w2 was a real blessing tonight. There were so many people that we had to add chairs. It was a lot of fun. Dan did a good job at teaching the Word and Natsuki did an excellent job at translating. God continues to do a good work on Sunday nights and it is a blessing to be a part of His Work in Ginowan city.
Friday night Teresa and the Hula group performed at the Christian Surfers outreach in Mihama. It was a blessing that they were able to dance for the glory of the Lord. They did an excellent job. They were a blessing to everyone who attended.
They have begun putting up the scaffolding and prepping the building to be painted and re constructed. The owners have agreed to do a lot of work on the building. This is a miracle as you consider that we have signed a lease to own agreement. We have already set a price and we are to find financing for the building. The owner is doing a lot of special things to the building to make it nicer, like removing metal that will rust and repainting the roof and water sealing the concrete. Please continue to pray for us that God will work a miracle and allow us to be able to find financing and pay for the property.
Sosimo had to make an emergeny trip back to the United States, for some of you who did not know, Sos had to go back for his fathers funeral. It was more of a celebration because Sosimo Senior came to know the Lord Jesus Christ while he was in the hospital. While in Cali Sosimo was ablt to spend some time with his mother and family. He looks pretty good in that Ranchero(Mexican Cowboy) outfit. Double click on the photos to get a closer look. Sosimo is now back in Okinawa, it is good to have him back.
It was a total blessing to be able to be a part of the Missions Conference. In Ginowan City we are blessed with many worship leaders, so being able to lead worship at the Conference was a real joy. It was great worshipping with Christians from all over Asia. Everyone was blessed and built up in the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless every one who was at the conference and if He tarries, may next year be even more blessed and powerful. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
Stomer gave the devotion for the Bible College Students today. He is on vacation from Tokyo as they are in between semesters. It is a blessing to see him continue to step out in faith for the Lord. They said that he did a great job as he taught in his second language; English. Praise the Lord Stomer, keep going strong for Jesus.
Nick hooked up with Zach at CCBC Murrieta and went to church at CCLivingwater on Wednesday night. Nick was able to hang out with Solomon and Sosimo as Sosimo is now on his way back to Okinawa. My son Zachariah is the one all the way to the right. It is a blessing to see the guys fellowshipping together. They look like they are having a blast.
Hong Kong just like Hollywood has its street of the stars. There were many movie stars but these are the most famous that we know in the United States. The first star is Jet Lee, then Chow Yun Fat, Bruce Lee, and Jackie Chan. As you can see, all of them are famous Martial Arts Actors. Aaron was sizing himself up against them.
This is one of the last Antique China Sea Vessels still sailing in the World. At one time, these beautiful boats ruled Hong Kong Harbor. Hong Kong Harbor used to be so polluted that they thought everything was dead. Then they started a massive cleanup project that literally brought the harbor back to life. They now say it is one of the cleanest harbors in the world. 24 hours a day they have cleaning vessels floating on the harbor picking up any debris that pollutes the water. The view is quite breathtaking.
Tim Espinosa said "Do you guys want to meet Bruce Lee", we thought sure. We walked by the Wax Museum in Hong Kong and there you see it, Bruce Lee! We could not resist taking the picture. The statues are lifesize, so you can see what he really looked like. Amazing, Bruce Lee was famous for the one inch punch. Ask someone about it, I am sure someone can tell you.
Tim and Trudy are located in Ch**a. They minister to the young people on their island. Pastor Tim and Aaron have recently come back from ministering in the earthquake area of that country, they were gone for 4 months. The conference attendees were invited to have dinner at the world famous restaurant "Bubba Gump Shrimp Company" Hong Kong. You might remember the movie a few years ago, "Forrest Gump". This restaurant is filled with the memorabilia from that movie. This is Tim clownin around trying to look like Forrest Gump.
For the last session Wednesday. We were given the opportunity to hear from the other missionaries and find out what is going on in our areas. It was a blessing as we realize that God is doing an incredible work all over Asia.
Pastor John is Senior Pastor at CCSpringValley in Nevada. He has been doing missions in the Philippines for 28 years. They run the Bible College in Dumagete City. Pastor John encouraged us in the return of Jesus Christ. He is coming soon, we need to be ready and to continue to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Finances are important in the missions field. A missionary needs to spend rightly out in the field. He or she cannot spend foolishly. They are provided by the loving obedience of people in the church back home. God moves on their hearts and we should be accountable to how it is spent. Go Ministries is a part of Calvary Chapel Norco. They help missionaries out in the field make sure that their finances are correct in the United States. An incredible blessing to the body of Christ.
Let me introduce to you Chris Stice who ministers in the country of Fiji. Chris was actually born on the island and raised there. He left the island as an adult and eventually found himself in ministering at CCMurrieta with Brian Bell. As he was there God called him back to the island. He has been there now for over 4 years. God is doing a great work on the island and are getting ready to do a "preach the Word" conference. Chris is working with Brian Hughes from CCAuckland in New Zealand. It has been fun hanging with Chris and listening to his wonderful island stories.
Pastor Rusty talked to the men about personal purity. In Romans 12:1 we are encouraged to "present your body a living sacrifice unto God". In the missions field there are a lot of pit falls and temptations. We are encouraged to walk "uprightly" before the Lord. Macau is the new Las Vegas in Asia. With gambling comes all the other pitfalls.
Wednesday morning we broke out into workshops. Pastor Jim taught the men on the importance of suffering in the mission field. He taught on Acts 9:15-16. Paul was promised suffering on the missions field. It is easy at first in the field, but then the time of testing comes, when it gets difficult. At first you love everything on the field, but then it is time to trust your calling from the Lord. We are called of God to serve Him in this world.
Many of you know Pastor Louie. He encouraged us out of Psalms 126:5-6. His message had three points; sow,low and grow. We are to "Sow the Word", there will be "lows" in ministry where the seeds will be watered with our tears, and the seed will "grow". God causes the growth in people's hearts. We are to be patient in the work of the Lord. Pastor Louie did an excellent job.
Darryl is pastoring in Perth, Australia. He is a great speaker with a sense of humor. He encouraged us out of Acts 13. He spoke to us about the importance of sending and releasing. We were all blessed and encouraged in the Lord.
Dr. Taylor was again invited back to speak at the Missions Conference here in Hong Kong. It was a blessing to hear him speak as he encouraged us in the Word of God. In Colosians 1:7 he taught about Ephaphras. He encouraged us to "partnership in service". To partnership with God and with others. Everyone was blessed and encouraged.
Hello everyone! Let me introduce to you brother Rin. He is a Christian worker in his country of Cambodia. He helps a missions organization with an orphanage. Rin is a real cool guy and an incredible artist. The stunning artwork above was done by hand. Amazing! (Sugoi desu ne!)
Brian has been ministering in New Zealand for the past 10 years. When he first arrived in NZ there were no Calvary Chapels at all, now there are at least eight. Praise the Lord! Pastor Brian encouraged us with the life of Paul in Acts 14. He stated that Paul strengthened the churches in 5 ways.
1. He exhorted them in Faith. 2. He taught them truth in suffering. 3. He appointed leaders. 4. He taught them to pray with fasting. 5. He commended them to the Lord.
We were all encouraged in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Phil is the missions pastor at Calvary Costa Mesa in California. He is also the administrator of the conference here in Hong Kong. Phil encouraged us to "Do ministry God's way". We are to teach with Purity and preach with power. The quote that I liked is one that he gave from Pastor Chuck "the best way to get rid of lust... starve it! In these last days we are called to teach the Word of God with purity in our lives. The time is short, let's be God's witnesses in these last days.
Pastor Louie from CCNorco has been traveling in Asia for the past week. He met up with some of his missionaries from Thailand. He will be speaking here at the Conference for one of the sessions. For those of you who do not know Pastor Louie and Cheryl, they are the Dean's Pastor. That is right, Joshua and Gina's Pastor. It is a blessing to have there here with us at the conference.
I arrived in Hong Kong at 1am last night. The typhoon in Taipei backed up most flights in Taiwan. But I had a good night sleep. Aaron is rooming with me but in the morning we ran into Nigel. It is a blessing to see both of these guys, they look really good. In the upper picture we have Jonathan and Ri Wilson from Ome in Mainland Japan. Jonathan pastors Grace Christian Church in Ome city. We are looking forward to a good conference this week.
The typhoon let up in Taipei so my flight left Okinawa at 7:30pm. The flight was quite bumpy but that was expected. It could have been worse. Please continue to pray for the trip as I will be meeting Aaron and Nigel in HG. Also, Pastor Louie from CCNorco will be one of the guest speakers, it will be good to see him again. At the end of the conference Nigel and myself will be heading back to Aaron's home in Ch**a for a few days. May the Lord lead, guide and direct all of our steps.
