husband follows Christ | news .jpg) Hideji Iwai followed Christ in baptism on Sunday, February 26. We met Hideji 3 years ago. His wife, Takako, is a believer and Sunday school teacher in Sengendai Church. Immediately we began praying with Takako for her husband's salvation.
Hideji grew up in a rather secular home. He claimed no religion, but like most Japanese, when in trouble he would go to the Buddhist temple or the Shinto shrine and pray for help. When his wife met Christ, the change was dramatic. Hideji witnessed this and so was not opposed to Takako attending church. He would even drive her to church and pick her up after church. A quiet guy, he seldom said more than "hello," and we found it difficult to get to know him. About a year ago, God provided the opportunity we were looking for: Hideji said he wanted to study English with us. We began getting together on Friday nights for English and a short Bible study. Hideji listened politely to the what we said about Christ, but was personally uninterestedly. He considered Christianity "just another religion." Then, in late spring, God used a tough situation in Hideji's life to show him his need for Christ. His attitude toward the Bible changed, and we began to study it seriously. Late last fall, Hideji gave his life to the Lord. At his baptism, he gave testimony to God's work in his life. "When I read in the Bible, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick... I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.` (Matthew 9:12-13, NIV) I realized that I was a sinner and needed the Savior." - David & Evangeline Kindervater JAM missionaries, living on the northern side of Tokyo read more of their letter here | 
