Dear Friend in Christ,
It was back about 2007 when a Japanese Christian lady, Mrs.
Kobayashi, called me by phone upon receiving my prayer sheet stuffed into and
delivered in her daily newspaper. Over a year later, I met her in person in the
church in Takasaki. In another year or so, her husband got saved and baptized,
thank God. I seldom see them. But on Sunday afternoon, 6 September, I saw them
at a children’s service I helped with at that church in Takasaki. Mrs.
Kobayashi then told me that an elderly man in her area had gotten that prayer
sheet on the same day she did, kept it for over a year before he got saved and
baptized. Then he kept that prayer sheet till his death about 3 years later. He
died in his 80s. Mrs. Kobayashi said the prayers on that paper were a strong
influence in him getting saved, thank God!
Back on Sunday May 10th of this year, when I preached in
the church in Yoshii, a Mr. Sakai attended church there for the 1st
time. He works at the same place as Brother Nukui, who invited him to come to
church. Mr. Sakai had many sin problems. At the end of the service, we
divide up into groups of 3 or so and pray. Mr. Sakai was seated next to me and
thus we were in the same prayer group. I knew he was not a Christian and told
him he could just listen to us other 2 pray and that he was not compelled to
pray. He nodded his head in agreement. After we prayed, he started crying. I
spoke to him of the Help and Salvation that is in Christ. He soon dried his
eyes and went outside to smoke. Then, Brother Nukui told me a few details of
what a terrible mess Mr. Sakai had made of his life. We all prayed for him and
befriended him much.
Thank God that Mr. Sakai continued coming to church regularly. Each
month I went to Yoshii to preach, his countenance became brighter and brighter.
He would listen each time we prayed. I would call on God to help him as I
prayed in his presence. Recently, he made a public decision there in church to
repent of his sins and trust in Christ. Two Sundays or so later, he was
baptized. This was a great joy to us Christians who were involved. Thank you
for praying for the lost Japanese to whom I preach Christ. Would you please
continue to pray for Brother Sakai. He needs Christ’s victory over a sinful
lifestyle that he has lived for many years. Please pray for God to give him
victory over smoking, drinking alcohol, and numerous other sins. I thank you
for lifting up in prayer, these dear hurting Japanese souls for whom I ask
prayer. Please keep it up and may our Lord richly bless you for doing so!
This is the 2nd co-worker to whom Brother Nukui has
witnessed who has gotten saved. Over 2 years ago, I told you of Mr. and Mrs.
Yasuda starting to attend the Yoshii church with their 3-year-old son. Brother
Nukui met Mr. Yasuda at work and invited him to church. His family began
attending regularly. He and his wife both trusted in Christ and were baptized
at the same time. They now have a second son about 1 year old.
When anyone is baptized in the Yoshii church, Brother Arai has them
write out their testimony and stand before the small congregation and read the
testimony to everyone. Mrs. Yasuda testified of how that when she 1st
started coming to church, the Bible preaching seemed strange and out of place
to her. She gave 1 example of that, one of my sermons when I preached on
Christ’s invitation to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest”. She testified that she sensed no need in her
life for such an invitation. As she said that, I smiled inside my heart
thinking, “She sure is young”.
Recently I shared with that couple my thoughts when I heard her
testimony. I looked at her holding her 2nd son on her lap (about 1
year old) and said to her: “When this boy graduates from high school (after you
have raised 2 active boys) then I want to ask you if you have
ever been heavy laden and tired and in dire need of rest”. She smiled, nodding
in agreement!
Please pray for a Japanese Christian couple, Brother and Sister
Tomioka, likely in their late 40s. I met them for the 1st time last
year when they walked past the rescue mission and came in because they saw the
Gospel signs. Since that 1st time, they have stopped in 4 times or
so, when they are in the area of the rescue mission. They are both gentle in
spirit and are a blessing to me.
One time, their son, Junta, was with them. He is about 20 years old.
Upon 1st meeting Junta, I soon realized that he was beset with
mental illness. I did not inquire about that, of course, and know no details of
it. That 1 time the 3 of them came together, soon the mother asked me to pray
for Junta and began to speak just a little of his condition. Upon seeing his
mother’s talk heading in that direction, Junta started saying, “Let’s go. Let’s
go,” not wanting his mom to tell me of his problems. I kept a “strong front”
for his sake, not showing pity for him. I told him I would pray for him and
that The Lord Jesus Christ has all the Help that he needs.
Back in September, his mother called my home phone while I was out
and left a message. “Pray for Junta, please. He attempted suicide by taking an
overdose and slicing his arm several times.” That was most
heartbreaking to hear. She gave me no more details of his condition, only that
he survived the attempt. That is a relief. But now he must be much more
depressed in his injured condition. I know not how well he is expected to
recover physically from that 2-prong attempt to take his life.
Sister Tomioka did not give her phone number with that message and I
do not have it or their address. Thus I cannot contact them. That dear
Christian couple is carrying a heavy load, folks. Please pray
with me for The God of All Comfort to please make His Grace and Comfort
sufficient for them in this dark hour. So many hurting souls around each of us.
God forbid that we fail to pray earnestly for them and do all we can to be of
help and comfort.
Please pray for a 16
year-old Christian boy here in my town of Matsuida, Masayoshi, who has both
physical and mental problems. He was born of Christian parents and has 1 sister
about 20 years old. His dad suffered with mental problems and committed suicide
about 6 or 7 years ago. Some years before that, his dad’s brother committed
suicide.
Lately, Masayoshi comes to
my house from time to time. Last week, he asked me if I had ever doubted my
salvation. Thus I knew the devil is fighting him for the assurance of his
salvation and of him being a child of God. I told him that when I was a teen
that doubts did come into my mind. I encouraged him to rely on Christ’s
promises to believers in the Gospel of John and to daily confess to Christ that
he is trusting in Jesus Christ as his Saviour. I urged him to daily ask God to
perfect his every way. Pray for God to guard over him, nurture him, and to
perfect his every way.
On Sunday 18 October I went to the Isesaki church and shared the
sermon time with Pastor Tamura. Then we all ate lunch at the church and held an
evangelistic service at 2 PM. Two unsaved men attended the afternoon service,
Katsumi and Yuuji. (Those are first names.) They both work for Brother Tamara
in the private school he founded. Both Bro. Tamura and I preached salvation at
the 2 PM service with these 2 men listening. Please intercede with us for their
salvation. God bless you for praying!
On Sunday 25 October, I preached at Pastor Kanai’s church in
Takasaki because he went into the hospital the day before to have surgery for bladder
cancer the next day, 26 October. Pray for healing for him, that God will grant
him healing and a quick recovery to resume his much work for our Lord. Thank
God he went home from the hospital on the 29th (3 days after surgery
as planned). He is recovering normally. To God be the glory for restoring his
health.
I know that several of you dear friends are praying earnestly. I also know for sure that God is working powerfully here in answer to you praying. God richly bless you for caring!
By God’s Grace, thru out 2015, daily I have held forth the words of
life to many lost Japanese souls around me; Buddhists, Shintoists, atheists,
self-made gods, and all sorts of proud, scornful sinners. My Lord Jesus has
filled my heart with joy for preaching to them the Hope that is in Christ
Jesus. And two or more souls who listened to me made the decision to repent and
trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. To God be the Glory!
On Sunday 8 November I preached in the church in Yoshii to about 17
Japanese attending. Each time I go there (once a month), Brother Sakai’s
countenance is brighter. Thank you for praying for him.
I closed the rescue mission in Karuizawa amidst chilly rain about 6
PM on Saturday November 14th. Since mid-April, it has brought me
much joy to tend it 5 or 6 days most ever week to lift high the Saviour of the
world for the many passing souls to see.
This is my 2nd year to run the rescue mission. In
October, I told the realtor I wanted to rent the building next year. Soon she
replied that the owner said “No” and for me to get out in November. I sense the
owner hates my large sign “Christ Is All”. Please pray with me for the
salvation of this Japanese owner couple and the lady realtor, and for miracles
so I can keep renting and glorifying God in this place if that be my Lord’s
Will.
“Not my will, but Thine be done, Lord God. If it be Thy Will, keep this door open, I plead.”
On 15 November I preached in
the Isesaki church. Upon arriving there, I was greeted with the news that Yuuji
had trusted in Christ the previous day. This was a great joy to hear!
Pray for his spiritual growth and for the salvation of his family. He appears
to be in his 60s.
On Saturday 28 November, I hope to close up my house in Matsuida for
the winter and travel by train to Mino Mission in Mie Prefecture near Nagoya. I
am scheduled to preach the following morning in Brother Jeff Brigham’s church
in Anjo City, about an hour and 20 minutes by train from Mino Mission and then
return to the Mino Mission Tomidahama church to preach in their 7 PM service
that night, Nov. 29th.
I plan to lodge at Mino
Mission till about 5 AM on December 1st, and then ride the trains
down to the very southern tip of the main islands of Japan to Ibusuki City in
Kagoshima Prefecture. (If you play with Google Earth or such, you can easily
view these locations in Japan.) Ibusuki is said to be the warmest spot on
mainland Japan. (That excludes Okinawa.) In February 2014 when I stayed nearby
there in the winter, I visited Ibusuki one day. I found the temptature plenty
mild and inviting. I street preached, praying for the salvation of souls there.
Searching for a realtor, I found Mr. and Mrs. Kirihara, and asked about renting
an apartment. They were most friendly to me and said to contact them “when the
time came.” In October of this year, by letter and phone, I rented an apartment
thru them for 4 months from December 1st thru March 31st.
Please pray for their family’s salvation. They have 2 grown sons.
God has called me to daily do outdoor evangelism when I am in Japan.
The older I get, the less fun it is to preach and sing out in the
freezing cold, especially if a cold wind is cutting thru me. I thank God for
opening doors to allow me to spend the winter months in a mild climate in southern
Japan. I desire to serve my Lord to the fullest during that time. (Motivation
to preach to the fullest comes much easier when I am not shivering and my teeth
are not chattering.) Please pray for our Lord to open doors unto me in the
Ibusuki area and to draw many lost souls to the Saviour of the world.
I pray for our Lord to richly bless you and your family as this
another year draws to an end.
Christ’s servant in Japan,
Richard Yerby