Ministry Resources for Japanese Ministries
Notes:
Manga Messiah by Yukie Ohashi (1/14/10)
Where to get Christian Japanese Videos. (2/11/08)
Operation Japan (June 23, 2006)
Fun with English (June 16, 2006)
Japanese Web Evangelism (June 15, 2006)
English Bible Class (June 16, 2006)
Four Great Prayer Resources (9/5/06)
Father’s Love Letter (10/29/06)
A Theology of Mission, Challenges and Opportunities in Northeast Asia 1/4/08)
Manga Messiah, by Yukie Ohashi
Recently a Bible called Manga Messiah on the 4 gospels has been published. The original is in Japanese and distributed by Japan Bible Society. Tyndale Press has the rights to the English version. I have been sharing them with my Japanese friends… who wouldn’t normally read the Bible. If you’re interested to learn more, watch the Harvest Time show on the artist, Kelly Shinozawa.
The English version of Manga Messiah (4 gospels) and Manga Metamorphosis (Book of Acts) are available from Amazon.com for about $10 each.
The Manga Messiah Bible series by Kelly Shinozawa is gaining traction throughout the world. The link below takes you to a blogspot interview with her. The last paragraph before the Comments talks about a Harvest Time movie interview with her. Click the link… “Click here”. Please watch that show… it’s 30 minutes long… Kelly shares her testimony and how she started this work. God is using her to impact the world! Click here for her blog.
Creation of Adam (1/15/08)
Operation Japan
(June 23, 2006- last paragraph added 12, 07/07)
The new Operation Japan, 3rd Edition, contains up-to-date information on each prefecture, key prayer targets, and a system for praying through the nation in a year.
Many find this prayer guide to be an invaluable resource for themselves and their supporters. You can contact me at donwright@rjcnetwork.org for how to purchase this book.
We are now working on an expanded CD version that will replace the book. Hopefully this will be completed by the end of 2008. If you are interested in helping, let me know.
Fun With English
(This is a great service that Russ Baustian has had over the years. He sends out this little note for English learners. If you are interested in getting it, please contact me at donwright@rjcnetwork.org )
Welcome to “Fun With English”, a ministry of the English Classes of Minami Urawa Baptist Church.
Today’s word: “neck”, the part of the body that connects the head with the rest of the body. It can become sore from strain. “I have a severe pain in my neck”.
Today’s idiom: “neck of the woods”, any part of the country; place; neighborhood; vicinity; probably where you live. “And here’s what the weather is in your neck of the woods.”
To think about: Jesus said, “Dear children, it is very hard for those who trust in riches to get into the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:24
http://www.church.ne.jp/minamiurawa
Mr Baustian (Russ)
Japanese Web evangelism
At our Reaching Japanese for Christ Conference in February Dave Hackett of VisionSynergy handed out a paper entitled “Internet Evangelism: A High-Potential Tool for Reaching Japanese.
He gave the following points:
The Web has incredible potential for reaching Japanese - both in Japan and expatriates around the world, because:
• Japan is an educated, highly-wired society - almost everyone uses the Web (Over 61%)
• But the majority of Japanese do not have sufficient profiency in English to access evangelistic websites in English, which in any case may not be very contextualized for Japan
• There are only a handful of evangelistic sites in Japanese - a major missed opportunity.
• Few Japanese are likely to know an evangelical personally. Since most conversions result from personal relationship, this means that few will hear the Gospel from a person they know.
• Cellphone-based evangelism also shows high promise for Japan due to high SMS and cell connection to mobile-oriented websites.
English Bible Class
(July 05, 2006)
At the Reaching Japanese for Christ Conference in February Dee Wirz spoke about “Teaching an Effective English Bible Class.” She distributed a three page handout. If you are interested, please send me a note at donwright@rjcnetwork.org.
Her first point was
People who come to English Bible classes often have mixed motivation and interests.
The class is both an English class and a Bible class.
1. The “felt need” and first interest of students may initially be to practice and improve their skills in English communication.
2. A secondary interest (or at least an openness to learn) may be in the Bible and Christianity. Their “real need” is to hear the Good News and come to know God personally as Savior, Creator and Provider.
The teacher should make every effort to faithfully satisfy both of these needs.
Four Great Prayer Resources
(9/5/06)
There are many resources to guide you in praying for Japan and Japanese.
Here are four:
1. Operation Japan (I shared this in an earlier note)
The new Operation Japan, 3rd Edition, contains up-to-date information on each prefecture, key prayer targets, and a system for praying through the nation in a year.
This prayer guide is an invaluable resource. You can contact me at don_wright@mac.com concerning how to purchase this book.
2. “Free Japan” is a daily prayer guide. http://www.thejapannet.com/free_japan_daily_prayer_guide.htm .
3. The Japan Prayer Strategy E Mail notes that Donn and Daisy Townsend sends out are also excellent prayer resources. They send out regulary notes that have been taking one prefecture at a time with detailed information for prayer. You can receive these notes by requesting them from the Townsends. doda@certainty.net
4. God has given Tatsuo Akamine a vision for a “Japanese Strategic Intercessory Prayer Network.” You may request more information at tatsuo_a@sbcglobal.net.If you are interested in the full page, write me at donwright@rjcnetwork.org.
Father’s Love Letter
(10/29/06)
Just today I was introduced to www.FathersLoveLetter.com . There are a number of things on their website that can be helpful. The English base form is an intimate message from God to us, quoting verses from the Bible that explain God’s love, care and salvation.
The letter has been translated into many languages, one of which is Japanese, of course! So you can print out the letter, or you can also encourage your Japanese friends to view the video.
JoAnn’s sister introduced this to me. She used it as a gift to friends in Okinawa. She printed it up in color, rolled it up, tied it with a ribbon, and then gave it as a gift along with other presents.
Give it a try at www.FathersLoveLetter.com
A Theology of Mission, Challenges and Opportunities in Northeast Asia
Here is a description and order form for Gaylan Mathiesen’s new book, A Theology of Mission, Challenges and Opportunities in Northeast Asia. This should be a good resource for ministry to Japanese. (Posted 1/4/08)
The Creation of Adam
Robert Serrao has a tract translated into Japanese, entitled “Creation of Adam.” The tract can be purchased on-line, and the sample can also be seen. The painting of Michelangelo’s is used to show the separation of man from God, and the connection reestablished by the cross. Because of Japanese’ interest in famous art pieces, the illustration and the gospel presentation can be a good tool. (posted 1/15/08)
Where to get Christian videos in Japanese
The Global Christian Video Directory website is an attempt to list the Christian videos in all the languages of the world. Wow! Go to the Japanese section and you will find close to 40 different listings with a brief summary of the video and the place you can order it.