Tachikawa Chinese Church in Japan, under the able leadership of Pastor Yu Chuan Fu, who is a Pioneer Mission Movement (PMM) missionary, saw the need to conduct an evangelistic series combining preaching of doctrines with practical family applications, such as improving husband-wife and parent-children relationships. Dr. Chek Yat and Dr. Sally Phoon were the guest speakers.
The first meeting was held on a Thursday morning, October 16, 2014. There were about thirty participants, way beyond the expectations of the organizers. The chapel, which seats about twenty-five people comfortably, was crowded but warm and welcoming.
The topic, “In the Beginning, There Was Love,” expounded on the creation of the earth by a God who desires a close relationship with the man and woman He created and joined together in the first marriage ceremony. In the evening, the second session addressed how Adam and Eve fell into sin, resulting in a battle being fought between God and Satan in our own lives. Ensuing meetings expounded on the unconditional love of our God and how this love can be best expressed within the family in terms of spending time with each other and with God. Participants had an opportunity to better understand their own personality styles and how to submit to one another in love.
For many of those who came, this was the first time they heard in an evangelistic series how to improve their family relationships with the help of God and the Holy Spirit. “I wish we could have more such meetings because these topics are seldom addressed but are so practical,” remarked one regular attendee.
The highlight came on Sabbath when Pastor Yu baptized two candidates who had prepared for baptism. One of the two was his younger daughter, who gave a moving testimony of her commitment to Jesus. During the appeal made by Pastor Yu, five more in the audience expressed their desire to be baptized before the end of the year. We praise God for the moving of His Spirit in this small church filled with enthusiastic members, most of whom are of Chinese descent and come from China, Malaysia or Tokyo itself. May they continue to grow as they witness among their friends and neighbors in Tokyo!
Article by Sally Lam-Phoon