Dr. Bettelheim's Monument

Who's Dr. Bettelheim? Thank you for asking. Dr. Bettelheim is considered one of the first Christian Missionaries to Okinawa. What Hudson Taylor is to China, Dr. Bettelheim is to Okinawa, and many people do not know his story. To write it here would take up too much space, but let me give you the low down in a few words. He was commited to sharing the Gospel to the Okinawan people about 150 years ago. His methods were unorthodox, but he was unashamed of the Gospel of Christ and suffered great persecution. Many did not agree with his methods, but in 1927 this monument was erected by the Okinawan people to honor his work on the island. The monument survived the "Battle of Okinawa" during WWII, but the temple where he lived did not. After the war the temple was re-constructed. I told the students that Dr. Bettelheim lived in the Buddhist Temple for one month, but he actually lived in it 7 years! This place was home to him during much of his evangelistic work on the island. We owe much to his service during his time on the island. We continue on, what he started over 150 years ago.