Friends – want to direct you to my post on our CBI Japan campus site. If you haven’t read the story of God’s amazing provision of a new ministry campus please take a few moments to do so! And please join us for prayer!
Here’s the site: cbijapan.org/campus
Michael
PS – you can follow me on Twitter @ ohfamily
Here’s an updated schedule of my preaching/speaking from Dec through April 2011:
December 3-13 – CBS Vision Trip (Philadelphia, Orlando, Los Angeles, CA)
December 19 – Deerfield Presbyterian Church, NJ
December 27-30 Los Angeles, CA – Equippers Conference
January 9 – Gaithersburg, MD – Covenant Life Church
January 16 – Church of the Savior, PA
January 10-14 – Lausanne Executive Leadership Meetings, TN
January 27-31, 2011 – Vancouver, Canada – Vancouver Mission Fest
February 4-6, 2011 – Orlando, FL – St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Mission Conference,
February 13, 2011 – Renewal Presbyterian Church
February 27, 2011 – Columbia Presbyterian Church Mission Conference, MD
March 6, 2011 – Faith Presbyterian Church, DE
March 7/8, 2011 – Covenant Theological Seminary, MO – Day of Prayer
March 12-13, 2011 – Cornell University LIGHT
March 23-30, 2011 – Nagoya, Japan – CBS graduation
April 1, 2011 – Eastern University, PA – Window on the World
April 3, 2011 – Church of the Savior, PA – COSMOS
April 9/10, 2011 – Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church Mission Conference, MO
April 12-14 2011 – Chicago, IL – The Gospel Coalition National Conference – workshop
It was the year 1974 and the world was changing. But more alarmingly the Church was changing. Liberal theologians in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s were challenging foundational elements of the Christian faith including salvation exclusively in Jesus Christ and the historicity and reliability of the Bible. These were not merely intellectual debates about trivial theological points. These were core elements of the Christian faith that shape our understanding of who the Church of Jesus Christ is, what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, and what the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ is. Through liberal theology the unique and glorious salvation mission of Jesus Christ was being challenged and changed, and people influenced by such liberal theology were beginning to question what exactly the mission of the Church was and to question the necessity for world missions.
It was within that context of theological crisis that Rev. Billy Graham called the leaders of the global church to gather in Lausanne, Switzerland to stand against the tide of theological liberalism and to renew the global church’s commitment to its Lord, His Word, and His mission.
2500 global leaders from 150 nations met in one of the most globally representative and strategic gatherings in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ. One outcome of the event was the writing of the Lausanne Covenant which was led by Dr. John Stott and is a summary of the core convictions of the Christian faith and the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ in the world.
That was the beginning of what is known today as the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization Lausanne.org) which is a movement that helps connect Christian ministries and leaders in almost every nation of the world and help mobilize the global church around the mission of Jesus Christ. It’s motto is “The Whole Church bringing the Whole Gospel to the Whole World.”
The second major Lausanne gathering of 4000 global church leaders was in 1989 in Manila, Philippines. It was most significant for the contribution that it made in assessing the progress of global missions, focusing attention on the “unreached” peoples and nations of the world, and spreading awareness of the need for ministries that meet the holistic needs of the lost. Lausanne II participants also received fresh inspiration and vision on networking and partnerships, and in the ten years following the Congress, participants established more 300 new partnerships and organizations for world evangelization, to the glory of God.
In October 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa, 4000 leaders of the global Church of Jesus Christ from more than 200 nations will meet in the third major congress organized by the Lausanne Movement. It is a legitimate question to ask in our Internet age and with the great expense of global conferences whether such a gathering is needed. The Lausanne leadership has responded to such questions by pointing out that in times of great external pressures upon the global church and great internal challenges to the Christian faith, there is a need for global Christian leaders to gather, to pray, to seek God’s will, to discuss the Church’s response to these external and internal challenges, and to plan global strategies for the future.
The Congress will focus on six key themes that reflect such external pressures and internal challenges:
One of the most exciting aspects of the Cape Town Congress will be the large numbers of young people who will be represented among the 4000 leaders. Over 50% of the participants will be under 50 years old. This reflects the strong commitment of the Lausanne leadership to equipping the next generation of leaders to meet the challenges of their generation. I have been serving on the Lausanne Board since 2007. I am not only the only board member under 50, I’m also the only board member under 40! But their unusual decision to invite a young and inexperienced leader like myself to be on the board shows their wisdom and strategic thinking about the future. It will be exciting to see the global impact that will be made having so many younger leaders at Cape Town sitting side by side with more experienced leaders.
Wonderful teachers such as John Piper, Ajith Fernando, Ruth Padilla Deborst, Rick Warren and Tim Keller will be addressing the participants and calling us from the Word of God to actively engage the great challenges of the world with the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ in global unity. Prayers will be prayed and plans will be made that Lord willing to impact the Christian faith and global missions for many years to come.
As Rev. Doug Birdsall the chairman of the Lausanne board has said, “Engaging big questions with bold faith for Christ’s glory. That is what Cape Town 2010 is all about.”
I invite you all to join us in prayer for this strategic and historic gathering.
(learn more at lausanne.org)
June 15- travel from Nagoya, Japan to Philadelphia, PA
June 22-29 NJ – Lausanne Younger Leaders Team meeting
June 29-30 Nashville, TN – PCA General Assembly
July 9-17 Asheville, NC – Re-entry Conference / Summer Conference MTW
August 8 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Korean Presbyterian Church
August 14-16 Boston, MA – Redeemer Presbyterian Church
August 16-18 Saratoga Springs, NY
September 5 – NY – Sojourner Church
September 12 – Groton, CT – Covenant Presbyterian Church
September 17-18 Wheaton, IL – Wheaton College Presidential Inauguration
September 19, Naperville, IL – New Covenant Church
September 25-26 Fairfax, VA – Chesterbrook Taiwanese Church
September 27-28 Jackson, MS – Belhaven U. chapel
October 1-4 Los Angeles, CA – Seek Conference
October 10 – King of Prussia, PA – Renewal Presbyterian Church
October 10-14 Cherry Hill, NJ – Covenant Presbyterian Church Mission Conference
October 15-26 Cape Town, South Africa – Lausanne Congress
November 2-4 Atlanta, GA – Asia MTW Team Leaders Meeting
November 5-6 Chattanooga, TN – Speaking at PCA Mission Conference, Seminars
November 6-8 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – First Presbyterian Church of Margate Mission Conference
November 9-14 Philadelphia, PA – Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia Mission Conference
November 19-21 Philadelphia, PA – Renewal Presbyterian Church Mission Conference
November 28 Philadelphia, PA – Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church
December 3-13 – CBS Vision Trip (Philadelphia, St. Louis, MS, Los Angeles, CA)
December 28-30 Los Angeles, CA – Equippers Conference
January 9 Gaithersburg, MA – Covenant Life Church
January 27-31, 2011 – Vancouver, Canada – Vancouver Mission Fest
February 4-6, 2011 – Orlando, FL – St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Mission Conference,
February 11-13, 2011 – Orlando, FL – Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church Mission Conference
February 25-28, 2011 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Grace Church of San Luis Obispo Mission Conference
March 2011 – Nagoya, Japan – CBS graduation / Opening Celebration of new ministry center CBI Japan
April 1, 2011 – Eastern University Window on the World
April 12-14 2011 – Chicago, IL – The Gospel Coalition National Conference – workshop
LOVED this except from John Piper on global missions. So blessed that the Lord has raised up an AMERICAN PASTOR with a GLOBAL VISION and HEART. That vision is NOT because he was a world traveler – but because of reading the WORD of GOD. Many can dismiss their lack of global vision to statements like, “Well, this is all I know.” They only know their city, their life. But what about their BIBLES?
Enough of that… here’s the quote from Piper -
“Everyone of you who confesses Jesus as Lord of the universe signs up for a significance beyond anything you ever dreamed….
I mean businessmen, homemakers, students. To belong to Jesus is to embrace nations with Him that He will one day rule entirely. Your heart was made for this. You heart was made to embrace the global dimension of missional living. If you don’t have a global heart if you’re not getting your arms around the nations, the unreached nations, people of the world. There will be a mild or serious sickness in your soul because your soul was made to do this.
Many people don’t know what’s wrong with their souls. And what’s wrong with their souls is that they have shrunk to the level of their concerns. And they’re not concerned about the nation.
When you pray hallowed by they name; thy kingdom come that’s meant to take your heart and make it as big as history and as large as the globe – and that’s a healthy heart.
And a heart coming down that just terminates on your city is a heart getting sick. You were made for this.”
One of the students at our seminary is going through a very rough time. He’s been feeling very weak, and after going to the hospital he was told that he might have liver cancer. They are doing more tests. Can I ask for your prayers?
Here’s an email excerpt from Joey to Dr. Joe Kim of our seminary. It shows the peace and perspective that transcends all human understanding.
–
Thank you for your rich prayers last Sunday. Young Isaiah; such a cute kid and so is your younger son. Also Agi’s eldest son came and told me he is praying for me, last Sunday. I have been so greatly enriched by the many cute kids at ANF. So much to learn from kids. Shohei did not have words; he simply wept and embraced me. Agi had only a few words and gave me an affectionate brotherly hug. The Chinese man encouraged me and said I should fast and pray (which is a thrilling concept; I like that war-time mentality). The rest of ANF people were simply at a loss for words. I had prayed with Jo-Anne before the service for a pain she had on her hip. Later when she heard the news after the service, she came and said her pain looked so small. And later today, Craig kindly offered to drive me home because it was raining. I’ve come to the conclusion that pain, in and of itself, is not beautiful. But the beauty that pain brings to us is seen in the numerous receptions and expressions of love, in Christ.
I was at the park the other day, contemplating on God’s sovereignty over creation. As I sat by the shaded tree, I saw each and everyone of your faces one by one (I too make mention of your names everytime I pray); and it suddenly dawned on me that you all look very beautiful in God’s eyes. God’s community, although sin-sick, is still the bride of Christ. Then I looked up and was reminded what the Psalmist said: ” The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” It felt as though the heavens, including the tree right above my head, simply stood there speaking to me of His glory (although subjected to futility -Roms.8:20a). I am seeing the world differently now; for which I am truly thankful. No wonder, John Calvin said Special Revelation is a like a lens with which we can look at General Revelation with ” eyes made anew..”
I told the Lord the other day that I miss Him very much. And it would be nice if He took me home anytime. If He did, I would never want to come back down here. Paul creates this kind of appetite for us in Romans 8: ” For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” [v.18]. But the need is still great in Japan and Asia. He even used the four beleaguered lepers in 2 Kings 7. So may the Lord do to me as He deems fit.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Joey
A brother wrote saying that he didn’t have the same view of Joel Osteen. Here’s the brief response I just sent:
Hey brother thanks for the email. I’d encourage you to listen/read carefully what he teaches. In just this video clip he says that the non-abundant life includes “struggling in finances” and struggling with “bodily sickness” and other things. This is pretty clearly health/wealth gospel that is something to be very careful about. Struggling in finances and struggling in health are very very common not just human and also oftentimes very Christian struggles. If suffering is the antithesis of Christianity then what about Paul? What about Christ? There is the core of the Gospel that is missing most of all in his teaching. We are sinners spiritually dead without Christ. Christ died taking the punishment of sin upon the cross that was demanded by the holiness and justice of God. By faith in Christ alone we are forgiven for our sins and made alive in Him. “Alive” is spiritual life in Christ in restored relationship to the Father. Christ calls us to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. (This is a call to die to ourselves and our self-centered focus. Osteen is preaching self-centeredness and worldly comfort). Is this the Gospel that Osteen preaches? If you find the true Gospel please do let me know – I’d love to see it and will certainly rethink my perspective on him. But do know that most of evangelicalism is seeing his teaching as at best devoid of the true Gospel and at worst a deception in leading people to health and wealth.
I think that it’s possible for Christians to come to Osteen’s teaching with a true orthodox understanding of the Gospel and the Bible and maybe hear things that he says in a positive way, but it seems there’s a pattern of questionable teaching that should caution us.
Let me know what you find as you dig more!
Michael
Friends,
Yesterday in our team prayer meeting (which occurs every Monday morning at 10 am) we were talking about the Gospel. And I remembered one thing that I believe Mark Dever mentioned in one of his Desiring God talks which is that no matter how loving and kind and Jesus-like you try to be in your witness to non-Christian friends and family members and strangers at the end of the day until you verbally share the Gospel message with them, they have NOT heard the Gospel. Whether you are a missionary or a Christian in the US, it behooves us to not just in our lives live out a Gospel witness but to actually share the Gospel with those we love and those who are lost without Christ. It’s a good reminder even on the mission field as we can become scared of losing relationships with people (and scared of losing face) in sharing the Gospel. But the Gospel really is tremendously good news. I think once we get over ourselves it becomes a much less fearful thing.
Here’s a quick youtube video that illustrates the point well I think. It’s a “testimony” from Penn who is a famous magician (and atheist) talking about a genuinely “good guy” who gifted him with a Bible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3…
Another youtube moment to share with you. I ran across many many youtube videos of young people opening their “mission call” letters to see where in the world they will be serving as missionaries. There is excitement and celebration surrounded by friends and family members. There is willingness to do anything and go anywhere. The only problem is that these videos are young people going as Mormon missionaries. Mormons are required to give 2 years of missionary service. All young men without exception. I wonder why the Gospel alone is not motivation enough for those of us who truly know Christ to move a whole generation of young people to serve Christ to the ends of the world? And to move all Christians to take up the call to be mission senders?
Here’s one example of a Mormon call:
Finally I wanted to give you an update on our finances. THANK YOU to all of you who have increased your support and/or sent in one-time gifts! THANK YOU!!! We had a great December and January of giving which makes it much less likely that we’ll be pulled back to the US. We still have to see though how giving goes in the next few months and also in particular how the dollar/yen rate progresses. We’re thankful to a friend who recently left Japan and gave us his car. That allowed us to give our car to the Kim family who in turn after selling their car in the US before coming to serve in Japan donated the proceeds of that sale to our family account which was a huge help. God is good!
Related to finances I wanted to share one more alarming youtube video with you from Joel Osteen. He’s been quite a popular preacher globally, but he represents a very dangerous threat to the faith in the “Prosperity Gospel” message that he preaches. Essentially it teaches that God wants us to be healthy and wealthy. If so then Jesus was a total failure.
Thanks for your continued prayers and support. It’s been a precious few weeks for Pearl and me to enjoy no travels and LOTS of family time. I’m not planning to going much of anywhere for a long while….
Michael
PS – in case you haven’t yet seen pictures from the DG conference or the video my talk, here are the links:
http://www.facebook.com/photos/?ref=sb#/…
Just wanted to let you know of our new ministry website (as lots of the info on my blog is a bit dated). I’ll try to continue to post prayer requests and updates to this site, but the most recent info and descriptions of our ministry are on our new site. Also please check out our new CBI video on the site under media.
Thanks!
Here’s the address:
http://www.cbijapan.org/jointheteam
I posted the link on my blogroll to the right as well for easy access.
Friends,
THANK YOU for your prayers for my talks at the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference. It’s done! And God was amazingly gracious. All yesterday I was feeling so tired with a headache and starting to feel quite overwhelmed. There were over 1600 pastor’s at this year’s conference and looking out at them I could start to feel and comprehend the tremendous joy and opportunity and burden of the possible implications of this talk – how God could use this to impact their lives and the more than 100,000 members of their congregations. Global implications if the Lord would so choose to effect. In my prayers I asked God “what in the world am I doing here?!” It was a sweet preparation of my heart though in feeling so incredibly small and inadequate and to rest again in the bigness and greatness of God. The seminar last night went so well. I really just enjoyed the whole time. There was a great turnout with many more people than seats. But then late to bed and early to rise for my plenary talk. After a wonderful prayer time with John Piper and the other speakers we headed out to the hall. The Lord so blessed me through the singing (“strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord” and “We rest on Thee”). All of the nervousness and trepidation of the day before was gone and as John Piper prayed the Lord granted me freedom in my talk. Thank you for praying for my voice as well! I had a stronger and more resilient voice than almost any time I can remember in recent months. Plus for 68 minutes I was able to trumpet out 100% of what was in my heart through my voice. What a huge blessing!
I need to get to bed, but I just wanted to write quickly to say thank you thank you thank you for praying. I’ll share more about my experiences when I get back. I leave at 1 pm tomorrow for Japan. I’ll arrive in Japan Friday night at 8 pm. Can’t WAIT to see Pearl and the kids (and be home for a nice long stretch of no travel!)
You can see my talk on video or audio on the DG website -
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1624_mis…
With heavenly affection,
Michael
Read more about the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference here:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Events/Pastor…
Friends,
The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle presented in all the Gospels. The lesson of that miracle is my comfort as I head to Minnesota tomorrow as a little boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. My speaking at this conference is as I wrote a few days ago to John Piper “logic defying”. I’m just a young and inexperienced guy who looks even younger. We’re a growing but small ministry in a forgotten mission field. But Lord willing I’ll be the little boy who showed up as a surprise guest with a small but important role in a story of His divine power. As I’ve shared with our team and students here, “I wouldn’t be speaking if God didn’t want this. Let’s see what He has planned.”
I heard from Piper yesterday that this will be the largest conference they’ve ever had. My pessimistic side thought that with the global recession and with the theme of evangelism (and with me speaking!) that this might be one of their smallest gatherings. God knows much better!
I covet your prayers. I don’t think we can overestimate what the Lord could do for Japan and for His glory in all the world through these short few days. There are already some very exciting possibilities/projects that will be happening in the next few years that we’re discussing related to our partnership with Desiring God ministries. I’ll let you know more about this in the future.
I’m looking forward to having 3 meals with John Piper, Mark Dever, and Matt Chandler (the other speakers). Such a great opportunity for me to listen and learn. I wish my seminar and talk were the first day so I can enjoy the rest of the time and meet people, but unfortunately my seminar is the last night and my talk is the last one right before a q and a session with all the speakers.
* Pearl and all the kids except Mikaela have a cold. I’m fighting it off as best as I can. Please pray for her and the kids especially while I’m gone. With Joe and Juliet Kim and family here now she should have better support. Craig and Yumiko Chapin will also be helping with driving and other things. Thank God for our team!
Some prayer requests. Later you can see below a detailed schedule for my travel and ministry.
1) that God would speak through me – what more can I ask?
2) again for my family – for the Lord’s protection, for health, for safety, and for joy even in my absence as they are with me in prayer and spirit
3) for Craig and Joe as they hold down the fort in Nagoya
4) for divine appointments with key people the Lord would have us connect and partner with in ministry and friendship
5) for my throat and health – since I’m speaking Tues night for my seminar and then Wed morning for 60 minutes and then the q and a right after it’s not a good schedule for my voice. Pray that I’ll be able to fight off this cold and that the Lord would sustain my voice through the end.
6) for me personally that my life and heart and faith will continue to be transformed by the Lord
7) that this world will be more gloriously and globally filled with the glory of God because of this conference. I’m personally praying that the Lord might raise up 5000 new missionaries for the unreached of the world and another 500 new missionaries for Japan.
Here’s my schedule. You can also see the conference schedule and other info at: http://www.desiringgod.org/Events/Pastor…
Sat 1/31 (Japan) I leave at noon along with Kentaro Sumiya (one of our students and ANF staff who will be accompanying me) from Nagoya to Tokyo to Minneapolis arriving at 11 am 1/31 in the US.
12:30 pm – lunch with a friend from college and seminary
4:30 pm – head to worship at Bethlehem Baptist and hear John Piper preach
Sun 2/1 – am coffee with some missionaries from Piper’s church going to Japan
11 am – speaking at All Nations Fellowship (yup same name as ours) which is the international fellowship at Piper’s church
12:30 – lunch with missions pastor
afternoon – coffee or dinner with Don Carson who will be in MN for a CBMW cbmw.org) seminar
evening – find somewhere to watch the Super Bowl!
Mon 2/2 -
breakfast with a leader of a ministry to bodybuilding professionals around the world
lunch – Matt Chandler
4 pm – meet with Lakeview Church friends
5 pm – head over to conference for dinner with Piper, Dever, and Chandler
Tues 2/3 -
conference all day
8:45 – 10 pm – my seminar on “Global Advances and Global Opportunities: The State of the Gospel around the World” This is adapted from Jason Madryk’s presentation at the YLG in 2006. Jason is the editor of Operation World and is a friend.
Wed 2/4 -
8:30 – 10 am – my plenary talk “Missions as Fasting: The Forsaking of Things Present for the Global Exaltation of Christ” I’ll speak for 60 minutes.
10:30 – 12 – question and answer session with all the speakers
Lunch and then conference is done
Thurs 2/5 – I fly out of MSP back to Nagoya arriving Fri 2/6 in the evening Japan time.
Dear Friends,
It seems that 2008 has been full of good news to share with you all – surely one of the most blessed years of this ministry and my life. But for every rose there are certainly thorns and this seems to be one of those. We’ve also learned that we need to learn to thank the Lord for the thorns and not only the petals.
To be honest I was surprised that the Korean real estate developer met with me two weeks ago in Korea and then more surprised that he said he would visit Nagoya on the 19th and 20th. I was fully prepared for him to let us know that he would not be able to help us (considering that two years have passed since our first contact with him and he still hasn’t visited Japan), but it seemed like the Lord kept the door open during my positive meeting with him in Korea (in addition to the good meeting we had last November).
Almost two years ago to the day I wrote to you all:
“I have amazing news to share. It seems (we’re still waiting on confirmation) that the Lord may have provided a donor in response to our biggest prayer item over the past months. We’ve been praying for land/campus for CBS as well as for future ministry expansion. We really need dormitories as well. This would be a multi-ministry site with church planting efforts, lay training, CBS, and other future ministries. A Christian real estate developer in Korea has said that he is willing to pay for everything – both land and buildings. He would own the land and we would own our buildings.”
A few months earlier the Lord started to put on our hearts a vision for the future ministry of CBI (plans which for now we’re keeping confidential). The vision, we knew, was humanly impossible and would require land and a campus for multi-ministries. Rather than giving up, we turned to the Lord with prayer and fasting. The fact that CBS even existed was evidence enough that God can do miracles. And then 3 months after starting to fast and pray each Wednesday I heard about Mr. Kim and his proposal. Apparently around the time we started to fast and pray his wife was praying one morning and she believed that the Lord was speaking to her, “This year you must help Japan.” She didn’t know anything about Japan, but she told her husband. He also didn’t know anything, but he told his pastor friend in Chicago. He then told Mr. Kim about Pastor Joshua of Lakeview Church who told them about our vision for a campus and our future ministry hopes. Mr. Kim just “happened” to be a real estate developer.
But sometimes perfect storylines don’t have perfect endings. But we continue to trust in the Lord who works all things perfectly for His glory and His people through imperfect circumstances.
Over the last two weeks we have been scrambling to set up appointments and gather documents about the Yakusa land we were hoping to buy ($2.2 million – 1.8 acres across from two train stations). But we found out that part of the land was withdrawn from the market. We still set up an appointment for Mr. Kim to meet their representative for Sunday to see if we could still buy the whole lot. We also scrambled to find other options in case the land was not purchasable. It was a very difficult and stressful search. The person who has been helping us with much of this all (Hasegawa san – a non-Christian Japanese CEO – the man who has been renting us his home) set up another appointment as well with an investment advisor. Hasegawa san has done all this help for us mainly as a personal favor to me. He’s worked hard to get us various documents and set up appointments (and has been so patiently waiting for Mr. Kim to come to Japan over these past 2 years as well!)
We kept waiting to get information from Mr. Kim about his visit. We spoke with him a few times and even by Friday night (he was to arrive Saturday) he didn’t have a ticket. He told us he would probably come Saturday at 3 pm or 5 pm. Then after that he never contacted us and never came. He didn’t answer any telephone calls or text messages. His assistant also answered his phone only once and then not again.
On Saturday as it seemed clear Mr. Kim would not come I had to go to Hasegawa san’s company and apologize to him face to face. We were very concerned that he would be angry and not help us ever again. This would have been a huge blow to us because he is probably one of the most influential men in our city. But God was so gracious as I was able to talk first with his wife and then to him and they were very understanding. Still the whole situation was a bad witness to a CEO that I’ve been trying to build up a relationship with over the past few years. It also was a poor witness for CBI as well. A very dangerous situation. It was like canceling a meeting that you urgently requested people to fit into their schedules last minute on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend (it was a special 3 day weekend here).
As I said before, our trust was never in Mr. Kim – it was always in God alone. We have today human disappointments but divine hope. We hope to learn more in the next weeks what exactly happened with Mr. Kim, but we’re ready to move forward with seeking the Lord’s grace in showing us what plan B is. We continue to believe that the Lord will allow our vision for the future of CBI to move forward.
Thank you for your prayers this past weekend. We ask for your continued prayers. Our team found comfort this week in 1 Peter:
1Pet. 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1Pet. 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Michael
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