0

XS-

^1/ CO^/|ft

P o - r u no T e-gami

yH

f_
fi

(Paul & Mark's Epistle)

CENTRAL
JAPAN inCHRISTIAN
MISSIONIsa- '+2:12^ v ^
"..declare
His praise
the islands."

.TOverseasAddress

Forwarding Address

/
Ministry ,

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

Mark
Mark and
and Lynn
Lynn Pratt
Pratt

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

2910 East 98th St.,

3-^-19 Morino
Morino
3-^-19

Kanagawa Ken, 259-11,

Kanagawa
259-11 Japan.
Ph. 0463-95-1019
Ph.
0463-95-1019

Indianapolis, Ind., A628O

Ph. 317-844-3659

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

Machi-da Shi,
J^'
Machida
Shi, Tokyo
Tokyo 19^,
19^, J^
Ph.
0427-26-9778
Ph. 0427-26-9778
j/

^
^
,
Dear friends,
It

comes from

Vol. 21, No. 1, January,/

|Q"?7
our hearts

when we say,

and messages over the holidays".

your prayers are behind us.

The extra

"We thank

"Thanks to all of you for your meaningful

enclosures and packaged gifts helped to shov

our God

upon every

remembrance of you." (Phr

May all the wishes you extended to us be yours as well in this New Year!

''

The MEMORIAL FUND balance was applied toward the purchase of the new car. Thank
and to your generous Christmas gifts the car was completely paid for by year's end a^

was turned over to Mark and Lynn for the Campus House Fund. However more than $46,000 it
needed on their project.

Pray! and help as God provides for youi

Recently, a Japanese T.V. network has shown a series of candid movies on violence, rc
and police work in New York City. We were made sick watching it, but have had first-hand
tact with violence in Japan. It is no wonder that our young 23 year old believer has been
adjusted and committed to a mental institution.
During his New Years home visit, upon one
counter his father offered, "Here's my bathrobe belt. Go ahead and commit suiside!"
It

only after much persuasion that he promised not to use the meat cleaver and butcher knife

ti
he had layed aside. But six hours later the son was fortunate to get by with only a hamni"
blow to the back of the head without fighting back. Both father and son are in the hospital a
this time.

Pray for both and for the family.

For some time the city of Isehara has been planning to

to 18 ft. and pave it.

widen the 7 ft. road by our church

We have sold about SOO square feet of land to the city for that purpose.

Since this takes away about half of our present parking area,

we are taking steps to

elsewhere. ^ retaining wall is being built along the side of our house to make

get more

a driveway for

cars to go to the play area at the rear of the house. Funds received from the land sale will
cover 805^ of the cost of the retainer wall. The church wants to take part in this project, too.
With chicken houses and fences cleared away for the road, the church building is becoming visi
ble from the main highway one block away.
^ TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

'If

After the first Worship Service

Isehara, Sept. 5, I966

Preacher Akada & O.B.S. Evangelistic Team

helped us to our first six converts, Nov.

"'i

^English Bible Class at Hatano Baptist Church Mark 8f Singers - Obirin's Christ. Program

\vou know . , . that Betty Burnham of South Bend, Ind. is in her ninth year of service
ling Secretary and that her husband, Roger, has been serving as one of our trustees
ears? . that Susumu Kojima, who lived in our home some l8 years ago, is the assisctor of Industrial Bank's Chorus which took first place honors in a nationwide contest
xT and then sang for the Emperor's 50th Anniversary Celebration? . .. that John and Barrl, of the Mars Hill Church, Indianapolis, Ind. had provided us with 5000 C.J.C.M. adverit pens, put his telephoning crew to work soliciting funds for the Campus House and then
up the tab on our long distance telephoning last summer? .. . that Dave and Eleanor Rey~

, who helped build our building in 197^ are back in Japan building a combination Christian
and living quarters for the Julius Fleenors at Sayama, west of Tokyo?. . . that the San-

ra Church gave 26% of its total ($^200) income last year to missions?. . . that Kathleen and
.11 be in Hiroshima in Mid-March to assist the Turners with an evangelistic meeting?. . .that
yer Paul Pratt's address is
F Alsuda Court, Indianapolis, Ind. 46205 (Ph. 317-259-4865)?
Probably you didn't know . . that all who attend a wedding or a funeral receive a gift. .
. . that when a Buddhist dies he is given a new name. The more money paid to the priest by
is survivors the more saintly the name he receives.

Mrs. Kyoko Hara is an unusual person. Long before her baptism on Dec. 19th, she had taught
her son about God, right and wrong and how to pray.
Against family protests she resolved not
to see this teaching undone by allowing him to go to an ordinary kindergarten.
"If he can't
pass the test for the Christian kindergarten, I'll teach him myself." she vowed.
In answer to
prayer, he was admitted,for which we all thank God. It was a great test of her faith. Her hus
band, who is not yet a Christian, is manager of the Kentucky House Restaurant in the center
of
Isehara. He is planning a Dixieland Music Concert with a live band on Feb. 15th and has invited
me to give a gospel message there. The proceeds will go to a Christian Orphanage just west of
Tokyo. OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Preacher Doug' Holley at Frankfort, Ky. for providing the restau

rant with a 4' X 6' Kentucky State flag and an autographed picture of the governor.
CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

A Non-Profit Organization
BULK RATE

23769 West Edison Road,

^outh Bend, Indiana, 46628

U. S-

POSTAGE

PAID

South Bend,

Ind.

Permit No. 316

Missions services

Kenptll. ma. !^601v9

CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

P o -

Forwarding Address
Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

r u

no

T e-gami

(Paul & Mark's Epistle)

2910 East 98th St.,

Indianapolis, Ind., ^6280
B

Ph. 317-844-3659
Overseas Address

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

Kanagawa Ken, 259-111 Japan.

'f

Ph. 0463-95-1019

"..declare His praise

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

Mark and Lynn Pratt
5-^-19 Morino

in the islands." Isa. ^2:12

Machida Shi, Tokyo 19^, Japan

Ph. 0427-26-9778

Vol. XXJ-']an.. im
Dejr/yi pilencl^,

qwLte. a
uie. .4>ent a rL&hx6teJi.teyi, 'jJe. hxwe.
and hie. have, ^me. e^pexUxiiiij. LLcj. nehX6 to /le^Late. to yx)u on. the. tack
icJJicuL

veJtu ^'f-6'j;
of thL&

TkL6 fatt found U4> Inuotvcd In ail of. oun A^jgitloA. actlvltic^ttloAk In Ian-

school, cotJi of ll6 bionJidng. at Dad'^ cJuLncIt on. Sundaij^, and. t^iOAk'.^ 3 &iglL6k

cla6.6c^,

Jn. addLtion.f we. wene. Inv-ited to .6pecik at a 3-day. eoamge-LL^tdc me.eJLing. whe/ie.
tui, and fln6 ^eo/uge. Beckman wo/ik rtean Kote., de wene. excdted atout t/tL6 and pne.paned 3 nie^acjaif .special p.uuUjl and. ^tide^ f- o/i vdsuxit aicU>, The. meetUng.6 wejue.
weft-attended; and a young man made. AZ<J dect^uon. fo/i CJmL^t,
Tdenu. I'eon the Ottnin Co ilege CJuid^tdan CtuA 4>non4>o/iA a -6fiectal CKnL6tma6

pnogAam^ we panZAJugKiZea cn Znui ta.6Z yean, and liann wa-6 unvcZed Zo -^-ing agacn

thi.6 yean. The pnognam comtited of ^iunglng, .^tpeclai mu/dc., me^^iOLge, and candle

.6envtce, Aiout 730 ^>tudent^ attended tKLi> yean and wene Jntnoduced to the activftteyi) of the Omd^ttan Ctut which, meetd tuu.ce a week.
ueen aZZcnaung ZJie

moZnen6

meeJLing4>,

.dcgnung [\anc6 up pan hen unctOAjn, .6Uf^

ptie.^, etc, jt*A teen kind of emtanAa4^.6ing--tdt intene^tungl

Aa a ne.6uit o.f ennoiting Kani.6 in .kindenga/iten, Cuinh wa6 oAked to teach.

CngtiAh convenAation a few Houjia a week to the kindenganten chtidnen, Teacluing

CxL6ori Jchn P"/uxtt

BoAn: B&c., 27, 1976

WeJjgkt: 9 6^, 9 oz,

L&ngik: 20 3/\ -in,

at the. SeventJi Ba^

AlventL^t Ko^^fiLtat.
Toki^, Japan

on cximpLU, uxM lowsji Kajil-6* taltian a6 lAatl as Intnoduas, us to mono. OLinJn people..
We also hope to e oAte to teaeh some -in the co tiecie,

Ike sav-ings ciooount fon oun land hmd continues to gnow stoisLj- tknouejk ojccumacatung pn^Jiest and. tnnougk specspLe gdj-ts u-ou send. We one nou consJdejilng
the ix>ssskListij. of- luijdng. a house, that ice could laten add a meet-incj. /lOom, etc.,,
to, Mazlnn.Lj enough, thene one some houses icltk land that sell fon the. same pntce
as some plots of. land oniig. We have tecome cpute good fntends uxitJx the 2 Aeai
^tate men who found this house -fon us, and tkeij. one keeping tkeln eijes open fon
houses Lxitkin walking cListance of the OLinJji campus,

Ihe CKnlstmas season at (hm. and Bad's was veny. .lusy. We wene tknslled that
Inat^ (juUstmas with cano ting, a candle seswtce, and a cUnnen and qtfA exchange

a^tken young motken made hen decision ton the Lond, And the ckunck people cele-

paety,

We thank all ol you who nercemiened us so geneaouslu this Cknlstmas with oJlts
ona. coAcs, The 3 of us spent Cknsstmas at "CAandma and ^Aondpa's," and the 4 c2.
us spent hew Jeaji s tkene!

S-incenely youns^'-and fiis,

Pratt

Your[ donations are tax deductible.

P o

Jl/^^
- r u no T e-gaau.

(Paul Se Mark's Epistle)

CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

"

.declare His praise in the islands." Isa. ^2:12

Forwarding Address

verseas Address

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

Mark and Lynn Pratt

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

2910 East 98th St.,

Indismapolis, Ind., ^6280

3-^-19 Morino
Machida Shi, Tokyo 19^, Japan

Ph. 317-844-3659

Ph. 0427-26-9778

Kanagawa Ken, 259-11*

Japan.

Ph. 0463-95-1019

Ve/.yxi^ /^prii ^ m?

^pV"(| fuols

Yealiy dij Ay^duaAc -froyyt layiauaac

<>chool oM Jjprll

hi qm<i-

/H h]c-^pc^ch/vhc
of +he /awhc^qe uf'itl ccntthuc

Tl/ U'e d(e. lOt pmKe God -foy fyo~

WdiKi^ u'o\ndr-^iii ieachers a^c/ as'k
TPi- Wis cchiihued (]u\<la.y[Ce exod
.IS.

/(^yc a^J /nf/k^Kce

^Tse/iA/^

fitf. Pt^H

ou^-f/^cMe^. "

Tkd Ischft/2i

'mciwdci Pmc^icinA sohti^

I^Uh luichi.fihc c4 ihe ycR-Zt. Pur/iiA dl4c

Boftnner U/firsW,f , so)c-fimef

o>"dctfi/mo<iy. ^i-f^ernw-n-cotoi-

On ^Pril (2,^

wdjook l^aris

TO 4ke open'iviA

pccAsrpnn/

Wtfe+iHjr.

^riAitCcdt +tft

^blHn findertie

Uerf } ki

J^CLy)J_ -fhCC pic

h*.rc tvft.C dalc^h

yejcJ, da.yf .iUe

case

Kme^berma -Da'jcI Ge "uphch

P^-r]c sdayfej-h^-

4kejr.-f/i ^n<J
uZ-tra hop'iM
Tr mite Ot<ley net\>^
+Heklcly 5o 4duL-f fkcv
he a.h(e h
,

Ojnd t-Vwu's

rtPoA Ix-di

cine I ccma.cr ipdr

rf yotX^c-Kry.
a'ldi^'f tfjeT
danAjay(l'iy\ij

Oucks and Geese",

Tkts u aclt^-aKy Unn's u;av

nrri day o-P sd^^l,

incindf
-P>-Ind.

lr\d.& kcew WayihA *-

>

vyvco-Hi

-Itj te kc(d all

+k. tiKhd .

'

Rew^mt?ev Lynn's sif-tc-r^TeKnd,

you.k pm-v/*<. SUc if
Mo-y

j4tcuA

Dear friends,

Japan has often been called a "field resistant to the gospel"*

shown somewhat of a cause for this

in his book

"God",

Brother George Alder has

"Western civilization developed with

faith in one God, the Creator, Therefore, it was assumed that the
creation was orderly, ,,
Science developed out of faith in this order. In the East, however, the , belief in many gods
implied a chaos of conflicting forces, , , Therefore, this area of the world fell behind in
investigation and scientific development," The Japanese label themselves as "great imitators",
rather than inventors. Faith in the Creator, Himself or lack of it has made the difference.
But, Japan has its believers, Katsumi Omura, our first leader from this area was married
in March, Our church ladies group prepared and served five big cakes in a tea party reception.
For their very formal hotel reception which followed, his bride changed her kimono twice. Then,

it was strange to see both of them in traditional kimono cutting their giant wedding cake in

Western fashion, (We Westerners hope to set good spiritual examples for their imitation, too,)
Speaking of our leaders, Michio Inoue (an elder) is being sent by his Engineering Co-along

with his wife, Hideko (church treasurer) to build a highway in The Celebes, Indonesia,

They'll

lor two years.

years
be gone for
Pray that our newly chosen leaders will grow as they take over.

While widening the road beside the church, a power shovel uncover-ed some-bones^- Immediately _the officials_AfLejie.._called_in and conferences held. They concluded that they were the remains of an aincestor who
had died during the time when a shrine had been on this spot. The road
with water and drainage already in will be completed by April 30th.

On April 1st Mark became the 32nd graduate of the Japan Missionary
Language Institute which has had more than 300 total enrollees.
One
of his teachers stated that she "learned a lot from the experience of

teaching him". After just 1)^ years of preparation they are

now deeply

involved in the work of student evangelism.

Did you know , , , that the American $ which;was worth 3^0 five
years ago is only worth 272 today? . . . that Gason John, our grand
that marriage Japan
son, at yk months laughs and 'coos' already?
ese style is thought of as between the two families rather than between
two people? ... that we are planning another Coffee House Evangelism?

PRAY FOR , the Spring Evangelism in May, . .the 28th All Japan
Convention (April 29th-May 3rd) . for our daughter, Lydia's expected
little one in June, , , for Summer Camp plains for students in Julyl

Elvis Dyer, of Indianapolis passed on to his reward on March 27th.

He and his wife Hildegarde have provided regular financial and prayer
support for us since we decided on Japan in 1937. A Memorial Gift thru

the Mars Hill Church has been received in his nam^. We were likewise
saddened in January to learn of the accidental dedth of~"Mrs.

Lucrlle

Filley, our dear friend from Vandalia, Michigan. Our Lord promises,
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, .they will rest from labors!'
CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

23769 West Edison Road,

South Bend, Indiana, ^6628

Mr. Sc Mrs. Inoue

^ Non-Profit Organization
BULK RATE

Address Correction Requested

U. S-

POSTAGE

PAID

South Bend,

Ind.

Permit No, 316

A fifth grader's
Brushwriting of
SHINRI - Truth

Missl^-ns Spvlc0a

Box it?

Kenptcn, Tnd. H60U9

CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

Forwarding Address

P o -

r u

no

T e-gami

(Paul & Mark's Epistle)

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

2910 East 98th St.,

Indianapolis, Ind., 46280
Ph. 317-844-3659

te

Overseas Address

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

1210 Karaikasuya, Isehara City,

Kanagawa Ken, 259-11, Japan.
Ph. 0463-95-1019

"..declare His praise

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

Mark and Lynn Pratt

the islands."

3-4-19 Morino

Machida Shi, Tokyo 194, Japan

Isa. 42:12
Vol. 21 Sept., 1977

Ph. 0427-26-9778

ENGLISH TEACHER GOES BERSERKI

At least, sometimes I think I will. But

there are rewards. The English diaries
often provide my "comic relief" for

the day. One student wrote, "I sprained

the thumb finger of my right foot."

The students also write things that

clue me in on problems they may be

having: "The reason why I don't like

my father, I don't know. But in my
childhood I liked him."

We were involved in two English can5>s

this summer. One was an English-Bible

Obtrin-s^ponsored

Camp

I was able to teach about Christ at both times.

camp sponsored by Dad and us. The other

was an Obirin-^onsored English camp.
I also taught at our regular church

camp; there were about 80 students for that. The Obirin teachers asked me to speak
at their retreat up in the mountains. So we had a total of 4 "camp" experiences.
BABIES, BABIES

Many of our regular readers know Hideto Yoshii, a former worker

at Sannobara Church. We were able to see them this summer.
GRAM

The only dark spot in our

summer was that we lost

Lynn's grandmother, Mrs.

Ethel Lusby. She died of
a heart attack; but she
apparently didn't suffer
and was alert and active

till the end. She was a

fine Christian lady. We

were able to share her

testimony with the Chris

tians here.

Little Hideki is one year old now. He is expecting a baby brother

or sister in October. Hideto's mother-in-law, Mrs. Nogami, is
a new "baby" Christian as of a few months ago.

CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALLI

Hiromichi and Kyoko Kara were presented with Kentucky Colonel awards which Lynn's parents
obtained. The Haras operate a restaurant known as The Kentucky House that serves food any
Kentuckian would be proud of. Kyoko is a member of the Sannobara Church of Christ where
Dad works. Hiromichi has been attending regularly recently. They have two children.
VACATIONING IS HARD WORK

An old lady was heard to say: "When I works, I works hardand when I sets, I sets loose."

We had sure worked hard and were ready to "set loose" for a wonderful month with Lynn's
parents visiting here. Traveling is hard work even in the States, but harder here with few
expressways and fewer hamburger
stands! We started on a trip via
the overnight ferry19 hours from

Tokyo to Hyuga, Kyushu. The man at

the travel bureau had told Mark

we only needed to pay for the 4

adults. (What he really meant was
that we were only getting a sleep

ing space for 4.) We boarded the

ship and located our quartersa
huge room where at least 200 peo
ple were "laid out." Each one's

sleeping space was only 5' x 18".

Four big Americans with two chil
dren, suitcases, diapers, and
bottles, stood staring in dis

Mr. rtArsCASOh

belief. A kind steward saw our

Kans

Marjc Mayey

PRESSING ON

problem and mercifully led us to

a place where we'd be "more com

We continue with our private classes and those at

fortable." It was a room for 18,

Obirin and with the Sannobara and Zushi churches.

but we had it all to ourselves.

From Hyuga, four hours of driving

brought us to the Mark Maxey home.
After a wonderful time there, we
started the return trip by car.
Six days later we were hometired
but refreshed after much sight
seeing and visiting with friends.

Through these we are in touch with over 400 people

regularly each week. (Incidentally, Mr. Fukuda, who
preaches at Zushi part-time, is seriously ill and
needs your prayers.)
Coming up: 1. 12-week English-Bible class for Obirin

collegestudents ^ 2. the Sannobara church retreat^

3. a special meeting we're helping with where Milton
Jones and Dale Wilkinson work.

Si? }yLlA.C^^
CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

23769 West Edison Road,

South Bend, Indiana, ^6628

BULK RATE

Address Correction Requested

_A Non-Profit
Organization

/7?

U.S.

POSTAGE

PAID

South Bend,

Ind.

Permit No. 316

P o

)\/(D^ ffi:
- r u no T e-i;ami

(Paul & Mark's Epistle)

CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

.declare His praise in the islands." Isa. ^2:12

verseas Address

Forwarding Address
Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

- Mark and Lynn Pratt

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

Kanagawa Ken, 259-11i Japan.

2910 East 98th St.,

Indianapolis, Ind., ^6280

3-^-19 Morino

Ph. 0463-95-1019

Ph. 317-844-3659

Ph. 0427-26-9778

Machida Shi, Tokyo 19^, Japan

Vol. 21, No. 3i September, 1977

Dear friends,

We are bragging about our third grandchild born on June l8th to Rick and Lydia Coyle.
Her
name is Shara Lynn and she weighed in at ^358 grams (8 lb 10 oz). Kathleen was able to take care
of her and help her mother during a two month stay in Cincinnati.

She came back on August 19th.

Guests during the summer included Patricia Sheely who hopes to return to Japan to assist the
missionary force some day; The Dave Reynolds, who did some repairs for us on their way to Haneda
Airport after completing Fleenor's dual puiTpose building at Sayama; 12 Christians from Decateur,
Georgia eind Louisville, Ky. lead by Jack Ballard and Wayne Spangler; Nita Garrett & Nancy John
son from Iowa; Lynn's parents Mr. & Mrs. Hubert Lusby from Williarastown, Kentucky; Nine members
of a basketball team from various Bible Colleges lead by
Conley Silsby of the Traveling Christian College, Seattle.
Our Tokyo Area Camp was a great experience of studying
"Love Is The Greatest" (I Cor. 13) Mark, Lynn and I used
the same theme in our Obirin Christian Camp. We also took
part in English Seminar Camps from the college. As in pre
vious years I was able to spend a total of seven days help
ing with Coffee House Evangelism at the resort village of
Karuizawa in the mountains.

Stephen and Carol Fleenor were

sponsors of the project. Believe it or not, John Lennon of

the Beetles who was there, attracted by the poster "Jesus'

Power and Light", came one night.

At that time six missionaries decided to b^d together

for a two or three day weekly evangelism.

Beginning

a follow-up of Tokyo converts and contacts from the

with
Coffee

House at the Sakurayama Church in September a schedule has

been made out for every week this year at various places.
June Meeting with brethren who don't
Did you know that ... Hideto Yoshii was able to bap use the instrument in worship, Iblg-o
tize his mother-in-law into Christ? ... Paul has had

two

opportunities recently to minister to sailors at the U.S.N.

Air Facility, Atsugi? ... Hark spoke at Obirin Chapel in

the spring and spoke to the Christian Teachers' Camp during
the summer? ... Mr. & Mrs. Hubert Lusby presented certi
ficates from Gov. J. Carrol to

& Mrs. Hiromichi

Kara,

of our church (they manage the Kentucky House) making them

both 'Kentucky Colonels'? ... during the month

of

July

both Mr. Lusby's mother and Paul's brother-in-law J.^. Crider passed on to their reward?

Kipling declared that "East is East and West is West

and never the twain shall meet". Recent personal work with
Japanese seekers seem to verify this fact. Proofs of God's
existance, the validity of Bible history said miracles seem
to have little effect upon Asian hearts. Pray that we have
a special abundance of patience and His Spirit to the task.
Of course we labor knowing that the re-creation

into Christ is God's part of evangelism.

of persons

Koji Homori (our Timothy) Minister

of Kagoshima Church and his bride

It was

a busy

emd

exciting two months

from the time Mary Joyce met me at Cincinnati

Airport at 9:30 PM and with tears of joy said
"Lydia's baby girl was bom at
PM" till
I waved and said, "I'll be seeing you" to son
Paul and Mary Lou at Indianapolis Airport on
August 17 I also got to see Rod and Debbie,
and their girls Shawna and Stacy in Califor
nia, Tadao and Christine Takahashi and their
three children the next day. Christine & her
daughter Lisa were baptized here at Sannobara
in February, 1975. The Takahashis operate a
nursery business in San Bernardino.

Lynn sgdd that every daughter needs her

mother when the first baby is born. We've al

-if^oways tried to be near when our children

need

us. It's a truly thrilling experience to care

for a new-born baby.
HOW MARVELOUS GRANDMO-

j THERHOOD IS 11 We 'real live missionaries*cerI tainly love our family no less than you 'real

Karis 8e friends, baby sitting with Cason

I live people'. And I do thank Lynn, Mark and Paul for helping to make this trip possible for me
\lby teaching my classes, etc.

The NACC was inspiring following the theme "The Word of God Forever". Hearing the messages,
and the heavenly music and seeing so many Christian friends made it a mountaintop experience. And
all of it was in English!

It was good to spend several days with Mary Joyce and see her busy life with Challenge Un
limited. She taught missions at two DVBS's. Her special friend, Tom Wilson, "from Troy, 0. gra

duated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in engineering and is employed at IBM in
Boulder, Colorado.

I spent several days with Mary Lou (my sister who is our F.A.) and visited with my two bro
thers and their families, attended a family reunion, the Michiana Area Fifth Sunday Rally and our
C.J.C.M. trustees meeting. The trustees are Ernie and Polly Wilkinson, Harry Bauer & Roger BurnhauD. Roger's wife, Betty, is Mailing Secretary for the Mission.. We are grateful for these who
share our concern for this work.

The Biographical Sketch in the June 15th issue of HORIZONS was about someone you know.

Did

you notice?

In the September, 1975 Epistle you saw a picture of Mark's ordination. Harold Akers, of the
Milburn Blvd. Church in Mishawaka participated in this ordination. Harold and his wife, Neomia

plan to come to Japan next April for at least three months to work and learn about the work. Har
old was baptized at Mishawaka when we were ministering there.
MRS. EDNA HAVERSTOCK, of the Sauktown Church, Mill Creek, Ind. presented a gift to us as a
MEMORIAL TO HER DEPARTED HUSBAND.

Let us read, and commit to life Matthew 6:19-3^. "...Don't store up for yourselves... Don't
worry! ...Look at the birds! ... See the lilies of the field, ...0 you of little faith...

pagans

run after all these material things... Seek FIRST HIS KINGDOM, an^HIS RI(3ITB0USNESS... and don't
worry!.. . Each day has enough trouble of its own!"
CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

23769 West Edison Road,

South Bend, Indiana, ^6628

BULK RATE

A Non-Profit
Organization

U. S.

POSTAGE

PAID

South Bend,

Ind.

Permit No. 316

. I'

/1^
;i/ CO^Ift
P o - r u no T e-gami
(Paul & Mark's Epistle)
CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

declare His praise in the islands." Isa. k2:12

jverseas Address
1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

Kanagawa Ken, 259-11

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

Mark and Lynn Pratt

Forwarding Address
Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

Paul St Kathleen Pratt

Japan.

Ph. 0463-95-1019

2910 East 98th St.,

Indianapolis, Ind., 46280

3-4-19 Merino

Ph. 317-844-3659

Ph. 0427-26-9778

Machida Shi, Tokyo 194, Japan

Dear friends.
Vol. 21, No. 3i November, 1977
Japan's Thanksgiving For Diligent Labor Day compares to our Labor
Day. But with God as the Giver of "every good and perfect gift" we do
thank Him for using us,

for His patience with us

and for opening your

hearts to us in so many ways. "Oh that men would praise the Lord
His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
Seishiro Shimura was married on October 21st.

for

Noone in his family

or hers seems to have ever been in_a church, let alone heard a gospel
message. Their Shinto weddings are basically for the smaller
family
group and the language is quite unintelligible. No wonder that
they
came one by one expressing surprise at understanding this
foreigner's
Japanese and appreciation for the simple message about

love and

God's

plan for the home. Isehara's Mayor Nakamura was among the 65 persons

Neomia & Harold Akers

who attended.

committment

to

Christ in Kyushu.

Mrs. Shimokawa at one time had made some kind of

But, under family influence and other pressures

she

had slipped back.

I attended her Buddhist funeral.

One by one

mourn- -

ers approached her picture in front of the casket, lighted a stick of

incense and prayed silently to and for her. Just before the
service
began, I approached the casket and prayed aloud addressing The Creator j

and Father of all mankind, praying, not for her, but for the comfort of I
her family. The Buddhist Priest's sing-song type ritual was basically \
unintelligible even to the Japanese. Other than my pr^er, the
only

understandable words expressed in the 40 minute service

were by an as

sistant who instructed the mourners to line up, burn incense and pray.
Harold ard Neomia Akers came into the Milburn Blvd. Church when we

were ministering at Mishawaka, Ind. some 26 years ago. They have been j
leaders there and have served in so many ways. Harold, at a young 60,~^

/ity Bus & Church Sign

is now retired from the railroad and serves with Preacher Tim Storms as

a Golden Age Visitation Minister. The church is helping them to raise

transportation funds toward their proposed visit to Japan in April
of
1978. They will assist with literature distribution, teaching English,
correspondance and other duties in a few months' stay. Then,
pect to be able to tell you about Japan when they return.

Speaking of Milburn Blvd.,

they ex

received a thank you letter from Mrs.

Mar^lorie Buckman Blume, who now lives in Minneapolis.

Having also been

with us at Milburn Blvd., she asked, "Is thirty years too long a
time
passed for me to say 'thank you'? Needless to say we were overjoyed to
get her letter and told her so. Maybe you will want to follow Marjorie
and express to some former teacher, or counsellor or friend your thanks.
You'll both be glad you did.
"Why the Isehara street scene?" you ask.

roaching bus you would hear the

"Next stop is Sanno Junior High
Church of Christ please get off
times every day. The tall sign
the sign tells you that this is

If you were on that app

announcement via tape recorded message,

School. All who wish to go to Sannobara
here". This announcement is given 110
at the right marks a fire hydrant,
and
the entrance to Sannobara Church.

Atsuko & Seishiro

Someone wants to know how English teaching :i^ helpful in evangelism.

Students come to the
church as a result of our witness. Kathleen anijl I teach each of our college students scripture
verses

at each session.

We have discussed in class

such subjects as "Love and Marriage", "Merto

cy Killing", "Beverage Alcohol", "Finding Purpos^ In Life" etc. and always bring God's word

bear upon the subject. Numerous opportunities t(D counsel have presented themselves to us.
We
cooperate with and sponsor the Obirin Christian plub and Mark now has an English Bible Class on
the campus. Because we had contact with the sch6ol Mark is becoming more and more a part of the
scene. He is recognized as a 'Chaplain' and takps his turn speaking in the junior high,
high
school and college chapel sessions in Japanese. Of course we still look forward to the Campus
Ministry having its own building near the campus, an eventual Bible Chair and Bible Seminary.
Speaking of the Campus Ministry, Mark and Lynn are doing their best in small rented

quart

ers while keeping their sights upon building nearer the college. Cash and logins totaling $20,000
are available and we expect more will be in the near future.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM AND CONTRIBUTE

AS YOU CAN TO CAMPUS MINISTRY - CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION.

Our Missionary Evangelistic Team of eight members has been working together two days a week
since early Sept. We distribute literature house to house, take time for personal witnessing to
people who open the door, pass out booklets of Tme Life of Christ to Elementary, Junior High and
High School students and do street preaching at xhe train stations. We are planning a follow-up
"Christian Movre'and Evangelistic meeting at Isehara this month. Each church we have assisted in

some way has seen results from our efforts. Andl each of us has grown as a result.
Japanese students have a time with English.

Let me share a. few laughs we received.

_ "I know

that my dear glandmother was glowing old." "I sprained the thumb finger of my right foot."
It
was sorrow that Obirin High School of baseball team beated by strong Waseda team." "I got boil

on my upper under." Everyone needs a good laugh every day.

Did' you know that...there has been an incre^ se in the niimber of suicides, among junior high
and elementary school children in Japan?...that ;he movie "SHIOKARI MOUNTAIN PASS" is available
in English? Get it for your church by writing Wpij Id Wide Pictures, Hennepin Ave.,
Minneapolis,
Mn.,
.that our 10 month old grandson is~vj?s Iking already?...that our lawyer son, Paul and
his wife Mary have returned to California? He ii employed by the Hughes Aircraft Corp... Hideto
and Masako Yoshii's second baby, a girl, was bori on October 6th?...most sects of Buddhism can
be said to be atheistic (believe in no god)? In Lswer to the question "to whom do you pray?"the
ordinary person is speechless or says, "I don^t :now".
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is
the One who was in the beginning with God. Through Him everything came into being and without
Him nothing that exists came into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.

...And the Word became main and lived for a time ^ong us, and we viewed His glory - such glory
as an only son receives from his father - aboundjlng in grace and truth." "Thanks be unto God for
His unspeakable gift." "

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

A Non-Profit

(Paul & Kathleen Pratt)

O::'ganization

23769 West Edison Road,

South Bend, Indiana, 46628

BULK
U.S.

RATE

POSTAGE

PAID

South Bend,

V '9m

his brings a prayer

at (Jkristmas time

"TVat Qod
al7ays bless
...your h-ome and you
And tliose you love
lasting Kappiness^j^

Pt-t

Ind.

Permit No. 316