f

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION INC.

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light;.." Matt. 4:16
Japan Address
Mr. & Mrs. Paul S. Pratt

U.. Addrfgss
Church Planting

""Hrs. Mary Lou Bauer

2kO

1210 Kamlkasuya.

Student Evangelism

West Elbert St.

Isehara City, Kanagawa Ken,

Literature Distribution

IndlanapoliSt Indionai

259-11

Bible Correspondence Course

'46217

Tel. (Q'463) 96-1192

Tel. (317) 787-6753

Vol. XXX, No. 2, Summer, 1986

Dear friends,

Rejoice with us!

Our second granddaughter, Shara Lynn Coyle was

baptized into Christ at the Highview Christian Church in Cincinnati, on

March 9 1986, She will be nine years old on June iBth. Omedeto gozaimasu, Shara!

Give your whole life to Jesus!

By the time you receive this letter, our Sannobara Church will have

its own indoor baptistry. Some 70 persons have been immersed in the out-B^B^
door one, A good percentage of these took place in cooler weather. The

|I^^HB
/^P^B

new one will be set in the stage area of the building behind the pulpit.
Pray that our present prospects will soon be ready to take advantage of

these new facilities. We are expecting a couple or so from Machida, too,

during this year.

4^
W

Speaking of the Machida Church, the people have agreed to go along

with our experiment.

Shara Lynn Coyle

Two Japanese preachers and two missionaries are taking turns in the pul

pit on Sunday mornings. With English majors attending and some foreign teachers as prospects,
the first and third Sunday of each month the messages will be in English. Both Dale Wilkinson
and I will have our material outlined in Japanese just to be sure the meaning gets across. We

hope the attendance, too, will increase.

its best to help us.

The K.E.A. (Kanto Evangelizing Association) is doing

When we had a 'kick-off for the new season's Fellowship Hour with a spe

cial movie, they came and distributed 10,000 pamphlets (a two-day record for four men) in
housing areas around the church.

the

May God reward these efforts.

The Christian Club at Obirin Academy prepared itself for the new school year with a Prayer
Retreat down by the sea in April. God honored those prayers by helping us double our number

with new workers.

They have plans for testimony meetings and a special evangelism.

Obirin's Chaplains, too, began the year with ^ retreat.

We are responsible for chapel ser

vices and are looking forward to seeing the construction of the first purely 'chapel building'
in the history of the school. With a rash of suicides sweeping the country after the death of

a popular l8 year old singer, parents are asking, "What shall we do?
dren?"

What can we tell our chil

I, for one have responded by affirming in my chapel messages that,"When We Follow God's

Plan, Life Is Worth The Living".

Christian Club at their retreat

Obirin Chaplains

Dr. Shimizu is 95

Since I preach one Sunday a month at Machida, Sannobara needs a substitute for that day.

(At times we have an 'open testimony meeting', too.) We were overjoyed when Ippei Watanabe,
a three year old Christian agreed to supply for me when needed.

He is 33i the father of one

and is in management at one of the largest hospitals in the Orient.

with me for more than three years. "May his tribe increase".
Many young men would love to visit the

our Osaka Bible Seminary student

during their singlehood.

^ exception.

Lord are to be in the States through July.

He has studied diligently

Bill and Betty Turner,

Hitoshi Nishiyama,

who lead him to the

So, with the yen valued high, Hitoshi

them at Atlanta for three weeks during his summer vacation.

in our Summer Bible School in August.

will

join

He'll be back in time for helping

The Sannobara Church will lose one family, at least for two years. Dr. Naoaki Ishii,

micro-biologist, along with his wife and son will be at Nutley, N.J. with Roche Institute of
Molecular Biology for his research as of July.
We so appreciate the Lawrence Kepler's having
introduced us to the Tom Harts and Parsippany Christian Church. What hospitality and cooper

ation they have already shown even with Ishii's departure still a month away. They have agreed
to receive all shipments at their church, they located an apartment for them to live in, they
have assembled together two rooms of furniture and have a family scheduled to meet them at Ne
wark Airport and entertain them upon arrival. We certainly trust they will be worthy servants

-l-abdHrng side-by-side-with^-hese committed brothers and sisters at Parsippany, N.J.

We westerners experience something of a 'gift exchange' at Christmas time. ^ Japan we see

it the year around.

Should you visit me during my hospitalization, as soon as I am up and able

I'll bring a 'thank you' gift to your door.

When you get married I'll send my R.S.V.P. for the

banquet and then take a large enough cash gift

to cover both the food and drinks and the me

mento I know you will give me to carry home from the celebration.

Yes, even when you come to

my funeral you will remember to bring a cash gift or flowers if only because you know my survi-

vers will have a token present for you to take home with you. Needless to say the merchants in
Japan have not voiced opposition to this custom. In fact they seem to laugh all the way to the
bank.

We have gone thru at least three projects of building buildings in Japan.

But we find that

building up the living church in Japan takes longer, takes more labor, patience and sacrifice.

Years ago a Japanese minister declared, "It took me seven years to come to Christ. It will be
that long or longer before most people come to faith." I labeled that as "Pessimistic". But in
retrospect I see his wisdom. Even thinking of humble, receptive people like *Naoaki and Makiko
Ishii we find a similar case.

He came seeking God's truth.

After studying for sometime ne

chose a loving wife, likewise humble and open to God's word. They wrote on their wedding invi
tations "Help us to carve out a Christian home". Yet it was seven years from the time of Naoaki's coming until they were baptized into Christ together two years ago. God give us patience.
In Him,

Central Japan Christian Mission Inc.

1919^ Helen St.,
South Bend, Indiana, ^6657

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-if CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION INC.

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light;.." Matt. 4116
U.S. *adrtaa

Jppan *ddi
Jopan
Address

Hre.~Hary~Lou Bauer
2'*0 Vest Clbert St.
Indianapalls. Indlona.

''6217
Tel. (317) 7iJ7-b753

Church Planting

Mr. SL Kri
Mr.
Mrs. Paul S. Pratt

Student CvangelioA

1210 Kemikaauys,
Kami
Isehora
<
Isehora City,
Kanugawo Ken,

Literature Distribution

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Vol. m, No. 3, Autumn, I986

Dear friends.

In the U.S. many families have reunions during July and August.
anese with Buddhist convictions take it one step farther.

Jap

Obon is a festi

val celebrated July 15th in some places and on August 15th in others.

At

that time it is believed that the spirits of the dead ancestors also return
for the reunion. At right is a picture of a display on which a fire is set

to guide the returning spirits to the entrance of their home. In the cen
ter is an egg plant standing on wooden legs which represents a horse which
can speed them on their homeward journey.
We congratulate our grandson, Cason Pratt, who was baptized into Christ
in August at the Orrville Church. He will be ten this December 27th. Rem
ember, Cason, that Jesus is more than a life-long friend. He will guide you
into eternal life. "He has said, 'I will never. . .forsake you'."

Speaking of baptisms, Shigeru Hasumi, a ^ year old English teacher at

a high school for nursing students was baptized on July 20th. He had
studied the Bible as a seeker constantly for more than fourteen years. His
weak legs have become increasingly unable to carry his body as it has got
ten heavier through the years. He had been stricken with polio since the
war.

Shortly after his baptism he was informed that his driver's license

could not be renewed.

Praise the Lord, however, he was able to acquire

Cason John Pratt

new Carina with automatic drive and hand controls so he has 'wheels' again.
So, he can attend the Machida Church and commute to his teaching job.
Still another baptism had been reported through the 'Epistle' just
years ago.

20

That is when Koji Moriyama from Ka.jiki obeyed his Lord at Moto-

su Camp. Recently he came for a visit and we celebrated that anniversary

together. He has continued faithful to the Lord along with his Christian
wife. They have two children. He teaches Social Science at a high school.

August P'+th was a memorable day.

A1 Hammond's youngest son, Billy lead

a team of four students from San Jose Bible College and we had an afternoon

exchange of music and testimony at Kinuta Park in Tokyo.

Four Osaka Bible

Seminary students including our own Hitoshi Nishiyama joined in the program.
Yuichi Nakagawa, known to his American friends as 'Nick' was married on

August
19b6 to Hiroko Hoshino. They spent their honeymoon in a tent
they roughed it together up in northern Honshu.

as
Yuichi and Hiroko

\
ind O.B.S. students

Congratulations, to Polly and Ernie Wilkinson upon the 60th anniver

sary of their marriage, September l^th. They have served the Lord faith
fully, lo, these many years and as you know, were forwarding agents for C.

J.C.M. for eighteen years. Ernie just recently asked to be relieved of

his duties as trustee. Polly continues to serve as our recording secre
tary. Both maintain a keen interest in the work and faithfully pray with
us. God bless you both with the best of health and spiritual sustenance.

Robert Wittenmyer, elder at Seerley Creek Christian Church, Indian

apolis, Ind. and long time associate of ours was chosen to serve in Ernie

Wilkinson's place as trustee. Bob and Marg served as our first Mailing
Secretaries way back in 1957 - 19^0. Welcome back on the teami
Many of you knew that Mary Lou Bauer, our Forwarding Agent was spend

ing three weeks with us in Japan thru Sept. 26th.

We certainly do appre

ciate her and Harry's valuable assistance in so many ways.

and all good forwarding agents.

God bless them

We have followed prayerfully the series of exchanges between Christ

ian Churches and Churches of Christ (non-instrumental) Stateside by tapes

and the printed page. For years we have had fellowship with the Elmer
Prouts and the Motoyuki Nomuras and enjoyed exchanges among our churches.
We had two such exchanges this summer. Many of you read the editorial in

the August 5t 1986 Christian Standard titled, "Faith and Fellowship in

Japan" by Elmer Prout.

Polly and Ernie

Coleen Burgett, the high school exchange student of whom he writes is the

granddaughter of the late Merle and Mrs. Eichelberger of Ashland, Ohio.

Her grandparents were

members of the Clear Creek Church which has supported our work during most of our time in Japan.

So, Coleen accompanied the Prouts on Easter Sunday when Brother Prout spoke at our Fifth Sunday
Rally. We were all inspired by Elmer's message at this year's Missionary Convention at Osaka.
Pray for the witness being made at Machida Church.
Sunday services continue with four min
isters taking turns at preaching. Paul teaches the Tuesday Bible School for children and leads
the Thursday evening Fellowship Hour. Since June, two persons have been baptized and one student
is just now transferring his membership.
er

Pray for the on-campus witness at Obirin College, also in Machida. Kathleen and Paul togeth
reach 270 college students with elective Bible Classes. Many of these, who come from all over

Japan,are studying the Bible for the very first time.

Paul continues serving as one of nine chap

lains with scheduled chapel-speaking opportunities. He is also faculty sponsor of Obirin Chris
tian Club teaching the group twice a month. They had a four-day retreat in September.
"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead...Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good

thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight,.." Heb. 13*20,21

Central Japan Christian Mission Inc.

1919^ Helen St.,

South Bend, Indiana, ^6637

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"God is light"

a'/a 7

3/

i'
CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION INC.

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light;

" Matt. 4:16

Japan Address

Address

S'tO

Mr. & Mrs. Paul S. Pratt

Church Planting

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

1210 Kamikasuya,

Student Evangelism

West ELbert St.

Indianapolis, Indiana,

Isehara City, Kanagawa Ken,

Literature Distribution

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^46217

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Tel. (317) 787-6755

Vol. XXX, No. 1, Winter, I986

Dear friends.

Often we speak of the 'spirit' of the holidays.

But in a foreign land we have noticed

that be it pagan or religious, the festival itself has a congenial, light-hearted spirit. The
spirit of the New Year's holiday in Japan is so. And it lasts over a three or four day cele
bration, The uniqueness of Christmas is deeper than a mood or spirit. It revolves around the
fact that heaven came down to earth in the person of the Babe of Bethlehem's manger.
Our special thanks to each of you for cards and gifts during the holidays. We'd like to
write each one personally. Please accept this as our note of appreciation to you. In Japan
we are doubly blessed each year. Besides the Christmas cards, our Japanese friends all over
the land keep in touch with us by that once a year New Year's greeting. And it is timed to be
delivered on January 1st.

Many of you received the notice from Mark and Lynn Pratt that they
have returned Stateside and have now resigned from C.J.C.M. as of Decem

ber 31, 19^^ Since they have served with students in the Campus Minis
try for ten years, there is a void that must be filled. Kathleen and I
have begun shuttling back and forth between Isehara and Machida for the
time being and are being assisted by other ministers.

Lynn's letter of January 28th gave cause for real rejoicing. Karis
Ann was baptized into Christ on Saturday, January 23, I986 at the Church
of Christ in Orrville where they are attending. She is the first of our
seven grandchildren to make this, life's most important decision. There

is certainly rejoicing in heaven, too.

Orrville, Ohio, ^4667.
,

Their address is 622 E. Oak St.,

God is planning for us on the long-range level.

TT-

Hi-

Karis Ann Pratt

toshi Nishiyama, 28, (Paul's Epistle, Sept. I982) a graduate of Daito Univer
sity has resigned from his salaried position at Yaohan Supermarket Chain (they

have one store in Fresno)^ enter Osaka Bible Seminary in April, 1986. ^He is
not sure what God has for him as yet, but is "ready to do God's will".
knowing that God will surely guide such a willing heart.
Hitoshi

Nishiyama

Pray,

Speaking of O.B.S., Sachiko (Hashimoto), her husband Rodney Friese and

one year old Cynthia Marie will be visiting back in Japan through February and
March. After attending Osaka Bible College, Sachiko was married to Rod in

Slayton, Minnesota in I985 (Paul's Epistle, March, I983).

_A special vote of thanks is due our Central Japan Christian Mission trustees.

Ernie Wil

kinson, Roger Burnham, and Harold Akers, all of South Bend, Ind. and Harry Bauer of Indiana
polis, Ind. have served faithfully for many years. Carl Chapman, of Carmel, Ind. was added to
the group in January of last year. They have shared many hours in prayer and work, getting
together for meetings and writing letters in efforts to find solutions to problems. Each of
their wives, too, has been active in the function of the mission.

Some of the young men whom we have taught have really 'gone places'. Some of you have met

Susumu Kojima who is responsible for setting up the Industrial Bank of Japan in Washington, D.
Tsunematsu, a graduate of Obirin who helped us arrange Christian camps has been in
London for eleven years. He has his own tourist bureau and has set up a Soseki Natsume Muse
um there to honor the famous Japanese novelist. Most recently, Yoshihisa Kanda was sent to
Belgium by the Morgan Guarantee Trust Co. to be on the staff of the branch bank there.

Mrs. Inaba, 76, started coming to our Sannobara Church after hearing
Hideko Domen's songs on the radio.

Her mother, at 102, was in a nearby nur-

sing home, being cared for by her roommate, a younger sister of 87. The go-

JlFfc

Im

vernor of Kanagawa Prefecture took a poll asking his fifty centenarians "To

what do you attribute your long life?". Mrs. Shimamura was the only one to
reply, "It is because I have faith in God". What an epitath to carve
for

herself? And what a reminder she leaves to us. It is one thing to receive

all God*s blessings. It is still another to give praise to God who "hast
j done all these great things". (II Sam. 7520-223 I became acquainted with her

^^ jPIrP before her passing, November I8, 1985 The funeral was a service of victory.
.
A missionary's
Mrs. .T
Nao i
Shimamura
, ,
^-rr life
^ is never
^ boring.
^

During our ,
summer school
a
.r
i. young
^

passed awa
at 102 that called
expecting
theopen
preacher
provide
funeral service
her catfor
away a
had fallen
into her
ofuroto
(bath)
andadrowned.
Then a for
candidate
the yakuza (Japanese mafia) came the day before he was to be inducted to counsel about it.
another, an angry young husband came to counsel

with a kitchen knife

in

his belt.

not decide whether he intended suicide or to take the life of his estranged wife.

Yet

We could

After counsel

ing and prayer, he left the knife on the table which was later picked up by the police.

Then,

of course, the real thrill to the missionary comes when, as Kathleen experienced recently, a stu
dent requested, "Teach me more about Jesus".

Then, to hear

him affirm his faith in Christ

is

the greatest joy.

Kathleen was looking in her suitcase for something. Shara, five at the time, watching, in
quired, "What are you finding, grandma?" We thought, "What a positive type question?" We were
reminded of our task in Japan. Through the power of your praters, we are here finding those
who need His salvation.

Another college year has been completed. Once again I taught about 73 students in ray Bi
ble Seminar Course using Josh McDowell's text, "More Then A Carpenter". Here is a brief re
port from the survey I took:

53 students cooperated in the survey.

^0 students agreed that 'Jesus

God'. (Japanese title is "Is He God or A Carpenter?")

9 students checked, "I have a different opinion".

27 students declared that they were caused to think about God more through this study
than at any other time in their lives.

(No!

Grades had nothing to do with it since no one signed the survey sheet.)

Should you not receive a receipt for your gift, it is possible that some mail has gotten
lost. If you have any question about mail, please write. It might have gotten lost.
This summer's North American Convention is unique with several missionary speakers.
Sims and Leone Cole will be representing Japan at Indianapolis.

Harold

Drop by C.J.C.M.'s booth.

d./-tr
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Tjx jt/(7)

/fj

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION INC.

The people which sat in darkness saw great light;.." Matt. 4:16
Japan Address
Mr. Si Mrs. Paul S. Pratt

U.S. Addresa

Hra. Marjr Lou Bauer

ZUQ

Church Planting

1210 Kamikasuya.

Student Evangelism

Vest Clbert St.

Literature Distribution

Indianapolis, Indiana,

Bible Correspondence Course

Isehora City, Kanugawa Ken,

259-11

Tel. (0'i63) 96-1192

Tel. (317) 787-6753

Vol. XXX, No.

Dear i'rieiids,

Thanksgiving-Christmas, 1986

"T WILL PRAISE THE NAME OF GOD WITH A SONG, AND WILL MAGNIFY HIM WITH THANKSGIVING."

(Psalms 60:30)

"...IN EVERY THING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR RE

QUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD." (Philippians ^:6)

During Forwarding Agent Mary Lou's visit it all

went like clock-work. We were able to hear the Tokyo

Symphony and witness the dedication of Camp Zama's re
furbished chapel. She gave greetings from all of you
to the Sannobara and Machida Churches.

The Shimokawas

arranged for a tea ceremony and a koto, samisen and

shakuhachi concert. The latter began as a private con

cert and since it was on a holiday more than 27 per
sons attended. She got her.share of Japanese foods,
sightseeing and shopping, too. With a video camera
she was able to capture both colored sights and sounds.

She has a program (slides, video and display) and will

travel.

So do Harold and Neomia Akers who still take

every chance to present our work.

How blessed we arel

Mary Lou's phone number is listed above.

The Akers can

be reached at 219-288-0098.
What a weekend we had Nov. 8-10!

Yoshii and Masako Invited

Hideto

Eddie)

down to their church

Onga, Kita Kyushu for evangelism.

in

They expressed their

appreciation to us and to all of you for assisting him

in his schooling. "The church which is in his house"
is in Dia New Town, a housing area of 300Q population,
a five minute walk from Onga Gawa station area with a
population of 20,000 more. The church has provided
him with a second car and they are seeking for land on
which to build.

Like David, Hideto is small, but like

David, his God is great against his Goliath-like task.

Hideto extends his witness thru a Christian girls

high school and advanced nursing school of 1^00 girls.

Form For Mailing Update

(Clip this out and mail it

to

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

2^0 W, Elbert Street,

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46217

Change my address
Send the 'Epistle' directly to me
Drop my name from your list
My correct address is:

The Yoshii's address is 55-2

New Town> Onga Cho,
Onga Gun, Fukuoka Ken, 8ll-^5. Japan.
More than a year has passed since Mark and
returned to the States.

Lynn

Various preachers have served

the Machida Church during that time.

Bill and Betty

Turner, who have served in Japan for 21 years have an

nounced that they will come to Machida. They will be

moving in during the first week of the new year, 198?.

We, along with the church members at Machida, 'have our
necks extended' as we say in Japanese, awaiting their
arrival. We are assured that your prayers will continu:in behalf of this ministry and for them, too.
Remember we asked you to pray for Hitoshi Nishiyama,
that Godi would lead him in his future? With just seven

months of study at Osaka Bible Seminary h has realized

the need for ministers of the gospel and has decided to
continue at O.B.S. three more years. He is enthusias
tically talking about ways of evangelism. God still
answers prayer.

The Yoshii's home is the Onga Church

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let; us find our rest in Thee.

Israel'sj strength and consolation,

Hop^ of ail the earth Thou art;

Dear Desjire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
I

Charles Wesley

Central Japan Christian Mission Inc

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