July 14-16, 2019 Yokohama Totsuka Baptist Church

Even though Bible Work Camp has been over for more than 24 hours, I think we're all still a bit worn out. Camp started right after church on Sunday afternoon, and went until 3 pm Monday, including two Bible classes, two painting sessions, a trip to the local hot spring, and too many ping-pong matches to keep track of.

The four of us joined Pastor Horino and five of the church's teenagers for an overnight lock-in at Yokohama Totsuka Baptist Church, but we also got to hang out with a number of parents, kids, and young adults who popped in and out throughout the camp. This exemplified one of the aspects of the church that we all noticed: the church was one big family. Even at an event targeted at the youth, it was assumed that everyone in the church would be involved and welcome. Young adults teamed up with teenagers during ping-pong, kids helped us paint a stair-rail in the church (which complicated things, to put it mildly), and parents dropped by to cook meals and listen to the Bible classes. In a country that is suspicious of Christianity (as members of all ages articulated), the church provides an understanding family that cares for each member.

As with other churches we have attended, Totsuka Baptist puts a premium on personal testimonies. We had the opportunity to share our stories with the congregation, both during the Sunday service and throughout the camp. We also got to hear parts of the church members' stories throughout our time here, which was both challenging and encouraging. Many of the people we talked to , including the youth, shared stories about being rejected or made fun of for being Christian, and some expressed fear about telling their co-workers about their faith. There are a lot of cults, Christian and otherwise, in Japan, and they have given Christianity a bad name, so that the average person is at best suspicious of, and at worst outright hostile toward Christianity.

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to join Pastor Horino in some hospital visits. First, we went to Seishikai Hospital, which is a small hospital run by a Christian doctor, Dr. Okada. We helped lead a time of worship for about ten mostly elderly patients, who sang along as they were able. After Pastor Horino's sermon, we met with Dr. Okada, who shared about the history of the hospital and his decades of evangelizing there. At 90-years-old, he is still zipping around the hospital, singing hymns at the top of his lungs, and praying zealously for anyone who sits still too long.

We have once again received an incredible amount of hospitality from our host church. We have been treated to meals, both out at restaurants and, even better, from home kitchens. After visiting the hospital today, Pastor Horino took us to Tokyo Tower, where the view was spectacular even with the clouds and rain. Hospitality is a serious matter in Japan, and the churches we've visited have blessed us greatly through meals, testimonies, and various adventures.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for Pastor Tetsui, who is recovering from an illness. He is our main point of contact here and has been sick for a week now.

Please pray for Dr. Okada and Seishikai Hospital. Dr. Okada's sons-in-law are not Christian, but will likely take over the hospital when Dr. Okada retires, which may mean the end of a decades-long evangelistic legacy.

Please pray for the youth (and everyone, really) of Yokohama Totsuka Baptist Church, that they might be emboldened to share their faith with their friends. Pray that they could dispel the aura of suspicion that surrounds Christianity here, and that they could boldly invite their friends to "taste and see that the Lord is good."