April May Prayer Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

First of all thank you for your prayers and support for the gospel in Japan.　The cherry blossoms bloomed a few weeks ago and Cherry began elementary school. At the entrance ceremony I was approached by the vice principal　and asked to teach English lessons there. I will go to Dachi Elementary School 28 times throughout the year　and teach 2 or 3 hours a day.

This past month a new woman began attending and the Yoshida family from Sendai (earthquake area) was staying in an apartment provided by a church member. Pastor Yoshida who is one of the lead pastors in Sendai has charge of several reformed churches and the ministry alliance there. He stayed in Sendai while his family stayed with our church. The Yoshida family had lived in Grand Rapids while Pastor Yoshida was studying for his PHD at Calvin Seminary, so we had a lot of connections to share. They returned to Sendai this past Wednesday. We greatly enjoyed each other’s fellowship.

A young woman from our church just returned from Sendai after volunteering for the past month. As she spoke in front of church this past Sunday, she was moved to tears. She shared what she had seen and the little help she was able to provide. Another woman from our English group, who is a regular attendee the last 6 months, has a believing son who is a nurse in Australia. He has received a month off and will be going to the Sendai area to serve in connection with a Christian relief ministry there.

While I was hoping a young woman studying for baptism would possibly be baptized on Easter, it did not happen. However, two other women are now also in the class for preparation for baptism.

We pray that you are all well. We remember you in our prayers. Drop us an email or note about your prayer needs. We praise God for his goodness even in difficult times in Japan and possibly the season before Christ's return.

Serving Christ in Japan
John, Kazumi, Cherry & Bianca VanFarowe

Serving Christ In End Times

Serving Christ in End Times

3 days ago I went for a walk and saw an elderly woman, Tokiko, who is a good friend of mine. She has studied the Bible with me in the past. She saw me and called my name as I walked around the small lake near my home. “Are you and your family going back to America?” Tokiko asked. Many foreigners are leaving Japan.

I am reminded of Luke 17:33. Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. This warning is present in all of the gospels when Jesus discusses End Times. The problems are so big that people have a choice to live for themselves or lose their life. For many they decide to live for themselves and their love grows cold.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mark 24:13~15)

Last year an earthquake hit Haiti that killed over 200,000 people. In 2008 an earthquake hit China that killed 70,000. In 2004 an earthquake hit Indonesia that killed 250,000. Just to give it some perspective in World War II the US had 418,000 military deaths. These are big numbers. The problems of the world are so big that we numb ourselves and let our hearts grow cold. We become like Lots wife thinking of ourselves rather than following the God leading us out of Sodom.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38)

We live in a unique time with a unique calling. Kazumi and I got in an argument last week about money. We do not have a college fund for our children but yet are giving to various world wide causes and support our local church. Kazumi in frustration asked me, “Do you love some person in Africa more than your own family?” Of course I don’t. I assured her that when the time came for our children to go to college somehow God would provide. But today the gospel needs to go forward, and starving people need to eat, and those in distress need care.

To my friends in America the news of Japan’s earthquake and the 20,000 dead has been interrupted by the news of another war we are in. But we are not really in a war with Libya but with the prince of this age. Pick up your cross! Do not let your Love Grow Cold! Give your Life for Christ knowing you will only gain your soul! The problems are too great to solve but with our eyes on Christ let’s move forward in love, serving and proclaiming the good news! In His Return the prince of this age will be put to shame and we will receive the Father’s Glory.

I don’t want you to respond to the quake in Japan. There will be more earthquakes, wars, and famines. Respond to Christ and reflect on how you can give to His Kingdom. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. Thank you for your prayers for Japan. Japan is still the second largest unreached people group in the world. Pray that we in Japan will do more than save ourselves but give our lives to the Savior.

January Prayer Letter

Dear Friends and Family,
We are back in Japan. We continue to work towards transition into greater missionary service while maintaining our teaching schedule.

Praises
Reitaku Schools have agreed that it is okay for me to continue there as a part-time lecturer while doing church work. They have created a 2 1/2 day schedule over 33 weeks providing for our tentmaking income goal of 33% of needed support.

Yesterday I spent an hour with a seeker at Tajimi Reformed Church doing a Bible study. Pray for those God is leading to faith. This person has been associated with us for about 2 years now.

Prayer Requests
Pray for our support raising efforts. In total we need to raise about $21,000 in outside support. Several churches will be considering supporting us for the next budget year. Pray for a positive result. We need to develop a several month cushion in our budget before we start missionary works in April.

Pray for cooperation with Japanese Churches. Our home church, Tajimi Reformed has asked us to put together a vision and proposals for this year. Pray that we will be able to start an evangelical outreach service on Friday nights and that the local church will allow for the service to collect its own offerings and also support it from its general budget. Our launch goal for a new service is April.
We are thankful for the many opportunities that God gives us. We pray that in gathering support and making contacts with those around us, that God will enable us to establish a self supporting, self leading, reproducing group of new believers. We pray these believers will then establish God’s glory in Japan and serve his church.

Blessings to you in your walk with God.
John and Kazumi Van Farowe and family

An Amazing Story from Our Life in Japan

I am going to tell you a story about money. Last year I had to have a building torn down and hired a local company to do it. The building was owned by us and another party so we hired the company together.

While tearing down the building they found an old well. Japanese tradition and superstition demanded that they bring in a Shinto Priest to do a ceremony before they closed it. They did all this without telling me. Then the company came to me and explained what they had done and told me that while they could not make me pay it would be the practice in Japan for the property owner to cover these costs. The cost was $300. I at first was angry and thought there is no way I will pay this, I at first thought of shaming the company and owner I had dealt with. Giving this money for this purpose is against our beliefs.

But to be honest I had worked construction and knew the real costs of what he had down for us and he did a good job and had done it under what I considered reasonable costs. The day came to meet with the company owner. He was very apologetic. He felt I would shame him for this situation. I said to him. If I give you the $300 you have asked me I am really giving it to this Shinto Priest and I can not do that. If I do not give you the money you will have to pay it yourself and it will come from your own money and families and workers. If that happens you will curse my God and I love Jesus Christ and do not want that to happen. I have prayed to my God and asked what I should do. I then took out an envelope and gave him $600 and said I am giving you twice what you have asked me for because you have done a good job. This has nothing to do with the Shinto ceremony but is in the name of Jesus Christ. Take the money and take you family out for dinner or treat your workers. He spent the next hour talking freely with me as a friend and if I needed anything done I know I could call him right now.

The story does not end there. We then went to the property to look over the work, we pointed out that from the property line; the well was not on my property but the other owner. In fact he never had a right to ask me for $300 for the well. He offered to give me the money back. I told him my God had led me to give it to him in the name of Jesus Christ and he was to use to treat his workers and his family. In the end the whole company came to praise Jesus Christ and God that day.

I saw this as a minor miracle. They went to the other owner and asked for $300 for the Shinto Priest.

2 Visitors and 6 or so in New Believers class

Today was another Sunday at Tajimi Church. We had two people visit our church today and I was able to speak with each of them for some time. Pastor Ono is also doing a New Believers class for profession of faith/baptism. There are about 6 or more in that class after church.

In looking at things at Tajimi Reformed Church, I would say the thing I am most thankful for is the unity. Pastor Ono is preaching and serving faithfully. The elders are doing a great job. We are doing a small part, in providing a weekly outreach class and giving of ourselves.

One of today's visitors was a Japanese Christian working in Australia. He had brought his mother to our church and was looking for a church home for her. I had a chance to talk to them both, and invited her to our weekly class. I expect to see her in the class and minister to her by helping enfold her into the church. She was baptized a number of years ago in Canada but has never had a church home.

Another woman from church, who we have had time to interact with is studying in the New Believers class. Kazumi asked her if she thought she would get baptized this coming Christmas. She replied that she has not decided yet but that she is studying and enjoying the class.

Last week the church had a Bazaar and several of the women who are attending our church's English class attended.

Kazumi and I told Reitaku Schools we would not seek to renew my contract after it ends in March. This is stepping out in faith, it is our hope to raise the money in support to make up for it. We need to strengthen our ties to the Japanese Evangelical Mission Society and raise support. We also need to more aggressive in forming more small groups. Starting more ministry groups that can support us here is just as viable as an avenue to raising support as finding it outside of Japan.

Pray for passion and God's blessing in these things.
Amen
John Van Farowe

Thoughts After a Friends Death 3 Months Ago

It was almost 20 years ago, as a senior in high school, my brother Joel was told he had at most 5 years to live. He and I had several conversations about it. He actually came so close to death once during a hospital stay I prayed God would end his suffering or heal him. He recovered that time and was taken suddenly about 6 months later. In June, a man I knew and whose company I really enjoyed died of cancer and one night I sat down with the scriptures and thought about death from a biblical perspective.

First, suffering and death have meaning because God is "Immanuel" because he is with us. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38,39)


Second, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are assured that God is with us; but also that we will be with him. "For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor 5:1)

As a young man I worked for a couple of contractors building houses. Many of my friends and their fathers were builders. I saw the special care that when into planning and building the home their own family would live in. The special care and planning as a fathers they put into their own houses. We have a Father building us a house, ...


Finally, we have a consistent purpose. "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are home in the body we are away from the Lord ... We would rather be away from the body and with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." (2 Cor 5:6-10) I know a sister in Christ right now preparing for missionary work though she has cancer in her lungs. It is a witness to a key principle in the Christian Faith. Our aim in living and in eternal life is the same. Whether in the body or in heaven our lives center around the worship and service of God. This is a unique teaching of Christianity.

I know my writing style is compact and my thoughts sometimes jump, so thanks for reading. In June, a man I know and whose company I really enjoyed died. On the night of his death, I sat down and thought about death from a biblical perspective. So to list my points in a conclusion: 1. We have the promise that God is with us. 2. We have the promise that we will be with God. 3. These promises combine to give our existence a consistent purpose and us courage.

Thankful for God's "No"

Three years ago when I moved to Mizunami and began life here, I met and talked with several mission agencies. We considered raising support but over and over again the door was shut. Well in that time the US economy has tanked. Many of my friends in ministry in the US and Japan are really hurting. I have had friends working as assistant pastors in churches who have been let go. I have other acquaintances in missions who have had to leave the field or are far below support. 3 years ago we started down the road of tentmaking in Japan. Tentmaking is a term for a Christian who works in a business in an area, while also seeking to serve the church. It is a reference to the Apostle Paul who funded his missionary work through the making of tents.

It has been an up and down road here, but I praise God that we are in a position to not only support ourselves but also begin to hire people around us to form a team. Kazumi and I still hope to raise support for specific tasks and projects we have in mind that can not be self funded this next year. But we do so knowing that whether the support comes in or not, God's "No" 3 years ago is providing for us now.

We are also thankful for Takezawa Futaha who will finish her degree at Pensacola Christian College this coming term and Lord willing return to work with us in January. Thank you for your service the summer Futaha. We also give thanks again to God for his continued leading in all things.