Mrs. Nagai baptized | news  “The doorway of Sengendai Church was to me like the gate to the sheepfold,” Mrs. Kumiko Nagai said, as she explained how God has led her to Himself.
On July 24th, exactly one year since Kumiko first stepped through the doors of Sengendai Church (C&MA), Kumiko was baptized, giving testimony to her faith in Christ and to His transforming power. As she shared in her testimony, when she stepped through the doors of Sengendai Church for the first time, she was walking in complete darkness and despair, searching for some light. Several years of physical illness and emotional pain had left her without hope and wanting to die. In the hospital, weak and unable even to dress herself or brush her own teeth, she looked for a way to die. But even the ability to take her own life eluded her. At the advice of her doctor, she was taken from her home in western Japan and brought back to her parent’s home near our church to recover. After months of lying in bed, she finally gained enough strength to walk a short distance. Wanting some fresh air, she decided to take a walk outside. She walked down the main street of Sengendai, taking interest neither in the people she passed nor in the store windows – just walking. It was then that she looked up and saw the sign on our window: “Sengendai Christian Church.” For a moment, she stood staring at the sign, and then as if in a time-machine, she was taken back to a day 31 years ago – a day she had not thought of since. She was a high school student and a friend invited her to a Christmas part – at a Christian church. The building was small and shabby, the people were few, but as she looked around the room, she saw a face that she recognized. It was a classmate from elementary school. Kumiko and Ken had gone to different junior highs and so she hadn’t seen Ken since elementary school, but he stood out in her memory. She remembered him as “plain, but kind. Somehow different.” Something about him was very attractive to her and she felt safe around him. That night she realized the Ken was a Christian. That was 31 years ago. Now, in the midst of her pain, that memory which had been lost all these years was brought back to the surface as she stared at the church window. Something inside made her want to go in. Something made her think that perhaps of the millions of god in Japan, perhaps this God could help her. As she turned to walk home, she began singing, something she hadn’t done for months. The song she sang is a song that, to this very day, she has no idea where she leaned. It is a song that children sing in Sunday School here, a song that sings of the greatness of Jesus even in painful times. The next Sunday, Kumiko made her way to the worship service at Sengendai Church. She didn’t understand the sermon; she didn’t understand the prayers; she didn’t know what to do at the offering time, and she felt awkward when the service was over. And yet, something – or Someone – drew her back the next week. From that day on, Kumiko continued to attend Sengendai Church and God continued to cause the seed which was planted 31 years before to grow. By Christmas time, she knew that she could not live without Christ, and gave her life to Him. It has been incredible to watch the Holy Spirit transform Kumiko over the past months, giving her hope and a desire to live. She has an understanding of His Word, far beyond that of a one-year-old Christian. She has taken in the Word and it has taken root in her heart. If only Ken and the pastor of that little church knew what God has done in the life of Mrs. Nagai, they would be greatly encouraged. They may never know. Kumiko doesn’t know where the church was or where Ken might be today. Some day, however, they will receive their reward. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NIV) |
