CHRIST IS ALL
Spring 2004 (March, April, May)
Dear
Friend in Christ,
It is always refreshing to me when springs arrives, as I enjoy
the warmer weather and the beautiful sight of the flowers, plum trees, and the
cherry trees blooming out with the natural beauty that God created in them. By
the grace of God, I have continued to distribute Christian literature to
hundreds of houses in this area, walking the streets & leaving the
literature at each house. In most of those houses are Buddhist and Shinto idols
that the Japanese worship. I often smell the incense that is burning inside the
house as a part of idol worship. How heartbreaking it is to see these lost
Japanese people so blinded by the devil. As I leave Bible literature explaining
about the True God at each house, I intercede in prayer for the salvation of
these Japanese, praying that they will not throw the literature away, but
rather will carefully read it and open up their heart to the Saviour of the
world and receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Intercessory prayer is so
important and necessary, and I never feel that I do enough of it. Thank you so
much for praying for these lost Japanese whom I am reaching with this Gospel
literature. God bless you for praying for them.
Here in Japan, the school year ends the last week in March.
About 10 days of spring vacation follows and then the new school year starts in
early April. Usually, only children attend the evangelistic services that I
conduct in several communities around here. A few children attend somewhat
regularly, but all of them quit when they enter junior high school because they
become busier with school activities and also lose interest in the things of
God. Four girls, who came to the services a lot and professed to believe on
Christ, entered junior high school in April. Likely they truly trusted in
Christ as their Saviour. They have been a great blessing and encouragement to
me during the few years they came to my services. I am praying for God to
protect and keep them, and that He will make them into great vessels that will
be most useful to Him and glorify Him in their lives. I would appreciate you
praying for them also, that God will rule in their lives.
On Sundays when I am not away from my house here in Matsuida, I
usually attend church services in the home of Pastor Hayashi here in Matsuida
and I also invite other Japanese to attend church there, tho it is rare for any
of them to respond to that invitation. I pray that more of them will. Only
about 10 to 12 people attend his church services, including the children. But
each one of them is a precious, eternal soul that needs the Lord Jesus Christ
to save them from an eternal Hell and to take them to Heaven. At times, I do a
little preaching and teaching at those services when Pastor Hayashi asks me to
do so. He and his wife are a blessing and encouragement to me as they
faithfully tell these lost Japanese about Christ. They carry a heavy load as
they do much work for the Lord and as he works a full time office job. I know
they would appreciate you praying for them. Also, would you please pray for the
salvation of the lost Japanese who attend their church.
In late April, I again started going to the nearby mountain
resort town of Karuizawa to sell on the street there, and also to preach,
witness, and give out Christian literature to the crowds of people there. The
other day, 3 Japanese girls listened so attentively as I told them about
salvation in Christ, and one of them thanked me for telling them something “ so
important.” I pray that they will be saved. Hundreds of people hear me as I
preach Christ out there on that crowded street. Christ gave His life as a
ransom for them and is not willing that any one of them perish. I pray that
many of them will repent and receive Christ as their Saviour. Would you also
please pray for that.
During the spring, I had only one appointment to see the doctor
about the brain surgery I had back in November. That appointment was on March
24th and he said that I was recovering normally. I give God the glory
for healing me much thus far, and I pray for God to continue healing me. I
would appreciate it so much if you would pray for my health and for God’s
healing. Many Christians have been praying for my health since November and I
know that God has heard and answered your prayers. God bless you for praying
for me. I also pray for you, that God will keep you in good health, provide for
you, and bless your Christian life that live for Him. Several of you have sent
offerings to me during the spring. Each offering is a big help to me. Thank you
so much for caring enough to give a financial offering. May God bless you for
it and repay you many fold over for it.
Christ’s unprofitable servant, Richard Yerby