Pastor Yoji Nakamura, who leads the Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center in Kumamoto, is an amazing pastor. You can learn more about him in this post from last fall: Mr. Christ… Christ, Christ, Christ!
I had the privilege of spending a few days with him in Kumamoto following up on the earthquake that hit the region about nine months ago. He was so inspiring and as he shared in church that morning before I preached, he told the congregation another amazing story that brought tears to all of our eyes!
As they’ve led the relief efforts, they have tried to adopt people from the disaster areas who live in temporary housing and Pastor Yoji adopted a little girl who has been particularly challenging to work alongside. Most people avoid the child because she’s so oppositional. But, Yoji just loved on her.
One day, as they were preparing to leave the shelters, this little girl ran up to Pastor Yoji and said:
“I think I like you.”
It was one of those days where you feel like, "I’m exhausted and not sure how much more I can do." But, this little one encouraged Pastor Yoji.
He returned later that week and again that little girl ran up to him grabbing his leg, begging him not to leave, saying “I like you!” All of us were in tears as he shared this story. You see, it’s little moments like this, little glimmers of hope in the midst of the trials that we know God is working. The whole church was inspired to keep serving. And, Pastor Yoji has a big vision for reaching these hard hit communities. He launched the Kumamoto Mission Network the week prior to us arriving and we had the privilege of meeting with them.
Will you pray for them as they seek to build upon the seeds God has planted? When the community calls your efforts “Mr. Christ” and when little girls who have lost all hope start to say “I think I like you.” you know God is doing something.
My sense is that God is doing something special in Japan these days… And, I hope you’ll join me to see more of this momentum build. Please pray. Please give. Please come!
In Christ,
Joe Handley
President, A3
@jwhandley
More Information
- Mr. Christ… Christ, Christ, Christ
- A3's Kyushu quake relief plan and how to pray [with video clip]
- Kyushu Christian Disaster Relief Center
- Encouraging stories from the Japan disasters...
- Five Years After the Triple Disaster: Journeying with the Japanese [with video clip]
