International Ministries

Is This the Lord Speaking

August 3, 2005 Journal by John Armagost
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Dear Friends,

"A fountain will flow out of the LORD'S house and will water the valley of the acacias."Joel 3:18 (NIV)This is the theme verse for the Nishi Okamoto Christ Church for 2005. Our desire is that a fountain of God's love and grace will flow out of us into our community.

One of the things that we have done for the last several years is what we call, Summer Bible Club.Yesterday was the first day for this year.Our numbers are down this year from the 100 plus the last couple of years, but perhaps this will give us a chance to get to know each child a little bit better.

We begin each evening with songs and a prayer.Then a puppet show that tells about the theme for the day, and we read the theme verse for the day 2 or 3 times so that we have it well in our heads and hopefully in our hearts.Then we divide by ages to rotate between Bible Story time, Crafts, Music, Snacks and Play and English.This year our theme is "Miracle Circus: Welcome to Jesus".The stories will tell of the healing that Jesus brings to our lives.We will finish on Sunday July 31 with our worship service.The message will be brought by Rev. Kamiyama, a pastor of a Baptist church in Osaka. His message will follow our theme of Miracles, and we trust it will be powerful given the fact that Rev. Kamiyama is blind.We are reminded that miracles are not magic.Miracles often are works of the Lord in our hearts, rather than the body.

When we started our Summer Bible Club, we have only a handful of children.Our numbers still are not huge, but they have grown.And the children also grow.We now have a number of junior highs whom we are sending of to camp in August. Over the years a ministry to children has developed.Is there a next step of ministry to jr. and sr. highs?Is this the Lord speaking to the Nishi Okamoto Church?

Pray with us.

Grace and Peace,

John and Tomoko Armagost

ABC-USA missionaries in Japan