With the memories of the Adventist Layman’s Service and Industry (ASI) Convention 2014 in Korea still fresh on our minds, the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) ASI held a training seminar and advisory for their officers in Okinawa, Japan, from January 23 to 25, 2015. Okinawa is a major island in southern Japan and is well known for its beauty and tropical flavors.
The attendees had the chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery. They also visited the historical site where U.S.Army Corporal Desmond Doss, a military medic, saved more than a hundred wounded soldiers from the battlefield under intense gunfire duringthe Battle of Okinawa in 1945. He was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor.ASI officers learned much from the life of Desmond Doss, a well-known Seventh-day Adventist. On January 24, which was a Sabbath, they visited the Okinawa International Adventist Church.
In Okinawa, there are many American military bases, mainly Marine and Air Force. The U.S. military population is about 45,000 and includes families and quite a few Adventists. The ASI attendees enjoyed attending the church and having good fellowship with the congregation.
The General Conference ASI coordinator, Dr. Jonathan Kuntaraf, was the seminar instructor. He taught about the history of ASI and shared some North American ASI projects. Pastor Teru Fukui, NSD ASI coordinator, chaired the business meeting. The attendees prayed together and made plans together. They were motivated by Dr. Kuntaraf’s talk and pledged their devotion to the progress in the area.