Japan
Evangelical
Association

Japan Update

Fall 2011 Number 62

TOHOKU Perspective on
Balance between Relief and Mission

TEAM missionary, Timothy Cole, hands out relief supplies to survivors in Onagawa, Miyagi.

InsideTohoku Perspective		 1
JEA Earthquake Response		 3
Japanese View on Life		 4News and Notes		 6

Soon after the terrible disaster that hit
the East Japan coastal area on March 11,
2011, many Christian relief organizations
inside and outside of Japan began providing food, water, clothing, and other basic
needs. Large numbers of Christians bothyoung and old responded to the call forvolunteers to help the suffering people
in the devastated areas. Not a few local
churches in the region barely escaped
the giant tsunamis and became relief
centers; providing lodging for volunteers
and operating as distribution points forgoods sent from churches and Christians
throughout Japan. Most denominations
decided to begin relief work, responding
both to the needs of their own churches
and those of others. We have never seensuch a large-scale relief effort in the history of the Church in Japan. Perhaps forthe first time ever, Christian churches inJapan have been experiencing meaningful contact with great numbers of local
people who have scarcely had the opportunity to meet Christians. For example,
we have heard of many people who haveby Hiroshi Inagaki
Chief Administrator, Japan Antioch Mission
Former General Secretary,
Japan Evangelical Association

welcomed help from Christians providing
either necessary supplies or manual labor
to clean away mud that had entered theirhouses.
In the aftermath of this disaster, some
Christian groups have thought this is agreat opportunity for evangelism. They
began to distribute Christian tracts andhold evangelistic meetings with music
and sermons. We have also heard thatsome foreign missions are now planningto pioneer church planting in a way thathas never been contemplated before. So
in one sense, not a few churches and missions regard this catastrophe as a goldenchance for evangelism in Japan, where
the soil has been so hard to penetrate.
Yes, indeed, we are to “preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season”(2 Timothy 4:2). But how the Japanesepeople respond to a zealous sharing of

the gospel may be quite contrary to the expectationsof Christians. The Japanese may think Christians are
merely using them for religious expansion.
In contrast to placing evangelism at the forefront during such a time of disaster, there are people who thinkrelief work is but one aspect of holistic ministry. They
do not deny the importance of evangelism, of course.
Though they are keenly aware that those who are lostneed Christ, they also think mutual trust is a vital key
to reaching the hearts of people. Being truly concerned
about the physical needs of the suffering, these people
provide daily necessities for survival. They are also
keen to listen as survivors share dreadful or sad experiences they have experienced during and after the disaster. These Christians regard their love and concern
for sufferers as vital, and coming before direct evangelism. They expect that in due time, enough mutual
trust will emerge for the opening up of hearts to listen
to the good news of Christ shared by Christians who
stand and walk close to them.

Playing with children and talking with elderly people
at temporary housings—Kamaishi, Iwate.

Many pastors and Christians who are working very
hard in the devastated areas and offering help with
Christian love are seeing some people asking why
Christians would offer help in such a gracious manner.
On Easter Sunday, April 24, a small church in Ishinomaki City was packed with people, including not
a few locals who had been helped by that church fortheir livelihood.
It is said that especially in the Tohoku area there arethree types of people: (1) outsiders or strangers who
are not so welcome to the community, (2) guests whoare invited to the community but remain at a distance,and (3) friends who can talk to each other about any
private matter.
Dr. Naoya Kawakami, who works as executive secretary of Tohoku Help, a network of churches in Sendai and surrounding cities responding to the needs ofchurches who have been hit by the 3.11 disaster, com-2

ments that it is vital for any Christian to walk alongside suffering people with love and respect and to be
accepted as a friend before sharing the good news ofJesus.
Rev. Yoshiya Kondo, pastor of Morioka Baptist
Church (Conservative Baptist), and coordinator of 3.11
Iwate Church Network, writes with a similar sentiment
about the relief work and evangelism in an article in
Pastors’ Journal, September 2011.
“Immediately after the 3.11 disaster, I often heardphrases like “the chance for mission ”, “the chance
for Japan to be changed”, or “the chance for revival”
among Christian people. I have felt uncomfortable
about these phrases. These words seem to me inappropriate, quite shallow and too Christian-centered in the
midst of grief, sorrow and pain. . . . I have thought thatthe priority lies in serving people and sharing theirpain when opportunities are given. Actually, the Lordhas opened doors for evangelism in various places because of mutual trust built by serving people for several months with a heart of compassion, while being
supported by the prayers of Christians . . . Most of thepeople in the community we have served may havenot met Christians before in their lives. But as prayersupported volunteers have continuously been sent bychurches, looking affectionately after people with anattitude of service, many locals now immediately open
their doors and gladly welcome them when they hear,“I have come from a Christian church”. Children will
cry out “Christ has come!” to spread the news of theirvisit. When one volunteer asked a local if he needed
something, he answered, “I don’t need anything, butplease visit us and let’s talk. When a young Christian
volunteer was invited for dinner with a family, theconversation started with them asking why Christians
would serve them with such a servant attitude, They
continued during dinner time asking about the faith
upon which this volunteer’s life was based and about
the salvation Jesus Christ offered. This was really achance for a testimony of the Christian gospel.”Yes, these times provide a rare opportunity forchurches in Japan reach out in mission—especiallyin coastal cities and towns along the Sanriku coastthat were attacked by the giant tsunamis on March
11th, and where less than 10 churches have been established. Local churches are already moving toward
cooperative mission in these coastal towns. Foreign
missions are starting to place personnel in these areas.
Franklin Graham and his team are now planning tohave a big rally on March 11th, 2012 in Sendai. We
need passion and strategy for mission—but above all
we need patience, love, a listening heart, and the compassion of Christ.

Summary of the JEA Response to theGreat East Japan Earthquake Disaster- the second phase On September 11, 2011, we commemorated thesix month anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster. Since this day fell on Sunday, manychurches had special services and prayed for God’s
mercy on those who are suffering from the disasterand for His great love to touch their hearts.

organizaions in order to enhance unity in the body of
Christ. In this regard, JEA is closely cooperating withJEMA (the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association)
and DRCnet (the Disaster Relief Christian Network),
which was formed in response to the Great East Japan
Earthquake Disaster).

According to Metropolitan Police Department,
the number of deaths had risen to 15,782 as of September 11, 2011, with more than 4,000 still listed as
missing. Many of those who had lost their houses
have now moved from evacuation centers into temparary housings.
The six month anniversary marks a change ofphase in the relief work. In this second phase, manychurch groups and organizations are starting to think
about long term planning in relation to recovery andrebuilding. Some are starting to plant new churches
in the disaster areas. Several regional church networks have been established to work together in
relief work and church planting. The Holy Spirit iscertainly working among the people and the churches
in the disaster areas.
The JEA Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster
Recovery Task Force has also shifted the focus ofrelief efforts from short term relief to long term support for recovery and rebuilding .
(1) From late May to early August, JEA board
members and ambassadors visited 115 affectedchurches to express solidarity with them and to
distribute consolatory payments both to churches(80,000 yen) and pastoral families (50,000 yen).
(2) As a second phase in the relief efforts, JEA
is subsidizing part of the monthly church budget for
those churches that are suffering from a significant
drop in their revenue due to the evacuation of church
members and so on. This will help churches survive
during the process of recovery.

With volunteers from Hokkaido in Miyako, Iwate.

(5) JEA is also continuing its good partnershipwith CRASH Japan—especially in the area of liaison
with Japanese churches—so that global relief work
resources can be connected to the appropriate churches
and organizations.
(6) WEA Ambassador Dr. Brian Stiller and his wife
Lily visited Japan from October 9 to 17 to express thesolidarity of the global evangelical body of Christ withJapan and also to be able to share Japan’s current situation with the world.
We are committed to standing alongside the churches in disaster-striken areas and to continue to support
both their physical and spiritual rebuilding. At the sametime, we ask you to pray that the Holy Spirit will give
us wisdom and power to share the gospel of true hopewith those who are suffering.
Please send donations to the JEA Disaster Recovery
Task Force in one of the following ways:(3) The third phase of relief effort will be to provide financial support for the repair and reconstruction of church buildings.

Japan Postal Bank (furikae)
Account Name: (JEA) Nihon Fukuin Domei
Enjo Kyoryoku Iinkai #00190-5-7790(4) To assist in coordination, the JEA board of
directors released a statement on October 3, 2011affirming support and active engagement in thecoordination efforts of regional networks and relief

Mizuho Bank
Kudan Branch 532-1673098
JEA Enjo Kyoryoku Iinkai

3Present-day Japanese Views on LifeA "Sense of Oneness" and "Lack of Otherness"
between Japanese Mothers and Children
by Pro-Life Japan General Secretary Kiyoshi Mizutani

An American missionary once told me a story:

for adoption, I’d rather have an abortion.” I get the“A mother and her child were walking along a

deep sense that it is a greater loss and agony for amountain path and ran into a ferocious bear. The

mother to lose her baby through adoption than to

Japanese mother held her child in her arms to pro-lose the child through abortion.

tect him, while the American mother stood in front

My guess is that this tendency was not pres-of the bear with outstretched arms, telling the childent in the old days. In today’s post-religion era,

to run away.”

the concept of children as a gift from heaven has
There is no difference between

faded away. Because of the increase in single

these mothers in their desire tofamily households, cooperation among relatives

protect the life of their precious

and in the community in raising children is gone.

child. But the difference between

Furthermore, the absence of fathers in homes be-

the two is obvious.

cause of longIn the former, the mother andworking hours

the child are united as one, shar-has weakened

ing the same destiny. In the latter.

ties between fa-

the mother tries to save her child by separating him

thers and theirfrom herself.

children. TheseI see in this story the “sense of oneness between

and other rea-mother and child” that is deeply rooted in present-sons have madeday Japanese culture. Looking at it from anothermothers and children feel isolated from society andangle, you might say it is a “lack of otherness.” It

caused their relationship to become too close in an

demonstrates that many Japanese parents today failunhealthy way.

to see their children as independent personalities.

This “oneness between mother and child” andI often see how true this is in my pro-life min-“lack of otherness” has caused widespread family

istry. When for some reason a woman is unable toproblems being passed from generation to genera-raise the life growing within her, I suggest givingtion.

birth and offering the baby for adoption. The famil-

Genesis 2:24 reads, “For this reason a man will

iar reaction I get is, “If I have to give up my baby

leave his mother and mother and be united to his
wife, and they will become one flesh.” This demonstrates the essence of marriage and family. It also
shows the succession of life “from independence,
to marriage, to building a family.”
Naturally, this oneness between mother andchild, and lack of otherness, causes mothers to lose
sight of the goal of childrearing—the child becoming independent. Becoming independent is sup-4

posed to be a prerequisite for marriage. Marriage

may be the case in the majority of Christian homes.

without independence brings about the serious

In spite of this sad situation, I still raise my hopes

problem of “parents who are still children them-high in the Lord. Whether the not-yet-born or theselves raising children.” It is difficult for children

already-born, every life is an independent soul in-raised by adult-children to grow up to be indepen-

scribed with the image of God. and a precious life
atoned for by God’s own life. I

dent adults.
Today, Japan is in a vicious

sincerely desire that Christians

cycle and families with serious

may stand for the biblical viewproblems seem to be on the in-on life, that they pay due respectcrease. At first glance there seems

to children both born and unborn,to be no relationship between theand that parents have a rightissue of abortion and Japanesesense of “otherness.”family problems. However I feel they are deeply

Overcoming the sense of oneness between moth-related through this common view of “oneness be-

er and child and the lack of otherness (the producttween mother and child” and “lack of otherness.”of present-day Japanese society) through a proper

It has been observed for quite some time that

understanding and application of the gospel will

Japanese Christianity is too theoretical, with theresult in opposition to abortion and the forming of

message of the gospel not being practiced in daily

healthy homes. Furthermore, I keep hoping that thelife. Home life seems to be closed to the light of theforming of the healthy homes by Christians will begospel more than anywhere else. It is not unusuala testimony with great impact in this Japanese soci-for Christians to have the same values as non-ety that is suffering from family problems.

Christians in building their homes. Actually, such

Profile of the Japanese Family
The birthrate (total fertility rate) of Japan keeps dropping, and in 2008 it was 1.37. Japan is one of theforemost nations to face the challenge of a below-replacement-level birthrate. However, one little known
fact is that the abortion rate in Japan is among the highest of developed nations.
According to a 1999 survey conducted by NHK (Japan’s public broadcasting network), the rate of abortions among the women who experience pregnancy is 43%. Although Japanese law has a general prohibition of abortion, there is an exception clause that allows abortion in case of life-threatening physical andfinancial difficulties. In many cases, this exception clause is used to justify abortions almost as a means ofbirth control.
Recent statistics show that there is an increase in abortion among women under the age of 20. In 1985,
the number of abortions among those in their 30s made up about half of the total number of abortions. But
in 2007, that number dropped to 41%. As for those under the age of 20, the number increased from 5.1%
in 1985 to 9.3% in 2007. This tendency seems to suggest the collapse of traditional family values in Japanese society, which in tern has created a moral vacuum that is eroding young people’s hearts. In a culture
where suppressing true feelings is a virtue, many women suffer from isolation—not being able to speakwith anyone about their unwanted pregnancy. Please pray for this urgent task of providing counseling tothese women and saving the lives of those not yet born.

5NEWS and NOTES
Protest Against Religious Liberty Restraint
On May 25, 2011, the majority party in the
Osaka Prefectural Assembly, led by Governor Toru
Hashimoto, submitted a proposal for the first local
ordinance in Japan to oblige, among other things,
teachers in public schools in the prefecture to standup when the “Kimigayo” national anthem is sung at
school ceremonies.
In response, the Japan Holiness Church (JHC)
sent a petition to Governor Hashimoto on May 30,
to reconsider the proposal. In the petition, the JHC
expressed grave concerns on the following threegrounds. First, the proposal contradicts the noncompulsory principle of the Act on the National Flagand Anthem. Second, there is no law that restricts
the public school employees’ freedom of thought,
conscience or religion. Third, the proposal is in violation of the provision of the freedom of thought,
conscience, and religion of the Constitution of Japan.
Yasuhiro Hakamada of the Reformed Church inJapan wrote an opinion piece for the June 12, 2011
issue of the Christian Shimbun, to voice his opposition to the proposal for three reasons. First of all, it
is clear by looking at Japanese history that the national anthem and flag issue is an issue of basic human rights, not an issue of disciplining public school
teachers. The second reason Hakamada notes is thatobliging a teacher to act against their conscience runs
a risk of inflicting damage upon them, which willin turn detract from the quality of school education.
Finally, he points out that an imposition of state legislated actions in relation to the national anthem andflag oppresses the consciences of minority peoples,
including Christians. Hakamada concludes by urging
Christians to stand with people whose conscience isbeing threatened by the government.
The ordinance proposal was passed on June 3, andwas enacted on June 13, to be put into effect immediately.
Mission Cooperation in a Time of Crisis
The 26th JEA General Assembly
The Twenty-sixth JEA General Assembly was heldin Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, from June
6 through June 8. The 2011 resolution was adopted,

6which mainly focused on relief and recovery fromthe Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster.
The conference program included testimonies by
five pastors from the disaster region: Akira Sato of
Fukushima First Bible Baptist Church, Tokio Tanaka
of Miyagi Bible Church, Takashi Yoshida of Sendai
Reformed Church, Yoshiya Kondo of Morioka Bible
Baptist Church, and Eiji Sumiyoshi of Nakoso Christ
Evangelical Church. They reported on some of theirdisaster experiences and on how church cooperation has worked to provide relief and support in eacharea. They also pointed out some current issues inrelief operations.
Looking back on the theme of JCE5 (the Fifth Japan Congress on Evangelism) in 2009, “Mission Cooperation in a Time of Crisis . . . Wider and Deeper”,
participants shared the awareness of “new time ofcrisis” and discussed how we could work together
in relief operations in order to bear fruit in mission
cooperation during the next five to ten years.
In order to prepare for JCE6 in 2016, Mission Forum in Aomori (July) and Akita (October) are scheduled for the fiscal year 2011. Also, the first Japan
Congress on Youth Evangelism has been planned
for September 2012 by the JEA Youth Commission.
The JEA Twenthy-sixth General Assembly elected
Nohsei Ando (Pastor of Setagaya Chuo Church,
Nihon Domei Kirisuto Kyodan) as the new chair.
According to the new by-laws amended last year, all
12 members of the board will serve for a three-year
term and may serve for two consecutive terms.
The Japan Lausanne Committee reported on the
Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization
held in October 2010 in Capetown, South Africa.
Eliminating Odors in the Disaster Area
One of the aftermaths of the March 11, 2011 tsunamis is the strong, unpleasant odor of the sludge
that has been clinging to houses and buildings in theaffected areas. Hidenori Ashikaga, President of Riso
Sangyo Limited Company and a member of Japan
Baptist Kesennuma Church of the Japan Baptist
Union, has been offering Effective Microorganisms (EM), a company product, for use by Christiangroups in eliminating odors. As a resident of Kesen-numa City, Miyagi Prefecture, Ashikaga himself lost
most of his properties. When his wife reminded himthat he had EM, Ashikaga was given a desire to assist the relief effort with EM.
EM is an activated liquid of several microorganisms. When sprayed, the microorganisms in the EM
start breaking down the sources of unpleasant odors,such as decomposing fish, petroleum, and sludge.
Compared to the traditional method of odor elimination, EM is safer, and kills only the harmful bacteria.
Thus, according to Ashikaga, EM is an effective andinexpensive solution.
As of mid August, EM has been sprayed in some
350 households by the volunteers of the Southern
Miyagi Relief and Assistance in partnership with theWesleyan Holiness Church and CRASH Japan. As
more Christian groups show interest in EM spraying,spraying EM in rice fields and other crops that havebeen damaged by seawater is now being considered.
More volunteer work will be done through September 2011.
Pastoral Families Need Care, Too
Pastors in the disaster stricken areas of northern
Japan hardly leave their people. But what is necessary for the care of pastors?
CHC (Churches Helping Churches), founded after
the Haiti earthquake in 2010, in cooperation with
ALPHA Japan, Asian Access, CRASH Japan, JCGI,
Kakudai Institute for Missions, the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association, and Three Stream Ministries arranged retreats for pastors and their families
on June 13 and 14 in Miyagi Prefecture and June 16
and 17 in Iwate Prefecture.
During the retreats, pastors shared their experiences in small groups with other pastors,
Masayoshi Nakano, pastor of Izumi Conservative
Baptist Church, Miyagi, said, “I have been working
hard to support people and organize many things, I
was nervous and tired. I came to get relaxed.”
Yukimasa Otomo, assistant pastor of Shiogama
Conservative Baptist Church), shared. “I thank
God that I was able to take an onsen (hot spring)bath, have a nice meal, and share time with various
people. I was encouraged to continue in my relief

work.”
Chiori Kondo, pastor’s wife at Morioka Conservative Baptist Church) joined with her family. “Forfour months, we had no family time. It was nice totalk with my husband.”Fumiaki Otsuka, pastor of Morioka Minami
Church) and founder of 3.11 Iwate Church Network,
said, “Our relief operations will be continue to beintense. This retreat encouraged me a lot.”
Gifts sets composed of books, hand-cream, sweets,
hand-made jam, tea and mental health resourceswere given to each participant.
An American Lady Commemorated in Hiroshima
In time for the memorial day of the atomic bombing on August 6, 2011, a new monument was unveiled on June 12, 2011 in the southeastern part of
the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, commemorating Barbara Reynolds (1915-90), the founder ofWorld Friendship Center (WFC) in Hiroshima City.
As an American Quaker, Barbara came to Hiroshima for the first time in 1951 with her husband andthree children. Her husband was commissioned to
study the radioactive damage on the people. Later,
Barbara returned to Hiroshima, founding WFC in1965 to promote friendship and peace. The city ofHiroshima recognized her efforts by awarding herhonorary citizenship in 1975.
At the unveiling ceremony, Barbara’s daughter Jessica spoke of how her mother experienced a spiritual
awakening in 1964. At that time, 49-year-old Barbara was divorced and heartbroken. Her friend who
was a Buddhist monk, invited her to spend sometime in meditation, fasting, and prayer at a Buddhist
temple in Rokkosan in Hyogo Prefecture. At the endof one week there, Barbara clearly heard the voiceof God, which was loving, fatherly, and forgiving.
Filled with joy and peace, Barbara committed herself
to weeping with and serving atomic bomb survivors.
Jessica concluded her speech with her own resolution to pass the memories of hibakusha (A-bomb
survivors) and the message of peace to next generations. The full text of Jessica’s speech is available at
http://wfcnews.blogspot.com/

7

Please Pray for Japan
1. That the Holy Spirit would work through churches in Tohoku area to minister to the people who are suffering fromthe Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster.
2. That God would intervene in the healing of family relationships among Japanese people and that broken family
relationships would be touched by Christ’s love.
3. That the younger generation of leaders among Japanesechurches would be encouraged and equipped to take boldsteps to advance the Kingdom of God in this nation.
4. That Japanese churches would stand alongside other Asian
churches for a greater impact of Christ’s love in Asia.

JEA Schedule
DATE		

EVENT

PLACE

October 31November 1

Mission Forum in Akita

Akita

November 6-11 WEA MC Consultation

Germany

November 11

23rd Religious Liberty Seminar

Tokyo

January, 2012

CCK General Assembly

Korea

June 4-6, 2012

JEA General Assembly

Kakegawa

Japan Update
Fall 2011 - Number 62
Bulletin of theJapan Evangelical Association (JEA)
Chairman :Nohsei Ando
General Secretary : Kenichi Shinagawa
Japan Update is pub­lished two times ayear by JEA. Through Japan Update,
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