Reflections on Yamagata

Today we are leaving Sakuragaoka Church and traveling to Koganei Church. I am very thankful for this week that we were able to spend here, getting to know the members here, and serving along side them at Yamagata. I learned so much about the challenges (and blessings) of the churches here in rural Yamagata prefecture.

Here are some prayer requests for Oecho Church and for the churches in Yamagata:

There is a long history of persecution for Christians in the Yamagata area. It is very difficult to share about God and invite people to church, even friends and family. Please pray that even one of the flyers will bring new people to the church and that they may hear the good news of the gospel.

A group of middle schoolers come to Oecho Church to hang out after school. Most of them have parents who are working and so they would be home alone otherwise. They sometimes stay for meetings and come to church services, but aren’t interested in Christianity yet. The pastors are happy that they feel comfortable coming to church, but hope they will want to learn more about God and accept the Lord as their savior.

It has been three years since the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, but recovery has been slow. Although all of the rubble has been cleared away, the rebuilding process is long and in many places, at a standstill. People are still dislocated and living in temporary refugee housing. For the people who did not lose their homes, there is still great loss and pain. Please pray that the churches in the region will be able to continue their outreach and be a light to the communities still in need of hope and salvation.