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stepping
stones a prayer letter of Iwa
Transforming Ministry and Leadership in our Community
April 1994, Number 94-1
SPECIAL
WORKSHOP ISSUE
Opening night of a new stage production is always filled with
hopes and risks. Did we do everything we could to prepare?
Will the message get through, or it it confused? Will this
show be a success, or will it bomb? What will the critics
think?
Questions
similar to this filled our prayers as Iwa prepared to offer
for the first time a new workshop for laypersons and leaders.
It addresses directly the very hunger our community feels
and which challenges its Christian leaders. Titled From Stumbling
Blocks to Stepping Stones, it is the first in a series of
workshops on personal renewal and evangelism. The workshop
deals with three major stumbling blocks to the faith of Japanese,
Japanese Americans and Asian Americans: suffering, sin and
shame. The purpose of the workshop is to address these stumbling
blocks in such a way that God can turn them into stepping
stones of renewed faith or even new faith in Jesus Christ.
The workshop is focused on a fresh look at the parable of
the lost sons (or prodigal son) in the fifteenth chapter of
Luke, from a uniquely Asian American perspective.
A
prototype of the workshop presentations was given to a young
adults retreat sponsored by the Japanese American United Church
of New York.
Iwa board member Cyril Nishimoto is a leader of this group.
The gratifying response gave us encouragement as we prepared
for the first actual workshop presentation. That was this
past January in Seattle, co-sponsored by Japanese Baptist
and Japanese Presbyterian Churches. Much of the ground work
for the workshop was laid by Seattle native John Okamoto,
a member of our board of directors and director of personnel
for the City of Seattle. He and his local committee did such
a great job that 54 people came from a half-dozen churches-a
remarkable number for the first workshop by a ministry relatively
unknown to most Japanese, Japanese American and Asian American
laypersons in the Pacific Northwest, a region where that community
is relatively small.
The
first time for any event is always the most difficult. The
success or failure of our first workshop could make or break
all those held in the future. Needless to say, we prayed a
lot. God answered our prayers. Let's let some of the participants
speak for themselves from their evaluations of the workshop.
When
asked, “What did you find the most helpful about the
presentation, ‘God’s Solutions to Our Suffering?’”,
one person wrote, “Because of God’s love for us,
he makes us realize that we are partners with Christ in suffering.
The flip side of suffering is joy through it.” “Suffering
is positive and not meant to bring us down,” replied
another. “Now I want to share my suffering with others--more
so Who comforts me when I suffer.” “God is amazing!”,
one person replied. “How patient He is and how forgiving!”
Another rejoiced in “How God lets us go when we turn
our backs on him and is always there to receive us when we
are ready to come home. His grace is more than sufficient
for what I need.”
What
did participants find most helpful about Part Two, dealing
with the parable’s faithful older son who stayed home?
“I thought it was very eye-opening,” wrote one person.
“I think it presented a whole new way of looking at this
text that I had never thought of or heard. . . .Thank you.”
Another participant replied, “That [the older son] is
a prodigal as well. I can really identify with this good son.
I’ve been taking credit when it is really the Spirit
[who deserves credit].”
“Very
refreshing perspective on Luke 15,” wrote one person
when asked about how God used this workshop overall to make
a difference in their life. “Good challenges. Extremely
convicting for a Type-A ‘older son.’ Thanks. Very
useful.” Replied another, “Will make an effort as
a parent to let [my] teenager know that while I sometimes
am disappointed with her shortcomings (I do this often) to
also tell her that I still love her as God loves us.”
Finally, this response:
“It
gave me better insight as to how to witness to our families
and acquaintances. Understanding that God loves us and wants
to know us.” It is obvious to us that God worked powerfully
through this first workshop. There were many tear-filled eyes
as people shared experiences of suffering in their lives.
During the communion service, people were invited to come
forward and pray before they received the elements. Many spent
a long time in prayer, some releasing great burdens through
many tears. After the conference ended, a young woman came
to Stan with a sobering, tearful personal revelation. The
presentations made her realize what a good man her non-Christian
father was--yet how lost he was at the same time. She wanted
nothing less than for her father to “come home”
to his heavenly Father.
You
can’t imagine how filled we are with thanksgiving and
praise to God for this kind of response. Flush with the encouraging
impact of the Seattle workshop, we've begun to plan and schedule
repeat presentations in both northern and southern California.
All of them will begin with check-in at 8:30am and will continue
until 4:00pm. The day includes presentations by Stan Inouye,
small group interaction, personal quiet time and worship.
A celebration of the Lord's Supper will climax the day. Lunch
and child care are available. For registration and information,
please call the appropriate persons listed.
That's
not all! We are in discussions with American Baptist congregations
here in Southern California. And if you are in a church or
region which might be interested in hosting this workshop,
please contact us. We'd be happy to discuss the possibilities
of holding the workshop near you.
BAY
AREA BLAST - April 16
Shortly
after the Seattle workshop, we pulled together a dynamic group
of leaders from eight Asian American churches in the San Francisco
Bay Area. We presented a proposal to hold the workshop in
the region. Their response was so enthusiastic that one member
exclaimed, “What are we waiting for?” For an April
16 workshop they’ve planned to send invitations to 70
churches extending from the Bay Area in the north to Monterey
County in the south and east to the San Joaquin Valley. The
site is San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church, 615 Lewelling
Blvd., San Lorenzo, tel. (510)483-9455. For further information
please call Jenny Goto, (510)849-1910; John and Joyce Morey,
(415)571-5347; Wayne Ogimachi, (510)526-5855; Nancy Sugikawa,
(415)852-7576; Ellen Tanouye, (415)664-5335; Lawrence and
Ellen Yano, (510)881-8123.
They're
Here! URBAN SPRAWL IN SOUTHERN CAL
The large Japanese, Japanese American and Asian American community
in Southern California won’t be left out of the picture,
either. The community is so large here that we decided to
do the workshops by denomination and in several sites across
the Southland. Though these workshops are being held by denomination,
all persons are welcome to register for any of them regardless
of denominational affiliation.
May
7 - First Presbyterian, Altadena
Plans are also under way to hold the workshop for five area
Japanese Presbyterian Churches at First Presbyterian of Altadena,
California on May 7. This is the congregation where Stan is
an Elder and Keith serves as a Parish Associate. Because of
our personal association with this congregation, we've wanted
to do something with them for a long time--and here's our
chance. We hope that many others from all five Southern California
Japanese Presbyterian churches will also attend. The church
is located at 2775 Lincoln Ave., Altadena, (818)791-4271.
For further information, contact Stan Inouye or Keith Edwards
at the Iwa office, (818)358-8077.
May
21 - Anaheim Free Methodist
We took the idea to Iwa board members who are ministers in
the Pacific Coast Japanese Conference of the Free Methodist
Church, one of whom is conference superintendent. Their response
was immediate, and conference pastors added their endorsement
for the May 21 event. Our other Free Methodist clergy board
member, Gail Yoshimine of the conference church in Anaheim,
California, took it to her church board, and they made it
into an all-church event. The attendance is expected to be
large enough that everyone is urged to register early. Anaheim
Japanese Free Methodist Church is located at 1001 N. Mayflower
St., Anaheim, (714) 827-0782. For further infomration,
please call John Honda, (310)542-6210; Rich Hong, (310)539-8663;
Audrey Kakimoto, (818) 577-7183; Kenji Kobayashi, (213) 256-2782;
Jim Miyabe, (310822-8094; Alan Oda, (909)683-3875; or John
Yoshimine, (714)828-4471.
June
11 - San Fernando Holiness
The workshop is also set for June 11 for at San Fernando Valley
church, 9610 Haddon Ave., Pacoima, (818)896-1676. Again, we
hope to see a good turnout from the region's OMS Holiness
churches. For further information, please call Pastor Rob
Yonemoto at the church, or church member Ellen Fukuyama at
the Iwa office, (818)358-8077.
Departing
Board Member — Meet Gail Yoshimine
Gail Yoshimine is about to end her service on Iwa's Board
of Directors--a great loss indeed! We'd like you to know a
little bit more why we like her so much. We asked Gail to
talk about Iwa, her involvement with us, and Iwa's impact
on her and her ministry:
Why
did you get involved with the ministry of Iwa?
I’ve been personally encouraged and impacted by its ministries
and by some of the people who are involved in Iwa ministries.
Why
is Iwa so important? In other words, what does Iwa do that
no other ministry is doing?
Iwa is making intentional efforts to not only network relationally
with the Asian American faith community, but seeks to encourage
and stimulate their leadership to minister more effectively.
Iwa has impressed me with their intentional energies to integrate
cultural and theological study to create resources for the
Japanese and Asian American faith community to grow in effectiveness
of reaching the lost and discipling them. And how we desperately
need help, if only 97% of Japanese Americans don’t know
Jesus as Lord!
How
has Iwa made the most impact on your personal life and ministry?
I remember back in seminary when I was struggling with where
God was calling me to serve and the validity of ethnic ministries,
I was strongly impressed by one of Iwa’s early kaki seed
publications. It recognized ways in which Asian American cultural
characteristics are distinctly different from mainstream culture,
thus revealing the crucial need to rethink and reshape our
church ministries and mindset. This was key in considering
my future and my perspective of ministry.
Iwa’s
purpose and calling impact me because it means reaching people
for Jesus who are so important to me - the community that
includes my relatives, friends and others in the circles of
our lives. It shakes me up that 97% of this community don’t
know Jesus! I want to partner up with those who have that
calling and work together to see God’s kingdom increase!
I’m expectant of Iwa’s ministry because of the resources
and vision that God has given them.
What
impact has Iwa had on the health and growth of Anaheim Japanese
Free Methodist Church?
I remember when Iwa--Stan--did a series in our Adult Sunday
School called Fishing with a Bamboo Pole. I enjoyed watching
people respond with light bulbs clicking on as they realized
how our cultural identity greatly impacts the way we perceive
and demonstrate faith in Jesus. I think it influenced our
children’s ministry to innovate a successful cultural
Sunday School series; and opened our thinking to consider
and shape ministry with a fuller appreciation and acknowledgment
of our cultural identity.
What
do you want to say that would encourage people to support
Iwa?
If 97% of the Japanese/Asian American people in the U.S. are
not Christian, traditional methods and ministries are not
effective! I believe God has called Iwa - giving them vision,
heart and mind for the unreached 97%! Realizing Iwa’s
journey of striving, surviving and blessing others makes me
a convinced supporter of their ministries. How about you?
Praise
God! Iwa Three-peats on Stewardship Grant
For the third year in a row, the Stewardship Foundation of
Tacoma, Washington has offered Iwa a $10,000 matching grant.
That's great news in and of itself. But what moves us the
most is the tremendous encouragement we received from Mr.
C. Davis Weyerhaeuser.
You've
probably seen that name before on many pulp and paper products
such as boxes and milk cartons. Mr. Weyerhaeuser is one of
the giants in the industry. He is also a very committed Christian.
He and his family started a foundation, and they named it
Stewardship because of the great responsibility they feel
in being good stewards of the many blessings they've received
from God. That name is reflected in the encouragement we received
from them: They believe in the ministry of Iwa. They've made
this investment because they want to see more people supporting
this ministry, especially those new people who will offer
a regular monthly pledge. Praise God from Whom all blessings
flow!
This
matching grant means that if Iwa can raise $10,000 on its
own from new monthly supporters and designated one-time
gifts, the Stewardship Foundation will match the amount
with another $10,000. Please pray about your gift to this
special matching gift. If you feel so led, please make
your checks payable to Iwa and designate it specifically to
Matching Grant.
The
people at the Stewardship Foundation have truly established
a warm relationship with us. Recently the foundation's board
of directors met, and it was the first time that "C.
Davis" had to miss the meeting, due to a serious illness.
Please join us in prayer for the healing and recovery of
a true steward of God's gifts.
-
Please pray for spiritual renewal among christians and churches
through the workshops
- Please pray for the matching grant!
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