My Only Comfort In Life and in Death - 10/18/2019

This morning I learned of the death of a college classmate.  Celebrating their 30th anniversary, she and her husband were vacationing in Italy when the wife died in a tragic accident.  While students at Dordt College, I knew who she and her boyfriend -- and then husband -- were, but I really did not know them.  He was a basketball jock, and she was a musician, if I remember correctly.  Unfortunately I didn't hang out with athletes at all, and very little with many serious musicians.

On a very cold and snowy January this past year, I finally got to know this couple just a bit.  They are members of a supporting church in Sioux Falls, SD, and led the junior high/high school Sunday school class to which I had been invited to share about my ministry in Japan.  Harry is a very kind man, with a gentle spirit I hadn't expected.  He treated the students with patience and a little humor, despite how squirrelly these young teens may have been.  Dori was an exceptionally gracious woman.  It was soon apparent that she was not only highly knowledgeable of the Bible, but her gentle spirit reflected her love of Jesus Christ and of those around her.  Although my time with the class was brief, I regretted having such a limited circle of friends while in college.

My heart breaks for Harry and his children.  How utterly horrible to lose a loved one who is so full of love and life one moment, and then gone the next.  Her loss leaves a gaping hole in the hearts and lives of her family and her church.  How does a spouse, family, church, go on?

Death comes to each of us, sometimes much sooner than we expect.  It's so final;  so scary;  so unnatural -- but that's a blog for another time.  So I pose the question again:  how do we go on with life following the death of a loved one?

In the first letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christian church in the city of Thessalonica, he says to them, "But we do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so even, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Some Christians may say we shouldn't mourn the death of a saint;  after all, they are now with Jesus.  Considering that Jesus Christ himself mourned at the loss of his friend, Lazarus, these Christians could not be more wrong in their calloused attempt to comfort the mourning.  The verses above say that we should not mourn in the same way as those who have no hope.  We do mourn, but we mourn with hope.  And what is that hope?  That Jesus Christ himself died to take the punishment for sin that you and I deserve, but that he then defeated death, rising back to life so that we too may have life that never ends -- life with God in heaven, where there is no death, no pain, no tears.

Perhaps you too have lost people you love.  In the span of just 13 months, in 2015-2016, I lost both my dad and my sister;  I know the sting of death.  Perhaps especially those of you who have lost a spouse or a child can attest that you don't "get over" the death.  But if you know Jesus, and especially if your loved one loved Jesus, you also can attest that your mourning is not without hope.

If you do not feel the sense of hope that persists even through life's most difficult times, I plead with you to pray to God, to confess that you are a sinner in need of salvation, and to trust that what you could never accomplish on your own, God has already done for you.  If you want to ask questions, or seek guidance in any of this, please reach out to me or to another trusted Christian friend or pastor.

Life is hard.  But in Christ, there is a hope that does not disappoint.

Ministry Spotlight: City Sanctum - 9/26/2019

Ministry Spotlight: City Sanctum City Sanctum is a ministry that meets monthly in downtown Sydney aimed at providing community to Sydney's busy working adults. It is a place for workers to discover where the Christian faith and work intersect in their lives, and where participants hear from a speaker who helps them tackle the bigger questions in life. In addition to the monthly dinners, smaller groups meet more regularly in various parts of the city. City Sanctum is a safe place to which Christians can invite unsaved friends and co-workers, where they will encounter the gospel and develop relationships with Christians. City Sanctum is currently led by Jim Jung, but as the lead pastor for Harbour City Church as well as team leader and MTW regional director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, he is spread thin trying to meet the needs of all these ministries as well as those of his family. Upon my arrival in Sydney, I will assume the bulk of leadership for City Sanctum, allowing Jim to focus on other responsibilities, and giving City Sanctum the level of leadership it needs to meet the needs of current participants and perhaps expand the ministry to reach many others. As the leader of City Sanctum, I will work with a core group of young professionals who have been giving leadership to the organization. In addition to further developing the City Sanctum ministry itself, I anticipate that much of my time will involve mentoring core group leaders as well as other participants. Jim Jung speaking at City Sanctum Support Raising Update Nearly 80% of my monthly support is pledged! Several churches are currently considering whether to partner with me -- or to increase their current level of giving. A number of individuals have also expressed interest in becoming partners, and several have notified me that they will be increasing their level of support. But to get to 100%, 20 people will need to pledge an average of $100 per month. Will you be one of those people? Perhaps that's far too much for your budget; will you pledge $25 per month? Or perhaps you can pledge more than $100 per month? Every pledge helps. Regardless of whether God directs you to partner with me financially, please do pray that God will provide. I know He has called, and when He calls, He always provides. Those wishing to make a pledge can do so via one of the following methods: Reply to this email with your pledge. Give/pledge online. Email Mimi Lee at MTW with your pledge. If you have any questions, please email me. If you would like a hardcopy of my prayer card sent to you, please let me know. (You can tear off the bottom half of it to mail to MTW with a contribution and/or pledge as well.) Thank you for your prayerful consideration! Support Goals/Timeline: 90% by the end of October 100% by the end of November Apply for resident visa in December Depart for Sydney first week of January Follow FB Group Forward to a Friend Calendar Saturday, Sept. 28 Sioux Center Pizza Ranch 6 pm dinner 6:30 pm full presentation (approx. 30 minutes) Sunday, Sept. 29 Immanuel CRC Orange City, IA 9:30 am worship 5 minute update Sunday, Sept. 29 Faith CRC Sioux Center, IA 6 pm worship 5 minute update October 1-2 Traveling back to Mississippi Prayer Points Praise God for a free apartment in Madison, MS for October & November! Pray for the upcoming events on my calendar, that God will use them to bring additional partners, but also that God will use them to call others to serve overseas for the gospel. Pray that God will provide 90% of my support by the end of October. Pray whether God would have you be a financial partner with me in the gospel. Pray for safety as I drive from Iowa to Mississippi next week. Pray for City Sanctum -- for Jim Jung as he continues to serve as the director until my arrival, for the core group leaders, and all the CS participants as they seek to know and serve God, and as they invite friends and co-workers. Pray for my own preparation for ministry in Australia. I am reading several books on ministry and on Australian culture. Culture Corner "Would the world be better off without religion?" When The Sydney Morning Herald posed this question in 2008, 80% of readers said "yes." Like Europe, Australia is very much a post-Christian culture, particularly among white Australians. Asian-Australians tend to be much more open to the gospel, and are the majority of those served by the MTW Sydney team. Yet there are reasons for hope that the younger generation of Australians may be less resentful of the church than their parents and grandparents. Please pray for the working of the Holy Spirit in Australia.

Equipping to the Ends of the Earth - 8/24/2019

Equipping to the Ends of the Earth This slogan that I've chosen reflects the vision of the MTW team in Sydney. The vast majority of those being ministered to by the Sydney team are first or second generation Asian-Australians who tend to be much more open to the gospel than Euro-Australians. The desire of the team is to disciple and equip these young adults for ministry throughout Asia-Pacific -- some of them going back to the land of their ancestors. In considering my ministry options (to continue serving in Japan or to transition to Sydney), this vision was the determining factor. God has placed the Japanese deep within my heart; I love the people and desire to see them transformed by the gospel. In many ways, it would have been easier for me to continue serving with one of the MTW teams in Japan. But I believe I can perhaps have a bigger impact for the kingdom of God by serving in Sydney. Through a ministry of discipling and equipping, I hope to send many young adults to Japan as well as other nations, thereby multiplying my own efforts. The MTW Sydney team at the 2019 Asia-Pacific Retreat in Indonesia Financial Status I thought Japan was the most expensive place to serve as a missionary, but I was wrong! I got my budget from MTW last month and it is $1,000 per month MORE than my Osaka budget. Additionally, over the last four years in Osaka, $1,000 per month of my expenses were from a contingency fund of excess one-time gifts. So I already had to makeup that $1,000/month. How much is the budget? $9,000 per month. Let me assure you that most of this money is NOT my salary. The bulk of it actually covers housing, ministry funds, healthcare and retirement, MTW missionary care and administrative costs, etc. I have lost one church and one individual supporter since announcing my move to Australia -- a loss of $115/month. Current pledges are currently at about 76% of the needed budget, meaning I need an additional $2,157/month in pledges. Would YOU consider joining my support team, or increasing the level of your support? My support team currently consists of 15 churches and 54 individual partners who have pledged monthly or annual support. The $2,157/month would be completely taken care of if my current partners increased their giving by an average of $31/month. But not all of them are able to do that. Additional partners are needed as well. If you would like to make a pledge or increase an existing pledge, you can do that through one of the following means: Reply to this email with your pledge. Give/pledge online. Email Mimi Lee at MTW with your pledge. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me. If you would like a hardcopy of my prayer card sent to you, please let me know. (You can tear off the bottom half of it to mail to MTW with a contribution and/or pledge as well.) Thank you for your prayerful consideration! Follow on Facebook Forward to a Friend Calendar August 25    Grace PCA    Sioux Falls, SD September 8    First PCA    Hospers, IA September 15    Lebanon CRC    Sioux Center, IA Likely returning to Mississippi for October & November. Prayer Requests Praise God for safe travel to and from Indonesia for the MTW Asia-Pacific Area Retreat, and for good times with the Sydney team, as well as many friends from the MTW teams in Japan. Pray for my own preparation for ministry work in Sydney, as I prepare for new responsibilities. Pray for the additional financial partners needed to meet my budget, and for openness to church visits. Pray for appropriate housing in Mississippi for October & November. Support Status Goal to arrive in Sydney at the first of the new year.

Headed Down Unda! - 7/1/2019

Headed Down Unda! I am very excited to announce that I will be serving with the MTW team in Sydney, Australia! From May 9 through June 24, I was overseas, closing up our Genesis team in Osaka, but also visiting several other MTW teams in both Japan and Australia. I was thoroughly impressed with the teams and the visions of the team in Nagoya and a proposed new team in Chiba, and believe I would have worked well with either of them. But then I visited the team in Sydney. In discerning which of these three teams was best for me, I considered the following criteria: What are my desires? What is God's gifting to me? What are my opportunities? Then most importantly, taking these three into consideration, where might I have the biggest impact for the kingdom of God? In Japan, I would be working largely with university students who are not Christians, and honestly, most of them will likely never be Christians. In Australia, I will be working largely with young adults who are Christians. While that would seem to say "Stay in Japan!" the vision of the team in Sydney is to be a sending ministry, equipping young people with the skills and desire to be missionaries throughout Asia. Ultimately, this strategy, along with many other considerations, led me to conclude that Australia is the best fit for my own future ministry work. The MTW team in Sydney has three main ministries:  Harbour City Church, Student Outreach to the World (aka "SOW" university ministry), and City Sanctum (post-university ministry). The bulk of my time will involve City Sanctum. This is a ministry started a few years ago to serve those beyond university, providing spiritual nourishment as well as practical help in navigating career life. Bi-weekly meetings in the heart of downtown Sydney are an opportunity to invite co-workers (saved or unsaved) for a meal, good fellowship with other professionals, and a discussion on relevant work-life issues from a Christian perspective. I will also be involved to a smaller degree with SOW and Harbour City Church ministries. There is much to do before I can move to Sydney. MTW is working on my budget so that I can raise any additional funds that may be needed. I need to update my supporting churches on future ministry, and much planning for various logistics of an international move and new work must be accomplished. But I am hopeful that I will be in Sydney around the new year. To those who have been partnering with me in gospel work, I want to THANK YOU for your prayers, financial partnership, and encouragement. You are a vital part of bringing the gospel to the unreached. As I transition to the next phase of God's plan for ministry, I hope that you will continue to partner with me as well. To those of you who have not been able to partner with me in the past, will you please prayerfully consider whether this is something that God might have for you at this time? You can email me for more information about what that would look like. Follow on Facebook Forward to a Friend Calendar July 1-13    Jackson, MS July 14    Chattanooga Valley PCA    Flintstone, GA July 15-19    MTW Summer Conference    Ridge Haven; Brevard, NC July 26    Iowa August 10    Family wedding    Milwaukee, WI Fall (TBD)    Mississippi Prayer Points Praise God for giving clarity for my next ministry. Pray for me as I learn more about ministry in Australia and prepare for my work there. Praise God for the safety he gave me the last few months on a long west coast road trip and flights to Japan and Australia. Pray for continued safety as I'll soon be traveling again to the east and then the midwest. Pray for the needed support to return to the mission field. If I were to return to Osaka, I am at 83% of my budget; Sydney will likely be very similar.

Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead - 6/12/2019

Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead One month ago, I traveled back to Japan temporarily. Because the purpose of this trip is to close down the office and dissolve the team, upon landing in Osaka, I had a horrible "I don't want to be here" attitude. But within a few hours, I was enjoying interaction with a few unsaved young men at the home of one of our team members. It's bittersweet to be here, as I love the city (it really feels like home), and don't want to leave it. But I also know that God is good in all his plans; God’s plans never fail! A few days after arriving in Japan, I spent a week visiting three other MTW teams in Japan regarding potential future ministry opportunities. I was able to eliminate Tokyo (the option in Japan that seemed the most likely), while the other two options, Chiba & Nagoya (which didn't seem very likely), became very attractive ministry options where I could be useful, even with my very limited Japanese language ability. Interesting how God works, isn't it? Upon returning from that week-long vision trip, I got about the business of wrapping up our team business and liquidating the furniture and supplies from our office/classroom. Most of our things are now gone, and while it's a bit sad for me, even through this, God is allowing us to be a blessing to a number of small churches here who often struggle to furnish their facilities. Genesis team members, past & present, celebrating what God has done through our team at TGI Friday's in Osaka. Earlier today (June 11), I arrived in Sydney, Australia, to visit an MTW team here regarding potential ministry with them. I've joked that if I move here, I'm fairly confident I can be 90% fluent within a month or so. But honestly, working in a language that I know would be a welcome change. Yet I've been cautioned that just speaking English doesn't make one culturally proficient; Australian culture is different from America. With an evangelical population of just 6%, most Euro-Australians are quite resentful of the Christian church. However the Australian population is quickly changing as immigrants from all over Asia have been flooding in over the last 20 years or so. These people have been more open to Christianity, and are uniquely able to go back to their homelands with the gospel. In that way, Australia is a great launching pad for missions throughout the most populous nations of the world. I'll return to Osaka on June 19, spending a few more days of liquidating final office things, and closing the office. Upon my return to the States on June 24, I'll attend the PCA General Assembly in Dallas. From there, it's back to Jackson, MS. for about two weeks. (See the "calendar on the right margin for more travel details.) It is my hope soon after returning to the States, God will affirm one of the opportunities in either Japan or Australia. Your prayers are highly appreciated. Thank you for your prayers and continued partnership in the gospel! Follow on Facebook Forward to a Friend Calendar June 11-18    Sydney, Australia June 19-24    Osaka, Japan June 24-28    Jackson, MS June 30    First PCA    Biloxi, MS July 14    Chattanooga Valley PCA    Flintstone, GA July 15-20    MTW Summer Conference    Brevard, NC July 20-22    Greenville, SC July 26 . . . .    Inwood, IA Prayer Points Pray for discernment in where God is guiding me in my next ministry field. Three most likely options: Chiba; back to my original Japan ministry location, but a new neighborhood doing mostly university ministry, and other outreach events, in support of a proposed new church plant, with a new team. Nagoya: working primarily with a well-established team and a well-established university ministry. Sydney: primarily working with a post-university ministry called "City Sanctum" as well as university ministry. Pray for the other Genesis members as they work out their next steps as well. Pray for the 200+ students who attended our English events over the last several years -- that God will continue drawing them to himself. Pray for a good housing option for me for about two weeks in Jackson, MS.

On the Road & In the Skies - 4/8/2019

On the Road & In the Skies After spending the last couple of months in Jackson, MS, I'll be traveling extensively over the next few months. On April 19, I'll begin a road trip through the Southwest and West Coast, visiting supporters and attending the MTW West Coast Missions Conference in the Sacramento area. After a couple of weeks on the road, I'll fly out of Dallas on May 9 for Osaka in order to wrap up the business of the Genesis missionary team. (If you missed last month's announcement of the dissolution of our team, click here.) A big part of that will be liquidating the office & classroom furniture and various supplies. It is our hope to be a blessing to various Christian ministries in Osaka, including several PCJ churches and other Christian churches and ministries with whom we've been associated. Looking Forward During my time in Japan, I will visit other MTW teams there and in Australia regarding potential ministry opportunities. I've also had conversations with MTW teams in a couple other countries, as well as ministries here in the States. Your prayers are appreciated! Upon returning to the States on June 24, I'll be attending the PCA's General Assembly in Dallas, and then return to Jackson, MS. Please Pray: For safety on the road and in the skies For wisdom in discerning God's direction for future ministry For grace in wrapping up Genesis business in Osaka Follow on Facebook Forward to a Friend Calendar April 21    Bryce Avenue PCA    Los Alamos, NM April 24    Los Angeles, CA April 25-28    West Coast Missions Conf    Roseville, CA May 4-5    Phoenix, AZ May 7-8    Houston, TX May 9-June 24    Japan June 11-18    Australia June 25-28    PCA General Assembly    Dallas, TX June 30    First PCA    Biloxi, MS

Walking in Faith - 3/14/2019

Walking in Faith Over the last two months, many conversations have been had, and many prayers offered -- thank YOU for your prayers -- regarding the future of the Genesis team in the wake of the rejection of our named new leader. Is there a way forward, or has the time come to dissolve the Genesis team? Our decision is to dissolve the Genesis team. As excited as we have been about the vision God gave us, and as painful as it is to give up on that vision, we believe God has made it clear that he is not leading us in that direction. Although he certainly did lead us to Osaka, it was not ultimately to establish a school. We are not yet able to see what God's purposes were for us, but we can see the following in ministry results: 11 long-term missionaries moved to Osaka to serve with Genesis. Of these, 10 will continue to serve in Japan with different teams. 2 interns are currently with Genesis. While they will both return to the States at the end of their terms this summer, they both desire to return to Japan long-term. Over 200 Japanese (and a few other nationalities) attended Genesis Cafe, as well as our other periodic events. Relationships were built, the gospel was shared, many gospel seeds sown. A number of students accepted invitations to attend worship services, some continuing to attend and hear the gospel. Our team members were all involved in various local churches, including three small PCJ congregations and a larger bilingual church in the heart of the city. Each person was involved in various ministries of these churches. Individual team members built relationships toward the gospel in various places such as language school, neighborhood cafes, bars, coffee shops, their children's schools, neighborhood parks, etc. How can gospel work really be quantified? I personally led one young man in prayer, accepting Christ, and saw him baptized. His worship attendance was sporadic at best after that, and he later moved out of the country. I've walked with Christian brothers through their dark days, and was encouraged by them in my own dark days. Ultimately, we can only entrust these souls to their Creator God. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Verse 11 goes on to say "My word...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." God is not defeated, nor his plans thwarted. From Here . . . . Following God is not always easy, and we don't usually even know where he is leading us. He reveals enough of his will for our next step, and uses our experiences to prepare us for the steps after that. While we work to discern the path God has for us, we are called to continue to take the next step, walking in faith, that God will direct our paths. In my own search for that path, I've talked with team leaders in two different countries, and with MTW home office staff about opportunities to serve there as well. For now, I will continue to serve on "home missions assignment" (furlough), reporting to my supporters on what God has done, and where he is leading. Your prayers are greatly appreciated in this time of discernment. Follow on Facebook Forward to a Friend Prayer Points Pray for the 200+ souls with whom the Genesis team has connected over the last years -- that God will continue to nurture and draw them to himself. Pray for each of the Genesis missionaries as we seek God's direction for our continued ministries. Pray for Japan, and that God will bring about a great spiritual revolution in the hearts of the people. Calendar March 29-31 Trinity PCA Missions Conference;  Jackson, MS April 21 Bryce Avenue PCA Los Alamos, NM April 25-27 MTW West Coast Missions Conference; Roseville, CA Email Change If you have my Genesis email address in your contacts, please delete it. It will no longer work in just a few weeks. My Gmail address (brentkooi@gmail.com) is the best way to reach me electronically. I can also be reached by telephone at 712-400-0327. Final Osaka Trip I anticipate a trip to Osaka in May or June in order to liquidate the Genesis office furnishings. I am hopeful that we can be a blessing to various churches and ministries in this way. I also will need to sell my own furniture, currently in storage, and arrange to ship personal things back to the States.