CHRIST IS ALL
Winter (December 2023, January and February 2024)
Richard Yerby,
PO Box 4, Matsuida-Machi,
Annaka-Shi, Gunma-Ken
379-0200 JAPAN
Dear Friend in Christ,
On Thursday the last day of November, I rode fast Bullet Train
rails southwest to Oogaki City in Gifu Prefecture to preach to about 14
Japanese souls in the 7 PM service at Mino Mission Oogaki Bible Church. The
Holy Ghost descended to fill our hearts with Joy, not having seen each other since
early March. I took up lodging in the loft prophet chamber in Mino Mission
Tomidahama Church.
The following Sunday, 3 December, I boarded a train early to
arrive at Missionary Pastor Jeff Brigham’s church in Anjo City, Aichi
Prefecture, to speak briefly at the start of his 9:30 Adult Sunday School
class, in the Japanese language. Pastor Jeff finished out that session. Next, I
preached the sermon in Japanese to the 10:30 Japanese flock. Then at 11:30, I
preached in the English Service, the majority attending being Filipinos. Then
all present ate a light lunch together in the tiny 2nd floor store
space that they rent for church services. They need a larger room desperately.
Please pray for God to provide, according to His Will.
That night, I preached to about 17 Japanese at the 7 PM service
back at Tomidahama Bible Church. Four or 5 who came, normally do not
come Sunday nights, only in the mornings. I greatly appreciate them coming to
gaze upon me. I have sadly observed church attendance decrease in Japan ever
since arriving here 50 years ago. Several of the Mino Mission church members
are over 90 years old. A higher number are between 85 and 90. As that
generation fly away to Glory Land one by one, a much smaller number of young souls
come in. Thus the congregations of all three Mino Mission churches have drastically
shrank. Please intercede for powerful Holy
Ghost conviction upon lost Japanese, to turn them to repentance. Mino Mission
is just over 100 years old. For more than a century now, its Believers have
shone much True Light in this Spiritually Dark Land of many Buddhist and Shinto
idols.
At 5:24 AM on Tuesday 5 December, I caught the earliest train of
the day away from Mino Mission, riding 4 trains, one after the other, to
Ibusuki City at the southern tip of Japan, where our Lord has given me a
building of my own in which to lodge, preach and teach. Most of my preaching in
that area is “without the camp,
bearing his reproach” (Hebrews 13:13).
Winter is mild is this very southern end of Japan, so I relish walking much,
preaching as I go. Numerous souls hear. I pray for conviction. There is some
favorable response with a scant few souls listening well. Each year, the
opposition gets stronger. Fight for us. Lord!
Tho, it be legal for me to stand on sidewalks in Japan and raise
my voice (no megaphone, mechanical speaker, no loud blasting, or such), mad
children of the devil call the police and demand that the police stop me. Actually the police are duty bound to protect my
right as a resident of Japan, to raise my voice in public, the right of
all legal residents. But police readily sin by bullying and harassing me.
Mercy to save them all, Lord. Fight for me, Almighty Lord of Hosts!!
I preached as zealously as possible there in southern Japan until Saturday
24 February, when I ride the rails back to Mino Mission to preach 4 times in 2
of their 3 churches till the end of February. Truly, a blessed and fulfilling
winter our Lord gave me, going near and far as a pilgrim and stranger on earth,
bearing precious Gospel seed. Please pray with me for an abundant
harvest.
Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving to aid
in this missionary work.
May our Lord richly bless you and keep all your family safe in His
Tender, Loving Care.
Christ’s servant in Japan,
Richard Yerby