Dear Friends and Partners in mission:

The cherry blossoms are in bloom here in Japan and I was just thinking about Easter, the resurrection and life.  I was thinking of healing, forgiveness and a promise of hope. How about you?  Maybe there is still some snow on the ground where you are at.

It was just 10 years ago that Tomoko and I began working with a little church here in Japan, the Nishi Okamoto Christ Church.  They had been without a pastor for 4 years after the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Their pastor at the time, Rev. Hata, was a victim of the earthquake.

I asked them at that time what their vision for the future was.  People shared a variety of wonderful ideas.  I was excited to hear of their faith and vision for the future.  To be honest, a few people confessed to me later they didn’t really feel very hopeful for their future, but thought they needed to sound faithful to impress us.

The truth is that we never realized how much pain and hurt was just being covered up. Four years without a pastor.  They had to be pastor to each other, and to their families and neighbors, and had to a degree just covered up their own pain.  

Healing became the real ministry we were a part of those first few years.  Mostly we just listened, prayed, cried and laughed with them, filling a gap that the earthquake had left.  Yet during this time something amazing happened.  There was healing. And with healing came hope and new life, or perhaps a realization that the Living God was indeed living among his people.  It is kind of an Easter story.

We resigned from the church 2 years ago and left the ministry in the very capable hands of Rev. Akira Takahashi, though we continue to work with the youth of the church.

I want to tell more of this story in the weeks to come, but for now I bring greetings from your brothers and sisters in Christ here in Japan.  The good folks at Nishi Okamoto often tell us to say thank you to those who support us and are responsible for our being here. They feel a bond with you.

Isn’t it great to be part of what the Living God is doing here in Japan?  You are through your prayers and your gifts of support for us.

We give thanks for your partnership in mission.

Grace and Peace

John and Tomoko Armagost

International Ministries missionaries in Japan