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宣教師と妻と母の3つの帽子をかぶりながら奮闘中の宣教主婦、尾関祐子のブログです。北米での日本人宣教と帰国者のフォローアップの宣教団体、JCFNで働いています。JCFNの詳しい働きについては、www.jcfn.orgへ。


by yukoozeki

Ministry Report November 2014

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas,
and A Blessed New Year!!


"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)


Ministry Report November 2014_a0122207_03452513.jpg


Time flies and this year is almost finished.
How was this year for you all? As for me, my little daughter entered pre-school this September and now I enjoy a few hours of kid-free time. It means a lot to me!!

This September, I started a new one-on-one bible studies with two ladies. One has been coming to “Moms and Kids” class for two years. She used to say, "I am a Buddhist." Her hearts has been cultivated and now asks lots of questions about the Bible and Christianity. It is very encouraging to me. To my surprise, I found out that her in-laws, who are Chinese residing in Indonesia, became Christians and was baptized last year. Of course, they had no knowledge that she had also been in touch with Christians on the other side of the world. This convinces me that God really wants to reach her, her family and her relatives. It also reminds me that God is the one who takes the initiative and has authority over who will be saved. We, as His followers, are mere vessels. Yet it is indeed a privilege for me to join God's work and see many wonderful things that He has done. It humbles me a lot.
Please join me in pray for her so that she would open her heart and receive Jesus as her Savior soon.

♪Equipper Conference is approaching....♪
Ministry Report November 2014_a0122207_03442302.jpg
Equipper Conference is approaching. We had the second meeting for two full days with the planning committee members from all over the US on November 8th and 9th.
This year's theme is "Following Christ on the Crosswalk (Luke 9:23).” Christians should not be stagnant just because they are loved and are able to go to Heaven. We have to be captivated by the reason and purpose of why we are saved and have been sent out to Japan and beyond. This is our main message for this year's conference.

Please pray for the last minute preparations. I am supervising the English, Children’s, and Seekers Programs. In the English Program, we provide seminars for English speakers to learn how to minister to the Japanese effectively. They will also have some time to hear the testimonies of the Japanese participants. Please pray that God would use their testimonies and raise more workers for Japanese ministry. In the Children’s Program, we are excited to collaborate with a kid's music ministry called, "Stream of Praise." I hope that the children will have a blessed worship experience during the program. As for the Seekers Program, student leaders will have an opportunity to be trained to share the gospel clearly and share their life-changing testimonies.

Please pray that more than 300 conferees will surrender themselves, be transformed as followers of Christ so that they will grow to a blessing to Japan and the world.

 
♪ Other Prayer Requests ♪

1. Pray for returnees' spiritual growth. Please also pray that a supportive Christian community will be provided for each one, so that they will continue to grow.
2. Please pray for guidance as I write a returnee workbook for business people and their families.
3. Please pray that the Lord will meet my financial needs. This year, 89.9% has been met so far. May the Lord bless each supporter. Please pray that the Lord will raise more supporters.
4. Pray for salvation and spiritual growth of those whom I hold Bible study with.
5. Please pray that I can be a faithful servant, holding onto the calling from God as a minister, wife and mother.
6. Please pray for my home church, Takatsuki Evangelical Free Church.
.
Thank you very much for your prayers. God bless you all and have a blessed holiday season!

Yuko Ozeki

# by yukoozeki | 2014-12-02 03:53 | Bi-monthly Report

宣教報告2014年11月

Happy thanksgiving, Merry Christmas,
and A Blessed New Year!!




宣教報告2014年11月_a0122207_5253684.jpg


「イエスは、みなの者に言われた。『だれでもわたしについて来たいと思うなら、自分を捨て、日々自分の十字架を負い、そしてわたしについて来なさい』」(ルカ9:23)


  あっという間に1年が終わろうとしています。
皆さんにとって今年はどんな1年だったでしょうか。私は9月から下の娘が現地の幼稚園に通いだし、ようやく週に何日か午前中の2-3時間子どものいない貴重な時間を持つことができ始めています。

  9月から新しく二人の求道者のママさんたちと個別でバイブルスタディを持ち始めました。そのうちの一人の方は、過去2年間、育児クラスに来続けてくださっていた方です。「私は仏教徒だから」と言っていた彼女が2年経ち、少しずつ心が耕され、いろいろな聖書に関する質問をしてくれるのを見るとき、大いに励まされています。驚いたことに、感彼女の義理のご両親(インドネシアに住む中国人のご夫妻)が、最近彼女とはまったく別の経緯でキリスト教に触れ、洗礼を受けられたそうです。神様は本当に不思議な導きによって彼女と彼女の家族、親族をみんな救われようとしているのでしょう。このような話を聞くとき、本当に福音宣教は神様の主権のもとに行われるのだ、ということを改めて実感します。その主の働きに加えさせていただき、その御業を見せていただけることは本当に感謝なことで、また謙遜な思いにさせられます。
  引き続き、彼女の心が開かれ、彼女自身も近いうちにイエス様を救い主として受け入れることができるように、お祈りください。


♪イクイッパーカンファレンスが今年も間近です♪

宣教報告2014年11月_a0122207_5265547.jpg
  年末のイクイッパーカンファレンスが近づいてきました。11月8-9日まで、全国から実行委員たちが集まり、2日間の準備委員会を持ちました。
 今年のテーマは、「Crosswalk~キリストについていく」(ルカ9:23)というものです。クリスチャンが、「自分が愛されていてよかった。そして、救われて天国に行けるからよかった。」というところにとどまるのではなく、自分たちの救われた目的と使命を明確にし、キリストの弟子として、日本へ、そして世界へと送り出されることを願っています。

  引き続き、最後の準備のためにお祈りいただければ幸いです。私は英語プログラム、子どもプログラム、そして求道者プログラムの3つを担当をしています。英語プログラムでは、効果的に日本人にミニストリーをしていくためのセミナーと共に、日本人参加者からの証を聞く時間を多く設けています。彼らの証が用いられ、ますます日本人宣教のための働き人が起こされるようにお祈りください。また、子供プログラムでは、今回、Stream of Praiseという子ども賛美ミニストリーの方の協力を経て充実した賛美のときを持てることを期待しています。求道者プログラムでは、学生リーダーたちが、求道者たちに、わかりやすく福音を伝え、また自分の変えられた人生を証することができるよう、現在2週間に一度スカイプで訓練のときを持っています。
  なによりも、300名以上の参加者たちが、自分を明け渡し、キリストについていく者として変えられ、日本と世界への祝福の器として成長するきっかけとして用いられるようにお祈りください。
 
♪その他祈りの課題
1.帰国した人たちのそれぞれの歩みと信仰生活のために。主が彼らをふさわしい教会・集会・個人に出会わせてくださり、ますます主にあって信仰を強めていくことができますように。
2.引き続き、帰国者応援ワークブック駐在・社会人編の執筆の上に主の豊かな導きがあるように。
3.主が経済的必要を満たしてくださるように。(現在89.9%のサポートが満たされています。)主が引き続きサポーターを起こしてくださるように。サポートしてくださる方々が主からの一層の祝福を受けますように。
4.バイブルスタディをしている人たちの救いと成長のために。
5.ミニスターとして、妻として、母としての召しを感謝して受け止めつつ忠実に主に従うことができるように。
6.母教会の高槻福音自由教会の祝福のためにお祈りください。

皆様の上に祝福を祈りつつ。よい年末年始をお迎えください。    尾関 祐子
# by yukoozeki | 2014-11-18 05:29 | Bi-monthly Report

Ministry Report September 2014

"Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:6


America's long summer is over and a new school year begun. Many who temporarily returned to Japan are now back. Fall is a fun and busy season for various events and activities. I pray that the Lord will give me opportunities to meet many Japanese people in the next couple of months, especially those who are new in the USA.

♪Intern♪

One of highlight during the summer was JCFN’s intern, Ayumi Yamanashi from Missouri. She had a homestay with us for two months and was a blessing to all our family as well as JCFN. Ayumi became a Christian through her American friends and is now a Bible college student. Beacuse of that, she had struggled to integrate being both Japanese and Christian. Whenever she met Japanese people she didn’t know how to relate to them. She had no idea how to communicate her faith and Christianity to them. Amidst that, God led her to JCFN. She participated in; JCFN leadership camp WIT, a missions trip with other Japanese Christians, a Japanese Christian retreat, led youth group at Japanese church, met with Japanese seekers doing one to one bible study. In this way she experienced the Christian life in a Japanese setting for the first time. By the end of her internship, she seemed more comfortable and confident after assimilating her faith in Japanese. After the internship ended and she left, she e-mailed us,

"I notice there are more Japanese international students in colleges nearby than previous years. I met several at an event last week and one of them contacted me that she has an inerest in Christianity. I still don't know how much she wants to know about the Bible and Jesus, but I’m thinking to have a bible study with her."

Praise the Lord!! I believe that JCFN ministry is for people just like her. Even though she’d been saved and had a strong passion towards God, unless she integrated her faith with her Japanese identity and established her Christian life in her mother tongue, she couldn’t have used what she learned and experienced for mission in her home country. I pray that JCFN will continually serve those who need to be equipped to be ready for mission for Japan.

Ministry Report September 2014_a0122207_7573344.jpg


♪Summer Vacation for Ozeki Family ~ VBS♪

It wasn’t easy for me to work at home during summer since kids were around all the time. Yet I enjoyed the time with them and am thankful for it.
I took a week off from JCFN in mid August and attended Japanese VBS (Vacation Bible School in Japanese) with my daughters. I worked as a volunteer to learn how to organize and operate VBS. It was an absolutely refreshing time for me and I was so encouraged by the kids. Their hearts are soft and they learned the gospel very quickly and accepted Jesus without even a doubt. Even though it was their first time hearing the gospel. Indeed, it was very important to "remember the Creator in the day of the youth, " and at the same time, Japanese VBS is a strategic ministry to share the gospel with Japanese people abroad. Now I have vision to host VBS at my church so that I may to reach out to mothers and their children who attend the “Moms & Me” classes. I look forward to see how the Lord will guide me in this plan.

Ministry Report September 2014_a0122207_823274.png

 
♪ Other Prayer Requests ♪

1.Pray for returnees' spiritual growth. Please also pray that a supportive Christian community will be provided for each one, so that they will continue to grow.
2.Please pray for campus ministries as the new school year begins. Please pray for JCFN staff as they provided leadership training and consulting to students as they kick off their ministries.
3.Please pray that the Lord will meet my financial needs. June was the end of JCFN's fiscal year and 90.2% was met. Thank you for your prayers and financial contributions. Please pray that God will fulfill all the needs this year.
4.Pray for guidance as I write a returnee workbook for business people and their families.
5.Pray for the preparation for the Equipper Conference held in December.
6.Please pray that I can be a faithful servant, holding onto the calling from God as a minister, wife and mother.
7.Please pray for my home church, Takatsuki Evangelical Free Church.

Thank you very much for your prayers. God bless you all.
In Him,

Yuko Ozeki
# by yukoozeki | 2014-09-18 08:01 | Bi-monthly Report

宣教報告2014年9月

「まことに、私のいのちの日の限り、いつくしみと恵みとが、私を追って来るでしょう。私は、いつまでも、主の家に住まいましょう。」 (詩篇23:6)

アメリカの長い夏休みが終わり、新学期がはじまりました。日本に一時帰国していた人たちも戻ってきました。秋学期は通常多くの行事があり、とても忙しく、また楽しい季節です。また新しくアメリカに来た人たちとのコンタクトが与えられるように祈り備えていきたいと思わされています。


♪インターン♪

 この夏のハイライトの一つは、インターンとしてミズーリからやってきた、山梨あゆみ姉です。彼女は2か月間のインターン期間中、我が家にホームステイしてくれ、JCFNにとってだけでなく、私たち家族にとっても大きな恵みをもたらしてくれました。

 あゆみ姉は彼女はアメリカ人のクリスチャンたちによって、福音を知り、クリスチャンになり、そして、神学校に行きました。

 しかし、英語の環境の中で救われたため、「日本人」であることと「クリスチャン」であることをなかなか結び付けることができず、日本人にばったり会ったときに、どのように接していいか、また福音を伝えたらいいのか、という戸惑いを抱えていました。自分が日本人であり、クリスチャンである、という2つの事実をうまく結び付けることができないまま、神様に導かれてJCFNにやってきたのです。そんな彼女は2か月間、JCFNの主催するリーダーシップトレーニングキャンプWITに参加し、ミッショントリップや、日本語での修養会、そして、日本人教会での青年会のバイブルスタディのリードに加え、何人かとの求道者たちと個人的に会い、一対一でのバイブルスタディ、と日本語での「信仰生活」とミニストリーをはじめて経験しました。
 インターンが終わるころ、彼女は、ずいぶん日本人であることとクリスチャンであることを統合させることができてきたようです。インターンが終わった後、彼女からもらったメールの中で、

「こちらに戻ってきて、近くの大学に来ている日本人の留学生の数が、例年より多いことに気付きました。多くの人に先週イベントで会ったのですが、その中のひとりの女の子が、キリスト教の教会に興味があると向こうから連絡を取ってくれて、彼女がどのくらいもっとキリスト教の聖書、イエス様のこと知りたい!と思っているかまだ分からないのですが、もし御心だったら、その子とバイブルスタディーしてみたいな、と思っているところです。」

とありました。本当に感謝でした。

 改めて、彼女のような人のためにJCFNの働きはあるのだな、と思わされます。英語環境の中で、救われ、神学校に行くほどの思いを持っていたとしても、もし、海外にいる間に、日本人であることとクリスチャンであることが統合されておらず、日本語での信仰生活を体験していなければ、日本に戻ってもせっかくの器が日本の宣教のために役に立たないかもしれないのです。ますますJCFNの働きが彼女のような人たちとの出会いに導かれることを祈っていきたい、と思わされました。


宣教報告2014年9月_a0122207_7471526.jpg


♪尾関家の夏休み~VBS(バケーションバイブルスクール)♪

夏の間は、子どもたちが家にいるので、なかなかいつものように動くことが難しいのですが、普段以上に子どもたちと過ごすことができて、それはそれで感謝なときとなりました。
8月なかばに1週間ほどJCFNからお休みをいただき、子どもたちと一緒に、日本語による子どものためのバイブルキャンプにスタッフとして参加させていただきました。普段相手にするのが大人なので、子どもたちの柔らかい心と吸収力がとても新鮮で、そして感動的でした。福音の種を幼いたましいに植え付けることの大切さを学ぶと同時に、これも一つの海外における福音宣教の大きな場であることを確認するときとなりました。ぜひいつか、自分たちの教会でもやり、普段育児クラスに来ているお母さんたちだけでなく、子どもたちにもしっかりとアウトリーチしたい、との思いに燃えて帰ってきました。祈りつつ神様の導きに期待したいと思います。


宣教報告2014年9月_a0122207_748126.png

 
♪その他祈りの課題♪

1.帰国した人たちのそれぞれの歩みと信仰生活のために。主が彼らをふさわしい教会・集会・個人に出会わせてくださり、ますます主にあって信仰を強めていくことができますように。
2.秋学期からのそれぞれのキャンパスでのミニストリーが祝福されるように。リーダーたちのための訓練会や、集会を始めるためのサポート等、JCFNの主事たちが用いられるように。
3.主が経済的必要を満たしてくださるように。2013年度(2013年7月~2014年6月)のサポート達成率は、90.2%でした。みなさんのお祈りとサポートを心よりありがとうございました。次年度も必要が満たされ、働きがなされるようにお祈りください。
4.帰国者応援ワークブック駐在・社会人編の執筆の上に主の豊かな導きがあるように。
5.年末に行われるイクイッパーカンファレンスの準備のために。
6.ミニスターとして、妻として、母としての召しを感謝して受け止めつつ忠実に主に従うことができるように。
7.母教会の高槻福音自由教会の祝福のためにお祈りください。

皆様の上に祝福を祈りつつ。     


尾関 祐子
# by yukoozeki | 2014-09-18 07:54 | Bi-monthly Report

Ministry Report June 2014


"Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure." (Psalm 23:4)

♪Returnee Workbook for Businessmen and Family♪
This past Easter, a couple who had been attending our church, was baptized. Just two days after their public commitment to follow the Lord, they moved back to Japan. They must have still been damp from the baptismal water! They were “newborns” in Japan. Many obstacles clouded their way during their transition: their son was hospitalized with appendicitis, their daughter got shingles, nettles rashes, and an unknown internal disease. Their various troubles was evidence enough to convince me that crossing countries is never easy; it’s especially tough on the little ones.

In recent years, I have had more opportunities to minister to families rather than singles. Some of them become Christian and return to Japan. At times, only the wives become Christian. Such interaction with this new crowd urged me to make a Returnee Workbook specifically for working individuals and families. Of course the basics are similar to the Returnee Workbook that we have previously made for singles and students. The similarities of the two groups include coping mechanisms with reverse culture shock and how to deepen your faith no matter where we live. Needs specific to the latter group include being a Christian in the workplace, building a strong Christian family, and serving at local churches. Thankfully, I received help and insight from friends who share a similar vision. The resources came from all over the world.

I am thankful to God who continues to expand the JCFN ministry target’s age range and target location. Please join me in prayers to work on this project.

 
♪EC14 Preparation Kicks Off ♪
Ministry Report June 2014_a0122207_354271.jpg



Preparation for Equipper Conference (EC), scheduled at the end of the year, has begun. Thankfully, God gave us a director this year and we had the first committee meeting at the end of May. Members flew from all over the US while others joined us through Skype for the two-day meeting.

As for me, I will supervise the Children's, Seekers, and English Programs. It is my first time to help the Seekers and English program, which excites me a lot. Especially, I am thrilled to be involved in the Seekers Program. The topic, "What is the Gospel?" is a question that has recently been on my mind. Since I read the book, "King Jesus Gospel: the Original Good News Revisited," I feel like we need to see salvation from the point of view of "becoming Jesus’ disciples to build the Kingdom of God." Since I am also in the process of restructuring how to approach seekers for myself, this is a great opportunity to think through this program together with seekers and the other program leaders. I thank God a lot!!

Despite the changing needs of EC participants due to the decline in Japanese international students and the shorter duration of such international programs, we commit ourselves to the unchanging mission: To proclaim the gospel in Japanese and equip disciples to be sent to Japan. Please join me in prayers that the EC14 will fulfill the mission.

♪Other Prayer Requests♪
1.It's summer season. Many students are returning to Japan either for the summer or for good. Please pray for the returnees' spiritual growth. Please also pray that a supporting Christian community will be provided for each one of them.
2.Please pray that the Lord will meet my financial needs. Thanks to God, the support improved after receiving some special donations. Yet, the need is still not met. My financial goal is $1600 /month and currently 91.2% has been met from July 2013 to April 2014. Please pray that God will fulfill all the needs.
3.One of our JCFN office staff, Machiko, got married at the end of May with a seminary student. Please pray for blessing on their newly wed life. Please also pray for a blessing as Machiko continues to work for JCFN.
4.JCFN leadership camp, WIT, will be held from June 26-28. This is one month earlier than the previous years. Please pray for a blessing as the leaders are trained and equipped.
5.A JCFN intern is coming from June 14 for a month and half. She will live at our house. Please pray that she will have a great experience.
6.Please pray that I can be a faithful servant, holding onto the calling from God as a minister, wife and mother.
7.Please pray for my home church, Takatsuki Evangelical Free Church.


Thank you very much for your prayers. God bless you all.
In Him,
# by yukoozeki | 2014-06-27 03:54 | Bi-monthly Report