The year-end meeting of the Japan Union Conference (JUC) was held at the Tachikawa office of the JUC, which is located in the Tokyo area, on November 24-26, 2013. It was reported that most of the functions of the JUC, which had been based at the Yokohama office, were moved to the Tachikawa office. This was due to the oldness of the Yokohama building, and the necessity of more efficient communication among the administration and departments. Six officers and department leaders from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, including its president Dr. Lee, and one representative from the General Conference Auditing Service, joined the meeting. They contributed to the discussion during the session, and encouraged the delegates by sharing the Lord’s words during the devotion hours.
The result of Tokyo 13 was reported, saying that the baptismal goal of 100 will be highly possible to be achieved by God’s grace. The report encouraged the delegates very much, and they thanked the Lord. Throughout the session, the priority of evangelism was emphasized, and conferences, missions, and institutions responded positively to the call for mission. The three days of session closed successfully.
2013 Japan Union Conference Annual Council Delegates
Dr. Jairyong Lee, NSD President speaks to the JUC AC delegates
Pastor Lee, Kwonwan(Center), newly elected Okinawa Mission president with Dr. Jairyong Lee, NSD President(Left) and Elder Masumi Shimada, JUC President(Right)
Pastor Lee, Kwonwan Has Been Elected as the President of Okinawa Mission
During the annual board meeting of the Japan Union Conference (JUC), Pastor Lee, Kwonwan was elected as the president of Okinawa Mission. It was reported that he is the first Korean national to be elected as a president of a conference or mission in Japan. After finishing his military duty in Korea, he started his studies in the one of national universities in Japan. After his graduation, he sought to start his business career at one of the prestigious Japanese trading companies.He was “head hunted” by a Korean steel enterprise, and achieved a successful career in business.
During this time, he and his family were faithful Baptist church members, but he was always seeking a better religious experience. When he first attended the Seventh-day Adventist Church through the evangelical effort of Net 98, he thought the Lord had finally shown him the way to live the of rest of his Life. He entered Japan Missionary College as a Theology major student and changed his career from business to the Lord’s ministry. He and his wife have a grown daughter, and son. Pastor Lee has been in Japan for 33 years, and his career as a pastor started in 2002.
JUC Officially Implements Seven Foundations of Evangelism
The Japan Union Conference (JUC) approved Seven Foundations of Evangelism which should be implemented into the plans and outreach efforts in the representative levels of administration. Originally the idea was born out of the discussion at the JUC consultation with the General Conference (GC), Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), and other leaders, on March 12, 2013. The Vice President of the GC, Dr. Ryan, took the initiative of summarizing the discussion, and shaping the form of these foundations:
1. We are committed to Church growth.
2. The program has to be a Japanese initiative.
3. This consultation meeting is not a one-time meeting.
4. Bible Study and Prayer should be our first initiative.
5. Every Church member in Japan has a job.
6. Use the One-to-One simple method.
7. Do first things first: the church members need make a network.
The JUC continued to discuss the seven foundations, and translate them into Japanese. Eventually, at this year-end meeting, we approved the foundations.