The English Page with Excerpts
Evangelism In Your Own FamilyInterview: Pastor Mitsutaka Mouri

our family life in our busy schedules?
A. Time management is the key for a busy motherand one way is to create a fixed schedule. In
our home, we have set times for supper, ofuro,shopping, and house cleaning. Everyone has chores
and even Dad is expected to help around the house.
I guess we had to do it this way sinceraising 10 children could really bring
confusion in our home life. Although
in the beginning it may feel inhibitive,schedules actually free you up toenjoy life.

A pastor of Sapporo Gospel Family Church
gives his testimony, as well as how he guided hisgrandmother who was on her death bed. Thekey ministry to one ’s own family is not to force
or pressure them to believe, or even to stop themworshipping those idols. Pastor Mouri says that heeven helped his family at the Buddhist burial andgrave while refusing to worship those. Eventually,
his serving the family in practical ways whileremaining faithful to his own beliefs softened hisfamily members’hearts and over time one by one
they accepted Christ as their Savior.

Parenting for Beginners No.9
Q. I am aw o r k i n gmother withone child.
How can I
manage mytime to enrich30

family forum No.70

How Do We Lead Our Children to Christ?
Part 2
By Shinzo Omura
C h i l dEvangelism
Fellowship
Japan has avery useful
way of guiding
children toChrist. It ’s called Fukuin no Te (Gospel Hand).
Using five fingers, we can teach them who Jesus isand how He can save them…
As parents, we can show them how to be saved.
Look for that opportunity to tell them. The best
timing is when they have done something wrong.
As you tell them what they did wrong, you can also
tell them that they are sinners just like we parents
are! And show them the way to be forgiven! And
remember, it is God’s work to save a child. We are
not the ones to save them, so relax and try manytimes until they get it and accept it.

FamilyForum
No.70

IT and Children –Addicted to Smart Phones?
By Takashi Horii
M a n ychildren today
own smartphones andwith thatcomes manypotential
problems. One of them is called Sumaho Chudoku(smart phone addiction). Addiction can be triggeredby various apps. One is a free app that is called“LINE ,”which is an SNS that enables users tochat/video talk/talk very quickly. In Japan, LINE ismore popular than facebook or twitter among theyounger generation.
The reason why they can get hooked is becauseof a feature on the app which compels you to keep
answering. For example, when someone sends amessage to a friend and it has been viewed by that
person, it is marked as Kidoku. And if that friend
does not return a message, it remains marked as
Kidoku. It means that that person is now ignoring
the friend, called Kidoku Mushi. Doing Kidoku
Mushi is considered very rude and it could lead tobullying. So often young people feel compelled tostay on their smart phones lest they be late to reply
and to prevent gossip about them while they are
logged off.
My suggestion to solve this problem is for theparents to set the rules, stick to it, and make sure
your kids’friends know about it.

Ask Pastor Hori
Q. Being 70s makes me feel too old
to serve in the church. I cannot work
like I used to do, but is there a way
for me to do something for the Lord?
A. For the mature generation,“being”is morei m p o r t a n t t h a n “d o i n g . ” W h a t y o u c a n d ophysically may be limited now, but showing yourfaith and how you are living by your faith will help
and encourage the younger generation.
Taking a big responsibility could be too muchfor you now, so find something that is easier for you
to do at church. Some things you may be able to
do are, greeting new visitors, assisting in children’s
ministry and maybe help in cleaning the church.
To the pastors, I would suggest that you provide
opportunity for the elderly to serve in the church.
Taking away work from the elderly can cause themto disconnect and withdraw from the church andsociety. So, however small the service, encouragethem to find something they can do for the church
so they can stay connected with the body of Christ.

family forum No.7029