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stepping
stones a prayer letter of Iwa
Transforming Ministry and Leadership in our Community
December 1996, Number 96-2
Christmas:
God’s High Cost and High Risk Investment
Dear
Iwa friends and family,
At
year-end, many review the returns on their investments. When
we read the beginning of the Bible, we realize God invested
a whole lot in us. He made us the pinnacle of His creation,
giving us authority over all the earth. He wanted us to be
fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. How did
that investment pan out? Not great, right? We were not exactly
blue-chip stock. You would think that God might have learned
His lesson the first go-around, but He didn’t. Rather
than give up on us, count His losses, and move on to something
better, what did God do? Christmas! He made the most costly
investment He has ever made. He sent His only Son to die on
the cross in an attempt to save us from self-annihilation.
What do you think the chances are that God’s investment
on our behalf will turn out to be a good one this time, especially
among Japanese, Japanese Americans and Asian Americans? Only
3% have responded to Christ so far.
Do
you think today’s financial consultants would have advised
God to invest in dying humanity by sending Jesus? I think
God’s wisdom and His love had a very serious discussion
before the righteousness of God decided what needed to be
done. He must have believed we were well worth the extremely
high cost and high risk of sending Jesus. Or, His love so
overwhelmed His sanity that He was compelled to take the risk
and pay the cost no matter what the return. His heart still
aches for a full return on His costly investment - measured
in eternal lives.
What
are we willing to invest for God? Are we willing to make an
investment similar to God’s so others might receive eternal
life? When we look back into history at the sparse return
on the sacrificial investment made to bring Japanese, Japanese
Americans and Asian Americans to Christ, do we chalk up our
losses and move on to where dividends are more likely? Or,
do we dig in and make an even greater investment at deeper
personal cost as the Heavenly Father had done, in hopes of
a spiritual breakthrough to the minds and hearts of those
who have not yet responded to Christ’s cross? What does
God’s love compel us to do?
There
is no better time than now to invest in the Lord’s ministry
through Iwa. Iwa exists to enable Christians and churches
to join together, share resources and focus efforts so more
Japanese, Japanese American and Asian American lives might
be transformed by Christ. Recent signs indicate Iwa’s
mission is being fulfilled like never before. We are excited
about how Christians and churches are responding to our consulting,
speaking, training, materials and call to prayer. The door
is open wide for us to provide ministry resources leading
to spiritual renewal and more effective leadership development,
evangelism and church planting in our community.
And,
a major provision from God is standing at that door that will
enable us to multiply our service and productivity many fold.
That provision is Cyril Nishimoto, our soon-to-be, new Executive
Director. When Cyril moves from New York around March and
assumes his responsibilities at Iwa, I will be freed to spend
most of my time developing seminars, workshops, Bible studies
and leadership training materials in addition to consulting,
speaking and training. Cyril will bring his own gifts and
experience to these ministry activities as well.
But,
adding Cyril to the staff of Iwa will not only bring greater
productivity and service, but more expenses as well. These
include increased office space, ministry and overhead expenses,
and additional office furniture and equipment.
Please
prayerfully consider whether the Lord would have you make
a special Christmas or year-end gift to help us bring Cyril
on board, equipped and funded to really make a difference.
Better yet, please pray about pledging or increasing your
pledge to Iwa to guarantee that we will be able to produce
all the ministry and training resources Cyril’s addition
to our staff will enable us to provide. Make an investment
that reaps eternal dividends this Christmas. God did!
Thank
you so much for your support and prayers. Have a wonderful
Christmas and New Year!
Rejoicing
with you,
Stanley
K. Inouye
President
15th
Anniversary Celebration
When the suggestion was made by a board
member to hold a banquet in celebration of Iwa’s 15th
anniversary, I remember cringing at the idea. Anyone who has
put on a wedding dinner reception knows what it takes to put
on a banquet. A whole lot of hard work! With these thoughts,
I objected. But, I didn’t object long.
As
the board discussed what we should do about our 15th anniversary,
what emerged was the conviction that we had no choice. We
had to celebrate. We needed to thank and worship God for what
He has done for and through Iwa’s ministry. We needed
to thank our friends and family who have prayed and given
so faithfully. The decision was unanimous, me included.
Coming
up with an invitation and recognition list was an incredible
experience. As I went through Iwa’s mailing list of almost
2,000 to pull out certain names I wanted to be sure received
a special invitation to the banquet, I was overwhelmed by
the part played by so many in enabling Iwa to survive and
thrive over the years. In the end, we recognized, in person,
our founding board and staff. We also listed on the back of
the banquet program over 90 names of people who served as
board members, staff, associates, volunteers, and in other
specific ways. I am still remembering people I have overlooked.
Please forgive me if you are one of them. This list did not
even include the churches and hundreds of Christians who have
prayed and financially supported Iwa throughout our history.
It
was through this process I became truly thankful for the miracle
that is Iwa and the privilege it has been to partner with
so many in a task so near and dear to not only our hearts,
but most of all, to the heart of God. Iwa has been a team
effort all along. We had to thank, worship and celebrate together.
And, that’s just what we did.
Approximate
125 attended Iwa’s Anniversary Banquet at Almansor Court
in Alhambra on September 28, the exact anniversary date of
Iwa’s incorporation 15 years before. Board member, Dexter
Yuen and his wife, Bessie, did a tremendous job coordinating
the entire event. Bessie personally arranged the flowers for
each table. Worship music was led by Roland Hazama and a worship
team. A drama team from Anaheim Japanese Free Methodist Church
presented, in mime, the Parable of the Prodigal Son
as they had previously dramatized it as part of Iwa’s
From Stumbling Stones to Stepping Stones workshop held
at their church. Board member, Dave Akiyama, creatively spun-off
from the famous folktale, Momotaro, to explain the mission
and ministry of Iwa through his telling of the story of Iwa-taro.
Arlene
Inouye, Senior Associate Pastor of Discipleship at Evergreen
Baptist Church, former founding staff member of Iwa, and current
Iwa Associate, shared about Iwa’s early years and how
the Lord used Iwa to prepare her for her ministry at Evergreen.
Kevin Hom told of Iwa’s influence upon how he and his
wife, Pauline, share their lives and faith in Christ with
non-Christians, providing a foundation for his new role as
pastor of recent church plant, Lord’s Community Church,
in Fremont, California. Wayne Ogimachi, Senior Pastor of rapidly
growing Christian Layman Church in the San Francisco Bay Area
and Iwa board member, related how Iwa has helped unite the
leaders of his church around God’s vision for them and
usher them through several transitions of growth. My wife,
Janie, gave an inside look into the life of Iwa by sharing
evidence she has seen of God’s hand directing Iwa throughout
the years.
We
recognized the special role the founding board and staff played
in Iwa’s founding by presenting them with personalized
plaques displaying our 15th anniversary logo designed by Tosh
Ikiri and embroidered by Tony Lam. We then introduced the
Board, Staff, and Associates of Iwa. It was a thrill to announce
the addition of 8 new board members, doubling the size of
our board. Finally, we revealed the identity of the mystery
man we’ve been praying about for so many months, our
new Executive Director, Cyril Nishimoto. Cyril, as chairperson
of our board, also served as master of ceremonies throughout
the evening. Our time together ended with a surprise gift
from the board. Janie and I were given a travel gift certificate,
helping us take a trip to Canon Beach, Oregon to celebrate
our 25th wedding anniversary.
The
banquet was a terrific culmination to our first Annual National
Board Meeting where we experienced an unmistakable sense of
growing teamwork and momentum. What I believe was obvious
to all who were there is that Iwa is the Lord’s work.
His sovereignty was so evident all along the way as we recounted
Iwa’s history. We were able to realize and appreciate
all God had done in the past, providing us with a helpful
way of projecting how mightily the Lord is going to work in
the future. If you weren’t there, I wish you were! -ski-
Igniting the Fire
In
our last Stepping stones, we featured an article on
prayer as a prerequisite for revival. It is out of our conviction
for the necessity of prayer that Iwa is sponsoring a series
of prayer gatherings. We are calling people to come together
and pray for renewal and evangelization in the Asian American
community. Our hope is that the passion for prayer would grow
into a movement where many would commit themselves to gather
and pray.
Our
first prayer gathering, “Pray for the Wave”, was
held on July 27, at Evergreen Baptist Church in Rosemead.
It was exciting to see approximately 35 people of various
ages, churches, denominations and parachurch ministries pray
in unity to God for an outpouring of His Spirit on our community.
I
felt deeply moved to see and hear these prayer warriors humble
themselves before God, groaning in the Spirit, beseeching
God to pour out his mercy and breathe new life into our churches.
And God did not disappoint us. He met us there and made His
presence felt by everyone. I think all would agree the prayer
gathering was something that was authored by God’s Spirit.
Encouraged
by the sense of God’s presence at the first gathering,
Iwa sponsored a second prayer gathering, “Ignite the
Fire”, on November 23, at Anaheim Japanese Free Methodist
Church. Again, there was a group of about 35 people. It was
a wonderful time of worship, prayer and fellowship. There
was also a sense of a growing excitement and desire for prayer.
Please
be open to the Spirit leading you to pray for revival and
evangelism in the Asian American community, and come to the
prayer gatherings in your area. -jaa-
Revival Watch
One of the things that has increased my faith for revival
is hearing of concrete ways God is working in our community
to bring it about. I hope the things listed below will also
build up your faith and encourage you to pray.
1.
The formation of R.I.C.E. (Reaching, Instructing, Challenging,
Empowering) Harvest, a group with a vision for renewal and
evangelism in the Asian American community. R.I.C.E. Harvest
has been meeting every other month to pray, and has also sponsored
prayer walks in Little Tokyo and Chinatown - a sign that God
is raising up serious prayer warriors.
2.
The new church plant, Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, in
Bellevue, Washington. Though the church was birthed only approximately
8 months ago, they have been averaging about 100 people, and
recently reached a maximum of about 140 - a sign that God
is putting church planting on the hearts of Asian American
Christians and blessing such efforts.
3.
Japanese Evangelization Center’s (JEC) Evangelism Seminar
on October 26 - a sign God is building unity among Christian
leaders. (see Historic Evangelism Seminar)
4.
Iwa’s evangelism workshop at San Fernando Valley Holiness
Church. Their emphasis on evangelism is a sign that God is
putting the lost on the hearts of entire congregations.
5.
Many Asian American leaders attended the “Leading and
Preaching to Change Lives” conference featuring John
Maxwell and Bill Hybels - a sign that God is raising up and
developing leaders in our community.
6.
The hiving of Evergreen Baptist Church into two congregations.
Pastor Cory Ishida will be hiving off to pastor the “away”
church and Ken Fong was installed on November 3, as the senior
pastor of the “stay” church - a sign that God is
restructuring existing ministries for renewed purpose and
growth.
7.
Pastor Mike Yokoy’s visits to Japan. They have resulted
in establishing connections with ministries there and a renewed
vision for Nichibei Christian Fellowship in Portland, Oregon.
This renewed vision is to help evangelize and disciple students
who come to the States, and then establish them in Christian
networks when they return home - a sign that God is working
to establish brighter points of light in Japan.
8. The response to Dr. Shin Asami’s teachings at various
Japanese American churches. God has been anointing his teaching.
Niseis, especially, are responding with new and recommitments
to the Lord - a sign that God is indeed ready and willing
to reach out in love to Asian American people.
9.
More connections with others having a heart for prayer, revival
and evangelism. Martin Chow of Metawake Revival and Evangelism,
Inc. recently contacted me about our prayer gatherings. He
is also working toward a vision for revival and evangelism
especially among Chinese Americans - a sign that God is continuing
to build unity and a movement of prayer.
We
would love to hear about any of the signs you may be witnessing.
Please write, call or e-mail us if you have some exciting
news about what God is doing!
-jaa-
“Fishing”
at San Fernando Valley Holiness
Why is it that only 3% of Japanese Americans enjoy
a relationship with Jesus Christ? Do Japanese Americans really
“hear” the Gospel when it is presented in the usual
fashion? There must be a better way to share our faith with
the people we love.
In
keeping with San Fernando’s focus on evangelism, Iwa
conducted a half-day workshop entitled Our Heart’s
Deepest Burden: That They May Believe. This workshop presented
how our Japanese culture influences the way we relate to our
family, friends, and others who venture into our paths. Stan
explained the concept of omoiyari or empathy. Japanese people
value communicating non-verbally and being non-confrontational.
He showed us how to understand these qualities and incorporate
them when we share our faith.
At
the beginning of the workshop, we were treated to
a wonderfully mimed skit comparing good and bad evangelism
through the illustration of fishing. As good fishers of men,
we must take the time to prepare - by understanding the people
we want to reach and by nurturing relationships with them.
The rest of the workshop brought home the idea that evangelism
is not hit-and-run - sharing the “plan of salvation”
and expecting them to make THE decision on the spot. The workshop
helped the participants understand that evangelism is a process
that takes time...our time...to form relationships and cultivate
trust. Those from Japanese cultures trust the person more
than what the person actually says.
It
was exciting to see so many at my church come to an evangelism
workshop. To be on fire for evangelism gives an entirely different
perspective to our days and how we relate to those we love.
It gives what we say eternal meaning; it gives our conversations
and relationships eternal value. -eaf-
HISTORIC
EVANGELISM SEMINAR
The Lord is at work in historically unprecedented
ways to network Christian leaders in the Japanese, Japanese
American and Asian American community for the sake of reaching
the 97% who are not yet Christians. At no other time in recent
history has such a comprehensive representation of Japanese
and Japanese American Christian ministry leaders cooperated
together to offer insight and training on effective evangelism
among people of Japanese ancestry in the United States than
at the all-day evangelism seminar sponsored by the Japanese
Evangelization Center (JEC) on Saturday, October 26, at Mission
Valley Japanese Free Methodist Church. Nearly 90 attended,
with strong representation from both Japanese- and English-speaking
segments of our community. There was also an impressive mix
according to age, gender, church and denomination.
The
event offered seminars, a plenary session and panel. The morning
seminars on personal evangelism and church planting were offered
simultaneously in English and Japanese. Dr. Shin Asami, new
Executive Director of Missionary Strategy Agency (MSA) focused
in English on personal evangelism; and Rev. Toshikatsu Kamiyama
spoke in Japanese on the same subject. Dr. John Mizuki, director
of JEC and former superintendent of the Pacific Coast Japanese
Conference of the Free Methodist Church, spoke in both languages
on church planting.
After
lunch, Dr. Arthur Glasser, Dean Emeritus and Senior Professor
of East Asian Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary’s
School of World Mission, gave a plenary address entitled Evangelism
from a Biblical Perspective.
A
panel discussion moderated by Dr. Shin Asami, concluded the
day. Mr. Toshio Maehara, President of Christian Businessmen’s
Association, shared about Japanese church planting in the
United States. Rev. Sam Tonomura, Executive Director of Japanese
Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS), addressed Japanese
American church planting. Dr. John Miyabe, also a former superintendent
of the Pacifica Coast Japanese Conference of the Free Methodist
Church, spoke about effective Nisei evangelism. And, Iwa’s
President, Stan Inouye, focused on effective evangelism among
Sanseis by presenting a summary of the practical guidelines
offered during the half-day workshop version of Iwa’s
seminar, Hearing the Gospel with Asian American Ears.
What
a great opportunity it was to learn from the research and
ministry experience of some of those most focused upon evangelism
and church planting in our community. This event is a sure
sign that God is, indeed, working to build unity among His
people and instill a greater passion for evangelism. Praise
God for Christ’s Spirit moving among us! -ski-
New
Faces
Absolutely amazing! We almost doubled Iwa’s National
Board all at the same time. We just added eight new Board
Members, one new Iwa Associate, along with our soon-to-be
new Executive Director to Iwa’s ministry team. Space
will not allow us to introduce you to all of them in this
issue of Stepping stones, so we will highlight a few
this time and the rest later. Three of the eight are Jo Ann
Kaba, Derek Kamemoto and Keith Tsujimoto. Our new Iwa Associate
is Pete Morris.
Keith Tsujimoto - I am Director of Ministry Development
at Anaheim Japanese Free Methodist Church. I pastor a contemporary
worship service/ministry called “The Gathering”
which meets on Sunday at 11am. My wife, Jackie, is currently
Director of Member Development and Training for Christian
Management Association.
Jackie
and I have been married for 10 years and reside in Chino Hills,
California.
Pete
Morris - I became interested in Iwa because of a long-standing
friendship with Stan and Janie Inouye. I first met Stan and
Janie when I was one of Stan’s students at the School
of World Mission at Fuller Seminary. While still at Fuller,
as part of Stan’s class, I began a ministry to Latin
street gangs in Los Angeles, which later evolved into a church
plant. My wife, Susan, and I were involved with that ministry
from 1977 to 1987. Since that time, I have been working as
a graphic artist. We are members of First Presbyterian Church
of Altadena, where Susan is an elder. We live in Los Angeles
with four of our five daughters.
Jo Ann Kaba - I committed my life to Christ at an altar
call in 3rd grade at the Venice-Santa Monica Free Methodist
Church. I attended Cal State, Northridge and received my elementary
teaching credential there in 1974. For 7 years, I taught in
Inglewood and then 2 years at a private Christian school.
I am beginning my 10th year on staff at Cerritos Baptist Church
as the Children’s Ministries Director. I am currently
the chairperson of the Ideas Exchange, an annual conference
serving children’s workers in the Asian American churches
of Southern California. I’m also serving as the Library
Chairperson for the Torrance Council of PTAs.
Brian
and I have been married for 19 years and have two children,
Keri (15) and Kaycee (12).
Derek Kamemoto - I grew up in Hawaii on the island
of Oahu. I came to faith while studying for an engineering
degree at Princeton University and I grew through a campus
ministry group. Since that time, I have worked in Virginia
and the San Francisco Bay Area. I
recently completed three years of study at Fuller Theological
Seminary and am preparing to enter full-time ministry in 1997.
I’m particularly interested in helping people to grow
and mature in their Christian faith. My hobbies are fishing,
golfing, and playing volleyball.
My
wife, Audrey, and I were married three-and-a-half years ago.
She also attended Fuller, receiving a degree in cross cultural
studies, and is currently working in the records department
at a college in Los Angeles. We attend Mission Valley Free
Methodist Church in San Gabriel.
Praise
and Prayer Requests
Praise the Lord for the increased prayer, spiritual
renewal and greater passion for evangelism in our community.
Please
pray Cyril will be able to join us as soon as possible and
that we will have the resources to make the most of his coming.
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