Taking the Good News of the Risen Son

to The Land of The Rising Sun.

TUB PAUL PRATT FAMILY

Forwardlnff Addresq
Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer, Sec'y.
P.O. Box 1525

Carmel, Indiana, '<6032-6525

Church Planting
Student {Nangellen
Literature Distribution

Leadership Training

Japan Addresq
1210 Kamikaeuya, Isehara City,
Kanagawa Ken, 259-11
VOLUME 5.

Japan Address

3^0

5 Negishi Oho,

Machida City, Tokyo, 19''

SPRING,

NITMBER 2

newsletter,

we are

planning

1993

and

pre-

approaching. "por us as Christians, Bas^^^ggjgieeeHeglgjlill^^^lHIHyear.

that

It is because of the resurrection

we can be

missionaries

in Japan.

for this life we have hope in Christ, we

pitied

more

than

all men"

encouragement to us
because
we can be
assured
that our
preaching
is not
in
vain.
Even though there are discourage

ments in preaching

and sometimes seemingly no response,

God is faithful and that He

the dead,

is in control.

we can trust that

If our God can raise Jesus from

then He can do anything including adding to His Church in Japan.

Jesus is alive and He is living in us today!

We hope that you have had a wonderful winter and that spring is coming
and is starting to warm up where you are.
Ve are ail doing fine here in
Japan and have had a good winter.
The weather has been pleasant in Tokyo
this winter with not too
many real cold days.
There were no great amounts
of snowfall this winter but only isolated days of flurries. It is beginning
to warm up now and the plant life is beginning to blossom and grow.
This
past week
has been cherry
blossom blooming week and everywhere has been
beautiful.

God
colds at
soon got
the best

has taken care

of our health this winter although we all caught
different times. The girls both had high fevers for a few days but
over them and were as active as ever.
Tim got through the winter
with only one day of not feeling well. But all in all, it has been

a sick-free

winter.

We hope that you enjoy this edition of our newsletter.

Ve were plan
ning on getting this newsletter out about a month ago but . . . we Just
never did.
Anyway it has been a good and rewarding few months.
Christmas
time was very busy
but the past few months have not
been so hectic and we
have been able
to find some rest.
A few weeks ago,
we even found time to

spend a few days up

in the mountains

and even ski some.

Ve are now ready

and excited about the next few months ahead.

Thanks for your
interest in
Japan, your prayers for us, and your faithful encouragement and support!

OUR

V I I? T E R

ACT I

I T

I ES

The Christinas Season

The Christmas season

is one of the busiest times of the year,

is one of the most rewarding times

yet it

as we have the opportunity to share the

birth of Jesus with many people.

Classes at Obirin Junior College

ended the first week

of December so

the Christmas activities for them were very early. We had a Christmas party
at our house

the last week

in Movember.

Then Tim attended

the Christmas

chapel service as well as the Christmas program of the Christian Club. They
were both very good.
On

H i'" -

11

December

little

sT

'

B
^

12,

program of

a few

singing

of us

from

the

and puppets

for

could come to the dining room. For

those who couldn't, Tim dressed up in a Santa

visited every room and passed out
of cookies

and fruit.

They all seemed

to enjoy us and we received a letter from the

' ; ^director thanking us for coming and to come

~ again next year. We are excited about that.

children that

we teach English/Bible to, and

each group put on the Christmas play in English. Some parents came to watch
and they all did real well. Both Tim and Lisa also spoke at 2 other Christ
mas programs for other children. In all, it was a busy time, but we enjoyed
it very much.

Kyle Higgins, a student from Atlanta Christian College, came to visit

and help out for a week from Dec. 12-19. We really put him to work passing
out Christmas tracts, helping with the children's classes, and even playing
Santa at one of the kindergartens that Lisa teaches at. We really appreci
ated his help and hope that we were able to share with him some insights

into foreign missions. Thanks Kyle!

The Machida Church Work

Christmas was also

Christmas service on Dec.

a busy

time

with

the Church.

We had

a special

20 with several first time visitors here.

One of

them came as a result of our tracts so we were happy about that. On Christ
mas Eve, we also had a candle light service with a good attendance there as
well. Even though the Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, more and more are
becoming interested in the meaning of it.
On the last Sunday of the year,
a young mother,
Yoko Iwazaki, trans
ferred her membership from Sannobara Church where Paul and Kathleen serve.
She and her husband and daughter moved to Machida last summer and have been
faithful in coming and serving here since then. Her husband is not a Chris
tian but he comes to service with her each Sunday.
The last Sunday in January we had a Church meeting to decide on plans
and goals for this coming year. This year we decided to target college stu
dents and so are going to plan several programs throughout the year geared
to college students.
We will be mainly working with Obirin students since
Tim teaches there but also plan to pass out tracts and announcements at
other nearby colleges. We have a goal of 3 baptisms this year but know that
greater things can happen with God on our side.
For some time now,

Lisa and a few of the other

mothers in the Church

have been talking about a women's Bible study. So on January 29, the study
began with 4 women. They have Bible studies twice a month, a service pro
ject once a month, and a fellowship time once a month. It is going well.

The Campus Ministry

As the Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March, we are
in between school years now and have a break froai all om' teaching. Obirin
ended the last week of January and it was a good year. About one-third of
Tim's students at Obirin stated that they were interested in Christianity
but none wanted to make a commitment. Tim is going to try to follow up on
these students when school begins in April again.
Classes at American Christian College finished up March 19. This past
term, Tim taught a writing class, a speaking/listening class, and a survey
of the New Testament class. It was a good term with a lot of interest
shown.
In April, the school hopes to gain 3 new students which will
increase the enrollment to 13 which is the

mo-st it has had

in one term.

In the children's English/Bible classes that Lisa teaches,

from Janu
ary to March, they studied the life and teachings of Jesus. The last few
weeks of class they studied and watched videos of the death and resurrec
tion of Jesus.
Many of the older students were moved at the death of Jesus
and wondered why He had to die.
It was a good opportunity for Lisa and
Masumi to teach them about Jesus and

His love.

All our classes will start again the week of April 12, so we are busy
preparing for the new school year. Ve will meet many new students so please
pray that we may be able to share the love of Jesus in some way with all
these students.
NEWS FROM PAUL

AND KATHLEEN PRATT

In our last issue,

we mentioned that Paul and Kathleen were suffering
from some health problems and we asked for prayers for them. They both
became better, but they still decided to go back to America for a while to
rest, recuperate, and get some more medical attention.

With their decision to go back,

they also decided to resign as minis
ter from the Sannobara Church since they had a Japanese minister working
with them.
The Church is in capable hands now and they could leave without
worry.

The Sannobara Church held a "see you again" program for them on March
7 with many people from various places in Japan coming to wish them God's
blessings.
They left on March 12 with plans to come back to Japan if it is
the Lord's will. Please pray for them as they adjust to this change
in
their lives.
They will be living in Indiana
but will be traveling some to
report to their supporting Churches.
SIBLING SCRIBBLES

Sarah and Katie have had a good win

ter and
both are doing fine.
They both
had

bouts with colds

o. k.

and the flu but are

now.

Sarah began going to Japanese pre

school two days a week in January and
really enjoys it. She is picking Japanese
up fast and is making lots of friends.
She is a good big sister to Katie.
Katie is growing fast and is getting
more
active.
Now that Sarah is gone 2
days a week, she tries to rule the house.

She is starting to say a few

more words
like "dog", "baby", and "bunny". It won't
be long
whole

till she

will be

rattling

off

sentences.

They
both enjoy
Street and could watch
also like going outside
both bring great joy to

watching
Sesame
it all day.
They
and playing. They
this house.

J O T T

Most Japanese people are

English

has bGcome

N G S about JAPAN

interested in learning and speaking English,

the international

language

as Japan

deals with

the

Western world. Japanese students study English from Junior High through
High school and even on through college, but the English they study in the
schools is mainly grammar and reading, Even though they study English for 6

or more years, they cannot carry on a ^ood conversation in English. Because

of this, there are lots

Many Americans

and lots of English Conversation Schools in Japan.

and Europeans

come to

Japan

to teach

English

in

these

schools or in universities. Teaching English conversation is a big business

for those who want to make money as students pay from S15 to S50 an hour.

Some parents

of children

that we teach

have asked us

adult conversation class, but we have always said "no".

if we

had an

Since many want to

learn English, we decided to offer classes for adults. We also thought that
this would be a good opportunity to meet more parents and people in the
neighborhood. We began the classes in February, and Tim teaches a men's
class on Saturday night and Lisa teaches a ladies' class on Tuesday night.
We have 17 students between us and we enjoy getting to know the people.

Prayer Needs

We ask for your continued prayers

for us as we
work here in Japan.
Here are some specific needs.

1.

For the growth of the Machida

Church.

2.

For the campus ministry and all

the students that

3.
4.

we teach.

For the children's ministry that

we may make contact with parents.
For Paul and Kathleen Pratt

while they are in the U.S.

5.
For new workers to Japan.
6.
For our health and strength for

Visitors Coming this Spring

We are very excited to have some
family visitors
come over this
spring for a little visit.
On April 19, Tim's mother will
be back in Japan for a visit. She
will be helping mostly at the camp,
but we are sure we will be seeing
a lot of her. Sarah is looking for
ward to going swimming with her.
Later on in May, Lisa's parents
are planning on making another trip
to Japan.
They will drive again to
California and then fly on military
Space-A from there. They will stay
for several

the summer activities.

weeks

and we

are all

looking forward to their coming.

It should be an exciting spring!

Thank you all very much!

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

NONPROFIT ORG.

9699 Second Street North

U.S.

St. Petersburg, FL

PERMIT #904

33702

POSTAGE PAID

ST. PETE.. FL 337

Address Correction Requested

Mi.3si.on Services
P.. 0.. Box 2427
Knoxv

TN 37901-2427

/^37
Taking the Good News of The Risen Son
to 'The Land of the Rising Sun*.
THE'PAUL PRATT FAMILY

THE TIM TURNER FAMILY

c/o Mary Lou Bauer

c/o Mrs Carol Spencer

P.O. Box 1525

Carmel, IN
Tel.

46032-6525

9699

Church Planting
Student Evangelism

317-578-8808

2nd St. North

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Tel. (Japan) 427-91-4600

Leadership Training

Vol. XXXVII, No. 2, Spring, 1993

Dear friends,

What a send-off we got from brothers and sisters in Japan! On Feb. 18th the ladies invited
Kathleen's former English students and neighborhood friends for a sendoff party. Paul and three
other men joined them for a sumptuous meal and exchange of memories around the table.
Then began the day-by-day task of executing the move.
we have lived in the same house.

It was complicated by the 25 years

We were able to find time for various families who invited us

for a meal, called or wrote from far away to wish us well.

We give special thanks to the dedi

cated crew that assisted us in packing and cleaning up.

March 7th was the church-planned "See you again Party". In the morning I preached to a full
house on the subject "If this Were My Last Message". A program of special music, testimony and

recalling of memories was sandwiched between the noon and evening fellowship meals.

Seven per

sons came from far-off Kyushu in the South three came from Nagoya and one flew in from the nor
thern island of Hokkaido.

by the many

More than 120 well-wishers attended.

expressions of love and gratitude shown toward us.

Both of us were overwhelmed

We sincerely pray for those who

have still not given themselves to our Lord who died for them.

Stateside supporters have been asking, "Are you retiring now?"

The answer is "No".

Our

service through Central Japan Christian Mission will be varied but we intend to continue promo
ting the Mission and attempting to enlist young recruits for service in Japan. C.J.C.M. is
larger than one man or one family. Sponsoring churches have received our financial report and
they are aware of four areas of mission. (1)

The Onga Church and (4) The Bible Room

Machida Church, (2) The Campus Ministry (3)

in Sendai City. Then as new recruits are enlisted, the

budget for Evangelism will increase.

Since our last report, on February 21st three persons have been added to the Lord's body

at Sannobara. Taizo Nakamura (aged 43) studied with me for four years. He and his son, Masahiro
went into the baptistry together. He is 11 years old. Then Yoshiaki Ishii (aged 10) son of
Prof. Naoaki Ishii became the third second-generation to be born again in the Sannobara family.
Since we returned to the States Miss Natsuki Kamlyama
was baptized into Christ on March 21st.

in 1991 on the home-stay program.

She came to the States

She was so happy to have

passed the entrance exam to Obirin High School because "It is a

Christian school". The next week following her baptism she was
instrumental in encouraging six other young people to join her
in the Spring Youth Camp.
Speaking of Obirin Academy, the Christian Club with which

Tim Turner and 1 have been associated has been lead by three
different members of Christian Churches in four years. The
most recent one is Shingo Tsuda, from the Mejiro Dai Church

where Harold and Lois Sims minister.

Having graduated from

Obirin College this year, Shingo will enter the Osaka Bible
Seminary this year to study for Christian service. Praise God!
Beginning with this school year (from April) Tim and Lisa
Turner's responsibilities will increase.

Tim has an extra Bi

ble Class in the Junior College and will teach the Christian
Nakamura, Masahiro & Yoshiaki

Club each week.

He has also been given the chance to teach an

English Bible class, elective for all

college students. We are thankful that
David Cole, son of the late Harold and

Leone Cole is taking over my classes

and those of Penny Hoggs in the Junior
College.

Penny has returned Stateside

to serve at her Alma Mater, Kentucky

Christian College,and to take classes.

She has served in Japan faithfully for
twelve years.
Naoaki Ishii, a faithful member and
trustee of the Sannobara Church is a Mo

lecular Biologist Professor at Tokai

University in Isehara. He has been

given the honor of providing an experi

ment to be taken aloft aboard Discovery

when it is sent up on July 30th, 1994.

Japan's astronaut, Dr. Chiaki Mukai, will
care for the experiment during the flight.
Ishii with Ms. Mukai and two other astronauts

PRAY;..for Masako, wife of Hideto Yoshii, Minister of the Onga Church in Fukuoka. She faces

surgery for the removal of a kidney on May 10th....for the Sannobara Church-Machida Church joint
congregational meeting set for May 16th..thank God for Kathleen's and my improved health..for Ma-

koto Yamada, of Sannobara who will enter Brevard College (Brevard, North Carolina). Though reared
in a Christian home, he has not yet become a Christian...that "the Lord of the harvest will send
forth laborers into His harvest."

During our month and a half stay in Indiana we have attended the Central Christian Church in
Carmel. What an impressive portrayal we witnessed of the Musical Drama "The Victor"! We felt we

were actually
of our Lord.

witnessing the triumphal entry, the trial, the

crucifixion and the resurrection

And what a joy it was to see seven of our relatives participating in the drama.

What a 'Victor' is Jesus!!!

Both of us are waiting upon the Lord, so that as Isaiah says we may "mount up with wings as
eagles" to "run and not get tired" and to "walk and not become weary".

Central Japan Christian Mission Inc

16^10 Ronnies Drive,

Mishawaka, IN 465^4-6^71

iuXv* i-i-i:

A Non-profit Org,
U.S.Postage

Address Correction Requested

PAID

South Bend,

Worte EvAHgclism Conference

Permit # 316

October 15-17,1993
Knoxville Convention Center
Knoxville, Tennessee
C.J.C.M.'s
den

Booths 314 & 316

do

evangelism

37^01-24S7

IN

MISSION SERVICES
BOX 2427

KNOXsl-ILLE

(RESEARCH DEPT)
TN

37901

Taking the Good Neva of the Risen Son

to The Land of The Rising Sun.
PAUL & KATHLEEN PRATT
Forwarding Addreaa

Mrs. Mary Lou Baueri Sec'y.

P.O. Box 1525

Cartnel, Indiana, '6032-6525

TIM & LISA TURNER-

Forwarding Address

Church Planting
Student Evangeliem

Kr. 8c Mrs. Dan Spencer

Literature Distribution

Leadership Training

9699 - 2nd St, North

St. Petersburg, F1 35702
Japan Address

3^0 - 5 Negishi Cho,

Robert Wictenioyer,
Exec. Director

Indianapolis
Harold Akera,
South Bend

Harry Bauer,
Indianapolia

Richard Coyle
Cincinnati

Bruce Norton
Polly Wilkinson,

Sout"Snd
Christ.

Hachida City, Tokyo, 19^

XXXVIII, No. 3, Autumn, 1993

Dear friends,

All thanks to God, good physicians and effective medicines,

my health has improved. We have begun our itinerary as of June
day we visited the Milburn Blvd. Church at Mishawaka, In. where
full-time ministry began 44 years before.
"Time flies like an

Turner in Japan reports having a busy summer schedule.

Kathleen and
6th. That
our first
arrow".

Of course he

and Dave Cole had Bible Classes at the Junior College and Christian Club

thru July. Then came camps, D.V.B.S., the All-Japan Convention and then the
Missionary Convention. The guest speaker this year was Prof. David Faust,
from the Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary. Betty Turner, also was back

jji Japan for the summer, serving at the Shinshu Bible Camp. At the Machida

Church, Tim reports still another adult baptism.

Another family is united in

Wasn't it Paul who promised "the time will come when we will reap the harvest".

Sannobara, where we had served, is now self-supporting a^ self-governing. Their fiscal bud
get ratified on May 16th tops $48,000 which includes $24,000+ for their minister which allows him
to be full-time.

The mission house where we had lived has become the church parsonage.

Since

Central Japan Christian Mission has provided the church building for them, the Mission has chal
lenged the church to save and build its own planned addition to the church.
Speaking of the Central Japan Christian Mission, they have been busy since our return. Our
yearly meeting which is scheduled for September 18th will be their third one since April. New
plans and goals are to be set. Pray with us that "the Lord of the harvest will send forth labor
ers into Kis harvest." Matthew 9:38

Possibly you remember our mentioning Yuji and Takako Arai (Spring, '92, Winter, '93) Here is

a picture of them with little Mari who was supposedly con

ceived at the very time when they were 'born again* at Yama-

gata City.

We learned later that they began seeking the Lord

after a Christian friend called on them to console them after

a miscarriage.

God surely uses our deeds of love.

Mountain-top experiences we have had since returning are

the North American Christian Convention and Lake James School

Missions.

Great preaching and meaningful study sessions

marked the former.

\'

The latter provided fellowship and ex-

change of ideas with other missionaries.

We look forward to

World Evangelism Conference set for October 14-17 at Knox-

ville, Tn. ^ the Convention Center.

Can you join us? If

Fellow-missionary, Jonathan Sims was married on August

14, 1993 at Ames, Iowa. Our special congratulations to Jonathan and Verla. They plan to go to Japan in November. They

-L' JSi
The Arais, Mari, Takako & Yuji

will be living in Yokohama City where

Jonathan served before,

ministering to the Yokohama Church of Christ.

How can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?

It had been six years since

all our family were able to be

together at one time.

So on the

July 4th weekend we all conver

ged upon Lydia and Rick Coyle's

Cincinnati home.
Paul and his
wife Jeannie flew in from Cali
fornia.
Mary Joyce, Steve and

the boys came by car from Long

Island as did Mark, Lynn and fami
ly from Bellefountaine, Ohio. We
worshipped, played, sang and talk
ed a blue streak together.
We

\ 'ardl^a

celebrated Paul David's being ad

mitted to practice law in Cali
fornia and Lydia's
nd birth-

day.
We are so happy that all
of them are serving our Lord.
"The father of a righteous man
has great joy". Prov. 23:24

The Paul Pratt family, 17 in all (count 'em)

Bob Maxwell, a 1993 graduate of Johnson Bible College was called by the
C.C.E.A. of Indianapolis and the Chapel Rock Church to serve in reviving the New

Life Christian Church (formerly Parkview) there. Wishing to serve my Lord I vol
unteered to help Bob with calling two or so days each week. Mid-week Bible
Study has begun with good results and the Sunday Morning Service is set to begin
in November. Pray for a great new beginning.
In addition to the aforementioned National Missionary Convention, we are

looking forward to a rally at Orlando, Florida, in Northwest Kansas and with the
Vermillion Church at Alexandria, Indiana. If we may be of assistance to your

church in a Faith-Promise Rally or a Missions Rally, write or call us.

We have been privileged to meet with various Japanese friends since return
ing to the U.S.
Sachiko and Rod Friese came from Burnsville, Minnesota with
their three children in late June.
Hideto (Eddie) and Masako Yoshi i, Hideki and

Keiko were able to spend the first two weeks of August in Indiana and Kentucky.
Then, Scott LaRue,Ka bhleen and I met Yoshiyuki Taki at Indianapolis airport on

Aug. 18th. He has served with Bill Belew at Niigata and is enrolled in Indiana
University's College of Law. We look forward to seeing him now and then. Pray
for Scott LaRue as he and Carmen return to serve in Russia in September.

Having recently ^jturned to our natiye land, both of us_ were_ deeply moved_

at Lake James as we pledged allegiance to our flag, "one nation under God". We

sincerely pray that our people, Lorsakiri' violence, lawlessness and sin, will
humbly return to Him who loves us so.

Central Japan Christian Mission Inc.

16^10 Ronnies Drive,

Mishawaka, IN ke^kk~ek7l

j AA Non-Profit
Org.
Non-Profit Org
U.S.Postage
PAID
PAID
South Bend, IN

Address Correction Requested

-

Worlt> tVvMigclism Coherence

Permit
Permit #
# 316
316

October 15-17, 1^5

Knoxville Convention Center

Knoxvinc, Tennessee
C.J.C.M.'s

Booths 31^1 & 316

missioni SERVICES
SERvippt.MISSid
B
BOX
0y 24:
7'4'>"7
' ^3

t-Mnv-rP'. _

KMOXVI!U.C.

(RESEARCH
nFPT^
f RESEARCH
OEPT^
Thi

e|iK15tlA/^ 1415510/^
Taking the Good News of the Risen Son
to The Land of The Riaing Sun.

THE PAUL PRATT FAMILY

THE TIM TURNER FAMILY

ForvardinR AddresB

Forwarding Address
Mr. St Mrs. Dan Spencer

Church Planting

Mrs, Mary Lou Bauer, Sec'y,

Studeat Cvangelien

P.O. Box 1525

9699

Litfratura Distribution

Carmel, Indiana, '<6032-6525

2nd St. North

St. Petersburg, F1 33702

Laadarehlp Training

Japan Address
1210 Kewjikasuya, Isehara City,
Kanagawa Ken, 259-'Il

Japan Address

340 - 5 Negishi Cho,

Hachlda City, Tokyo, 19'<

VOLUME 6. NUMBER

FALL.

1993

A VET AND RAINY GREETINGS FROM JAPAN! |HH||H||||p|^g||H|np||||||^B||naa

Ve are

all

summer,

fine

and

have

had a good

but it sure has been a wet one.

The Japanese

weather

bureau

said that

this has been the rainiest summer

in

39

years,
and
we
believe
it.
From the
beginning of June and
continuing up to
now, the rain has hardly let up.
Every-

time

I look out

thinking that I am

the

window,

keep

ifV'*

going to see animals

walk by in pairs.
Normally
Japan has a
rainy season from the
first
of J une

until

mid-July,

expect a good

year

and

we

can

amount of rain,

the rainy season

usually
but this

never ended.

11

Just
kept raining through
August and
into the
typhoon season
which
begins

around the first part of September.

^
Japanese weathermen are not quite sure when the rainy season officially
ended and when summer began or even when the typhoon season began.
Because
of all the rain, it has been an unusually cool summer. I, Tim, have enjoyed
that but Lisa, the Florida native, has missed the sun and the heat.

Last week at Obirin Junior College,

I had the opportunity to speak in

I shared with the students
how God's power can be seen in the rain and the storms.
Job 37:5-7 says,
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;
He does great things beyond our
chapel and my topic was none other than "Rain".

understanding.

He says to the snow,

'Fall on the earth,'

and to the rain

shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' So that all men He has made may know His
work. He stops every man from His labor." (Job 37:5-7)
Ve serve a great
and powerful God!

He is working in this world

and we are excited at what

He is doing here in Japan.

Even though the rains came,

we still continued all our work

and have

had a busy but rewarding past several months. The Church work is going well
and exciting things are happening. The summer schedule of conventions, VBS,
and camps kept us hopping, but they were enjoyable. The new year of classes
at
the colleges and
with
the children
are also going well and we are

encouraged by it.

God is blessing us

and the work here

and we praise God

for His power.

It has been a while since we have written,

but we hope to share with
you what has been going on here throughout the spring and summer.
Ve hope
you will enjoy reading this newsletter and that you will pray for all that
is going on.
Ve thank you for your interest in Japan, your prayers for us,
and your faixhful encouragemenx and support!

OUR
The

SPRING

Machida Church

AND

SUMMER

ACTI VI TIES

Vork

The theme for the Church this year is "Serve one another in love."
Throughout the spring and summer
vfe
have
been studying about
being a
servant. During the spring, Tim preached through the Gospel of Mark showing
Jesus as

the model

servant.

Then in the summer months,

we studied about

being servants in this world. It has been a good study for all of us and we
have been trying to reach out more to people.
The attendance at Church has been growing and we are encouraged about
that. Since April, we have averaged almost 25 in the Sunday morning worship
service.

Ve have

had

several

first-time

visitors

come

and a few have

started to come regularly.

One man who has started to come is a Christian
but hasn't been to Church
in a
long time.
Tim met him on the bus one
morning while he was going to American Christian College. The man wanted to
practice his English so began talking to Tim.
During the conversation, Tim
said that he was a minister and the man expressed that he was a Christian.

Tim invited him to Church, and he came the next Sunday

and has been coming

ever since.-God uses us even in the smallest of ways.

Our annual Tri-Church worship service and picnic was held on May 23. Ve
Joined the Sannobara Church,

where Paul and Kathleen

ministered,

nearby Zushi Church for a good time of worship and fellowship.

service we went to a nearby park and enjoyed playing softball.
summer

was

She and her

I I;/

the

baptism of

boyfriend,

and the

After the

Aya Kikuchi.

Takehisa,

started

coming ^ quite regularly. Takehisa was a

become one too. Aya shared her interest in

after several teaching sessions, decided to

be baptized.

22.

1^

Ia I

It

As she wanted her

friends to

watch, she set the date for August

was a

beautiful baptismal service

with close to 30 in attendance. Her parents

please pray for Aya that she will be faith

ful and that she will be a good example.

In June, Tim performed his first wedding in Japanese. Tim had known
Aki Hasegawa ever since high school as she was a member of the Sayama
Church where Tim's parents were at that time . After graduating from high
school,

she left the church for a while

as she started to

work

but

has

recently come back and is faithfully attending the Machida Church.

Her new
husband is not a Christian but she is working on him and we are praying for
him.
Anyway, they were married on June 5 in a Church building in downtown
Tokyo.
It was a beautiful service, and Tim did o.k. for being his first
time in Japanese.

The Church is trying to target college students this year, so we

decided to plan several programs to attract students.
On May 20 we had a
"Welcome Night" for Obirin College students. Ve passed out announcements on

campus for this but only had about 5 come. Ve still had a good time and got
to know them better.

Ve are going to

try several more

things

this

fall

including a concert in November by a well-known Japanese Christian band. Ve

hope that many students and people injthe community will come.
The last Sunday in August,
we hosted the Tokyo area fifth Sunday
Rally.
Ve had a sports theme and rented a nearby gym to meet in.
Bill

Belew, a missionary in northern Japan, came down and spoke on the topic of
"pressing on to the goal." Over 40 attended and we played games, worshiped,
ate supper together, and had a good time of fellowship.

Suimner

Activities

This past summer was one of the busiest summers we have had hers.
Almost every week we were doing something or going somewhere, but it was a
very good summer and here are some of the things that went on.
The day after all our classes ended in mid-July, we headed for Shinshu
Bible Camp for a few days of Vork Camp. Not many came this year so we
worked hard getting ready for the summer camp season.
For the first time in a long time, Tim was able to attend the Japan
National

Convention

of our

Christian Churches.

This year it was held on

July 23-25 in Kobe City, Tim drove our van down with a load of people from
a nearby Church. It was a good convention and Tim was able to see many

people

whom he

has known

growing up.

Over 400 Christians

from all over

Japan came to participate and be encouraged.

From July 26-29, we had our Vacation Bible School here at the Church.
It was held each morning from Monday through
came and

had

while we were

very good week.

time

in charge of the

singing,

crafts.

The

The main speaker was a young

tian. Tim led a morning class for Junior high

students which went well.

The

National

Missionary

Convention

of our Churches

was the

next

week

from the 10-12.

Because of the dates this year,
it was not well attended
but those who did come were blessed by the meetings.
Professor David Faust
from Cincinnati Bible College was the guest speaker and he led 5 sessions
on being "Always Ready."
It was encouraging for all of us and even Sarah
and Katie had a good time in the children's sessions.
The day after returning home from the convention, Tim headed out to
the Leadership Training Camp for Christian college students.
Over 20
studentsfrom our Churches came for a three day retreat of intense Bible
study and fellowship.
Three from Machida went and we had a good time.
Tim
was a group leader and led several discussion times.
The one week we were free this summer was the week of August 16-20,

but since most people are off that week in Japan, we decided to stay around
home and relax and catch up on some work that needed done.

Ve did take two

days and visit the Axton's (Paul is the president of American Christian
College) in the next prefecture and go camping.
August 23-26 was our first English
Bible

Ve enjoyed the rest.

Camp for college students,

The Campus Ministry

The

month

of

April

brought

the beginning of our teaching schedule

again at the colleges, the kindergartens, and classes here at the Church.

Classes at American Christian College

students.

Tim

continued

10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

to

teach

began again on April 12 with 13

pn Mondays

and taught 4 classes from

He taught 2 \^ltlng classes,

a reading class, and

a speaking class. It was a busy term for Tim, but most of the students were

faithful In coming

and studied very hard.

As a matterof-fact,

after the

spring term, 5 students were able to go to the States to study. Three

students transferred to Mllllgan College where they are studying very hard.
The school year for Qblrln Junior College began on April 13 for Tim.

As before, he goes to Oblrln on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to teach 3 Bible

classes to a total of 94 students.

Most of the students know nothing about

the Bible when the year begins so It Is a challenge to teach them the
message of the Bible. After a few weeks of Introductory lessons, Tim begins

a series of studies on the Gospel of Luke using videos and questions. Many
of the students are Interested and thait Is encouraging.
Besides teaching at the Junior college, Tim was asked to be the spon
sor of the Qblrln

Christian

Club.

a group of Christian students who meet

together for study, prayer, and fellowship. Paul Pratt was the sponsor last
year and with their leaving, Tim was asked to continue. It Is not a demand

ing position as the students do most of the planning, but Tim Is there to
help In any way. Tim Is looking forward to doing many things with the
Christian Club In the years to come.
At the end of last year, a chaplain at Oblrln asked Tim If he was
Interested In teaching an English Bible study after school one afternoon a

week.

Tim was excited to do so

Bible study on

and on April 20,

Tuesday afternoons at 4:30.

began leading an English

Most of the

students who come

are from the Christian Club, but there are a few who come each week who are

not Christians and are Interested In the Bible and In English.

attendance Is about 12 and we have a gpod time.
Lisa and Masuml started up the
In April too
Bible lesson

In Japanese for about

them

English

From April

to mid-July,

with close to 60 students.

English for the next 30 minutes.

to teach

children's Engllsh/Blble classes again

and that Is going well.

classes on 3 afternoons

The average

they had 7

Masuml teaches a short

minutes and then

Lisa teaches them

Lisa[uses songs, picture cards, and games

phrases and the English alphabet.

The kids have a

good time and Masuml and Lisa do a good job.

Through the children's English Classes, we had special programs on

Mother's Day and Father's Day, On Mother's Day, we asked the kids to bring
their mothers for an evening of slnglni
games, eating, and a message by
Tim's mother who was back In Japan.
A good crowd came and they had a good
time. Then on Father's Day, a good group of children and their fathers came

for a curry rice supper and an evening of songs, games, and a short message
by Tim. Both times the Church building was full and It went very well. Ve
want to reach the parents,

and In this small way, we hope that some become

open to the Gospel.

Lisa continues to teach at two kindergartens during the week. She

teaches at Eunice Preschool on Monday mornings and at Qblrln Kindergarten

on Friday mornings.
Qblrln.

There are about

^0 kids at

Because both of these schools

to teach about the

the preschool

are Christian schools,

Bible as she teachds English.

and 160 at
she If free

Although teaching little

kids takes a lot of patience, Lisa enjoys these two classes.

Ve are continuing to teach our adult English classes during the week.
Lisa teaches 5 ladies on Tuesday night and Tim teaches 7 men on Saturday
night. Several dropped out after a few weeks because of different reasons

but the 12 who

come are faithful

and we have

a good time.

Ve pray

that

somehow we can lead them to know "The Good Teacher".

Ve spend a lot of time teaching so we ask for your prayers that we may
be strong and bold. Ve are praying that many will believe In Him.

People Coming and Going

This past spring and summer, we saw a lot of people come and go here
in Japan. Penny Boggs. a 12 year missionary here in JapAn, decided to
return to America to begin working at her alma mater, Kentucky Christian
College.

She taught at Obirin

and lived near us,

so we will miss her and

the good times we shared together. She left on April 22 and started working
full-time at KCC in August.

Tim's Kother also came back to Japan to spend the summer with us and
with the work at Shinshu Bible camp. She arrived on April 19 and spent a
few weeks with us before heading up to camp to spend most of the summer
there. She really worked hard at camp. She left on September 3.
Lisa' parents were also able to come to Japan for about a month. They
arrived on Kay 17 and stayed until June 18.
Ve all enjoyed visiting with
them and taking them places. They both were a big hit in our adult English
classes each week. Sarah and Katie also loved being with them.
Ve had

a short visit

in August from

Melissa Kacintosh.

Bufflngton Road Christian Church in College Park, GA.

her work at camp and for her encouragement here.

a member of

Ve are grateful for

Finally, Kasumi Naka, who has been helping us here at Machida for over

a year,
left to go back to America to make plans to get married.
She met
Bobby Snyder when she attended Cincinnati Bible College and they have con
tinued to correspond.
She left in August to attend another semester at CBC
before they get married in December.
She will be greatly missed, as she

did a lot here, but we pray that God will give her and Bobby much happiness
They plan to return to Japan after Bobby graduates from CBC and

together.

we anxiously await their return.

MEVS FROM PAUL

AND

KATHLEEN PRATT

In our last issue, we said that Paul and Kathleen made the decision to

go back to the U.S. because of health reasons.

They wanted first of all to
rest and have some medical testing done.
Ve thank you for your prayers for
them.
As of now, they are both feeling a lot better and have started
traveling and visiting supporting Churches. They are open to what God wants
them to do and if it is His will,
they want to return to Japan next year.

Because they left Sannobara Church in the capable hands of a Japanese

minister, they are open to God's leading to another place in Japan. Please
continue to pray for the Pratts as they decide about the future.
SIBLING SCRIBBLES

Sarah and Katie

and growing up.

are both doing fine

Sarah celebrated her 4th

birthday in June and had a big party with

3 grandparents here. She is quick to tell

you that she is a big 4-year old.

She is

becoming such a little lady and is a good

sister

to

Katie.

Katie celebrated her 2nd birthday on

September 27.

She

is

talking

more and

more and will soon be speaking sentences.

She

loves to

mimic Sarah

ever she does.

ther

most

of the

Church

and

does

what

time.

Ve received
the

and

They both play well toge

a puppy from
both Sarah and

a lady in
Katie

love

their dog. Sometimes they treat it like a

doll

and

throw

still alive

and

it

around

it

is

but so far

well

it

is

loved.

They both had a good summer and

enjoyed traveling and seeing many people.
Ve thank God for His precious gifts.

JOT TINGS about JAPAN

value of the dollar drop greatly

we have seen the
Because of this, we are getting even less of our dollar

This past summer,

against the yen.

than we used to and it is making

thi^s that much more expensive here,

If

we received a salary in yen from Japan

there would be no difference,
but
since we receive dollars from you in
America and have to exchange it into
yen, we are really losing a lot. Four years ago in The Turner Times, we
listed some price comparisons when the exchange rate was 150 yen for $1.
This summer, the dollar dropped to 100 yen for SI.
Here is a comparison of
1989 and 1993 with no difference in the Japanese prices:

Gasoline
Movie

1989

1993

S3.20/gal.

S4.80/gal.

1989

1993

Steak S12.85/lb.

S18.50/lb.

SIO.70

S16.00

Rice

S2.00/lb.

S3.00/lb.

Candy Bar

$.67

SI. 00

Bread

SI.00/12 si

SI.50/12 si

Coke

S.71/can

SI.10/can

Milk
Eggs

S5.00/gal.
SI.20/10

SI.80/10

Big Mac

S2.65

S3.90

Prayer Needs

Billy Graham coming to Japan

We ask for your continual prayers

for us as we work here in Japan.
Here are some specific needs:
1.

Next year from January 13-16,

Tokyo will be host to Billy Graham
and his evangelistic crusade.
It
will be held in the Tokyo Dome,
home of the famous Tokyo Giants

For the Church as we strive to

reach out into the neighborhood.

2.
For the Gospel Concert the
Church is hosting on November 20.
3. For the Campus Ministry as we
teach many students.
4. For our upcoming Christmas acti

baseball team.

As always,

the area.

cru

to the Churches in

Many Christians in Japan

are joining together in prayer for

a great revival in Japan through
the crusade as well as other events

in Japan this year.

Ve ask that you please pray for
a revival in Japan too.
Many here
are searching for peace and purpose
in their lives. Pray that many will
find "the Way, the Truth, and the

For Paul and Kathleen Pratt as

they make plans for their future.

6. For new workers to Japan.
7. For our health and strength this
winter.

Thank you all very much!

Life."

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

9699 Second Street North

St. Petersburg, FL

a Billy Graham

sade is a boost

vities at Church.

5.

S7.50/gal.

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

33702

PERMIT #904

ST. PETE.. FL 337

Address Correction Requested

;;.Lc;)n

P..

berv;:i..ces

Box 2427

Kn ox V"Llle.

IN 3790: 2427

Taking the Good News of the Risen Son

to The Land of The Rising Sun.
THE TIM TURNER FAMILY

THE PAUL PRATT FAMILY

Forwarding Address

Forwarding Address

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer, Sec'y.

P.O. Box 1525

Carmel, Indiana, ^6032-6525

Church Planting
Student Evangeliso
Literature Distribution

Leadership Training

Japan Address

Mr. & Mrs. Dan Spencer

9699 - 2nd St. North

St. Petersburg, F1 33702
Japan Address

340 - 5 Negishi Cho,

On furlough as of Mar. 12, 1993

Use address above.

Vol. XXXVII, No. I, Winter, 1993

Machida City, Tokyo, 19^

Dear friends,
Robert Wittenmyer,
Exec. Director

Indianapolis
Harold Akers,
South Bend

Harry Bauer,
Indianapolis

Roger Burnham,
South Bend

There is cause for rejoicing at Sannobara. Tomeji Ishikura, 31 after

months of study repented of sin and was baptized into Christ on December 13th.
He and his wife, Naomi, have been serving in a facility for retarded children.
He is a willing servant and an able guitarist. His wife also transferred her
membership having been immersed years ago. Their daughter is six months old.

Christmas was ^ great time for our church.

The newly opened Day Care

Center and Retirement Home nearby invited our Bible School to tell the story

of Christ's birth through song, slides and Scripture.

Richard Coyle
Cincinnati

other invitations in the future.

We anticipate getting

Because members invited friends, family

members and colleagues, the Christmas service and Eve Candle Services brought

Bruce Norton

near record crowds.

Orlando

Polly Wilkinson,
south^flend

Probably you guessed it by now. Things have been going well under Bro.
Hitoshi Nishiyama's leadership. For that reason, Kathleen and I have been

making plans to vacate the mission house and turn over the responsibilities
of ministry to him. If we had any questions as to God's will in the matter, we were convinced

that He approved when she became ill in September and then my visits to the doctor began in No
vember. After receiving various tests we plan to take x-rays and reports back to the States
with us for whatever treatment is necessary. We will leave on March 12th with permits to return
since we have obligations to Central Japan Christian Mission. We expect to be able to accept
speaking dates by May, if the Lord be willing. Please address us at P.O. Box 152^, Carmel, IN
46032-6323

Our telephone number is 317-378-8808.

John Thybault, Campus Minister at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, contacted us for
literature in reaching Japanese on campus. Thru correspondence we learned that Churches of

Shipment of books to Michigan

Tomoji, Naomi, little Yuriko and grandma Ishikura

Christ in Michigan are sponsoring campus ministeries at eight colleges. We were happy to provide

bo^kffor t"em'^ Se Lnt^several'copiL of 'Kami Ka Daiku KaV (Josh McDowell's 'More Than A Car-^

penter'), ten Japanese-English New Testaments, and forty copies of C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity
besides other more simple teaching materials. So, join your prayers with ours and Michyan

tian Campus Ministries' that converts will be sent back to Japan to become leaders in the churchMost of you know that Tim and Lisa Turner are Campus Ministers serving with us. As of now,
Tim will be teaching more Bible Classes at the junior college and will be leading the Christian
Club Bible Study each week. Besides, they continue the ministry with the Machida Church. Uphold
them and their busy schedule in prayer. Tim will be working with

Suzuki, the contractor, to

enlarge the second floor church meeting room. By the way, together we will be able ^
the l6-year mortgage on ^ Machida land ^ November o this year. Praise
I^rd11

off

Many C.B.S. grads will remember Toshiaki Chida. He made the dean's list regularly while
attending graduate school in the 80's. He and his wife have been serving in Sendai City with a
'Bible Room' in rented quarters. They were ordered to vacate their apartment by the end of last

December. So, on faith they launched out on a big loan to buy a house for evangelism. Learning
of their vision, C.J.C.M. committed a given amount monthly toward the loan- They have no mission

assisting them. They have gone out on pure faith. Their address is Toshiaki Ch^,^Kitane

Kuromatsu, Aoba Ku, Sendai, Miyagi Ken, 98I1 Japan. Pray for them. Write to them.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Sunday-Monday overnight with Brother Bill Belew and nij^^ hj^^workers at Niigata Ken. It was November, so we considered (in English) being Thankful
I^fe,
For Diligent Labor and Thankful for 0^ Divine Mission. They challenged me as much as I was
able to encourage them. We have remembered the Joel Likins family, the Don Burneys, the Scott
LaRues and the Scott Lund family all of whom have gone out from there to serve in Russia.

A. ....1, .>. tjiia. to

zns".1. '.'.s

;"-ir=sa"5,-

...u.,

......

In our Spring, 1992 newsletter we told of Yuji ^Takako Arai^ conversion, ^ey live in
tized. They named her Mari which means 'truth . (John 14.bj

prize on one card we had received. Believe it or not, it

a travel

Speaking of cards, we were encouraged so much by yo^ lovely^ Christmas greetings^^

well farfs Ve ar^re that your prayers have been behind us as well. Of course your gifts

^fTove have made all we are able to do possible. Many, many thanksl

Central Japan Christian Mission Inc

16^10 Ronnies Drive,

Mishawaka, IN 465^^-6^71
Address Correction Requested

The Niigata Group

A Non-Profit Org.
U.S.Postage
PAID

South Bend, IN
Permit # 316