Japan Assemblies of God 2011 Tohoku Earthquake Initiative

日本語ブログへのリンク(Link to Japanese Edition)

　This is the planned initiative of relief by the Japan Assemblies of God to the areas affected by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.

　Stage 1: Support effected JAG churches and their members
　Stage 2: Equipping affected churches to be regional relief centers
　Stage 3: Continued support of disaster areas from the regional relief centers (churches)

　At the moment, in order to concurrently initiate all stages of the above plan we will make use of both the material and human resources of all JAG churches, as well as outside AG support teams; actively moving the plan forward.
　This blog will communicate one part of the Japan Assemblies of God’s relief efforts. We truly appreciate your understanding and support of our activities.

Link to Online Donation with PayPal

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/22/2012)

Praise the Lord.

　Thank you for supporting and praying for the relief work that we are doing at the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center.

　Even now, we daily have many disaster victims coming to the center to pick up household heating appliances that they applied to receive as well as to choose some cold weather clothing from the stockpile that we have to offer. In addition many of those that come spend some time in our "tea and talk" space, sharing with our staff the various emotional burdens that they are carrying.

　Our staff is doing all that they can to minister to those that come but because of the overwhelming amount of relief work we are finding that they cannot adequately deal with all those who visit.

　With the current pace of relief work at the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center we are realizing that we need volunteers to come and drink tea, talk, listen to and even pray with the visiting disaster victims, in other words provide emotional care. Specifically speaking, other than Sunday and Monday, you could come and minister to the disaster victims in the aforementioned manner any day from 10AM to about 5PM.

　Of course this is ministry that both active ministers and retired ministers can do as well as believers who have a burden for this type of work.
　At the center we have the facilities to lodging people and to prepare food and there is a convenient store and various restaurants nearby. Please by all means, pray about coming and helping us minster. Even if you do not come by car, you can arrive at a nearby train station and we can pick you up and bring you to the support center.

 　For further inquiries please call pastor Ito (080-2815-4418),
　or the support center’s Mr. Furuhashi (080-4369-3712 English OK).
　We look forward to hearing from you.
　
　Thank you for your prayers and support.

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/19/2012 Pt. 2)

 

Praise the Lord.

　Thank you so much for praying for the relief work that is occurring at the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center. On Saturday the 18th at the center we held the 25th meal distribution. There was a light snow and a cold north wind blowing but we still saw over 400 people in attendance.

　For this event we had the normal members from the Izumi church and the regular volunteer staff as well as pastor Tsuchiya, his family and church members from the Niigata church, pastor Yokoyama and her husband from the Shinai Christ church in Kitakata city, pastor Dan and church members from Yokota ICA in Fusa city, as well as pastor Glenn and church members from the Shinohara church in Yokohama come from great distances to help minister the love of God. One of the members from Izumi even brought two non-Christian friends along to help. We also had 6 staff members from the "Tohoku Hope Festival", which is planned for March 2-4, come with a large billboard bus advertising the event. We also had the ever present and helpful Shiroma family and Niida family from the local neighborhood help out as well, making a total of about 50 workers; the largest meal distribution team that we have had yet.

　Outside in the cold blustery wind Izumi’s pastor Aiko, Kitakata’s pastor Seiko and Niigata’s pastor Yasuko bravely battled the elements and prepared 450 servings of curry udon noodle soup by using 4 large gas rings and 2 big wood fire stoves. Also, a team of ladies from the Yokota church put together meal packs that consisted of disposable chopsticks, wet napkins, green tea, an orange, a dorayaki and a tract. Along with that a group led by the ladies of the Shinohara church passed out daily necessity packs consisting of toilet paper, disposable compresses, cooking ingredients and snacks.

　On top of that, the day before the event the Kanazawa church sent a large amount of brownies which we were able to distribute and everyone gladly accepted them. These were actually relief gifts from a Korean church.
　Pastor Glenn and his members as well as the people from the Izumi church handled cleaning up the disposable bowls and chopsticks all of which they did while standing out in the cold for 2 straight hours.
　Even though we were not scheduled to start passing out the meal tickets until 11:30, there were still lots of people gathering at the center from around 9:30 in the morning. So many people came that there was no room inside the center to stand and so we had to have some wait in a tent outside. Amidst such a packed house, pastor Tsuchiya from Niigata's daughter Kaori led worship songs and pastor Tsuchiya himself shared testimonies, gave directions regarding the meal distribution and used his beautiful voice to sing acappella; all making for an enjoyable time leading up to the meal start time of 11:40AM.
　When the meal preparations were finally finished pastor Tsuchiya opened the meal with a prayer. By the grace of God, we were able to smoothly guide the 400 visitors through the meal distribution. Also, we were able to have the staff members from the "Tohoku Hope Festival" came with their billboard bus and help us to minister the love of God through the meal distribution. That festival will be held from March the 2^nd to the 4^th at the Grande 21 Super Arena in the town of Rifu which is about a 30 minute drive from the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center.

　This time the Lord sent many disaster victims to the center and helped us to boldly minister his love. I truly feel that this was the hand of God at work; displaying His glory to all. We heard many disaster victims say things like, “I always look forward to these meal distributions!”, “What is the next thing that you have planned at the center?”, and “I’m looking forward to the upcoming ‘Tea and Talk’ event!”There were also statements like, “I want to study the bible. How should I go about doing that?”“I want to go to a church and see what its like,” showing that people are slowly starting to thirst after the Lord.
　With statements like that and with the Lord’s leading I have begun praying about finally opening a bible study at the center that will start sometime in March and that will be aimed at the disaster victims. I ask that you please remember this in your prayers.

 The next event that we have planned at the Support Center is for Tuesday the 28^th and it will be our second “Tea and Talk” event. On the 23^rd we are scheduled to go and help six households in the city of Rikuzen Takada. I would really appreciate it if you would add these events to your prayers.

 All the glory belongs to the Lord.
　　Thank you for your prayers, your loving support and your cooperation.

 

To view more photos of this event please click here and scroll to the bottom and click on the thumbnail images.

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/19/2012 Pt.1)

On Friday the 17th we spent some time preparing for the meal distribution that would be held the following day at the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center.

To view more photos of the movie event please click here and click on the thumbnail images.

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/16/2012)

 

Praise the Name of the Lord.
　Thank you for always supporting and praying for the relief work at the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center.

 On Tuesday the 14th we had a pastor and board members from a JAG church in Tokyo as well as some employees from a wedding chapel in Roppongi come and visit the center. The purpose for there visit was in preparation for a 1 year disaster remembrance concert, aimed at unbelievers, which will be held at the wedding chapel on the evening of March the 11th. They came to get a feel for the current relief work at the center and to get some up-to-date footage of the disaster area.

 We showed them around to the Kadonowaki and Watanoha areas of Ishinomaki, the Ishinomaki port, the inlet to the Kitakami river and we even climbed Mt. Hiyori. We also drove from the Okaido neighborhood to the Omagari neighborhood of Higashi Matsushima city, showing them the breadth of the region that our center is working in. They took video of each place we visited and ended by filming the current state of things at the relief center. They also taped interviews with some of our staff.
　
　According to the pastor, many people in Tokyo have gradually forgotten the disaster and there are even people who have raised doubts as to the necessity of further relief work. Being disturbed by these voices, he has felt the urgency to share with the people in Tokyo the continued need of relief work throughout the disaster area and so he is coordinating this charity concert.
　I'm sure that being far away from the disaster area makes it difficult to truly understand the current situation of things here, and with the limited amount of information coming out of the disaster area it may make it difficult to grasp the continued necessity for relief work. But just like this pastor who came, you too can come and directly encounter the disaster area, seeing the tragic scenes, walk the muddy streets where rubble still lies strewn about and smell the stench of salt that hangs in the air; then you will feel what the current state of the disaster area really is. You could also come to the center and talk with the disaster victims, hearing what kind of help is needed; learning that relief work is as necessary now as it ever was. And just like this pastor you could be a big encouragement to us relief workers just by coming up for the day, touring the disaster area and praying over the relief work. We would gladly receive you and hope to see you soon.

　Even if you do not come by car, you can arrive at Sendai station or any other nearby train station or bus stop and we can pick you up and bring you to the support center.
　
　For further inquiries please call pastor Ito (080-2815-4418), or
　the Support Center’s Mr. Furuhashi (080-4369-3712 English OK).
　We look forward to hearing from you.
　
　Thank you for your prayers and support.

 

(taken Tuesday the 14th)

This is the Omagarihama neighborhood which is 2km from the center, due east towards the coast. Even now, 11 months after the disaster there are numerous houses that have been left as there are. There is a frightening silence in these areas.

A Report from Pastor Toyomi Sanga of Koriyama Grace Garden Chapel (2/13/2012)

《Diary A Puppy's Story》　2012. 2. 13

The sky this morning was, for the first time in a long time, blue.
The air was cold but there was no wind.
I took Joshu for a walk to a nearby drugstore.

His little body rhythmical bounced along as he moved making for an enjoyable walk.

Last Saturday was February the 11th.
It has been 11 months since that day.

On Saturday we held the Grace Garden Chapel's kid's church staff meeting in the office space that is being rented for our relief activities.
That is the office that was flooded by the typhoon right after we started renting it and was finally put back to use in November (^^;)

I had gone out to get one of the kid's church staff who was having car troubles and as we pulled in to the office parking lot Mr. and Mrs. W, who we met when distributing "Life Starter Kits" last year, come walking out of the entrance of the office.

"We just stopped by to say thanks for the kerosene that you’all gave us. It ain't much but please have some of these mikans," they said as they handed over a box of mikans.

We stood in the parking lot amidst the falling snow talking for ten minutes or so.
Everyone was looked really cold so I offered, "Why don't you come have a cup of tea before you go." The husband playfully responded, "Sure, but I'd really like so coffee if you've got any."

The couple, our staff member Ms. R, and myself sat around a table in the office.

Hearing my voice, Joshu, who was back in the building where the staff meeting was, started acting up.
He was making an awful racket, whimpering and whining, so I brought him in and made him sit on the floor by the W's.

Then they spoke to each other about Joshu and said, "Wow! He's exactly the same isn't he. "

"Sorry, what? Is the dog bothering you?" I asked.
"No, no...the dog that my son's family used to have...was a lot like this one," the wife replied.

Then the husband said, "That day we were told, 'you can return to your home briefly but you must come right back', so I went to our house, put the dog in his cage, threw a lot of food in with him and then locked the cage door."

We all fell silent.
There was nothing that we could say.

"Finally about 2 months later I was able to get back and check on the house and--this is how I found him," he said as he stretched his arms out mimicking the dog’s dead body.

I didn't know what to say, I just drew Joshu up onto my lap.

Then the wife said, "At the time my son lamented the fact that we should've just left the dog in the cage with the door open."
"His name was Hug."
"That’s because our grandson would squeeze him tight and say, 'hug, hug!'"

"Well that's...that's just terrible. It must be especially tough on your son and grandson," I said. The wife quickly replied, "Hug was a 7 month old puppy." She squinted and gazed at Joshu sitting on my lap, "Just the same, a little black pup."

"A lot of people we know lost dogs and other pets including a real pretty Persian cat." said the husband.

"That day we went to our house and then came back thinking that we would be able to get back again in 2 or 3 days," the husband said as he let out a deep sigh.

"It was nice to come back here and see you all again," the W's said with a soft smile as they prepared to go home.

"I'm sorry that you had to see Joshu, I feel really bad," I said apologizing over and over to the W's.

In Koriyama city there is a temporary housing site with 240 families living in it and in one corner of the property there is a lot of metal boxes that look like coin lockers.
They have no windows or anything; they are just a bunch of lock boxes stacked on top of each other.

It's made a bit of a fuss but there are rumors going around that the boxes are for dealing with the pets of people that live in the temporary housing units.
Those boxes.
They say that you put your cats or dogs in those dark locked boxes.

It's been 11 months since that day.
Everyone has been doing all they can to stay alive.

Even still I keep thinking that some how, some way there has to be a better way of going about things.
It's at those times that I feel my own lack of ability, lack of strength and lack of endurance.

That's when I say to myself.

"Toyomi! Talk to your family with a bright tone and a cheerful smile. I'll clean up the house a bit and meet my son husband in a good mood and we can sit around the table eating the miso soup that they like so much.

And when Joshu comes to me with his chew toy, begging me to play with him, staring at me with those cute little eyes, I will take the time to be with him and go on a short walk, even if it's snowing.

I'll pray for friends both far and near, pray God's protection on them, pray that even amidst sad and difficult times that they can have hope and pray that they can end each day knowing peace in their hearts.
I will not forget that it is in order to accomplish these thing that God has given me strength."

Everyday, with the people I meet and with the work that I do, I can't imagine that there is anything more lovely than doing this.

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/13/2012)

 

Praise the name of the Lord.

▽Movie Evangelism "Shiogari Toge"
　Thank you for praying and supporting the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center. On Saturday the 11th we held a viewing of Ayako Miura's movie "Shiogari Toge". This was the first time that we have had a movie viewing at the center but both the one o'clock and three thirty showings were well attended.
We had some attend because they saw our fliers, others who we know well came because we called them and let them know about the event and still others came because they often attend our meal distributions. We sang worship songs together, watched the movie, shared from the Word and closed with a time of prayer.

 

　During the time of talking and eating snacks after the movie we were able to pray for people's individual needs. Everyone said their hearts were moved by the movie, opening them up to God and that they felt healed and relieved by the worship songs.

▽Current situation and prayer needs at the center
　Starting last year around October we began taking applications for disaster victims to receive various home heating appliances but because of the overwhelming response we had to stop further applications on the 25th of December of last year. Finally we have been able to process and distribute that first round of applications and on Wednesday of this week reopened the application process for new people. Our staff is busy everyday with the cycle of accepting applications, buying the needed appliances and then distributing them. I would be thankful if you would pray that our staff’s ministry would be anointed and that we would recieve the necessary funds to continue with our relief efforts.

▽Current situation and needs in the disaster area
　While we do not have much snow on the ground here in the disaster area the temperature tends to stay around minus 4 to minus 7 degrees celsius. Also, there is often very strong winds blowing in off the ocean which make well insulated cold weather clothes a necessity and currently at the center whenever we put out clothes for people to take they are all immediately snatched up. We are also in need of disposable heat packs which are greatly desired by the disaster victims. We would greatly appreciate any help in the area of disposable heat packs, cold weather clothes or simply donations. With your preciously donated relief goods and your continual prayers I was able to see the hand of God working to save souls and give true releif through this recent “movie evangelism” event.

　Thank you all for your prayers and support.

To view more photos of the movie event please click here and scroll to the bottom and click on the thumbnail images.

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/9/2012)

Praise the Lord.
Thank you for your prayers and support of the relief work occurring at Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Support Center.

Everyday the relief work continues at the center.  We daily have people coming to the center, picking up the home heating appliances that they applied for and picking up needed cold weather clothes that we have laying out for their perusal.
Many of the disaster victims are unable to sleep at night and are struggling with fear and anxiety of what is to come. In one corner of the center we have a "Tea and Talk" space where people can drink tea and comfortably unload the emotional burdens that they are carrying.

This is one practical way that we are providing both material relief along with emotional relief here at the center.
Please, by all means, pray that the center can be used for the emotional care of the victims and that our evangelistic outreach will continue moving forward. Also pray for an anointing on the volunteer staff members as they interact with the disaster victims, listen to their stories, and pray for the Lord's healing and comfort; all why serving the victims with the grace and love of the Lord.

For this ministry we need people who can interact with the people coming to the center and spend time talking with them. Simply being there, drinking tea and chatting with them would be fine. Please pray that pastors, both active and retired, as well as believers would be able to come and fill this role.

Thank you everyone for your prayer and precious support.

A Report from Pastor Ito of Izumi Fukuin Chapel (2/7/2012)

It has flown by but very soon it will be one year since the Great Tohoku Earthquake.
　
Praise the Lord.
Thank you so much for your constant support and prayers for the relief work at the Higashi Matsushima Amazing Grace Relief Center.

On Sunday the 5th at 3PM and then again at 5PM we held concerts by American country musician Dennis Agajanian.
Many disaster victims came to line up an hour before the start time even while we were still setting up the PA system. There were regular attendees, brand new first timers and staff members all waiting with expectation for God's grace to be poured out; making for a wonderful atmosphere at the concert's opening with a tangible presence of God.
With superior guitar skills that amazed everyone, brother Agajanian mixed in his testimony, boldly proclaiming the gospel. He closed with an altar call inviting people to accept Christ and many people responded making commitments to the Lord.
Even after the concert finished many of the people lingered and spent a blessed time eating snacks and fellowshipping with brother Agajanian and the other guests.
One of the disaster victims who came from Ishinomaki city said, "After the tsunami every day has seemed endlessly painful but after an event like this I really feel lifted up." In the end I was able to lay hands on the person and pray for them that they would be touched by the Lord.

At the center we are able to touch people's hearts by concurrently having daily ministry through relief goods distribution and events like this concert. I am so thankful that I am able to see the Lord working in the hearts of the disaster victims as He pulls off this perfect balance between ministry activities.
This week we are planning on continuing our distribution of home heating appliances and on Saturday the 11th from 1PM and then again at 3PM we will show the movie "Shiori Toge".
I would really appreciate if you would from now on pray that we could include more relief of the heart (ie. evangelistic outreach) as we continue with our material relief.

Starting at noon on Saturday the 18th we are scheduled to have a meal distribution. I would also really appreciate your prayers for this event.
Our two regular staff members that are staying at the center are daily working amidst the cold and snow. I would be thankful if you would pray for their health and safety.

　Thank you for all of your prayers and support.
　All the Glory belongs to the Lord.

To view more photos of brother Agajanian's concert please click here and scroll to the bottom and click on the thumbnail images.

《J・Light !!》(Youth conference commemorating the disaster and promoting rebuilding 3/10/2012)

It has flown by but very soon it will be one year since the Great Tohoku Earthquake.
　
　　Sat 3/10/2012
　　《J・Light !!》（Christian youth conference commemorating the disaster and 　　　promoting rebuilding）

Youth of Japan! Let’s gather, let’s pray, let’s gain a vision for reaching Japan, Let’s praise and worship the Lord!

　 HYPERLINK "http://j-light.org/" http://j-light.org/
　
This event is being held by the Youth/Young Adult committee of the AG Tohoku District which encompasses the disaster area.
It will be held at the Hirose Culture Center in Sendai.
Please pray and please encourage your young people to attend.

《Greeting》

Praise the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, as you know the Great Tohoku earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that occurred on the 11th of March 2011 brought about unprecedented destruction to a wide area.

Because of this earthquake the churches of Japan have suffered a major change to their faith and the way in which they evangelize, not to mention the sermons that are preached from their pulpits.

And amidst all this the young people have, in various ways, participated in relief work by laboring, sweating, crying, and praying; leading them to think, consider and be aware of numerous issues.

Now that one year has pasted since the disaster, we believe that if these youth gather together in prayer and worship that it will be a connection to true rebuilding--"Revival!"

 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Isaiah 60:1

We are holding the J-Light event believing and expecting “The Light of Hope for Japan” “Jesus Christ, the True Light”.
　
We really look forward to everyone’s cooperation and prayers.