BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!! - 12/2/2018

GIC President It is with much excitement, and thankfulness to God, that I can announce a new leader for our Genesis team! Dr. Bruce Macdonald, from Williamsburg, VA, has been officially invited to join our Genesis team! Our Genesis team lost our original leader in 2016 due to health issues. Since then, we have prayed to God and talked with many people in our efforts to recruit a suitable new leader. Bruce Macdonald first contacted MTW in March 2017, interested in serving with us. He visited our team in September 2017, and again in October 2018. A great amount of effort and prayer has been devoted to finding the person God wanted in this key role. Bruce has a very unique story that make him especially qualified to lead this venture of starting up a college targeting "the forgotten youth of Japan." Raised in Saginaw, MI, Bruce became a Christian at the age of nine. He quit school during 9th grade, with just a 3rd grade reading level. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy, spending much of his time in Okinawa, Japan. During his Navy years, he was discipled by a mature Christian who also taught him to read, and Bruce earned his GED. While stationed in Okinawa, he also was a part-time associate pastor at an off-base military community church. After eight years in the Navy, Bruce and his wife returned to the States. Bruce struggled to earn a college degree, learning in his senior year that he had dyslexia. This explained why studying had always been so difficult for him, and allowed him to develop strategies to facilitate his learning. Bruce went on to complete a master's degree in Christian Doctrine & History, and later a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Regent University. Bruce's work experience includes stints at Christian Broadcasting Network, the US Postal Service, and Strayer University where he served as president of the faculty senate. He currently operates a consulting business and does some university teaching. Bruce has retained his connections to Japan over the years, traveling annually as a guest lecturer at several churches and a Bible school in northern Japan, and symposiums at various venues throughout Japan. Bruce's wife, Marilyn, also brings much needed expertise to our Genesis team, having a master's degree from the College of William and Mary in Education with a teaching license endorsement in PreK-6 and TESOL PreK-12. The Macdonalds have two grown sons, and three grandchildren. They are both very excited to be used by God in Osaka, and have a great desire to bring educational opportunities to young people in Japan who otherwise would not be able to attend a college. But more importantly, they desire to be used by God to bring life-changing hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before Bruce can officially assume the title of team leader and president of our college, he and Marilyn must complete a vetting process with MTW. They are scheduled to attend Readiness Evaluation in January, and "Launch" in March. Upon approval from MTW, they will then need to raise up their support as well. Please pray for the Macdonalds; it has been a long road, and the journey is far from complete. But we are so thankful for this significant step in the development of our missionary team! HMA Thus Far What is "HMA"? MTW's terminology for missionary furlough -- Home Missionary Assignment. It's not vacation, but full-time work dedicated to reporting back to supporters on the work God is doing in Japan, and raising up any additional supporters as needed. Since returning to the States on October 26, I've been living with my Mom in Inwood, IA. There are no subways here, so I quickly bought a car, which is fun after four carless years in Japan! Just a week after returning to the States, I was the main speaker at the missions conference of Hospers PCA; Hospers, IA. I've also attended the Iowa Presbytery meeting and spoke briefly at One Ancient Hope PCA in Iowa City. I'm also doing all the standard health checks -- physical, dental, and vision. My mom and I flew to Washington state to spend Thanksgiving (and my 50th birthday -- that's a typo) with my brother's family. End of Year Giving With the recruitment of a new Genesis leader, I am now in full-forward movement. That includes supplementing my support account, which needs about $1,000 in monthly pledges before I can return to Osaka. Would you pray about joining my support team with an annual or monthly pledge? One-time gifts are also important in meeting this goal. The easiest way to contribute is online by clicking here. You can make a one-time contribution, or pledge a recurring gift -- monthly, quarterly, or annually. If you'd prefer to send a check, be sure to make it out to MTW, but designate it to my account number (Kooi -- 14009). Then send it to: MTW P.O. Box 744165 Atlanta, GA  30374-4165 If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email or contact me at brentkooi@gmail.com. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and financial partnership this past year! Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Prayer Points Praise God for providing a new leader for our college! Pray for Bruce & Marilyn Macdonald. There are many unknowns in their future. And MTW's vetting process will also test them, to assure that they are able to handle the stresses of ministry overseas. Praise God for a good transition back to the US. I've been staying with my mother in NW Iowa, speaking at nearby churches, and preparing for extensive travel starting at the end of January. I will be reporting to my supporters and also working with Bruce to actively recruit teachers and support staff for our college. Pray for the Genesis team in Osaka during my HMA absence from them. Some are in language school, and others in internships to prepare for future ministry in Osaka. Pray for me as I try to give some form of leadership from afar to the team in Osaka. Calendar December 2     Grace PCA     Sioux Falls, SD December 9     Sanborn CRC     Sanborn, IA January 6     Cornerstone PCA     Ackley, IA January 13     Inwood CRC     Inwood, IA January 28-31     MTW Reconnect     Conference     Dillard, GA February 14-16     Reaching Japanese for     Christ Conference     Seattle, WA February 22-24     Redeemer PCA     Missions Conference     Jackson, MS February 22-24     Highlands PCA     Missions Conference     Ridgeland, MS March 1-3     Bay Street PCA     Missions Conference     Hattiesburg, MS March 29-31     Trinity PCA     Missions Conference     Jackson, MS April 22-25     Twin Lakes Fellowship     Pastors' Conference     Florence, MS April 26-28     MTW West Coast Missions     Conference     Roseville, CA Culture Corner "Is Christmas celebrated in Japan?" Well, it's not a public holiday. But it is a popular event for many people. More lights and trees are decorated each year, and parents often give gifts to their children. But that's where the similarities end! For young adults, Christmas is a "must have a date" night. And families often have a reservation for KFC take-out to eat along with a Christmas cake. 99.5% of Japanese people don't know that Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus. They don't know that Jesus is God. They don't know that Jesus suffered and died for our sins, and that He conquered death so that we can have eternal life. They've never heard -- not once. Many Christian churches have special Christmas events to share the news of the gospel. Please pray that God will bless these efforts and that many people will find the true hope of the gospel.