. I pray that our Lord the comforter will continue to sustain and encourage her.

My elder sister, who lives in Osaka, also frequently travels to Tokyo to accompany my mother to medical appointments and provide care. Like my younger sister, her burden is significant. Despite this, both of my sisters pray for and support our church-planting ministry in Kagoshima. Please also pray for my mother, as well as for my sisters and their families.

We held a commissioning prayer and farewell party for the H Family, who moved to Kagoshima three years ago due to work and has been reassigned to South Korea. Together, we sang the worship song, “God Never Changes; His Love Never Changes,” filling everyone’s hearts with emotion. Over the past three years, each member of the H Family has faithfully served in their respective roles, sharing their testimony as Christians. The congregation deeply loves them for their service and love for the Lord and the community. While we are truly sad to see them go, we are deeply grateful for the countless blessings God has given us through them. We pray for God’s blessings on their new chapter in South Korea, for their work and daily lives in a foreign land, and especially for their two young daughters as they adjust to school life.

We held our Reformation Commemoration Service during the regular worship service. Sister T.M. served for the first time as a congregational hymn leader during this service. We pray that T.M.’s beautiful singing voice, which she has previously used in special music performances, will continue to be used for the Lord’s work. Her son, Ko.M., skillfully performed a solo horn piece that showcased his advanced musical abilities, leaving us moved. His brother Ke.M., on keyboard, could not attend that day and prepared a pre-recorded piano accompaniment. Ko.M. was hesitant to perform solo, so my wife and I, after the service, offered a prayer of gratitude with him to encourage him. Please pray for the spiritual growth and guidance of these talented high school twins, Ko.M. and Ke.M., as they continue to use their musical gifts for the Lord.

Please pray that God continues to lead Ms. K.M. so that the Word shared during worship will come alive in her and that she will keep attending services. Ms. K.M. attended our evangelistic service and then returned for Sunday worship services. In a follow-up email, she shared that she was grateful to have met everyone at church and looked forward to continuing to connect with the church community. We pray for the opportunity to guide her in studying the Bible.

Mr. Y.K., a man from Kagoshima currently in a correctional facility in another prefecture, wrote to us and expressed great joy in receiving our replies to his letters. In his letters, he shared that before his incarceration, he had attended a Protestant church in Kobe at a friend’s invitation. His letters reflect a sense of nostalgia and love for his hometown, and he wrote that even in prison, he wants to receive God’s grace and live strongly. We thank the Lord for the evident work of the Holy Spirit in his heart. We pray for the pastors and missionaries in Kagoshima who are engaged in prison ministry work to bear abundant fruit and ask for your prayers for all involved in prison ministry.

Please pray that the Lord will touch T.M.’s heart, leading him to accept Christ and gain the hope of heaven. Mr. T.M., the husband of our church member, Ms. K.M., and the father of another church member, Ms. A.Y., has been experiencing declining health. As he battles cancer, his physical and mental strength have been deteriorating. The family is consulting with doctors to decide on the best course of treatment and care. We pray that the Lord will guide T.M. and his family in wise decisions.

During her kindergarten sports day, our daughter Eden served as a cheering squad member, enjoyed playing the keyboard during the parade, and came in first place in a race! Eden worked hard in practice and gained new confidence through her outstanding efforts on the event day. At church, she misses her close friends who have moved to Korea with their family. Please pray that Eden remains closely connected to her friend, Jesus and that new families with children will join our church.

Our younger daughter Sion participated in her first sports day at kindergarten without tears, which shows significant growth since her tearful adjustment period after enrolling. We praise God for her progress. At church, she has become close with children from the Y family, who attend worship regularly. Their playful interactions are heartwarming, and our church family’s prayers and support for our daughters and the other children in the congregation have been a great source of encouragement. Please pray for the Y family, who travel a long distance to attend worship each week. The husband, S.Y., is not yet a believer, while the wife, K.Y., is nearing her due date with their third child. Pray for this family’s spiritual growth and strength during this season.

My wife Sonoko attended the Kyushu Ministry Area Women’s Association gathering hosted by the Japan Alliance Christ Church, which was held at another JACC church in Kitakyushu City. Traveling from Kagoshima required more than two hours each way by super express and local trains, reminding me of Kyushu Island’s vastness. It was an opportunity to step away from daily life. The gathering featured a lecture about the blessings of reading through the Bible by a pastor from Oita Prefecture, which was a rich learning experience. Sharing lunch with other women from churches in the Kyushu area was a joyful time filled with laughter and gratitude. The hosting church’s women prepared the event with great care. I am deeply moved to realize that others are praying for our Kagoshima Izumi Church and our family. I praise God for the joy of face-to-face fellowship.

I attended the Evangelism Discussion Forum and Autumn Training Seminar organized by the Japan Alliance Christ Church (JACC) in Saitama Prefecture. Pastor Shuji Mizukusa delivered three lectures, sharing his pastoral and evangelistic experiences. His talks provided valuable insights and teachings.
Pastor Masahiro Matsumoto gave three lectures and emphasized the importance of self-care. It was a blessing to fellowship with fellow pastors. Please pray that I can apply what I learned during these events to our ministry and pastoral care in Kagoshima.

We commemorated the 6th anniversary of Kagoshima Izumi Church with a special service. We are grateful for the Lord’s unchanging faithfulness. The M family’s brass ensemble—Sister T.M. on the flute, Sister N.M. on the euphonium, Brother Ko.M. on the horn, and Brother Ke.M. on the keyboard—offered a special praise performance. We celebrated with a fellowship meal afterward, which was filled with laughter and joy as we reflected on God’s promises.

At our church’s 6th-anniversary service, we were reminded of when our daughter Eden joined us in Kagoshima at just two months old. She has been a great source of support for us as we settled into an unknown community, giving us many opportunities to connect with local people over the past six years. Please pray that she grows stronger and learns valuable lessons along the way.

In 2021, Shion was born. At kindergarten, we are told Shion is a kind child who enjoys sharing toys with friends. Please continue to pray that Shion grows as a child who loves God and others.

We had a wonderful Kagoshima Caravan, hosted by the Evangelism Department of the Japan Alliance Christ Church. Four caravan members — two from the Kanto region, one from Kansai, and one from Shikoku — stayed at the church and served in various capacities. The weather, for which we had prayed, was protected, and every program was blessed, with each member’s unique gifts shining through. Their service included children’s ministry, distributing leaflets for the special evangelistic worship service, and helping with it. We are especially thankful that one non-Christian woman (K.M.) attended the service after seeing the flyer. After the service, we held a fellowship lunch with the caravan team, and everyone sang “God Bless You” together. Please pray for blessings upon the caravan members, as well as the churches who prayed for and sent out the team.

We held a children’s meeting as part of the Kagoshima Caravan. Three families, six children and five adults, including our own attended. The four Caravan team members contributed wonderfully to the meeting and brought new energy with a special praise and worship music session, a first for our children’s gatherings. The team led the children in song with hand gestures and the team leader shared the message with expressive gestures, making it easy to follow, which was a personal blessing and a learning experience for me. The attending families regularly come to these gatherings and one family attended with all four family members, including the father. Please pray that God continues to open hearts and guide them.

In a neighboring city’s church, we held a youth gathering with a guest staff member from the high school ministry (hi-b.a). A total of 10 junior and senior high school students from five churches attended, and with parents and church members included, over 30 people joined. The event was lively with games, praise, a message, and a snack time filled with laughter and fellowship. From Kagoshima Izumi Church, 10th grade high school students Brother Ko.M and Brother Ke.M participated. Their busy high school schedules left them initially hesitant, but after much prayer on our part for their motivation, they could come. They performed a special praise song at the event. The mother who drove shared with us that her sons really enjoyed it, and they were able to talk about God’s blessings together as a family. We are incredibly thankful to the teachers who organized and led this. Many attendees were students who had distanced from attending services or lacked peers their age at church. We received gratitude reports from parents and church members alike for this gathering. We’re now planning a second youth event for the end of the year with the host church’s pastors. Please pray for more students who are distanced from church to join. Please pray for Ko.M. and Ke.M. that their faith may grow and strengthen during this season of challenges and temptations.

I undertook a domestic missionary deputation to share about the mission work in Kagoshima. Though my schedule was limited, I visited five churches in Tokyo. This was a valuable opportunity for these churches to learn more about Kagoshima Izumi Church. I am also deeply grateful for the fellowship I shared with the congregation members. Please pray for God’s blessings upon those who continue to pray and support the ministry of Kagoshima Izumi Church.

Ms. K.M. lives nearby and attended our special evangelistic service for the first time after finding a leaflet that had been placed in her mailbox. She had wanted to go to church before but didn’t have the courage, and though she was nervous, she stayed for the fellowship lunch after the service and connected with others over the meal. After the fellowship, she told us that she enjoyed the day. She did not attend the following Sunday and did not provide her contact information, but we prayed for her earnestly. On the following Sunday, she attended our service again, even in the pouring rain, and when the church members engaged her in conversation warmly, she was encouraged that everyone was friendly and easy to talk to, and the atmosphere of the church felt healing and homelike. Please pray that God will continue to lead Ms. K.M., who lives nearby and by herself, to recognize the hunger and thirst in her heart. Please pray that my wife and I, along with the church members who connect with her, may receive the needed wisdom from God and commit ourselves to intercessory prayer for her care.

Mr. Y.K., a man currently in prison in another prefecture, wrote a letter to our church and expressed a sense of nostalgia for his hometown, Kagoshima. He saw an article about our Izumi Church in Kagoshima in the August issue of The Gospel for Millions magazine. He wrote to us that he had been studying the Bible in prison for about five years but had not found anything concrete to help him live meaningfully within the prison environment. The constant troubles and conflicts in the prison’s communal setting leave him feeling drained and worried. Mr. Y.K. wrote hoping for a reply to his letter that would help him understand Christianity. After praying and expressing gratitude to God for the letter, I responded to Mr. Y.K., highlighting how he has been allowed to engage with the Bible, that God is always with him, and that God has a special plan for him. I used the story of Joseph in Genesis (Genesis 39) to draw a parallel and encouraged him to continue reading the Bible and participating in Bible studies. I also enclosed a Four Spiritual Laws booklet and sent the letter with prayer. We do not know how Mr. Y.K. will be led in the future, but we entrust him to God’s hands, praying that God may enter his heart. Please pray for the Christian chaplaincy service held once a month in prison and pray for Mr. Y.K.’s salvation and God’s guidance for him and for all those engaged in prison ministry.

A.N. attended a worship service for the second time. Although she lives in a distant city, she stays with her mother, A.H., for each prenatal checkup and, with her mom’s encouragement, attends the worship service together with her mother. After the service, I prayed together with her and her mother for her expected delivery in February of next year. She had been baptized and had attended church up until her early teens. Please pray that A.N.’s faith may be restored and that her husband may come to salvation.

• Pray for people to believe in Jesus and profess their faith.
• Please pray that we may acquire a larger church building for the purpose of evangelization.
• Please pray that the church may move forward with encouragement from the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:31)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Ms. A.H., in her mid-50s, attended our worship service for the first time when Brother K.M. invited her while he was home visiting. We have been praying for her after learning from K.M. that she was undergoing chemotherapy. After the service, Ms. A.H. enjoyed a time of fellowship with others over tea and snacks. Later, K.M., Ms. A.H., and I had a further conversation in a separate room upstairs. Ms. A.H. has been suffering from schizophrenia for many years and has been hospitalized in the past. She had met some Christians during her stay in the hospital, so she was willing to attend church. She was overjoyed and excited about reuniting with K.M. after almost 50 years.

Ms. A.H. was quite talkative and heightened, but she became calm and serious when hearing the Gospel, showing a different, more composed expression. She was not ready to pray to accept God into her life then, but we prayed together. A few days later, Brother K.M. informed me that Ms. A.H. had been admitted to the hospital where she had previously stayed, and he shared with us more about her journey up to that point.

We are consulting a Christian doctor about the necessary discernment and appropriate care for Ms. A.H. and continue praying for her. Please pray for Ms. A.H.’s health, specifically regarding her mental illness and breast cancer. Please pray that, should any challenges arise in the future, my wife and I, as the pastoral couple, will be able to respond with wisdom and appropriate care.

Brother K.M., in his mid-50s, is a member of another church and has a deep burden for evangelism in his hometown of Kagoshima. He attends our worship services during his visits home, which significantly encourages my wife and me. He has brought his mother and elder sister to worship services, and his kind and friendly demeanor has allowed him to become close with the members of our church.

He had requested that we provide support and share the gospel with Ms. A.H. after the worship service. Later, when Ms. A.H. was hospitalized, K.M. was shocked and blamed himself for lacking an understanding of her illness and relying too much on his judgment. I encouraged him to entrust her to the Lord and the specialized hospital and pray in faith. I also shared with him the guidance we received from the Christian physician that her condition may worsen or improve regardless of those around her, so there is no need to think that this might be our fault if her condition deteriorates. This provided both K.M. and me with time to comfort each other. Pray for K.M., who feels deep compassion for Ms. A.H. and struggles with anger and sadness over the injustice of her illness. Pray that my wife and I can offer appropriate support to K.M.

N.M., Ko.M., and Ke.M., all church members and children of church members, performed special music during the Children’s Bible Time in the worship service. They have performed special music before at special events, but this was the first time that the entire congregation sang together with them on a regular Sunday service. We pray that their praises to the Lord will continue to be their joy and that they will have more opportunities to serve actively in this way.

N.Y., a first-year graduate student, participated in a large youth gathering in Tokyo organized by the Japan Alliance Christ Church. He was deeply inspired and positively influenced by this event. After Sunday service, he shared his testimony of how he was blessed, significantly impacting our entire church congregation. In rural areas with few young Christians, holding youth gatherings is challenging. This was his first time attending such a large youth meeting, and it was an excellent opportunity for him to make many Christian friends of the same age.

Ko.M. and Ke. M., a first-year high school student, is scheduled to participate in a youth gathering at a neighboring church. We pray that, despite their busy high school lives, they can make friends who share the same faith and that youth from other churches who do not have Christian peers of their age can also participate.

In Japan, it’s common for youth to drift away from the church as they reach junior high and high school age, so we strongly feel the need for such church programs that reach out to this age group. In line with this desire and prayer, we had the opportunity to discuss this with other pastors and pastor’s wives from Kagoshima who share the same vision. Thus, we helped plan this gathering organized by the High School Evangelism Cooperation Association.

K.K., the mother of sister A.H. and for whom we had been praying, went home to be with the Lord. The wake and the funeral service were a genuinely blessed time, and we are assured that sister K.K. is now in heaven. Many non-believers were present at both the wake and the funeral, and for many, it was their first time attending a Christian-style funeral.  As this was my first time officiating a funeral as a pastor, I deeply felt the responsibilities and blessings of pastoral ministry. Please pray for K.K.’s bereaved family, especially the non-believers, that they may receive comfort and guidance from the Lord.

• Pray for protection for missionary deputation travel during the typhoon season.
• Pray for the Kagoshima outreach and that the programs will be protected and blessed.
• Pray that new believers will come to be baptized.
• Pray that we may obtain a larger church building to spread the Gospel to the local community.
• Pray for my daughters Eden and Shion that their faith will continue to develop.
• Pray for my wife Sonoko as she cares for our family and for opportunities to develop and build long-lasting friendships.

S.H., a female in her late 50s, is a cousin of church member A.Y., who came to Kagoshima temporarily from Osaka. S.H.’s mother is a Christian, and S.H. attended Sunday school with A.Y. at a church in Osaka as a child. She sent her children to a mission-founded school, so she had a favorable view of Christianity even though she was not a believer. She is troubled about her son living in Kagoshima, and on June 9, she expressed her desire to attend our worship service, marking her first visit. After the service, we had an opportunity to read together the Campus Crusade for Christ booklet, The Four Spiritual Laws. While she did not respond by accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior, we ended by praying together. She said she would continue reading the booklet after returning to Osaka and has since read it independently. Please pray that S.H., whose Christian mother is elderly, 90 years old, and who is under daily stress and tension from caregiving, will accept the Lord and find true peace.

Y.H.  is a graduate school student in his 20s and the son of S.H. He attended our worship service once about two years ago. Having participated in a mission school, he has his own Bible and seems to have no resistance to church or worship services. However, he has not attended service since then due to his busy graduate school studies. Church members K.M. and A.Y., relatives of Y.H. who live nearby, have invited him to our worship service several times. Please pray that Y.H. will recognize his spiritual hunger and thirst within himself and come to the Lord.

K.K., the mother of A.H., is a believer. She recently experienced a sudden deterioration in her condition and was rushed to the hospital, where she narrowly survived. While K.K. was hospitalized, her daughter A.H. read Scripture to her as she lay in bed, and despite being unable to speak or eat on her own, K.K. responded with “Amen” to the Word of God, listening with great effort and intensity. Witnessing this, A.H.’s older sister, a non-believer, was deeply moved.
Please pray that K.K. may fulfill her mission of testifying to the Lord through her attitude of listening to the Word of God.

A.H. has been attending our worship services for about a year and a half due to her circumstances. She is in her early 60s, a believer, and a member of another church.  Since the beginning of this year, she has also begun offering a monthly tithe. Recently, she expressed her desire to transfer her membership to our church officially. We will now begin the necessary learning and procedures for this transfer, and we ask for your prayers for the Lord’s guidance. Additionally, her elderly mother, K.K., 90 years old, is living in a care facility and is in poor health. Please pray for her as well.

Special Evangelistic Service and Art Seminar

On June 23, Pastor Atsuhiko Okayama, a supporting pastor from the Japan Alliance Christ Church, delivered the sermon during our worship service and led an art seminar in the afternoon. We created a promotional flier and distributed 5,500 copies via newspaper inserts. We are thankful that two non-believing husbands of our church members, N.M. and S.Y., could attend the evangelistic service. During the service, one of our church members, A.Y., took charge of the weekly Children’s Bible Time, and four of our church’s youth performed a special song. After the service, we had a fellowship lunch with Pastor Okayama, and most attendees stayed for the afternoon seminar, which allowed everyone to engage deeply with art and the Bible. It was a wonderful time, and we look forward to those who participated enjoying art from a biblical perspective and even using it as a tool for evangelism.

Although no new visitors came due to the fliers, in the past, we have had visitors who visited the church six months after receiving such a flier. We pray that God will use this flier as well.

On June 29, a short-term Cru mission team from Singapore hosted a children’s event. Although two families who had expressed interest could not attend because their children had fevers, four children, including our daughters, were still present. Two children attended for the first time, and their parents immensely enjoyed the event. Please pray for K.N. and her mother, A.N., who visited the church for the first time, will continue to attend. How the Singapore team prepared and prayed for the event deeply encouraged and taught us.

Children’s Bible Time: We have a section for the youth during our weekly worship services. Mr. and Mrs. Y. are deeply burdened for serving in the Children’s Bible Time and expressed their desire to hold a meeting like a Sunday School teachers’ conference. After the worship service, my wife, Sonoko Uryū, along with Mr. and Mrs. Y., gathered to discuss the sharing of responsibilities for the children’s messages and to have a time of prayer together.

We pray that new individuals will join the message ministry in the future, contributing to the growth of future servants. The children become familiar with the Bible verses each week thanks to Mrs. Y., who prepares original verse-memory cards weekly. They also enjoy placing stickers on the cards after reading, making their effort to memorize scripture more engaging. We are incredibly grateful that even non-believer S.Y. has found opportunities to engage with God’s Word together with her children.

Updates of My Family

On Sunday, June 23, we had the Kyushu Mission District Pulpit Exchange Day. I had the privilege of preaching at Miyazaki Megumi Bible Church in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture (Next Prefecture). I delivered a message from Numbers 13, titled, ‘We Can Surely Overcome.’ During the fellowship meal after the service, one of the attendees shared that he was greatly encouraged by the Word, which I was very grateful to hear. I was also profoundly thankful to learn that Miyazaki Megumi Bible Church members pray for Kagoshima Izumi Church. I am committed to continuing to pray for Miyazaki Megumi Bible Church members.

My wife Sonoko visited the meeting venue at Nakatsu Bible Church in Oita Prefecture to prepare for our denomination’s Kyushu Mission District Women’s Union, which is scheduled for October.  It was her first visit to Oita. She did not realize until then how far Oita was from Kagoshima, approximately 400 km, even though Oita was still part of Kyushu. As she met people there, many for the first time, she felt deeply grateful that she and our church plant in Kagoshima are being remembered in their prayers. It was a significant and blessed time for my wife. Given that many of the eleven churches in the Kyushu Mission District have relatively small congregations, this gathering of Christian women in a significant event like the Women’s Union reminds me of the importance of fellowship among Christian women.

From June 24 to 25, a retreat for the wives of Kyushu Mission District pastors was held in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a wonderful time spent praying and fellowshipping with six wives of preachers. We also had the opportunity to visit famous tourist spots in Kumamoto Prefecture, such as Kumamoto Castle and the crater of Mount Aso. Additionally, we were deeply moved by the history of past Christians in Kumamoto, called the Kumamoto Band, and the tremendous natural beauty. We prayed more concretely and visually for evangelism and revival in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Eden, our oldest daughter, is six and enjoys kindergarten. When she stays with her grandparents, my parents, in Aichi Prefecture, please pray that she can naturally share the gospel with her non-believing grandparents, sing hymns, and bear testimony during her stay.

Shion, our daughter, age 2, has completely adjusted to kindergarten and enjoys attending. Recently, her favorite hymn has been “Jesus Loves Me,” which she often hums. As colds and viruses have spread at kindergarten, please pray for her health. It is common for infections to start with Shion and then spread to the rest of the family. Please pray for the overall health of our family members.

Testimony Continued

By nature, I’m cautious and do not believe everything someone tells me unless I am convinced. So, I asked the church’s pastor, Rev. Tamura, every question I could come up with. And no matter my question, he treated me with courtesy, compassion, patience, and love. Through studying the Bible, I gradually noticed changes in me. I began to think, “Maybe this world /was/ created by God.” I thought, “What the Bible says /must/ be true.” Through my ongoing study of the Bible with Rev. Tamura and through his preaching in the weekly worship service, I learned that God created heaven and earth, that I am a sinner, and that God, Jesus, could be mine. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected, and still loves us today. I learned that if we believe in and accept Jesus as our Savior, our sins will be forgiven, and we will become children of God, receive the Holy Spirit, and be given eternal life. And I was able to believe that, and finally to believe John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  I was baptized on December 19, 1999, as a junior in college.

My Calling to Pioneer Church Planting

After believing in Jesus and being baptized, I graduated from college and was hired by a local company. While working, I realized I wanted to become a pastor and evangelist. At first, it was a tiny little thought. But those thoughts grew larger. God gave me verses from scripture, and I became convinced that this is what I should do. Matthew 5:13-16 were the first verses that confirmed my calling. You are the salt of the earth…. You are the world’s light, so let your light shine before me.  I was taught that I do not exist for myself but that the purpose of a Christian is to convey the love of Jesus on the cross and to glorify the Lord. After receiving these verses, I decided, “I will dedicate my life to God and others.” At the same time, the words of Romans 10:14 were given to me. “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” And I was called to be a pioneer evangelist, to preach the gospel in uncharted territory. After receiving these two scriptures, I started the three-year course at Tokyo Christian Theological Seminary and became a Japan Alliance Christ Church pastor. (This is the denomination started by The Evangelical Alliance Mission – TEAM).

When the denomination’s Board gave me my ordination oral examination, I said, “I have a calling to pioneer church planting.” And so I was assigned to Izumi Church in Kunitachi City, a church plant of the established Tama Church. I served there for eight years, and then I was approached about heading up a new church plant for the denomination in Kagoshima Prefecture. At first, I struggled with that decision, but again, I was given the same verse of Romans 10:14 that I had been given when I was first called to pioneer church planting. On top of that, God also gave me Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” I had assurance that this was the Lord’s will, and I decided to lead the church plant in Kagoshima.

It has now been four years and nine months since the start of the Kagoshima church plant; the work has brought us joy and hardship. I’m sure there will continue to be many challenges, defeats, and victories, but I want to always dwell in these scriptures that were my calling and continue to preach the gospel. Nine believers are church members, and four other believers attend worship here. We have had six baptisms since the church plant began in 2018. The coronavirus situation in 2020 halted outreach and church growth, but since November 2021, people have started coming to church again, and we are seeing outreach and church growth. We currently have four seekers. Two are in active Bible study; two are not in a Bible study but attend worship services regularly.

Location of Church Plant

Kagoshima Prefecture is in southern Kyushu and is separated by mountains from Kumamoto Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture to the north. It faces the sea to the east, west, and south. Geographically, it is an isolated prefecture. The nearby major cities are Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, but they are about two hours away from central Kagoshima Prefecture by train or car. Kagoshima City has little flat land; most people live on high ground. Approximately 1.6 million people live in Kagoshima Prefecture, and approximately 600,000 people live in Kagoshima City. Approximately 42% are Buddhist, 2% Shinto, 1% Christian, and the remaining 55% are non-religious. So, in Kagoshima Prefecture, the total number of Buddhist, Shinto, and non-religious people is about 98%. Still, as the well-known expression “eight million gods” suggests, most people in Kagoshima believe that gods dwell in everything surrounding them. So, as a first step in evangelism, it is essential to convey that “God is one.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

Ongoing Ministry for Your Prayers:

Pray for S.Y. to open his heart to Christ and seek God’s help and guidance. His wife is a member of our church; both work full-time and have two children, aged three and one. S.Y. understands his wife’s Christian beliefs and faith and attends our Sunday Church services with his wife. His parents have come as grandparents for the baby daughter’s dedication ceremony, held during a Sunday service. S.Y. realizes his weakness and sinful nature, and we pray to start a Bible reading with S.Y.

Pray for N.M. to open his heart to studying the Bible. N.M., his wife, daughter, and five sons are all church members. N.M. is a college professor who faces challenges at work. We pray for N.M. so he can boldly step forward to be near God, take his current situation as an opportunity, and rely on God’s wisdom. We are encouraged to see the family attending the worship service more often lately.

Pray for T.M. to grow in hope and assurance about heaven in his heart by believing in Jesus. T.M. is elderly and has health concerns. He is the husband of a church member, is friendly, and shows an understanding of Christians and Christianity, and occasionally joins his wife to attend Sunday worship. T.M. still carries deep sorrow as they lost one of their daughters twenty years ago. Please pray that he will accept God’s salvation soon.

Pray for M.N. that the Lord opens her heart. She moved to our area from another prefecture to attend medical school and is always busy with academics. M.N.’s parents are Christians, but we know that she has not professed her faith and has not been baptized. We hope to have an individual Bible study with M.N., and we pray for clarity in M.N.’s mind when she hears me preach at Church. 

It has been five and a half years since we started our Church planting as Kagoshima Izumi. We are thankful for the opportunities to meet people in this area, and the church’s growth is mainly initiated via our daughters’ kindergarten connections. My wife, Sonoko, has been developing good friendships and interactions with moms of children at the kindergarten where our two daughters attend. We pray that those ladies will become seekers and attendees of our service. Our 6-year-old daughter Eden has a very cheerful personality and many friends. She brings many of her friends to our church’s events for children. Our 2-year-old daughter Shion has also started attending pre-school. We hope that she can make many friends like her sister. 

I am thankful to walk my faith daily in Psalm 121 and pray while overlooking the majestic active Sakurajima volcano. Thank you for your support and prayers for our Church.