Japan: Stewardship Training Seminars

April 28, 2008 Japan Union Conference, Japan 

The Stewardship Training Seminars began at Japan Union Conference on April 11, 2008.  A new paradigm and new perspectives on Stewardship were introduced by Dr. Erika Puni, General Conference Stewardship Director at Tokyo Central Church, Japan April 11-14, 2008.  Dr. Puni gave insightful and challenging presentations for local church pastors and church leaders during a four-day intensive training program.  Pastor Tadaomi Shinmyo, Japan Union Conference Stewardship director, and Dr.Miguel Luna, NSD Stewardship director organized the event for the purpose of introducing the Japanese leadership and membership to a new paradigm shift on stewardship.  According to this new approach, stewardship is a lifestyle of one who accepts Christ’s Lordship, walking in partnership with God and acting as His agent to manage His affairs on earth.  During the weekend approximately 285 persons came to listen to the presentations.  A key part of this intensive was the attendance and participation of church pastors on the Monday to listen and learn on how to develop sermons from the Gospels and the messages of Jesus which emphasized Biblical principles of stewardship.

According to Dr. Puni, biblical stewardship is misunderstood by many of our church members to mean “tithes and offerings.”  This misconception, and our focus on “giving” has created internal problems such as mistrust of church leaders and systems, diversion of tithes and offerings by members to other persons and groups.  Project giving, he stated, is replacing systematic giving and there is also reservation and resistance by pastors to preach on Biblical stewardship.  For these reasons, Dr. Puni emphasized the importance of redefining stewardship that is wholistic and grounded in Scriptures.  According to this new paradigm:

u Stewardship starts with God as Creator

u It recognizes Him as owner of all things (life, time, abilities, resources etc.)

u Acknowledges Him as the sustainer of life, and in control of His creation

u Accepts Him as the provider of every good gift and blessing

u Stewardship understands God as the initiator of relationships with people

u Teaches that Jesus is Savior and Lord

u Recognizes the church, the body, as an extension of Christ Himself

u Christianity is a lifestyle of the  believer in partnership with God

Church Pastors and church leaders present at the Tokyo Central Church were so thankful for this new understanding and perspective of Biblical stewardship.  JUC Media filmed all of the presentations,  and they are planning to distribute this training seminar in DVDs plus the Power Point Presentations to all churches in Japan.