Briehl Annual Report2019This year in the Alliance we began hearing the phrase “All of Jesus for all of the world.” Tim Meier refers to this statement in the Nov/Dec 2019 issue of Alliance Life as, “our Alliance vision statement.” It’s a statement I began to think about a great deal as the year was winding down. As we’ve traveled to meet with individuals and visit churches, we’ve been asked why missionaries are needed in Japan and thus why one should partner with us. Our answer has included spiritual needs (most Japanese follow Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, and the population is less than 1% Christian) and physical needs (they have the highest suicide rate of a developed nation, weakened family structures and high levels of bullying).

In reflecting on this message in recent months, I believe a simpler explanation of the need for missionaries in Japan and for our purpose in seeking partnership can be given in two words: Gospel access. I believe this aligns well with the Alliance statement—we desire to see all the world not just know of Jesus, not just believe things about Jesus (James 2:19), but to believe in the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, declare Him Lord and surrender to Him (“All of Jesus”).

This can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of those who hear, to put their faith in Jesus Christ. But to hear, Japanese need access to the Gospel. Paul writes:

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?— Romans 10:13-15a

I hope this can be our message as we continue to seek financial and prayer partnerships — that we seek to assist in bringing Gospel access to Japan. Of the 126,000,000 people in Japan, less than 0.5% are evangeli-cal Christians and 0.2% attend a protestant church. Most Japanese have never been to church, never read the Bible and have no Christian friends. It’s estimated that 95% of Japanese have never heard the Gospel. The number of missionaries in Japan has been on the decline for the last 20 years. Japan is in need of access to the Gospel.

This year the Lord has given Lauren and I a vision for how we might do this in Japan. For Lauren this will be through teaching English. For myself, this will be through shared offices with business professionals (co-working spaces). Additionally, we will be working alongside our Alliance aXcess workers in the multiplying Gospel ministries they are already engaged in.

While we may be only two additional Christians among the few in Japan, we pray that God would use us as well other international workers and all Japanese believers to create a Holy Spirit powered movement, that the Lord may reclaim His children through their faith in Jesus Christ.

Japanese Evangelicals

0.2%Protestant Believers

95%Have never heard the Gospel

0.5%

Connect with Usjbriehl@gmail.com(262) 617-3373singjapan.org briehlsinjapan

There were many firsts and many changes for us last year. Our greatest change came over the summer in the excitement of learning God has blessed us with our fourth child, a boy, who will be born in February 2020! The kids especially are excited to meet their new brother, although I’m less certain about my capabilities to cope with less sleep.

The year was spent still living at home in Elizabethton, TN while we worked towards being funded in order to leave for Japan. Outside of additional ministry efforts (see below), life continued mostly as normal.

With the expectation that we would need to travel this year, we decided that Atticus (10) and Everett (8) would be homeschooled starting the 2019 fall school year. They have enjoyed being home with their mom and sister. Atticus started taking jiu-jitsu lessons this year while Everett began learning to play the drums. We’ve had some wonderful times playing music and family worship (Atticus is learning the guitar as well).

Nora (4) continues to be our little ray of sunshine. She attends preschool every morning and enjoys coming home to be with her brothers in the afternoon. She is looking forward to being a big sister.

I’m not sure how she does it, but in addition to keeping the house running, working part-time as a recovery room nurse at the local hospital while being pregnant, Lauren has taken on the task of homeschooling the boys. While it can be a bit challenging at times, she enjoys that they’re home and all the extra time she has with them.

I continue to work full-time for Warren Lamb in my role as a web designer and developer.

We have had the joy of another year attending our home church, Elizabethton Alliance Church. This has been our church family for over fourteen years. The word “family” must be stressed. We have such a loving and caring congregation—we cannot imagine what it will be like to be separated from them when we move. Another year has provided Lauren the opportunity to continue to serve in our children’s ministries and I have continued to help with our youth group and serve in our worship ministry.

Daily Life

Year in Review

Throughout the year we had many opportu-nities to meet with individuals and churches as we continued to build our team of financial and prayer partners. In addition to meeting with individuals, we were graciously invited to visit:

The road was long and often hard—we put in close to 9,000 miles this year in a mini-van. However, it was also often very sweet. These visits were incredible opportu-nities to meet many new friends and offered great times of fellowship and worship. We thank God for keeping us safe, that the van [mostly] kept running, for new friends and for countless hours of sharing about His mission for the nations.

Travel

North River Church, Hixson, TN (Jan)Birmingham International Church, Birmingham, AL (Jan)Living Hope Church, Huntsville, AL (July)Faith Community Church, Franklin, TN (July)Kiel Alliance Church, Kiel, WI (Aug)CrossPoint Alliance Church, Akron, OH (Aug, Oct)Crossroads Fellowship, Clarksville, TN (Sept)Faith Community Church, Zanesville, OH (Oct)Heritage Bible Church, Panama City, FL (Dec)

While there were many highlights this year, especially as we traveled, a few highlights stand out.

In May we had the privilege of attending General Council for the Alliance in Orlando. In addition to the standard Council events, we had the opportunity to attend Pre-Council—two days of meetings specifically for international workers which contained business meetings, fellowship, prayer and worship. During the closing ceremony for Council, we were given the honor of being commissioned with 60 other new workers for the Alliance. We can’t begin to express the level of support we have felt through this journey. This feeling was overwhelming during the prayer portion of the commissioning as we were surrounded by our marketplace leadership, family, kids, friends and Southern District family.

A few short weeks later, I returned to Orlando with twenty-two students from our church to join 5,400 other students for LIFE, Alliance’s triennial youth conference. The four-and-a-half-day conference included main sessions, break-out seminars, a community service project and a bit of fun. The trip also added an additional 1,400 miles to my travel log! It was an exciting and encouraging week as we saw students put their faith in Christ as well as students committing to serve Him with their lives. I’ve spent over ten years working with the youth in our church so the trip was a great way to cap what may be one of our last summers before leaving.

October provided the opportunity to speak at our first Alliance missions conference which was hosted by CrossPoint Alliance Church in Akron, OH. The church family was so warm and welcoming—this helped us feel more comfortable for our first conference. It was a wonderful week with opportunities to share about our calling, plans for ministry, as well as life and missions in Japan.

Highlights

One of the ongoing questions has been when we will depart for Japan. Earlier in 2019 we had set a hopeful date of January 2020. The pregnancy led us to move that date back. We hope to work with the aXcess team field leadership during the first few months of this new year to set a departure date based on their guidance and input.

Departure

While we still have not reached the funding level we need to leave for Japan, we have seen encouraging growth as God has brought new prayer and financial partners to join alongside us. We began the year with just over 10% of our monthly funding and roughly 25% of our outgoing budget met. Throughout the year God amazed us as He connected us with generous and committed partners to see the Gospel shared in Japan. By the end of the year, we had reached $2,560 (43%) of our $6,000 monthly needed goal and reached 85% of our outgoing needed funds. We are so grateful for our partners and God’s graciousness. It has been an encouragement to see progress, yet we continue to pray that our entire monthly support need would be met to decrease the level of stress as we transition to a new culture, new language, and new ministry roles.

Funding

Monthly

43% 85%

Outgoing

I don’t think we could put into words all the different thoughts and emotions we’ve felt over the last year. I can try a few. Amazement in God’s provision and care for us. Gratefulness for partnerships in this ministry and the prayer, support, encouragement and friendships that have come from these partnerships. Humility as we’re reminded that this mission is not ours, it’s God’s and only He can accomplish it. And Grace during times when I’ve reached levels of discouragement and God has continued to carry me as only He can.

We are so thankful for your partnership with us—for your shared hope and desire to see the Gospel shared in Japan and to see Jesus proclaimed Lord and Savior. To God be the glory forever.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Jonathan Briehl

Closing

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.— Philippians 4:17-20