Volume 95 Janua] 1997 Number 1

——SIMS' NEWS =^——

Plans for 1997It is the year that Hong Kong returns to China. It is reach 50 years since our first arrival in Japan on Novem-

only 3 years until the new Millennium, with which it berl5. (We left our homes in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvaniaseemscomputeisandmanyotherpartsofmodemculture 10 days after our marriage there and went to Hawaii toand its various people will have difficulty coping. And for serve 6 months in the work started by Owen and Shirleyus, this yearwill be an important milestone: we will have Still which is now Sunset Beach Church of Christ andbeen married 50 years on March 21 (a family celebration School, while waitingfor the U.S. Occupation Authoritiesis being planned for this event a little later), and we will to give us permits to go on to Japan.)

RetirementIn September I will become 73 festedbymanyreadersovertheyears, some income to supplement monthly

years of age and, while thankful for includingsome during last summer's Social Security, so we believe we willbe adequately provided for, and we

We hope to continue receiving are most grateful for that.We plan to leave Japan shortly

good health and the opportimities to trip to the U.S.continue serving the Lord and urgingfrom our Japanese co-workers that financial support for our Sims Tokyowe stay on, I feel the time has come to Mission work during this calendar after mid-June, to attend the Northretire. (If health permits, and things year, but to close the books and cease American Christian Convention incan be worked out, we would like to receiving support as of DecemberSl, Kansas City, and to be moving intoreturn for short visits every year or 1997. The Eustis, Florida church, the Florida location before the end of

which has been our forwarding agent July. Until that time we plan to con-two.)So we expect that the Fall issue foraboutSOyears.andhasbeenaccu- tinue preaching at Joel Home every

will be the last of this Tokyo Chris- mulatingaretirementfundfromyears first and third Sunday of the monthstian. which was started by Mr. W.D. when we had surpluses of income and at Mejirodai eveiy second Sun-Cunningham backin Octoberof 1901. overexpendituresandfromdonations day . We will visit some of the otherI had hoped that it would be able to designatedforourretirementbymy2 churches on fourth Sundays. Thecontinue for 100 years, but there is no younger sons and some others, is yearly Convention (48th) of our Japa-onenowonthefieldoranewmission- going to purchase a "Life Lease" nese Christians will be March 26-28ary recruit who is able to take the apartment in the Sunshine States this year in Okinawa, and we are hop-financial or other responsibilities of Christian Homes in Tavares, Florida ing to attend that. We also hope to bethis paper. We appreciate very much for us to live in. There will also be a led and enabled to make suitable ai>the comments and interest mani- Trust Fund established to provide rangements for the continuing of the

Panoramic view from our front porch in Rokkaku-bashi Yokohama.

camp work and proper handling of the propertystill held in the name ofYotsuya Mission, and thefunds related to that. It is going to be anotherinteresting year, and we £tsk that all of you continue to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance uponus so that God's Will be done, and His Kingdomendure and grow.

Thanksgiving

The Japanese have a Thanksgiving Day everyyear on November 23, as do many other culturesof the world. After all, it is Harvest Time all overthe northern hemisphere. Traditionally, this isthe day on which the Emperor eats the first rice ofthe year's crop and, after that, others start eatingit. They can tell the difference between fresh riceand last year's, but most of us foreigners can't.Anjrway, the holiday happens to have been sig^nificant through the years:

1. I preached my first sermon in Japan,through an interpreter, on the last Sunday inNovember 1947 (2 weeks after arrival) in the Leehome, where they were beginning efforts to restart Mikawashima Church afterthe buildingwasdestroyed and members scattered during the latter months of World War 11.

2. We held the first Sunday School and Woi>ship Service that resulted in the Nakano Churchon Thanksgiving Sunday in 1950, in our livingroom, a month after moving into the house there.

3. We had the first service at Mejirodai onthe first Sunday of November 1970, and had thefirst "carry-in, pot-luck" (translated in Japanese"bring together") anybody there had heard of onThanksgiving Sunday the following year. Wealways have everyone present, including youngchildren, and make a short speech on "This yearI am thankful for..." after the enjoyable, plentifulfellowship meal.

4. This year we had our first ThanksgivingmealtogetherhereatJoelHomeonNovember24,after the worship service. We found out it was aspecial day here also because the first Sundayworship servicewas heldonThanksgiving6 yearsago. They were hesitant about "pot-luck," so Loisbaked a piece ofrolled turkeyand pumpkin pie. Itwas the first time most of them had eaten turkeyin their lives. Mr. Oka said he had only eaten itonce when, as a young man over 40 years ago, heworked in a PX on a U.S. base and was invited to

an American friend's home for Thanksgiving.The piewas also a most unusual and special treat.

One ofthe oldermembers at Mejirodai phonedthe next day to say they had missed us very muchat their fellowship meal the previous day, andimagined that we were sitting down here feelinglonely and sad. She was happy when we toldabout the smaller, but joyful, gathering here.Another member wrote in her Christmas cardabout their Thanksgiving, 'We are keeping thetraditions that you began and the torch you litburning." That filled us with joy and thanks.

Misoionaiy prayer meeting at the Warricks' houee, November 29.

Missionary Prayer Meetings

We have fewer missionaries in theTokyo area now than in pastyears, but we still value the fellowship times and try to meet onceevery month or two.

On November 29 we met at the Warricks' home and enjoyed avery good time of visiting, prayer and a "turkey and all thetrimmings" evening meal together.

On December 27, after all special Christmas events were over,we met here in Yokohama for "ham and lots of other stuff' andrelaxed fellowship around a program of Scripture and songsplanned by Lois in which eveiyone took part. The attendance was16 adults and 5 children, because 2 couples, one single lady, and2 children came down from Niigata to spend a little vacation time.Skies were gray all winter up there in "snow country," so theyespecially enjoyed the nice blue sky that day. Also, theChristiansens were in town from Nagano-ken with their 2 daughters and a friend back from Pacific Bible College for the vacationtime. All 4 of their children were "home for Christmas" this year.

Miseionaiy Christmas gatheriog at Joel Home. December 27.

Christmas 1996

This was probably our last Christmas in Japan. Our last onein the United States was back in 1967, so long-time readers knowI usually write something special about each Christmas in Japan,and even have a habit of saying this was the best ever. This time,in a letter to our family and close friends, after it was over I evenwrote an individuali^d version of the old song "12 Days ofChristmas," describing 13 different days and experiences so theymight be sung to that tune, but I will not duplicate that here. Justa few things this time.

1. We always send out a Christmas letter to our mailing list- over 400 to the U.S. and about 200 to friends we seldom see face-

to-face in Japan. This year we werelatergettingitwrittenandprinted(withBro. Kishimoto's help), and it was byfar the longest ever-12 pages, describing various events as we closed ourministryof25+years in Mejirodai andmoved down to Joel Home in

Yokohama, and then our trip of 4months through the U.S. and finallyour return and settling into the interim ministry here - a very busy butabundantlyblessedyear. Printingandmailing these, with many short pei>sonal notes added, took many hoursduring December until a week beforeChristmasDay.

I believe we have received repliesfrom over 25% of those, and we continue to get daily mail. The local P.O.seemed to appreciate our business,and even did daily deliveries on theholidays. Postage rates went way upthis year, and business was down ingeneral. The best letterwas probablythe one from a young lady I baptizedearlier this year: "When I said 'I am aChristian' for the first time in my life, Iwent home and cried. But it was tears

of joy. How long I have waited to beable to say this one sentence!" Wefastened cardsaround the doorframes

in the house here and others enjoyedthe colorful variety as well as we did.

2. We left many of our decorations in Mejirodai for the church touse, so were somewhat limited in thatarea. But Lois found a small false tree

and some things, and we bought asmall wreath for the front door and a

stringoflittle lights forthe tree and putour small wooden manger scene onthe entrance hall shelf. We also re

ceived some gifts of potted and cutflowers, adding to the beauty and atmosphere. So, we had no problemfeeling like Christmas was here, andenjoying the meaning and the greattraditions of this season.

3. The first Christmas meetingwas the Ladies' Meeting at NakanoChurch on December 12. There were

only 4 people there besides Mr. andMrs. Itagaki and us, and one of thoseannounced that this would be her last

meeting, as she was going back to herhome in Nagoyawhere herhusband'sworkis. Also,we heard thatoneofthelong-time members who had been unable to attend for some years becauseof being bed-fast, had died recently.But we had a good meal and fellowship, including good memories of thepast 40 Christmases Lois had sharedwith this group.

4. On December 19 we attended

the city-wide "Christmas by the Bay"

program on the 9th floor of Sogo Department Store, sponsoredbymost ofthe churches inYokohama. The audi

torium was full of nearty 1,000 peoplefor theafternoonprogramwe attended(2:30 - 4:30), and there was anotherscheduled for 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. that day.They had a Christian TV singer give aspecial musical program, and alsosome songs sungbyagroup ofIndonesian Christians now living in Japan.The speaker,whose messagewas veryclear, well-delivered and full ofgospeljoyandtruth, was aformer missionaryto Indonesia.

5. We printed 500 hand-bills giving the address, phone number and amap ofJoel Home, and inviting peopleto attend our special Christmas EveCandleServicefrom 7:00 p.ra. onChristmas Eve, and bought 500 full-colortracts with a message on the meaningof the Savior's Birth to go with them.

I got some good exercise and alsoa good knowledge of the make-up ofthe neighborhoodbydistributingtheseto all the houses in a.11directions around

us during the warm part of most afte]>noons in earlyDecember. lamsonytoreport thatwe did not have onepersoncometo that service because ofgettingthe materials I had put in their mailboxes. Butwedidhavel6peoplehere,which is twice ouraverage attendance.The visitors were mostly people fromthe companyMr. Okausedtoworkfor,orpersonalacquaintances. Somewerein such a church service for the first

time.

6. We received information byphone that Mejirodai had a good attendance of 20 adults and 30 children

for a special children's program onSaturday, December21, and 40 adultsand 15 children present for the worship onDecember22. We don't knowthe exact number for their Candle

Service, but they had a good one, andwe were most surprised and happy tohear also that on the morning ofChristmas Eve, they had the regular4th Tuesday Bible Study which I didfor some years and Bro. Kishimotohas continued, even with a few, sincewe left last May.

We also heard from several other

churches about better than usual at

tendance at Christmasworship, and 2churches reported baptisms.

7. On ChristmasDay, between 11a.m. ourtime (late atnightinlowa) and11 p.m. (early Christmas morning inAmerica), we got long, wonderfulphone calls from all 5 of our children,including most of their children. Joy,Joy, Joy.

Opening the Ox YearWe stayed up until midnight

watching specialTV programs to welcome in the new year. We went downand bought 2 prepared buckwheatnoodle meals at the local 7/11, whichis the traditional Japanese meal forthat time. It was a quiet night, so wecould hear the local temple gong tolling 108 times - once for each sin ofmankind. But it was our first time to

hearthe boat horns in the nearbyportand other whistles of various facto

ries blowing full blast at midnight.New Year's Daywe had a worship

service here attended by 5 people at 1p.m. to greet one another and beginthe new year in prayer and readingthe Bible and encouraging one another. Allpresent were over 70 yearsof age.

At the worship in Mejirodai thesame time, the same day, one of thegirls who is past 30 and not marriedyet in spite of many trying to find asuitable match for her, announcedher engagement, showed her ring,and introduced her fiancee to the

group. They later said it was reallyexcitingandhappyforeveiyone. TheJapanese always say, "Congratulations," to everyone they meet that daybecause, by the old cultural tradition,everyone becomes a year older thatday. They don't emphasize the exactdate ofbirth like we do in the western

world. But at Mejirodai, they weresaying the word to the newly-announced couple.

News Notes

• Nancy Homback is a professional singerand a memberofChapelRock Christian Church in Indianapolis. She has been working as a part ofthe entertainment team on the Japanese cruise ship ASUKA which operates in and out of several Japaneseports and goes to various places inAsia for about a year, and will soon bereturning to the United States as her

Harold with Alice Hombackfrom Indianapolisand 2 Filipino Christians who work on the crew oftheJapaneseCruiseship ASUKAwhere this picturewas taken.

contract ends.

Her church gave her our addressand we got in contact and went downto meet her and see the ship when itwas in port on November 21. Therewere not guests that night, but theentire crewwas busily decorating forChristmas, includingthe cooks building a beautiful icing-covered gingerbread village, and countless lightsbeing strung all over. We had sometime for getting acquainted and alsomet 2 Christian Philippine men ofthecrew whom she had met during thetrips. We asked about prices, but the$400 and up per night was much toorich for our blood.

Other such people who come toJapan for various purposes shouldalso be given our address and try tolook us up while in this area of theworld. We might be able to help themsee or experience a little more of"where the people live."

• The house of the next door

neighbors of one of our Christian ladies caught fire and totally burned upduring the night of December 22-23.In fact, thewall oftheirhouse and roofwas partiallyburned. Buttheirdaughter is now married and living in another city and busy taking care ofsmall twin boys and the son is alsonow away from home andworking, sothey had 2 empty rooms and took theneighbor family (including the elderly mother) into their home untilthey can rebuild.

• A group of about 20 J apanesepreachers and Christians are on a 10-daytrip to the Bible lands ofEgypt andIsraelJanuary 3-13. We pray for theirsafety in these times, and will havemore information about it in the next

issue.

Mr. and Mrs. StanleyButtray (retired),R.D. 2, Box 180, Meadville, PA 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. AndrewFatten (retired),#6 Tanglewood, Carl Junction. MO64834.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 4-17-30Roklnku-baBhitKanagawa-kuYokohamarehi 221, Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurch ofChrist.SlSE. OrangeAvenue,Eustis.FL 32726-4194.

One year donation—S2.00

Tokyo ChristUn (USPS 776-920)

Published four times a year in January, April, July, and November for themissionaries of the Church of Christ,

Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan byMission Services Association, 7525Hodges Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN37020-9731. Periodical postage paid atKnoxvlUe.TN 37901-2427. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TokyoChristian, c/o MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION. PO Box 2427, Knoxville.TN 37901-2427.

• Harold Sims preached inSakurayamaChurch on November 17and Yokosuka Church on December

17 and, in both cases, enjoyed lunchwith the congregation and somevisiting after the worship service.

• Harold Sims has been asked

to perform weddings on Saturdays ata hotel in Tokyo for several monthsuntil anotherministerwho does it on

Sundays is able to do the job on Saturday also. Idonotliketodothisjustasa job - a sort of "Marrying Sam" as itused to be called in the comics, but itis interesting at my age to have thedirect contact with the young folksand their parents, and to perhaps havea small influence on their future hves.Most are not Christians at aU, buthave

chosen to have a Christian weddinginstead of a Shinto ceremony, eventhough the Shinto one is slightlycheaper, because they don't have topay an organist, use real flowers, etc.Many young girls like to have a longwhite dress like "they have in themovies." Since October I have p6i>formed about 30wedding inthe first-floor chapel ofthe hotel, which has avery nice organ and beautiful furnishings.

A worship service at Joel Home. Mr. Oka is atIroDt left, his daughter at his right shoulder, andhis wile at his left shoulder.

A special worship service at Joel Home onDecember 8 when we had 5 citizens of Bangladeshpresent, some in a Christian service for the firsttime in their lives. Others in the audience aremembers of a Japanese project team establishedbyMr.Okaforerectingsohoolsinthatcountiy. Sixhave been built so far.

Tanemaki-kai - seed-sowing meeting at Osaka Bible Seminaiy on November 4.

Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address toMISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION. PO Box 2427, Knoxville. TN 37901-2427.

Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

Christian"Goye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15

Volume 95 April 1997 Number 2

SIMS' NEWS

48th Convention in OkinawaLois and I were glad to be able

to fly down to Okinawa for theannual gathering of our group ofmissionaries and then our Japarnese Christian brothers and sis

ters March 24-28. This was the

third time for the Convention to

be hosted by the people downthere. It is an expensive trip tomake, but the Christians thereare veiy zealous about attendingthe Conventions in the otherpartsofJapan, and there are more Christians in ratio to the population onthat island than in any other prefecture of Japan, so a number ofour folks make a special and sacrificial effort to go.

The usual time for the Con

vention is mid-summer, whenmany working people can easilytake a few days off, but it is miserably hot in Okinawa and the hotels are very crowded at that timeand hard to reserve, so they tookthe advice ofthe travel agents andplanned it for the week beforeEaster. Thiswas inconvenient for

most preachers, and moreso forsalary men, because it is the endof the fiscal year when all financial and other reports must be

done. So, the attendance wassomewhatdown from average thistime, but not too bad. They had atotal registration of over 290people, including 44 childrenwhohad a separate program preparedfor them by some of the youngerpeople. About half of the totalwere from the Okinawa area

churches.

Originally the plan was tohave Mr. & Mrs. Harlan Woodruff

return from retirement and a cel

ebration of the beginning of thework there 50 years ago when hewas still a Chaplain in the U.S.Military stationed there. But hewas unable to attend, partly because of the timing just beforeResurrection Sundaywhenhe hadministiy responsibilities in theU.S. But they sent a nice letter ofcongratulations which was readto the Convention. I am sure theyare most thankful that there are

now 16 churches in Okinawa,ministeredto bycapableJapaneseleaders carrying on the work inspite of the average range ofproblems that can be found in the

workofGod's Kingdom anywhere.continued on page 2

i

Okinawa Convention planningconunittee on the stage on the final day. Overhead sign aaya:*48th Church of Christ All-Japan Convention.* Theme: Christ, Our Peace (Eph. 2:14-16).

50th WeddingAnniversary

We were married March 21, 1947.We celebrated the event quietly, butvery happily here in Yokohama. Wewant to thank the many people whosent us cards from various churches

across the U.S. and, of course, also thefamily and personal friends.

Our 5 children are planning 2 celebrations after we return to the U.S. -

one at the NACC, and the other on August 3 in Cincinnati, Ohio when all 5 ofour children plan to be present. Wealso received several beautifulbunches

of flowers-2 from the U.S. Oneofthose

was from our 5 children, and the otherfrom the First Christian Church of

Charlottesville, Virginia which we visited on our honeymoon 50 years agoand has supported us faithfully all theseyears. We got some interesting gifts,including a box from daughter Sylviacontaining various "gold" things -Golden Graham cereal. Golden granolabars, goldfish crackers, gold wrappedHershey kisses, etc.

We even ventured out on the town

in Tokyo that night to see the opera"Porgy and Bess" which was being performed for the first time in 50 years inTokyo, commemoratingthe 100th anniversary of the birth of Ira or GeorgeGershwin. So we feel we are having aproper celebration, and are certainlygrateful to God for this half-century ofhealth and happiness in His service.

hit

Harold and Loie Sims after 50 years together.

Conventioncontinued from page 1

There have been, no missionaries

from our churches in Okinawa for a

generation now, but the work hasbeen well-established and put downroots in the soil there.

The Japanese Convention beganon Wednesday p.m., and the themewas: "Christ, OurPeace." Bro.Itagaki,from Nakano Church in Tokyo,preached the sermon that night. Hehad ties with many people there, having made a number of visits to theisland for special meetings over theyears, and having had a number ofthe Christians from Okinawa attend

the church where he preaches whentheywere inTokyo foradvancedstudyor jobs.

The following morning, thepreacher was Stephen lijima, fromthe Minato ChurchinYokohama, whoalso had long and deep ties with thebrothers in Okinawa, and who "remembers interpretingforBro. Woodruff from the days when he wore aU.S. military uniform." That afternoon we took a bus tour to see placesconnected with Okinawa history -back when they were an independent Kingdom and had a king, palace, relations with China, etc., andthen a memorial park containing thenames of all military and civilianskilled in the weeks of the battle of

Okinawa in 1945 - over 200,000.

After returning from the tour, wequickly changed clothes for the banquet and what they call the "fellowship market," at which every churchrepresentedis introduced, importantannouncements and introductions

are made, and various musical programs are enjoyed. This time we hadsinging in Okinawa dialect, a Mandolin and guitarband, a quartet fromone of the Tokyo churches, severalsongs by the children's group andother things, along with a fine Chinese feast.

My part on the program was allon Friday, the final day. I was to givethe morning devotional message at6:30 a.m. to one of the 4 adult groups,and was rather surprised at the goodattendance at that hour. Then I was

to preside at the workshop conductedby Bro. Okawith whom we work herein Yokohama from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

That also went very well. Amongotherthings, he said his choice ofthetop news story of last year was thepeace between races that had beenachieved in South Africa.

The Convention ended just before noon, and we had scheduled areturn flight for 2 p.m. As soon as we

got settled into the airplane seat, Idropped off to sleep and Lois wakened me as we were about to land in

Tokyo. Therewassomefatigue,butitwas a good experience for us.

We got back to our home to begreeted by our son, Robert, and hisfamily who had arrived from the U.S.the night before. We had arrangedfor someone to be here and open thehouse for them when we found out

that was the only day they could reserve space. He was here on business, and has since made a trip toTaiwan. The family was taking advantage of frequent flyer credits andAmerican Airlines' reductions because of the recent strike.

I need to add a little about the

Missionaiy Gatheringhere. Aslsaidabove, there is now no missionaiyfrom our U.S. churches in Okinawa,

so Keith Summers and Audrey West,from Okayama prefecture, plannedthe convention. Earlyonwe thoughtveryfewwouldcome, andmanycouldnot afford the price of airfare andhotel-especiallyifthey had childrenstill at home. But we were happy that16 adults and 5 childrenwere present.We had some good songservices andmessages and times to just visit andeat refreshments.

Our meeting was held in oneroom of the Pacific Hotel where theJapanese also met. The first meetingwas on Mondayp.m. withTim Turnerpreaching. Tuesday a.m. I preachedand Tuesday p.m. Walter Maxey.Then on Wednesday a.m., AudreyWest, the oldest one there, talked.Mark and Pauline Maxey were alsoable to attend. We are in a numericaldecline here over the past decade ormore, and there seem to be slim prospects of new folks joining the corpshere in the nearfuture, but those whoare on the field here are keeping onin good spirits.

Next year's Conventions are tobe held in the Tokyo area, at the endof July 1998. Tim Turner will beleading the planningfor the Missionary part, and Bros. Kishimoto fromMejirodai, Nishiyama fromSannobara, and Yokomizo fromYokosuka.willbecooperatingto hostthe Japanese one at the nice YMCAfacility in Gotemba at the foot of Mt.Fujiyama, about 70 or 80 miles southof Tokyo. They are already insistentthat we plan to return to Japan for aperiod of time next summer that willinclude the week of Convention andsome time at Shinshu Camp, and weare inclined to conform to that plan,our health, finances, schedule andother things permitting, because weenjoy the fellowship.

JapaneseChristian Group

Goes to Israel

Nine preachers (including onemissionary, Tim Turner), one Biblecollege student, and 4 male and 6female members of our churches in

Japan, went on a brief tour of Egyptand Israel from January 3-13 thisyear. For the majority of them it wastheir first such experience. Thosewho said anything to me about itafter returning agreed enthusiastically that it was a wonderful time,and increased their interest in the

Bible, although there was some sickness and, of course, fatigue becauseof the rushed schedule.

They climbed Mt. Sinai at nightand hit the most important places ofinterest in Israel. In addition, theywere able to visit Mr. Saito (a member of Mejirodai Church who hadbeen working for Toshiba ElectricCo. in Cairo for about 8 months); Mr.and Mrs. Lonnie Mings who, foryears, were missionaries in theOsaka area of Japan and now havebeen working in Israel for severalyears; and Mr. George Awwad, someof his family and the people of theChristian Church in Ramallah, justnorth of Jerusalem. Of course, allbrought back many pictures and sto-

Soma of the Japanese group who went toEgypt and Israel. Seated in the front row areLonnie and Coral Mings.

Minister George Awwad and his family eatingwith some of the tour group from Japan.

Taninari FamilyLeaves Shinshu

Camp

1 Taninari be-serving

same year the

was erected.

Mr.Taninarispeakingat (Stan and Ma-farewell meeting February Buttray

had lived in a

house built on the property for several years before that time and managed the first few camps there.) Hewas a graduate of the Osaka BibleSeminary, and had served as the pastor of a small church in that area for

several years before coming to helpin the camp.

In afewyears he became in effectthe "manager," and did most of theworkconnectedwith publicizing, tak-ingcare ofthe buildings and grounds,and even the cooking at the camp,although there were various volunteerhelpers with the latterevelyyear.In due course he married a younglady from Okinawa who had been akindergarten teacherand helper in acamp in the suburban area of Tokyowhich is operated by the GermanLibenzeller Mission. They now have5 children - the oldest boy havingjust graduated from elementaryschool and the youngest (a g^rl) justover 1 year old.

The rural Nagano Prefecturewhere the camp is located (and thesite for the 1998 winter OlympicGames less than one year from now)is very conservative in politics andreligion, so evangelism is difficult.But, for all these years he had continued to have Sunday services at thecamp. One young lady from a familyin the neighborhood who had attended from childhood was baptized

The main camp building in February.

some years ago and now works as anurse in ToIq^o. Prom several yearsago, Bro. Taninari has expressed afeeling of fatigue from the amount ofwork required of him, and also adesire to do more direct pastoralworkin a local church. Along with this,the number of campers has been declining the past few years, making aserious financial crunch in the man

agement of the camp.So he announced at the end of

1996 that they would be resigningfrom the camp at the end of Marchand would move to Okinawa. Herparents have a rather large house inNaha, and have said they could livethere with them for a year until theyfind a suitable job and housing inthat area. They have enrolled thechildren in the local school for the

new school year starting in April,and moved down there during thefinal week of March.

On February 16 (Sunday afternoon), a farewell meeting to expressappreciation for his service was ai>ranged byourYokosukaChurch, withspeeches, refreshments, albums ofpictures from each year of the campon display, etc. A large offering wasalso received to help pay for theirmoving expenses. About 50 peoplewere present on the winterafternoon- most of them younger workingpeople who had attended camp anumber of times as students of

Middle, High and college ages andhave happy memories ofthose times.The camp has averaged between 100and 200 campers every year, so a lotof people have been influenced bythat place.

As mentioned above, StanleyandMabel Buttray lived and worked atthe camp in their last few years before retiring in 1983, and they werethe ones who called Mr. Taninari to

that work and paid his salary for thefirst few years. Then the Pattonsmoved there and served happily until they retired in early 1990. Mr.Taninari and some other preachersin the Tokyo area expected that wewould be the next ones to go up there,but we do not like the cold winters,and we feel more at home in the

greater Tokyo city area where wehave spentmost ofourlives, althoughwe have perhaps taken more youngpeople up to the camp and givenmore financial support than mostothers.

During my remarks at the farewell meeting, I introduced the oldEnglish expression "Chief Cook andBottle-washer" to the Japanese audience, and said that might be an aptdescription of Taninari's work - he

did almost everything. We are thankful for his giving many years of dedicated service there.

At present there is no one livingon the campgrounds, which is notthe ideal situation. One neighbor,and our fellow missionary WarrenChristiansen, who lives about 10 or15 minutes' drive away, have agreedto look in on the place at least once aweek, and various preachers andmissionaries from the Tokyo areaplan to travel up there to cut grassand do other tending and upkeepwork about once a month. A camp isbeing planned for the first week ofAugust this summer, using volunteer help in the kitchen and, ofcourse,in teaching, etc.

We are prayingand thinking earnestly for God to lead us to someonefitted to do the work there, or to somesuitable solution to this problem, andwould be grateful for our readers tojoin us in prayer about this.

News Notes

Mr. Oka, the founder of JoelHome, also founded an organizationof mostly Christian people andYokohama citizens to raise money tobuild schools in Bangladesh 5 or 6years ago. He had become aware ofthe poverty and large percentage ofthe people who were illiteratethrough various news reports of thecyclones and other disasters there.With a little investigation he foundout that a 7 room concrete block

school building could be built thereusing local supplies and labor forabout $30,000. The building wouldbe used by children in the morningsand adults in the evenings and as arefuge in cyclones and floods. Hethought this was something that theJapanese could do on a non-govem-mental, practical level. He is a goodmoney-raiser because he has manywell-to-do friends from his days asVice President of a private railwayline and trustee ofthe YMCA, Gideons

Mr. & Mre. Oka

member, etc.During the last week of Febru

ary, he made anothertiip down thereto dedicate school number 7. He told

us one of the visiting dignitaries toldthe local folks they could be proud ofthe only building in the village withglass windows! Some people fromBangladesh (Muslims) visited ourservices one Sundayand praised himfor this local-level help - better thanbig governmental projects.

On the afternoon of February 2,1was invited to preach at theMikawashima Church on the occa

sion of ordaining 2 new elders there.Those older readers with exceptionallygood memories might recall thatthis was the first place we ministeredin Japan: 1947-501

Mr. Cho, who is about myage anda good friend when he was ministerthere some years ago and has nowbeen called back from retirement for

a second ministry, specially askedme to come for that occasion. He left

that church back in 1975 to become

the preacher at a mostly Korean Baptist Church in the Seattle, Washington area, and served there for 20 yearswhile all of their 4 children went

through high school and college. Allof them are now married and living

Mr. and Mrs. StanleyButtray (retired),RD. 2. Box 180, Meadville, PA 16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton (retired),#6 Tanglewood, Carl Junction, MO6483^..,; Mrs. iiaiold Sims,'̂ 17-30

Rokkaku-bashi,Kanagawa-kuYokohama-ehi 221, Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurch ofChrist, 315 E. Oiange Avenue,Eustis, FL 327264194.

One year donation—$2.00

Tokyo Christian (USPS 776-320)

Published four times a year in January, April. July, and November for themissionaries of the Church of Christ,

Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan byMission Services Association, 7525

Hodges Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN37620-Q731. Periodical postage paid atKnoxvlUe.TN 37901-2427. POSTMASTER Send address changes to TokyoChristian, o/o MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, PO Box 2427, Knoxville,TN 37901-2427.

in the U.S. and Mr. & Mrs. are both

well and active.

Someyears had passed since ourlast visit to that church on the other

side ofTokyo, butwe were very happyto see many familiar faces and evensome pictures from half a centuryagowhen we lived there. The2eldersI helped ordain a number of yearsago were both present and active.

Mr. Cho translated my sermonfrom Titus on the qualifications ofelders from Japanese into Korean,and then we had the ordination cer

emony. One of the new elders is thevice-minister of the S. Korean Em

bassy in Tokyo and the other one isthe presidentofametal-workingcom-panyin the neighborhood there. Bothwives are also active in the church.

One is the choir director and a goodsinger and the other does signing fordeaf people at all services.

There seemed to be a good spiritin the congregation and we enjoyedsome good hotly-seasoned Koreanfood and conversation in the down

stairs room after the service.

I have been preaching every firstand third Sunday of the month hereat the Joel Home where we live. Last

Sunday we had a lady and her 2 children visit the services. It was their

first time ever to be in a Christian

meeting. Sheworks atthedeskwhereLois goes to get her blood pressurecheckups and knee shots, and askedwhat we did. So Lois invited her and

she came. We average only 7 or 8 inattendance, so all are most happy tohave not only the regulars, but occasionally someone new like that.

Then every second Sundaywe goto Mejirodai where we lived andworked for 25 years. We always enjoy those times.

On the 4th Sundays, I have beengoing to various other churches inthe area. On February 23,1 preachedat the Minato Church and we ate

lunch with a group of 18 friends at anearby Chinese Restaurant. OnMarch 23, I preached at the OntaChurch, where Bro. Akada, who wasbrought to Christ during our time inNakano, preaches. They had a pot-luck fellowship lunch after the service there. The Akada's only son hadjust graduated from college a fewdays previously, so itwas a combinedparty for that. April 27 we plan to bewith the Nakano Church.

We are having a lot of happytimes, but still plan to return to theU.S. on June 20 this year and to be atthe North American Christian Con

vention July 1-4.

Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address toMISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

Form 3579 Requested. PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

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

Volume 95 November 1997 Number 4

Tokyo ChristianCeases Publication

As we have mentioned in some

previous issues, this is the final issueof the Tokyo Christian. So, first of all,I will attempt a brief history of it andthe work it has represented "for therecord."

(1) W.D. and Emily Cunninghamand their baby daughter, Eloise, arrived in Tokyo in October 1901, andbefore the end of that year the TokyoChristian, printed in and mailed fromJapan, was being delivered in theUnited States. It was publishedmonthly from that time as long as Mr.Cunningham lived, and well reflectedhis personality by recording brief andoptimistic memos about various visitors to their home and Japan, interesting facts and observations aboutJapanese culture and society gleanedfrom newspapers and magazines, listsof contributions received from supporters of the work, quotations fromletters accompanying them, and reports about the churches and Sundayschools and Bible classes being supported -- without any special headlines or editing. It seemed that it wasbeing written in a notebook as hewent about his daily work.

Since he was not represented orsustained or governed by a Missionary Society like almost all other missionaries were, this was his only meansof maintaining contact with his "rope-holders," and, aside from becomingwidely circulated and read, it perhaps,in some measure, became an examplefor many missionary publicationswhich have appeared among our peopleduring this century.

(2) After Mr. Cunningham passedaway during a furlough in the U.S. in1936, Mrs. Cunningham and Mr. &Mrs. Owen Still, an evangelist fromGeorgia who joined her in the work inTokyo in 1937, continued publishingthe Tokyo Christian; but it was notprinted in or mailed from Tokyo aspreviously, and it was not monthly butseveral times per year. Then as theclouds of WW II thickened and theStill family returned to the U.S. in

SIMS' NEWS1940, the paper was to-tally discontinued for awhile.

(3) After Mrs. Cun-ningham returned tothe homeland aboard aSwedish prisoner-ex-change ship in 1943, thelate Morris Book, ofOrlando, Florida, pub-lished a combination of

his own Christian Hori-zon magazine and Tokyo Christian quarterly for a few years.It was in that paper that pictures of meand Andrew Patton as recruits to. Japan first appeared. Both of us werethen students at Atlanta ChristianCollege and our nation was at warwith Japan; but Mrs. Cunninghamvisited the college and was forcefullyrecruiting young people to continuethe work to which she had given herlife and for which she still had hopesand dreams.

(4) During 1947, 2 years after theend of WW II, Owen and Shirley Still,Mrs. Cunningham (returning) andSam and Emily Saunders, Harold andLois Sims and Andrew Patton [January 1948] (new personnel) arrived inTokyo to restart the missionary workwhich had been established in 1901.Stanley and Mabel Buttray, also fromAtlanta Christian College, joined us in1950. Thus began the post-war period, or what might be called thesecond phase or generation of thework which Mr. Cunningham had always called "Yotsuya (Yoh-tsu'-yah)Mission." This was the name of thearea where they bought a lot and builtin 1906 and always lived. It was alsothe name of a Bible school founded byAlice Miller, a single lady missionaryof the non-instrument Church ofChrist, in an effort to help some poorpeople who could not pay for educating their daughters in that area ofdowntown Tokyo. Miss Miller hadasked the Cunninghams to look afterher work while she was on furlough,and he happily adopted that placename. Mrs. Cunningham preferredthe name "Cunningham Mission" after he passed away. During the waryears, with the help and advice of

Haroldand LoisSims in front oftheir newapartmentinSunshineStaieChristianHomesinTavares, Florida.

their life-long friend, Judge Hathcock,of Atlanta, Georgia, "The Church ofChrist Cunningham Mission" was incorporated in that city. Miss EvaGreen, a member of the JeffersonPark Church in East Point served asthe voluntary bookkeeper and forwarding agent for the Mission forsome years. For the first 7 years I wasassociated with this work, all offerings were sent to Atlanta and all billswere paid, including our salary checksand general expenses, by checks mailedout from the Atlanta office.

By the end of 1947, the newlyassembled Mission group in Tokyowas having regular business meetings. Among our responsibilities werewriting articles and taking picturesfor the Tokyo Christian every quarterin Tokyo and sending them to Atlantafor editing, printing and mailing. Theediting responsibility was held bymany different people over the years,including my father while he was ministering in Turtle Creek, PA. Formany years now this service has beendone by Mission Services, and weappreciate very much their capable,faithful and cheerful service and cooperation.

(5) In October 1951, a very largemeeting was held in our SetagayaChurch in Tokyo. This was the onlyone of 8 pre-war church buildings tosurvive the bombings of Tokyo duringWW II, and it had recently been reconstructed and enlarged, so was the onlyplace able to contain the crowd. Thepurpose was to commemorate a half-century since the Cunninghams began the work. Most of the old-timers

who could come were present. Therewas great joy in the faces and words ofevery one of them as they remembered the distant past rather than thesuffering and loss of the past 10 years.Mrs. Cunningham was invited to visitthe home of the younger brother ofthe late Emperor, and also received amedal from the Japanese government.God, in His great wisdom and grace,granted her the privilege to lead in therebuilding of her home and her beloved "First Church" on the samefoundation and with the same plans ashad been used back in the early 30s.Also, 2 missionary homes and 7 or 8church buildings (almost all on landpurchased before the war) wereerected in those early post-war years.Even the 2-story Tokyo Bible Seminary building was completed beforeshe passed away in her Tokyo homeon Christmas Day in 1953.

(6) There was quite a bit of troubleand change in the Mission during thelatter half of the 50s, which might besummarized as:

(a) The Yotsuya or CunninghamMission, Inc. in Atlanta was dissolved,and the Buttrays, Fattens and Simsesbecame independent, directly supported by their several churches, andhaving their own forwarding agents;

(b) The 3 families continued sharing in the duties and costs of publishing the Tokyo Christian, which untilthat time had been paid from theAtlanta office;

(c) We served as the trustees ofthe former Yotsuya Mission funds andproperties, which had been incorporated in Japan March 31, 1939, inaccordance with the will of the lateW.D. Cunningham. We adopted thepolicy of turning over the deeds, landsand buildings to local churches whenthey became able to incorporate under Japanese regulations about number of members, financial accountability, etc. Most of our churches inthe Tokyo area have completed thisprocess some years ago and are nowcompletely independent of the Mission, self-supporting and self-governing. I should add that the Japanesegovernment recognizes that we of theChurch of Christ are the ONLY Christian group that operates this way (autonomous local congregations), whichis normal for us in the U.S. TheBaptists in Japan have a central organizational structure. The Congrega-tionalists went into the highly structured United Church of Japan(Kyodan) before WW II;

(d) While continuing our ownevangelistic activities with the Japanese churches next door to our homesand Bible classes, etc., in our homes.

we cooperated with each other andwithother missionaries from the Christian churches not directly associatedwith the Yotsuya Mission in variouscamps, rallies, conventions, and otherjoint activities. During the secondhalf of this century there has beenincreasing unity and cooperation between our people throughout Japan;

(e) We experienced a decline inthe number of students attendingTokyo Bible Seminary during the1950s. There are many possible reasons for this, but because the last yearwe operated we had only 3 studentsand had no one to enroll for the following year, we closed the operation ofthe school in March 1958. The building is still being used for a local churchand an English school;

(f) In 1954 we adopted a firmpolicy of not pajdng any Japanesepreacher firom Mission funds and toencourage freedom and self-support.This means that the majority of ourJapanese ministers do some part-timework to support their families - tutoring the children of the neighborhoodin late afternoon and evenings, delivering newspapers in early a.m., driving taxis, etc. This may be slower inproducing evangelistic results, but weare convinced this is a sound, long-lasting and reasonable way to advance.

These policies described above (a-f) have been working now for over 40years. They have produced peace,stability, strength and growth amongthe Japanese churches. The peopleare working together with joy, andhave an increasing sense of identityand unity in Christ.

For example: our 49th AnnualConvention is scheduled to be held atthe end of July next year. For manyyears now this meeting has beenplanned and paid for by the Japanesenationals themselves. They makegreat efforts to gather and fellowshipand encourage each other in the faith.The Osaka Bible Seminary is movingyear-by-year toward being entirelysupported by the Japanese themselves.

(7) The Buttrays retired toMeadville, PA in 1983. They are now83 years of age.

The Fattens retired to Joplin, MOin 1990. Andrew just celebrated his80th birthday October 4.

The Simses retired to SunshineState Christian Homes in Tavares,FL in July this year. This is near theFirst Church ofChrist in Eustis, whereHarold graduated from high school in1941 and went into the ministry andwas ordained. The church has servedas their forwarding agent for about 30years. Harold was 73 years of age in

September. They went to Japan onNovember 15, 1947, which was 50years ago. This year was also theirGolden Wedding anniversary, celebrated in Cincinnati, OH August 3with all their children and grandchildren present. In fact, all who were inour wedding party in 1947, but Lois'sister who lives in Arizona and wasnot well and my father who died in1972, were present.

REASONS FOR CEASINGPUBLICATION AT THIS TIME

1. As the above history shows,there is no longer any missionary inJapan directly associated with theYotsuya Mission.

2. There is no other missionary or Japanese person willing orable financially or otherwise to givethe time and money to keep it going.

I admit a deep sense of failure andregret that I was unable to recruitmissionaries to take our place on thefield there. I do not believe they areno longer needed, or would not beaccepted by the local people; but thefact that must be faced is that they arenot in place at this time. The otherfact is that the basic work of preachingthe gospel in Japan will go on by theJapanese believers there on theground. Maybe it is significant thatthis situation happens near the beginning of a new century and that the all-wise God has plans that we cannot seeat this time. In any case, we can trustin God and pray for his work andworkers there and we will continue todo this.

PERSONAL FEELINGSABOUT THIS

1. I will miss the challenge andstimulation of having to sit downand write another issue every 3months. But I have less to writeabout now that I am retired and far

away.

2. For a long time I have wantedto reach a 100 Anniversary Issue. Butit occurs to me that such a thing wouldnot be noteworthy at all if there werenothing to follow.

3. Your faithful reading and occasional comments about the TokyoChristian have been an encouragement, and we are deeply grateful forthe prayerful support of very manywonderful Christians over half a century.

4. So let us not be despondent

or discouraged, but thankful forwhat God has done through usand many others.

5. Let us not forget to prayfor the continuing work for Christbeing done in Japan under faithfulleaders -- both missionary andnational.

6. I have an almost com

plete file of all issues since 1945,but missed a few while travelingon furloughs in the U.S. over theyears. I think some of our BibleColleges probably have prettycomplete files if someone mightwish to do research some day.

The Sims family ai the 50thAnniversary.

Harold and Lois Sims Celebrate Golden Wedding Anniversary

On August 3 at 2:00 p.m., our 5 children planned and very capably and happily carried out a wonderful celebrationof our 50th wedding anniversary in a room at the White Oak Church in Cincinnati, OH. We were amazed at how quicklyeverything about decorations, refreshments, program, etc., came together and went so smoothly, considering how far thechildren live from each other. We were also happy and surprised at the great number of people who came, some fromgreat distances, as well as the large number from the Cincinnati area and a good group of former missionaries to Japan.Some of these friends we had not seen for years.

The gathering included all 5 of our children and all 13 of the grandchildren and the 1 great-grandchild, and all but oneof the "wedding party" who had stood at the front of First Christian Church in Turtle Creek, PA 50 years before. Asidefrom Lois' sister, Dorothy, who lives in Arizona and is not very well, all of our brothers and sisters were also there, andsome cousins. So it was truly a "gathering of the clan" and a most memorable day of our lives.

News About the Work of Christ in Japan from Letters Received

Shinshu Bible Camp

Warren and Eileen Christiansen, who live and work inthe same Nagano Prefecture where the camp is located(and also the same prefecture where the 1998 WinterOlympic Games are going to be held) volunteered to liveand work at the camp for this summer's season. Weappreciated this very much. They lived there for about 3months -- from late May to late in August. With them toserve at the camp and in other ways and places during thesummer vacation were their youngest daughter, Karen,and a fellow student from Pacific Christian College whowanted to see what missionary work in Japan is like witha view to possibly becoming one. I will quote some linesfrom their Kansai Christian Mission newsletter:

"We were not completely moved when Ben and Karenarrived on 5/23, but with some help from them, we wereable to finally get settled" (in the house where the Buttraysand then the Pattons lived). "There was still much to do toget the grounds ready, but others came to help, too, beforeand during work camp (7/23-24 . . . Two camps were heldfor university students: 7/31 - 8/3 and 8/11-14, withregistration of 27 and 19 respectively. Of course, there wasa number of staff above those figures, so I cooked for about42 for the first camp and 30 for the second. Practically all

meals for the first camp were 30 minutes late, but thingswere easier the second time around. I was always forgettingsomething but, fortunately. Warren had bought us cellularphones at the beginning of summer. My thanks for all thosewho helped in the kitchen. The students were asked to fillout a response sheet on the last day. Many said they reallyenjoyed the camp and want to come again next year. Eightexpressed an interest in becoming Christians, 33 said theywant to go to church, and 3 requested counseling. DavidCole and Tim Turner, who work in the Tokyo area, havetaken those names for follow-up.

"The Junior and Senior High School Camp was held 8/4-8 and was planned and staffed by Japanese ministers andtheir wives and some other Christians from the Tokyo area.A Japanese lady headed up the kitchen and had a lot of helpfrom the preachers' wives. There were 18 campers, 3 ofthem from our own Saku church. (Later on we heard that3 girls were baptized in their home churches as a result ofdecisions made at this camp.)

"Our Sunday School Camp is usually held for one nightat our home in Asashina, but this year we were able to holdit at the camp on 8/9-10. Wehad 23 present (3 were formermembers who have moved away, and a new friend theybrought with them, and the rest were our regular SSchildren and their friends.

"The Camp Committee members came to close up thebuilding after all the camps were finished on 8/18-19, andon 8/23 we moved back to our house."

Another letter, dated September 8, from Bro. Kishimotowho is now the minister at Mejirodai Church said (in part):

"The following are news of our churches in Japan. Jthink you may want to know it:

"(1) Youth Retreat in Okutama."On July 20-22, the youth retreat was held in

Okutama. The theme was 'Christians in Society' and thespeaker was Mr. Yamazaki, a Secretary ofKGK (IntervarsityJapan). Thirty young people attended it and studied timescheduling, devotional life, etc. The deans were Bro. ShingoTsuda and Yohei Akioka, and they served and led the youthgroup very well.

"(2) High School Student Camp in Shinshu (Mostlycovered above)

"The speaker this year was Mr. Yozo Takekawa, whonow serves as part-time teacher (Bible) of Kwansai GakuinHigh School. He gave us powerful messages, and someyoung girls made decisions to accept Jesus as Lord. Onegirl, from Ono Church, was baptized into Christ at the endof last month, and 2 girls, of Yokosuka Church, werebaptized yesterday. Hallelujah!

"(3) Bro. Obana's service at Joel Home this summer."Bro. Tetsuya Obana, Senior at the Osaka Bible Semi

nary, served in Joel Home during his summer vacation. Inaddition, he preached in the Mejirodai Church and helpedin the VBS in the Sannobara Church and in the camps. NowMr. Yukio Oka has a plan to invite Bro. Obana to Joel Homeas an associate minister after his graduation. Please prayfor the plan.

"(4) The 49th All Japan Convention"We are preparing for the Convention next year. We

have decided the main speakers . . . The Convention NewsNo. 1 was published in August. It was very unique. Bros.Shioya, Yabu, and Otani were the editors.

"(5) New Church Buildings in Japan"The Nakaburi Church (Dr. Paul Clark and Noriaki

Kimura, ministers) in Osaka will soon finish building. TheMiyazato Church (Mr. Ryomei Onaga, minister) in Okinawahave finished. The Shime Church (Mr. Ben Hirotaka,minister) and the Machida Church in Tokyo also haveplans.

"(6) Bro. Shingo Tsuda's Wedding"You may be surprised, but Bro. Tsuda is going to get

married. His fiance is a member of Machina Church. Hewill come to the Mejirodai Church to preach and announcethis next Sunday. This is our joy. Please pray for himbecause he is very busyplanning for a new church building.

Other bits and pieces from letters include:... A card from Mrs. Tsuda in Mejirodai announced

the birth of a baby boy to Yohei and Kayo Akioka on October5 and also a baby boy to Daisaku and Sa5airi Kume onOctober 6.

... A good letter written on October 10 was receivedfrom our long-time associate and friend Stephen lijima,who is still going on at age 76. He writes in English (in part):"You say, 'after a very happy, blessed trip across the U.S.,'and that reminded me of the same experiences I had 30years ago -- even to the same place - Eustis, Florida. Youmentioned the dear ones to me, Mr. & Mrs. Bain. They areunforgettable persons for me. Please remember me to them,and give them my Christian greeting."

After that he changes to Japanese, "because I believeyou can still read it, and I don't want you to forget it." Hetells about being asked by the leaders of his small town tohelp them entertain about 20 Jr. High students who willsoon be visiting there from Iowa, U.S.A. In return aboutthe same number will go to the U.S. from that area of Japanto the U.S. in 1999, and he hopes his grand-daughter willbe among them.

Also he said the Minato Church is making plans for aFifth Sunday Rally on November 30.

He told about visiting the small groups in Okayamaprefecture, and sent a picture of one of the meetings.

Okayama meeting. Stephenlijimaand veteranmissionaryAudrey West are sealedin the front row.

. . . For my birthday we received a gift and niceletters from Mr. and Mrs. Oka, who are carrying on thework at Joel Home where we lived for 9 months last year.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray (retired). R.R. 2, Box 180, Meadville, PA16335.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fatten (retired),#6 Tanglewood, Carl Junction. MO64834.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims (retired).do Sunshine State Christian Homes, 1557Sunshine Parkway, Tavares, FL 32778.

One year donation $2.00

Tokyo Christian (USPS 776-320)Published four times a year in Janu

ary, April, July, and November for themissionaries of the Church of Christ,Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan byMission Services Association, 7525Hodges Ferry Road. Knoxville. TN37920-9731. Periodical postage paid atKnoxville, TN 37920-0111. POSTMASTER; Send address changes to TokyoChristian, do MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, PO Box 13111. Knoxville,TN 37920-0111.

Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address toMISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, PO Box 13111, Knoxville, TN 37920-0111

Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 13111, Knoxville, TN 37920-0111.