One Life

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.