Friday, October 23, 2009

Look! It's Harvest Time

MISSIONS MONTH HIGHLIGHTS

October is harvest time in Japan. It’s amazing that God uses many people to bless us with farm produce even though we live in the city and don’t own any land. We’ve received rice, sweet potatoes, apples, and chili peppers to name a few.
This month is also a good reminder of the harvest we are suppose to be doing – the harvest of souls in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thus, we have introduced our annual Missions emphasis month at the Assembly Kyoto Church since 2007.

This year, our messages are not only centered on this ministry. We are doing some practical applications too. First, we identified several missionaries now serving overseas. We communicated with them and asked for information on how they are doing personally, in their ministries and as a family. We made it a point to introduce them to the church during the services and to also pray for them. The congregation also prepared letters/cards of encouragement for them.

We also encourage everyone to increase their giving. As an international congregation, we prepare “sacrificial meals” after every worship meeting. Those who join are then giving donations that they have decided in their hearts.

In the last few weeks, the Philippines experienced extraordinary battering of typhoons that killed, displaced and traumatized many people. The church has decided to support ministries that help those most affected. From October 18-25, we are collecting and packing relief goods to be sent to various places in the Philippines. We are looking at ten big boxes of supplies filled with clothing, food items and other basic necessities.

The month is not yet over and we will keep on talking about prayer, missions, giving and personal evangelism. We are exhorting our flock to make missions a part of their daily life. We are also featuring a missionary couple attending our service to give a testimony about the challenges and joys of doing missions.

Click here for the link on the music video of the song, “You Said” on You Tube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnai5kc36bs&feature=related

“He (Jesus) told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” – Luke 10:2, NIV

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Latest Updates

GRACE FOR TODAY

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34, NIV).


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FRUITFUL VISIT

Pastor Gani Sison (Chair, IT Leadership Team/CEO, ITP) together with his wife, Edith (IT-East Asia Leader) concluded their trip to Japan on a high note. After spending several days in Nagoya Prefecture, they arrived in Kyoto City on the 21st of September and wasted no time in meeting with International Teams field missionaries and their host churches represented by the churches’ pastors and their wives.

The guests saw first-hand the ministries that the missionaries are engaged in and the potential for growth even as the local pastors pledged to accept more missionaries into their fold. IT-Philippines has sent a couple in Nagoya Prefecture, a family in Kyoto City and two other families in Hyogo Prefecture.

Pastor Gani also preached in the evening service before the AKC International Congregation on September 27 encouraging the believers to look into the future with hope by citing the passage in Jeremiah 29:11 and telling stories of God’ miracles.

The Sisons flew back to Manila on September 29.

CONGRATULATIONS

On September 24th, our dear sister in the Lord, Ampaitepin Singhabhandhu (Thailand) graduated from Kyoto University garnering her PhD. Patroba Odera, Muhannad Fakhoury and I were there to witness the solemn occasion.

SAYONARA

Our short-term missionary, Ken Poon left for the U.S. on October 3 after staying in Japan for six months. He served in various capacities including but not limited to leading English Bible Studies, video production, doing a skit for children and establishing rapport with new contacts. Please pray for Ken as he considers and prepares himself for a career in Missions.

Likewise, Ampaitepin went back to Thailand on September 30 to chart her future. Please pray for wisdom and a powerful witness among her relatives and friends.