A Letter from CLC Missionaries in Japan

Tokyo, Japan
January 1, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The celebration of Christmas has now been completed in Japan for 2003. The weather was good and the turnout for Christmas Eve was quite large. Christmas is always our biggest evangelistic effort each year. It is the best occasion to invite non-Christians to a Christian worship service, because Christmas is so widely observed in Japan. It is very much like Christmas is observed in America, with only a slight reference to the Church and Christianity. But it is observed, nevertheless. And many people receive the invitation to celebrate Christmas at the churches positively.

So Mahlon put a lot of effort into passing out fliers for Christmas celebrations at Kamata Church this year. He stuffed mailboxes during the week before Christmas. And on Christmas Eve, he spent most of the afternoon handing out fliers at the nearby train station. Unlike other occasions, making such efforts at Christmas really seemed to get positive results. The turnout was very large, and Mahlon found himself greeting many people at church whom he had encountered at the train station that afternoon.

In our June newsletter, we wrote about Hiroya Yokota, age 14, from Kamata Church, who would be taking part in a work camp experience organized by the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church and our missionary organization. He returned from America reporting a wonderful Christian growth experience. He was one of 13 sent this year. He gave a wonderful presentation about his experience to a gathering of Kamata Church's Sunday School. Please remember Hiroya and the 12 others, that they may grow in their faith walk with the Lord in these coming years. We are planning on sending 16 this year to Colorado for such an experience. Hiroya's mother, who is not baptized yet, is actively recruiting other youth in our area to apply for next year's program. Please remember this program and others of our missionary organization in Japan. You should have received by now a pamphlet outlining some of the program that the Japan Lutheran missionary organization in Japan is involved in around the world, in Brazil, Bangladesh, and in India.

In recent months, Mahlon has been preaching mostly at churches other than Kamata. He has been at either Yokosuka Church or Yokohama Church nearly every Sunday. But Kamata Church is still his base of operation where he works during the week. Even though Kamata Church's home page is in Japanese, there are English portions. You will also be able to enjoy the photos and the music. Please take time to check out the activities of Kamata Lutheran Church. The home page address is as follows. http://www.geocities.co.jp/jelckama/churchfiles/church_kamata_e.html

We thank you for your prayers for the Church in Japan just as we are praying for the Church in America and America's leaders.

We pray for God's blessings and guidance for you and your churches as you begin 2004.

In Christ,

Mahlon & Nancy Bekedam  bekedams@da2.so-net.ne.jp
2-6-7 Tama-cho
Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0002
JAPAN

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