Who knew that being involved in church planting, especially here in Japan, would require various giftings and skills, besides the usual gifts/talents of teaching, evangelism, admin, etc.
In the US, we take for granted so many resources or supplies, equipment, and services that are so readily available for a fairly reasonable price. However, in Japan, those very things aren’t easily accessible and outsourcing any labor costs a hefty sum. Think about it...in the US, there are so many church buildings that one can rent, purchase, or build and there are many jobs/services that cater specifically towards churches, but in an unreached nation like Japan, those same spaces or services don’t exist. For that reason, our church planting team decided to do most of the remodeling in house (by ourselves and through volunteers).
The work included carpentry, interior design, acoustical engineering, electrical work, and web design to name a few (all of which, I had a hand in). Who knew that church planting included all of this!! The team from Wintersburg came for a week and helped a TON with the renovations, along with volunteers from the Osaka Mustard Seed church and we were finally able to finish for our Christmas event, where around 70 people came to hear about the true meaning of Christmas!
Although this was a temporary season of ministry, I was and still am amazed at how God sovereignly orchestrated the people, team, and everyone’s gifts and talents that were used for this whole remodeling process and for the Christmas event. There were definite times of stress and worry, but God remained faithful through it all. How could I not continue trusting in Him!? “Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” Psalm 100:3-5
BEFORE: And AFTER:
The front of our building constructed by Kevin and another missionary friend:
Spotlights that I had to put up and wire: ...And our Christmas event!!
