CHRIST IS ALL
Spring 2023 (March, April, May)
Dear Friend in Christ,
March 4th, I headed back northeast from southern
Japan where I had been since 20 December. God gave me many days of good
weather in that mild climate. That (along with a burning desire
to let the Light of God shine into darkened hearts) fired me up to do much
outdoor evangelism, abiding with my Lord without the camp. In the
past, devilish opposition has always been strong on that southern island of
Kyushu. But this time it was furious, stronger than ever before,
I think. “Having done all,
stand.”
And as I stood in their adamant faces, (“Be not dismayed at their faces.”), I was so blessed to clearly see the Holy Spirit working in the
hearts of several children, a few teens, and a scant few adults. Please
intercede for the following adults, captives of Satan.
The chain-smoker man: Weekdays, he commutes by train to Nigatsuden Station, next to my house. As soon as he alights
from the train, he is getting out a cigarette as he walks out from the small
station building, & he lights up & starts smoking it right in
front of the entrance to my property. I have watched him do that for about 4
years now, slowly committing suicide by inhaling that poison.
I often come out of my house at that time to sing hymns to the
good number of souls alighting from that train, or
boarding it. At first, he showed an angry face at me singing wonderful hymns so
close to him, tho I was on my own private property (onto which he was
blowing stinking smoke). And he would angrily stalk on out the street a
ways, stop & smoke there, still within hearing of my singing. He never
greeted me for 2 years or so. (Please keep in mind that I am there less than 3
months each year.)
But a year ago, he began to greet me genuinely
friendly, continuing to do so this year. May Christ save him.
The demonic screaming pacer: He commutes from this station. When he daily departs in the morning, he arrives there on his
bicycle more than 5 minutes before the train arrives. If I am there singing
praises to God, he immediately starts pacing up & down the station platform,
nervous-like, and angry. At times, he will scream out most furiously.
The other Japanese there who hear that screaming, simply ignore him. Likely
they know it is the devil in him. Intercede for God to set this captive free
from devils & all evil forces, I beg.
The woman who hides her face: With her hat or umbrella, this woman commuter hides her face
from most everyone around her, but especially from me.
Afternoons, if I come out to start singing, often she is sitting on the short
bench next to the station building, on the side nearest to my house.
When she sees or hears me, she angrily gets up & stalks further
away, while badmouthing me somewhat loudly. I have strained mine ears to catch
her words, but have not yet understood one word. She
is speaking so fast & furiously. And the words might not be Japanese, but
rather another language spoken by devils inside her. Pray for her. These 3
eternal souls are somewhat typical of my daily encounters with the human race around me, as I let the Light shine.
I am so ever blessed!
I thank each & every one of you who intercede for these
souls, & who pray for my
welfare also. Possibly some of them try to call on demons to harm me.
“Thank Thee, my Lord Jesus, for Thy Protecting Blood, & for
angels around us to guard us children of Thine. Amen.”
On Saturday March 4th, I rode 4 trains northeast to
Mino Mission’s Tomidahama Bible Church to again lodge in their prophet chamber
in the small church loft. The following morning, I went by train to Missionary
Pastor Jeff Brigham’s church in Anjo City to preach in the morning service
there, and to fellowship a while after with the church people before returning
to Tomidahama church to preach in the 7 PM service. Then Wednesday 7:30 PM in
this church, and Thursday 7 PM in Oogaki Bible
Church, to depart Mino Mission and return to my “main” house in Matsuida Town, Gunma
Prefecture, where it feels most good to return to, in the Spring, just
at lovely springtime when much plant life is blossoming and blooming
.
From then on, I did much outdoor evangelism at that time, to
gaze upon the numerous trees, bushes & flowers blooming out around me in
rural central Japan. To me, outdoor preaching, singing & leaving printed
Gospel from house to house, is Joy Unspeakable & Full of Glory.
Please intercede with me for strong conviction & Holy Ghost Power upon the
hearers & readers of the Gospel I get out. Let’s pray for Christ to break
each & every bond that Satan is using to keep these Japanese idol
worshippers from Christ. Peer pressure is a strong bond for the kids
& teenagers. Parents & schoolteachers are strong bonds that bind
grammar school kids. Adults are firmly set in their stubborn hard
hearts and to allegiance to their family’s religion. Praise their Creator, nothing
is impossible for Him!
When I first started interacting with Japanese children and teenagers in early 1974, just about all of them would flock to me, the little one climbing onto my lap when I sat, or climbed onto my back when I was standing. Presently, most of them scoot away from me in public when they approach me or when I approach them, keeping distant from me.
“Well, Old Man Richard, that’s because you were a young handsome
man 50 years ago. But now you are a rugged-looking old codger.”
Likely, that is a small part of it. But it is mainly
due to adults in charge of them warning them that I am a terrible person, to be
avoided. And due to the little ones and young ones constantly
staring at numerous likenesses of devils on every kind of glowing screen
imaginable ever since they were 1 year old or so, bringing them under the control
of those devils, which bring great fear upon the kids under 12
years old, when they sight me. I am referring mainly to cartoon characters,
animated characters, in comic books and on moving picture screens. Most all of these that are not likenesses of human beings, are
likenesses of demons. The same is true of the cartoon characters that your
children in US of A stare at hypnotically.
‘Lord Jesus, set them all free from all satanic power that binds
them.’
One afternoon, I went out to the corner near my house, where the
jr hi school is catty-corner on the opposite side of
the intersection, set out my stand with a small basket of packets of “Prayer
Balloons”, and sang hymns as jr hi kids filed past,
hoofing it away from school after 3:30 PM.
On the stand with the packets of balloons, I’d fixed a sign
saying: “Please take a packet of Jesus Balloons.” As I have told you readers
before, on one side of each balloon is a “confession” such as “Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art Love”. On the opposite side of the balloon is printed a “plea”, “Lord Jesus, please fill my heart with God’s Pure, Upright Love.”
(I have 12 various such prayers printed on balloons, one prayer
per balloon, of course, and I put an assortment in each bag.) There are 11
different colors of balloons, most colorful! While
singing hymns as these teens file by, I earnestly plead for the Holy Spirit to
draw them to take a packet of balloons. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of
hosts.” (Zec. 4:6) This day,
more than a dozen teens took a packet, of their own free will, in spite of peer pressure & schoolteacher pressure
against them doing so. “Abba Father,
do not let a one of them perish!” Intercessor Friend, join me in that prayer for them, please!
On Saturday 29 April, as is my annual custom, I reopened the
Rescue Mission in the mountain resort town of Karuizawa, having closed it down
for the winter back on 3 Nov. From 29 April thru 6 May or so, is known as
Golden Week in Japan, because during those 8 days, there are 4 Japanese
holidays, making for a golden week of opportunities for Japanese idol
worshippers to chase after the things of the world (the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life).
This year, that vain rushing to and fro, chasing after
those vain things that perish, was somewhat more
boisterous than usual, because of recent lifting of several restrictions
that had been imposed due to Covid. The multitude of eternal souls coming my
way was large, and the weather was good. A good number of souls came into the
Rescue Mission, mainly to buy the recycle goods I put out. But, while in my
place, they hear & see much Saving Gospel, praise God.
A young Chinese lady (early 20s?) came in to look around
& soon began talking to me friendly. I soon told
her that I am a missionary, teaching about Jesus Christ. I asked her if she
knew about Jesus. She smiled and said a favorite aunt of hers and also 1 good friend of hers back in China are
Christians. She indicated that she was impressed by the good life each of them
lived. I told her that those 2 people who are dear to her, would rejoice if she
trusted in Christ.
She & I are talking in Japanese,
tho she is Chinese. Most Bible literature I put out to be taken free is written
in Japanese. But I have 1 pamphlet in Chinese. I showed it to her, telling her
I would like her to have it, if she desired it. (Overly zealous fishers of men,
in such cases, thrust that literature upon the person. I do not think
that is pleasing to God, and in most cases, it’s not pleasing to the person it
is thrust upon.) She took it quite eagerly, thank God. Her heart was open to
what I said. Pray for her salvation, please.
Another day, a young Japanese lady (about 30?) came in, saying
her Christian friend (a Japanese woman) had told her that she should become a
Christian. So, “Do you have a book that is an introduction to Christianity?”
She asked me. Of course, she needs to be introduced to her Creator God
and soon-coming Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ. Typically, a Japanese who asks
for a book that introduces Christianity, has in mind a book that gives
the history of the religion and the man-made rules & regulations that a follower
of that religion is to follow. I strove to gently tell her that she needs to
call upon the Name of Jesus Christ to reveal Himself to her, and to read the
Holy Bible, and this book of prayers, as I held up my book of prayers titled. Vanity
Of Vanities. She took the book (& chose and took 1 or 2 tracts, I think). Pray for God to shine His Light into her
dark heart.
These 2 ladies didn’t tell me their names. Also, I don’t give
names in this worldwide newsletter. God will know for whom you are praying.
Try to keep in mind that I live in Matsuida Town, at the foot of
this mountain range where cooler Karuizawa Town (location of the summer rescue
mission) sets atop the mountains.
Please pray that God will enable me to lease the vacant lot
behind Matsuida Post Office, if that be His Will. I desire to use it for soul
winning. It is on the narrow back street that runs behind the PO. The location
of this vacant lot is highly visible, making it ideal for billboard prayers,
and other “missionary” uses I have in mind. I hope to request the owner to
lease it to me in late October this year, Lord willing. Pray for God to prepare
the owner’s heart.
May our Lord richly bless you for praying, for giving
generously, and for caring for me & for the lost Buddhist souls to whom I
preach Christ. Time remaining is ever so short!
Daily, these perilous times are growing more perilous. “Even so,
come, Lord Jesus.” May each of us faithfully occupy until Christ comes for us. Rich
blessings be upon you!
Christ’s servant in Japan,
Richard Yerby