"Like A Child"

"Like A Child" was the title of Peter's first sermon at Asaminami Chapel on Sunday, September 16th.  Pastor Yamada was away volunteering with a group from our churches up in the Triple Disaster area, so Peter took his place on the pulpit.  Peter's referred to as "Oh-sensei" here by the church members and interpreting for him that day was "Oh-san".  Oh-san himself says that he's never met another Japanese person by the name Oh.  That's his full first name.  So that Sunday, "Oh-sensei" and "Oh-san" together delivered the message to the members gathered there that morning...

The two Oh's. :) The slide on the right reads "Message「Like A Child」Luke 18:15-17 Peter Oh Missionary"

Peter started out by saying おはよございます (ohayogozaimasu) and Oh-san said "Good morning" in English.  Everyone laughed. =D  It set a good tone for the rest of his message.  He pointed out that Asaminami Chapel is blessed with many kids.  And indeed we are!  You might think that it's a natural thing to have kids at church, but it's actually fairly unusual for a church in Japan.  Approximately 1/3 of churches in Japan have no Sunday School / kids' programs because they have no kids.  The average age of Christians in Japan is 60-70...

Top left: Moms and kids just so happened to all sit together in that one section on that Sunday. There's a mom in each row + a kid to the left of each mom + the three kids toward the bottom right, our J & SJ and a girl named Noah. Top right: J quietly practicing her numbers while daddy preaches. Bottom row: SJ and his partner in crime - they stuck all of the stickers onto their little fingers and then onto the back of the chair - and then back onto the sticker sheet it came from!  Kept them quiet for a long time... :)

During Sunday services, J sits in the main chapel with Peter and quietly (most of the time -_-) does a variety of activities such as fold origami, draw, color, practice numbers / letters, etc.  Kids are encouraged to stay in the main chapel from when they're 4 years old.  N's older sister is the same age as J, and N's parents are usually tag-teaming during service too, trying to keep them both quiet.  For the first time on this Sunday, SJ and his friend N stayed in the main chapel the whole time...  Which means that it was the first time that the moms and dads got to stay in the chapel the whole time too!  N stayed with me almost the whole time.  She really likes me. :)  The mom was really happy that she got to stay in and that N was being taken care of.

Left: For a church that started less than 6 months ago, it's amazing that almost all of our seats are already full.  God has sent many to this baby church and we are so grateful for what He is doing here!  Top right: As part of his sermon, Peter prepared the old time hymn "Jesus loves me" in English and Japanese.  It was supposed to be on a powerpoint slide but it ended up being too complicated -_- so he made print outs for everyone to sing along to.  Bottom right: N really likes Peter too.  After Peter's sermon, N went to Peter to present him with some pens... :)

I really enjoyed Peter's sermon.  I thought he did a great job in analyzing what it means to be like a child and used illustrations that everyone there could identify with of being child-like.  Having faith like a child...  Completely trusting, crying out without pride, without doubt...  He also illustrated the heart of a parent in a way that we could all relate to easily too - and I'm sure it wasn't just because he was using things that our kids do as examples! =D

Humility and trust.  Knowing that He's there and wants only the best for me...  Because He loves us.  He loves me.  And I want to be able to humbly receive that love with joy, just like a child accepts the words "I love you" without trying to second guess the reason behind the statement. ;)

It was so wonderful to be able to sit in on a full service.  It was even more wonderful that I could understand a sermon!!!  The last few times Peter preached I wasn't able to attend due to one reason or another so this was the first time in a while that I'd heard him preach and heard a sermon in English while at a church in Japan.  It was awesome!!! :)

Lord, help me to be humble and grateful in receiving your love, which you pour out to me in such great measures.  Help me to cling onto you with unwavering faith and trust, for I know that you only want the very best for me, the daughter whom you love and chose to be yours.  Thank you for the word that you gave to Peter and for providing someone who could interpret for him.  Thank you for loving us first.  In your son's name I pray, Amen.