SIMS NEftSLETTEIt ^ JANUAEY 1973Dear Friendss

1972 was a good year here at Mejirodai Church. The average Sunday Schoolattendance was 45, ^d the average worship attendance was between 12 and 13.There were 4 baptisms, bringing the total Japanese membership to 9, all active and living within walking distance of the church. It was also 2r"year of marriage and missionary life, and we lived it happily, healthfully, yarid hopeifully.

The first of November marked the second anniversary of the opening of thework here, we commerorated this by having an evangelistic meeting Nov. 1-5with Nick Saito from Osaka Bible Seminary as the evangelist. On the finalnight of the meeting two people were baptised who had been attending services and considering their decision for months. All of us were very happy.

The y=oung' lami i-s abourt-30, -and^orks-Srt—Qioshiba Elao-trio CompanyH.^-- He^ia^veryserious and bright, and from the first has taken notes during semons. Helives with his mother, who strongly opposed his decision for Christ.' . The 1stact of his Christian walk was to request prayer for her. Two of the ladiesof our small congregation, and we also, have visited the home and believe herattitude is changing.

The yoxmg lady is a kindergarten teacher and older sister of one of the girlsbaptised in September. Both are daughters of a lady who is a member of theUnited Church of Japan but attends here regularly, and lives just down thestreet from the church.

CHRISTMS

v/e had another richly blessed season in both home and church. Thank you forall of the beautifiaI greeting cards received, many with interesting and encouraging letters inclosed. Vve had programs for our English students on Dec.20, Lois' Bible classes on Dec. 15 and 21, and at the children's school Dec.8 and 22; a get-together with our Tokyo area missionaries at Pratt's home onthe 25th, so kept busy.

Saturday night, the 23rd, we had a crowd of 110 people for the Sunday Schoolprogram, which included musical niAmbers, with some playlets and speeches andthe awarding of attendance prizes for'the year. It was gratifying to seeabout 50 of the children had been present at least half of the Sundays duringthe year.

Sunday night we had a special Christmas program for the church folks, makinga point of inviting whole families to attend together. The response was verygood. There were 46 people here, incliAding 5 complete Japanese families. Onewhole family, and another husband had never been to a church at any time before, so it was a breakthrough for them. vVe believe that everyone had a goodtime, got an idea of the meaning of Christmas, and had a sense of the churchas the hoTAsehold of God. The program- began with a worship service. Then weate a meal prepared and served by the ladies of the church. Following this,the "program". Some weeks earlier we had decided to have entirely local talent, and that each family must have some part. There was much hesitation inthe Japanese manner, but the lady in charge kept every person's part a secretand we ended up having a very good quality, varied and enjoyable program. Agift exchange followed. After this 13 of us went caroling, and sang in frontof 9 or 10 of the church-connected homes in the neighborhood.

IVJKS. OKADa

One morning last July Lois looked out of the kitchen window and saw an oldlady coming aroiAnd the corner of the church building. She was the mother ofa doctor who lives 3 blocks north of here, and visiting her som for the summer. She is a zealous Christian (as is the daughter with whom she lives innorthern Kyushu), so soon after arriving she asked her son if there were achiArch nearby, and he told her about us. The next day she came on a reconn-aisance mission to find out what denomination we were and if we were all right.We met her approval, and the next Sunday she was there along with another woman, the mother of the doctor's wife, who lived in with them.

From that Sunday on through the summer those two ladies never missed a service. The one from Kyushu was 83 years old, shaky in voice and body but verystrong in faith. On her last Sunday before going back south she asked to bepermitted to give a few words of testimony, and gave a good message to our

group horo* Af^tor she left Mrs, O^ada, continued to come every Sunday. Shewasn*t used to using the Bible, and didn't know much about Christianity, butshe said the older lady had given her much to think about, and brought a lotof peace and light into her heart.

vVhen we had our evangelistic meeting in November she told the preacher thatshe would like to become a Christian, but was not sure what her daughterwould say about it, and also wanted totJ>ink about it a little -more herself.About this time we were talking about plans for Christmas, and one SundayMrs. Okada brought to chinrch a little dog she had knitted over an empty yoghurt bottle, and proposed to make one for a little gift to each of the Sunday school children. It turned out to-be a big project, but several othershelped. Lirs. Okada was the sparkplug and got the most joy from it. All ofthe children enjoyed this unusual toy.

One Sunday before Christmas she asked me if it would be all right for her tobe baptised on Jan, 12, She was afraid that her thinking might be hard forme to Understand, but some years ago she had lost a daughter on that day andit always held such a bad meaning and memories for her that she wanted tochange the day's significance. Also, she hoped that in some way: God mightlook with mercy on her daughter's soul if the mother were baptised on thatday. I told her the sooner the better, but that Jan. 12 would be fine.

he next day she had another strange request. She knew we had baptismalrobes, but wanted to make her. own. The Japanese are always buried in vvhitekimonos, and she planned to make her's from some good.white matierial to be

"^tised in, since baptism has the meaning of burial. After the baptism sheould give the kimono to her daughter and say "when I die, bury me in this."

For the convenience of several folks, the day was changed to Jan. 10. On thetfi/ednesday morning when she was baptised one of the church ladies came earlywith a cake she had baked for the "birthday". Another one brought soup.Mrs. Okada herself had ordered a tray of raw fish for everyone to eat forlunch after the simple but meaningfilL cereraonjr.. So eight of us had a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing" around the lunch table. Mrs. Okada toldus that she had lived a very unhappy life from her childhood days, and that

pecially invited her daughter, so she felt that the group of Christians wascloser to her in every v/ay than actual -flesh and blood relatives.

Seeing God's working in the life of one like this is very rewarding. As wesaid, last year was a good one. vve believe this one will be too.

Yours in His service,

HAROLD AND LOIS SIMS.

SIMS TOICYO MISSION Non-Profit. Orgn.First Church of Christ U.S. Postage Pd.315 Orange Ave. Permit No. 57Eustis, Florida 32726 Eustis, PL. 32726

ADDhESS CORRECTION >7REQUESTED '

6

ChristianVolume 72

"Go ye frt/o all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15

February 1973 Number 1

The Bank Of HiroshimaOctober 12 - 15 I preached an evan

gelistic meeting in the 12''x 18 chapelpictured here. This was built and paidfor by Mr. and Mrs. Etsuzo Kishi (thename means "bank," as of a river) whenthey built a home on this lot severalyears ago. This .is in the outskirts of

-tUp_rity r.f (about 500 iiiiles"southwest "of Tokyo) which becamefamous around the world because of theAtomic Bomb. Mr. Kishi is a professor of accounting at the University ofCommerce in the city. His wife (formerly Lydia Shigenobu) studied at theCincinnati Bible Seminary some yearsago. They have four liyely_ children.

T|^ ne^ attendance at^iif meetingwas tenj.0Qtalmost thirty difterent peopleattended at least one of the five services.There were no baptisms, but Mr. andMrs. Kishi were ^h;"illed_ that some ofthe local people and also some of hisstudents at the College came and heardthe gospel for the first time.

I received much encouragement fromthe fellowship with the Kishis. They have

• a solid faith in Christ and God's Word,and are actively living and proclaiming

it in their individual style. It was wonderful to hear his reasoning with theyoung university men about the thingsof God in long discussions after thepreaching meetings. She is theof fhp Inral kincj^^garteil P.T.A.., which

/gives her an influential position in the/ community, and she arranged for me to

/ speak to more than 200 of the mothers"-.Jit a special meeting during my stay

there. In private talks late at night afterall the others had gone home they expressed wide and deep concern aboutvarious problems facing our churchesand individual Christians here in Japan.

I believe they said it has been eight \ Ayears since they started a Bible Study in \ 'their home, and about eight have been \bapty.ed since that tihie^ These "laymen"

"Tiave the hearts of true pastors, and havebeen able to arrange marriages for theyoung people in their small group ofbelievers so that thgre are two other fami- ,

_lies be^des them""mfkmg the"nucleus of" tTie^fittle^ clmrch .there. They are also

interSfefl" and involved in the jobs, careers and marriages of an increasingnumber of the university young peoplewho find in their home die warmth andstrength and ideals they admire andrespect. So they have an increasing"^\influence for (flirist, and are responsibly/U'and humbly conscious of it.

What we need, and ask you to pra)'for, is hundreds and then thousands ofcouples like this scattered like leaven andsalt throughout all of }apan and theworld. — Harold Sims

Alfred Elmore Sims Finishes The Course, jN|Iy father died very suddenly, pain-

lessly and peacefully while dozing in hischair in Claxton, Tennessee during theearly afternoon of last October 12. Hewas a little over eighty-two and a halfyears of age, and prepared to meet hisLord and Savior. Perhaps partlybecause of my distance from the scene,but I think more because of my respectior his faith and personality and way of

ministry to Christ and His church; and]for his example and encouragement tojme in my calling here. Wedo miss thoseweekly air-letters, with the large, round,clear handwriting, though.

In his earlier years my father hadthe vision of becoming a missionary. Hecorresponded with \V. H. Book aboutgoing to Africa, but that didn't work out.When lie was a young graduate ofBethany College and preaching in Cali-iornia, Pennsylvania (Mr.Cunninghani'sboyhood churcii) he was in correspon

dence with the Yotsuya Mission in Tokyoabout prospects for coming here "as a'missionary. Mr. Cunningham was happyat the prospect, but wanted him to waituntil he was married. Then after he wasmarried my mother didn't want to go,because she was expecting me. So asthings turned out he was never able tofulfill his youtliful ambition to becomea missionary, and in fact-never traveledoutside -oCtli^gastem one-hai£o£4he U.S.

.My decision to becomea missionaryto Japan was to him the answer to overtwenty years of prayer and hope, andwas greeted with quiet jov and thankfulness - - followed up by over twentyyears of persevering prayer, constantinterest, financial support and strong encouragement. For a period of abouteight years he served as editor of theTokyo Christian, and was also my forwarding agent for almost ten years.

\\lien I was Just learning to talk theytried to teach me to say "Father," but Icould only come up with "Fa." Somehow that name stuck, and through most

of his life not only the family but mostfriends and church folks called him thisvery short name with warm affection.

Always true to his Scotch ancestry,he never could stand to see anythingwasted. For the last ten years he drovea 1949 model car. On our last visithome in July 1971 we spent most of aday helping him pick up early plums thathad fallen from his beloved trees andthen peeling them, cutting out the spots,and cooking them up into "some delicious blum buttah." He liked all foods- - never had to be called twice for din

ner, and had a life-long habit of cleaningup left-overs rather than enduring thepain of seeing good food being thrownout. Typically, the undertaker foundonly a few things in his pockets. Oneof the objects was a one and a half inchpencil which he always carried. Theseare all small things, but they expresshis attitude toward things, and life. Inother words, he didn't waste hislife, either.

(Continued on page 4)

Tokvo Christian

Vol. 72 Feb. 1973 No. 1Published four times a year in

January, April, July and November forthe missionaries of the Church ofChrist Cunningham Mission, Tokyo,Japan by Mission Services, Box 177,Kempton, Indiana 46049. Second classpostage paid at Kempton, Indiarra.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray,2-26-4 Kamiochiai,Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs.Homer Anderson, 622 Culium Street,Meadville, Pa. 15335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ration, 3-7-8Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs.G. Wade Fletcher, R .R. 7. Rushville,Ind. 46173.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurchof Christ, Orange at Center St., E ustis,Fla. 32726.Two-year subscription $ .50Subscription and Flaming Torc^Sl.OO

New Year

Shrine OfferingsAccording to the Japan Times news

paper, the counting of the money offeredat the Atsuta Jlngu Shrine near Nagoyaduring New Years began on January 9.The money was gathered up into 250straw bags, fourteen more bags dian thatfor la.st year. The offerings were estimated to be about nineteen million yen(about $63,333). The money was received from about 2,500,000 personswho visited that one shrine during theholidays.

This Shinto shrine is one of the bestknown of tlie thousands of shrinesthroughout Japan. A staggering amountof money must have been received fromthese shrines during this most importantreligious holiday in Japan.

It is evident from this that the traditional religions of Japan (Buddhism andShintoism) have not appreciably losttheir hold on the lives of the Japanesepeople, though with a large portion ofthem their religions are a matter of formand tradition. The increased offerings atthe shrines each year reflect an increasedprosperity. Usually visitors offer a tenyen coin (3 cents) at the shrine, butwhen this small offering is added to thatof many other millions of people,it amounts to a large offering.

Unfortunately, in most cases a similar attitude is taken toward stewardshipin the Christian Churches in Japan.Though the number of Christians issmall and most of the members are notthe wage earners of their families, theJapanese Christians must manifest agreater degree of dedication when itcomes to stewardship of time, talent, andmoney, \\hen that takes place, the Christian faith will spread and Christians willbe edified.

Our working in three different placesand with various groups caused us tohave a number of different Christmasprograms in December. The first onewas at Vachiyodai in Chiba where wehave a group which meets in a privatehome for BibleStudy and worship. Thatprogram consisted of the reading of Oldand New Testament passages related tothe birdi of Christ with appropriate comments and the singing of carols relatedto the Scriptures read. Later one of theladies in the group asked whotheprophet.\Ecah was and what a prophet was. Thediscussion of the Christmas story helpedthe group, which as a rule has littleknowledge of the Bible, to better understand the real meaning of Christmas asover against the perverted ideas andpractices related to Christmas in Japan.

The Arakawa Church had theirChristmas program preceded by a mealtogether on Saturday, December23, andthe Sakurayama Church had their'^suki-yaki" meal and Christmas programon December 24. I spoke to the lattergroup on the visit of the wisemen. Ajoint program for the Sunday Schoolsof the two churches was held at the Arakawa Church on December 24. Thechildren's program was well attended butthose for tlie adults were not. So the

tTj

Christmas season was filled with activityfor us and the people we are ministeringto.

On Christmas Day the Tokyo missionaries gathered at the home oftheBaulPratts at Isehara for our annual Christmas meal and fellowship together. Asusual, there was plenty of food and fellowship and it was fairly late at nightwhen we arrived back home.

Betty continues to teach a ladies classat home on Thursdays. She teaches anhour of English and an hour of Bible.They are studying the life of Moses andthe E.xodus and many lively discussionstake place. Though they have gaineda great deal of knowledge of the Bible,most of these ladies still went with theirhusbands to the shrines at New Yearsto pray for the success of their husbandsin business during this year. It takes agreat deal of time and fortitude for Japanese wives to make a break with their

old religions. They often secretly believein the Lord, but hesitate to confess thatfaith for fear of their husbands and relatives.

We thank all of you lor your Christmas cards and gifts, and for your prayers and offerings. We look forward toanother year of work for the lx)rd inTokyo.

Those who met at the Pratt home for Christmas dinner and fel

lowship.

Mrs. Etliel Lutton (LoisSims'mother)suffered a slight stroke early in December at her home in St. Petersburg, Fla.Since then she has moved to the homeof her daughter inStevensville, Maryland.

Mark Maxey, from Kyushu, visited

die Sims family over the week-end ofJanuary 7 and preached at MejirodaiChurch.

• • •

All of our missionaries now in theTokyo area met at the Paul Pratt homein Isehara on Christmas Day for a turkey dinner and lellowship.

Mejirodai Church News

After baptisms on November 5,1972: left to right: Harold Sims,Hiroo Saito, Hikari Shibiiya, NickSaito.

1. Evangelistic Meeting

We had the first service at IVfejirodaion November 1, 1970, so November1 - 5 we had a Second AnniversaryEvangelistic Meeting. The evangelistwasBrother Nick Saito, who is teachingHomiletics and other subjects in OsakaBible Seminary and preaching at theRokko church in Kobe.

Frankly, we were ver^ jiisapppinted^in the attendance. Perhaps being a holiday weekend had a lot of effect, but afterdistributing over 3,000 handbills to everyhome in the area wehad ^essth an Uyentyin attendance eyery._nigliX this was the

^mallest'~turnout of both members andvisitors of any of the three meetings held

Baptized September 17. 1972:Izumi Shibuya and Fumiko Kuiva-bara.

so far. But we were very thankful forthe wonderful results. On the final nighttwo young people who had been attending for most of the year and had beenconsidering their decision for a long timecame forward and made their confessionand were baptized into Christ amidtears of joy and praise. The )'oung manis employed in the Toshiba Electric Company, and is a good singer and capable.He received much opposition from hisBuddhist mother with whom he lives,and requested prayers that she mightunderstand. Two of the ladies of thechurch have visited her several timessince then, and we believe progress isbeing made in this direction. The younglady is the daughter of a zealous Christian mother who belongs to a denominational church but attends here regularly. Her non-Christian father attendedthe baptism, and is happy about herdecision. She is a kindergarten teacher.Her younger sister and another JuniorHigh School girl who attends a Christian School were baptized on September 17 - - see picture.

It was also during that meeting thata seventy-two year old lady who hadbeen attending worship services regularlysince last summer resolved to become aChristian. But she waited a while, andwas baptized on January 10. She setthis date, because some years ago herdaughter had died on that date, and shewanted to have tlial day mean new lifefor her as well as hoping that in someway God would also look with mercyon her daughter who never knew tliegospel.

2. Christmas

Our Sunday School program wasSaturday night December 23. This wasthe most convenient time for mostparentsto attend, and we had a good group.W'c counted 110 pairs of shoes and boots(it was raining) in the entrance. This iswell over the capacity of our building,but they wereall inside.

We give little coloring books (fromStandard Publishing in America) toall who attended at least twenty-five timesduring the year. The number receivingthese was approximately our average attendance for the year - - forty-five. Thisis about double the average attendancefor 1971.

Our Church program was Sundaynight December 24. We had a totalattendance of forty-six people, includingfive complete families. Two of these

"Find this gospel of the king'dom shall be preached in all theworld for a witness unto allnations; and then shall the endcome." Matt. 24:14

Sunday School Christinas playlet.

husbands had never been to a churchbefore, but all seemed to enjoy the long,varied program.

We began with a short worship service at six p.m., which included the lighting of candles and singing ofjoy to theWorld" by candlelight. Then we all atea meal which had been prepared by theladies of the church from 6:30 to 7:30.Some weeks earlier we had decided tohave a program entirely of local talent,and asked each family to plan something.There was a lot of hesitation and reservation, in the Japanese manner; but itended up that we had a very good variety show in which all participated andwhich everyone enjoyed. We had balletdances, various musical numbers, including a first class rendition of a classicalHyden string number by a cello andtwo violins and organ, a puppet show,Japanese folk songs, an original Japanese poem, etc. The program endedshortly after nine p.m. with a gift exchange. Following this thirteen ofuswentcaroling to various homes in the neighborhood. —Harold Sim^^

Sunday School Beginners "Welcome.'

twenty-fifth AnniveRSARy

Air. and Mrs. Tetsuro Domen and

children. They are helping the War-ricks establish a Church in Sayama.

Stephen Patton on his twelfthbirthday on January 5, 1973.

ALFRED ELMORE SIMSFINISHES THE COURSE

^ (Continued from page 1)•y I got the message that he had passed

away just after I had _s_tarted _an evan-y gelistic meeting in Hiroshima, Japan. I

decided immediately that he would not^ have wanted me to stop what I was doing

and go back to the U. S. for the funeral.Anyway, my presence there was not atall necessary, because my brothers tookcare of everything very well. So I remained over here more than ever con

scious of the wonderful callings andworks of God - - the eternally living one.

Shortly after the funeral my mothermoved into the Appalacian Christian Vil-lage in Johnson City, Tennessee. Here

^ o r>^r\ c c

On January 7, 1973 I celebrated my25th anniversary as a missionary toJapan. Fresh out of Bible College, aftereleven months of missionary work inHawaii, and after a twenty-one day voyage from^^Uawaiion an old convertedtromMhtp .named "^neral Meigs, I wasi-^An 1948 at Ypkbhama port by mis-^kMrdrievS-0;W^P^StU and Harold Sims.Had rknown the hardships involved inliving in this country at that time andthe things which lay ahead of us in ourefforts to preach Christ to the Japanese,I wonder if I would have been as enthusiastic on my arrival in Yokohama asI was then.

That was only about two years afterthe war, and It is difficult for a personliving in prosperous Japan today to evenimagine the privations that had to beendured by the people then. There wereno jobs, little money, and food couldnot be bought even if one had the money.Squatters living in makeshift huts builtfrom scrap were present everywhere inTokyo. Transportation facilities werevery scarce and unbelievably crowded.

Living for the Japanese was a burdenthen, and there was little with which tofill their empty hearts and to give hopefor the future.

Because of these sufferings and disappointments the people gave the Christian gospel such a favorable hearing thatmany of us began to wonder if the wholenation could not be won in a short time.In 1951 Japan and America signed apeace treaty, and following that the livelihood of the Japanese people was gradually improving.

Due to this and themisunderstandingof the nature of the Christian gospel bymany, large numbers of people lost interest in the true riches, concentrating theirefforts rather toward life in this presentworld.

'"^ust a few days after my arrival in[apan we missionaries in Tokyoshe will be living just across the street . [apan we missionaries in Tokyo

from the new First Christian Churcl/ launched Tokyo Bible Seminary to trainthere, where my brother Ralph is the^—Cliristian nmiiSlErsT" Klost our effortsminister. ensuit^ ten years^were with the

FORM 3579 REQUESTED a.BOX 177, KEMPTON, IN 46049 ' o

Seminary and a number ol ministersand other Christian workers t '̂ere trainedin this scho^L.In 1958 this/school wasclosed, however, and since then we haveconcentrated our efforts in church planting and evangelism.

\Miile working with the Seminary, Iestablished the Nishiogikubo Church andhelped to establish the Kamiuma Churchin Tokyo.

Since 1960 Betty and I have established the Sakurayaina and ArakawaChurches to which we are now minister

ing. In 1972 we started a "home meeting" in Yachiyodai of Chiba Prefecturewhich we hope develops into a new congregation. <

On ^December-20, 1972 Betty and Icelebrated out-.tt^xatietli .wedding anniversary. Sharon, our daughter, is afreshman at Cincinnati Bible Seminary.Stephen celebrated his twelfth birthday onJanuary 5, and Noel and Philip theirsixteenth and fourteenth birthdays onDecember 22 and July 8 respectively.

Though we wish we had been ableto accomplish far more during the pasttwenty-five years, we thank God for thesouls that have been won, the ministerstrained, the churches established, theChristians that have been edified, andthe progress that has been realized during that time. We thank God who hasgiven us life and breath and all things,and who has enabled us to begin anotheryear. \Ye would appreciate your prayersfor us. —̂ idr-e-iu-Ralton

Sato Baby Arrives

Mikako-chan, the new daughterof Mr. and Mrs. Hiroaki Sato.

Hiroaki and Mitsuko Sato are nowthe proud parents of a daughter, whomthey have named Mikako. The Satosare ministering to the Sakurayama andArakawa Churches. Mikako was bornon December 8, and we rejoice that bothmother and daughter are doing verywell. This is the first grandchild for Mr.Sato's father, Fumio Sato, who ministers to the Kamiochiai Church in Tokyo.

Tokyo ChristianVolume 72

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15

May 1973

THE DOLLAR DEVALUATION

Number 2

Some people have written asking for During this same period the price ofan explanation of howtherecent devalu- milk has risen from 105 yen per literation of the dollar affects us. Well, we to 140 yen per liter. In yen alone thisare not economists, but are forced to be price rise is bad enough, but coupledwith

• economizers. Devaluation has just the dollar devaluation it means we nowdoubled the financial squeeze that was pay fifty-two cents per liter. Eighteenalready on because of con.stantly rising months ago we could buy hamburgerprices. We don't want to brag about it, for about twenty-two cents for 100 gramsbut the cost of living in Tokyo now is (454 grams is one pound, so this comes

^certainly the highest in the world. I will to^inety-nine cents perpound). Now thejust give you a couple of illustrations price has gone up to forty-five cents perfrom reallife. 100 grams, or 4^3 iper pound. The

Back in the good old days (two years same thing applies right across theboardago) when we took a dollar to the bank to gasoline at $1 per gallon, all clothing,we got 360 yen minus a small exchang- etc.ing fee. At that time a liter (slighdy Early in March one of our Navymore than a quart - - we use only the friends came through Tokyo on his waymetric system of weights and measure- back to "theworld"as themilitarydenotesments here) of milk could be bought for Travis Air Force base and beyond iteast-105 yen or_twenty-nine_cents». After the ward. On the way home from meeting"Nixon SKbck'-speech ofAugust 15,1971 him at the air-base we stopped by aand the currency conferences that fall, the supermarket to get some groceries. He isyen was officially revalued at 308 to $1. from a cattle growing farm in Kansas,It held at around 300 to one actually and was interested in the prices of thedelivered to our hands during all ofl972. .._^.^^^teaks^displayed there. We figuredThen, as you know, the dollar wasdeval- up thn weight in pounds and the cost inued by ten percent early this year, and dollars for him, and found out it camethe yen was allowed to float in relation to to ab^ul $10 a pound. He could hardlyit - - leaving us with an exchange rate believe it, but we double-checked and itof 263 yen for each dollar today and was correct. Needless to say we neveruncertain what it might be tomorrow. eat this grade of Kobe marbleized meat.Within the past eighteen months, then. Someone says, "My goodness! Whatwe have seen the cash wecan take home are you going to do?" My answer is thatfrom a $100 check evaporate from near we plan to continue living modestly as36,000yen to around 26,000 yen. we havein past and to continuedoing

up the, weight in pounds and the cost indollars for him, and found out it cameto abpul $10 a pound. He could hardlybelieve it, but we double-checked and itwas correct. Needless to say we nevereat this grade of Kobe marbleized meat.

Someone says, "My goodness! Whatare you going to do?" My answer is thatwe plan to continue living modestly aswe have intte past and to continuedoing

our b^t to accomplish the purpose forwhich we have been sent here. I know

that all of the missionaries are feelingthe financial pinch, but I haven't heardanyone talk of giving up and going homebecause of it. It is part of our adven-*ture as Christians to ride out these waves

of inflation and valleys ofdepression witha .steady trust in God who will provide,and not to let the waves engulf us in^depression, despair and defeat. Mostof us missionaries are already supplementing our living-link income to someextent by part - time English Conversation teaching. There is a demand for

' this here, and the people are willing andable to pay. And besides providingsome side income it also gives us somecontact with people we might not reachin any otlter way. We plan to continuediis.

I have felt for some time that sooner

or later all Americans would have to

pay the cost of the past forty years ofnational deficit budgeting and of the excessive increases in labor costs that have

priced us out of the markets of the world,and I think that time is now here. But

I have some hope: If America can exercise the self-discipline that is required ona national scale to hold down prices andwages while they continue to riseinjapanand other countries we will very soon beback in business in a big way.

Harold Sims

weOOinq BellsTakaji, the second son of Mrs. Yaeno

Suzuki (her death is reported in this issue of Tokyo Christian), became engagedto a girl named Mieko Takahashi .several months ago. According to Japanesecustom, they should have postponed theirwedding indefinitely due to his mother'sIllness. But she did not want them to

forego their happiness because of her illness. She insisted that they be marriedin spite of her illness and the fact thatshe would not be able to attend the ceremony.

The couple was united in marriageon March 10, 1973 at the Sakurayama

Takaji and Mieko Suzuki on theirwedding day, March 10, 1973.

Church. This marriage was truly a cooperative affair. Betty Patton playedthe organ, prepared the refreshments,decorated the tables, and baked the cake.Lois Sims decorated the cake, AndrewPatton performed the ceremony, andKatsuya, Takaji's elder brother, was themaster of ceremonies at the reception.

Takaji and Meko have setded downin an apartment in Nakano and areattending the Sakurayama Church regularly. Mieko is not yet a Chri.stian, butit is hoped that she will soon eiccept theLord and unite their family in Him.

Tokyo ChristianVol. 72 May 1973 No. 2

Published four times a year inJanuary, April, July and November forthe missionaries of the Church ofChrist Cyhningham Mission, Tokyo,Japan by Mission Services, Box 177,Kempton, Indiana 46049. Second classpostage paid at Kempton, Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray,2-26-4 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs.Homer Anderson, 622 Cullum Street,Meadvilte, Pa. 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs.G. Wade Fletcher, R .R. 7, Rushville,Ind. 46173.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193Japan. ForwardingAgent: FirstChurchof Christ, Orange at Center St., Eustis,Fla. 32726.Two-year subscription $ .50Subscription and Flaming Torchil.OO

PATTON

NEWSCherry blossoms are in full bloom

at this writing and spring has finallyarrived. Warm weather increases our

opportunities for evangelism. We beganthe season by going on a picnic to theTama Zoo with our Sunday School andChurch people. Then we had the evangelistic meeting at Sakurayma and theMarch meeting at Yachiyodai. In Maywe plan to attend the Japanese and Missionary Conventions which will be heldon Shikoku this year. A special evangelistic meeting at Arakawa is comingup soon and wehave begun our preparations for that.

The Arakawa Church had their Eas

ter program early this year - March 8.During the program the Bible Schoolchildren presented a play on Easter whichwas well done. Also during the programcertificates were presented to the studentsof the Bible School who were promotedto higher classes. Easter celebration atthe Sakurayama Church will take placeon April 22.

Brother Tamaki from Okinawa who

has been doing graduate study in Oregon, passed through Japan on his wayhome in March and spent a few dayswith us. We have known him for several

years and it was good to renew ouracquaintance with him. He is a publicschool teacher and helps a great dealin the mission work of Harlan Woodruff

there.

BUTTRAYS RETURN TO TOKYO

1Stanley and Mabel Buttray on their way back to

Japan on March 26. Picture was taken at HonoluluAirport.

As weleftCalifornia for Japan March22, we brought to a close a very pleasant nine and a half months furlough inthe States of visiting "Living Link" aswell as new Churches, our families, andfriends. Though we usually stay a littleover a year in the States, we feel thatwe accomplished during the nine and ahalf months all our goals, except thefailure to visit two of our supportingChurches. This we should expect tohappen during a short furlough, butevenso we regret it so very much.

We arrived back in Tokyo on March26 after enjoying a three day stop-over in

In March our Toyopet station wagonbroke down. Unknown to me, the headgasket went bad and the water leakedinto the oil and vaporized. The motorfinally overheated and stopped, burningout two pistons. The repair bill wasestimated by a garage at about 160,000yen. A friend introduced us to his mechanic who found us another motor andrepaired the car for 60,000 yen, whichwas quite a savings.

A meeting welcoming the StanleyBut-trays back to Japan was held at thePatton home two days after their arrivalin Tokyo.

On March 14 the wife of Meiji Sudowho attends the meetings at Sakurayamaand Yachiyodai, passed away. Mr.Sudois eighty-two years of age and his wifewas seventy-three. He has been a Christian for many years and graduated fromTokyo Bible Seminary when he wassixty-three years old. He lives with hisson and helps out in the Lord's workas he can.

Hawaii. Those three days were spentwith our long-time missionary friendsDon and Jo Roth. They proved to bean effective "breathing spelUin the day tonight time change which takes placewhenair transportation suddenly delivers youfrom one side of the world to the otherin a few hours.

Now that we are back in our home

at 2 - 26 - 4 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-Ku,Tokyo, Japan, we once again will bewaiting to hear from all of our friends.

If it is the Lord's \W1, we will returnto the States in the spring of 1976 whenour son, David, will expect to graduatefrom college. During the next threeyears we are planning on continuing toassist botli the Kamiochiai and Yoko-suka Churches for they are still ratherweak. But our main goal will be tobroaden our evangelistic outreach in thecoming months by promoting a new all-year-round Christian Camp to reach alarger number of the reachable.

Remembering Jesus command toPeter to launch out into the deep, andits results! We are encouraged! Won'tyou Join us in prayer for this KEY 73Camp Evangelism Program aswelaunchout among the multitudes!

We wish to express our thanks andappreciation to our "living link "Churchesfor their faithful continued support forthe Work of Our Lord through yourservants.

Stanley and Mabel Buttray

May God make you fruitful in all ofyour endeavors for Him.

Andrew Patton

Robert Joel Sims Graduates From High SchoolOn June 8 Robert Joel Sims will

graduate from Christian Academy inJapan. Five-children of our missionariesin JaJrafR-wTll^ath this important milestone this spring.

During his high school years Bobbyhas been on the wrestling team one season and the cross-country running teamone season. Like many other boys ofhis age, he is very interested in motorcycles. Last summer he worked part-time in a nearby Honda ServiceFactory,and along with getting some valuableexperience and picking up some roughJapanese language he saved enoughmoney to buy a second-hand setofwheels

A "PROMISING

CEREMONY" iOne of tlie young ladies in Mejiro-

dai church, Ilikari Shibuya, is going tobe married later this spring. The youngman i.s a candidate for die doctoral de

gree in immunology, and hopes to bean educator. According to the Japanesecustom they had their formal engagement, or promising ceremony, in thechurch on Sunday afternoon March II..At that time he gave her a diamond ringand she gave him a watch. They alsoexchanged pictures of each other and thechurch gave diem a Bible to read as manand wife together. The ladies of thechurch also prepared refreshments toserve after the simple but meaningfulceremony.

Her mother was planning to makethe wedding dress, but broke her leg ina skiing fall in Februarj', and has beenin the hospital for over six weeks. SoLois is helping her with that. It is oneof our pleasures to become involved inthe lives of some of the folks here in areally deep way.

Harold Sims is handing the Bibleto Air. Ito.

on which he has been riding around andtinkering widi quite a lot.

He seems to have inherited his mater

nal grandfather's interest in mechanicalthings and working with his hands. Soin line with his interests and natural

abilities he has decided to study Electronic Engineering at the Cincinnati Technical College, a two year Junior Collegewith a work-study program that fits inwith our financial situation. We are gladhe will be located in the same city withhis older brother and sister, uncle, auntand cousins, and we expect him to takean active part in one of our manychurches there.

is going to accompany him to'die United States in late summer to makenecessary arrangements about housingand other matters connected with his

entering college and also to visit her/mother who suffered a slight stroke somemonths ago and the rest of our familyand as many friends as possible in the

Yew available days. Harold and Dannywill remain in Japan to keep the churchservices going, cut the grass, attendcampetc.

Harold .Sims

Rohcrt Sims

"Don'tjusr pretend that vou loveothers: really love them. Hate whatis wrong. Stand on the side of thegood." Romans 12:9 (l,U)

PntoOur sister in the Lord, .Mrs. Yaeiip

_Suzuki, passed from this life into the~j5resence of our Lord on ;\pril 13, 1973,.,She died at the age of fifty-seven and hadwalked with the Lord for many years.We have known her for about twentyyears and have learned to love andrespect her for her faith and dedicationto God.

Her husband died of tuberculosisabout fourteen years ago and her youngest son was hospitalized with the samedisease for a time but recovered completely. After her husband's death Mrs.Suzuki raised her children by herself,depending on God to supply all theirneeds.

Although they are yet young, herchildren are now old enough to take careof themselves. She was Q1 with cancerfor almost a year, but the disease wasin too advanced a stage when it was discovered for medical treatment to help.During her illness, .Mrs. Suzukithoughtdeeply about the future of her childrenand prayed for them. \\'hile she was

bedfast pain waslierconstantconipanion.But she found comfort in prayer and thereading of God's Word.

The funeral services were conducted

at the Suzuki home and at the Sakura-yama Church by the minister, HiroakiSato. During the service at the ChurchHarold Sims brought a short message,summing up Mrs. Suzuki's life with threeJapanese words -''binbo,'"'shinbo," and"kibo," which mean poverty, endurance,and hope respectively. He stated thather greatest possession was her faith.

Mrs. Suzuki was a very unassumingperson and was little known outside thelittle circle of her relatives, friends, andChristian brotliers and sisters. But a

crowd of above sixty people, besidesher family and relatives, gathered at thechurch to pay their final respects. Shewill long be remembered as a ('liristianwho served the Ixird in the face of greatodds. Like Abel, she "being dead yetspeaketh."

Andrew Button

SAKURAYAMA

EVANGELISTIC

MEETING

The Sato fcimily • fumio (center),the father and minister of the Kamio-chiai Church, Hiroaki (left), first sonand minister of Sakurayama and Ara-kaua Churches, and Yoshiaki, theyounger son.

The calendar for the SakurayamaChurch activities calls for a revival meet

ing three times a year. One of thesemeetings was held on March 23 - 24.Brotlier iMorohashl, minister of the'Church at Yokosuka, served as evangelist.

Tn spite of a disappointing attendanceduring the meeting, the good results realized were encouraging. A Moody Sciencefilm was shown preceding the messageeach night. The evangelist preached thegospel convincingly and on a level whichwas easily understood by unbelievers.

Although there were no definitedecisions to accept Christ duringthis meeting,two young people did indicate by raisingtheir hands that they were very interestedin Christ and tliat they wished to studythe gospel furtlier. One of them is continuing to attend the church services regularly and to learn of Christ.

_Afld«w Patton

FORM 3579 REQUESTEDBOX 177, I^EMPTON, IN 46049

yachiyoC)Ai newsRecently some setbacks have occur

red in the new work that has been started

at Yachiyodai in Chiba Prefecture. Thework was begun by a Christian womannamed Mrs. lhara. In early April sheand her family moved back to Hiroshima. This has been a big loss anda shock to the litde group.

Then another disturbing incidentwhich has happened to the group cameto our attention. One of the most zealous members of the group, Mrs. Furu-kawa, has had the group in her homeseveral times. She lives in a "danchi,"an apartment complex where many otherfamilies live. Some of these neighborsbegan to oppose tlie Bible study meetingsand to persecute the Furukawa family,especially the children. This forced Mrs.Furukawa to discontinue havingthemeet-ings in her home. Among other things,

VISITORS

I Mrs. Hazel Crouch, of Columbus,Indiana, and Mrs. Gladys Crouch, ofNashville, Tennessee, known to manyold-timers as.'Thp Payne Sisters"recentlyvisited Tokyo as one of the ports ofcall for the S.S. Kungsholm's PacificCruise. They arrived on Sunday March18, and were able to visit our Mejirodaichurch for the evening service. Theybrought greetings and sang for our smallgroup, and werevery much appreciated.The following Wedne.sday Ix)is and I celebrated our twenty-sixth wedding anniversary, and tlTeyTiel^d^ro make it a red-letter day for us again. They entertainedus for lunch in the Imperial Hotel, andthen we went together to an afternoonperformance of the classical JapaneseKabuki Drama.

the.se have caused the interest and atten

dance to decrease.

A Christian woman named Mrs. Saito

who is a medical doctor participates inthe Bible study. She owns her own homeand is not subject to "danchi" rules, whichgenerally discourages religious gatherings in the complex. Even though herhusband is not a Christian, he allowsher to have the meetings in their homeonce a month. F'ormerly the group mettwice a month, but due to thesechanges,we can now only meet once a month.At present we meet on the fourth Thursday of each month. On those days wedrive to Yachiyodai and call on peopleduring the morning and have the Biblestudy in the afternoon. Then in the evening we drive to tlie Arakawa Church forBible study. At the March meeting Brother Fumio Sato brought a special messageon the Christian home.

Close fellowship in a home atmosphere is a blessing received from meetingin privite homes. But in Japan suchmeetings are hampered for lack of a suitable place to meet. It is hard to find afamily that is able and willing to opentheir home for gospel meetings. Nevertheless we intend to persevere in the goodwork until a better solution is found.

Andrew Patton

Preacher Sato and Sudo infront of the apartment houses wherethe liihle study has been held atYachiyodai.

Tokyo Christian"Go ye into all (be world and preach the gospel to every creature" Siark 16:15

Volume 72 July, 1973 Number 3

1973 CONVENTION

The yearly convention of ourChristians from 50 churches throughoutJapan was held May 3, 4, and 5, thisyear iii Kochi prefecture on the PacificCoast of Shikoku Island. There arethree churches in this area ministered toby Mr. and Mrs. Don Burney and twoJapanese ministers. Wemet in a modest-priced hotel owned by a local newspapercompany with a beautiful Japanese sceneof blue ocean, curving coast line andpine-covered mountains rising steeplyirom the sea to add to our pleasure aswe looked out the windows.

The total attendance was somethingover 140, which was very good considering the distance most had to travel. Sixteen of us wentdown by plane in a groupflight from Tokyo, and a few othersdrove; so we had about 20 from ourarea, and there were good delegationsfrom all other areas of Japan.

The theme, which can be seen above,our heads in the group picture was "Outof the Wilderness." I brought one of themessages on Friday morning whichapplied some of the lessons from thewilderness journey of the Israelites to ourChristian and church life in the presentage. They wanted to publish a bookletcontaining all of the messages, so I hadto write out my sermon in Japaneselanguage, and that required a lot oftime in profitable use of a dictionary.We had some very good group discussions, and also each person present gavea short testimony during one of the fourspecial sessions alloted to that purpose.This helped us all to get acquainted with

each other as well as giving us insightinto the Christian lives and struggles ofothers and encouragement in the victories being won.

The missionaries and families (morethan 50 people when all got there) stayedat the same hotel for two days after theJapanese convention to have a convention of our own in English language.This year's program was outstanding fortwo things. We had Bro. Rex Ellis fromKenmore, Australia with us, whobroughtvery stimulating messages on variousthemes. It is a treat to heargood preach-

Harold and Lois Sims with HikariShibuya at her wedding on May 27.Lois helped to make her dress afterthe mother fell and broke her leg —seeprevious Tokyo Christian.

f

ing in English language. Then we hadseveral very good Bible studies fromOld Testament, Gospels and Epistles onthe general tlieme of preaching Ae gospelin resistant fields, coupled with stimulating discussion periods following eachpaper. These papers were all broughtby the younger set of missionaries. Itwas a very encouraging and refreshingweek, and we are glad our whole familywa-s able to attend.

Next year's convention will be heldin Tokyo.

Harold Sims

KAMIUMA CHURCH

The Kamiuma Church invited me topreach to them and baptize a girl whois a student of Waseda University onJune 10. I ministered to tliat churchabout 16 years ago during a time whenthey were without a minister. Becauseof duties with other churches, I had notbeen able to keep in close touch withthat church. Therefore, it gave me agreat deal of joy to see them again, andespecially to see a few faces that hadbecome very familiar to me during myministry there.

The worship service was not verywell attended, but there was a good groupof children for the Bible School. BrotherSahara, tlie minister, is on leave fromthe church and is now in the UnitedStates as a student. One of the membersof the church is doing the work of ministry during the absence of the minister.

- Andrew Patton

Tokyo ChristianVol. 72 July, 1973 No. 3

Published four times a year inJanuary, April, July and November forthe missionaries of the Church ofChrist Cijhningham Mission, Tokyo,Japan by Mission Services, Box 177,Kempton, Indiana 46049. Second classpostage paid at Kempton, Indiarra.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray,2-26-4 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku'ku, Tokyo161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs.Homer Anderson, 622 Cullum Street,Meadville, Pa. 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs.G.Wade Fletcher, R .R. 7, Rushville,Ind. 46173.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurchof Christ, Orange at Center St., E us t is,Fla. 32726.

Two-year subscription $ .50Subscription and Flaming TorciSl.OO

PATTON NEWS

In the first week in Nfey our wholefamily made the trip to Shikoku to theconvention. We all enjoyed the trip, thefellowship, and the program, and cameback refreshed.

1 am continuing to make the trip toYachiyodai in Chiba once a montn —the only time that we can find a placeto study the Bible there. We hope to dosome calling in private homes there, butthe distance we have to travel to theplace, and the feeling among some ofthem that the space for the meeting istoo cramped to enlarge the group, haveprevented much calling from being done.We plan to continue our calling program,however, and try to gain new members.We shall continue to plant the gospelseed, and expect the I^rd to give theincrease.

The Sakurayama Church had a two-day evangelistic meeting in June withBrother Fumio Sato as the evangelist.Attendance was fairly good, but no onehas accepted Christ as a result of themeetings. In September the ArakawaChurch will have a meeting and BrotherHattori of Shikoku will be the speaker.

The Patton family is spending themonth of July at Karuizawa. I amdriving back and forth, spending fourdays a week in Tokyo to carry on mywork, and the rest of the time with thefamily in Karuizawa.

Philip observed his 15th birthday onJuly 8 (Sunday), but the festivities tookplace on July 6, due to the fact that Ihad to be in Tokyo on Sunday. Me isnow taller than I and weighs almost asmuch. Betty will observe her birthdayon July 20 and Sharon hers 6nJuly 30.

MEJIRODAI CHURCH

PAYING THE PREACHERThe first congregational business

meeting of N^irodai Church of Christwas held on June 17, 1973. Eight of the11 members were present.

We began with a fellowship dinnerafter the morning worship service, andit was the unanimous opinion that wehope this will become a regular part ofall our business meetings.fWe had the usual treasurer's report,and discussed various things that I neednot list here. But I think mere was oneitem that is worthy of mention. Thepeople proposed to pay me 10,000 yena montli (about $38.00) for my servicesas their minister. This is not enough tolive on, of course, but in these days ofdollar devaluations and rising prices it ismuch appreciated on a very practicallevel. In addition there is a much deepermeaning and encouragement for us inthis decision. We rejoice and thank God

"For God harli not given usthe spirit of fear; but of power,and of love, and of a sound mind.*

11 Timothy 1:7

The Bible Study (Iroup meeting in aprinate home in Yachiyodai.

Sharon is spending the summer withher roommate at school, Lynn Chesnut,and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. RichardChesnut of Boca Ratan, Florida. Shehas a job for the summer in a restaurant and is enjoying her stay in Florida.We appreciate the kindness of the Ches-nuts to Sharon and to us, and we thankGod for them. May God reward themrichly.

We have been invited to participatein a week of evangelism in Karuizawa,beginning on August 13. Brother Stephen Fleenor is sponsoring the campaignwhich is called "Omatsuri Dendo"(Festi-val Evangelism). An important Shintofestival is held in the town each year at

for this as an evidence of Christian/growth, maturity and generosity. Thisis the first time we have received a salaryfrom a Japanese church, and as far asI know it is rare for missionaries anywhere, but both we and they look uponthis as nothing more than what isnormal. Scriptural and right. This isvery far removed from the attitude of"rice-Christians" "paternalism" "dependence" that has characterized missionsduring much of the past 100 years, andwe all think it is progress in the right |direction. The budget commits each'member to offerings of over $6.00 amonth, and I think this might comparefavorably widi the average givingin many of our American churches. 1think our supporting churches ought toknow this and take encouragement fromit.

- Harold Sims

VACATION

BIBLE

SCHOOLThe Sakurayama and Arakawa

Churches-arc planning somcdiing differ-- -ent for their Vacation Bible School thisyear. They have set aside July 23 - 26for their joint V.B.S. It will be sort ofcamp style, with the children remainingat Isehara, where it will be held, untilthe end of the school.

Already the children have workedup a lot of enthusiasm for this V.B.S.,and we expect a large group to be enrolled. Hiroshi Saito, a student of OsakaBible Seminary and a member of theArakawa Church, Mr. and Mrs. Sato,and the remainder of the regular SundaySchool teachers, will teach during theV.B.S.

- .Andrew Patton

tliat time, and we expect to draw some ofthe people to an outdoor gospel meetingand talk to them about the Lord. Everyyear several people are won to Christduring the meetings, and many othersare favorably influenced for the gospel.Betty will play the piano during the weekand I will help counsel with those whocome. May the Lord touch many heartswith the gospel during this week of meetings.

.All of us are grateful that you remember us in your prayers and for yourliberal giving and fellowship in thepreaching of the gospel of Christ. Maytlie blessing of God be upon you all.

- Andrew Patton

RECENT GUESTS

The Faber and Jones children being entertained by the Patton childrenat the Patton home.

In the first week in June our missionaries located in other areas of Japan

» converged on Tokyo in fairly large numbers. Their purposes in coming were toattend the graduation exercises of theChristian Academy where they have children enrolled and, for most of them,

I to leave for the States for furlough.

The Ernest Fabers of Hokkaido andthe Claire Bomons of Okinawa wereentertained at me Patton home and theRobert Warricks and Milton Joneses wereguests of the Buttrays. The Don Burneyswere also scheduled to stay with us butfound lodging instead in the dormitoryof the Christian Academy.

It was a huge crowd and both adultschildrenenjoyed the fellowship. The

/ Paul Pratts also left that week to spend7^e 'summer in the States. We will wel-

//conie the Pratts, the Boletons, and the/,' Joneses back to Japan at the end ofI August, but the J'a^r^_and Warr[cl^

will remain in tKe^tates' untiPAITgust,1974.

• Andrew Patton

Short Trip

To The U.S.Lois and Robert Sims left Tokyo on

''/uly 19 for the U.S. The main purposeof die trip is to get Bobby settled in Cincinnati and ready for the school term inSeptember. Loiswill also be visiting ourdiree other children — Joniiie and Hopein Cincinnati and Sylvia in Shelby, Ohioand her sister in Plttsburg and her othersister and mother in Marj'land and mymother in Johnson City, Temi. Sheplans to visit as many of our supportingchurches as possible along the way, ofcourse. Danny and I remain here injapan and will be attending camp, conducting a Vacation Bible School andkeeping up the activities at .Mejirodaichurch and awaiting the return of Loison August 31.

- Harold Sims

WakABa ChuRCh CeleBRates

70th anniveRsapyOn July 1, the church at Wakaba-

cho celebrated the seventieth anniversaryof its beginning. This was the first workbegun by the Cunninghams after theirarrival in Japan, and grew out of anearlier "Charity School" which had beenstarted there by Miss Alice Miller of thenon-instrumental churches of Christ toserve some of the poor people who livedin a valley nearby. The Cunninghams..^always referred to it as "First Church." -After the war the name, of die districtof the city was changed, and we and theJapanese began calling it Wakaba(young leaves) just as we called all theother congregations by the name of thearea around the church.

The church is well located on a corner of two narrow, quiet streets rightnear the Crown Prince's Palace and oneof the best elementary schools of the city— where the Crown Prince's children attend. The second building was wreckedfor a fire break during the Pacific War,so they are now using the third buildingto be erected on the site — this one completed in 1948.

There were about 40 people attendingdie afternoon program, including quite afew who have been members for over 20years and one (Mrs. Cunningham'sformer housekeeper) who has been a member for nearly 50 years. Several otherministers were there and broughtspeeches of congratulation.

The present minister of the church.

Itsuro Haruyama, a 1953 graduate ofthe Tokyo Bible Seminary, has beenthere for fifteen ..years; and it wasremarked that his is the longest ministryin the history of the congregation.

Someone pointed out that this yearmarks the 100th anniversary of the birthof Mrs. Cunningham, who gave approximately 50 years of her life in loving service to this congregation. She lived nextdoor. Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are displayed on the wall at theback of the church, and the people arevery grateful even 20 years after Mrs.Cunningham's passing for the part shehad in the establishing of the church,principally in teaching an adult EnglishBible Class for many years.

In 1955 the local church receivedincorporation from the Japanese government as an independent local Church ofChrist, and tlie \Dssion turned over tothe trustees the deeds to, the property andbuilding. This was a grealTorward stepfor the people, and they have long beenself-supporting, with a yearly budget atpresent in excess of $4,000. There havebeen many changes in Japan and in thecongregation over this period of an average life-time, but the church goes onholding forth the word of life.. Certainlythis good lasting result is thebestmemorial to the work tlie Cunninghams beganat the turn of the century. May all ofthe churches go on to celebrate their70th anniversaries 70 times.

- Harold Sims

MOTOSU CAMPThe Christian Service Camp at Lake

Motosu will be held th.is year on August6 - 10. The theme "V.Lctory-; Over theWorld.' based on I John 5:4, has beenchosen. This is a veiy- timely theme,we feel. The Book of Luke will be studiedduring the class periods.

This year only threejapanesepreach

ers and two missionaries will be able toteach and lead in the camp. But theprogram has been outlined, the helperschosen, and the work assigned. We hopeto have a good attendance and an inspiring program. May God bless thecampand use it to his glory.

- Andrew Patton

Patton. Sims and Buttray at Contention-

SALE OF LAND IN ABIKGTwenty years ago the preacher of

the small church at Abiko in Chiba prefecture, Keiji Inoue, T.B.S. '52, starteda kindergarten in the litde church-parsonage building which the ^fission haderect^ for tlie work there. Several yearslater the church was incorporated andthe Mission turned over to the localgroup the deeds to the building and theland around the building.

The lot as a whole was slightly lessthan one acre in area, on the side of awooded hill, and the Mission kept something less than 2/3 of the land in thehope of establishing a Christian cemeterythere later on. But this plan never didwork out as hoped.

The kindergarten continued to grow,and in order to fulfillgovernment requirements (so many square feet of playground for each pupil) Mr. Inoue askedthe Mission to sign a paper saying thatwe were renting our portion of the landto the kindergarten, although he never

Group from Tokyo that attendedConvention in Kochi,

kamiochiAi

chuRch newsThe minister of the Kamiochiai

Church, Mr. Sato, was married thesecond time on May 28 to a youngwoman from his home town of Tanabein Wakayama Ken.

It is now just two years since Nfr.Sato's first wife passed away from cancer. So, many of his friends felt it wastime he found another wife since it isn'tgood for a mmister to be very long without a wife. Many Christian women nearhis age were suggested, but he turnedthem all down for a "country" womanfrom his home town!

The new Mrs. Sato is literally racinga "whole new world" as she comes to thebig city of Tokyo to live, marrying a57 year old preacher, and entering theChristian life by baptism just two daysbefore her wedding! Therefore, I askyouto pray just now for both Mr. and thenew Mrs. Sato in their new life together,even though it appears she is alreadyadjusting quite well in her new situation.

This is certainly a crucial moment inthe history of the church at Kamiochiai.In spite of fverything during the lastseven years, the church membership felluntil finally reaching its lowest numbersince I started it in 1959. But the pen-

dulum seems to be swinging back theother direction, for just since the first ofthe year six persons have been addedto the church. Praise God! The attendance is now averaging about 22.

Just a few days ago on Sunday,July 15, a girl from Okinawa that hadbeen attending off and on for the pasttwo years was baptized before her non-Christian boyfriend and two or threeothers from Okinawa. This was the result of a personal testimony given to herby one of the new members of the Churchwhich took place after a Wednesdaynighprayer service had ended./The problems of these young (.-..idold) Japanese Christians are quicklymultiplied because they must continue to

1 live in a society that demands loyaltyY to its age-old customs and systems thatYcontinue diametrically in opposition to\Christianity.

Pray for these young Christians thattheir "new-found" faith in God and Jesus

paid any rent. In the intervening yearsthat town has become one of the mostpopular bed-townsfor Tokyo (it is aboutone hour out of the city by electric commuter train) and the population continues to mushroom. This spring theenroll-ment of the kindergarten passed 500pupils.

The kindergarten has now become sowell-established financially and otherwisethat they have asked to buy theland from the Mission for the kindergarten use. We have recently completednegotiations. We will sell the remainderof the land at less than half the goingprice of land in that area for the sakeof the church. The money realized fromthis sale will be used for Buttrays reloca- •tion project. They are making definiteplans for moving away from Kamiochiai where they have lived since theyarrived in Japan and where there is aJapanese church and minister and starting another new work in a differentplace.

as Lord and Saviour will be strengthened daily, and that each will become apersonal witness for Him!

Stanley Buttray

GRADUATIONS!

Paul Burney, Charles Faber, andBobby Sims all graduated from theChristian Academy on June 8. We congratulate them and especially CharlesFaber, who was salutatorian of the class.Charles will enter Cincinnati Bible Seminary in September, Paul has been admitted to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, andBobby Sims has enrolled in CincinnatiTechnical College.

The Elementary School graduationexercises of the Academy were held onJune 7. Danny Sims and Stephen Pat-ton received their diplomas and werepromoted to the 7th grade. Congratulations to them tool

Andrew Patton

*(Jo ye into all the world dhd preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15

Volume 72

SUPERSTITIO

LIVES ON

By Harold Sims

The other Sunday, before the worship service started, one of the ladiesasked me if I had heard that Mr. Na-

kayama had died. I hadn't heard aboutit or noticed the large funeral. She thengave me the basic facts about his age,cause of death, etc. Th^ live on thecomer just 4 short blocks north of ourhouse, but had never shown any interestin xhurch, so 1 didn't know the family atall. Then she said I would probably beinterested in what was talked about

among the neighbors at the funeral, andI thought it was interesting enough thatI would share it briefly withyou.

Slightly less than 2 years ago M:N.'s mother had died in that same house.

It was the first funeral to be held in our

s^on of this new housing development.She died of old age, and there was nothing unusual about it, but some peopleremembered that just at that time theywere setting up the framework of a newhouse across the street to the south of

Nakayamas. Last fall the man who hadlived in that new house just a few weekswas accidently shot by his friend whilethey were hunting up in the woods,bringing a shock to the whole commim-ity. Now, come to think of it, just at thetime of his funeral they were erectin»®eframework of a new Doctor's house and

office right across the street to the west-

October, 1973

diagonally across from Nakayamas.Now Mr. Nakayama is dead at 51 withterrible stomach cancer, and wouldn'tyou know they are just at the stage ofsetting up the framework on anothernew house next door on the east side of

Nakayama's house.

What is the meaning and conclusionto be drawn from all these "coincidences 7

The neighbors are very seriously looking for someone who lived in that placebefore the Keio Railway bought up theseacres and began bulldozing the land forstreets, sewers, lots, etc. They want tofind out where the ancient Shrine was

located and who is the local god of thisplace, because they are sure he is offended and sending a curse on that area.They think he must be propitiated with a

able offering.

This kind of thinking is not beingdone by savages in the wild mountainsof New Guinea but by people who arecollege-educated and work in first classcompanies and various professions inmodernized Japan. And besides all this,almost all of these people, including theNakayamas, paid a Shinto priest tocome and purify their land from all suchevils by prayers and waving a branch ofthe sacred tree over the property, beforeythey started building.

Number 4

NEW CHRISTIAN

CAMP SITESearch for an adequate pieceof land

as a new Christian Camp site for thepromotion of a greater evangelistic outreach by New Testament missionaries isstill continuing. Finding an availablesatisfactory piece of land here in Japanfor such a Christian Camp has provena little more difficult than was thought.Though it is more than a year and ahalf since I first began looking for land,it is only sincereturning to Japan March26th of this year that intensive effortshave been made to find land.

Thus fax all effortshaveproven fruitless in the search of available land.Many have been the disappointments,but prospects of finding land in the nearfuture I believe are good.

Satan is well aware of the tremendous potential for the Kingdom of ourLord that such a Christian Camp wouldbe, in the present, as well as the future.He is therefore exploiting to the fullestall cultural and religious differences, andanti-American feelings that may exist atthis present time.

We are not dismayed! Nor are wediscouraged! For our faith rests in Godwho is Almighty! And our trust is ii5Jesus Christ who has All Power (eventoday) in Heaven, on the Earth, andunder the Ecirth. He is more anxious tosave the multitudes of Japanese peoplethan we are. Therefore, our hopes havenot dimmed in getting something startedbefore winter begins.

For the completion of this all-year-round Christian Camp by July 1974 isour goal! Your continued prayers for usand this project are still necessary, andgreatly appreciated.

Stanley Butdray

Tokyo ChristianVot. 72 October, 1973 No.4

Published four times a year inJanuary. April, July andNovember forthe missionaries of the Church ofChrist Cijhningham Mission. Tokyo,Japan by Mission Services, Box 177,Kempton, Indiana 46049. Second classpostage paid at Kempton, Indiarta.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray,2-25-4 Kamiochiai,Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs.Homer Anderson, 622 Cullum Street,Meadvtlle, Pa. 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs.G. Wade Fletcher, R.R. 7, Rushville,Ind. 46173.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurchof Christ, Orange atCenterSt.,Eustis,Fla. 32726.Two-year subscription $ .50Subscription and Flaming Torch$ \ .00

PATTON

NEWS

The past summer was a busy timefor our wholefamily. This wasespecial-ly true in August. A lot of work was involved in the holding of the summercamp at Lake Motosu on August 6-10.But we were bountifully paid in the wonderful spiritual fruits reaped as a resultof the camp.

On August 13, we moved to Karui-zawa to help in the "Matsuri Dendo"(Festival Evangelism), where we enjoyedanother spiritual feast. The e\^angelisticwok done there is described in anotherplace in this issue of Tokyo Christian.

At the beginning ofSeptember ourre-gular schedule resumed in Tokyo. Noel,Philip, and Stephen began a new schoolyear at the Clrristian Academy. Noel isa senior, Philip is in the 9lh grade, and

Stephen is in the 7th. This year our''school bill, including tuition, food, andtransportation, for the 3 boys at the A-

^ademy will be about $3000. We wouldDC grateful if you could help us pay it.

It is rumored that the Japanese taxauthorities now intend to assess taxes

on the money spent for oirr children'seducation. If so, this new developmentwill further compound our school expense troubles. Please pray about this.

On September 13 Noel, while ridinga motorcycle, was struck by a dump

-truck and pushed into a ditch. Philip"was behind Noel on the same motorcycle, but fortunately escaped injury, except for a cracked heel bone and multiplescratches and bruises. Noel also was

MOTOSU CAMP

I iii'ii"'ii^ri ''filliilitwii

Morohashi San reading'scripturw in preparation of baptizing the last convert of theOmatsuri evangelism this past'summer. Takahashi San was the ^th baptism of thiseight nights of evangelism. These baptisms are at the outdoors baptistry at theFleenor Camp fust a few minutes away. Takahashi San came during'six of theeight nights, but did not yield until two days after the meeting ended

The Motosu Christian Camp washeld as scheduled on August 6-10. Forseveral months preceding this wefearedthat the camp wouldbe poorly attended.It turned out, however, that our fearswere unfounded, and we did have a verygood attendance after all.

Some people wereonly able to attenda part of the camp, but there was an average of about.70 people throughout thecamp. 39 of these were junior highschool students. The campers were awell-behaved and enjoyable group towork with.

The Teaching and leadership staffwas short-handed tliis year, with only 2missionaries and 3 Japanese ministersbeing able to attend. Responsibilitieswere distributed to all of them and thecamp was run In a smoothe manner. Agood spiritual atmosphere was maintained to the end of the camp, which resulted

very fortunate, but still trying to recoverfrom the accident. His right leg waschipped at the knee, his ankle bone wascracked and some sharp object piercedhis shin to the bone, leaving a badwound. He is now able to use the legenough to get to school and back. Wethank the Lord for sparing both theboys, for through his grace were theyspared.

The Sakurayama Church is planning an evangelistic meeting on November 2-3. Brotlier Saito, professor atOsaka Bible Seminary, will serve as e-vangelist. The Conley Silsbys will beour guests whileassisting in the meeting.

1^. Sato, his father, and I again metwith the Bible Study Group at Yachiyo-dai on Septmeber 27. Mr. Fumio Satospoke to the group. One lady was therefor the first time and showra much interest. We hope to talk with her further

in much fruit being borne during andafter the camp. ,

The climax of the camp was reachedwhen>8 young people accepted Christ asSaviour and were baptized in the lakefacing the camp.

We took advantage of the holiday onSeptember 15th to have a camp "EchoMeeting" at the Sakurayama Church.This meeting is an annual affair to keepup interest in the camp. Though someof the campers were too busy to attendthe meeting, a good number of the groupcame and enjoyed the meeting.

The genral feeling among those whoattended the camp was that they hopedto attend the camp next year too. Thatwas just the way we had hoped tlmtthey would feel.

Andrew Patton

concerning the gospel on our next visitthere on October 25.

Sharon is now enjoying her life andstudies al Ozark—Bible College. ShetransferredrtCTThat -school in September.She and her friend, Lynn Chesnut, hadtheir clothes stolen in Cincinnati on theway to Joplin. She got a job in a restaurant in Joplin, but people made her somiserable by their foul moutns and wicked ways that shequitworkingthere. Thespiritual guidance and kindness fromMr. and Mrs. Richard Chesnut and

family, with whom Sharon spentthesura-mer, have helped Sharon greatly. Wethank the Lord for the Chesnuts.

We thank you for your fellowship inthe gospel of Christ. May God bless youfor it

Andrew Patton

COFFEE HOUSE"EVANGELISM

This is the Meidiya restaurant in Karuiza—wa where the first 'Coffee House' evangel'^ism began this past-summer. As a resultof these meetings one young girl was baptized after about three days. She desiredto help and stayed for about tivo weeks,taking part in the Omatsuri evangelismalso,

A burden of prayer among some ofour missionaries these past two yearshas been to find new ways to reach themultitudes of vacationers, sightseers, andpleasureseekers that flock every summerto the popular mountain resort town ofKaxuizawa.

God answered our prayers! A chainof events which began early in June thisyear and culminated in mid-July withpermission to use the second floor ofMeidiya (Snack) Restaurant for twonights a week for what we called'CoffeeHouse" evangelism.

There were five missionaries and anequal number of Japanese Christianworkers that cooperated in this initial endeavor that began the last week ofJune.So we were privileged to use theseexcellent facilities during the very peak of thesummer season.

During that month in this 'CoffeeHouse" evangelism alone, God gave usthe opportunity to be a witness to overa hunOTed persons. And almost everyone of them hearing the Gospel in songand word for the first time in their lives,and we pray that it won't be the lasttime. For one young woman (from abroken home) it wasn't the last time! Returning a number of nights, she becamethe first and only convert tlirough thisfirst "Coffee House" ey-augelisti(L.effort.

dii thfiir ofreaching more thana hundred persons during those eightnights, and one of them responding tofaithful witnessing, most e\'ervone agreedthat the venture was successful. So planjsto continue (Lord willing) next summerlook good! And we are hoping that agreater number of Christian workersandmissionaries will want to become involved in order that greater things will be accomplished for the Lord.

Stanley Buttray

i

mMorohasi San, preacher of the Yoko—suka Church preaching at the eightnight Omatsuri Dendo held everysummer in the mountain resort toum

of Karuizawa. Hundreds of peoplewere witnessed to those nights.

ARAKAWA EVANGELISTIC

MEETING

The fall evangelistic meeting of theArakawa Church was held on September26-27. Brother Minoru Hattori, a minister of the Shikoku Christian Mission,served as evangelist.

Brother Hiroaki Sato, the ministerand the members of the church did aneffective job of advertising and this resulted in a good attendance. About8,000 handbills were distributed by handon the streets and a larger number wasinserted in newspapers and delivered tothe homes in the neighborhood of thechurch.

The messages were easily understoodby even those who were attendingChurch for the first time. Each nightafter the message a chance was given todiscuss the principles of the gospel andcounsel the unbelievers in the audience.Strong interest continued to be shown tothe end and two persons have begun toattend theregular meetingsoftheChurchas aresult of this meeting.

Andrew Patton,.'--:

Stanley Buttray, one of the cooperating missionaries handing out tractsto the multitudes during the lastnight of the Omatsuri evangelism-.

MISSIONARY

PRAYER

MEETINGS

BEGUN

On September 24 the missonaries inthe Tokyo area met at the home of Stanley and Mabel Buttray. This was thefirst of a series of planning meetings forthe annual missionary convention whichis to be held in Tokyo in May of 1974.It was decided at this meeting to hold themissionary convention on May 1-3,1974, immediately preceding the All- \Japan Convention of the Japanesebrethren, which will also be held in jTokyo on May 3-5. y/

It was also decided not to invite aspecial speaker from outside the missionary group because of the expense involved. The missionaries from outside theTokyo area who attend the conventionwill be accommodated in the homes ofthe Tokyo missionaries, ratlu. than ina hotel, to further reduce expenses toguests at the convention.

Committees were appointed to planvarious activities of the missionary convention. Also various suggestions weremade for the convention theme, but thedefinite choice of theme was left to afuture meeting.

#

The missionaries also decided at this^^meeting to haveregular prayer meetingsonce a month. Due to the press of the ,various activities in which we have beeninvolved recently, regular prayer meetings have not been held. Until the con?,vention these meetings will be devotedbotli to tlie planning for the conventionand to prayer."

We will take turns in hosting "theprayer meetings and a meal will be enjoyed together at each meeting.

The November meeting at theFleenors and the December meeting atthe Fattens will also serve as a time forthe celebration of Thanksgiving andChristmas respectively.

'More things are wrought by prayCTthan this world dreamed of." -

Andrew Patton

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLAT MEJIRODAI

'0.

I'orewll to Robert Sims at Mejirodai.

This year Mrs. Sims, our unofficialbut efficient Bible School Superintendent,was going to be absent on a trip to theUnited States during the summer vacation; so the first reaction of most of theciiurch members was that we would beunable to have a V.B.S. this year. Butat our urging tliey decided to go alongwith the attempt to liave one anyway,and after that decision in late June therewas a very good spirit of willing-work,cooperation and initiative.

The dates chosen were Aug. 20-24,which was after most families had madetheir vacation trips and cliildren were •searching for some new and interestingthing to do.

Because of our lack of meetingrooms we decided to divide into 2 sessions each day-pre-schoolers 9:30-11:30AM and 1-9 waders 6:30-8:30 PNL Mrs.Nakagawa, the regular beginner teacher,and a High School and Jr. High Schoolhelper came each morning. Not one ofthe teachers for the evening sessionscould come every day, but they dividedup tlie days and the classes between 2young salary-men and 2 housewives. Ofcourse Danny and 1 helped with music,refreshments, short talks, etc. every time.

We used Japanese materials produced by the Japan Sunday School Union . 'here in Japan, which were quite well-;(_planned and centered around the theme

rORM 3579 REQUESTEDBOX 177, KEMPTON, IN 46049

of "The Church". The materials madeit easy for the teachers and gave themadded confidence and a lot ofJoy.

The main publicity was done by thechildren themselves. During the SundaySchool hour on July 29 everyone madea poster. They drew a picture of ourchurch building and wrote in the V.B.S.dates. The best posters were put on thebulletin board in front of the church.For attendance booster we drew a large^map of our area and had each studentbuild a 5-piece paper house at the placewhere he lived. This gave us a goodidea of where the children came from,and really drew the interest and regulaWattendance of the children. ^

There were 20 children enrolled forthe morning sessions and 27 for theevening, wliich around our average Sunday School attendance. They came from33 different homes, and 21 of these arein the immediate neighborhood of thecliurch. All agreed that we had a verygood V.B.S. this year, and joined inthanks for God's blessings.

Harold Sims

LOIS RETURNS FROM TRIPLois Sims returned to Tokyo on the

missionary charter flight August 31 after_a 43 day trip to the United States. Themain purpose of the trip was to accompany our fourth child Robert to Cincinnati, Ohio and help him get settled intoCollege. We are thankful to report thatby God's providence and help he is nowliving in the same room on Price Hillwith his older brother, Jonathan, and isenrolled in the Cincinnati Technical College for 2 years of study in Electronics.Siie was also able to visit all of our immediate family and churches in Napa,California, Shelby and Cincinnati (Clo-\crnook) Ohio, Turtle Creek and Mon-roeville, Pennsylvania, Charlottesvilleand Newport News, Virginia and Johnson City, Tennessee. The trip seems toTiave done her a lot ofgood, and we aresure that she spread a little joy aroundin the U.S. But we are mighty glad tohave her back home in Tokyo.

NEWS NOTESHarold Sims made a trip to Kyushu

Sept. 14-17, and preached 5 times at theyearly convention of the Churches ofChrist in that area and 3 of the localchurches.

Mr. and ^s. Tibbs Maxey visitedTokyo and other parts of Japan duringAugust as the first stop on a world tourof mission fields.

Mrs. Nellie Leigffy Brown, widow ofHal Brown who was a long-time minister of First Cliristian Ohurch in Charlottesville, Va. and a dedicated, faithfulsupporter of our work\ here for manyyears, and her sister \ Mrs. MarthaBradley of Johnson City, Tennessee visited in the Sims home and.jtJie-Mdirodaichurch the week-end pf^uly 15 djrring ashort group tour of the orient-In whichthey were participating.

TRAVELING BIBLE COLLEGE

Kathleen and Paul Pratt

A fairly new idea in Bible Collegework is being put into practice by Mr.and Mrs Cqnl^y of Puget SoundBible Collegeand a traveling Bible College froup. They have been in Japanand Korea and are presently in Japan atOsaka Bible Seminary.

The purpose of this group is to studyin the Bible Colleges along their route,while observing evangelistic methodsand results in the various fields theyvisit. They will be in Tokyo on October19-22. They night of the 19th will bespent in a Japanese inn at Isehara nearthe Pratts' home. On the 20th they willmeet with the missionaries at theSakurayama Church to discuss problems and principles related to missionwork. Each missionary couple is tospeak on some phase of mission work inwhich he is vitally interested at that time.On Sunday evening thae will be a jointworship service to which the public is invited at the Kamiochiai Church, withBrother Silsby as the guest speaker.

Vv'e expect to receive a blessing in oursharing with this group of youth andtheir sponsors.

/^ ' Andrew Patton-

Dear Friends,

. \

Christmas 1973

In the midst of a drive to visit every home (now over 2000) in ourgrowing suburban area with a list of Christian bocks for sale and an invitationto our church services we send our greetings to you fellow-laborers in the Lord'swide harvest fields. We hope you will share with us the joy and victory we feelin the courage, zeal and faith demonstrated by most of the members of our littleflock here cooperating in this calling campaign. This year we have had only 2additions to the church, but we know there has been some spiritual growth andwe still believe Christ will build Kis Church. Your continued prayers for usand for Japan are needed and appreciated.

As most of you knov:, Lois made a kZ day trip to the United States thissummer. She was able to visit only the family and a few churches, but it provedto be a very good trip all the way around. She returned on August 31, much refreshed in spirit. Meanwhile Danny and Harold had a busy summer at home; doingall of their ovti cooking, washing dishes and clothes and a lot of house-cleaningduring the last week of August, They attended the Japan Kvangelical MissionaryAssociation Conference in the mountain resort of Karuizawa for a week, participatedin the week of camp at Lake Motosu where wo rejoiced to see 8 Junior High Schoolstudents (10 percent of the campers) baptized into Christ, and led a VacationBible School for k? children here at Mejirodai.

One of the main purposes of Lois' trip was to accompany Bobby and help himto complete arrangements for entering college. He is now well into his firstyear of the Electronic Engineering course at Cincinnati Technical College. Hois living in the same roon with his older brother on Price Kill, and they attendthe negjjy-.^b^ch of Christ together every Sunday.

now in his third year of study at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary.Eiriter^^fSTs^ear he began a full-time job on the night shift at the FederalReserve Bank, and this summer he notified us that he coiild become financiallyindependent. We are proud of him for this achievement and decision. The Lord,In His wise, wonderful and gracious providence, has worked things out so that wehave never had to support more than one child at a time In college.

Sylvia and Dave are now living in and refurbishing the parsonage at Shelby,Ohio—their first ministry. Dava drives to Cinoinnati-for 3 dayo every-week-aahe finishes his studies in the Seminary.

Hope is mainly occupied these days with keeping house for Tom, who works atthe Federal Reserve i3ank and their 2 year old Becky. They work and worship inClovernook Christian Church.

At this distarjcsz^^ayen't heard very much lately about^^y 73,'but wehope It Tri.ll^,op6n Door T^^nto a year full of new opportxmltles and rich blessings-for-y<JU aiid-ywirs. -—

HarUOT SIMS3 - 33 7 lAt JIRODAIHAChiOJl-SHI

TOKYO, JAPAN T

In His great service,

HAROLD MX LOIS SIMS

"m.

(

When

they

saw

the star

they rejoiced

with

exceeding

great

joy!

^(Dl973 Japan Sunday School Union Na2393

9 'j x-vx n

Qlifddmas Q^eetiH '̂.^\om ^apan