CHRIST IS ALL
Richard Yerby
PO Box 4, Matsuida-Machi
Annaka-Shi, Gunma-Ken
379-0200
JAPAN
Spring 2025 (March, April, May)
Dear Steadfast Supporter,
I continued to exalt Christ there in Ibusuki
City in southern Kyuushuu thru the end of February.
On 1 March Saturday, I rode the trains northeastly to
Mino Mission. Next day, Sunday the 2nd, I preached at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM in Oogaki Bible Church, and then in Tomidahama Bible Church at
7 PM that evening. A glorious Lord’s Day, it was! Wednesday the 5th,
7:30 PM, preaching at the Tomidahama church. Thursday the 6th preaching
at 7 PM at Oogaki church, to depart Mino Mission on Saturday 8 March. Glory!
On that day, I rode the trains to Missionary Pastor Jeff
Brigham’s place in Anjo City, near the large city of Nagoya. Jeff’s Japanese
wife, Sister Keiko, had prepared a simple and healthy supper for us 3, and we
fellowshipped as we ate in the small apartment they keep for guests. Then they
2 went to their house nearby and I slept in the apartment. The next morning, I
preached in all 3 of the services that Jeff holds each Sunday morning,
starting at 9:20 with a service on SKYPE, then the Japanese language service at
10 AM, followed by an English language service at 11 AM. It certainly made for
a blessed Sunday morning. Then we fellowshipped in the church, while eating a
light lunch, after which I bade them Farewell.
I rode 4 trains back northeast to my main house in Gunma
Prefecture. These fast, safe trains in Japan make long trips ever so easy, not
having to drive, and I doze and nap any time that mood comes upon me.
I moved into this small rental house in Gunma Prefecture,
Matsuida Town on 1 August 1978. Come August of this year, that will make 47
years that I have called this house “home”. Thus, it certainly feels like
home. And each year, it feels blessed to return to it in the spring,
after a most active winter of outdoor evangelism in southern Japan’s mild
climate.
The following morning, Monday March 10, I walked out to the near
corner to sing hymns to 50 or more jr hi kids
arriving on hoof or bicycle at the school cattycorner across the intersection
from me. Back in the saddle again in Matsuida Town!
From then on, I daily did some outdoor evangelism amidst many
personal chores. The upcoming Sunday, March 16, I preached at the church in Isesaki. It was a rich blessing to again worship with those
fervent Japanese Christians who regularly do outdoor evangelism. Their zeal for
our Lord keeps their hearts aflame. When they sing in church, it pours forth
from the heart in hearty volume. Glory!
Previously, I have written about teaching English conversation
to a boy named R__. At the beginning of this month, R__ entered junior high
school, 7th grade. He was a 4th grader when I started
teaching him English (either in his house, or in his mother’s parents’ house,
switching back and forth). At the start, I offered to teach him the Bible,
along with daily conversation. But he and his mother made no response to that
offer. Then last spring or so, his mother joined the class, studying English
with him. And last autumn, she asked me to teach the Bible, along with “daily
conversation”. That was a joy to me. Please pray for their household salvation.
Please intercede in prayer for the many souls who hear my public
preaching. Pray for powerful Holy Ghost conviction upon them, leading to
repentance and salvation. Thank you who do so!
Sunday morning 6th April, I preached in Missionary
Pastor Tom Tierney’s church in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. Attendance: 12
souls or so. That congregation is aging, dying off, few or none
young or new attendees showing up. The Faithful Few present
this day blessed my soul. Gracious Pastor Tierney usually lets me fill his
pulpit once or twice a year. I ask him to invite me in early April, because I
enjoy viewing the cherry trees and other plants in bloom and blossom along the
scenic train line along the rippling flowing river with hills and mountains on
both sides.
Three years or so ago when I preached in this Minakami church, a
Japanese Christian man in the congregation loudly and angrily chewed
me out at the end of the service in front of everyone, about some examples of
Japanese praying to false gods, that I preached against. He said no Japanese
would pray like that. Other Japanese Christians in the congregation then spoke
up on my behalf, agreeing with what I said, saying that some Japanese would
pray like that. But when I asked that dear brother in Christ to
pray about that with me “then and there”, he refused, stalking out in a
huff, saying he would never again attend when I preach. Thus far, he has
been faithful to that declaration of his. “Perfect him, Lord.”
Sunday morning 20 April, I preached at Brother Tamura’s church
in Isesaki City. No one chewed me out afterward. We
had a blessed service, thank God, about 25 souls attending.
On Tuesday 29 April, as customary annually, I opened the Rescue
Mission in Karuizawa Town. From that date thru May 6 this year, was Golden Week
in Japan, with 4 national holidays. Many souls flocked to fun
Karuizawa during that festive week. I held forth the word of life,
and encouraged some Christians who dropped into my storefront rescue
mission. A British man with one of his 3 sons from his 1st marriage
and his Japanese wife (his 2nd marriage) dropped in again, having
discovered my place last year. They are most courteous, and are a blessing
to me when they drop in.
Previously, the Japanese wife had lived in the U.S., socializing
on the internet, desiring to marry a U.S. citizen, so she would be granted a
spouse visa, permitting her to live in our great nation. She married a
guy who soon left her, and she soon repeated that same tragedy with another guy
in the U.S., the 2nd hubby also deserting her. One of these 2 men
was legally married to another woman when he married her. Now, this British husband
and Japanese wife are professing Christians and live in Japan. Upon coming into
my place, greetings and chitchat soon ended when the wife started pouring
out her heart. Husband and his son quietly slid on out
and down the street to another shop, to wait and leave us 2 alone as she also
poured forth tears onto the floor as she spoke to me of her previous
life. Compassion, Folks.
Years ago, I first mentioned Karuizawa resident couple, Mr. and
Mrs. T. in my letters. He was born in Germany in July 1929 to a Japanese dad
and German mom. He moved to Japan as a young man, becoming a business success
in Tokyo, gaining wealth, a Japanese wife, and a summer resort house in
Karuizawa.
He died last December, past his 95th birthday. He was
naturally friendly and courteous to all souls. (Rough Me has to work hard at those 2 virtues.) Upon retiring, they
vacated their Tokyo residence and began living in Karuizawa year-round. They
invited me into their nice home 2 times or so. They always chatted most friendly with me when we met in public in Karuizawa.
When I would speak of Christ, he would Ever So Politely change the
subject.
Once, when he was gazing at my parked van with 2 magnetic prayer
sheets on its rear hatch door, he ever so kindly “cautioned” me that
having writing there might distract the driver behind me. Dangerous!
“How’s my driving?” (along with a telephone number) and such signs are common
on back of vehicles. But Mr. T. would never suggest
to those drivers that those signs might be hazardous. Now, in his Eternal
Abode, he has no complaint at all regarding my prayers that call on the Saviour to be saved. Thank you, Faithful Supporting
Friend for praying, for compassion. God bless you who give, to aid my ministry
in Japan.
Please invite people who know me not, to listen to my Radio
Audio Sermons on this website.
Christ’s servant in Japan, Richard Yerby