Where are Bob & Chris in Japan January 5

Bob & Chris are getting ready to begin the second half of their exchange ministry in the JELC. They are serving in various ways in Kumamoto, Japan until January 9, 2009. They have met, shared and served with many missionaries during the first half of the exchange. These brothers and sisters are inspirational people. After such a short time it would be presumptuous to begin to know what makes them so special; but Bob has thought about some commonalities of these wonderful people as he and Chris have experienced them in Japan.

Missionaries seem to have an overpowering sense of calling to share the Gospel everyday of their lives. This shows itself in their willingness to share in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads them. They may have specific training and talents; but they seem to always be open to share the Gospel by serving in any way that presents itself. Many that Bob and Chris have met first came to Japan with a specific talent and training. After they saw how God wanted them to share the Gospel they learned new talents even if it meant returning to school for additional training or degrees. They literally give their lives. This is especially true of our wonderful long term missionaries. These people are the foundation and the heart of ELCA work in Japan. They provide the experience, guidance and wisdom needed by our J-3 short term missionaries and still appreciated by their partners, the rostered leaders in the JELC.

What Bob and Chris have experienced in the modern missionaries seems to also be true in the ones they have met through study and visits since coming to Japan. Maud Powlas, the legendary advocate for social service in Kumamoto came to evangelize by teaching the Bible. She had little or no background in social services. Yet her response to the Holy Spirit when a mission board voted to give her a social services assignment began Jiai-En Social Services. Today this is a model of excellence known throughout Japan. Hannah Riddell was an Anglican missionary who saw the terrible plight of person’s afflicted with Hansen’s disease. On a chance encounter she experienced lepers begging for mercy as she visited the tomb of Katou Kiyamasa, a historical Japanese war hero. From that encounter she dedicated her life to changing the plight of these people.

Missionaries are very special servants of God. Their spiritual depth and passion to share the Gospel as living servants to the “least of these” has been an inspiration to Bob and Chris. They pray that these few words might convey some of the inspiration to you.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben