Financial Update - 6/9/2014

Financial Update

God continues to provide new ministry partners, bringing me to 87% of my monthly budget! This brings the remaining need to $970 per month, which could be met by 19 partners pledging $50 per month. As progress has picked up momentum, I feel confident that God will allow me to depart for Japan at the end of August. Specifically, I am targeting August 25 to fly to Osaka!

Will YOU consider partnering with me in bringing the hope of the gospel to the people of Japan? Monthly pledges both big and small are all important in sustaining me in ministry over the next four years. One-time gifts also help as they are placed into a fund to be dispersed over 48 months. For more information, you can email me at brentkooi@gmail.com or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Jennifer Miller at MTW at 678-823-0004.

THANK YOU to all who have or are contributing as well as all those who pray for this ministry. I could not do any of this without you! Please continue to pray for God's provision and my timely departure in August.

Final Days Stateside:

Great Lakes, East Coast, & Departure

As my departure grows imminent, there is much to do including applying for my missionary visa into Japan, and final travel including Texas, Iowa, the Great Lakes area, the northeast, and down to Atlanta. I look forward to seeing many old friends and sharing the vision of Genesis International College in various churches. If you live along my route, I would love to see you!

Here is my tentative schedule:

• June 16-20: Houston, Texas; PCA General Assembly
• July 1-12: Family time in Iowa
• July 13: Speaking at joint PCA churches of Ackley, Iowa
• July 14-17: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois
• July 18: Huntington University gathering in Indiana
• July 19-21: Grand Rapids, Michigan
• July 20: South Grandville Christian Reformed Church; Grandville, Michigan
• July 22-24: Indiana, Ohio
• July 25-26: Western Pennsylvania
• July 27: Church of the Redeemer; Cortland, New York
• July 28-Aug. 10: New York, New England, Eastern Pennsylvania
• August 10: Uptown Community Church; New York City
• August 11-16: Central Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia
• August 17-19: North Carolina, South Carolina
• August 20-22: Meetings at MTW offices in Atlanta
• August 23-24: With friends in South Carolina
• August 25: Departure (goal) from Charlotte, North Carolina

Please pray for this trip and all the logistics that still need advance planning including:

• additional church visits
• weekday personal visits
• overnight accommodations for 5-1/2 weeks

If God provides for the remainder of my support by mid-August, I will be able to purchase tickets to Osaka, wrap up business in the MTW offices in Atlanta, return my car to the friends in South Carolina who have graciously given it to me for my time in the States, and then fly out of Charlotte, NC on August 25. If the needed support is not pledged by that time, I will still return my car in SC before flying back to Iowa until such time as I can depart.

Culture Corner

Open House English Class - Kaihinmakuhari Church

Eastern and western cultures often seem to be diametrically opposed in every facet of life. My favorite example of this comes from one of my English classes in Chiba. At the conclusion of each class, the teacher was to clean up and wash the coffee cups. However, the students would never allow their teachers -- especially the male teachers -- to wash the cups. Rather, each student would stay until everything was done. In one particular class, all eight women would stay each week. In the narrow, cramped spaces that are Japan, only one woman could fit in front of the sink. A second woman would reach in to retrieve each cup and dry it and the pass it down a line of the other six women until it was placed back in the cabinet.

To me, this was the epitome of inefficiency and ridiculousness. In America, we might create a schedule, designating one or two students to weekly clean up duties. But not in Japan. Eventually this weekly oddity became routine and I learned to appreciate it. In Japanese society, the group is central to culture. Nobody would think of leaving the group until all the work was finished -- well, except for the men; they leave the work for the women because some things really are universal. But for the women, cleaning up as a group was an important part of social time with their classmates. I also came to realize that this emphasis on the group is more compatible with Christianity than the individualism of western culture. The early church in Acts 2 spent time with each other and "had all things in common," and "the Lord added to their number day by day." Our Christian unity and love for one another are crucial in living out the gospel each day.

It's easy to be critical of unknown cultures. Yet regardless of how Christian or un-Christian the society, we all reflect our Creator in various ways and can learn from the most disparate of cultures.

Prayer Points

• Final 13% of needed support to come in by mid-August.
• Travel safety to Texas, to Iowa, and through the Great Lakes and northeast down to Atlanta.
• Missionary visa to be timely processed.
• Church appointments each week to share the vision of Genesis College.
• Good personal visits with old friends and potential ministry partners.
• Accommodations for 5-1/2 weeks on the road.
• For an August 25 departure.

The Mark of the Christian - 5/3/2014

The Mark of the Christian

Breaking News: 37 Year-Old Housewife Joins AKB-48! I'm sure this is old news to all my readers, right? No? Well it was huge news a couple weeks ago in Japan. But you may be wondering, "What is 'AKB-48'?" It is perhaps the most popular singing group in Japan and much of Asia. Originally consisting of 48 female singers, all of them in their teens or early twenties, the group recently added Mariko Tsukamoto, a housewife and mother of two, in an effort to expand their fan base.

What drew my attention was the choice of jewelry that Mrs. Tsukamoto wore to the big announcement: a cross necklace. Necklaces featuring the Christian cross are common in the States, and are not necessarily worn only by Christians. Ironically, the cross necklace is even more common in Japan where only 0.2% of the population is Christian. To be honest, I sometimes feel a little offended that the cross is used for adornment but without any of the meaning behind its significance. It's possible that Mrs. Tsukamoto is a Christian -- wouldn't that be wonderful, to have a Japanese Christian in such a bright spotlight? -- but it is unlikely.

This started me thinking about the mark of a Christian. How can we know whether someone really is a Christian? We obviously can't depend on jewelry or tattoos. Nor can we depend on church membership or leadership. A friend recently resigned his role as a church elder and left the church stating he no longer believes in the existence of God. Matthew 7:16 says, "You will recognize them by their fruits." My friend certainly seemed to produce good fruit in himself and others. John 13:35 says, "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." My friend was and is a loving man. How can we know someone is a legitimate Christian? Is there any real litmus test? Ultimately, only God knows. I Samuel 16:7 says, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." And yet, discerning not just other's hearts, but more importantly my own heart is a challenge for me. Is my heart sincere in its pursuit of God? I have doubts some days; but so did the Psalmist. In Mark 9, a father brings his demon possessed son to Jesus for healing. He states, in verse 24, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

Is my faith real? Or is it no more significant than the crosses worn by so many unsaved people around the world? Is your faith real? Or is it something you wear for cultural comfort? Let us persist in our faith, and to ask God to help our unbelief. And let us not grow impatient with the work of the Holy Spirit in calling saints and sinners to Himself. "In John 10:27-28, Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no  one will snatch them out of My hand."

Financial Update - 4/1/2014

I'm very excited to report that since my last post, God has brought great progress to my total monthly pledged support, causing it to jump from 59% to 73%! How did such a significant jump come about? Some of it was from new pledges. However, the majority of this is due to two adjustments with the MTW office. First, my budget was reworked to correct an error that was recently discovered. Additionally, there was a reallocation of funds that came from two sources: one-time gifts that have been given over and above my one-time budget needs, and funds from monthly partners which have been greater than my current need while in the States. All of these funds are being pro-rated for monthly support over the course of the next five years. THANK YOU to everyone who is partnering with me in bringing the hope of the gospel to the people of Japan!

At 73%, I am officially into the "two-thirds" supported level. Most missionaries find that the final one-third comes in the most quickly -- but not always. I'm very hopeful that God will allow me to depart for Osaka, Japan this summer. Please praise God for how He works through partners of all kinds!

Uncle Bob's Storage Lawsuit

Some of you are aware of the lawsuit that I had to file against Uncle Bob's Storage. Because this blog is visible to anyone on the net, I will not go into any detail about this situation except to say this: my lawyer and I are scheduled to meet with the storage defendants on Monday, April 7. We will have a neutral mediator who will help us reach a mutually agreeable outcome. If we cannot reach a solution, we will need to proceed to civil court before a judge. Please pray that this will not be necessary. Pray that God will work out justice and that the settlement will cover my loss.

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Gospel Resistance in Japan? - 3/12/2014

One of the most common questions I'm asked is "Why are the Japanese people so resistant to the gospel?" It's a good question. We hear of the explosive growth of the church in China, India, Africa, and even in the Arab world. Why not Japan? There are many complex issues all interwoven through each other, but here are a few of the key issues.

Conformity: There is a strong expectation to always look, act, and be like everyone else. This can be seen in the uniforms worn by most school children and the amazing order in which they sit in nice, neat rows. It's also seen in the sea of monochrome colors among working adults with their typically nondescript ties. Conformity is deeply ingrained in the Japanese culture, where each person is responsible for the actions of their family, friends, and colleagues. In 1597, following the expulsion of Portuguese missionaries and the crucifixions of 26 Japanese Christians, the authorities instituted a system in which five families were grouped together for public accountability. If a member of this group turned in a Christian, the Christian was killed.  If someone outside the group reported a Christian, everyone in the five families was killed. Although Japanese people are now free to worship as they like, this sense of group responsibility remains today. To be Japanese means one is Buddhist and Shintoist; it's an inseparable part of the culture. One Japanese man, upon converting to Christianity, was asked, "You are no longer Japanese?" In a nation where only 0.2% of the people are Christians, sharing the gospel with a Japanese friend is seen as asking them to no longer be Japanese.

Perfection: While visiting with students at Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham recently, after I described the level of perfectionism expected in Japan, two different students asked me, "Is Japan a nation of OCD people?" Well, no it is not. But there is incredible pressure to do everything to the absolute highest of standards. It's no accident that Japan is known for high quality cars and electronics. And where else could someone pay $150 for a perfect melon? The pressure to be perfect in every way is crippling. More than a million young people have isolated themselves in their parents' homes, and nearly 30,000 people commit suicide every year. In a culture that offers no grace for the imperfect, the concept of "sin" is as foreign as shrimp and grits. In this context, sharing the gospel means telling a Japanese friend that he is not perfect -- that he needs help from Someone better than him. Even if your friend is able to admit to being a sinner, he is not accustomed to receiving grace from others, so receiving grace from Jesus is often a lifelong struggle.

Japanese Superiority: Most nations have been on the losing side of war. A culture as old as Japan has typically been humbled by defeat many times over the millennia. Japan has done more than its share of humiliating its neighbors, but has only ever lost one war. And although World War II was certainly humiliating, the conqueror helped Japan to quickly rebuild itself and salvage its honor. Japan does see itself as superior to other peoples. As such, it does not take quickly to ideas from these other cultures, including Christianity.

Ultimately, however, we know that God is not limited by these cultural issues. Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out" (John 6:37). God's sovereign election of His people is always effective. As the will of God dictates, Japanese people will respond to the gospel. Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." As the bearers of God's word, we can rest in the comfort that God is ultimately sovereign over the response of all men to the call of the gospel. Japan, too, will one day kneel at the name of Jesus. Please pray that God will soon draw the hearts of Japan to Himself. And please back up those prayers with action, by either going to proclaim the good news of the gospel or by partnering with me or others who have committed to bring the hope of the gospel to this people with so little hope.

10 Ways to Support Missionaries that DON'T Involve Money - 1/27/2014

I am so thankful for the many Christians who have faithfully supported me in various personal ways. There are unique challenges in living overseas, as well as in returning home from an extended period in a foreign culture. Here are some ways I have been supported and encouraged. I hope you will likewise encourage other missionaries.

1. Pray: I firmly believe that money may send a missionary to the field, but prayer is what makes us effective. But don’t stop there; tell us  that you are praying for us. When you receive a prayer request from us via email or on Facebook, etc., send a quick reply. Keep it short, as we are busy; but we are so encouraged to know that someone actually is reading our requests — and praying!
   
   
2. Keep us Connected: Communicate with us while we are overseas. Help us stay up on you, your family, and your church.
   
   
3. Combat Homesickness: Send a care package. Ask us what we miss and cannot get in our particular nation. I loved the homemade fudge I received in Japan! I also received a photo of a pre-school Sunday School class with a foam frame that said, “We’re praying for you!” It stayed on my fridge until the day I left Japan.
   
   
4. Send us Off/Welcome us Home: Have a commissioning during worship to acknowledge our service and your partnership in our ministry. Meet us at the airport. Throw a party for our departure and return.
   
   
5. Stateside Housing: When we return from overseas, help us find appropriate housing, whether permanent or until we return to the field. A “missions house” is ideal - it might be owned or rented by a church for the use of missionaries. It is comfortably furnished. Perhaps you have a guest house, an “in-law suite,” or an extra room. Missionaries cannot buy housewares for our regular and temporary stays in America. And we need some normality and a place to call our own.
   
   
6. Cars/Mini-vans: Finding appropriate temporary transportation can be difficult. Keep your eye out for an affordable car or mini-van for returning missionaries. Upon my return to the States, a very good friend signed over an extra car he is saving for his daughter. It’s legally mine so I can insure it and even take it across the border into Canada. Upon my return to Japan, I will sign it back over to him. (He gets to be the first I saw upon my return and the last I’ll see when I leave!) What a blessing!
   
   
7. Ask Thoughtful Questions: Ask us about our ministries, family life, the culture. Don’t just ask about weird foods! We need to share the significant experiences we’ve just had. It helps us adjust to life here and to reconnect with our friends and family. Honestly, very few people asked me anything of significance upon my return to the States, and it was very difficult to deal with that.
   
   
8. Offer Your Services: Are you a CPA? Offer to help with taxes. A doctor? Offer a free office visit  Counselor? Help us process our experiences. Mechanic or “car guy”? Offer help with our old cars! What do you do, or can you do? Your help is appreciated so much!
   
   
9. Introduce Us: We often need to expand our network of financial supporters. Introduce us to your interested friends.
   
   
10. Include Us from Overseas: Does your church do an annual missions conference? Do you ever have guest missionaries speak at Sunday School or during worship? Depending on the technology available to the missionary, it may be easy to include missionaries overseas via Skype.

Those We've Lost in 2013 - 12/31/2013

Every TV news show seems to have run a "those we've lost in 2013" tribute in the last few days. It's sad, and yet fun to remember these people. From Marcia Wallace (Bob Newhart Show and The Simpsons) to Maggie Thatcher and Nelson Mandela, Roger Ebert, Peter O'Toole, Tom Clancy, Paul Walker and James Gandolfino to Helen Thomas and Prince Friso (the Dutch royalty in the prime of his life), the world has lost many people who have impacted this world in many ways through politics, the way we see the world, or the way we enjoy the world. It strikes me once again that EVERYONE DIES, regardless of our place in life, regardless of our age, regardless of our wealth or lack thereof, and regardless of whether we may be "ready" for that death. ARE YOU READY? Do you have the peace of knowing that when you die you will find yourself in the arms of a loving heavenly Father? If you do, then have no fear. The best is yet to come -- BY FAR the best! If you do not have this peace, there's just one thing you can do: stop trying so hard to merit a good afterlife; you'll never succeed. Let go of that struggle and surrender to the loving mercy of your heavenly Father. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ took the punishment your sins deserve and TRUST that He offers you eternal life only because He loves you, not because of how good or bad you may be. To one of the criminals who was executed with Jesus and believed and trusted in Him while on the cross, Jesus said to him, "Today, you will be with Me in paradise." That's hope that does not disappoint!

Naughty or Nice? The Gospel According to Santa Claus - 12/20/2013

You better watch out,

You better not cry.

You better not pout,

I'm telling you why.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

He's making a list,

He's checking it twice.

He's gonna find out

Who's naughty or nice.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

He sees when you are sleeping.

He knows when you're awake.

He knows if you've been good or bad

So be good for goodness sake!

Have you ever stopped to think about those lyrics? We teach our children about some old man who is always watching them, even in their own beds. And while we say he's a jolly old man, he's watching their every move and judging them to be good or bad. If, after checking his list twice, he deems them worthy, he will bring them Christmas presents. Strikes me as more creepy and legalistic than jolly.

Maybe I'm too critical of Santa. It's a harmless story, right? But have you ever considered how much Santa sounds like God? He sees everything and everyone. Like God, he's apparently omniscient and omnipresent! Many people conceive of God as a kind, bearded grandfather -- just like Santa. Is it so bad that God and Santa are so similar? Well, considering our natural tendency to believe we must be a certain level of good to go to heaven, our Santa legend reinforces this fallacy in complete contradiction to the gospel.

Although only 0.2% of Japanese people are Christians and Christmas is not an official holiday, Japan loves all things American including Christmas. Stores are decked out and Christmas carols are playing (many of them Christian). And just like in America, Santa has a central role.

Santa Claus suits Japanese culture very well in this grace-less society where people really do keep a mental list of their friends', family members' and colleagues' offenses, and they don't forgive. The Japanese are plagued by broken relationships all around them -- all those people who have been naughty. But in Santa Claus, all they see is a jolly old man with a big smile and a legal ledger in his pocket with all their "naughties and nices." What do you see? In which gospel are you trusting? What message are you sharing?

Starting the Final Push
Raising support has been a slow process. Although my long-term missionary budget is higher than it was as a short-term missionary, I am ahead of my percentage compared to four years ago. Most missionaries find that the final one-third of their support comes in the most quickly. That was true for me four years ago as God brought about a significant number of gifts and pledges at the end of 2009 that brought me to the two-thirds mark and allowed by to depart for Japan in April 2010. I'm hoping and praying that He will do the same this year. You can help me reach that goal in one of several ways:

• RECOMMEND ME:  Speak with your pastor or missions committee and recommend me and the ministry of Genesis International College for a speaking engagement or missions conference. Help me get the word out about the exciting vision God has given GIC to reach young adults in Japan with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Show them the five-minute video about GIC (available on the GIC website). Give them my phone number (601-317-9379) and email (brentkooi@gmail.com). Then tell me the name of the person I should contact so I can personally introduce myself and the ministry of GIC. By they way, your church doesn't have to be Presbyterian! I've spoken at all kinds of churches and have partners from many denominations.
• END OF YEAR GIVING:  Please consider giving a one-time gift before December 31 that will help push me over the two-thirds mark. Some of you may only be able to give a small gift but you think your gift will be insignificant. But big or small, every gift helps.
• BECOME A PARTNER:  One-time gifts get me to Japan, but monthly pledges sustain me in the ministry for the long haul. Pray about becoming a ministry partner.
• PRAY:  I list this last, but it really is the most important. God is the one who moves hearts and provides all good things. Pray that God will move in the hearts of many people to partner with me through prayer and finances. Pray for me  as I labor and wait upon God for His provision. Pray whether God may be calling you to be a gospel partner through regular prayer and/or monthly giving.

How to Give:

Send your gifts to Mission to the World at the address below. Be sure to include "Brent Kooi - 14009" in the memo line so your contribution will be properly credited.

      Mission to the World Donations

      P.O. Box 116284

      Atlanta, GA  30368-6284

To arrange for monthly partnership, contact me for more information. Or, if you would like to remain anonymous, contact Jennifer Miller at 678-823-0004 or jennifer.miller@mtw.org.

Japanese Christmas Traditions

Japan always puts a unique twist on things borrowed from overseas. So how is Christmas celebrated in Japan?

Romance: Christmas is a major date night for young couples. Popular destinations include Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios (Osaka), or perhaps a nice sushi dinner and a movie.

Gifts: Parents buys gifts for their children, and dating couples buy gifts for each other.

Family Dinner: Some years ago, Kentucky Fried Chicken pulled off a brilliant marketing campaign in which it convinced all of Japan that Americans celebrate Christmas with KFC fried chicken. Imagine reserving your KFC family meal to-go weeks in advance; that's what many people do in Japan every Christmas! My students were shocked to learn that KFCs in America are closed on Christmas day.

Christmas Cake: Never heard of "Christmas cake"? Well, you can hardly enjoy your KFC Christmas dinner without a Christmas cake! Decorated with fresh strawberries, Christmas cakes are a staple in Japanese Christmas observations. My students were also very surprised to know that Americans do not celebrate with such cakes.

Praise & Prayer

Praise God for the opportunity I have to spend Christmas with my parents in south Texas. Please pray for good roads and safe travel and for a good time with them.

Pray that many churches will open their doors to me for mission conferences, Sunday School, etc. and that God will use these opportunities to provide the needed ministry partners.

Pray for Genesis College as we continue to recruit faculty and various team members. Also pray for us as we work toward opening our doors, which do not yet exist! We hope to begin English classes in the Fall of 2014, but that is not certain as only our GIC president and his family are currently living in Osaka. Pray that I will soon be able to join them.

Thank You!

I want to thank so many friends and family from all over the world who are partnering with me through prayer and giving. I could not do this without your support. You are vital to this ministry!

I hope and pray that you have a blessed Christmas in which you experience the hope and joy found only in relationship with Jesus Christ.