DALE & ANN LITTLE

Feb 2024

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
During the first 3 weeks of February we will be visiting TMC for in-person coaching and leadership. Dale will lead a monthly leadership team meeting (as he normally does) and a congregational meeting. Both Dale & Ann will be meeting one-on-one with various members and leaders, typically at coffee shops or restaurants.
  • PRAY that the Lord will provide TMC with an English ministries pastoral couple to join our current part-time bi-vocational English pastor. Click here to see recruitment email.
  • PRAY that TMC’s Chinese ministries full-time pastoral couple will continue to make good strides toward taking increasing leadership responsibilities.
  • PRAY that our one-on-one meetings will be an encouragement and blessing.
ASIA SERVEBEYOND
During the last week of February and the first week of March we look forward to connecting with ServeBeyond global workers, partners, and projects in Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand.
  • PRAY for safety, good health, and the working out of last minute travel details.
  • GIVE THANKS for what the Lord is doing through ServeBeyond ministries in Asia, all the way from church planting and evangelism to helping meet social needs.
  • PRAY that while we are in Thailand we might be able to make arrangements for our second Asia ServeBeyond retreat, probably in October.
UnfinishedTask4

(infographic from omf.org)
Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #184

Dec 2023

This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2023 newsletter—go there to see the context for the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
2023_12-08
  • While celebrating the glorious truth that the Word of God dwells with us, please PRAY that he might supply a place in Tokyo for David & Lina to dwell.
  • PRAISE THE LORD for newcomers at TMC.
  • PRAY for another worker for TMC’s English ministries.
  • ASK the Lord to raise up a TMC lead pastoral or missionary couple to take over for us. We cannot fully transition out until then.
OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #183

Nov 2023

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Nov 2023 newsletter—go there to see the context for the items below.

PRAISE THE LORD for our good ministry trip to Japan, Thailand and Singapore in Sep-Oct. PRAY for wisdom as we set up the next one for Feb.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH (TMC)
2023_10_17-2 PLhardcopy
  • GIVE THANKS that David & Lina have arrived in Tokyo and at TMC with religious activities visas. PRAY that they will adjust well to life and ministry in their new adopted country, and that their two children will learn to love living in Tokyo.
  • ASK the Lord to raise up a TMC lead pastoral or missionary couple to take over for us. We cannot fully transition out until then.
SERVEBEYOND REGIONAL COORDINATORS
  • PRAY for wisdom as we try to encourage and guide ServeBeyond global workers in Asia.
SUPPORT TEAM VISITS
  • GIVE THANKS that we have visited 6 of our 10 supporting churches in the US and have arranged 2 more visits. PRAY that we will be able to visit the remaining 2 in the next few months, and then begin visiting our 11 supporting churches in Canada.
FINANCES

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #182

Sep - Oct 2023

PRAISE GOD that Japan Immigration granted religious activities visas to David & Lina and their two children. They arrived in Tokyo via Hong Kong in late Sep to begin their full-time Chinese ministries at Tokyo Multicultural Church. PRAY that they will soon find housing; that they will adjust well to life and ministry in Tokyo; and that their two children will learn to love living in Tokyo.

We are based in Japan Sep 23 - Oct 21.
  • PRAY for us to be of encouragement to ServeBeyond global workers in Chiang Mai and partners in Singapore during our Sep 29 - Oct 6 visits.
  • PRAY for wisdom and strength as we lead in-person at TMC Oct 7-18.
  • PRAY that we will be able to provide David & Lina with helpful orientation and encouragement Oct 8, 17.
  • PRAY for good seminary teaching days for Dale Oct 14, 19, 20 at Japan Bible Seminary. These are the last of his six modular classes for this semester (Apr - Oct).
GIVE THANKS that we have been able to visit 4 of our 11 supporting churches in the US and have arranged 2 more visits. PRAY that we will be able to visit the remaining 5 over the next 3-4 months, and then begin visiting our 11 supporting churches in Canada.

As of January 2023 Dale & Ann are based at their house in Maine for 8-9 months/year and at their house in Japan for 3-4 months/year. They travel from Maine to Japan three times a year for 4-6 weeks at a time to carry out their ministries in Tokyo and Asia. The rest of the year they do so remotely.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #181

August 2023

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Aug 2023 newsletter—go there to see the context for the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH (TMC)
2023_06_04-7
  • PRAISE THE LORD for our good trip to Japan in June and PRAY that we will be of encouragement to ServeBeyond missionaries in other Asian countries during our trip in October.
  • GIVE THANKS for TMC’s Sunday school staff. PRAY that parents will see the importance of bringing their children to TMC and also teaching them Bible stories at home.
  • PRAY that TMC offerings will increase.
  • PRAY that Japan immigration will grant David & Lina’s visas.
  • THANK THE LORD for Bob & Keiko. PRAY that they will continue encouraging TMC while raising a family.
  • ASK the Lord to raise up a lead pastoral or missionary couple for TMC.

We are now based at our house in Maine USA for 8-9 months/year and at our house in Japan for 3-4 months. We travel from Maine to Japan three times a year to carry out our ministries in Tokyo and Asia. The rest of the year we do so remotely.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #180

June 2023

Since the beginning of this year we have been carrying out our ministry both remotely from Maine USA and in-person in Asia. We are taking 2-3 annual trips of 4-6 weeks each to Japan and other countries in Asia so we can be in-person at TMC, so Dale can teach modular seminary classes in Tokyo, and so we can visit ServeBeyond Asia projects and personnel. Our second such trip this year is to Japan for the entire month of June.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH (TMC)
For this month we are commuting every weekend from our vacation house in northern Japan to Tokyo in order to coach and guide TMC.
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  • PRAY for Ann & Dale as they meet one-on-one with individuals at TMC each weekend in June. Some just need a listening ear. Others value ongoing direction and encouragement in the Lord.
  • PRAY that the children’s ministry team Ann has recruited and now resources will work well together and continue finding ways to creatively teach the Bible to TMC’s small number of children.
  • PRAY for Japanese ministries part-time pastor, Moto, as he applies for doctoral studies in Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
  • PRAY for new part-time English ministries associate pastoral couple, Bob & Keiko, as they continue to come aboard TMC. GIVE THANKS that the Lord has given them a new place to stay (rent-free!) and a new job for Bob. PRAY that Bob will be able to resume his online studies at South African Theological Seminary.
  • PRAY for part-time Chinese ministries associate pastor, Kevin, as he continues his masters studies online at China Evangelical Seminary North America (Los Angeles).
  • PRAY that Japan Immigration will soon grant visas for David & Lina to come as full-time Chinese ministries pastoral couple.
  • PRAY for one key lay couple that are considering reducing their involvement at TMC and perhaps even changing churches. This is difficult for all of us at TMC. PRAY for wisdom for Dale and the Leadership Team.
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Dale teaches the first part of his modular class on Contemporary Theology this year on June 24, 26, and 27. He has been doing this for over 20 years and enjoys it. But he still sometimes finds it a challenge to teach theology in Japanese.
  • So PRAY that he will be able to communicate well.
  • And PRAY that in the next few years he might be able to publish a Japanese book on Contemporary Theology, based on his teaching, that might be of encouragement to Japanese theology students.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #179

April-May 2023

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Apr-May 2023 newsletter—go there to see further pics and info about the items below—and are mostly about TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH.
  • GIVE THANKS for our financial support team of 22 churches and 25 individuals who empower us to carry on ministry in Japan and Asia.
  • GIVE THANKS that Dale was able to baptize K at TMC in Feb!
  • GIVE THANKS that TMC members made the difficult decision to reduce the budget. PRAY that the Lord will continue to meet the financial needs of TMC’s part-time, bi-vocational pastors.
  • GIVE THANKS for Bob & Keiko. PRAY that they will be encouraged as they come aboard TMC and that they will sense God’s confirmation of his leading them to TMC.
  • PRAY that Japan Immigration will soon grant visas for David & Lina and children.
  • PRAY that God will continue raising up young women to take over Ann’s children’s ministry responsibilities.
  • PRAY that Dale might be able to find ways of encouraging pioneer church planters through his theological reflections about church planting.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #178

2023_02_26-3

February - March 2023

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
Our first of our three stints in Japan during 2023 was Feb 21 - Mar 10. We were scheduled to be there from Feb 14 but we both came down with covid about 10 days earlier so had to delay. We are grateful that with quick medical attention, quarantine, rest, and each having had 5 jabs we seemed to be mostly recovered in a few weeks.
We GIVE THANKS that...
  • One young lady from South Africa was baptized by Dale at TMC's mother church in Tokyo on Feb 26. During 2022 Ann & Dale had met with her by zoom 4-5 times for baptismal preparation. Her testimony of God’s faithfulness was not only encouraging to the approximately 15 people from TMC who were able to attend the Sunday afternoon celebration. It was also a wonderful opportunity to finally reconnect after covid restrictions with the 15-20 people from our mother church who were at the baptism. We are hopeful our two churches can join together once again starting this fall for events like annual retreats.
  • TMC members were able to make a difficult but important decision about reducing the budget until the church achieves more financial stability. Tokyo’s covid restrictions over the past few years have made it difficult for TMC to meet its budget. Dale led the Members’ Meeting on Mar 5 that came to this decision. It was also decided to combine our separate English and Japanese worship services into one joint service and to start using a new decision making structure.
  • Bob & Keiko are considering becoming TMC’s part-time, bi-vocational English ministries pastoral couple. We met with them again in Mar.
  • Ann was able to pass on several of her responsibilities to some of the young TMC women (children’s ministry, facility cleaning and decorating, weekly worship services line up).
Please PRAY that…
  • TMC attenders will continue to grow in their faith as has the young lady who was baptized in Feb.
  • TMC members will joyfully and faithfully give of their finances to meet the church budget.
  • That the Lord will guide TMC on Apr 23 as members vote about Bob & Keiko.
  • That the Lord will raise up more TMC people to carry on the weekly TMC responsibilities.
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Dale read a paper on church planting theology during a Mar 20-22 conference on church planting in England at Cranmer Hall of Durham University. PRAY that this might become part of a future publication of help to pioneer church planters and students of church planting.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #177

January 2023

At the end of December we returned to Maine USA, then left for Michigan to be with our 3 children, their spouses, and our 3 grandchildren. Never enough time with grandkids! On Jan 10 we returned to Maine.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
We have been almost as busy church planting in Tokyo from Maine as when we had our apartment in Tokyo! Between email, zoom, social media, etc., “remote work” really is work! We look forward to in-person ministry for about one month when we return to Japan on Feb 15.
  • Continue to PRAY that in our new hybrid way of leading TMC (both remotely and in-person) we will learn to encouragingly coach and guide the Leadership Team (Dale) and the Sunday School team (Ann).
  • GIVE THANKS for the restart of TMC’s twice a month Sunday School in Jan, and PRAY for Ann’s children’s ministry team.
  • PRAY that the Lord would guide Bob & Keiko (and TMC) in deciding whether to become our part-time, bi-vocational pastoral couple for English ministries.
  • PRAY that the Lord would speed David & Lina’s visa applications through the Japan Immigration process so they can become our full-time pastoral couple for Chinese ministries. They are coming through Singapore from a third country.
  • GIVE THANKS for Moto (Japanese ministries pastor), Kevin (Chinese ministries apprentice), and Jon & Laura Prins (ServeBeyond missionaries).
  • PRAY that TMC will become established with its own younger leadership, financial stability, and connection with the EFC of Japan.
DALE & ANN
  • PRAY for travel safety (and some enjoyment along the way) during our Feb-Mar trip to Japan. We will serve in Tokyo on weekends while living 4-6 hrs. north of Tokyo midweek.
  • PRAY that Dale will enjoy preparing and giving a paper on church planting theology in late March at "The Centre for Church Planting Theology and Research” in Durham UK at Cranmer Hall, Durham University.
  • PRAY that during Apr-May we will be able (finally!) to begin visiting our supporting US churches. A few visits have already been arranged.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #176

Dec 2022

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Dec 2022 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
  • GIVE THANKS for the 8 children and their parents who came to our TMC Family Christmas. PRAY that these children will join the Sunday school re-starting in Jan.
  • GIVE THANKS for the one young couple the Lord seems to be bringing aboard TMC for English ministry. PRAY for wisdom as TMC decides over the next few months whether to invite them.
  • PRAY that the young pastoral couple who resigned due to stress will find spiritual refreshment and encouragement, perhaps even back at TMC.
  • PRAY that in our new way of leading TMC we will be able to effectively encourage and coach the Leadership Team (Dale) and the children’s ministry team (Ann) as the church continues to become established.
PERSONAL
  • GIVE THANKS that we were able to retain our sanity during our move!

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #175

Nov 2022

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Nov 2022 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.

ASIA SERVEBEYOND
  • GIVE THANKS for our good first Asia ServeBeyond retreat. PRAY that the Lord will grow our ministries and send new workers/partners.
TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
  • GIVE THANKS for the younger TMC staff: Moto, Kevin, and Luke & Hannah.
  • GIVE THANKS that David & Lina are coming to TMC. PRAY for their financial needs, family transition, and religious visa applications.
  • PRAY that the Lord will supply TMC with another missionary/pastoral couple or single (man or woman) for English ministries.
  • PRAY that the Lord will raise up a TMC children’s ministry champion to replace Ann.
  • PRAY for TMC’s Family Christmas on Dec. 4, and Christmas worship and afternoon fellowship on Dec. 25.
  • PRAY that irregular TMC attenders will choose to be involved regularly once again, that newcomers will want to keep coming, and that unbelievers will meet Jesus through TMC.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #174

Oct 2022

SERVEBEYOND ASIA RETREAT
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After postponing for two years due to covid, we were able to gather Oct. 10-14 in Pattaya Thailand for networking, encouragement, and relaxation at our first-ever Asia retreat for our mission agency. The majority of the eleven missionaries and mission leaders from Canada, Japan and Thailand who were able to attend (about half our number) had rarely, if ever, met in-person. We connected with God by learning about Jesus’ post-resurrection Great Commission teachings. And we connected with one another by sharing about our lives and ministries, and by praying for each other.
  • GIVE THANKS for the good connections, discussions and fellowship at the retreat.
  • PRAY that the connections made will continue and that our Asia region will be able to develop new ministries and recruit new personnel.
  • PRAY for wisdom as we consider when and where to hold our next Asia retreat.
TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
New and younger pastoral and lay leaders are emerging at TMC. But we need more.
  • GIVE THANKS that David & Lina, missionary appointees with SIM Singapore, will be joining TMC staff as Chinese ministries pastoral couple.
  • PRAY that we will be able to secure Japanese religious activities visas for them.
  • PRAY that the Lord will supply another missionary couple or single (man or woman) to join our English ministries pastoral team.
DALE & ANN
In late Dec. we move from Tokyo to Maine USA but will still keep our legal residency status in Japan. Lord willing, beginning in 2023 we will take 2-3 annual trips of 1-2 months each to Japan and Asia so that we can be at TMC 6-8 Sundays a year, visit ServeBeyond missionaries and partners in Asia, and so that Dale can continue to teach his seminary classes in Tokyo. For the remainder of our time we will coach remotely and visit our support team churches first in the US and then in Canada. So we will continue to carry a full-time missionary budget. (More transition info here.)
  • PRAY for wisdom, strength, sanity, and peace as we leave our Tokyo apartment that we have called home for the past 10 years. Decisions about what to ship, give away, or discard have become more difficult because shipping prices are 5-7 times higher than pre-covid.
  • PRAY that as we transition out of TMC over the next couple years we will be able to encourage and coach the Leadership Team (Dale) and those serving in children’s ministry (Ann).

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #173

Aug-Sep 2022

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
  • GIVE THANKS that David & Lina, missionary appointees with SIM Singapore, will be joining TMC staff as Chinese ministries pastoral couple alongside Kevin & Grace.
  • PRAY that we will be able to secure Japanese visas for David & Lina, with SIM Singapore as sending agency and ReachGlobal/EFC Japan as receiving agency.
  • PRAY that the Lord will supply another missionary couple or single (man or woman) to pastor TMC English ministries alongside Luke & Hannah who are part-time bi-vocational.
  • PRAY for assurance of salvation for K-san and especially that he will learn to know the love of Jesus.
  • PRAY that SW will learn to show his love for Jesus by obeying him when it is easier to follow the world’s ways.
  • PRAY that the Lord will provide TMC’s newest member H-san with better employment and improved health, and GIVE THANKS that he is helping lead some worship services and a small group.
DALE & ANN
  • GIVE THANKS for our one granddaughter (born Jul) and two grandsons (one born Mar) in Michigan and Missouri, and that we have been able to visit all our children and grandchildren this summer. Lord willing, we return to Tokyo on Sep 13-14.
  • PRAY for our transition during the fall months as we move our primary residence from Tokyo to Maine at the end of the year. We will maintain a secondary residence in Japan to give us the freedom of re-entering Japan while covid border restrictions are in place, and we will continue to carry a full-time missionary budget. (More info here.)
    • PRAY that Ann will be able to raise up a children’s ministry team at TMC that she can coach in-person and remotely.
    • PRAY that Dale will be able to continue encouraging and coaching TMC leaders in-person and remotely.
    • PRAY that the Lord will bless our first ServeBeyond Asia retreat in Thailand Oct 10-14. We have delayed it for 2 years due to covid.
    • PRAY that we will be able to visit all our US supporting churches during the first half of 2023.
    • PRAY that beginning in 2023 we will be able to take 2-3 annual trips of 1-2 months each to Japan and Asia so that we can be at TMC 6-8 Sundays a year, visit ServeBeyond missionaries and partners n Asia, and for Dale to teach his modular seminary classes in Tokyo.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #172

Jul 2022

This month’s prayer items are copied from our July 2022 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.
TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

GIVE THANKS that David & Lina will be joining TMC staff as Chinese ministries pastoral couple.
GIVE THANKS that the Lord has provided the financial support for David & Lina to live and serve in Tokyo.
PRAY for David & Lina’s planning and preparation for moving to Tokyo, including transitioning out of their current church planting ministry, deciding where to live, and deciding where to send their children to school.
PRAY that the Lord will open the doors for us and SIM Singapore to obtain Japanese visas for David & Lina.
PRAY that the Lord will supply TMC with another English ministries missionary couple or single.
PRAY that the Lord will raise up a children’s ministry leader at TMC.
PRAY for assurance of salvation for K-san and especially that he will learn to know the love of Jesus.
PRAY that SW will learn to show his love for Jesus by obeying him when it is easier to follow the world’s ways.
PRAY that the Lord will provide TMC’s newest member H-san with better employment and improved health.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #171

Jun 2022

ServeBeyond logo
ServeBeyond is the new name for the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission. It remains the international mission arm of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada (efcc.ca). So we are now missionaries with ServeBeyond.

Tokyo Multicultural Church is going through leadership transition as older missionaries begin to move into the background and as we seek new leaders.
  • PRAY for TMC’s younger pastors/missionaries who are learning how to assume overall responsibility as well as take on specific ministry roles.
  • PRAY that the Lord might lead an English ministries pastor/missionary couple to TMC who can join our current part-time bivocational English ministries pastoral couple.
  • A Chinese ministries pastor/missionary couple is considering coming to TMC via Singapore. TMC’s Leadership Team and the attenders of TMC’s Chinese Fellowship have each met with them several times by zoom.
    • GIVE THANKS that this couple amazingly heard about TMC’s need for a Chinese ministries leader through another mission agency in Japan.
    • GIVE THANKS that the Lord seems to have been preparing them for Japan and a ministry like TMC for years.
    • PRAY for wisdom for both TMC and this couple as we seek the Lord’s will.
    • PRAY that if the Lord leads this couple to TMC, he will give us and their sending mission agency success in procuring their visas.
We are looking forward to visiting our children in the US again this summer. We will also be receiving some regular six-month interval medical follow-up.
  • GIVE THANKS for our second grandson born in March.
  • PRAY for our daughter as she gives birth to our first granddaughter in mid-July, for a safe delivery and healthy baby.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #170

May 2022

This month’s prayer items are pretty well copied from our May 2022 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.

GIVE THANKS that Jesus Christ is growing and building his church at TMC that we are planting and watering (Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 3:6-9).
  • Worship service attendance and offerings are increasing. PRAY this might continue.
  • Some parents with children are attending again and Ann teaches Bible to the children. PRAY that parents will be consistent.
  • Some are considering baptism as next steps in following Christ. PRAY for those struggling with obedience to Christ.
  • PRAY for our humility, gentleness, patience, and love as we maintain and model unity during leadership transitions (Eph. 4:2-3).
GIVE THANKS for Moto, pastor for Japanese language ministries; Luke & Hannah from US/Japan, pastoral couple for English ministries; and Kevin from Macau, pastoral apprentice for Chinese language ministries.
  • GIVE THANKS for the pastoral couple pursuing the possibility of leading TMC’s Chinese language ministries. ASK the Lord to give them and TMC wisdom as we seek his will. Several positive interviews have taken place. Several more need to happen before they will be presented to TMC members who will decide whether to extend them an invitation.
  • PRAY for another pastor/missionary or couple to join Luke & Hannah for English ministries.
  • PRAY that the Lord might raise up someone to champion the children’s and ladies’ ministries that Ann has been leading.
GIVE THANKS that we can visit our children again this summer, and for our second grandson and soon coming first granddaughter.

PRAY that we will be able to hold our first EFCCM Asia retreat in Thailand in October. We have delayed it for 2 years due to covid.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #169

Mar-Apr 2022

We returned to Tokyo on Feb. 22. After 3 days in a government-assigned hotel we completed the remaining 4 days of quarantine at our apartment.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
Covid has negatively impacted TMC in several ways. One is a sense of fragmentation. Another is finances. So we are thankful Japan came out of its latest quasi state of emergency on Mar. 21. Covid numbers are still higher than the government desires but the number of hospitalizations has stabilized. This has meant TMC can loosen up some mitigation practices. Masks are still worn (as throughout much of Japan) and social distancing is more-or-less maintained. But we are now able to serve beverages for those who stay around after worship services.
  • PRAY that the love of Christ and one another will become the glue that brings us back together again.
  • PRAY for the children who are especially vulnerable. Many connected with TMC have caught covid at school and passed it on to parents.
  • GIVE THANKS that some new children are coming with their parents on Sundays and that we will be able to hold a few baby dedications soon.
  • PRAY for those who are struggling with socially reconnecting in many settings, including TMC, and for those who have faced or are still facing financial difficulties because of covid.
  • PRAY that the giving at TMC will increase to the point of not needing subsidy from the TMC church planting fund held at EFC of Canada Mission.
  • PRAY that the Lord will provide a Chinese ministries pastoral couple to launch Chinese worship services and to contribute to overall church leadership.
FAMILY
Our family tribe is increasing!
  • GIVE THANKS that Bryan & Jessica welcomed their second boy (our second grandson), on Mar. 19 in Missouri. Jessica and baby are doing wonderfully, while big brother looks on. And we are enjoying plenty of pics!
  • PRAY for Matt & Kristy who are expecting their first baby (our first granddaughter) in July in Michigan.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #168

Feb 2022

We have been in the US since just after Christmas Sunday to visit family and keep some medical appointments. We had to postpone our Jan. 26-27 return to Tokyo because we couldn’t get the kind of covid tests that are required by the Japanese government for re-entry. Demand for testing here in Maine was high at the end of January so testing just for travel was almost impossible to find. But we now have the right kind of covid tests lined up and are scheduled to return to Tokyo next week on Feb. 21-22.
  • GIVE THANKS that we were able to spend about a week post-Christmas with our children and that we will be welcoming our second and third grandchildren this year!
  • PRAY for Tokyo Multicultural Church’s financial stability. With covid restrictions in 2020 and 2021 that curtailed in-person gatherings, TMC’s weekly offerings have taken a hit.
  • GIVE THANKS for TMC’s full-time Japanese pastor. PRAY that the Lord will lead us to pastoral or missionary couples for both English and Chinese TMC ministries that are currently led by part-time personnel.
  • GIVE THANKS for EFC of Canada Mission personnel in Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan that we have the privilege of coaching. PRAY for wisdom for those who for various reasons need to define and refine their overseas ministries in the midst of covid concerns and restrictions. PRAY that our EFCCM Asia retreat scheduled for Oct. 10-14 in Pattaya Thailand will be of encouragement to these missionaries and will not need to be postponed because of covid travel restrictions.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #167

Dec 2021

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Dec/2021 - Jan/2022 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS for TMC pastoral and lay leaders. PRAY for wisdom as we learn to lead by coaching.
  • GIVE THANKS for several new children at TMC. PRAY for Ann as she encourages others to teach the little ones.
  • GIVE THANKS that we are able to be with our children this Christmas season.
  • GIVE THANKS that the Lord has led the EFCCM to a new Director. PRAY for wisdom, joy, and strength for Ike.
  • PRAY that, Lord willing, we will be able to return to Tokyo in late January.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #166

Nov 2021

This month’s prayer items are copied from our Nov-Dec 2021 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS that the Japanese government has been able to end the state of emergency and lift restrictions, allowing us to resume in-person gatherings at TMC.
  • PRAY that as new variants appear we will be Covid-wise at TMC, knowing when and how to resume activities.
  • PRAY that the Lord will lead the EFCCM to just the right Director and Manager of Missionary Care.
  • GIVE THANKS that we had the opportunity to be with all of our children for a short while this summer.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #165

Sep 2021

In late October we are scheduled to return to Tokyo after a few months based in Maine USA.
TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
COVID
During 2020-2021 TMC has gathered mostly by zoom throughout four “states of emergency” in Tokyo, with the latest one lasting from April through September. GIVE THANKS that we have been able to develop a minimal on-line format for “doing TMC.” PRAY that as TMC begins to meet in-person once again starting October we will be able to facilitate the Lord’s work in new ways appropriate to our new Covid-aware reality.
FINANCES
TMC’s budget covers monthly facility rental and our Japanese pastor Moto’s salary. But weekly offerings over the past year have taken a hit because of our online-only format. So TMC has become more dependent than expected upon TMC’s church planting fund at EFCCM. PRAY that we will make good financial decisions so that TMC will be able to become self-supporting in the next year or so.
LEADERSHIP
GIVE THANKS that God has called Lucas & Hannah to help pastor the English ministries at TMC. They are bi-vocational so are doing part-time ministry. PRAY that the Lord will lead us to another part-time pastoral couple who can join them to form an English ministries pastoral team at TMC.
DISCIPLESHIP
GIVE THANKS for a young woman who is blossoming in the Lord and who we are preparing for baptism. PRAY for her continued spiritual growth and for the practical planning of her baptism later in the fall.
PLANS
We have been hoping to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders at TMC sometime in 2022, while continuing a mentoring role with them from a distance. Lord willing, we would continue serving as EFCCM Ministry Coaches in Asia and Dale would continue teaching theology part-time in Tokyo in modular format. But the date for this kind of change has become a moving target, due to the need for TMC leaders, a decrease in TMC offerings, and Covid. PRAY for wisdom to discern God’s perfect timing for our transition out of TMC. We would like to leave only after TMC has good pastoral leadership and financial stability.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #164

Jul-Aug, 2021

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our July 2021 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS that Dale is making good progress in recovering from his auto-immune disease.
  • GIVE THANKS that we have the opportunity to be with our children for a while this summer.
  • PRAISE for Lucas & Hannah coming to TMC as our English language ministries’ pastoral couple. PRAY that the Lord will provide another couple to join them.
  • PRAISE for the TMC Worship Team that has started up.
  • PRAY that we will be able to carry on with our TMC ministries from a distance this summer.
  • GIVE THANKS that TMC was able to begin in-person gatherings again on June 27 and PRAY for grace to revert to zoom if Tokyo declares another state of emergency.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #163

May 27, 2021

Tokyo Multicultural Church

PASTORAL SEARCH
We have previously asked prayer for a pastoral couple for TMC’s English ministries. And the Lord has been answering the prayers of his people!
GIVE THANKS that a qualified young professional couple living in Tokyo is interested in a part-time pastoral role at TMC. On Sunday May 30 TMC members vote on whether to call this couple. PRAY for God’s leading for both them and TMC.
A part-time pastoral couple would need to serve alongside others on a team. So GIVE THANKS that one other young couple, living outside Japan, is also considering moving back to Japan and joining a TMC English ministries pastoral team. PRAY for fruitful ongoing discussions with them, and that God will open the door for their return to Japan.

CHURCH PLANTING FUND
TMC’s budget consists primarily of rental facility costs and our Japanese pastor’s salary. Over the past few months TMC’s attendance and offerings have taken a hit due to Covid restrictions on gatherings. We have been able to meet in-person on Sundays for only 7 weeks in 2021. So worship has been via zoom for most of this year. And now the current state of emergency in Tokyo has just been extended through June 20. We have had to draw upon our EFC of Canada Mission church planting fund more than expected in order to meet our monthly budget, with the result that the fund is almost dry.
PRAY that TMC members and attenders will be generous and joyful in their giving even during this emergency state.
GIVE THANKS for TMC partners in Japan, Canada, and the US who are contributing to TMC’s church planting fund that is intended to provide a gradually reducing subsidy for TMC as it becomes established. PRAY for more donations to help TMC through this Covid challenge. (See here for how to give.)

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #161

Apr 13, 2021

Tokyo Multicultural Church
We have been seeking a younger missionary pastor for the English language ministries at our TMC church planting project. Responsibilities would include worship service planning, frequent preaching, discipleship, outreach, and overall leadership.
GIVE THANKS for several couples that have shown an interest.
PRAY for wisdom as TMC’s leadership team seeks God’s will together with them, perhaps even the possibility of bringing aboard more than one of them.
PRAY for us as we consider what an ongoing mentoring/coaching relationship with the future young leaders of TMC might look like.
TMC strives to be a Christ centered, Bible based church where we desire God to work in the lives and hearts of people.
PRAY that the Lord would strengthen the faith and encourage young-in-Christ recent Japanese believer MK. He doubts whether God loves him because of the stressors of his personal relationships, health, and Covid induced difficulties in the business he owns.
GIVE THANKS that new expatriate believer KO would like to be baptized. PRAY for us (Ann & Dale) as we walk her through the preparation and then seek a place for her baptism. PRAY that in the process she will be affirmed and strengthened in her new relationship with Jesus.
TMC’s budget consists primarily of rental facility costs and our Japanese pastor’s salary. Over the past few months TMC’s attendance and offerings have taken a hit due to Covid restrictions on gatherings. Although we are now cautiously meeting in-person, we have drawn upon our EFC of Canada Mission church planting fund more than expected in order to meet our monthly budget.
PRAY that TMC members and attenders will be generous and joyful in their giving.
PRAY that the TMC leadership team will be wise in setting financial goals that are a good balance between reality and vision.
GIVE THANKS for our TMC partners in Japan, Canada, and the US who are contributing to TMC’s church planting fund that is intended to provide a gradually reducing subsidy for TMC as it becomes established.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #160

Mar 15, 2021

Dale’s Health
On Feb 11 Dale was hospitalized in Tokyo with a high fever, severe joint pain, and bacterial pneumonia in both lungs. He did not and does not have the new coronavirus, COVID-19. He was cleared of pneumonia and discharged after ten days on Feb 21.
Test results for pain in his joints were available ten days later: “polymyalgia rheumatica” (PMR), in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues resulting in inflammatory arthritis. His treatment is a gradually decreasing dosage of oral steroids for 4-6 weeks until an ongoing, regular dosage can be determined. The doc says he should be better by early- to mid-April. In the meantime, his pain continues, though gradually reducing, and his immune system is compromised. So he has temporarily stepped back from most church planting responsibilities, delegating those to our TMC leadership team.
* GIVE THANKS that Dale’s pneumonia has cleared up.
* PRAY that Dale’s joint pain will go away and that he will gain strength for life and ministry. The only ministry he has had the strength to do in Feb and Mar has been essential emails.
* PRAY for Ann as she has been Dale’s primary care giver.

Travel Plans
Our Asia EFC of Canada Mission retreat in Pattaya, Thailand Mar 30 - Apr 3 that we were leading has been cancelled due to COVID-19. But we are still planning to take our first short home assignment this year from sometime in April to mid-June, based in Maine. We hold our travel plans lightly these days due to COVID-19 and Dale’s health, resting in the assurance that our Lord is both loving and sovereign.
* PRAY for wisdom to know when we should travel.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #152

Feb 8, 2021

GIVE THANKS that we returned to Tokyo in late December and have been able to once again dive into our church planting leadership at Tokyo Multicultural Church.

GIVE THANKS that 93% of our 2020 ministry account budget was met through our support team.

Tokyo declared an emergency state in January that has been extended through March 7. We are trying to stay at home in our apartment except for outdoor walking and biking exercise. TMC is holding online only gatherings and worship services using zoom and facebook live for the duration of this emergency state. PRAY that the Lord will use TMC’s online ministries to encourage love and trust in Jesus Christ in the midst of the pandemic, as well as obedience to his Word.
  • PRAY that the parents receiving Ann’s monthly children’s Bible story videos and crafts will use them to teach their children about Jesus.
  • PRAY that Ann’s zoom TMC ladies connection and newsletter will provide much needed Christ-centered fellowship.
  • PRAY for wisdom and joy for Dale in his preaching and overall leadership responsibilities—all being carried out virtually.
TMC is seeking a missionary/pastoral couple to lead our English ministries in partnership with our Japanese language ministries pastor. In years to come they will be overseeing TMC’s ministry of reaching people in Tokyo for Christ, both Japanese and expatriates. PRAY that such a couple will respond to the advertisements we will be sending out in February to the missionary community of Japan.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #158

Dec 29, 2020

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2020 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS for Dale’s continuing good recovery from polymyalgia rheumatica and hip replacement surgery.
  • PRAY that we will indeed be able to return to Tokyo on Dec 27, with negative COVID tests in the US and Japan. [We did indeed return—see this post.]
  • GIVE THANKS for all 6 of our children and one grandchild, and PRAY that we will continue to find ways to connect and encourage one another.
  • GIVE THANKS for those who have donated to TMC’s church planting startup fund. PRAY that TMC will be able to meet all its financial costs in the next few years and that God will raise up donors in the meantime.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #157

Nov 23, 2020

NOTE: This post resumes these monthly prayer updates after a four month hiatus due to my health (Dale). This month’s prayer items are from our Nov 2020 newsletter.
  • GIVE THANKS for our new house in Cape Elizabeth, Maine—Ann’s hometown—where we have been since our home assignment began in mid-Jul (pic below).
  • PRAY that we still might be able to virtually visit a few of our eastern US supporting churches during this home assignment. COVID-19 and Dale’s health challenges have prevented us from physically visiting them. We hope to try again in a few years.
  • PRAY that we will be able to return to Tokyo in late Dec. or early Jan. While in the US for this fall home assignment we continue to rent our apartment in Tokyo.
  • GIVE THANKS for excellent health care in Maine for Dale, and PRAY for his full recovery from polymyalgia rheumatica (by Jun 2021?) and hip replacement surgery on Nov 3. In Feb. in Tokyo Dale was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), an auto-immune disease. His chronic joint pain was not under control until the end of Aug., sometime after a specialist in Maine altered his medications. The same doctor referred him to another specialist who diagnosed advanced osteoarthritis in his right hip. So Dale had total hip replacement surgery on Nov. 3, including the removal of an unexpected golf ball sized bone spur from within the hip socket. Dale is recovering well and prognosis is good.
  • GIVE THANKS that Dale can remotely teach his Japanese seminary theology class while in the US. The semester ended late Oct and he is still grading student papers. Thankfully, Japan Bible Seminary is giving Dale extra time to complete his grading.
  • GIVE THANKS for all 6 of our children and one grandchild, and PRAY that we will always find ways to connect and encourage one another. Although we are all in the US, we have not seen any of them since last Christmas and may not see them this Christmas. But we have been enjoying weekly Friday Family Fun nights by Zoom since April.
  • PRAY that the resources Ann prepares and sends for her remote children’s ministry at TMC will be used by parents to teach their children about Jesus. Ann has been sending email links to a monthly LOOM video Bible lesson she makes for children (in Japanese and English) and sending crafts for each lesson by postal mail.
  • PRAY that Ann’s online women’s ministry at TMC will become an encouragement for all the ladies. Inspired by women’s ministry at the Mill Lake EFC in BC, Ann is beginning to use a variety of media to reach out to the thirty women connected to TMC.
  • PRAY that the Lord will meet the financial needs of TMC through the giving of believers who gather in Tokyo and through overseas donors who give toward the EFCCM Ministry Expansion Fund for TMC (#2-2302). US individual donors: go to “How to Give” here. TMC has been stretched since the onset of COVID to cover the financial costs of facility rental and TMC’s portion of our bi-vocational Japanese pastor’s salary (pic below). This fund has helped us launch and is now helping us establish TMC. The long term goal is for TMC to cover all its costs, both facility and personnel, but until then this fund is a great encouragement to TMC.
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Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #156

Jun 26, 2020

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our June 2020 newsletter—go there to see a couple pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS that we were able to get tickets to the US.
  • PRAY that we will be able to connect with our supporting churches.
  • PRAY that we will be allowed to return to Japan in November.
  • GIVE THANKS for the medical care Dale has received here in Tokyo and that he was able to arrange an appointment at a specialist in Maine. PRAY for ongoing therapy and a good relationship with doctors on both sides of the Pacific Ocean so that we can live in both parts of the world.
  • PRAISE GOD that we have returned to carefully planned worship services at our TMC rental facility. PRAY for continued wisdom as TMC navigates the covid-19 world.
  • GIVE THANKS that Ann will be able to do a bit of TMC virtual ministry with children while on home assignment and Dale will be able to continue leading the TMC church planting team.
  • PRAY that the parents of the children Ann is reaching will be motivated to use these tools to teach their children about Jesus.
  • PRAY that TMC members, attenders, and partners will be able to cover facility rental costs and TMC’s Japanese pastor’s stipend.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #155

May 25, 2020

Church Planting at TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
On May 25 “stay at home” and other COVID-19 disaster restrictions were lifted throughout Japan. TMC is planning to resume physical gatherings in some format starting Sunday June 14, while maintaining virtual meeting options.
  • WE THANK THE LORD
    • For TMC staff who have been able to cover for Dale during his illness over the past four months and that he is able to gradually resume more TMC leadership responsibilities.
    • That worship services, small groups, and prayer meetings have continued relatively smoothly in virtual format during COVID-19.
    • That the number of people attending English worship services on Sundays has remained steady and the Japanese worship services have seen an increase.
    • That Ann has been able to encourage her outreach English class ladies and the mothers of her children’s program by sending them masks, crafts for the children, etc.
    • For the launching of TMC’s monthly “Young Adult Fellowship” in the English Department on May 23.
  • PRAY
    • That TMC will faithfully bring the truth, grace, hope, and encouragement of Jesus Christ to TMC believers and that others in our corner of Tokyo will turn to Jesus. Fear abounds in the “new normal” of our COVID-19 world. People are worried about getting the coronavirus. They are stressed from trying to care for their children at home while schools are closed. They struggle with trying to work from small homes and apartments. They are concerned about financial survival.
    • That new believer Mr. MK will remain faithful to Christ in the midst of personal stressors and uncertainty about the viability of his business.
    • That members, attenders, and partners will be able to cover TMC’s facility rental costs and our bi-vocational Japanese pastor’s stipend. TMC’s offerings have taken a hit during COVID-19 despite on-line giving options from Japan, Canada, and the US. We have had to access the EFCCM church planting fund for TMC more than anticipated.
    • For wisdom for Ann as she considers whether to restart her ladies’ and children’s ministries before we take our summer and fall home assignment in the US.
HOME ASSIGNMENT
We were scheduled for two 2-month home assignments this year to visit our eastern US supporting churches, one in the spring and one in the fall. Dale’s illness and COVID-19 changed those plans. Lord willing, we hope to take a 4-5 month home assignment starting mid-July.
  • WE THANK THE LORD…
    • That despite Dale’s compromised immunity he has not caught the coronavirus or even any colds in the past few months. His immune system is returning to normal and his chronic pain level is significantly reduced.
    • That the doctor has cleared Dale for flying starting July.
    • For his provision for housing and vehicle in the US (Maine).
  • PRAY
    • That we will find affordable flights to the US at the time we need them.
    • For wisdom to know whether and how to visit our US supporting churches.
    • That we will find ways of continuing to lead TMC in Tokyo even during our home assignment.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #154

Apr 11, 2020

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our April 2020 newsletter—go there to see pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS for the excellent medical care Dale is receiving.
  • PRAY that his joint and surrounding muscle pain will subside completely and that infection will not set in due to his weakened immune system.
  • GIVE THANKS that the staff at TMC have been able to cover for Dale.
  • GIVE THANKS that Ann has been able to encourage the ladies and children in her outreach ministries.
  • PRAY that the Lord will use TMC to bring his blessing, encouragement, and peace to members and attenders in our new COVID-19 world.
  • PRAY for wisdom to know when and how to resume our full load of ministries: leading our church planting project at TMC, facilitating the Asia work of the EFC of Canada Mission, and visiting our US supporting churches on home assignment.
  • PRAY for our 6 adult children (and 1 grandbaby) in the US, some of whom are struggling with isolation, temporary job loss, and anxiety. Even though we video chat with them almost weekly, we do wish we could be geographically closer to them to provide some practical support.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #153

Mar 14, 2020

Dale’s Health
On Feb 11 Dale was hospitalized in Tokyo with a high fever, severe joint pain, and bacterial pneumonia in both lungs. He did not and does not have the new coronavirus, COVID-19. He was cleared of pneumonia and discharged after ten days on Feb 21.
Test results for pain in his joints were available ten days later: “polymyalgia rheumatica” (PMR), in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues resulting in inflammatory arthritis. His treatment is a gradually decreasing dosage of oral steroids for 4-6 weeks until an ongoing, regular dosage can be determined. The doc says he should be better by early- to mid-April. In the meantime, his pain continues, though gradually reducing, and his immune system is compromised. So he has temporarily stepped back from most church planting responsibilities, delegating those to our TMC leadership team.
* GIVE THANKS that Dale’s pneumonia has cleared up.
* PRAY that Dale’s joint pain will go away and that he will gain strength for life and ministry. The only ministry he has had the strength to do in Feb and Mar has been essential emails.
* PRAY for Ann as she has been Dale’s primary care giver.

Travel Plans
Our Asia EFC of Canada Mission retreat in Pattaya, Thailand Mar 30 - Apr 3 that we were leading has been cancelled due to COVID-19. But we are still planning to take our first short home assignment this year from sometime in April to mid-June, based in Maine. We hold our travel plans lightly these days due to COVID-19 and Dale’s health, resting in the assurance that our Lord is both loving and sovereign.
* PRAY for wisdom to know when we should travel.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #152

Dec 19, 2019

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2019 newsletter—go there to see pics and further info about the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* GIVE THANKS for the opportunity to share Jesus with children and their parents at Wakuwaku Christmas Family Time.
* PRAY that children will continue to attend our monthly Wakuwaku Family Time.
* PRAY that the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to transform lives at TMC.
* PRAY that the balance in our TMC Church Planting Startup Fund will increase.
* GIVE THANKS that we can enjoy Christmas in Maine with our children.
* PRAY that the first ever EFCCM Asia retreat will be a time of refreshment and encouragement for our missionaries spread throughout Asia.
* GIVE THANKS for our 23 supporting churches (plus individuals).
* PRAY that our 2020 home assignment ministry will be a blessing.

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Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #149

Nov 23, 2019

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our November 2019 newsletter. Please go there to see pics and further info about the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* PRAISE GOD for the launch of our Japanese language worship service!
* PRAY for continuing ministry strength and joy for Pastor Moto.
* PRAY that Sunday offerings at TMC will cover all of Pastor Moto’s expenses in the next few years and that we might see an increase in our TMC Startup Fund.
(EFCCM MINISTRY EXPANSION FUND 2-2302: TMC Church Planting Startup and Leadership Development Fund. Click here for details about how to give.)
* PRAISE GOD for decisions for Jesus by LQ (baptism) and MK (salvation)!
* PRAISE for the launch of Waku Waku Family Time!
* PRAY for the planning and preparation that needs to be done over the next several weeks and that in addition to having a “waku waku” time, families will be impacted with the wonderful message of Jesus.

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Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #148

Oct 15, 2019

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* PRAISE GOD for the launch of our Japanese language worship service on Oct 13. On the first Sundays of the month we now have a joint English-Japanese service (followed by potluck) but on all other Sundays we have our Japanese service at 9:30am and English at 11:00am.
* PRAISE GOD for our first Sunday afternoon Wakuwaku Family Time on the same day. This is a monthly outreach event for children and parents that Ann leads.
* GIVE THANKS that we were able to hold both these new TMC events on Oct 13, just after Typhoon #19 (Hagibis). The number of people in attendance was lower than usual, but we and our church people are all safe with very few problems other than power outages.

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JAPAN
Typhoon #19 (Hagibis) with its record breaking rainfall hammered Japan on Oct 12-13. 36 out of Japan’s total of 47 prefectures were hit. Millions were told to evacuate. Even so, there were about 60 fatalities (with about a dozen still missing). 200 rivers flooded and several river levees ruptured in valleys surrounded by higher mountains, inundating residential areas. There have been 140 landslides.
Some of this destruction occurred on the western and further eastern sides of Tokyo, but most was north and northwest of Tokyo. We are located in the central area of Tokyo, where the damage seemed less even though this was the biggest typhoon to ever hit Tokyo.
* CONFESS that God is the mighty Sovereign who holds everything in his hands even though we don’t know why natural disasters bring destruction and death to certain places and countries more than others.
* BELIEVE that God is loving and able to save everyone who calls on his name.
* ASK God to protect us from loving the wrong stuff and to teach us the priority of that which is eternally important.
* GIVE THANKS that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psm. 46:1…and the rest of the psalm too).
* PRAY for comfort for the grieving, hope for the survivors, wisdom for community leaders, resources for rebuilding, and that God will make his people in Japan a blessing to the nation.

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Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #147

Aug 31, 2019

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our August 2019 newsletter. Please go there to see pics and further info about the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* PRAISE GOD for our five short term teachers and the nineteen students who came to our summer outreach
English program.
* PRAY for our follow up of those students.
* PRAY for plans, preparation, and volunteers for the monthly family/children’s outreach program beginning
in October.
* PRAY for the continued adjustment of our Japanese Department pastor, Motomichi Harada.
* PRAY for the start of Japanese language worship services in October.
* PRAY that the Lord will raise up future leaders for our Chinese and English Departments.

EFCCM ASIA
* PRAY that Dale will be able to communicate, care, network, equip and recruit personnel in his role as EFCCM Regional Ministries Facilitator.
* PRAY for wisdom as both of us connect with Asia EFCCM personnel and try to encourage them when
we drop into their lives once or twice a year.

FAMILY
* PRAY for our adult children as they adjust to the new adventures of their lives.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #146

Jul 15, 2019

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH: Summer Outreach English Classes, July 22-26 (M-F)

* GIVE THANKS for our five teachers coming to TMC from EFCA churches in Washington, Minnesota, and Maine.
* Three children’s classes will be held in the morning and three adult classes in the evening. GIVE THANKS that enough students have registered online for us to hold six classes: 9 children and 7 adults so far. All nine of the children are new to us. PRAY that some more students might even register in the next few days.
* Ann is preparing a Bible story for the children’s classes each morning. Pastor Moto is preparing a Bible talk for adults each evening and one Japanese man from TMC will be sharing his testimony. This Bible content is in Japanese. PRAY that each student will come with hearts open to learn about Jesus.
* PRAY that a number of the Japanese students from our summer English classes and Ann’s ongoing classes throughout the year will connect with TMC in the fall months. In October we launch two more Japanese language events: weekly Sunday morning worship services and monthly Sunday afternoon family outreach events.

ASIA “REGIONAL MINISTRIES FACILITATOR” (new title for “Area Director”), EFC of CANADA MISSION

* GIVE THANKS that in our new regional leadership role we were able to visit all Asia EFCCM personnel in the first half of this year. Traveling to destinations in Asia is relatively simple for us because Tokyo is one of the gateways to Asia.
* PRAY for creativity and perseverance for EFCCM personnel in Asia as they develop and implement ministry platforms for proclaiming and living out the gospel of Jesus Christ.
* PRAY for Dale’s preparation for and leadership of the first EFCCM Asia vision trip October 18-30. Chiang Mai, Manila, Taipei, and Tokyo are on the itinerary. The idea is that these people might become champions for making Christ known in Asia. PRAY that the Lord will provide just the right people for this pilot project. People from churches in both the USA and Canada are welcome to join Dale on this vision trip! Click here for more information.

These monthly prayer requests are found at: http://www.tokyolittles.net/updates/prayer/
EFCCM Asia updates and prayer requests, including a subscription option, can be found here: http://efccm.asia/communication/forefcc/

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #145

May 27, 2019

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our May 2019 newsletter. Please go there to see pics and further info about the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAY that our TMC family events and Sunday school will reach many children with the wonderful story of Jesus.
* PRAY for our TMC summer outreach English classes:
- Adequate financial and prayer support for teachers.
- A good number of students, both children and adults.
- Planning and preparatory work, including finding the best way to advertise.
- That each student will have an opportunity to learn about Jesus.
* GIVE THANKS for Moto Harada joining our TMC staff. PRAY for a smooth transition as he moves toward leadership of TMC’s Japanese Department. Duane Dietze will be on home assignment for the last half of 2019 so Moto will be taking on plenty of responsibility early on.

EFCCM ASIA DIRECTOR


* PRAY that our Asia Director travels to visit missionary colleagues in Asia will be a blessing and an encouragement.
* PRAY for Dale’s preparation and leadership of the first EFCCM Asia vision trip in October and that those who join him might consider becoming champions for making Christ known in Asia.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION


* PRAY for Dale’s preparation for teaching another semester of Contemporary Theology in Japanese at Japan Bible Seminary beginning June (not mentioned above). He has enjoyed this little exercise in theology since 2001.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #144

Apr 9, 2019

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

* GIVE THANKS for TMC’s new Japanese pastoral couple, Motomichi & Naoko Harada, who will join us starting Easter Sunday April 21.
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For a number of years we have been requesting prayer that the Lord provide a future leadership team for TMC, including someone who could focus on our Japanese Department. We rejoice that on Mar 31 our TMC members voted to invite Moto to be just that man. On Apr 4 he accepted the invitation. Moto is a Japanese returnee—someone who has returned from significant time outside Japan—who already has a ministry of leading Bible studies in Tokyo with returnees. After Moto goes through his learning curve at TMC he will help us launch our Japanese language worship service. We look forward to working with him over the next several years.
* PRAY that TMC members and attenders will increase their patterns of giving so that we can subsidize Moto. He will be joining us as a bi-vocational pastor with the hope of TMC eventually covering his living expenses.
* PRAY for TMC’s Easter events that provide us with an opportunity to once again share about the love and salvation of Jesus Christ: Apr 14 afternoon family outreach; Apr 21 Easter morning worship service followed by afternoon outdoor singing and tract distribution.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #143

Feb 25, 2019

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* We are THANKFUL for our Christmas/New Year 2018 family vacation in Maine USA with our six children (3+3) who were all able to join us for some of that time.
* PRAISE GOD! You have prayed for TMC and God is answering. Jesus is building his church at TMC!
* PRAY for TMC as we come to a decision about a Japanese pastoral candidate joining our staff team.
Continue to PRAY that TMC will be able to launch a Japanese worship service in 2019.
* PRAY that the five US volunteers coming to teach outreach English classes at TMC in July will be able to raise funds and begin other preparation. PRAY that we will be able to pull together the logistical details.
* PRAY that God will give us many students!

EFCCM - ASIA


* PRAY for wisdom for Dale in his new role as Asia Director of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission (http://efccm.asia).

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #141
(NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our February 2019 newsletter.)

Dec 28, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the not-yet-Christians who heard the gospel at TMC’s Christmas events. And PRAY for their salvation.
* PRAY that Ann will have opportunities to share Jesus with the ladies she teaches.
* PRAY for more children for TMC Sunday School.
* PRAY that we will be able to launch a Japanese worship service at TMC in 2019.
* PRAY for short term teachers for TMC’s outreach English classes in July.
* PRAY for future leaders who will continue to establish TMC. We look forward to working with these future leaders.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #139
(NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2018 newsletter.)

Nov 20, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH



* PRAY for all the preparation for TMC’s outreach events in Nov and Dec: Nov 25 American Thanksgiving meal, Dec 16 Family Christmas, Dec 23 Christmas worship and caroling, and Dec 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight service. PRAY that TMC people will joyfully get involved in each event. PRAY that we will be able to reach out to many not-yet-Christians.

* PRAY for comfort and strength for O-san’s wife and two adult daughters, who are followers of Jesus. He passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack in Sep at the age of 59. He was probably the most central member of our Japanese Department and has left a big hole in his family and at TMC.

* PRAY for wisdom as we develop an organizational foundation for TMC.

* PRAY for future leaders who will continue to establish TMC and work toward launching a second TMC. We look forward to working with these future leaders.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #138
(NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our November 2018 newsletter.)

Oct 8, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH



* GIVE THANKS
for TMC’s first ever retreat over a long weekend in Sep. Worship services on that Sunday were held both at TMC and at the retreat. Given that 18 adults and 2 children attended we are planning to do it again next year!

* PRAY for comfort and strength for O-san’s wife and two adult daughters, who are followers of Jesus. O-san passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 59. He was probably the most central member of our Japanese Department. He has left a big hole not only in his family but also at TMC. We are thankful for the many happy memories of him at our retreat the week before he died (note his smile in the pic). We will hold a memorial fellowship with his wife and daughters at TMC on Oct 21.

* PRAY for wisdom as we develop an organizational foundation for TMC in the next few months: write up TMC documents, define leadership roles, etc. TMC is high on relationship but has been low on organization. We want to continue the relational emphasis while at the same time providing a church structure that will position TMC for its future enlargement phase.

* PRAY that participants in TMC’s four small groups that meet twice a month will grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and each other. Discussion questions are based on the most recent Sunday sermon.

* PRAY for future leaders who will continue to establish TMC and work toward launching TMC #2. We look forward to working with these future leaders.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #137

Sep 8, 2018

RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS IN JAPAN


After August’s record-breaking heat two major natural disasters battered Japan in early September. The strongest typhoon in 25 years made landfall in Western Japan, with its wind and floods wreaking havoc in the cities of Kobe and Osaka. Then a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido that rarely has earthquakes. This quake actually registered at the top of the Japanese earthquake scale.

* PRAY for protection for believers so that they can show the love of Christ in practical ways to neighbors and friends. Nobody wants to suffer through these kinds of disasters. But when they occur, all within God’s sovereignty even in natural disaster prone Japan, we want to remain faithful. We are thankful to have been able to use our Disaster Preparedness Expansion Fund to stock disaster supplies at two places including TMC.

SUMMER TRAVEL


* GIVE THANKS that we were able to participate in the once every other year EFC of Canada Conference in early August in Lethbridge Alberta. We re-connected with EFCC/M leaders as well as supporting church pastors and leaders. We then enjoyed over one week in Maine with Ann’s mother and several of our children.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS that several people in two of our supporting churches have expressed an interest in teaching in TMC’s outreach English program next July. Both children and adults attend the conversational English classes.

* PRAY that participants in TMC’s newly started four small groups that meet twice a month will grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and each other. Discussion questions are based on the most recent Sunday sermon.

* PRAY for future leaders who will continue to establish TMC and work toward launching TMC #2. Most of TMC’s current missionary staff will likely retire by 2022.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #136

Jul 17, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2018_07
* GIVE THANKS
for the team of five from Macau who came to TMC in early July and energetically distributed advertisements for the 10-day August Hong Kong Bible Conference that is live-streamed to many churches around the world, this year also to TMC. This effort is led by TMC’s Chinese Department.

* PRAY for the half dozen Japanese seekers at TMC who attend Sunday worship services regularly but have not yet decided to follow Christ. There are many cultural barriers to making a commitment to Christ in Japan.

* PRAY that participants in TMC’s small groups to be launched in Sep will grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and each other. These groups will discuss questions based on the most recent Sunday sermon.

* PRAY for short term teachers for TMC's July 2019 English program. (We had to cancel the program this summer because of lack of teachers.) We would like a minimum of two teachers each summer for these children and adult conversational English classes.

* PRAY for future leaders for TMC who will continue to establish TMC and work toward launching TMC #2. Most of TMC’s current missionary staff will likely retire by 2022.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #135

Jun 25, 2018

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AT TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for donors who have contributed about US$3500 over the past several years to our Disaster Preparedness project in our Ministry Expansion Fund. That financial project is now complete. So we have purchased helmets, emergency food and water supplies, blankets, lights, toilet alternatives and supplies, two generators, and one storage shed. Some of these supplies require ongoing purchases (water, food, batteries, etc.). The items are stored in three accessible locations, including TMC.

Tokyo, the world’s largest megacity, is prone to disasters such as earthquakes and flooding. In addition, an eruption of Mt. Fuji, an active volcano 100 kilometers west of Tokyo, would seriously affect the residents of Tokyo. It is predicted that there is a 70% possibility of an earthquake directly hitting Tokyo within the next 30 years.

So the Tokyo metropolitan government requires companies and organizations to be prepared for earthquakes, tsunami, and volcanic eruptions by having five days of emergency supplies ready. Our large apartment complex’s Disaster Preparedness Board, of which Dale is a member, has implemented its own plan. We have too.

Tokyo Disaster Prevention Website (English): http://www.bousai.metro.tokyo.jp/foreign/english/index.html
2018_06 Bousai Book
Japanese people are the second largest unreached people group in the world, with the Christian population of Japan being less than one percent. So of the approximately 40 million people in greater Tokyo, over 39 million do not know Jesus Christ and most have never met a follower of Christ. Natural disasters have provided opportunities for sharing the love of Christ in practical and effective ways in Japan.

* PRAY that we will be able to clothe our church planting ministry with practical Christ-centered compassion when natural disasters strike.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #134

May 30, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2018_02_11-3
* GIVE THANKS for God’s faithfulness to TMC over the last five years and for our ministry support team. TMC quietly turned 5 years old on April 8, the Sunday after Easter. In 2013 we began with 8 people in attendance at Sunday worship services and now see 25-35.
* PRAY that TMC will be able to launch small groups and a Japanese worship service in 2018.
* PRAY for growth for our Japanese language ministry: children’s Sunday school and adult Bible study.
* PRAY for a missionary pastor for TMC who will carry the TMC vision beyond 2020, including envisioning and launching TMC#2. We look forward to serving alongside this leadership team in the years to come!

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #133
(NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our May 2018 newsletter.)

Apr 20, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2018_04_08-6 (2)
* GIVE THANKS for the 50 people who joined TMC for worship on Easter Sunday! We launched TMC five years ago on the Sunday after Easter with an attendance of 8.

* PRAY
that we will be able to start small groups so that TMC people will go deeper in the word of God and in their relationships with one another.

* PRAY that Ann’s weekly TMC Sunday school class for young children will encourage parents to raise their children to love and obey Christ. And PRAY that moms and tots from Ann’s outreach English classes will want to begin attending the Sunday school class.

* PRAY that the Lord will supply 3-5 teachers for TMC’s outreach English conversation classes, July 20-31 (class days: Jul 23-27). This summer ministry connects TMC with new contacts for ongoing outreach to Japanese people during the rest of the year. Students range in age from three years old (the beginning of pre-school and kindergarten in Japan) through adults. We expect about twenty students for the five days of teaching.

* PRAY that the Lord will raise up missionary/pastoral leaders for TMC who will carry the vision beyond 2020, including launching TMC#2. We look forward to serving with this leadership team in the years to come! (Current missionary leaders are from Canada, USA, and Macau.)

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #132

Mar 30, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAY
that the Lord will supply 3-5 teachers for TMC’s outreach English conversation classes, July 20-31 (class days: Jul 23-27). This summer ministry connects TMC with new contacts for ongoing outreach to Japanese people during the rest of the year. Students range in age from three years old (the beginning of pre-school and kindergarten in Japan) through adults. We expect about twenty students for the five days of teaching.

* PRAY that the Lord will raise up missionary/pastoral leaders for TMC who will carry the vision beyond 2020, including launching TMC#2. We look forward to serving with this leadership team in the years to come! (Current missionary leaders are from Canada, USA, and Macau.)

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #131

Feb 28, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2017_07_28-2
* PRAY
that the Lord will supply 3-5 teachers for TMC’s outreach English conversation classes, July 20-31 (class days: Jul 23-27). This summer ministry connects TMC with new contacts for ongoing outreach to Japanese people during the rest of the year. Students range in age from three years old (the beginning of pre-school and kindergarten in Japan) through adults. We expect about twenty students for the five days of teaching. Interested? Contact Dale here. (Pic above from our Jul 2017 classes.)

* PRAY that the Lord will raise up missionary/pastoral leaders for TMC who will carry the vision beyond 2020, including launching TMC#2. Partnering options are being discussed with a large mission agency in Japan. We look forward to serving with this leadership team in the years to come! (Current leaders are from Canada, USA, and Macau.)

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #130

Jan 29, 2018

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the 15 TMC members and attenders who came to our first TMC membership meeting on January 21. We glanced back over the past several years, looked forward to our 2018 lineup of events, and opened the floor for discussion of several issues.
* PRAY that members will take increasing responsibility in decision making as TMC defines and refines its leadership structure.
* GIVE THANKS that by the end of 2017 TMC attenders were covering almost all of TMC’s monthly rental costs! The shortfall has been handled by our EFCCM Ministry Enhancement Fund. If we don’t need that fund for TMC in 2018 we hope to use it for beginning TMC#2’s launch fund.
* PRAY that the Lord will raise up missionary/pastoral leaders who will carry the TMC vision beyond 2020, including envisioning and launching TMC#2. We look forward to leading such a team in the years to come! This is TMC’s most important and urgent prayer request for 2018.

2018_01_21-4 TMC Data

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #129

Dec 23, 2017

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2017_12_17kids-13
* GIVE THANKS for the parents and their children who joined us for TMC Kids Christmas.
* PRAY that those who don’t attend TMC on Sundays will continue coming to TMC outreach events.
* PRAISE God for the approximately thirty people who call TMC their church.
* PRAY that each will find ways of serving and growing.
* PRAY that the few “yet to believe” TMC attenders will confess Jesus as Lord in the new year.
* PRAY: TMC’s most urgent need is for future missionary/pastoral leaders who will carry the TMC vision beyond 2020, including envisioning and launching TMC#2. We look forward to leading this leadership team in the years to come!

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #128
(NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2017 newsletter.)

Nov 25, 2017

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION


* GIVE THANKS for the opportunities Dale has for continuing to teach theology part time. This month Dale completed his 15th year of teaching Contemporary Theology in Japanese at Japan Bible Seminary (Tokyo).

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAISE GOD for opportunities to share about Christ at our ongoing English conversation classes at TMC.
* PRAY that the English students now attending TMC, along with a few other unbelievers, might come to faith in Christ.
* GIVE THANKS that TMC programs and personal relationships seem to be drawing more people. TMC encompasses both Japanese people and those who hold other passports. Of the thirty adults now attending TMC about a third are Japanese.
* PRAY that all who attend TMC will grow in their knowledge of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
* PRAY that the Lord will supply future leaders for TMC. TMC’s most urgent need is for future missionary/pastoral leaders who will carry the TMC vision beyond 2020. This entails launching TMC#2.

2017_09_10-6 – v2

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #127
(NOTE: This month’s prayer items are mostly copied from our Nov 2017 newsletter.)

Oct 30, 2017

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2017_10_08-2
* GIVE THANKS that we are now able to offer Japanese interpretation of English sermons at TMC on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Duane, our ReachGlobal church planting colleague, is an excellent interpreter! This brings us a step closer to launching TMC’s Japanese language worship service.

This fall we have also launched a twice a month children’s Sunday school in Japanese (Ann), a once a month Chinese group in Mandarin (Kevin, EFC Macau Mission), and a once a month high school gathering in Japanese (Kevin). Duane continues with his weekly Japanese Bible study on Sunday mornings.

* PRAY for our Sun Nov 26 Thanksgiving outreach in Japanese. We are encouraging TMCers to invite their Japanese friends and family to this 5pm turkey meal followed by biblical teaching on giving thanks. In general, Japanese people know very little about either turkey or God’s grace in Jesus Christ that generates joy and thanks.

2017_10-1group – 2Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #126

Sep 29, 2017

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS that two adult students from this past summer’s outreach English classes are now attending TMC on Sundays. PRAY that they, along with a few other unbelievers at TMC, might come to faith in Christ.
2017_09_10-4-2
* GIVE THANKS that TMC has launched a twice a month children’s Sunday school in Japanese (Ann) and a once a month Chinese group in Mandarin (Kevin, EFC Macau Mission), and that our weekly Japanese Bible study is growing (Duane, ReachGlobal). These new events seem to be drawing more people, with worship service attendance regularly over 30 and once over 40.
* PRAY for wisdom as we structure our Sunday gatherings at TMC. Sunday is the only day that most people in Tokyo have available for discretionary activities. In addition to children’s Sunday school, adult Bible study, English worship service, and the Chinese group, we desire to start a teen group in Japanese and a Japanese worship service.
* PRAY that the Lord will supply future young leaders for TMC who will be able to guide the church in celebrating the God-given cultural diversity of Tokyo!

EFC CANADA MISSION, Japan Retreat


* GIVE THANKS for the encouraging first ever retreat for Japan personnel of our mission agency, Sep. 19–23. We hosted the 13 people at our vacation house in northeastern Japan. It was a much appreciated time of refreshment and connection, providing a glimpse of the EFCCM’s desire to care for its personnel. We were especially grateful that our TMC colleagues from ReachGlobal and the EFC Macau Mission could join us.

2017_09 EFCCMJ retreat 1Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #125

Aug 24, 2017

INTRODUCING…MATTHEW & VICTORIA LITTLE


2017_08_04-4 MnV – 2
* GIVE THANKS that the Lord brought Matthew & Victoria together in marriage on Aug 4, 2017. Dale officiated at their wedding near Burlington, Vermont USA.
* PRAY that they will continue to honor God in seeking his will for their lives. Now that they have completed their honeymoon in Malta, they are setting up their first home in Manchester, New Hampshire, where Victoria works in retail clothing management and Matthew continues launching his entrepreneurial business endeavors.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the opportunity to once again share the gospel at our one week summer English conversation classes. The seven children with their moms and the six students in the adult classes all heard about Jesus Christ in Japanese each day.
* PRAY that the moms will want to send their children to Ann’s weekly moms and tots class in the fall where they will continue to learn English as well as Bible stories.
* PRAY that the two adult students who have been attending TMC on Sundays since the summer classes ended will continue to join us on Sundays and that they might come to faith in Christ.
* PRAY for wisdom and strength for Ann as she prepares to launch TMC’s bi-weekly Japanese Sunday school for young children in September.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION


* GIVE THANKS for the opportunity Dale had last fall to teach Church Planting Theology at ACTS Seminaries (BC Canada), live-streamed from Tokyo.
* PRAY that Dale’s Contemporary Theology class this semester (Apr–Oct) at Japan Bible Seminary will help his students critically read Christian theology so that they might be better prepared to keep their theological balance after entering the pastorate. This is Dale’s 15th year of teaching this course in Japanese.

(Discover more about each of these prayer items in our News updates.)
Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #124

Jul 20, 2017

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* PRAISE GOD for the opportunities we had to share in 15 of our supporting churches on home assignment during the first half of 2017. Give thanks for their faithful prayer and financial support.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAY for new opportunities to share the gospel during TMC’s intensive summer English classes, July 24-29.
* GIVE THANKS
that the Forster family from Hillside EFC in Greenbank WA, one of our supporting churches, will be helping us teach the classes.
* PRAY
for Ann’s preparation for starting our TMC Sunday School this fall. Pray that the children will give their hearts to Jesus Christ early in their lives.
* PRAY
for wisdom as we consider how and when to expand our TMC Sunday events to include Japanese and Chinese language gatherings. Currently, we have a Japanese Bible study and an English worship service on Sundays. We’d like to add time slots for a Japanese Sunday School, a Japanese worship service, and a Chinese gathering.
* PRAY
that the Lord will raise up leaders to serve in TMC’s multi-language environment.

2017_07_09-2

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #123

Jun 10, 2017

HOME ASSIGNMENT


2017_05 Jasper
* PRAISE GOD for the good connections we have made with 15 of the 25 churches on our support team during our home assignment in the first half of 2017. Thank God with us for their faithful prayers and financial support. We return to Tokyo on Jun 20–21.
* GIVE THANKS for safety while driving over 20,000 mi / 32,000 km and for some opportunities to relax along the way.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAY for TMC’s summer English outreach program, July 24–29: distribution of advertisements, a good response to the advertisements, full classes, and preparation for the short term teachers who are coming. The Foster family from Hillside EFC in Greenbank WA, one of our supporting churches, will be joining us.
* PRAY for our plans to start a Sunday School at TMC: timing, curriculum, students, teachers, and helpers. Pray that the children will give their hearts to Jesus Christ early in their lives.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #122

May 13, 2017

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* GIVE THANKS that during our six-month home assignment in the first half of 2017 we have been able to solidify our connections with many of our partnering churches.
* PRAY for safety as we continue to drive and fly many miles in Canada and the US before returning to Tokyo in mid-June.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* GIVE THANKS that Jesus Christ is building his church that we are planting at TMC!
* PRAY for strength and encouragement for Jon Prins (EFCCM) as he leads TMC during our home assignment.
* PRAY for more opportunities to teach about Jesus Christ in our outreach English classes, especially during our one week intensive English classes July 24–29.
* PRAY for church planting leaders for each of our future language-specific departments, especially Chinese Mandarin.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #121

Mar 19, 2017

FAMILY


For Dad L's funeral
* GIVE THANKS for the godly life and legacy of Dale’s father, Rev. Lea Little, who went to be with his Lord at 92 years of age on February 6 while Dale was reading Scripture to him. We miss him dearly but are so glad he is now with Dale’s mother, Louise, who passed away in 2012 at 94 years of age.

Arvid Olson notes in his book "The Historical Development of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Missions" that Dad was the "Father of Canadian Free Church Missions'' (p. 57).

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the spiritual and numerical growth we are seeing in our church planting project at Tokyo Multicultural Church. Jesus Christ is building his church that we are planting at TMC!
* PRAY for strength and encouragement for Jon Prins (EFCCM) as he leads TMC during the remaining months of our home assignment.
* PRAY for wisdom and peace for Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) as he has had to return to the US for three months to find solutions for his mother’s aging needs.
* GIVE THANKS that Kevin and Grace from the EFC of Macau have joined our TMC missionary leadership team.
* PRAY for more opportunities to interact about the biblical truths of Jesus Christ with the parents of the children in TMC’s outreach English classes.

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* PRAY that in the remaining three months of our six-month home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
* PRAY for safety as we drive and fly many miles, visiting supporting churches.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #119

Jan 31, 2017

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the spiritual and numerical growth we are seeing in our church planting project at Tokyo Multicultural Church! Jesus Christ is building his church that we are planting at TMC!
* PRAY for wisdom, strength, and encouragement for Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) and Jon Prins (EFCCM) as they lead TMC during our home assignment.
* PRAY for more opportunities to interact about the biblical truths of Jesus Christ with the parents of the children in TMC’s outreach English classes.

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* PRAY that on our six-month home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
* PRAY for temporary housing for us in greater Vancouver BC area Feb 6 - Apr 20.
* PRAY for safety as we drive and fly many miles.

FAMILY


* GIVE THANKS that God has led each of our children to life partners of his choosing.
* PRAY that each will continue to honor the Lord in seeking his will for their lives.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #118
(NOTE: Jan 2017 prayer items are copied from our Dec 2016 prayer letter.)

Nov 26, 2016

ESTABLISHING TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2016_11_03-1
God is blessing TMC! Thank you for praying. Believers are being encouraged to love and obey Christ. People not yet a part of the family of God are learning about the love of Jesus.

Other evidence of God’s blessings include…
  • A few new mothers with their young children are coming to our Moms and Tots outreach English classes.
  • Worship service attendance topped 30 on a recent Sunday. Our usual fall number has been about 20-25.
  • Our first (US) Thanksgiving gathering in Japanese was enjoyed by 28 people on Nov 23.
  • Christmas plans include an outreach children’s party on Dec 11, outreach candlelight service in Japanese on Dec 23, and Christmas Sunday worship service on the 25th.
  • The number of Chinese (Mandarin) speakers at TMC is increasing.
  • We are expecting a young couple from the EFC of Macao to join our missionary staff in the new year.
  • We will be inviting short term workers to teach one week of outreach English conversation classes at TMC, Jul 24-29, 2017.
  • TMC currently covers 80% of its monthly facility rental cost. We hope TMC will become financially independent in 2017. Until then our EFCCM Church Planting Startup Fund provides the difference.
  • We are dreaming about launching TMC#2 by 2020.
Please PRAY that Jesus Christ will continue building his church that we have the privilege of planting at Tokyo Multicultural Church.

SIX MONTH HOME ASSIGNMENT


From mid-Dec 2016 to mid-Jun 2017 we are taking a home assignment in order to visit our western Canadian and northwestern US supporting churches. Church planting colleagues Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) and Jon Prins (EFCCM) will lead TMC during that time.
  • Please PRAY that on our home assignment we will be able to communicate clearly our church planting ministry at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
  • And GIVE THANKS that we will be able to celebrate Christmas in Maine with all of our children: Kristy & Matthew Fujiura (wedding: May 29, 2016), Bryan & Jessica Little (wedding: Dec 18, 2016), and Matthew Little & Victoria Azagoh (wedding: Aug 4, 2017). This will be our first Christmas with our children since 2011.

KnM Wedding 2-2
Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #116

Oct 25, 2016

TMC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT


2016_09_25-4
We are seeking younger leaders to join us in establishing Tokyo Multicultural Church and launching TMC#2 in about 2020. Lay and pastoral leaders are needed to serve both internationals and Japanese people in Tokyo.

PRAY that the Lord will raise up future TMC lay leaders and church planters who will clothe the gospel of Jesus Christ with a loving church community in the world's largest (and livable) megacity.

SIX MONTH HOME ASSIGNMENT


From mid-Dec 2016 to mid-Jun 2017 we are taking a home assignment in order to visit our western Canadian and northwestern US supporting churches. It has been almost five years since we have seen many of them. During the first of those five years we served in tsunami recovery ministry in northeastern Japan (2012). And then for the past four years we have been launching and establishing TMC.

Please PRAY
  • That on our home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
  • For housing we will need in various places.
  • For safety as we drive and fly many miles.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #115

Sep 24, 2016

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH LEADERS NEEDED


2014_08_03-Staff-4
Tokyo Multicultural Church is looking at ways of developing its future leaders. The average age of evangelical pastors in Japan is 65 and the average age of evangelical church attenders is about 55. Although the average age of TMCers is a young 35 years, TMC missionary staff are all over 60 years of age. We need some younger TMC leaders!

The primary language of ministry at TMC is English but minimal Japanese language competency would be required. Contact Dale & Ann for further information.

PRAY that the Lord will raise up future TMC church planters and team members who love living in the world's largest (and livable) megacity, ministering to both internationals and Japanese people in Tokyo.

ONE YEAR ENGLISH TEACHER NEEDED!


We are seeking an evangelistic English conversation class teacher to serve in several EFC churches in the greater Tokyo area. Most of the students are children. This is a one year short term opportunity for a single person Mar 2018 through Mar 2019 (13 months), with the option of extending. The position is 80% salaried.

The short term teacher's "home church" would be Tokyo Multicultural Church. If interested please contact Dale & Ann or the EFCCM.

PRAY that the Lord will raise up just the right short term English teacher for these EFC churches starting spring 2019.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #114

August 29, 2016

1. TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2016_08_28-2 matsuri
From the 350 m (1150 ft) platform of Tokyo Skytree in Sumida-ku, a short walk from our apartment, many Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and graveyards can be seen. But no Christian churches are visible. In our area of Tokyo there are many stores that sell god shelves and furnishings for them. The pic shows a local shrine's annual festival parade (matsuri) that passed by TMC on Aug 28. PRAY that Japanese people who visit shrines and temples will find freedom from the fear that is at the root of idolatry, and that both Japanese and foreigners who visit these places will recognize the spiritual darkness of idolatry. "He [the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Col 1:13-14, NLT)

After a summer break, our TMC outreach English classes begin again in September: weekly moms and tots, bi-weekly ladies, and monthly adults. PRAY that students will be eager to learn not only English, but also to know the love of Jesus Christ.

We plan to announce our first church membership list on Sun Oct 2. PRAY that TMC will be encouraged by this important step in establishing the church.

We continue to seek donations for two approved TMC Special Financial Projects. Please PRAY and give as the Lord leads! (More information here.)
  • TMC Tokyo Disaster Preparedness Project for equipping three places for three possible Tokyo area disasters: earthquake, flooding/tsunami, and Mt. Fuji eruption (CAN$6800).
  • TMC Used Minivan Purchase Project (CAN$7000).

2. ONE YEAR ENGLISH TEACHER NEEDED!


We are seeking an outreach English conversation class teacher for one year to serve in several EFC churches in the greater Tokyo area. Most of the students are children. The opportunity is from mid-Mar 2017 through Mar 2018 and the position is 80% salaried. The short term teacher's "home church" would be TMC. If interested please contact the EFCCM. PRAY that the Lord will send us just the right applicant for this position.

3. OUR CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENTS AND WEDDINGS


KnM Wedding 2-2
We are enjoying watching our children's romances blossom! Kristy was engaged to Matthew Fujiura on Aug 24, 2015 and married on May 29, 2016. Matthew Little was engaged to Victoria Azagoh on Jun 11 and their wedding date is Aug 4, 2017. And Bryan was engaged to Jessica Lange on Jul 20 and will be married on Dec 18, 2016. Please PRAY that the Lord would continue his good work in and through the lives of our now six children!

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #113

July 25, 2016

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #112

1. FAMILY

MnV2016
We are so pleased that Matthew (Little) became engaged to Victoria Azagoh in June! Victoria is from New England. In July after completing their studies at Biola University (greater Los Angeles), they moved to Burlington, Vermont where Victoria began a management job. Matthew continues much of his movie production and marketing work online (check out The Unknowns), but is also seeking local employment.

We look forward to a summer 2017 wedding! Pray that God will meet their needs as they seek together how to become God's blessing to the nations.

2. TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

Give thanks that four adults from last summer's outreach English class program have signed up for our monthly "English Circle" we plan to launch this fall. Pray that more adults will sign up.

And pray that more children with their moms will come to our TMC fall kids outreach English classes with Alicia and Bible time with Ann.

Please pray that TMC will be further encouraged and established at our charter membership commitment service on Aug 28.

We continue to seek donations for two approved TMC Special Financial Projects. Please pray and give as the Lord leads! (More information here.)
  • TMC Tokyo Disaster Preparedness Project for equipping three places for three possible Tokyo area disasters: earthquake, flooding/tsunami, and Mt. Fuji eruption (CAN$6800).
  • TMC Used Minivan Purchase Project (CAN$7000).
3. TEACHING THEOLOGY

In the fall Dale teaches Church Planting Theology at ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University (greater Vancouver), live-streamed from TMC. Please pray for his ongoing preparation.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #112

June 20, 2016

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #111

1. INTRODUCING MATTHEW AND KRISTY FUJIURA!

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Our Kristy became Mrs. Matthew Fujiura on May 29 in California. It was a wonderful, friendly, God-centered, and beautiful outdoor wedding—but maybe we are a little biased! Their wedding perfectly reflected Kristy and Matthew, with family from both sides affirming that they were made for each other.

Pray that together they will be a blessing to the nations and that the Lord will graciously guide them as they explore options for their life and work together.

2. OUTREACH ENGLISH CLASSES AT TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

Pray that more children with their moms will come for TMC kids outreach English classes with Alicia and Bible time with Ann.

And pray that many of the 17 registered adults in last summer's TMC outreach English class program will come to a class reunion on July 15. We are asking the Lord to give us some good ideas for an ongoing adult evangelistic English program.

3. TMC FINANCIAL PROJECTS

We continue to seek donations for two approved TMC Special Financial Projects. Please pray and give as the Lord leads! (More information here.)
  • TMC Tokyo Disaster Preparedness Project for preparing three places for three possible Tokyo area disasters: earthquake, flooding/tsunami, and Mt. Fuji eruption (CAN$6800).
  • TMC Used Minivan Purchase Project (CAN$7000).
4. TEACHING THEOLOGY

In July Dale teaches a modular version of his Contemporary Theology class in Japanese at Japan Bible Seminary (Tokyo). And in the fall semester he teaches Church Planting Theology at ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University (Vancouver), live-streamed from TMC.

Pray for Dale's preparation for these classes, especially his new class at ACTS Seminaries.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #111

May 11, 2016

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #110

1. TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

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Ann and Alicia teach outreach English classes at TMC. Pray that more children with their moms will come for English learning with Alicia and Bible time with Ann.

We would like to follow up last summer's one week outreach English program with another one this summer, especially for adults. But we are not sure what structure to give it. Pray for the Lord's wisdom in our planning.

We are seeking donations for two approved TMC Special Financial Projects. Please pray and give as the Lord leads! (Click here for more information and how to give.)
  • Tokyo Disaster Preparedness Project for preparing three places for three possible Tokyo area disasters: earthquake, flooding/tsunami, and Mt. Fuji eruption (CAN$6800).
  • TMC Used Minivan Purchase Project (CAN$7000).

2. FAMILY

Kristy Little and Matthew Fujiura are getting married on May 29 in California! Give thanks that the Lord has brought them together and pray for his blessing on their marriage. We look forward to celebrating with them on their big day!

Dale’s older brother, Phil, continues to undergo chemotherapy for lymphoma cancer. Please pray that the Lord will work through both medicine and miracle to put the cancer in remission.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #110

April 16, 2016

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #109

1. ANOTHER DISASTER IN JAPAN

Kumamoto prefecture in southern/western Japan was hit by 6.5 (Apr 14) and 7.3 (Apr 16) magnitude quakes in populated areas. A trail of devastation and death has followed. Typically, several weeks of professional rescue operations are followed by years of relief and recovery. Churches in Japan are responding. One excellent way to contribute is through CRASH Japan (http://crashjapan.com/en/).

Pray for those worried about safety for themselves and their loved ones; for children who need reassurance; for governments to reduce bureaucracy in order to effectively help; for recovery efforts to have long term effectiveness; and for the name of Jesus to be uplifted by churches helping.

Even as we pray for those affected, we give thanks for quake resistant strengthening construction taking place at our TMC rental facility.

The Tokyo metropolitan government is encouraging all residents to be prepared for the predicted triple disasters: earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption. Five days of emergency supplies are recommended. With TMC and ourselves in mind, we have set up a "Tokyo Disaster Preparedness Fund,” with a goal of CAN$6800. Pray that these funds will come in quickly so we can purchase the required items. And please consider giving.

2. TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

In March, Alicia joined us at TMC for one year. Pray for her ongoing adjustment to life in greater Tokyo, and for her evangelistic English class preparation and teaching.

Jon Prins arrived Apr 16. Pray that he will find joy in ministering as our TMC church planter specialist in cross-cultural issues.

3. FAMILY

Kristy (our daughter) and Matthew Fujiura’s wedding will be on May 29 in California. Give thanks that the Lord has brought them together. And pray for them as they prepare for their big day!

Dale’s older brother, Phil, is undergoing chemotherapy for advanced and aggressive lymphoma cancer. Pray that the Lord will work through both medicine and miracle to put the cancer in remission.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #109

March 28, 2016

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #108

1. Two EFCCM personnel join Tokyo Multicultural Church missionary staff this spring. Alicia arrived in March from Ottawa and Jon Prins will arrive in April from Minneapolis.

Pray that Alicia who is new to Japan will adjust well to life in a different culture. Pray that she will have strength and joy teaching evangelistic English classes in three EFC churches, including TMC. Give thanks that the Lord has supplied her with a furnished apartment near TMC!

Pray that Jon who has served in Japan for many years will find joy in ministering as our TMC church planter specialist in cross-cultural issues. Pray that his visa will be finalized (after he arrives) and that he will find a good apartment.

2. During the past four months several of our key TMC people have moved. So Sunday giving has decreased in recent months. Due to the mobility of our people, we estimate that TMC will see a 20% turnover of people every year.

Pray that our monthly TMC facility costs will be fully met by our TMC church family. Pray that we will see some new “key people” at TMC.

3. Ann and Alicia begin teaching some new TMC evangelistic English classes for children in April, the start of a new academic year in Japan.

Pray that we will have a total of at least ten students in the new classes.

4. Dale teaches Church Planting Theology at ACTS Seminaries (Trinity Western University) in the fall. It will be live-streamed from TMC and can be taken from anywhere.

Pray for Dale's ongoing preparation for teaching this brand new class at ACTS and that an adequate number of students will register for the course.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #108

February 20, 2016

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #107

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


Alicia Lim and Jon Prins, both with the EFCCM, will be joining us at TMC in the next six weeks.

Alicia will be teaching outreach English conversation classes for one year at TMC and two other Evangelical Free churches in greater Tokyo. She comes from Ottawa ON with the blessing of her home church, Ottawa Chinese Bible Church.

Jon has a long term commitment to TMC and will join our missionary staff as church planter and intercultural specialist. He has served in church planting in Japan for many years and comes to us from Minneapolis MN.

Give thanks that both Alicia and Jon are coming to TMC soon! Pray that we will be able to procure their visas and find apartments for them nearby TMC, and that they be able to raise their remaining required finances and have a smooth adjustment to ministry in Tokyo.

FINANCES

Give thanks that our support team (27 churches, 28 individuals) fully met our 2015 ministry budget. What a great team! Our 2016 ministry budget is only slightly higher than 2015.

TSUNAMI RECOVERY MINISTRY

In January we applied the remaining approximately CAN$14,500 from the EFCCM Japan Disaster Fund to Onagawa Megumi Project for their moving and set up expenses of their new shop on the new promenade in Onagawa, as well as for the relocation of their trailer. We are grateful that the Lord continues to use the Megumi Project to bring his grace (= “megumi”) and love to a town hit by one of the highest tsunamis (30 meters) on March 11, 2011.

In Feb we volunteered at Onagawa Megumi Project for a few days in order to fill in for Megumi Project leaders Andy and Lorna Gilbert (ReachGlobal) who had to return suddenly to the US for one month to care for an aging parent. One day we were at the trailer where their products are made, another day we helped sell their crafts at their new store, and the final day we hosted the missionary staff at our vacation house for a mini retreat.

Give thanks for Megumi Project’s ongoing testimony of God’s love in Onagawa. Give thanks for our TMC colleague Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) who so ably covers for us when we need to leave Tokyo for most of a week.

Pray for strength and joy for the five missionaries serving and leading the Megumi Project. Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of the half dozen Japanese ladies who design and sell the crafts made from donated kimono, helping them to see and accept God’s love for them in Jesus Christ.

FAMILY

Kristy and Matthew Fujiura’s wedding will be on May 29 in Diamond Bar CA (greater LA)! Matthew is from California and enjoyed his first visit to Japan this past summer when he proposed to Kristy.

Give thanks that the Lord has brought Kristy and Matthew together in his perfect timing. And pray for them as they make the many preparations for their big day!

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #107

December 10, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #105

FALL HOME ASSIGNMENT, Oct 5 - Dec 10


We are thankful for connecting with 7 of our 27 supporting churches during our fall home assignment. We visited that many in the spring too.

Our focus during our two short home assignments in 2015 has been our US support team.

We will focus on our Canadian support team during our next home assignment in the first half of 2017.

One highlight of our fall home assignment was US Thanksgiving with our children!—the first time we have been able to do that since 2007.

KRISTY

Pray for “Dr. Kristy” as she adjusts to her new California job and living situation, and prepares for both her California Board of Psychology licensing exams and her wedding.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

At TMC we will be holding a children’s event on the 19th, Christmas Sunday worship and outreach on the 20th, and a candle light service on Christmas Eve the 24th. Pray that that we will see new faces at TMC as a result of our Christmas events.

Continue to pray that the Lord will raise up future leaders for TMC to serve in a dynamic multicultural environment.

We have dipped into our EFCCM TMC church planting start up fund (EFCCM account #2-2302) twice this year when our TMC offerings have been insufficient to cover our CAD$3000 monthly rent. Pray that TMC will be able to become financially self-supporting in 2016.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #105

October 22, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #104

FALL HOME ASSIGNMENT


Because we do not want to be away from Tokyo Multicultural Church for a long period of time, we are taking two short 2 month home assignments in 2015, one in the spring and the other in the fall. For both we are based in Maine USA.

During our Oct and Nov home assignment we are visiting 7 supporting churches while seeing our children along the way. We return to Tokyo on Dec 10. To visit our Canadian supporting churches we are planning a 6 month home assignment beginning late 2016.

Please pray that we will clearly communicate our Tokyo church planting ministry and that the Lord will give us safety for our many miles of flying and driving.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

Pray for Duane Dietze, ReachGlobal partnering church planter at TMC, as he leads TMC while we are on home assignment. His ministry responsibilities double when we are away.

Give thanks for leaders currently with us (Nico from Germany) and for those planning to join us soon (Alicia from Canada, Jon from the US, and Kevin & Grace from Macao).

Pray that God will raise up long term future pastoral leaders for TMC’s language-specific departments. Our English Department is the most developed and we have launched our Japanese Department with a Sunday Bible study. We hope our next department will be Chinese (Mandarin).

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #104

September 16, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #103

KRISTY GETS ENGAGED


Kristy came to visit us for a few weeks in August with her California boyfriend, Matthew Fujiura. Matt proposed to her on our trip north to "Takayama by the Sea,” our vacation spot in Japan (and a very romantic spot for a proposal!) In October, Kristy settles into her one year post-doctoral placement at the counseling center of California State Polytechnic University in Pomona CA while her Matthew teaches special needs children in the California school system. We are anticipating something like a spring wedding in California!

Pray for the Lord’s blessing on Kristy and Matthew Fujiura’s engagement, the flurry of wedding planning, the wedding itself, and most importantly, their marriage.

TEACHING THEOLOGY

Dale completed his 13th year of teaching "Contemporary Theology” in Japanese at Japan Bible Seminary in Tokyo this week. He now finalizes his preparation for teaching Church Planting Theology at ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University located in greater Vancouver BC. This new course will be
live streamed from Tokyo Multicultural Church. All requirements, including research, can be done online. See more here.

Pray that Dale’s part time theology teaching will continue to contribute to the development of church leaders for Japan, including for TMC.

TMC: SHORT TERM ENGLISH TEACHER COMING

We are looking forward to having Alicia Lim join us at TMC as our outreach English teacher for one year starting Mar or Apr 2016. She comes from Ottawa ON via the EFCCM. Ann’s weekly “Little Lambs English Circle” (moms & tots) and bi-weekly ladies outreach English class, as well as Duane’s weekly outreach English classes starting in Oct all provide a base for Alicia’s English teaching ministry at TMC.

Pray that Alicia will be able to raise all her required finances this fall and that we will be able to secure a “religious activities visa” for her to arrive in Tokyo by Mar 2016.

SECOND TWO MONTH HOME ASSIGNMENT IN 2015

We will be in the US Oct 5 - Dec 10 for our next home assignment. Please pray that visits to our supporting churches will be fruitful and that the Lord will give us safety for our many miles of flying and driving.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #103

August 10, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #102

TMC SUMMER OUTREACH ENGLISH CLASSES


Our summer 2015 outreach English conversation classes at TMC were a success! We had 4 children and 17 adults register for our Jul 28 - Aug 1 program. Each English class included Bible time.

The 4 children in this summer’s English classes included 2 moms with their tots who were new to TMC. The other 2 moms with their tots have been a part of Ann’s weekly Little Lambs English Circle. Ann was the English teacher for the children’s summer classes, with valuable assistance from 2 energetic short term teachers.

The 17 adults were mostly new to us at TMC. They came through word of mouth or the flyers we had delivered to local mailboxes through a distribution company.

Four ReachGlobal short term missionaries taught our adult summer classes. They helped TMC begin to build personal relationships with people new to us in our corner of Tokyo.

Several adult students expressed an interest in visiting TMC for our Sunday worship time and fellowship. So far, 2 have actually visited. In addition, 4 have signed up for weekly adult outreach English classes that we will begin in October.

Our summer outreach English classes help us lay the foundation for our Japanese Department. They contribute to our “Establishing Phase” (2014-2019), the third strategic phase of planting TMC.

  • Give thanks for our good summer English classes.
  • Pray for growth of our Japanese Department because of these summer classes: new attenders at TMC, new follow up English classes in the fall, new moms & tots for Ann’s classes, and especially new believers.

OUR ADULT CHILDREN

Kristy will be visiting for a few weeks us later this month. We look forward to showing her our corner of Tokyo and driving north to our vacation house at Takayama that all our children have always enjoyed. She is probably most excited about showing Japan to her boyfriend who will be coming with her.

  • Give thanks that Kristy can visit us. Skype is OK, but it just doesn’t quite do the trick! None of our children have seen our Tokyo apartment since we moved here in Jan 2013.
  • Pray for God’s continued blessing on our children’s lives and work in the US—Kristy and Matthew in greater Los Angeles and Bryan in St. Louis.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #102

July 16, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #101

SUMMER OUTREACH ENGLISH CLASSES AT TMC


Tokyo Multicultural Church is once again reaching out to our community through summer evangelistic English conversation classes that include Bible teaching. Four short term missionaries serving with ReachGlobal in Tokyo this summer will help us with the teaching. We led a teacher workshop at TMC for them on Jul 11. Ann will teach the moms and tots class, and Ann and Duane will be teaching the Bible times.

Classes run from Jul 28 - Aug 1 (Tue - Sat), with the following six classes every day: pre-schoolers & their moms, kindergarten, 1-3 grades, 4-6 grades, and adults (beginners and intermediates). Students will be invited to our Sun Aug 2 bilingual worship service to receive their “completion certificates.”

We have had more than 26,000 flyers distributed in mailboxes and are starting to see registrations come in. The students in Ann’s year round outreach English classes (ladies and moms & tots) are showing an interest in coming, along with some of their friends.

  • Give thanks for the four short term missionaries we are “borrowing” from the Tokyo City Team of ReachGlobal!
  • Pray for lots of students—that we will have a full slate of classes this year.
  • Pray that the students will learn that God loves each of them through Jesus Christ and TMC.
  • Pray that our four short term teachers, Ann, and Duane will have strength and wisdom as they prepare and teach in the summer heat of Tokyo.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #101

June 22, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #100

This is our 100th monthly prayer update! —stretching over the last 8 years of our 31 years of ministry based in Japan. Thank you for upholding us and our ministry in prayer!

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

Immediately after returning from our short home assignment (two months) we jumped back into church planting ministry at TMC.

We hosted EFC of Canada leaders Bill Taylor (EFCC Executive Director) and Melvin Sayer (EFCC Mission Asia Director). On Jun 7 Bill preached and led a seminar at TMC. From Jun 8-10 we showed them around tsunami devastated northeastern Japan.

(Pic: Bill and Mel accepting a “Thank You!” gift for the EFCC/M from Onagawa Megumi Project.)

On Jun 14 Jon Prins, our interim church planter while we were away, preached at TMC and then returned to the US on Jun 16.

  • Give thanks for TMC’s solid and encouraging connection with the EFC of Canada and for the excellent interim ministry of Jon Prins.
  • Pray that the Lord will raise up a financial support team for Jon Prins who will return to TMC as an EFCCM missionary as soon as he has adequate finances.
  • Pray for TMC’s summer evangelistic English classes, Jul 28 - Aug 1. Pray for a good number of new students, especially through connections Ann has made in her outreach English classes. We are thankful that a few short term missionaries with ReachGlobal’s Tokyo City Team can teach these classes with us.
  • Pray for two moms at TMC who are expecting their first babies. Both are experiencing difficulties in their second trimesters and one is now hospitalized.
  • Pray that the Lord will raise up future leaders for TMC prepared by the Lord to serve in a dynamic multicultural environment. We are beginning to pursue a number of possibilities.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #100

May 23, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #99

HOME ASSIGNMENT


At the front end of our Apr 7 - Jun 3 home assignment in the US we visited our scattered children in California, Missouri, and Nebraska. And at the end we gathered with them all once again, this time to celebrate the graduation of Dr. Kristy, Psych.D., from Rosemead School of Psychology in greater Los Angeles.

During this home assignment we are visiting six churches on our ministry support team—in ME, VT, MA, NJ, and BC. We hope to visit at least that many more on our next home assignment Oct 5 - Dec 8. We are reporting on Tokyo Multicultural Church and sharing about Onagawa Megumi Project, a gospel centered tsunami recovery project with which we partner.

The “turtleback” Ann is modeling at the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is made by the tsunami survivors employed at the Onagawa Megumi Project. You can order their creative products online at their website: megumiproject.net.

Give thanks for the 27 churches that make up our ministry support team, as well as individuals. The Lord has graciously provided us with 31 years of ministry in Japan through the faithful giving of his people. And most of our supporting churches only see us once every 5 years!

Give thanks that we have been able to enjoy our three children twice on this home assignment. What a treat!

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

During our home assignment Duane Dietze and Jon Prins have been leading TMC. GIVE THANKS for their ministry. Please PRAY that the Lord will raise up future leaders for TMC prepared by the Lord of the church to lead in a dynamic multicultural environment.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

In June Dale begins his 14th year of teaching his one semester “Contemporary Theology” class at Japan Bible Seminary. PRAY for clarity as Dale teaches this class in Japanese and that his students will be encouraged to critically grasp the breadth of Christian theology around the world.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #99

April 19, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #98

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


Easter Sunday April 5 was our 2nd anniversary at TMC. Duane Dietze, Japanese Department missionary, preached in English (through simultaneous Japanese interpretation). Howard Plucar, who was the pastor of our mother church two years ago, led communion as a visiting pastor. And we enjoyed some special piano music.

In the afternoon we had an international potluck and then viewed some pictures of our first two years. In two short years, the Lord has grown TMC from a nucleus of 6 people to a weekly worship service of about 20. Our worship service includes a Japanese Bible study during the English sermon—the beginnings of our Japanese Department. On a typical Sunday we have people from 10 different countries.

Pray that our Japanese Department might grow. Ask the Lord to use our evangelistic English classes and the personal relationships of our TMC people to bring Japanese people to the Lord and TMC.

APRIL - MAY HOME ASSIGNMENT

All our Sundays in April and May are booked in some of our supporting churches. We hope to visit the remainder of our US supporting churches during our Oct-Nov home assignment.

Pray that the Lord will give us quality opportunities to share about TMC during our home assignment. And give thanks that we have been able to visit our three children, Kristy, Bryan, and Matthew, and that all of us will be together for Dr. Kristy’s graduation in Los Angeles on May 21–22 with a Psy.D. from Rosemead School of Psychology.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #98

March 17, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #97

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


Ann’s new weekly “Little Lambs English Circle” is enjoyed by four moms with their tots, and one more mom who sometimes attends. Lilly (Taiwanese) from TMC helps Ann teach the evangelistic English class. Whenever possible, the ladies and their children stay around after class. Little Lambs will take a break during our April-May home assignment.

Pray that TMC's Little Lamb’s English Circle and signs will help us connect with people in our corner of the world’s largest megacity. And ask the Lord for wisdom as we lay plans for expanding our outreach English conversation classes.

Many people walk by our store front church. A few have joined us because they have seen us as they pass by. Since putting up two outside signs in March we hope TMC will become even more visible in our community. One of our young ladies from China, an architect here in Tokyo, helped design our TMC logo.

HOME ASSIGNMENT IN APRIL AND MAY

From April 7 - June 4 we will be taking the first of two short US home assignments this year. During that time TMC will be in the capable hands of our colleague, Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal). And Jon Prins will also be coming to help lead TMC during our first home assignment this year.

Pray for Duane and Jon as they lead TMC in April and May. And ask the Lord to give us a fruitful home assignment, reconnecting with some of the churches on our ministry support team.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #97

February 25, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #96

LITTLE LAMBS ENGLISH CIRCLE AT TMC


In February, Ann launched “Little Lambs English Circle,” a moms and tots weekly class at Tokyo Multicultural Church. The classes include English teaching and songs for 2-3 year olds, as well as a Bible story.

Five moms with their tots have registered. The maximum number is six. One of the moms has attended Ann’s English classes in our apartment complex and our children’s Christmas events there. The others have all come because this one has spread the word: one mom inviting another.

The moms and tots do not want to go home after the classes! One mom even suggested that Little Lambs become a daily class.

This class was to be taught by a short term missionary from Canada beginning April. But due to lack of support funds this couple cannot come, at least for a while.

Pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be received warmly by these moms as they listen to the Bible stories. And pray for wisdom for us to know if we should or how we could continue the class during our upcoming home assignment.

JEMA CONNECT 2015

The purpose of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association is to network and equip as many of the 1600 evangelical missionaries in Japan as possible. Currently, JEMA membership stands at a little less than 1000.

JEMA Connect, the annual conference for Japan based evangelical mission leaders and missionaries, was held Feb 23-25 in Tokyo. As the voluntary, part time President of JEMA, Dale once again had oversight of the events. He will be stepping down from his JEMA leadership role in Feb 2016.

Pray that the Lord will lead the JEMA search committee to a new President who thrives on collaborative leadership and will model what it means to lead “for others.”

FIRST OF TWO 2015 HOME ASSIGNMENTS

Plans for our first two month US home assignment in 2015 (Apr 7 - Jun 4) are well underway. A few Sundays are still open. Jon Prins will be substituting for us at TMC during our home assignment.

Pray for Jon’s preparation and two month interim ministry of teaching and leading at TMC. And ask the Lord for a fruitful time of reconnecting with some of the churches on our ministry support team.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #96

January 25, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #95

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


On Feb 3 Ann begins teaching a new class at TMC called "Little Lambs English Circle." PRAY that this weekly outreach English class for moms and tots will bring some new contacts for TMC’s Japanese Department. So far, one mom has signed up.

Dale has submitted Seth & Sandra Winnipeg’s "Certificate of Eligibility” applications for their religious activities visas to Japan Immigration in Tokyo. Pray that their applications will be approved soon and that the Winnipegs will have adequate financial support to arrive in Tokyo by mid-March. They plan to join TMC while teaching outreach English classes at TMC and another EFC church.

Pray that the Lord will raise up a financial support team for Jon Prins so he can join us full time at TMC soon.

HOME ASSIGNMENT

We take a home assignment in the US from April 7 to June 4. Jon Prins will be an interim church planter at TMC during those two months. Pray that the Lord will orchestrate all the details for Jon’s to join TMC for that interim ministry.

JAPAN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

Once a year in late February, Japan Evangelical Missionary Association holds a series of events in Tokyo for all evangelical missionaries in Japan. Pray that as voluntary President of JEMA, Dale will be able to carry through well on all the planning for the event (“JEMA Connect 2015”) and that Japan based mission leaders and missionaries who attend will be encouraged.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #95