Christian

'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume 84

January 1985

Number 1

PATTONS' NEWS
SATURDAY BIBLE
tising and promotion of the camp work.
He will be going to the churches and presenting a program on the camp. The continued program for evangelizing among the community will be a first in the yearly plans too. Again Mr. Patton and Mr. Taninari attended a local community meeting at the first of the year. Each one gave a personal "hello" to the others. Mr. Taninari was asked to give a small speech at the meeting. We are glad to
witness for the Lord on these

SCHOOL

camp season attendance (not counting the December 1984 Christmas camp). The Ohio Singers III highlighted 2 of the camps. Also the summer study camp was a first for the camp and will be repeated in 1985 also. This time the emphasis on language will not be English, but Japanese as the highschoolers wrestle with it.

Shinshu Bible School Christmas pro^am.

(Andrew has his cold mask on.)

occasions. Two of the community men came to the Christmas candlelight

service on December 25th for which we

The Saturday Bible school group that meets at the camp building each week presented a Christmas play on
December 22. The students had

were very glad. May God's message continue to reach their ears through us. Betty Patton

rehearsed well beforehand on Sunday

afternoons for the occasion. Printed

personal invitations were given out to the homes in the neighborhood. One mother and a grandmother joined the 27 children for the program.
Mrs. Taninari directed the bell choirs

ANNUAL CAMP MEETING

After lunch at a nearby restaurant, the meeting continued and the 1985 camp schedule and financial report and budget were completed. Six regular camps are scheduled for 1985. The English-Music and Study camp will be combined August 5-9. It was suggested that the camp try to purchase a larger freezer-refrigerator for the camp kitchen. But upon inves tigation the prices werej'ound to be too high and the size too great to get into the building. Also added electrical lines would be needed. The plan to enclose the large viewing platform on the second floor of the building was discussed. Hopefully the government of the area will give us permission to do
so in the future. But due to strict

in

Christmas

songs.

gift

of

homemade cookies and card thermom

eter with scripture verse was given to each child. The famous "Martin, the Cobbler" story was presented by film and tape. The Japanese government has awarded the author of the story recognition and it is quite popular here in Japan. The program was a first in the camp building and in the community. We pray that it will be a yearly event with more and more becoming a part of it and hearing God's message of
salvation.

Members of the Shinahu Bible Camp advisory

board that met Nov. 23.

earthquake laws for building codes, this might remain a dream. We ask that you pray with us and for the work in Japan that Shinshu Bible Camp will continue to be a tool of evangelism for all the churches within the 350 mile radius-Tokyo-OsakaNiigata cities. Also that it will be a witness among the neighborhood here
in Innai.

The second annual meeting of the

Shinshu Bible camp leaders and
advisors was held at the Harold Sims'

Betty Patton

Betty Patton

home in Tokyo on November 23 {Japanese thanksgiving day and a legal holiday in Japan). Ten of the thirteen members were present. Mr. Paul Pratt was conducting an anni versary meeting at his church and
could not attend. Andrew Patton and Mrs. Leone Cole were in the States on that date and were absent.

BIBLE CAMP NEWS

The Sakurayama church group weathered the chilly breezes of winter and gathered at the Shinshu Bible camp for their retreat on November 3-4. Their group was small and the time they could spare was short but all seemed to enjoy the time of fellowship together. A breakfast of hotcakes and sausages was served at the Patton home for them by the fireplace which added to the warmth of the meeting. Preparations for the Christmas camp were made early in the Fall and before Andrew's departure to the States. But upon his return he was

JANUARY AT CAMP
The Pattons and the Taninaris are

already preparing publicity to be sent to the churches about the camp and camp schedules for 1985. The copier
that we leased in June of 1984 has assisted us greatly and will be most helpful at this time. Mr. Taninari is

A month by month report of work and camps was given by Betty Patton.
Comments were made and discussed

using our Japanese typewriter to print the original copy. We are very grateful for his help at this time with the adver

about the 1984 camp season. It was noticed that the regular camps had an increase in attendance partially due to the Missionary Annual meeting held at the camp. A total of 402 campers and 28 teaching faculty made up the

suffering from jet lag and a sinus cold and had to turn most of the responsi bilities over to Mr. Taninari, except for the 2 classes Andrew taught in the
mornings. To add variety to the program this year, a bell choir was formed with Betty Turner, Penny Boggs and Mr. and Mrs. Taninari. They played for the campers each night of the Christmas
camp.

of

the

team

members

were

not

Christians. However, they studied the

first 2 chapters of Acts very well and were very competitive during the quiz. We hope we can continue to create an interest in this type of Bible study in
future camps.

Since the camp began on December 25, the main feature that evening was a Christmas candlelight service. Again the neighbors and the Saturday Bible school children were invited to join in
also.

Nineteen campers, 4 teachers and 3 kitchen helpers made up the camp this year. We were glad to have 3 couples as campers this year - all were over 60 and grandparents, but all entered into
the activities with the younger generation.
Andrew Patton

In the afternoons the campers made crafts from supplies that Betty Turner
had had on hand from former DVBS in

BRIEF TRIP TO U.S.A.

As executor of my father's will I have

America. The finished products were beautiful and were carefully packed to take back home and hang in their
rooms.

Andrew Patton, for the first time.'As a matter of fact, on that trip I was able to see all 4 of our grandchildren - Sandy and Adam Scheurich, Zachary and James Andrew Patton (Noel's sons), all four of our children, and all 8 of my brothers and sisters. Our sailor son, Stephen, spent a week with me in North Carolina and Georgia before returning to Charleston where he is stationed. Our other sailor son, Philip, spent one day with me in Joplin before my departure for Japan that evening. So I feel blessed in having been able to meet all my closest relatives, at least once, while I was in the States. While in Joplin, I was interviewed over radio station WOBC for an hour, spoke to a missions class at Ozark Bible College and served as guest speaker at the Christmas program at
Fir Road Christian Church of which Chris and Sharon are members. Also I visited the Iron Gates Church who

Betty Turner also gave the camp a first. The story ofthe "other wise man" was told with puppets with the help of Kensei Yokomizo manning the slide projector for the story's background and a camper from the Turners' work helping maneuver the puppets with Betty. Some of the background slides were taken by Bill Turner on his trip to the Holy Land. The puppets and stage had been brought to Japan several years ago by Milton Jones but only recently have been put to use> The puppets and stage have the camp for their new home and we pray that we will be able to make good use ofthem in relating the Word of God to others.
Another new feature to most of the

felt for some time the necessity of my returning to the States to take care of some legal and family matters related to the division of the real estate left by him. Therefore, a 35 day trip was planned and I reached Atlanta on November 15. (The expenses for this trip were not taken from Mission
funds.)

support our work regularly.

I also was able to meet Bill Owens

several times in Joplin. He is a student

at OBC, is interested in becoming a

missionary to Japan, and is planning on spending the summer of this year with us in Japan as an intern. Bill was
converted while in the Navy in Yokosuka and we learned to deeply

While I was in the States a great deal of progress was made toward a division of the estate, but much remains to be done yet. I have placed the responsibility for the remaining
work to be done in the hands of one of

my brothers, so that there should be no necessity of another trip by me to take

care of those affairs.

campers was a Bible Bowl on the last morning of the camp session. Ques tions were prepared in English by Andrew while he was in the States, sent to Betty at the camp to be typed up, and were later translated by Paul Pratt and a few university students who were here at the camp. Two hours each day were given to each team to study and prepare for the final quiz on the 28th, just before returning home. Most

After finishing as much of that business as possible, I travelled on to Missouri to visit with daughter Sharon and family. While there I saw our two brand new grandsons. Chris and Sharon's pew son, then 3 months old, is named Adam Christopher Scheurich. I babysat him some while Sharon worked during the pre-Christmas rush. Our oldest son, Noel, wife Jamie, and 4
week old son who live near Oklahoma

love and respect him when we were ministering in Yokosuka. Bill needs some financial help on his coming trip to Japan and if youxan assist him in that way please send your offering to: Bill Owens, Ozark Bible College, 1111 N. Main St., Joplin, MO 64801. My return flight was delayed due to fog and snow at the Seattle airport. I arrived back in Tokyo at midnight
December 21 and arrived at Shinshu

Bible Camp the next morning at 8:30 a.m., just a few hours before the Saturday Bible class had their
Christmas program. My trip to the States was an

City visited us at the Scheurich's home in Carl Junction, MO over a weekend and there I saw my namesake, James

enjoyable one but needless to say I'm glad to be "home" and at my work
again.
Andrew Patton

SIMS' NEWS
MIKAWASHIMA CHURCH CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
Last October 10, the Mikawashima Church, where we lived and worked during our first years in Japan, cele brated the 60th anniversary. The actual dates could not be located in any records we have, but it is certain that the beginning was a tent meeting in that community by a group of zealous young Korean Christians during the fall of 1924. There have always been a lot of Koreans living in that area of Tokyo. Some of them had contact with Mr. W.D. Cunningham through English Bible Classes, and asked for
his financial assistance, which he

gave. Later on, one of these young men

became the leader of a number of

and Mrs. Lee (Japanese name: Ueda) who had a rubber shoe and boot factory
in back of their small house and were

churches
II.

which

Mr.

Cunningham

established in Korea before World War

making a good living in those difficult days. Mrs. Cunningham and Mr.
Owen Still asked me to work with this

During the war the whole area, including the church building, was bombed out. Not long after the war
ended a man came and built a factory

group, which we enjoyed for a number of years.

The man who had taken over the

on the land formerly owned by the

Yotsuya Mission, but a few of the

former members began gathering on

Sunday afternoons in the home of Mr.

Mission land bought us another lot in exchange, and during 1949 a small building was erected there. I preached through an interpreter in Korean language in the morning and in

'Japanese language in the evening.

Later on several different Korean

preachers have served the church. Because of full-time preaching commitments here at Mejirodai and
the distance we have not been able to

EVANGELIST MEETING AT MEJIRODAI

This year our evangelistic meeting was held October 12-14. The preacher was Bro. Satoru Taninari, the popular manager of our Shinshu Bible Camp. Many of our young people have become acquainted with him at camp, and this year the emphasis was placed on young folks. The most encouraging thing about the meeting was seeing the way our relatively small group of young people worked distributing 5000 handbills throughout the neighbor hood and bringing their friends to the services. On Friday night we had 23 present, in spite of cold rain. Saturday night there were 31, and then on Sunday night we had 50, which was
our best attendance ever at an evan

attend a worship service there for over 15 years, although we have gone a few times for weddings, visits or business on weekdays. And we have kept in touch with some of the people through letters once or twice a year, etc. When
we received the invitation to the 60th

Anniversary we were happy to notice that it would be on a Japanese holiday when we had no classes, etc., and also a weekday, so we happily made plans to
attend.

Of course during the passage of years there have been several changes of ministers and membership and there were many new and young faces in the standing-room only crowd. But we were happy to see many familiar faces and be honored with front seats, mentioned in the history of the church and a part on the program. One of the highlights of the day was the
ordination of 2 new elders of the con

The Mark Pratt family and some of their church people in a live manger scene which they did

gregation, and it was a special joy to me to realize that they were both baptized by me as school boys about 34

gelistic meeting. Nine people attended all 3 nights, and during the meeting 6 other people were in church for the first time. We enjoyed having the Taninaris (married last April) as guests in our home during this time.

during the Christmas season in an empty lot

adjoining their church and home. It faces one of

the main streets of the city, and attracted a lot of

attention. There were spot lights, and music and

words were broadcast over a loud-speaker system. The program lasted about 20 minutes. Animals were made of cardboard, except for the sheep
which were their children.

CHRISTMAS

AT MEJIRODAI
"Christmas" is one of the big events of the year for us. Maybe we place too much emphasis upon it, but we enjoy it, and we feel we have helped many ofour neighbors to catch some of its meaning and spirit and thus prepared the ground for the further facts of the gospel. Preparations begin in October when Lois buys things for our children and grandchildren living in the U.S. and packs "care packages from Japan." During November we always send out a letter of family news and greetings and also begin practicing for the Sunday School program. Every December day is full, as we have many special parties for Home Bible Study groups, English Classes, etc., and also have to prepare for these as well as the Sunday School program and church programs, including carefully counting through attendance records for the prizes to those who came most times. Lots of leafing through catalogues from Christian Book stores and purchasing. This year all of the special church
activities were crowded into 3

everyone had to sign up in order to order the lunches, and added a new sparkle to it by having each one who received a gift then stand and call out
the name of the one he had drawn and

then personally present the gift. YJsurged them also to write a personal card of good wishes inside the gift. We
had a new record attendance of 65 adults and 25 children for the 5 hour

time of worship and fellowship. Many

of them don't have Christmas in their

homes, so for them, this was it. The next evening at 7 PM we had 44 people for our Christmas Eve Candle

Inside of Mikawashima church just after

ordination of the 2 new elders.

years ago.

About 20 years ago this church incor porated and became financially independent of the Yotsuya Mission. They have not only paid the preacher, but built and paid for a very nice
building which is one of the few churches with a stained glass window

in Japan.

For the 60th anniversary

they completely renovated the older parsonage and added a couple of

classrooms. There was an article about this church in the November issue of

Mejirodai

beginners

with

hand

bells

at

Christmas Program Dec. 25.

the Japanese language Billy Graham

Org. paper, "Decision". Personally, I

regret to say they have decided to become somewhat "interdenomina tional" in practice about communion

wonderful days. On Sunday Dec. 23rd we had our special worship service,
followed by Kentucky Fried Chicken

and membership, but I do rejoice in the

faithfulness of some and what has
been done in the name of Christ in that

box lunches, followed by a program participated in and enjoyed by both

children and adults -- various musical

lower middleclass Korean neighbor hood of our city.

Harold Sims

numbers and some short talks, trying to have as many families and age groups as possible participating, followed by a gift exchange. This year we drew names in advance, since

Candle Service at Mejirodai.

Service, which is becoming a tradition. On Christmas Day all of the neigh borhood schools got out for the winter
vacation at noon. An hour before

starting time at 2:30 PM some of the children were here, and we had about 70 people, including all regular Sunday
School students and teachers and 14

camp. I had only a minor part on the program, so it was sort of relaxing for us. It snowed on the final day, so I had to put on chains to start the trip home, but we made it back to Tokyo OK.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley BAttray (retired) Forwarding Agent; Mrs. Lois Hessler, PO Box 287, Meadville,
PA 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 571-1 Innaihara, Mochizuki Shi, Kilasaku

RALLY AT MINATO
On the last Sunday of 1984 a large number of people from our area churches gathered at Minato Church for a Fifth-Sunday Rally. The program included a "Last Supper" Communion Service, and a father whose son had passed away some months ago after a 17-year battle with multiple sclerosis, gave a very moving message about his and his son's emotions, experiences
and lessons learned about faith and

Gun. Nagano Ken, Japan 384-22.

Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs. G.

mothers for the 2 hour program. Each department had a different thing, and it was in general well performed and enjoyed. Prizes were given to all children (40) who had attended more than half of the Sundays during the year, and special prizes, including medals in Olympic style, were given to the top 3. It was a thrilling time for the
kids.

Wade

Fletcher,

Rt.

6,

Box

15,

Rushville, IN 46173. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7

Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193 Forwarding Agent: First Church of Christ, Orange at Center
Japan.
St., Eustis, FL 32726.

Two year subscription

Subscription and

$.50 $1.00

Flaminfi Torch
Tokyo Christian
(No. 776-37U)

After all had gone home and things had been straightened up from the Sunday School program we called our
children in the United States -- it was

the morning of December 25th there and enjoyed short visits with them. Then we said as we always do, "It was the best Christmas we have had yet." The following day we drove up to the Shinshu Camp where 5 of our young people were attending the Christmas

life and God during this time. They took care of him in their home, and the young man knew of his approaching death from the start, but determined to live each day to the fullest and left some very good poems, etc. Also a movie about the same subject has been
made and was shown before the

Published four times a year in January, April, July, and November

for the missionaries of the Church of

Christ. Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan by Mission Services, 7.'>2r) Hodfies Ferry Koad. Knoxville, TN 37920. Second Class postage paid
at Knoxville. TN 379U1. POSTMASTKR: Send address changes to Tokyo Christian, c/o MISSION

message to introduce it to the people.

SYNOPSIS OF CHRISTMAS SERMON

Preached by Harold Sims at Mejirodai on Dec. 23, 1984.

SP^iVlCKS. PO Box 2427. Knoxville,

TN 37901.

Introduction: It is good to ask ourselves occasionally why we do customary things. Many Japanese don't know the meanings of some holidays. I. If we celebrate Christmas just for any of the following 3 reasons then we should examine ourselves and our reasons and perhaps not celebrate.
A. Just to follow tradition.

We need not throw out good.and meaningful traditions, but it.would be le

gitimate to question whether such traditions as the tree, Santa coming

down the chimney, etc.. are of any meaning for today. B. Just to enjoy a festival. All Japanese enjoy festivals, and there are many throughout the year. The feeling of relaxation, togetherness and fun is good, but the drinking and worldly pleasures associated with them should not be mixed in with "Christmas spirit". The original meaning of "matsuri" (festival) in Japanese has definite religious associations. The Chinese ideograph is composed of an altar at the bottom and meat and a hand on top. But weak
humans tend to treat that aspect of a festival lightly.

03

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C. On the other hand I don't believe Christians should withdraw into a ghetto mentality and make "Christmas" for insiders, Christians, only. Japanese
society is spiritually empty often, qnd is open to learning how to have a meaningful Christmas.

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II.Then why do we celebrate Christmas?

A. It is an act of God.

B. It is God humbling Himself and becoming a man. It is the Divine breaking through into man's world and history. C. Jesus, born in Bethlehem that day, is the Savior, Christ, Lord. These things being facts can always be celebrated, even in the darkest times, be cause the truth does not change.
III. Then how should we celebrate?

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We may take some clues from the text. {Luke 2:6-20) 1. With singing, worship (v. 13, 20) We should plan, sponsor, and participate in all kinds of musical programs.

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Already the "Messiah" and Beethoven's "9th Symphony" are being played in many places all over Japan during December. Let us have more Cantatas etc. to the glory of God.
2. With offerings like the Wisemen

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Already in Japan there are campaigns by newspapers, TV stations, etc. to help the starving in Ethiopia, etc. Christians should take the lead in this type of thing, and in teaching the children the unselfish spirit of giving
and thankful spirit in receiving. 3. With efforts for peace on earth (v. 14b) We should renew prayers and efforts for this great goal yearly. 4. In spreading the gospel message (v. 17) The population of the world is increasing and many have never heard. This is a good time to tell the gospel facts in drama and other ways.

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Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume 84 Number 2

April, 1985

SIMS' NEWS
"EVENTFUL EASTER" AT MEJIRODAI
We will never forget the just finished
1985 Easter season. he had wished.
situation.

1. On April 1, we drove out to Narita

Airport to meet and welcome our daughter-

7. On Resurrection Sunday morning we 8. On Resurrection Sunday afternoon had our traditional 6 AM sunrise prayer we were among a group of several hundred
meeting with 8 people present. Several of who stood under umbrellas in a cold rain

in-law for a 3-week visit. Background: See

other news notes in this issue.

In 1970, when we built the new church However they did make a key decision building and our dwelling in Mejirodai about the upward limit of cost we should from the proceeds of the sale of part of the contemplate for the project. This small Nakano lot and the house we had lived in group of only 2 Christian couples, 16 for 16 years, there were only funds enough housewives, 5 widows, 2 working girls, 2 work. for a 1-room (18x24 ft.) chapel that seats 50, College, 3 High School and 4 Jr. High 3. On April 4 our church took its turn of and the entrance hall. As the Sunday School students committed themselves to guarding, hosting and explaining the School grew larger, we needed more "up to 40,000 dollars". This was very exhibition to visitors all afternoon. Lois classroom space. In 1973 we put up a low- encouraging to me. and Jeanne took some time to wander cost prefabricated 18x12 ft. building in our During the fall the architect drew up through the store - one of the best sight yard. Through the years since it has been another and cheaper plan for a 1 story seeing experiences. well-used, but the floor and roof had extension connecting to our entrance hall 4. On April 5 we had a missionary deteriorated badly during the past 2 years and using just a little more yard space than prayer meeting, with meditations on the 7 and all were agreed that the time had come the pre-fab. The cost of this, plus some words uttered by Jesus on the Cross and to build something more substantial and expensive replacement of a cracked good talk. There were reports that 4 make room for more growth. concrete wall in front of the church which baptisms were to be held on Sunday in had been condemned by the city, would be different places, and 3 other young people about 30,000 dollars. This was had expressed very definite interest and unanimously approved on Thanksgiving near decisions as a result of the recent Sunday, and a good offering was received. spring camp. Later, after hearing about this and some 5. On April 6 Lois and I attended the consultation, the church in Eustis, Florida wedding of Nakagawa's oldest son. sent 10,000 dollars from our Sims Tokyo Background: This young man's mother Mission funds as an interest-free loan. All and sister are members. His father was of the church people were very happy and discovered to have cancer last August and encouraged by this. With our previous was given only 3 months to live. The son savings, and special offerings and this quit his job with another company and loan we will be able to complete the project.
came to take over his father's small iron

2. On April 2 I drove a pickup truck to downtown Tokyo to pick up 5 large wooden crates and then helped to unload them in our Hachioji Daimaru Department store in late afternoon. Background: These 40 large pictures of various places in the Bible Lands were made several years ago by one of the most famous photographers in Japan. This is the 10th year the department store has cooperated with the Hachioji churches to hold a community wide Easter service on the roof of the store, and this time they gave us space for a oneweek exhibition of these pictures. 1 have a license for driving middle-sized trucks and buses, so was asked to do this part of the

them gave thanks that Mr. Nakagawa had for the roof top service. lived until the wedding, as the whole 9. On Sunday evening a High School church had made that a matter of prayer girl was baptized here. She was unable to for several weeks. When we got home from come in the morning, but wanted to be that we received the message by phone baptized on Easter. that Mr. Nakagawa was dead. Our 10. The young couple had to cancel their worship service later that morning took on honeymoon to help with preparations for much added depth and meaning as we the funeral, but everyone has been deeply related the great and precious promises of impressed by God's timing. God's word about eternal life to the present Harold Sims

MEJIRODAI CHURCH BUILDS ANNEX

interested in our project, and after many talks and drawings came up with a plan for weaker and thinner. a 2 story rebuilding of the front part of the 6. A few days before the wedding, Mrs. church which would give added Nakagawa asked us to take our polaroid auditorium space when needed and camera to the wedding so they would have another 2 classrooms and office upstairs. some instant pictures of it to take to This plan and the estimated cost was "Papa" who was waiting in his hospital presented to the people here at a special bed. They got to the hospital Sat. night congregational meeting on Sept. 9, 1984; about 10 PM, and he looked at all the but the majority of the members thought pictures, holding them close to his eyes. By the cost was too high and the money we midnight he was gone, and within minutes would need to borrow would mean month his eyes were donated to the "eye bank" as ly payments above our ability to pay.

working business. In October he and a nice girl had their engagement ceremony at church, with Mr. Nakagawa attending. Soon afterthathere-entered the hospital. I have been visiting him every week as he battled his disease -- sometimes seemingly making progress, but lately growing

The prefabricated classroom used 1973-1984.

Early in 1984 we began talking to an

architect in the area whose wife is a close friend of one of our members. He was

At groundbreaking Jan. 20, 1985.

At 10 AM on Jan. 20 (between Sunday School and Church) we had a simple ground breaking ceremony. (The ground was frozen and literally had to be broken.) The bad winter weather delayed construction some, but we are planning a dedication on Pentecost Sunday. The new annex is 52 square meters in

to have him suddenly appear after 5 years and nine months absence for college Study
and employment in the U.S. Danny is here at company expense, but

if
Raising the frame Feb. 13, 1985. size. It will have a small kitchen and a church office and 2 classrooms that can be

they scraped together some money and

were able to get a discount ticket for Jeanne to come to Japan for her first visit. After getting her passport and visa, she arrived in Japan on Apr. 1, and we are enjoying having her stay with us for a few days until Daniel finishes his company Building takes shape March 15, 1985. responsibilities. Then they will take a few fellowship hall. The Japanese Christians days of vacation and spend a little time visiting around Tokyo during cherry are insistent on naming it Sims Hall.
Harold Sims

opened

together

for

an

allpurpose

blossom time.

This is the fulfillment of

Daniel's lifelong dream.

Harold Sims

GROUP OF JAPANESE CHRISTIANS TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES THIS SUMMER

Plans are in the final stages for a group of between 20 and 30 of our Japanese brethren to make a brief visit to our country. The group will be mostly mature

WHEN IN ROMANS

people who have been Christians for 20 or 30 years, including 2 or 3 preachers. several elders and their wives and some others. Harold and Lois Sims have been involved in the planning for this for over a year, and will go along with them. The Christ, Cincinnati, Ohio. Stayatdormiidea originated with Mr. Kobayashi, who tory of Cincinnati Bible Seminary, is a "retired" but still very active July 8: Tour of Cincinnati area -- Stanbusinessman and an elder in the Minato dard Publishing Co., Mt. Healthy Church of Christ. Two families of that Christian Home. Fellowship with church are now living in New York City Clovernook Christian Church,

For over 10 years Harold Sims has been giving lessons or sermons on "The Life and Letters of Paul" every first and third July 5: To Washington, D.C. Tour. Visit Sunday at Mejirodai. It is a once in a with Minato member. Stay in Hotel, July 6: To Williamsburg, Virginia Tour, lifetime project which he enjoys very Stay overnight in homes of members of much. We began studying the great epistle Northside Church of Christ, Newport to the Romans on Sept. 20, 1981 and finished on March 17, 1985. The date we News, VA. July 7; Morning Worship and lunch at began was given to me by one of the ladies Northside Church. Evening Service and who takes notes every week. One of the supper at Western Hills Church of most appreciative and eager listeners who
never missed one of the Romans studies

brought me a custard pie as a special gift to

celebrate the conclusion of Romans. Now

and Washington, D.C. on 3 year business July 9: Fly to Los Angeles. Attend openassignments representing their companies ing session of North American Christian in Japan, and Mr. Kobayashi and some Convention, Anaheim, CA other folks sort of promised to go and visit July 10: Return flight to Tokyo.
them while there. Then he also wanted to see personally some of the American Christians and their church life. The purpose ofthe trip is stated in the following way in the printed brochure prepared by the travel agency and distributed among our churches here in Tokyo and in some other parts of Japan. "In 1883 the first of our missionaries set foot in Japan. Since then many missionaries have been sent to Japan and dedicated themselves to preaching the gospel of Christ. Now on the
occasion of the Churches of Christ

we move to the final chapters of Acts and then to the prison epistles - I can't die or retire yet, because there are still many great passages to go through.
Harold Sims

We hope that as many of our readers as possible will take any opportunity you have to visit briefly with this group. Their English language ability is limited, so speak slowly and in simple, short sentences. The impressions fixed in the minds of this group of leaders will have effects on the work of Christ and His church in Japan for years to come. We ask that you join us in prayer for the success of this adventure in cross-cultural communication and Christian fellowship,

KUME-KUBOTA WEDDING
We have mentioned the name of Kubota

entering the second century of evangelism, some of us Japanese Christians want to make a friendship visit to the American churches, the mother body, and express our thanks. We plan to stay in the homes of Christians, attend part of the North
American Christian Convention, and do

DAN AND SIMS VISIT

Saki in these pages previously. She is wellknown and popular throughout Japan as a song writer, especially among young working people. Her hit song titled "Gentile" was one of the top-ten in Japan for a period of time. Four years ago she chanced to come by our Mejirodai Church on Sunday evening when we were having a singing group called "Kentucky Harold Sims SonShine" performing here. She had been looking for a Baptist church located in this area of the city, but continued to come here. At the end of our fall evangelistic meeting JEANNE in 1981 she was baptized into Christ, and
has been an active member of our church
since. She is also active in a small club of

One early morning in mid-March we some sightseeing. Please join us in this." were surprised and overjoyed to receive an The travel plan, in brief, is as follows: international phone call from our youngest June 29: Leave Tokyo 8:10 PM and arrive son, Daniel, saying he would be arriving in in San Francisco 9:55 AM. Stay in Japan on March 20. He is now employed in homes of members of First Christian the design division of Chrysler Corp. They are connected with the Mitsubishi Church, Napa, CA June 30: Morning worship and lunch at Automobile Company here in Japan, and First Christian Church, Napa, CA. Eve since Daniel still retains quite a bit of his ning worship and stay in homes of Japanese language ability he was chosen members of Central Christian Church, as one member of a team being sent to Japan for several weeks on business San Jose, CA. July 1: Tour Silicon Valley, San Francisco between the 2 companies. We have not seen much of him, since he is very busy and area. Stay in Hotel. July 2: To Niagara Falls by plane. Stay in staying in the city of Okazaki where the Mitsubishi plant is located. But he was Hotel there. July 3: To Toronto by bus and New York here for the weekend of March 24, and calls City by plane. Stay in Hotel. us about every other day to talk a while on July 4: Tour of New York City. Visit with the phone. The Mejirodai church members Minato member. Stay in Hotel. and our neighbors were more than thrilled

Kubota Saki in Japanese wedding kimono

peoplfe in the world of arts and show business who are Christians. Every first Sunday of the month she plays the organ for our worship service, and she attends every Sunday when she is not asked to give a concert some place. One day she brought a friend to church to attend a wedding of one of our church girls who was her friend. It was the first time this young man had been inside of a
church or heard a word from the Bible. He

engagement was carried in most weeky band that accompanied her when she-did magazines geared to young readers. records, concerts and various public It was my privilege to perform their appearances. wedding on March 16, and it was also Things took their normal course. (1) interesting to see the dress and hair-dos of They fell in love. (2) He took an interest in some of the people who attended the her Christian faith. He was baptized here reception. Because of his job they have to last October 21, and that same month they live closer to the center of Tokyo, but plan
was introduced as the leader of the small

announced their engagement.

to attend church here at least once a

Sims

He is the second son of a very well-known month, and as often as possible. actor in Japan, so news of their Harold

PATTONS' NEWS
the film will use that film free of charge first baby. Their son put in his appearance indefinitely. Those who do not participate on February 23 and they named him We were just certain that our second in the plan may use the film and give a Shuichi (which means the Lord is first). handed car purchased in 1976 justcouldn't monetary gift to the library. All receipts Soon after his mother, Kaoruko, and be so old that we could not renew our will be used to buy new films, service the Shuichi came home from the hospital her insurance on it for a two year period films on hand and etc. A rapid delivery parents arrived from Okinawa to visit instead of a one year renewal and put it service, similar to UPS in U.S.A., is them. Mr. Fukuyama spent about a week through inspection. But the insurance available to all 4 main islands ofJapan. At with the Taninaris but Kaoruko's mother company informed us differently just a few present we will be sending out films to 3 of stayed until April 3. days before time ran out on us. Putting the these 4 islands. The highest cost for car through inspection each year after the delivery service is about $4.50 one way. 10th year meant twice the cost of maintain The cost to rent the film from the ing it " in other words about $600 to get it audiovisual company is $24 per showing o.k.'d each year instead of $600 for two plus the delivery fees. So this service that years. So soon we were out looking for an we want to render to our churches will be a other vehicle. Fortunately, we found a new great money-saver in the long run and help Nissan Bluebird with only 328 kilometers to get God's message out to the people. on it. It had been returned to the agency There are a lot of responsibilities and because the driver found no time to drive it work involved in this project, but we are and enjoy it. It is a small station wagon willing to shoulder these in order to make and suits our needs very well with front films available for the use of our churches wheel drive that helps us get through the in Japan. We believe this is a worthy snow. But we really feel that our Toyopet project and we encourage our brethren would have given us another 10 years of both in Japan and America to participate service easily had it not been for laws of the in it. land and we would not have had a guilty We have also investigated the price and Shuichi Taninari born to Mr. & Mrs. Taninari, feeling of throwing away something good conditions for the use of video tapes and useful. Andrew Patton recorded in Japanese. As yet the price our co-workers at camp.

GROWING OLD

FILM LIBRARY STARTED

In March Betty and I launched out on a
new venture. There are some 16 mm films

seems a bit prohibitive for us and the

included in the film library. However, some missionaries have purchased the Genesis and Luke series, a total of 33 tapes. We, the Pattons have only purchased 4

Our first camp of this year lasted only one day (March 20-21) but that was a bit restrictions for their use after being earlier than in previous years. Snow was purchased are too strict we fear to be still on the ground and it was cold. We had
no cold water in the bath as we had failed

to find one water valve to open as it was

buried beneath a few feet of snow in the

stored at Shinshu Bible camp and they are not being well used due to lack of management and advertisement. Recent ly a new Japanese film for children thru Jr. High has been made and is being leased in Japan. The advertisement for this film gave us the idea of performing a new service for our churches, missionaries, and preachers in Japan. We proposed starting a film library at Shinshu Bible Camp. We sent out publicity to our missionaries in Japan (and to those on furlough) including a questionnaire on whether the respondents wished a film library and inquiring as to whether they
would share in the cost of the first film. We

tapes of the series for our personal use here things went well. in the camp, Bible School and for home Twelve persons attended the first camp. teaching work. These were purchased with
One was a

back of the building.

Other than that

memorial gifts given in memory of language school for missionaries at Dorothy Schmale, Clovernook Church at Karuizawa where the Juves attend Cincinnati, Ohio and Betty's aunt, Mrs.
Ruth Warner of the Eaton, Ohio church.

teacher in the Japanese

Our set of tapes cover the first 11 chapters Taninari was in Taiwan at the camp of Genesis only. convention. But before evening on the 21st

language school. All the responsibilities of the camp work fell on our shoulders as Mr.

the place of preaching and teaching, but the camp was cleaned and ready for the next camp on the 26th. they are great helps. Andrew Patton

We know that audio-visuals do not take

Our second camp was the annual Spring

SHINSHU BIBLE

Students' camp March 26-29. We had 18

were encouraged by the 20 replies we have CAMP NEWS received, most of which are favorable to Finally trees are budding and fiowers both propositions. Some of the replies included the permission for us to list their are beginning to bloom. Warmer weather is personally owned films with the camp welcome after a cold winter. We had 6 library's increasing the present list snows in 2 weeks in March and we are a bit greatly. Mr. Don Burney, on the island of tired of shoveling snow at Shinshu Bible Shikoku, will be sending about 30 Camp. The summer camping season and Cathedral films to the camp library. The our busiest time of the year is not too far Julius Fleenor family and Mrs. Leone Cole ahead and perhaps at that time we will be are listing their films with the camp's longing for cooler weather! We especially tried to keep the road into which will give a great variety for all to the campground clear of snow during use. In purchasing the first film the idea is February due to the expected birth of the that all those who share in the expense of Taninaris' (our fellow workers at the camp)

full time campers and 2 visitors during that camp. The staff who served this camp
were: Mr. Taninari (Dean), Harold Sims

(speaker), David Cole (speaker), Leone

Cole (teacher and cook), Andrew Patton (teacher of O.T. and cook's helper) and Betty Patton (chief cook). Mr. Kishimoto
and Mr. Imoto from Tanabe church and

Mr. Ito (another university student) helped Mr. Taninari with other phases of the camp work. One girl camper made a
confession of faith as a result of the camp.

Betty and I tried a new plan to help

increase the attendance of the Spring

Camp. We offered a scholarship to one student in each church represented at the

camp. It resulted in our assisting 2 GUESTS campers with full scholarships and 10 Recently we have had several guests at other campers with partial scholarships. It was a well planned camp and we pray Shinshu Bible Camp and in the camp that there will be more fruits as a result of house. More visitors plan to visit us soon or the teaching received by the campers. One during the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Hiroaki Sato, who minister boy celebrated his first spiritual birthday as he was baptized at camp last year to the Sakurayama church in Tokyo, their 2 daughters and nephew spent one night at during Spring Camp. A rental camp is scheduled for April 28- the camp during Spring Camp. Following 29 as workers receive Monday, April 29, as Spring Camp Mark and Lynn Pratt, their 3 a holiday due to the Emperor's birthday. children, Lynn's folks from Kentucky, Mr. May 4-6 is another 3 days of holidays and Mrs. Lusby were guests overnight. On April 2 Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Gordon of and the annual Family Camp is planned for those days with Mr. Itagaki, minister of California were escorted to the camp by the Nakano Church, as dean. We are Julius and Virginia Fleenor. A Japanese looking for a full camp that week as many meal cooked at the camp table was enjoyed from the Tokyo churches will be coming. by them and Mr. Taninari, Mrs. July 15-20 is the annual work week camp Fukuyama (mother-in-law ofMr. Taninari) here. The interval between May camps from Okinawa and her daughter who is a and it will be used to prepare the school teacher on the outskirts of Tokyo. In the past issues of the Tokyo campground and building for the busy camp season. We are looking forward to a Christian we have informed you that Bill successful and fruitful summer at the Owens of Kokomo, Indiana and now a camp. Andrew Patton ministerial student at Ozark Bible College, will be doing his internship in Japan this

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray (retired) Forwarding Agent: Mrs. Lois Hessler, PC Box 287, Meadville,
PA 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 571-1 Innaihara, Mochizuki Shi, Kitasaku

Gun, Nagano Ken, Japan 384-22. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs. G.
Wade Fletcher, Rt. 6, Box 15, Rushville, IN 46173. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7

Mejirodai, Hachiuji-shi, Tokyo 193 Japan. Forwarding Agent: F'irst Church of Christ, Orange at Center St., Eustis, FL 32726.

Two year subscription

Subscription and Flaming Torch
Tokyo Christian (No. 776-370)

$.50
$1.00

Published four times a year in January, April, July, and November

for the missionaries of the Church of

Camp will be his headquarters during that time and from here he will be visiting other missionaries and their work in Japan. He Attendance at the Innai Church School plans to be in Japan for about 3 months. has decreased recently due to various As Bill was in the Navy and stationed at reasons. The public school year ended in Yokosuka in the past, Japan is not March and the older children graduated unfamiliar to him but mission work in this from primary school at that time. Spring country is. Bill has a view of possibly vacation time gave the opportunity for the becoming a missionary to Japan. children to participate in activities with Velma Held of Davenport, Iowa, is a lady their families which compete with the who is well-known to a number of people
Church School.

INNAI CHURCH SCHOOL

summer.

Our home at Shinshu Bible

Christ. Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan by Mission Services, 7525 Hodges Ferry Road. Knoxville, TN 37920} Second Class postage paid
at Knoxville, TN Tokyo Christian, 37901. c/o POST

MASTER; Send address changes to

MISSION

SERVICP:S, PC Box 2427, Knoxville.

TN 37901.

As of April 2 school was in session again and we hope that our Bible school students will return to the classes here at camp. Some students have graduated into Junior high school and from May will be
unable to attend our Bible School on

involved in missionary work. Several years ago she was stationed in Japan as a
school teacher for the U.S. Armed Forces.

Saturdays. Therefore, we have planned a Junior High Bible Class to be held on Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:45. Wor ship services will follow from 11:00. Pub licity materials are being prepared and
will be distributed to invite others to the

new class. Flexibility is a requisite for having a Bible class here. In the future an overnight stay at the camp is being planned for fourth graders on up. Also a graduation ceremony is planned for one student entering the 7th grade and for 3 kindergarten students entering the first grade. At present Mr. Taninari is teaching pre schoolers until his wife is back teaching regularly. Betty filled in 2 weeks for Mr. Taninari while he was away on business. Andrew is teaching all elementary students at present. The Sunday morning class for Jr.-Sr. High students will be shared by Mr. Taninari and Andrew. We ask that you pray fervently for this work among these young people here in Japan. One of our co-workers in a nearby city has 2 high school girls studying the Bible regularly but without their parents' consent. One other girl had to drop the class as she told her parents she was studying the Bible. Hopefully the parents as well as the young people will present themselves to be taught the perfect way of Christ. We pray that doors will open for the message to be taught and enter the hearts
of the lost. Andrew Patton

She is now teaching in her native state of Iowa. Recently she informed us by letter that she wished to revisit Japan this summer. She said, however, that she did not wish to return to this country as a guest of missionaries, but desired to perform something helpful to missionaries while here. We will gladly use her services and are sure other missionaries to Japan can use them, too. Tim Turner, son ofBill and Betty Turner, also wishes to spend another summer in Japan this year in mission activities. At

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present he is a ministerial student attending Atlanta Christian College. He will help in the work of Shinshu Bible Camp again this year during work week in
mid-July. His girlfriend will also ac company him to Japan and will be a guest of Tim's parents during the summer. She and Betty Turner also plan to help at the camp during work week. All of our guests are welcomed and we appreciate the assistance to our work. On April 3 a missionary from Australia was given a tour of our campgrounds by
Mr. Schone who is the head of Internation

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Andrew Patton

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Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume 84

July 1985

Number 3

PATTONS' NEWS
SHINSHU BIBLE CAMP
By the end of May the Shinshu Bible Camp had ministered to five different camp groups already. Among them were our Spring Camp and our "Golden Week" Camp (May 4-6). The other three were groups to which we rented the camp
facilities.

We were happy to hear that one of the young ladies who attended our Spring Camp has decided to be baptized. She is
from Usuda where David Cole ministers.

Her parents have given their permission for her to be baptized, which will take place as soon as she is taught further. Our "Golden Week" Camp (Family Camp) this year was one of the best of its
kind we have had. There is a cluster of

holidays every year in the week from April 29 to May 5 and for that reason workers have dubbed it "Golden Week." Taking advantage of this time of leisure, we invite

donated to the camp. Food and lodging are free. On August 3-4 the church at Nagoya, Mr. Yuse, minister, will use the camp facilities. On August 5-9 a combination Homework, Music, and English camp will be held. On September 10-12 a University and Youth Camp will be held. All the other camps (5) scheduled during the summer will be rental camps. The following jobs should be finished before the summer camp season begins. (1) the Oriental Historical Study group of The interior of the camp building will need which he is a member. Mr. Sato had earlier to be thoroughly cleaned. (2) Thepaintjob conducted them on a trip to the Holy Land now in progress (outside) will need to be and at this camp they exchanged pictures finished. (3) The tennis court will need and other mementoes from that trip along further leveling and then must be lined. (4) with the Biblical information in God's The Softball diamond, volleyball court, Word. and vespers area will need to be mowed, the The summer schedule for Shinshu Bible volleyball net hung, and vespers seats

the people to camp and feed them spiritually. Mr. Itagaki, minister of the Nakano church, was dean of the camp and was assisted by Mr. lijima, minister of the Minato church, and Harold Sims, minister of the Mejirodai church. Nine of the churches of Christ were represented during the camp. On May 27, 28 Mr. Fumio Sato, minister of the Kamiochiai church in Tokyo, used the Shinshu Camp facilities for a camp for

Camp follows. On July 15-20 a Work Camp repaired. (5) The underbrush among the
will be held, during which time work is trees will need to be cut. (6) Ground should be prepared and grass seed sown in one

place.

(7) A drainage ditch should be

cleaned out and widened. (8) Further cleaning of underbrush needs to be done. A tiller to prepare the dirt tennis courts and for other odd jobs has been purchased for the camp. Before the rainy season came, the courts were worked over by the

tiller, all the stones and rocks removed,

and the court rolled once. Since then we have been unable to work on the courts due
to the wetness.

A missionary has sent enough money to

provide a scholarship for a needy camper

who could not afford to attend camp

otherwise.

This scholarship will be

provided for one such camper in our youth camp in August. All youth who attend camp in the Spring will be given a discount
on their camp expenses if they attend another camp in the summer or Christmas
Mr.F. Sato(far left) leading a Bible study atcamp in relation to a tour of Bible lands.
camp.

MISCELLANY
On April 24 a general meeting of the
trustees of our "Zaidan" was held at the home of Harold and Lois Sims. The Zaidan

is our property-holding corporation which is recognized by the Japanese government. These annual trustees' meetings, followed by detailed reports of proceedings, records,etc., are required by the government. The trustees are: Harold and Lois Sims, Andrew and Betty Patton, Mark Pratt and
Jonathan Sims.
The formation of the Shinshu Film

Library at Shinshu Bible Camp is completed and the films are being loaned
to our churches and missionaries. Recent

ly, a gift of $113 has been received in

Memory of Brother W. Chapman. This money has been set aside to help buyfilms for Shinshu Film Library. On June 30 a 5th Sunday Rally was held at the Sakurayama Church, Tokyo for all of our Tokyo area churches. Even though heavy rain due to a typhoon was falling 50 people attended the program. A1 and Rhonda Juve, who are preparing for missionary work in Kyushu, graduated from Japanese language school at Karuizawa on June 28 after two years of intensive language study. We are happy to

Fifth Sunday Rally at Sakurayama Church June 30. (Members of the host church giving a
music special.)

see another Church of Christ missionary baked cake and cookies. Then they asked couple join in the work of those mission us to join them in partaking of the refireshments they had prepared. aries already here. The parents of Al Juve and his brother In June our church school students on a day off from school came to the camp and visited the Juves in Japan in May. To get

On May 19 a meeting at the Yokosuka convention. The Pattons will remain at the Church, giving formal recognition of camp to prepare for the camp season and Kensei Yokomizo as the minister of the minister to a camp July 23-25, a University church, was held. Between 45 and 50 Bible Club Camp. Miss Velma Held, an Iowa public school people attended the meeting. At that time the Pattons rejoiced to see several of their teacher and formerly a teacher for the former Sunday School students. Kensei Armed Forces in Japan, will return to graduated from Osaka Bible Seminary in Japan for a visit from July 14-August 16.
While here she will assist missionaries, In June Virginia Fleenor with some of attend the missionary convention, and her children, grandchildren, and guests, help at Shinshu Bible Camp. visited the Shinshu Bible Camp to observe the work being done. On July 10 A1 and Rhonda Juve will visit a few days with the Pattons and will help Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray with the camp work during their stay. (retired) Forwarding Agent: Mrs. The All-Japan Missionary Convention Lois Hessler, PO box 287, Meadville, this year will be held in Tanabe, PA 16335. Wakayama Prefecture on July 22-24. The Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 571-1
March.

A1 and Rhonda Juve - Graduation Day at Japanese Language School.

acquainted with Al's relatives we took all 5

of them to the lava beds at the foot of Mt.

Japanese convention will immediately

follow the missionary convention, being held on July 24-26 in the same town. Bill
Owens and Velma Held will attend the

Asama for an outing. On another day we

took them out to a restaurant and then

gave them a tour of our campgrounds and an overnight stay.

missionary convention and Mr. Taninari with his family will attend the Japanese

Innaihara, Mochizuki Shi, Kitasaku Gun, Nagano Ken, Japan 384-22. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs. G. Wade Fletcher, Rt. 6, Box 15, Rushville, IN 46173. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7

Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193 Japan. Forwarding Agent: First Church of Christ, Orange at Center St., Eustis, FL 32726.
Two year subscription,$.50 Subscription and

Flaming Torch
Tokyo Christian (No. 776-370)

$1.00

Published four times a year in

January, April, July, and November
for the missionaries of the Church of

Christ,

Cunningham Mission,

Tokyo, Japan by Mission Services,

7525 Hodges Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN 37920. Second Class postage paid
at Knoxville, TN 37901. POST

MASTER: Send address changes to Tokyo Christian, c/o MISSION SERVICES, PO Box 2427, Knoxville,
Mr. and Mrs. Taninari teaching cooking in camp kitchen with Bible Class students, June 3.
TN 37901-2427.

BILL OWENS IN JAPAN

Formerly we made mention of Bill Owens' intentions to spend this summer in Japan as an intern. He is in his junior year at Ozark Bible College and is interested in being a missionary. The purpose of his visit to Japan is to observe the work being done and to help him decide on his future work for Christ. He already has some acquaintance with Japan, having been stationed at Yokosuka, Japan, being baptized at the Yokosuka church and attending the English services and Japanese services when in port. Bill arrived at Shinshu Bible Camp on
May 24 and since then he and Andrew
have been hard at work on the Since Bill arrived he and Andrew have

worked on the following projects at camp.

First we viewed and checked the condition

of all of the films in the film library and

catalogued them. Next we rewired our puppet stage and installed new lights in it. Later a small plot of ground was cleared and grass seed sown there. We scraped the rust and old paint offthe 3 metal stairways to the camp building and are in the process of painting them (with rustoleum and paint) and the beams under the building. We built a new backdrop for the ball diamond. Part of the plowing and leveling
of the tennis court has been done. Another

sink and work table in the camp kitchen

have been raised to make them more comfortable for the dishwashers and

campgrounds. The heavy rains of the year's severe rainy season have hindered the work some but it is still being accomplished.

workers. The fluorescent lights and their covers in the camp building have been cleaned. A walkway is being built out of concrete slabs. We hope to accomplish much more during work week when others
will be added to our work crew.
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During June Bill helped to hand out handbills twice announcing Bible studies on Saturdays and Sundays for school students. While visiting A1 and Rhonda Juve, Bill visited a day of classes at the Japanese language school to form an idea of some of the things involved in learning the Japanese language. At this writing Bill is a guest of the Paul Pratts in Isehara and is observing missionary work and methods used by Paul and son Mark Pratt in reaching the Japanese for Christ. We hope that he can also visit other mission
aries and their work for Christ while he is

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in Japan. We thank each one who prayed for his

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coming and helped him to reach here with your monetary gifts. He has helped to
relieve us of much heavy work and has afforded us a time of fellowship in the Lord.
Bill Owens working on top wooden deck at Shinshu Camp building.

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Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume 84
November 1985

Number 4

SIMS^ NEWS
YEARLY CONVENTIONS
This year our conventions were held in Shirahama (White Seashore), a popular and scenic beach-resort area in Wakay ama Prefecture across the bay from Tanabe City. One of our strongest churches was established there shortly after World War II by two zealous young men who had become Christians while studying at colleges in Tokyo, gone to the battlefields
in China and returned to their homes

Several sermons preached by Bro. Darrell Boston of Kansas were much appreciated. Most of the missionary messages were brought by our second-generation, of whom there are quite a number among us. The afternoon of July 24 about half of us
moved to another hotel in the same area for

planning the evening recreation. One girl was baptized during the camp. She is from the town of Usuda in Nagano
where M/M David Cole are starting a new

the Japanese Convention. There were a total of 258 at this one, and again much of did. Mention should also be made of thehard the leadership and preaching was done by younger men. It was an encouraging time work of M/M Andrew Patton, Mrs. Leone of discussion, fellowship and teaching. On Cole and Mr. Taninari in the kitchen the middle day most of us enjoyed a guided without which the camp couldn't have bus tour to an old pirates' cove, rode a been a success. glass-bottomed boat and saw most places " Harold Sims of beauty in the area. By going both ways by plane we were able to be at Mejirodai both Sundays, July
21 and 28.

work, and the first fruit there. She almost decided at the spring camp, so wanted to be baptized at the summer camp so her friends could rejoice with her, which they

safely. Veteran missionary Ruth Schoonover died there while helping them get the church and kindergarten started, and Vivian Lemmon who is now 82, hardof-hearing and crippled with arthritis and being lovingly cared for by the Japanese Christians, has lived and worked in the area for over 30 years since her friend Ruth was called home to glory.

TAMURA TOMOE
BAPTIZED

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Harvect

The missionary convention was held July 22-24. It was mostly planned by Vivian but led by David Hinson, who had just recently returned from a year of furlough in the U.S. We met in a nice modestly priced hotel on top of a hill, operated by a large Japanese company mainly for their employees' use. There were 45 (counting children) missionaries present, and 8 guests from various places

In Machida City, just south of Hachioji and also part of Tokyo, there is a school August 5-9 at Shinshu we held the called "Obirin" = "Beautiful Cherry-tree second camp in which we help the students Forest." The rather unusual name is taken with their school summer assignments in from Oberlin College in Ohio, where the Mathematics, English and Japanese (this founder of the school spent some of his for Jr. High students only) during the college years long ago. This large private mornings, have teams playing softball, school has classes from kindergarten volleyball, ping-pong, tennis and other through college on its rather large campus. recreation during the afternoons and then A number of Japanese Christians serve on enjoy singspirations, Bible messages and the faculty, and M/M Paul Pratt and Mark indoor recreation such as Bible Dramas Pratt have taught English Bible there for during the evenings. This year we took a several years. Many students from our hike to the top of a steep mountain during area attend that school. It is noted for one afternoon, and less than a week later a having a strong H.S. baseball team. Japan Air Lines 747 with over 500 people Every year all first year High School on board crashed into the top of one of the students there receive an assignment to mountains that could be easily seen from attend a church one Sunday during the there. summer vacation and write a report about Mark Pratt and I made plans for this it. The area churches all receive a letter year's camp, and knew the names of some from the school explaining the purpose of of the people planning to come, but we were this and requesting cooperation. Sure very surprised to find many more there enough, on Sept. 1, the day before classes than we had expected when we got there. resumed, we had 3 High School girls There were four 7th graders, four 8th visiting here for their first Christian graders, seven 9th graders, eight 10th worship experience. graders, three 11th graders and two 12th Two years ago Tamura-san entered graders. Also there were 10 University Mejirodai church for the first time under
students and 5 adults as well as 6 students the constraint of this assignment.

STUDY CAMP

She from San Jose Bible College who were began to attend sometimes after that. She seeing Japan for 3 weeks this summer as was very quiet, but came occasionally to prospective missionaries. The Japanese some of our young people's gatherings. In

young people came from

7 different

the

summer

of

1984

she

attended

Japanese churches. Christian camp with school friends and We had 10 faculty members, including A1 began to take a more active interest in

Japan and was leading the student group

in the U.S. who were in Japan on visits coinciding with this fellowship gathering.

Hammond who used to be a missionary in Bible and church. She went to that camp again this from the U.S. and Velma Held who used to summer, and on Sept. 1 said she would like

teach in U.S. Dependents' Schools and was to be baptized into Christ on the 22nd, revisiting Japan after 20 years. She helped which was the day before her 18th in the kitchen a great deal and also with birthday. Later she talked with her

her father, mother and sister and 4 of her There havebeen many rewards. There are
classmates from school were here to

parents, and all of us were very happy that mistake or that it has been a waste of time,
few regrets. Perhaps the greatest lesson I

witness this important step in her life.

-- Harold Sims

have learned is that God alone is able to convert the Japanese, and that He can and

is doing it in His time and way.

-- Harold Sims

1945-1985
In the spring of 1945, as I was a Senior in Atlanta Christian College thinking and

FIFTH SUNDAY RALLY AT MEJIRODAI

. fl 5

praying about what I should do with my life, I finally decided to accept Mrs. Cunningham's invitation to go to Japan as a missionary. The war was not over then,
so I made application to enter the

i -n

Sept. 29 from 3:30 - 7:30 PM 80 adults and student for September. I moved from 5 or 6 children packed into our small chapel Atlanta into the old dormitory at CBS building for a good time of fellowship. In about the first week of August. In the late spite of a cold rain they came from 10 of our afternoon of Aug. 15 I had finished my churches scattered over the great "scholarship work" for the day and was metropolitan area. Some traveled over 2 outside getting ready to go up the street for hours one way, changing trains several supper when all the train and factory times, to get here. Each person paid a little over 3 dollars whistles opened up to celebrate the end of for supper. Most of the money received was World War II. I stood there looking over the city and river and thinking some long paid to a caterer who brought in 80 round thoughts about what might lie ahead of plastic bowls of steamed rice and roast chicken. We supplemented this with hot me.

Cincinnati Bible Seminary as a graduate

Jonathan Sims and Kensei Yokomizu in front of Yokosuka Church May 19.

wedding will be held in Osaka (the bride's home town) on Nov. 23.

The bride-to-be is Yoshie Hirokata, an

active member of one of our churches in the

Osaka area and a niece of Dr. Sato, an elder of our Sayama church in the Tokyo area.
She is working as a computer programmer at present. We all wish the young couple God's richest blessings as they serve the
Lord together.

and total poverty and ashes and rubble in hosting this tour group last summer

about this 40 year passage of time on both blue grapes. Our ladies did a good job of sides of the Pacific. I don't think I have serving and cleaning up afterwards, using anything new or of great significance to our new kitchen and facilities dedicated say that has not already been said, but last May very well. The program was a report on the tour of since this period exactly corresponds to my adult life I have done my share of the U.S. by 20 of our folks early last July. reminiscing. Certainly the obvious things Five of those who went made 20 minute are true. 1. It has been a long time. Then I speeches about various aspects of the tour, was single. Now I am called Grandpa by 7 and all included some humorous incidents people. 2. It has been a time of great so that those who didn't go could enjoy and changes and progress. Then there were benefit from the trip. Also one hour of8mm only propeller driven airplanes, radios and movies was shown from among those typewriters. Now there are jumbo jets and taken by Mr. Kanamura who took pictures space shuttles, color televisions and videos every day. This was interspersed with and word processors. 3. It has been a time enthusiastic singing of some great hymns. of peace for Japan, and a generation of During supper everyone enjoyed a short peace is a blessing to any people in any time of visiting with each other also. We just wish those of you who had a part time. From defeat in war, near starvation
could have been here to hear their wonder

This year there has been much comment green tea, rice crackers and delicious dark

JONATHAN SIMS
RETURNS
On October 4 Jonathan Sims returned from a 4 month furlough in the United

States where he visited his supporting churches, his brothers, sisters, uncles and
aunts, etc., and attended the National

Missionary Convention in Orlando,

Florida. He will enter his second term of

missionary work living and serving at the

Yokosuka church.

this relatively small and resource poor

nation is now the second in the world in

gross national product and has the highest life-expectancy of any nation on earth. 4.

The most basic and important things don't change. Christ and His gospel and word are the same. People, and the problems and joys of relationships between them,
are the same whether you live in America

ful descriptions of places and people and their good impressions of our country and its people and churches. It was truly a joyful and inspirational day for us.
- Harold Sims

or Japan. The reverse side of this point is

that in this generation we have not seen

the turning to Christ by the Japanese people that we so deeply hoped and prayed
for. "Spiritually" things don't seem to

YOKOSUKA PREACHER TO
MARRY
Kensei Yokomizu, who graduated from
Osaka Bible Seminary in March of this

The Yokosukachurch building.

have changed and progressed at all,

compared to "materially." In fact we can see increasingly signs that some of the leaders in society would like to see more of a return to "old ways." Some of my relatives and friends have

CHURCHES IN THE
NEWS
The "Christian Newspaper," a weeklyin
Japanese which has very wide circulation among the Christian community in Japan,

year and has been preaching at the

Yokosuka Church since May, is going to

get married soon. According to the Japanese custom, the young couple had a formal engagement-promising ceremony
at the church on July 20, with relatives from both families and some church friends present. Bro. Itagaki, of Nakano

sensed this, and said to me quite frankly that they felt I had "wasted my life" going over there and beating my head against a stone wall. I know the discouragements better than those who say and think that, but I do not believe my decision to go was a

on Sept. 1 carried prominently the story of how the Ono Church of Christ, near Kobe,

church, performed the ceremony.

The

had sent one million yen (over 4000 dollars) to the Huntington Beach church in

.Cahfornia when the latter was in a

mentioned, because it is our prayer that financial pinch. H.B. had sent support to they will use the new facility perhaps more OnoTor a building project some years ago. than we do. This type of "reverse support" makes The program was essentially the same news, but may become more common as as the one used at the dedication of the times change. original building on Nov. 15, 1970 -- same hymns, responsive reading, same preachers gave the sermon and dedication prayer, benediction, etc. This was DEDICATION OF meaningful for all of our members, as only 1 was present in 1970. The preacher who NEW CLASSROOM gave the sermon said that he had looked up

V
Violin Ensemble

ADDITION AT

his old sermon notes and was somewhat

MEJIRODAI

surpised to find he had said, "The time to making their musical contribution to the say congratulations will be after 15 years celebration of the church's advance. have passed and the church is well All the other members contributed established." He was most happy to be happily according to their several gifts. fulfilling his own prophecy that day. Taeko Kasai, a student at Tama Art After the worship and dedication College, drew a sketch of the whole build ceremony we had a one hour special ing which was used on the program cover. musical program by our church members. The Ladies' Chorus sang a special number during the service, which of course was not in the program in 1970.

Mejirodai Church at present.

On Pentecost Sunday (May 26) the new addition to the church building at Mejirodai was dedicated. In the morning during the Sunday School hour we had a children's level explanation, prayer and viewing of the new facilities, and gave each of the children a new pencil with "In Memory of the enlargement of Mejirodai Church of Christ" inscribed on it. They were all thrilled, and the 4-6 grade class, which is using the largest of the new rooms
has increased in attendance and interest

Sketch of the current Mejirodai church building,

Taira Nishizawa, a University student, helped move furniture. A good number of

the ladies made cakes to serve at the

reception, and helped with setting up and cleaning up. One lady wrote the Thank
Harold and Lois Sims at the point where the new part of Mejirodai church connects to the old on May
26.

You

statement

for

the

Construction

since that day, so that we often run out of

materials.

The regular dedication ceremony was 3-5 PM for the convenience of people from sister congregations, although many who
would have liked to come could not because

Company. It was a happy and victorious day for all. During the morning worship service a seventh grade girl, daughter of one of our members, was baptized into Christ.

of local church special events for that day.

We had a total attendance of 62: 31

members of Mejirodai, 11 non-Christian

adults who are friends of ours and attend

church sometimes, 2 men from the construction company, and 18 visitors from our other congregations in the area.
Besides the adults listed above there were

18 children here, and they should be

Ladies' Chorus

Mrs. Fumiko Yagi, whohas been a member

Part of the audience at Mejirodai dedication. (L. to R.) Paul I'ratl, Bill Turner, Mark I'ralt, Mr, and Mrs. Kumc. Mr, Kumagai, in charge of construction.

here since she was in Jr. High School la- Stephen lijima giving congratulations in new bout 10 years ago) and is a gifted and classroom May 26. trained soprano, sang "The Lord's Pray er." Mr. and Mrs. Kume, whose marriage was in March and mentioned in the April issue of the Tokyo Christian, sang an ori LADIES' MEETING ginal song written by themselves and an other song from the hymnal. They are both On June 11 our new facilities at prominent in the popular music work of Mejirodai were used for a luncheon Japan, and unashamedly Christians. meeting of 30 ladies from Nakano church Then 6 children from 2 families played a and our local church groups. The theme violin ensemble number which was very was PRAYER. Our ladies enjoyed using much appreciated -- especially by the other the new kitchen as well as the fellowship children present. These all enjoyed and the lessons from God's Word.

T^!u do the

tour group. includes people who were included home stay part. This During those 12 times they did other things.in

most of our tour, but because they were non-Christians they did not visit the churches and

JAPANESE CHRISTIAN GROUP

TOURS THE UNITED STATES
receiving churches. Relatives, service men, preachers, professors, missionary committee members, construction crews

iThc followinn is a n-porl on l/w U.S. tour of several Japane.se CItrislinns this past summer. The material was too late to he ineluded in the July issue III' Ihe Tokyo Christian and therefore is featured in
this issue.)

and others have visited the mission fields

In the nearly 200 years of "Missions"

since William Carey, there have been millions of words written by missionaries
reporting about people and places with strange sounding names. And in recent

years we hear more and more about many and various contacts between people in leadership positions in sending and difference" made a visit to the United

in which they have invested personnel and funds. Dedicated young people have come from other lands for study in Christian colleges in the U.S. All of this has deepened and supplemented the faith, fellowship and understanding of many Christians and contributed to the growth of the body of Christ worldwide. June 29-July 10, 1985 a "group with a

States. They came on their own initiative and at their own expense. They were not selling, promoting or asking for anything but fellowship in Christ. They were not jean-clad young people listening to jazz on walk-mans, eating hamburgers, looking for adventure and the nearest youth hostel. Most of them were not even good at speaking English. These were Japanese
Christians who have believed in and served the Lord Jesus Christ for a

generation paying a "thank you" call on the Christians, churches and nation who had sent, supported and prayed for the

missionaries who had worked with and

amoijg them for 100 years. They wanted to

see with their own eyes the "mother body," "the womb," "the spiritual roots" from
which these missionaries had come, and to gain insights, visions and encouragement as they assume the burdens of this second century of the work of our churches in Japan.
It would be well for all of us to remark

years. Studied a few years at Pepperdine University.

KAWAHARA Takaki (53) Preacher at Akasi Church of Christ (near Kobe) for over 20 years. Graduate of Osaka Bible Seminary and on board of Councillors
there.

For all of the women and 3 of the men

this was the first time to go outside of the Japanese islands, the trip of a lifetime.

MR. and MRS. KOBAYASHI Kozo and

A Brief Journal of the Trip:

that at this point in the world's political, economic and religious history a group of Japanese people is willing and able to do this. This is a result of God's providence and grace. Thank Him and take courage. Also I ought to add at this point that the
members of the Minato Church of Christ

Tori (68) Elder of Minato Church. Re cently retired as accountant of a Brass Foundry. Active in Gideons Interna tional. Originator of the idea of this trip.
MR. and MRS. KANAMURA Teruhiko

June 29: All met at the "Silver Bell"

outside of the East-side entrance of Tokyo Station to board the airport bus. A good
number of friends and relatives were there

gave 2000 dollars (almost half of the cost)

to enable both Harold and Lois Sims to

and Yoshiko (67) Elder of Kamiochiai Church in Tokyo. Long-time employee of American Military Forces in Japan. Son

is Japan Air Lines pilot.

OKAMURA Matsuzo (73) Elder of

accompany them on the trip.

From various conversations with

members of the group during the return trip across the ocean, I can say with confidence that all of the Japanese people felt the trip was more than worthwhile. I am sure the effects will be long-lasting as they tell others what they saw and touch
other lives with the love and other fruits of

Hayashina Church in Okayama Pre fecture who also preaches. Awarded this year with a medal from the Emperor for 42 years of civil service for the Japanese
government.

to see us off. We took off on Japan Air Lines flight 2 at 6:18 PM, sitting in a group near the rear end of a very full 747 Jumbo Jet, and landed about 9 hours later (11:02 AM June 29 San Francisco time). Already on the bus to the airport and during the flight a spirit of anticipation, camaraderie and humor was developing, and it continued throughout the trip. After a slow-moving but trouble-free customs' clearance, we boarded a waiting
bus for a noon feast at a Chinese

the Spirit perceived and received during those days. The high points in anticipation, nervousness and language barriers as well as in memories, joys and fellowship came when we experienced "home stays" with members of 3 churches. But the whole trip, although fully scheduled and tiring, was a lot of fun as the
conversation and humor in buses and

Restaurant in town, and then were driven NAKAZATO Fumi (62) Member of out to First Christian Church in Napa by 4 Mejirodai Church in Hachioji for 9 years. PM. There a group of smiling hosts Widow. Oil paint artist. awaited us with the names of the Japanese guests printed on their hosts. After taking SHIMOMURO Kesako (62) Member of a picture, making introductions and a Nakano Church for over 30 years. Works prayer of thanks for the safe trip all were off to an adventure in "home stay" and at New Otani Hotel in Tokyo. Widow.
inter-cultural communication. After a

planes went on ceaselessly. They did not

become Americanized at all, and their reactions to all situations and people was

very Japanese, Christian and open-honest.

Insofar as I could observe, the visits were also a blessing to those who opened their homes to the Japanese. Several told me they had just the right ones. Many addresses were exchanged and invitations to visit Japan were given. The children all enjoyed the attempts to communicate. One lady wrote: "How neat they appear! How well they listen! How intelligent they are!
How we could have talked if we had been

IGUMA Kimiko (53) Member of Minato Church for about 30 years. Licensed pharmacist. Specialist in Moxa. Mother of 2 daughters. Her husband is a High
School teacher and an elder of Minato

month of cloudiness, humidity and drizzle the Japanese really appreciated the wonderfully blue sky, and one of the ladies got out of the car and started dancing around the lawn singing, "Blue skies smiling at me," which broke the ice and got
her visit started off well.

Church and was chairman of last year's all-Japan convention.

FUKUDA Kazue (50) Member of Minato Church for over 20 years. Mother of 2 grown children. Widow.
SHIBATA Sadako (71) Member of Minato Church, and before that of Mabashi

June

30: Everyone

attended Sunday
After the services a

School and Worship services, sitting with

their host families.

able to understand each other's language!" A man told me, "These people have status in their society, and will be touching other lives for Christ in Japan.

Church. Operated a beauty parlor most

of her adult life. Widow. Her husband

died several years ago of muscular dystrophy. He was an elder at Minato

and an active Gideon. Her son is an

organist and active in the church work.

The members of the group were:

IIJIMA Masahisa "Stephen" (64) AOKI Toshiko (59) Member of Minato Church for over 20 years. In her younger days she was a singer and dancer.
HOMMA Kazuko (46) Member of Minato

good number of the church people entertained us with a traditional pot-luck lunch. Arrangements were made for some Japanese to sit at each table, for as many fellowship opportunities as possible, and there were speeches from both sides translated by Harold Sims as well as a special musical number by the Japanese group. The meeting closed by a circle of
prayer.

A chartered bus came to the church to

Preacher at Minato Church of Christ for

36 years. Editor of Monthly Magazine "Bokka" "Pastoral Song" for about 30 years. Author of a number of Bible-study
books.

Church for over 20 years. Widow, Her

husband was an elder of the church and

ITAGAKI Yukio "Peter" (55) Preacher at

employed at Hitachi Corp. He died of stomach cancer. 3 daughters.

ISHIKAWA Atsuko (41) Friend of Mrs. Homma and sings in same chorus group.

Nakano Church of Christ for 24 years. The church gave him the trip for the 25th anniversary of his ministry there. KAMATA Namio (55) Preacher at

Okinawa Church of Christ for over 20

HAROLD and LOIS SIMS (60) Mission aries in Tokyo area for 38 years.

take us and our baggage to San Jose for the special evening service at Central Christian Church. The program was a musical called "Look Up America" by the young people of the church there. The Japanese were impressed by the Christian patriotism, so different from the experiences and feelings of the Christian minority in the political and religious situation of present-day Japan, as well as the zeal and abilities ofthe young people in the church there. They also enjoyed reunions with many old friends who had visited Japan in past years and had
various connections with the work in

Japan. After the 6-7 PM program, some

folks in the church had barbecued

hamburgers for our supper. Again we were introduced to the various people who were going to have us as guests for the night. As the folks were picking up their suitcases and separating, one of them remarked, "Now we know the feeling of puppies in the pet shop who say to each other, 'Arf, Arf, look what a house I am getting taken to.'"

July 3: We rode the "Maid of the Mist" and took many pictures and visited a Japanese run souvenir shop during the morning and ate lunch in Minolta Tower. Then we went by bus to Toronto, enjoying the drive along Lake Ontario, and went by plane to New York City. While waiting
on the mechanics to flx a brake on the

July 6: We rode a small bus down to Williamsburg, VA, arriving in time to'eat in the cafeteria there and walk through the
restored town all afternoon. In the late afternoon we arrived at Northside Church

of Christ in Newport News where members of the church were waiting to take us out for another "home stay."

plane, the Japanese pulled out various kinds of rice-cakes, etc., to eat and wrote

picture postcards. One trouble we had was finding a place to buy stamps and how much it cost to mail a postcard by air to July 7: We attended various Sunday School classes and the worship service at Japan. July 1: At 9 AM we met in the church Upon arrival in New York we went to the Northside, and they prepared a lunch for parking lot, with smiling hosts all saying basement of the Mitsukoshi Store and had us at the church. Right after that we left they had just the right ones. We boarded a typically Japanese dinner of raw fish by bus for Norfolk airport, and Cincinnati, the bus and took an interesting ride up and all the trimmings ~ the most expensive Ohio. There awaiting us were 4 of our children, 3 Japanese students in the Silicon Valley and through several parts of meal we ate on the tour. San Francisco. The bus driver was a wellOne lock on my suitcase was broken Seminary graduate school, and others educated black man who knew the area beyond repair, and since the next day was with a sign in Japanese language. Of very well and served as a good-humored a holiday we thought it might be course, everyone wanted to get a flash guide while I translated. The tour was impossible to buy another one, but while on picture of the sign, and passers-by thought mutually enjoyable. the tour I found a small store open with 50% some celebrity had arrived and gathered around to see. We got our baggage into We ate lunch in a Korean Restaurant off on luggage and bought another one. and then toured Golden Gate Park, Twin We stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Bob's "freight van" and all of us into 2 Peaks, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and for 2 nights. It was the nicest hotel I had rented vans and headed to Western Hills Muir Woods during the afternoon and ate a ever stayed in, considered from several church for the night service, after which we tremendous crab dinner at Fisherman's points of view, but we and all others used ate sandwiches, etc., in the church Wharf. In the morning we enjoyed seeing that first night for washing clothes. One of basement. The group stayed in rooms in some beautiful horses in the Helds and in the Japanese preachers was reported to the dormitories at C.B.S. Sunday and the afternoon we saw 6 deer in the woods. have put all of his in the bathtub and Monday nights, and enjoyed very much In Japanese language the word for fool is danced around on them for agitating the night view of the city and river. written "Horse Deer," meaning one who action. can't tell the difference. I leave it to you to imagine some of the humorous remarks on the bus after seeing these sights. Several even walked sideways from the Restaurant July 8; After breakfast in the school to the bus after the dinner. Lots of fun.
July 4; Bus tour of the city, which covered most of the highlights, including the
cafeteria we used the vans to see Woodland

Empire State Building.

In the evening

July 2: Early morning departure for Chicago. Rather quick change to plane for
Buffalo, NY. After we boarded we had to

wait about an hour while they fixed some trouble in the hydraulic system. Then after taxiing out to the end of the runway, we
had to wait again until the worst of a thunderstorm passed over the area. Just
people in our section. The stewardess

Lois and I especially enjoyed a visit with the Mitsui family who used to live in Mejirodai. He is working for Olympus Camera Co. in New York now, so the and the evening program. It was very wellparents brought our former English class planned, including Japanese food and Sunday School students, who have prepared by one person attending. Some now become very Americanized High Japanese were sitting at every table, for Schoolers, down to the hotel to visit for a- increased fellowship, and there were several short speeches and musical while and then took us to see the fireworks
East River viewed from the U.N.

Acres Camp, Mt. Healthy Christian Home, Standard Publishing, Tri-County Mall, Music Palace and then were hosted by 2 classes and the Missions group at Clovernook Christian Church for supper

as we took off, rusty water began to pour on the down from seams in the ceiling onto the plaza.

numbers that made it an enjoyable

evening for all.

called for everyone to remain seated, but all tried to help by passing around newspapers, pillows, etc., to stop the flow. One lady put up her folding umbrella, July 5: We took the shuttle flight to July 9: We left Cincinnati on an early which most Japanese carry at all times, Washington, D.C. and went directly into plane for Chicago and a quick change to much to the delight of the American an all-afternoon quick tour of the mall another plane for Los Angeles. During the passengers who began taking flash area. Before arriving, I had told them what afternoon we had a quick tour of Los pictures "for American Airlines to use in a beautiful city it was, and when we got Angeles, and arrived at the Anaheim their publicity." Finally when the there the whole city was knee-deep in Hilton Hotel just in time for supper and the stewardess put one or two red, white and garbage from a 500,000 "Beach Boy" opening session of the North American blue blankets up as temporary awnings the concert the night before. It was a great Christian Convention, which was an Japanese began humming the Star- disappointment, and few pictures were impressive experience in every way. The fire alarm went off in the hotel at 12:30 AM, Spangled Banner. taken. Stan and Mabel Buttray and some of That night we stayed at the Hilton Hotel, but it was a false alarm. their friends from Meadville, Pennsyl where President Reagan was shot, and Mr. vania had driven up to spend a brief time Kojima, who works for a Japanese bank in with our group at Niagara Falls. We ate a the city, and his family came to eat dinner delicious buffet supper in a hotel with us in the dining room. The next day
overlooking the Falls from the Canadian

side, and spent the night on the American side, after watching the colored lights on
the falls.

July 10: We left at 9:30 AM by bus for the airport, and at IPM on JAL flight 61 for Japan reported they found a Bible in the Tokyo. When we arrived in Tokyo it was room and had a little prayer meeting there. Thursday early in the evening.
some of the ladies whose husbands are

active in the Gideons' organization in

PATTONS' NEWS
CAMPS
Seventeen camps, 4 family groups, 380 campers, plus some daily guests used the Shinshu Camp facilities from March 20 to
October 1. This was an increase of 50

Summer workers: (L. to R.) Bill Owens (Ozark Christian College), Velma Held (Davenport, lA), Andrew,
Mr. Taninari, Betty, Mrs. Leone Cole.

campers and 7 less camps than in 1984. (Some camps were combined to make larger camp groups). The groups

represented the Junior-Senior High School

students, University students, church Bible study groups, an historical study group of Bible Lands, and Christian music
studies.

this new creature in

Christ.

Mr. A1

To prepare the way for the summer season the Work Week crew July 15-20 did their part. Betty Turner and Lisa Spencer (student at ACC) washed all the screens in the building and cleaned the stainless steel kitchen and cupboards. Barbara and Eric
Jones washed windows with Mr. and Mrs.

Taninari. Milton Jones, Andrew and Tim

Turner creosoted all the vesper area's wooden seats and landscaped the area. Tim and Andrew put in new poles at the

volleyball court. Mr. Takematsu cut weeds

on the hillsides. Bill Owens continued to

paint verandas and rust-proof other parts of the camp building. Betty Patton had already cleaned the dining room chairs, some windows, game cupboard and
pantry.

Many other improvements are continuing on through the Fall. One hillside has been cleared and grass seed sown. The pool for the sanitation system run-off water was a danger area and
Andrew has now remedied that and

landscaped the area for green grass. The "Homework" camp August 5-10 was the highlight of the season with 60 campers. One baptism took place during the camp. We are thankful for this testimony to others who were present and
thank God for the salvation that came to

Hammond, San Jose Bible College, brought 6 others with him to Japan for a visit and came to the camp for the week. "I came to work." And she did indeed. They entered into the camp activities and Velma Held, Davenport, Iowa, returned to contributed greatly to the music and Japan after a 20 some years' absence. She drama times. formerly had a teaching position with the The University camp was slated too late U.S. Armed Forces' schools in Japan. She in the Fall this year. Only 1 camper was able to visit all her friends at the registered for the camp. However, guests annual missionary convention in July from nearby missionary work attended before coming to Shinshu camp to work. also and the camp went as scheduled. While here at camp she met again Mr. On October 19 the annual camp advisory Yuse, minister of the Nagoya church (a committee will meet again at the Harold high school boy back when Velma taught Sims' home in Tokyo. The 1986 camp in Nagoya). Velma washed all the dishes program will be made and suggestions used in camps while here (two camps had submitted for a better camp year next year. over 60 at each meal for a total of 8 days). Most of the missionary camp leaders will Banana bread was her specialty and all be in the U.S. for the NACC and the enjoyed it. One loaf was saved back for the National Missionary Convention in Osaka Moriguchi church to eat on Indianapolis next year. So we are praying September 21-23. We thank her for her that the Japanese ministers and leaders days spent here with us. She left a present will rise to the need and take more for Betty -- a spic and span kitchen at the initiative to make the camp a tool of Pattons' home to come home to after the evangelism for the furthering of God's camp season! Thanks for everything, kingdom here on earth. Velma. Christmas Camp will be December 25-28 with Andrew as Dean. Again the neigh Bill Owens' departure on August 6 came borhood will be invited to the Christmas too soon, we thought. But Bill was anxious night Candlelight service. to get back after working and painting all Please continue to pray for Japan and summer and finishing it all just hours the harvest of souls. We ask prayers for the before he left for Narita airport. We pray community in which we live and work. Bill's trip to Japan has furthered his desire Pray that their hearts might soften so that for missionary work. He's now at Ozark they will give a hearing to the Word of God. Christian College and busy with studies and the missionary group there. We thank "Andrew Patton those who made it possible for his coming and helping this past summer, also for those who are helping him financially get
back into school after a summer without

HELPERS

Our thanks also to Leone Cole again for her days spent at the camp this summer.
We'll miss her next summer as she'll take a

short furlough to the U.S.A.

After Bill's departure, Mr. Taninari had

only "rojin" (senior citizens) to help with

all the camp work, Velma, Betty and

Andrew Patton and Mrs. Leone Cole.

Nevertheless, all jobs were accomplished well as we all are experienced in camp work, as well as in the teaching and leadership part of the work.
"Homework" campers

- Andrew Patton

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray (retired). For warding Agent: Mrs. Lois Hessler, PO Box 287, Meadville, PA 16335. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 571-1 Innaihara, Mochizuki Shi, Kitasaku Gun, Nagano Ken, Japan 384-22. F'orwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs. G. Wade Fletcher, Rt. 6, Box 15, Rushville, IN
46173.

Beforeyou move,please send the mailing label below,along with a copy ol your new address to:
MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION. P.O. Box 2427. Knoxville. TN 37901-2427

Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-2427.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7 Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193 Japan. Forwarding Agent: First Church of Christ, 315 E. Orange Ave.,Eustis, FL 32726-4194.
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July, and November for the missionaries of the Church of Christ, Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan by Mission Services, 7525 Hodges Ferry Road. Knoxville, TN 37920. Second Class postage paid at Knoxville, TN 37901-2427. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tokyo Christian, c/o MISSION SERVICES, PO
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