A2 Community

 Japan's Yen rate continues to climb, pressure missionaries

- by Jeff Johnston -

The Japanese Yen (¥) rate is approaching the strongest level in 15 years recently — hitting ¥85.33 to US$1 earlier this month.

According to Bloomberg's Alex Kowalski, the Yen rate has climbed 3% against all 16 major currencies this year. He writes:

"The yen typically strengthens in times of financial turmoil as Japan's trade surplus makes the currency attractive as it means the nation does not have to rely on overseas lenders."

Though many experts view the 85-Yen mark as the time for the government to take steps to weaken the currency, Kowalski says it's doubtful that it will do so.

Combined with a bad economy and soaring health care costs, it's a tough recipe to swallow. It's a struggle for missionaries to stay on the field. You cut where you can and then pray you can survive the onslaught.

We're not alone, as missionaries are feeling the pinch in many places, not just Japan. Churches in North America have had to cut back their support to missionaries due to a difficult economy. We know of a dozen or so families across the globe have reluctantly had to leave the field because they can no longer sustain the level of support needed.

What can we do? Do we just fold up our tent and call it a day?

Actually, I think there are several things we should be doing to address some of these core challenges. Here are a few:

1) Pray for God to send laborers and to provide the funds for the laborers He has sent.

Matthew 9:37-38 "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' "

Pray also that the U.S. Dollar would strenghten against the Japanese Yen.

2) Give to missions where God burdens you. Praise God for many who are giving sacrificially to advance His work in the world.

3) Stewardship - Mission organizations need to continue to look for creative ways to achieve a greater degree of stewardship. J. Hudson Taylor said: "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." If He's not providing, then maybe we need to look hard at what we're doing and make some changes.

4) Partnership in the Base Camp - That said, I think there are good missions doing good things, but they just don't have a good economy of scale. Organizations will need to consider whether they can achieve more together than separately. Leveraging resources and administrative support is one way to achieve a better economy of scale. These difficult economic times could be God's way of bringing together more partnerships in the base camp.

This is what Asian Access is now seeking to do. (See "Asian Access seeks sizable ministry expansion".) We have a great mandate in Japan, but think it's time to join together with others to accomplish something bigger for God than we could do separately. The risk for losing some control is there, but the potential upside to foster a movement could be huge!

5) Partnerships on the Front Lines - Missions is undergoing some real changes. A documentary I helped to produce, Missions: Redefined raised some of these issues. It was an eye-opener to see how Western missions have been perceived.  As the landscape changes, our partnerships with national-led movements might be a key to achieving something greater together.

Sharing our kingdom resources for the greater good seems like a God-thing.

I certainly don't have all the answers. There's much more that we can do to address the current economic challenges.

What do you think?  Please give me your ¥2 . . . because it's now worth more than 2¢!

In his upcoming Time article entitled "A Clouded Outlook," (August 2, 2010) Michael Schuman writes a sobering view of Japan's malaise and dismal economic outlook for the future. The 4-page article helps to see the big picture of the economic reality, which has been stagnant since the bubble burst in the early 1990s.

If you want a better understanding of Japan and the dynamics of turning this big ship around, read Shuman's article.

Here are a few excerpts to give you a sense of the problem:

• "Today, Japan is an island of inertia in an Asia in constant flux. Japan's political leadership is paralyzed, its corporate elite befuddled, its people agonized about the future. While Asia lurches forward, Japan inches backward. And yet no one in Japan is doing very much about it."
• "Growth has been practically nonexistent, the welfare of the Japanese people has suffered and the old industrial titans of Japan Inc. are retreating on the world stage. Japan will likely lose its cherished status as the world's No.2 economy this year, to a more energetic China. Though that was inevitable, the fact that China is so quickly closing the gap in economic power doesn't bode well for Japan's standing in the world."
• "Every few months, Tokyo's political revolving door spits out a new Prime Minister (Japan's had six PMs in the past four years) who inevitably vows that the time has come, finally, truly, to reform. But the proposals announced with expectant fanfare usually get swallowed up in Japan's dysfunctional political system."
• " 'There is an awareness that things can't stay the same,' says Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University's Japan campus. 'The problem is, people really don't know what is next. Japan's huge problems are just festering and Japan remains rudderless.' "
• What makes Japan's story so much more frustrating is that not so long ago, the nation was at the forefront of change. Long before Apple's iPad, it was Japan's Sony that invented the must-have gadgets that changed global lifestyles (remember the Walkman?). Japan didn't need answers; Japan was the answer. Yet those same policies and practices that sparked Japan's miracle have come to strangle it.

There is much more detail in the article, including what current PM Naoto Kan is trying to do, the downside of consensus-based decision-making, the economic effect on the younger people, potential implications on taxes and immigration policy, and much more.

What needs to be done to change this dilemma? Schuman with the help of fellow reporter Terrence Terashima offer recommendations. I'll let you read them, if you're interested, but Schuman closes with this pessimistic summation:

• "Such a sweeping vision for the nation's future and its role in the world is regrettably absent. Katsuji Konno, president of Igeta Tea Manufacturing, a Sendai-based chain of specialty tea shops, complains that the country's leaders are too focused on short-term fixes rather than long-term solutions. 'You have to think of more drastic measures,' he says. 'You need to think 10, 30, 40 years ahead.' Until Japan stops living in the past, it may not have a future."

Allow me to make a personal comment here after tracking the news and talking with my Japanese friends. . .

What is painfully obvious in Japan is that things are going to get worse—not better—at least for the foreseeable future. Japanese will need to adjust their lifestyle accordingly. No more can the people of Japan put their faith in their government to do what is best in their long-term future.

As a missionary here, who has seen countless Japanese shy away from following Christ, I can only hope—and pray—that this growing economic challenge swings wide open the door in people's lives for the Gospel. Up until now, they've simply been too comfortable.

While I'd like to see Japan flourish, its own affluence has become a huge stumbling block for the Gospel. And God loves the Japanese too much. I trust He will use this difficulty to compel many to follow Him.

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe the spiritual outlook is not so clouded after all.

What do you think?

Here is a brief video message from Adrian De Visser, National Director of A2/Sri Lanka about our dear friend, Dr. Gary Parrett...

Here is the link to this clip on the A2 Channel on YouTube.com.

If someone says "missions is about cramming Christianity down other people's throats," how would you respond?  Tell us!

Recently, a facebook friend of mine who is a pastor shared a status update about his daughter attending a missionary training program before heading to Asia for a short-term missions assignment.

Most of the comments from his friends were, as you could imagine, extremely positive, optimistic, and prayerful.

However, one friend wrote this bold question:

Mission service.....is that when u go to another country and offer to assist if the people are willing to have christianity forced down their throats?

My pastor friend eloquently offered a graciously tender-hearted reply saying that the heart of missions is sharing the message of hope of Jesus Christ, often demonstrated through mercy and service.

Here's what I added to the conversation:

Ouch! Yet you raise an interesting and sometimes legitimate critique of missions. Thank you for being bold enough to spark this dialogue.

If you have a half hour, I invite you to watch a mini-documentary "MISSIONS: REDEFINED" that I helped to produce. My team examined missions in three Asian countries (Japan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia). Sri Lanka has had to deal with colonialist-style missions in their past where well-meaning missionaries brought some baggage along with the Gospel. In the documentary, we examined what missions means at this time in history. I think you (and the others here) might find it rather interesting.

You can watch it online here:
http://asianaccess.org/video/index-missions-redefined.html

Ok, so what about you?  What would you say?  Let's collect some responses.  Please leave your replies here...

Because Urbana '09 has just ended recently, we thought it would be especially helpful to repost an article written after a previous Urbana by A2 missionary Sue Takamoto, who first attended Urbana '84.

Decision Making and God's Perspective

Making sense of Urbana and your own personal journey

Osaka, JAPAN | written by Sue Takamoto, Ph.D. (A2)

• "Oh no… It's been two [weeks] since Urbana and I haven't signed up with a mission agency yet. Am I out of God's will?"
• "How will I ever decide?!"
• "I think God and my parents have very different ideas about what's best for my life…"
• "Urbana still doesn't make sense to me."

If any of these statements sound like you, you're not alone… and believe it or not, you're quite normal!

For many of us who attended previous Urbana conventions, as we reflect, we recognize that our lives were completely changed because we attended Urbana. They have taken a certain trajectory that otherwise may never have happened. Urbana was a landmark. On the timelines of our lives, Urbana leaves behind a great big STAR because it was so significant in how God shapes us.

But, you may think, I haven't made any major decisions since Urbana. The "magic" didn't work for me.

May I suggest first – give it time. And then, read over three ideas to help you process your Urbana experience:

1. God is most interested in our response to Him.

Our greatest responsibility in life, I believe, is to continually keep open, obedient hearts before Him. For many of us, Urbana is just a beginning step, not an end. Often it is during our times of "not knowing" that we are most pliable and transformed by Him. My mentor Bobby Clinton often says that God is at work in us over a lifetime, and he suggests that it is during our twenties and thirties that God is more concerned with our INWARD responses and formation rather than any work we may try and do for God during those years.

Remember some of those great worship times? Ken Fong suggested in his first message that God's first kiss to us was in Genesis 1; but when we worship, we kiss God back – sometimes feebly… sometimes without great understanding… sometimes with wrong motives. No matter how or why, God wants us to respond to him. He delights in the heartfelt responses of those who love Him. More significant than how many Urbana delegates checked off a box indicating that they intend to become missionaries is how many of us surrendered our hearts and lives to God. God is much more able to use and to move a young Christian who's completely open and pliable before Him than an experienced missionary who no longer listens to the Lord's voice.

2. Just get on the bicycle…

God is much more able to direct us when we're moving forward than when we're sitting still, trying to decide whether to get on or not.

This was great advice given to me after Urbana '84 that proved true. I stood up the last day when Billy Graham spoke, and I committed to go overseas as a missionary. I meant it with every cell in my body!… but it wasn't until five years later that I left for Japan as a missionary. God had work to do in me in the meantime, but Urbana was a way for me to get moving. I found out about different missions organizations serving in Japan. I signed up for two organizations' newsletters. I called these missions twice a year after college to find out what these organizations were doing, and to let them know I was still possibly interested. I started supporting two missionaries in Japan – only $10 a month at first, but it was a beginning. They sent me their newsletters, and I prayed for them.

I also participated in two short-term mission trips while I was waiting for the "long-term call." And it was after the return from the second 2-week trip to the Dominican Republic, while I was sick in bed recovering from a virus I picked up there, that God spoke to me. He spoke to ME! Somehow, very clearly in my heart, the Lord used that trip to the D.R. and my quiet times of reflection afterwards to say, "Sue, it's time. You apply, and I'll do the rest."

I called the two agencies I was in touch with, and asked a LOT of questions. They didn't mind! They welcomed my desire to learn about them, and they learned about me. When I received their statements of faith, one very clearly matched my own. So did their philosophy of ministry. After getting much prayer support and counsel from godly friends, I applied, and used the application process to confirm my desires to serve in Japan with Asian Access. I prayed that God would allow the screening committee to affirm or redirect my ideas. I was blown away at how clearly He guided me through this process!

3. Keep your passion alive by surrounding yourself with people who also love missions and ministry.

Our Christian community can provide perspective when we need it. They can remind us of our calling when the world's voice seems to grow louder than God's. They keep us honest about what God has us here for. I have watched friends who made commitments to missions, and then seen them get great jobs (nothing wrong with that, by the way!), and buy nice homes (nothing wrong with this either!) ... and get involved in comfortable churches … and then have a complete community in which no one even talks or thinks about missions. Something is wrong with this picture. God WILL call some of us to stay back and be senders. But the best supporters I have still have hearts for missions, and they continue to desire to be a part of what God is doing around the world.

Some practical ideas to stay linked with missions:

• Become a participant in your church's missions committee
• Volunteer at a missions organization
• Participate in your school's global outreach opportunities
• Find a retired missionary who lives nearby and meet with them regularly (nothing will fire you up more than this!).
• Read missionary biographies. During the five years between my Urbana experience and when I left for the mission field, I tried to read as many missionary biographies as I could find. And I would pray, "Lord, allow me to serve like Irene Webster Smith!" or "Give me a heart of humility like Amy Carmichael."
• Support an overseas missionary. Get their prayer letters; send them occasional encouraging emails.
• Get on the bike and participate in a short-term missions experience.
• Stay in touch with mission agencies you have connected with. Ask to be on their general mailing list. Call THEM once in a while and ask about how God is corporately directing them. Find out how you might fit into their ministries with your gifts and interests.

For Further Reading:

• The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development.
  by J. Robert Clinton, 1988. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

• A Chance to Die:  the story of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot
• Through Gates of Splendor – the story of Jim & Elisabeth Elliot
• Inn of the Sixth Happiness – the story of Gladys Aylward
• Mountain Rain: the story of J.O. Fraser
• In the Arena: the story of Isobel Kuhn
• Sensei: The life of Irene Webster-Smith
• Irene Webster Smith: An Irish Woman Who Impacted Japan by Sue Plumb Takamoto

To find out more information about any of these missionary biographies listed above, you might check out Crosswalk.com, Amazon or Google.

• If you would like more information about Asian Access' short-term mission programs, you can find it here... or email us at info@asianaccess.org.
• Better yet, register for an account at http://go2japan.org where you can read FAQs and talk with real missionaries on our go2japan forum.

Sue Takamoto (on left in picture) first went to Japan in 1984 on Asian Access’ summer program, and then spent three years in Japan from 1989 – ’92. She worked in Asian Access' U.S. office from 1993 to 2001 in a variety of roles, including Director of Human Resource Development. Sue completed her Ph.D. in leadership studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. In 2001, she and her husband Eric, along with Maltese Molly, moved to Sendai, Japan with Asian Access to work in a local church called L’Abri. They are now Area Leaders of the Osaka church planting network and one son and two daughters. To find Sue's blog, you can find a link here.

The JCGI Network of Asian Access hosted its annual conference November 24-26, 2009 with Dr. Robert E. Logan returning to Japan to speak. Grace Community sent a delegation of pastors and lay leaders from Sapporo to hear Dr. Logan; here's a report from Asian Access staff member Tim Clark on how the church was blessed by the conference.

Since coming home from the Asian Access JCGI anniversary celebration it's been fun to see the conference's impact unfold at Grace Community, helping this church that already does so well at leader development do even more.

Dr. Bob Logan's teaching in the mid-nineties led to a transformation of Grace and currently all members are a part of an "Ie no Kyokai," house church. The church does an excellent job raising up and empowering lay leaders.  Asian Access is now involved in helping the church not simply increase its number of cell groups but to see more groups multiply themselves.

Since the conference Grace Community's Pastor Masuda has been talking about "passing the baton," encouraging the church to take leadership development to the next level.

One lay leader, Hiromi Kurisawa (photos below), reported the following about the conference,

"It was a great blessing to join the Asian Access conference.  Bob Logan's sessions on passing the baton and leadership change challenged and inspired me.

"Logan asked many good questions, like 'What kind of legacy will you leave?' and 'To whom are you passing the baton?' These questions helped me to realize how central baton passing is to fruitfulness and multiplication in ministry.  A key is to figure out not what I can do but what I can raise up others to do. What can I help and inspire others to accomplish?

"I was impressed that the time to think about passing the baton is not once I've gotten old; it is now.

"I appreciated the practical discussion times Logan led us in; I got many good ideas which I can apply to the coaching I do with youth leaders at Grace."

Hiromi Kurisawa with some of Grace Community's youth leaders.

The next two Sundays Hiromi and other leaders who attended the conference will share with church members what they learned.

Please pray:

• ...the Lord will bless their reporting and use it to help Grace have an even stronger witness in Sapporo.
• ...Asian Access can continue to be involved with Grace Community to bless Japanese society and lead many to Christ.

Tim Clark's staff profile can be found here. You can also find his profile on Facebook.

Latest podcast from Japan Stories...

After a major shake-up in the Japanese political realm, Peter shares a prayer request for open hearts to respond to the love of Christ.

• Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes!
• If this player doesn't work, here are a couple other links to the .mp3 file:
  • here: japan_election-2009-10-26.mp3
  • and on go2japan.org
• Peter Thomson's staff profile
• Article: Seasons of change coming to Japan?

Lunch here in northern Japan is very different from what I remember of my grade school lunches at Fernwood Elementary in Portland, Oregon in the 1970s.

I joined local school children for English time and lunch July 16 and 17, one week before summer vacation started.  We had something fishy on Thursday and cold noodles on Friday.

Here are five of the many ways lunch at Seien Elementary School is different from Fernwood.  How does your own grade school lunch experience compare?

1.  Japanese students eat in their classrooms.  They sit with other members of their own han, groups of 4-5 used for dividing classroom responsibilities and, more significantly, for developing teamwork in this “group-oriented” society.  At Fernwood all classes descended on the auditorium and kids sat where they wanted.

2.  All students at Seien School purchase their meals. At Fernwood we could bring lunch from home or buy at school, and could decide each day which to do.

3.  Japanese kids eat a lot of rice.  No big surprise, I know. At Seien in Sapporo they have rice every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesdays are bread days; Fridays are noodle days.  Even on bread days, though, there’s no bologna sandwich with banana and Tollhouse cookie like I remember.

4.  They all start and finish together. The han in charge that day gives food announcements (like what’s available for seconds) and initiate the loud, unison itadakimasu that Japanese people everywhere say at the beginning of each meal.

5.  Teachers eat with students. I’ve been to Seien before and noticed some teachers sit at their own desks and others pull up a chair and join one han of students.

Many years have passed since I was at Fernwood Elementary.  Since then the name has changed three times and is now Beverly Cleary School, named after its most famous alumna.  Perhaps many things about lunch there have changed, too.

What were you eating for lunch when you were in the 5th and 6th grades?  Please leave your comments to share the when, where and what of your school lunch memories.

Elementary school lunch in Sapporo, July 2009.

Students bring a favorite handkerchief from home for a place mat.

Students eat in their classrooms with members of their "han" group.

 After lunch students take their class's lunch cart to the cleaning area down the hall.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...” Ecclesiastes 3:1

My friend and colleague, Bruce Johnson, Asian Access Vice President for Leadership Development is well along in the process of becoming the next U.S. Director for SIM "Serving in Mission." The Lord has masterfully orchestrated this surprise to Bruce, SIM and us here at Asian Access. My sense is that what Bruce describes as a kairos moment has truly come to pass. Asian Access, SIM and Bruce have all been well prepared for this Kingdom change.  However, we simply didn’t anticipate it; it was a complete surprise.

Bruce is a remarkable leader who has served faithfully and fruitfully with our ministry for the last seven years. He brought focus to our work across Asia and has capably led our field ministry in both Japan and the eight countries we currently serve. Fortunately, the Lord gave Asian Access the perfect window for Bruce to invest in my life as the new president and help me transition into this role before calling him to a new ministry vineyard. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend and partner as I’ve entered this assignment.

Bruce also served as the interim-president for our ministry and did so during a very challenging economic season. He is a seasoned leader who will be greatly missed. Losing Bruce is a huge loss but I also concur with him that God has a kairos moment for our ministry, for him and for SIM. For some reason, when Bruce shared with me this news, I wasn’t worried. I was deeply saddened to be losing Bruce but not worried at all. My sense is that the Lord will provide for Asian Access just as He has faithfully done for many years.

I admire and respect Bruce for following the Lord's call and I encourage and commission him in this new assignment. Bruce will do a terrific job for SIM as he is uniquely gifted to help them during this season of their life. Would you join me in giving thanks to God for Bruce's terrific service with Asian Access and in blessing him in this new ministry calling?

Bruce & Mary Johnson, with Silk and me, and Elliott & Lori Snuggs at my installation celebration.

A2 Leadership Team, September 2008

The Handleys with Bruce Johnson

When the alarm rang at 4:42am this past Sunday we were both dreaming about time. Wakako was dreaming it was 3:30 and she had just one more hour to sleep. In my dream it was 2:30 so I had two more.

But we'd run out of time to sleep and were up early to leave in time for the 7:00am service at Sapporo Bible Church.  It took 55 minutes to slide across town, avoiding the many plows working hard to clear snow that had just fallen.

I gave the message at Bible Church at the 7:00 and 10:30 services.  A highlight of the morning was hearing Watanabe-san tell her story in the second service... [More...]

From Wakako Clark this time. . .

It’s now been a year since I moved to Sapporo February 2,2008. I have enjoyed all four seasons in Hokkaido! Before I moved to Sapporo, some people warned me how cold the winter in Hokkaido is, so I was little scared. But it’s actually not so bad for me. The snow is beautiful and buildings are kept much warmer than in the Tokyo area. Of course it’s still difficult for me to walk on the snow but I’m getting better at it.

One thing I like in winter here is the scenery, such as snow on trees with red berries.

I’ve never seen such a beautiful combination in the Tokyo area (where all the berries are eaten by birds). I think this is special gift from God to people in the extreme cold of Hokkaido. Every time I see these trees, I think of how thoughtful God is.

What a fantastic group of leaders we have overseeing our mission! I spent two days with our U.S. Board of Directors in early October and was very impressed with the quality of men and women God has called to serve with Asian Access.

God has blessed A2 with a group of godly men and women who serve the Lord through their businesses and ministries. They help us focus and refine our vision and give us wise counsel in our ministry and budget.

The board was very affirming of me as the new president and have offered their support as team mates in the cause of Christ across Asia. What an encouragement to spend such quality time together!

It’s also great to have Doug Birdsall remain on our board, offering words of wisdom and encouragement to me as the new president and giving us great continuity through our leadership transition. Praise God for Doug’s investment into me as a younger leader and into our mission as a whole.

Here’s the latest picture of our U.S. board and you can see a list of our board members here...

Asian Access' U.S. Board of Directors, October 2008

• Check out my other articles on my blog, "From the President."

Exactly 20 Years Ago

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of first arriving in Japan

At this very moment on September 6, 1987 I was walking out of customs at Narita Airport in Tokyo to explore Japan for the first time. I had just finished college at the University of North Carolina, where I became a Christian. At the end of my senior year, I signed up for a 1-year stint as an English teaching missionary with Asian Access (formerly LIFE MInistries) in Tokyo. My life would never be the same.

Walking out of the customs doors into the airport arrival area made the reality hit: "This wasn't Kansas anymore; I was in a totally different country. . ."

This was an encouraging letter sent to an Asian Access faculty member. . .

ASIA

[edited for security]

Dear J.,

I want to give you a little report on what happened to close the week's training following your superb teaching.

The pastors decided that they wanted to pray about these things that they had heard you teach on during the week. So, at 3:00PM we began to pray. This is how they organized it: Each participant listed four or five issues on a sheet of paper, and then over the next few hours each leader prayed in turn for every other participant in the group.

Fourteen leaders were praying for each other and then also being prayed for. When they go into this mode, mind you, they do not pray for just a minute or two, but in most cases it was 15-20 minutes for each person.  By 5:45PM they had prayed over four of the fourteen. After supper, we resumed prayer again at 7:30PM and they finished about 11:00PM that day. I don't think I have ever prayed so intensively in my life.

The exciting thing for me was that leader after leader had listed on his paper issues that had been raised by your teaching. Many of these issues concerned marriage, family health and unity ("oneness"). And the participant who was the coordinator for that week wrote five items on his sheet, every single one of them encapsulated your teaching, especially with regard to his relationship with his wife.

I can't help feeling that especially in his case your visit was most timely. That is such a good investment to make at this time in our work here. Without a doubt it was an especially rich time, and possibly a very critical one for us at this time in the work of equipping leaders. Time will help us see this better.

I want to thank you for coming to be with us at this very busy time in the life of your church. But I am also deeply grateful to your church family because this is a commitment the entire church is making to the worldwide kingdom advance in Asia.

Warm affection to all our friends there, and peace and grace to the entire church family.

Sincerely,
"Asian Access Staff Member"

Related:

• Asian Access Faculty
• 12 Curriculum Topics
• Essence of Asian Access