MISSIONS UPDATE

JANUARY 1, I98U

Eric Johnson is a missionary in India. He spends his days teaching Indians good
farming techniques, and he witnesses about Christ every opportunity he gets. He
is often away from his wife, and two of his children are 500 miles away at
school. Eb?ic is frequently exhausted, and sometimes wonders if the sacrifice is
worth it, since converts are so few.

Nancy Johnson is Eric's wife. She is often lonely, with only 2 year old Adam

for company. She misses her other children terribly, and worries about them,
even though she has placed them in God's hands. She misses her own parents, too.
It would be easy for Nancy to become depressed.
Mark Clark is a printer, working in a Bible-printing ministry in Africa. He
preaches regularly in several villages, as well. Though Mark is married, he
finds himself very much attracted to a single woman missionary with whom he must
work.

Carol and Rick Anderson serve the Lord in Ghana. They are involved in numerous
missions activities including teaching, preaching, and medical work. Since they
are extremely busy and often tired, their occasional evenings at home have turn

ed into bickering sessions, with each one feeling the other is out of step.
All of these people are fictitious. They have never existed. Butwere you
shocked at the suggestion that missionaries could have such problems? Be honest,
now.

Missionaries are different, aren't they? Special? Immune to such problems?

Surely the situations outlines here are reserved for Christians in this countiy,
people like you and me.

Not at all. A missionary IS just like you, just like me. On days when John Q.
Missionary is upheld in prayer, living close to his Lord, submitting his concerns
to God, he is okay. On days when he is depressed, sick, exhausted, or just too
busy, it is easy for him to neglect. a quiet time, to forget Bible Study and
prayer. It is just as easy for a missionary to get priorities confused as it is
for you and me.

When we pray for Mark and lynn Pratt, for Steve and Ann Plettner, for Mike and
Janice Richards, let's make sure we pray knowing that they are real people with
real problems, just as vulnerable to Satan and his wiles, and to sin, as we are.
When we pray knowing this, we will pray fervently, holding up their hands, lest
they weaken and the battle be lost. Remember how Aaron and Hur held up Moses'
hands in the battle against Amalek? When Moses' hands fell, Amelek made gains.
But when Moses' friends supported his hands, the battle went well.
With this kind of support from us, our missionaries will wage a successful battle
against Satan. Without it? Well, they will be as successful as we would be if
cast into Satan's territory without the support of God's troops. There is noth
ing Satan likes better than to wound or capture a Christian, and I'm sure
missionaries are his favorite targets. If he can defeat a missionary, he can
snipe at the cause of Christ, A missionary supportee by the troops (you and me

in prayer) is hard to defeat, however. Let's remember that.

Pat Lassen

\ Ik
MISSION TJPMTB

MBRHABT 1, 1981^

Perhaps you've noticed a stack of pre-addressed air mail forms on our Missions table.
Eave you taken one and written to one of our missionaries? Some of you no doubt have,
but I suspect there are some who have noticed the forms and thou^t "I'll let someone
else do the writing." Am I ri^t?

Writing letters today is something of a lost art. A

tankful of gas, and Ma Bell

(well, ATdd?), have caused letter writing to be pretty much unnecessary for many
people. Since we do it so little, we are uncomfortable doing it, and many people
never do. But what if someone you love moves where phone calls are prohibitive or
impossible? If it's your child, without a doubt you will write. And what if it is
your business partner, and you are vitally interested in his doings? You surely will
write then.

Well, your partner^your missions partneris in Asia. He is preaching, teaching,

visiting, evangelizing. In short, he is doing his beet to promote yoTar common in
terest; the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he needs to hear from you, the home office
partner, often. How else can he know you remember him, care about his needs, appreci
ate what he is doing?

He NEEDS you!

"Okay," you say, "I'll write. But what do I write? I hardly know Mark Pratt (or
lynn Pratt, or the Plettners)."
Let me suggest a few things that may make letter writing easiermaybe even fun.
First, make yoirr letter newsy. Americans abroad hunger for bits of news from the
States. This can be TV news, family news, or anything that happens to interest you.
iDiclude church newstidbits not in the Headlines. Anything about the church; people,
plans, activities, goofs.

Next, be sure to include something funny. Believe it or not, a lau^ is just as

good for your missionary as it is for you. Heard a good joke lately? Your missionary
needs to hear it. If you haven't heard one, check your magazines or your friends and
find one. This is not only fun for the reader, but it's fun for you, too.

Are you praying for your missionary? Tell him so. Do you pray daily? He'll be
thrilled to hear that. Heading a good book. Heard a thou^t-provoking sermon? Seen
an interesting TV Program? Share this. Your missionary is missing all these good
things, you know. He is so busy giving out that he rarely gets to take in.
You can't do this with an air mail form, but for a couple of 20j5 stamps you can send
along a clipping or two, or a pictiire. This will be appreciated.

Head about the missionary's country and work, and comment on these subjects. Show
your interest in what the missionary is doing, but try not to ask specific questions
that

demand answers. Most

missionaries do

not have time

to answer every letter,

thou^ you surely will hear from the missionary if you become a regular correspondent.

Must your letters do all these things every time? I hope notmine don't! But try
some of them, and tnakft a missionary's day bri^ter. Do it this week, and often. You
mi^t even find you enjoy it!

"Is writing to missionaries so important?" you ask. If it were not, would "Write to
me!" be near the top of every missionary's list of things for partners at home to do?
A day with no news from home can be a drab one. Let's keep that from happening to
our missions partners.
Pat Lassen

I
CAMPUS MINISTRY Central Japan Christian Mission Mark and Lynn Pratt
Japan Address

Forwarding Address

340-5 Negishi
^fechida City

Rick and Lydia Coyle

Tokyo 194, JAPAN

Cincinmti, OH 45239

Ph, 0427-91-4600

Ph. 513-385-9247

3357 Tallahassee

This issue marks beginning

of new numbering system
based on campus ministry's
first letter having been
printed in 1975.

Dear friends,

Volume 10 March 1984

HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI GAME

I got to play in the alumni basketball

game for my old alna mater, Christian Aca
demy in Japano It's a good thing I wore my
Superman shirt to warn up in, because I was
the oldest one on the team and needed all

the help I could get. I did manage I2 points

and 7 rebounds, but we lost anyway. It was
a lot of fun to play and to see two of my

favorite teachers. Miss June Habbestad and

Mr. Howard Blair, who are still in Japan.

^pus Ministry CJCM 1983 Financial Report

C*238=$1.00)

Balance carried from 1982

2373.89

Income:

Rac'd from church groups and Individuals

Designated for land fund

39432.74
50.00
30.00
208.76

Rec'd for published article . . . .. .

Refund from health insurance

Interest

8.18

42103^57
Expenses:

kecorded contributions to churches and

charities

Personal expensefood, clothing, misc.. . .

3971,62
11346.18

Benefi ts;

Life insurance .. ... . . .

Health insurance

267.81
2670.27

Kedical expenses

787.22
5725-30

Payroll tax (Social Security) ,

1206.61

Fees for fundraislng (photo, display,

advertizing) . ..

Interest paid on loans .. ... . ... . .

Occupancy:
Building insurance

450.99

Building repairs .......

10 "Old Boys"

27.33

trtill ties:

Heat oil (kerosene). .. ..

Propane gas

112.48

68.66

Water ... . .......

49.08

Electric

52^.9^

Equipment and equipment maintenance .. , . .

Printing and postage:

Printing

1428.66
1733-19

Telephone

Office supplies (paper, envelopes

Travel
Travel:

f f

Partial air fare from O.S.

Gasoline

Required car inspection and

insurance
Car tax

Car maintenance and repair

Car rental

Hotel fees .

etc.)..

Education:

872.73
177.23
146.45
2575-70

260-09

Kids* schooling

1122.14

Hark1 seminar

6^.05

Gov*t fees and taxes:

Passport and visa expense ...... . .

Land loan repayments

Bank charges
Loan to Penny Boggs

little blurred is because I'm moving with

1330-68
173-86

1915.00
901.25

Evangelism (books, tracts, tapes, etc.) ..

such great speed.

1232-07
467.22

304.53

Postage

The reason this action shot (I'm #14) is a

444.9H

1377.61

6848.45
426.37

1185-17
49-00

3361-36
24-83
336.15

39240-57

Balance on hand 12/31/83

2863-00

C++T?-1

A-.

LIVDJG NATIVriY
t-

Was it this frantic in Bethlehem on that first

Christmas? Staging an outdoor nativity scene

was Penny's idea, (That's Penry Boggs, mission

ary, who helps us out whenever she can escape

from language school.) The church people had

never heard of this but were enthusiastic.

Preparation was hectic and difficult: nailing,

painting, and stabilizing the stable; cast

ing and costume work; making a backgrxDund
tape of Scripture in English and Japanese
along with Christmas music by professional
Japanese singers; assembling li^ts, cords,
props; and advertizing.

Rain and sleet threatened, but vre managed 5

performances on Dec. 22 and 23. The stable

scene and PA system were set up near the road;

the shepherd scene was farther back, conplete

with a campfire; and our angel was precarious
ly perched atop a ladder on the balcony. Penny
ran around directing everything, naking sure
the proper lights came on at the proper time.
Others handed out tracts to passersby. In
between perfarmances, the cast warmed up with
hot drinks and apple crisp.

While not many people went out of their way to

come, hundreds saw and heard us clearly as the

slew-moving rush hour traffic crawled along,

scmetimes caning to a conplete stop. Both
spectatOTS and cast were in^jressed with the

outccme. This nay becane an annual projectI

9^ -vVlfc

8^

Mnlco ftr\d

Inl+o Co&t'umcS

KHO^O
MISSIONARY DINNER

SUKIYAKI PARTY

So much time and energy had been spent on the

outdoor nativity scene project, no one was

willing or able to do anytiiing-special for

Chrisbias Sunday. We had Christinas story
Scriptures and carols for the worship hour;
then all enjoyed a sukiyaki party together.
CThe Japanese traditionally have sukiyaki at
the end of the year.l

We hosted the missionary Christmas dinner

on Dec. 29. There were 24 of us to enjoy
a great ham dinner witli all the trimmings.
I gave the nickel-ninety-five tour of the
property far those who had not been here
before. And we had lots of talking and laugh

ing. Our work becomes less lonely because

of times like these.

Tvrnci- f RKen^A ^wvc

Erm* l^enibcck'fc

new book.

/\fa.cko strircs ufo sokN^ki

Mr.

ftr\A CaSorv

Wftrpch CJirii."har\sdn .*

one I

was i4\l

"Bill Torner- \ OK, Cdme,

U/ftrren.

FOCUS dl-ll THE FAMILY

Three of the James ttobson

"Focus on The

Family" films have been translated into

Japanese. We scheduled the showing of all
three for the weekend of January 22. To that
end we distributed 600 flyers and hung posters
in strategic locations. We made many new
contacts as we talted with people during this
advertizing campaign. Unfortunately, the longawaited weekend brought the worst snow this
area has seen in years. We still had a total
audience of 33, including children. Many of
those who came had never been here before; so

we felt good about introducing them to the

church through the films. One of the families
shews considerable interest and has been back

to church
*T^e ObirtW

"frKt

2 of the 3 Sundays following the

film program.

Mr*.
Mr.

mc.f iV>^

oinK

FOCUS ON A FAMILY

Meet the Hasebe family. The Hasebes met and

married in America and lived in Hawaii for

some time before coming back to Japan.

Masaji spent 8 years studying and working
in the States, so he has become rather
"westernized"0 Pam is an American citizen

of Japanese descent. So, while she looks

like everyone else in this country, her

native language is English. As a result, the
Hasebes have their own unique problems living
here in Japan, They have been worshipping
with us the past few months; Masaji has placed
his membership here.

H'0.4ebe5 (,l-.+o r* )*
"Rlna,Jwrt,

Sincerely yours and His,

Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
CaiTpus Ministry CJCM

PAID

Jenra Houp

Louisville, Ky

8704 Bristol Oaks Ct.

kxiisville, KY

Permit NO. 1806

40299

address correction requested

Mission Services

F 0 Bo x 2427
Knoxville TN" 379.01..

COT

1 1984

CAMPUS MINISTRY--Central Japan Christian Mission 4

Mark and Lynn Pratt
Supported by
Christian churches/churches of Christ
Jaoan Address

Forwardinq Address

340-5 Negish
Machida City
Tokyo 194, J
I

Ph 0427-91-4

m.mT&m
i/.JH'i- S"*

rin chapel, I do m
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to make

that the services

ir only
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music, too, is rat

eless.

nn and I can spend

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g as specials when
were received with
rtunities whenever

ponsor the Ohio Si

nd a few weeks lat
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MACHIDA

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preparing music

The slide program we used last furlough is available for loan.

Rather than giving you a play-by-play of our work in particular,

these slides (with Scripture commentary) will help you see what
working in Japan is all about. You'll get new insights concerning
the problems faced by the prophets, the apostles, and present-day

1 d

t a

. n

missionaries. Order from our secretary or through Mission Services

(#1236*83).

CONVENTION. Summertime is convention time. The missionary convention was

held on our Shinshu Bible Camp grounds, which some of the missionaries were
seeing for the first time. Lynn's and my contributions were largely in the

"humor" area, but we were refreshed by both the serious and fun parts of this
gathering.
The All Japan Christian Convention followed in Yokohama. There were 400

registrations. We attended the Sunday morning session along with Lynn's

aunt Norma Lusby, cousin Paula Lusby, and friend Barbara Hopper who were
visiting from the States. While our convention is small compared to U. S.
ones, Barbara observed that she was struck by "how much work and dedication
went into making such a thing possible in a land of shrines and temples."
CAMP.

I was the dean for the English-music camp this summer. We prepared

lots of music, had devotions, English-Bible class, saw "The Ten Commandments,"
and had recreation time. In spite of doing a lot of advertizing, we had a
very small crowd. So we are considering a different time slot for this camp
next year. Even though the size of the group was disappointing, the program
was not--it was a good camp.
FINANCIAL UPDATE

1. LAND LOAN. When the land-and-building project began (we bought the
land in 1978) we had some savings to get started. Then we took out a
loan. When we built the building (1981) people cooperated to send

almost-total funds for the building; and, for some time after, sent
designated monies toward the land loan.

Now that the new has worn

off, it's easy to forget--but there are TEN YEARS of loan payments
left. The amount to pay slightly decreases each month, but to give you
an idea, this month's payment was (^583.J)
There is another small loan that we took to fill in the gap for the
building money and also to help sponsor the singing group that came in
1981. Th^re are only about two years left on that loan; payments are
around^70^per month.
2. KIDS' SCHOOLING. There is no easy or cheap way for missionaries
to get their children through school. It is interesting that denomi
national mission boards automatically send school funds as needed to
their missionaries, but Church of Christ missionaries must still

convince supporting churches that this is a need, not an extravagance.

If the wife does any mission work at all and tries to also teach

the children, she will need to hire some kind of help. Or if she
hires a teacher, that costs. If the kids go to a military or Christian
school, that costs. If we want missionaries to go overseas, we must
realize that the schooling cost if just part of the package.
Last year we hired a teacher for $240 a month. This year Clinton

joine_our little house school, so we are raising the teacher's pay

to '$T60])a month. This is still not much of a salary and is largely

a Christian service project by our teacher.

Sincerely yours--and His,

Campus Ministry--CJCM
Jenna Houp
8704 Bristol Oaks Ct
Louisville KY 40299

Nonprofit Org.
address correction

requested

U. S. Postage
PAID

Louisville, Ky
lB.ssion Services

* F 0 Bbx 2if27
Knaxville TIT

Ohio

Singers III

37901

Permit NO. 1806

JAN IA

CAMPUS MINISTRY--Central Japan Christian Mission

Mark and Lynn Pratt
Supported by

Christian churches/churches of Christ

Jaoan Address

Forwardina Address

340-5 Negishi
Machida City
Tokyo 194, JAPAN

Rick and Lydia Coyle

Ph 0427-91-4600

Ph 513-385-9247

Volume 10

3357 Tallahassee

Cincinnati, OH 45239

November 1984

Dear friends.

In my college Bible seminar class I have

120 students. I asked how many were

Christians.

Only 2 raised their hands.

But it's worse than that:

one of those

is a Mormon; the other isn't a believer,

but only plays piano for a church. This
work is a challenge!

All junior hi students

are required to attend

weekly chapel service

I was able to show a Moody science film

to about 60 adults for the semi-annual

PTA meeting at Obirin. Obirin also

hosts an annual lectureship for adults
in the community. The afternoon sessions
are Bible-related. I was invited to

lead one of these recently.

I showed

a Dobson film to about 45 adults.

Here at the church -- We are ordering

several issues of a monthly Christian

magazine which our people are to read,

then pass on to a friend or leave in the
beauty shop, doctor's office, etc. Also
every month we're ordering 400 copies of
the Christian newspaper's colored 4-pager
which is evangelistic in nature. It is
quite a job to distribute these around
the community, but we're trying it for
several months, at least.

Over 500 college students

attend chapel weekly

The first of November we headed for

Kagoshima to the Walter Maxey home.

We decided to make a family trip out

of it and see Japan; so we went by
Bullet Train. We stopped for a night
with our good friends, the Hideto

Yoshii family. Hideto has worship

services in his home. Masako and her

mother both teach for Sunday school.

We sang for the high school chapel

service at the girls' school where

Hideto teaches. Our kids played with
the Yoshii kids, and we just had a
great (but too short!) visit. The
Yoshiis are doing a fine work there
in Fukuoka.

Back on the train and on to Kagoshima. Our

kids hadn't seen Shelley and Trent for al

most 4 years. They had a ball--I don't !
think they even fought once! Lynn talked
Mary's ear off and was entertained by

Sunny the bird who does a fantastic imiltation of Mary sonlding the childre-D. We

November marked the 10th

year anniversary of the

construction of the Sannobara Church of Christ

building (where Dad is).

Hideto Yoshii and Shigeru
Akada, who worked_with the

men had work to do, but that was fun, too.

church in its early years,

I went with Walter to the English-Bible I

came to bring special

camp.

messages.

Over 20 were present. I had two

Those in at

talks on "Are We Here by Chance?" We had

tendance enjoyed remi

lively discussions on science-related

niscing through old home

'

issues, including evolution and abortion.

I believe this camp strengthened the
i

movies. Prayers for an

even better ten years

Christians and gave the non-Christians '

ahead!

some food for thought.

Wg

O'Tl^

JC 3L
FROM

The Mark Pratt Family

Campus Ministry--CJCM
Jenna Houp
8704 Bristol Oaks Ct
Louisville KY 40299

address correction

requested

Nonprofit Org.
U. S, Postage
PAID

Louisville, Ky
Permit NO. 1806