Reaching Japan

New Podcast Episode: 102 It’s been a crazy couple of weeks as we crank back up our podcast. From the Our Generation Camp to the latest meetings, here’s what we have been up to. https://reachingjapan.com/102/

We apologize for the delay in reaching out. Last week I (James) was a bit under the weather and had a high fever for several days. Thankfully, the doctor prescribed a new antibiotic and I am back on my feet. We have been continuing to travel to our supporting churches and give an update, including churches in NC and GA. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and report to our churches. This past week, we also had a visitor from Alaska who feels that God is calling him t...o Japan. He came to check out the training center. Please continue to pray for him as he seeks wisdom on what steps to take. On Saturday, we were able to celebrate one year since pastor Austin Gardner came home from the hospital after battling Covid. This was such a sweet time of fellowship looking back on how good God has been. Check out this week's news section about what the oldest company in the world is. https://reachingjapan.com/back-to-health-6-22-2021/

We are less than 3 months away from returning to Japan, but a lot has been happening in the U.S. At the end of May, I (James) went with a team from Vision Baptist Church and surveyed New York City with church planter Jon Canavan. Since New York and Nagoya are both very large cities, much of what applies in New York can be applied to our upcoming work in Nagoya later this year. If you would like to hear about Jon Canavan’s ministry, please be sure to listen to the special podc...ast episode we recorded in New York. (https://reachingjapan.com/recorded-live-in-nyc/) The week after the trip to New York, our family went to be part of the Our Generation Missions Camp. Both Rosie and I had the chance to teach and be involved. Over a dozen young people surrendered their lives to the ministry. We also had a number take steps toward the 2023 Japan Missions trip. Official pre-registration is open now: https://reachingjapan.com/missions-trip-to-japan/ Meanwhile in Japan, the State of Emergency is scheduled to lift for outlying regions. While things are not completely as open as we would like them to be, one recent report said that they plan to have all voluntary vaccinations completed by the end of October/November. This would be right around the time we would be looking to be back and starting a church, so we are hopeful about the situation. Finally, we are grateful that we have commitments for each Sunday and Wednesday before returning to the field on August 26th. It has been an encouragement to see many of our supporting churches and share what God has done. Please continue to pray for our safety as we travel to churches. Thank you for continuing to pray for us and support us during this time. Please continue to lift us up in prayer and pray for the Lord to prepare hearts in Nagoya and prepare us for the work there!

After being with a supporting church in the Chattanooga area on Sunday, we headed to Trenton, GA on Monday for the Our Generation Missions Camp. There are over 100 campers this week at this camp who are being challenged by missionaries various. Please be praying for the Lord to use this camp to raise up laborers for the harvest!

New Podcast Episode From the city - recorded live in NYC [guest appearance - Jon Canavan]: After spending several days in New York City we recorded this episode before departing. It is an update on what has been going on up in New York, as well as reasons for being in New York. You will also get to hear from church planter Jon Canavan and his vision for the city. https://reachingjapan.com/recorded-live-in-nyc/

On Sunday night, several of us from Vision Baptist Church jumped in a vehicle to go to New York. We are up here to survey areas for a friend, John Canavan. John is a church planter, and is about to move to New York City to plant a church. Please be praying for him and our team as we survey areas, and as John seeks the Lord's direction for where to start this upcoming church plant. I (James) am on this trip because this is similar to how it will be once we arrive back in Japan. Please pray for wisdom for John and me, as I am learning from this trip. https://reachingjapan.com/new-york-6-1-2021/ Do you ever struggle with being on time? Check out our news section to see what Japan has to say about that.