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In the summer of 2008, God created in my heart, a
deep passion to reach Japan with the Gospel. As the
Chairman of the OMS Holiness Executive Council, I
spent two weeks in Tokyo to discuss with the Japan
Holiness Conference the possibility of receiving
one or two pastors from Japan for our Nichigo
(Japanese speaking) congregations in the US.
During my stay in Tokyo, I spoke to a sociology
professor/pastor, Saito-sensei. He briefed me about
the various societal ills, issues like suicide clubs
that would bring people together to commit suicide
as a group, the divorce rate, the mental challenge
of depression among many Japanese, and the social
recluse syndrome known as “Hikikomori.” I also
learned for the first time that out of 127 million (at
that time), less than 1% are Evangelical Christians.
Some people “love” the Dodgers, the Angels, or the SF Giants, or maybe the Lakers, etc. I personally love JAPAN. God touches people differently when it comes to having a deep burden and passion for the lost.
glass window. At that point, I started to weep.
Uncontrollable sobbing overcame me. It was
actually rather embarrassing, but I could not
stop myself. My heart ached as I saw my non-
believing relatives on the other side of the glass.
Thankfully I was able to regain my composure
before I reached the customs area.
Rick Chuman, JEMS Executive Director
Greetings from JEMS!
Truthfully, even though I had been a pastor of a
predominantly Japanese American church, I had
never heard of all these things happening in Japan.
My relatives took me to Narita airport so I could
fly back to Los Angeles. While descending on an
escalator, I waved good-bye to them through a huge
My heart ached as I saw my non-
believing relatives on the other side
of the glass.
God used those two weeks in Japan, and that
experience at the airport to prompt me to leave
pastoral ministry and become the JEMS Executive
Director. Who says a short-term mission trip isn’t
life-changing! Since then, God has grown JEMS
from 3 full-time missionaries to the current
38 career missionaries. This summer, we had
58 short-term missionaries in Aso, Hokkaido,
Nagoya, Toyohashi and Tohoku. God had a special
plan for JEMS these last ten years. Now that I am
in my 10th year at JEMS, I am prayerfully asking
the Lord what He desires us to focus on next.
We want to expand the care of our missionaries
and seek additional staff for the growing AACF
Campuses and Pacific Northwest ministries ,
including the other domestic programs such as
our Senior, Nichigo, Sports and Music.
I definitely covet your prayers. Please continue to
pray for JEMS. I know that JEMS started because
of prayer and the support of many pastors and
their churches. This reality continues today.
Thank you for your partnership with us.
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Royden Toma, Japan Missions Director
In John 4, it is recorded
that Jesus “left Judea and
departed again to Galilee.
But He needed to go through
Samaria.” I love this story of
Jesus stopping off in Samaria
where He encountered the
woman at the well. This
woman was an outcast in that
community.
She said, “I know the Messiah is
coming (who is called the Christ).
When He comes He will tell us all
things.” Jesus told her that He is
“the living water” from whom she
would not thirst again. This woman
came to realize that the person
she was talking to, was indeed the
Savior of the world and the forgiver
of sins. She went back into the town
and told the people. John 4:39, 41
says, “And many of the Samaritans
of that city believed in Him because
Look at the Field, for they are Already White for the Harvest
JAPANMISSIONS
“Behold, I say to you, lift up your
eyes and look at the fields, for they
are already white for the harvest!”
As they looked at the people
approaching, I imagine it was like
Billy Graham looking at the crowd
during an altar call at one of his
crusades.
As I reflect on this passage, I am
reminded of God’s goodness and
provision. There is a great harvest in
Japan and in the world. God is “not
“Behold, I say to you, lift up
your eyes and look at the fields,
for they are already white for
the harvest!”
of the word of the woman who
testified... And many more believed
because of His (Jesus’) own words.”
Jesus then said to his disciples,
JOANNA TIEN
LILY SUZUKI
SARAH PARK
Retired teacher, widow, mother,
grandmother, great grandmother, and
JEMS missionary in Amakusa
(2005 to present)
I am also thankful for Sarah Park
who is finishing her last year of
college and is raising support for
her mission in Nagoya. I am thankful
for those that have left children,
grandchildren, and even great
grandchildren to share the love of
Jesus Christ in Japan. I am thankful
for our 37 missionaries who brought
along their 25 kids to follow the
call from God to GO. I’m thankful
for the hundreds of people that
partner with us financially and in
prayer to send these missionaries
into the harvest.
wishing that any would perish, but
that all should reach repentance”
(2 Peter 3:9). I am thankful and
blessed by the faithful servants that
have answered the call go into the
harvest. I am thankful for Joanna
Tien, who graduated from college
last year and is now in a one-year
missionary term in a small town
in Kyushu called Aso, and has the
desire to go anywhere in the world
to church plant where there is not
a church.
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FROM BR A ZIL
Brazil National CoordinatorPastor William Maki Suzuki (pictured with PJ and Pastor
Rick), has been pastoring in the Brazil Evangelical Holiness
Church since 1988. He is currently the senior pastor of the
São José dos Campos Evangelical Holiness Church, an hour
north of São Paulo city.
Pastor Maki has been married to wife, Katia since 1991. Katia
has her theological formation at Londrina Biblical Seminary
Institute (ISBL). She served as a pastor until marriage and
has since served jointly with Maki in a pastoral capacity.
They have four children.
In addition to his pastoral role, Pastor Maki serves on the
interdenominational Evangelical Pastors Federation of
Brazil (FENB), networking with leadership in various Nikkei
denominations in the country.
On September 7th of this year, Pastor Suzuki was officially
recognized by the Holiness Church of Brazil at its General
Assembly to serve as the JEMS National Coordinator in Brazil.
We are happy and blessed to have Pastor Maki serving with
JEMS. He will continue to serve as the senior pastor of the
São José dos Campos Evangelical Holiness Church. Please
pray for the responsibilities he will assume.
New and Ongoing Ministries in South America Rev John Katagi, Director of South America Missions
FROM ARGENTINA
Letter from Guillermo HokamaGuillermo Hokama, senior elder of the Iglesia Evangélica
Japonesa of Buenos Aires writes: Last Friday our dear friend,
Pastor John Katagi visited us again traveling from Paraguay
and Brazil.
Despite his state of health and the dialysis to which he is
subjected, he was with us providing leadership training on
Saturday morning and instilling a vision for joint ministry
activities in the future together with the Evangelical Holiness
Church of Brazil. On Sunday he ministered the Word of God
to both congregations, in Japanese and in Spanish through
interpreters.
SOUTH AMERICA MISSIONS
LEADERSHIP TR AINING AND JAPANESE WORSHIP SERVICE
Spheres of Influence Jon Liu, Director of AACF (College Ministries)
AACF
All Christians are on mission. As disciples each of us have
received the Great Commission from Jesus Christ, “Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19). We
have been called and are sent to proclaim the Gospel to the
corners of the earth. You can be light in the neighborhoods
and in the communities where God has placed you. Think
about your spheres of influence; where can you make an
impact for God’s glory?
College is a significant disrupter. It pulls young people out of
their comfort zone and places them in a whole new world: new
city, new people, new schedule, new found independence,
new challenges, and new opportunities. Outside their comfort
zone, these college students test (affirm, adopt, amend, and
abandon) the values they were taught. Part of the ministry
of AACF is to help these young people align their values with
Scripture, with the true Gospel. AACF wants young people to
become a disciple of Jesus Christ; we guide them to embrace
the truth of the Gospel. This is AACF’s sphere of influence.
Our mission is to proclaim the gospel on the college campus
so that people’s lives will be changed; we want to educate
and equip them for service and witness in their spheres of
influence. God has placed them in a new sphere to impact
them and their new community.
In recent years God has been expanding AACFs’ spheres of
influences. In the last three years, God has blessed us with
four new chapters: USC, UW Bothell, CSU Northridge, and CSU
Fresno. We are currently at 20 AACF chapters, representing
nearly 700 students. God has connected us with ministries in
Japan and Hawaii. In the last two years we have sent 10 short
term teams to Japan, including Hawaii, to serve churches
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and ministries overseas. Each new AACF chapter represents
students, campus ministers, and local churches who have
responded to God’s call to make disciples. Each ministry or
church that AACF works with overseas is an opportunity to
make an impact in a new sphere. Two of our short term team
members have committed to spend a year in Japan: Joanna
Tien (AACF UCLA) has started her yearlong commitment and
is currently serving in Aso. Jocelyn Leung (AACF UCSB) is in
the training and fundraising process to serve for a year in
Sendai. Pray for them as they continue step outside of their
comfort zone to do ministry in a different country that has
so few Christians.
Who has God placed in your life to so that they can hear and experience the Gospel
through you?
It is exciting to see God grow and deepen of the ministry of
AACF. God is asking us to go beyond our comfort zone: to go
overseas, to continue to pioneer and plant ministries, and
to continue to develop partnership with local churches and
ministries. We are better together. Together, we bring glory
to God.
Who has God placed in your life to empower you? Who has
God placed in your life to so that they can hear and experience
the Gospel through you?
You, our prayer supporters have empowered us. You’ve
emboldened us to continue to do the good work which God
has prepared for us. Many of you are also generous donors.
Your sacrificial gifts have allowed us to provide our staff
and students with resources such as training to be more
effective for Christ on their college campus. Thank you for
empowering us to reach the college campus with the life-
changing message of Jesus Christ.
as I trust. Knowing in whom my hand is held– He is hope,
strength and assurance.
I have not walked this path alone, but with travelers
with a shared heart and purpose. Beloved companions
together we journey with Christ. I am grateful for your
friendship, prayers, gifts for support and living out the
gospel together. What a privilege to have taken that first
step, a walk, that has turned to years and now decades.
This is life as God intended together with God the Creator,
the Risen Lord Jesus, and the promised Holy Spirit in the
company of the ever-increasing Family of God. To God
be the glory!
“Now faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of
these is love” I Cor. 13:13
In His grace,
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST MINISTRIES
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ – this is my last entry
for the JEMS Journal as I complete my service as the PNW
Regional Director for JEMS and AACF at the end of 2019. I
have come to love the labyrinth as a path for prayer. I will
use its design to capture my thoughts and heart.
The journey is a privilege – to take that first step…to
breathe, smile, cry, and sigh, to listen, express, wonder
and hope. It is a journey in – moving toward the center.
Slowing down and becoming aware of self, meaning and
call. Thoughts and feelings emerge as one ‘communes’
with God in this sacred space. Once at the center –
“Stop. Rest. Be.” I am re-centered with God. With mind
stilled and heart wide open - to listen and receive gifts
of peace, assurance and love. The eyes of my heart gaze
toward the heavens -the eternal things. Fresh winds of
the Spirit meet me as I bow down to kneel for the fields
of the harvest. Arise, begin again, one foot in front of the
other - journey out. Stepping forward with a lighter load
Labyrinth Walk at Warm Beach 2019Rev. Carolyn Shimabukuro
v
Is it...• Not in running condition and you don’t need it?
• Attached to many fond memories and occupying space?
• A car you wanted to restore, but you haven't had time?
When you donate your vehicle to JEMS, you choose which ministry or fund to donate to. Includes free towing and processing of DMV paperwork!
Vehicles donated and sold on or before Dec. 31 may be claimed in 2019 taxes!
Extend the life of your automobile!
2019—2020
JEMS Event Calendar2019
October 6—December 8
WINTER BASKETBALL LEAGUEStevenson Park: 17400 Lysander Dr, CarsonThere are 3 leagues each year. Email: [email protected]
December 7, 4:30pm
SOCAL FEDERATION— JEMS NICHIGO CHRISTMAS GOSPEL CONCERTFaith United Methodist Church: 2115 West 182nd Street, Torrance
2020
2020 SOUTH AMERICA MISSION TEAMS(1.09% OF THE POPULATION IS ASIAN)
Team composition may be made of church teams, campus ministries, or assembling a team of interested individuals.
Interested? Contact Rev. John Katagi: 213.613.0022Email: [email protected]
Join Our Elite Group!
The mailing of 10,000 JEMS Journal is very expensive. Partner with us to save trees and postage costs! JEMS is also asking those on our international mailing lists to join our email family for JEMS newsletters, prayer letters and event notifications.
Thank you very much, JEMS
February 20—22
19TH ANNUAL RJC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE“Let Light Shine Out of Darkness”
Calvery Chapel La Habra: 1370 S Euclid St, La HabraRegistration: www.RJCNetwork.orgInfo: 916.698.8336
Speakers: Pr. Noritaka Kunisawa, Texas Int. CCPr. Makoto Fukuda, Grace City Church, Tokyo, Japan
April 4
JEMS CO-ED VOLLEBALL TOURNAMENTLong Beach City College Gymnasium4901 East Carson Street, Long Beach
Registration opens: February 4, 2020.Registration forms: jems.org/general-eventsRegistration deadline: March 16, 2020 Full registration: 25 teams, 5 pools
June 28—July 4
MOUNT HERMON CONFERENCEFamily Camp and Nichigo Camp Jr High, Inter High, Sr High, College
and Special Camps
Registration: Opens end of January
An easy way to
support our ministries!
[email protected] 213.613.0022
Email your information to: [email protected](and save a tree)
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God has blessed many of us financially. God also desires
that we be stewards (managers) of those finances. God
desires that we re-invest his blessings into Kingdom
work. He wants us to accomplish the Great Commission
(Mt. 28:18-20). JEMS is actively doing this here and
abroad. Currently, we are creating a giving campaign
which will multiply your donation to directly impact our
missionaries in Japan, our ministries in South America,
our AACF student leaders and the Mount Hermon
summer conference. Please be in prayer to see if
God would desire you to participate in this year-end
investment. More information to follow!
Year-End Investment Opportunity…