|
Tohoku Relief |
feature
In June I made my fourth trip to the
disaster-hit Tohoku region. I have been partnering with TEF (Tokai
Evangelical Fellowship) in delivering relief supplies and seeking to
minister to the hearts of earthquake-tsunami victims.
In June our team of eleven came alongside a small
Baptist church in a town called Kessenuma assisting them in outreach to
their community. Actually, the Kessenuma First Baptist church was
destroyed by the tsunami that struck on March 11. Structurally speaking,
the only thing that survived was the floor (see pict.). Even Pastor
Minegishi barely escaped with his life. However, soon after the tsunami,
one of the believers felt compelled to turn half of his print shop into
a place of worship and a center for outreach.
While I was there, our primary ministry was serving
people from the community who came to the print shop to relax, enjoy
some refreshments and just hangout. I took my guitar and played praise
music softly in the background. As I engaged people from the community
in conversation and as I talked with my fellow teammates, we sensed an
openness. People were ready to share their stories. Later we also
learned from Pastor Minegishi that 3 people have come to Jesus through
this type of ministry! They are now attending the Kessenuma Baptist
church.
Last week I made my fifth trip to Tohoku. Pastor Tanaka
(who we are partnering with in Nagoya) and I traveled to Tohoku to meet
with our Alliance missionary colleagues Harry and Jane Landaw to dream
and discuss how our Japan Alliance Mission can partner with the Japan
Alliance Church in assisting disaster victims with a view to potential
long-term church planting ministry in the region.
contributed by Alan Kropp
8/18/2011
This article excerpted from "Kroppuccino" -
a communique from Alan and Jill Kropp. You can read the entire
newsletter
HERE.
|
