Oct 2022
SERVEBEYOND ASIA RETREAT
After postponing for two years due to covid, we were able to gather Oct. 10-14 in Pattaya Thailand for networking, encouragement, and relaxation at our first-ever Asia retreat for our mission agency. The majority of the eleven missionaries and mission leaders from Canada, Japan and Thailand who were able to attend (about half our number) had rarely, if ever, met in-person. We connected with God by learning about Jesus’ post-resurrection Great Commission teachings. And we connected with one another by sharing about our lives and ministries, and by praying for each other.
New and younger pastoral and lay leaders are emerging at TMC. But we need more.
In late Dec. we move from Tokyo to Maine USA but will still keep our legal residency status in Japan. Lord willing, beginning in 2023 we will take 2-3 annual trips of 1-2 months each to Japan and Asia so that we can be at TMC 6-8 Sundays a year, visit ServeBeyond missionaries and partners in Asia, and so that Dale can continue to teach his seminary classes in Tokyo. For the remainder of our time we will coach remotely and visit our support team churches first in the US and then in Canada. So we will continue to carry a full-time missionary budget. (More transition info here.)
After postponing for two years due to covid, we were able to gather Oct. 10-14 in Pattaya Thailand for networking, encouragement, and relaxation at our first-ever Asia retreat for our mission agency. The majority of the eleven missionaries and mission leaders from Canada, Japan and Thailand who were able to attend (about half our number) had rarely, if ever, met in-person. We connected with God by learning about Jesus’ post-resurrection Great Commission teachings. And we connected with one another by sharing about our lives and ministries, and by praying for each other.
- GIVE THANKS for the good connections, discussions and fellowship at the retreat.
- PRAY that the connections made will continue and that our Asia region will be able to develop new ministries and recruit new personnel.
- PRAY for wisdom as we consider when and where to hold our next Asia retreat.
New and younger pastoral and lay leaders are emerging at TMC. But we need more.
- GIVE THANKS that David & Lina, missionary appointees with SIM Singapore, will be joining TMC staff as Chinese ministries pastoral couple.
- PRAY that we will be able to secure Japanese religious activities visas for them.
- PRAY that the Lord will supply another missionary couple or single (man or woman) to join our English ministries pastoral team.
In late Dec. we move from Tokyo to Maine USA but will still keep our legal residency status in Japan. Lord willing, beginning in 2023 we will take 2-3 annual trips of 1-2 months each to Japan and Asia so that we can be at TMC 6-8 Sundays a year, visit ServeBeyond missionaries and partners in Asia, and so that Dale can continue to teach his seminary classes in Tokyo. For the remainder of our time we will coach remotely and visit our support team churches first in the US and then in Canada. So we will continue to carry a full-time missionary budget. (More transition info here.)
- PRAY for wisdom, strength, sanity, and peace as we leave our Tokyo apartment that we have called home for the past 10 years. Decisions about what to ship, give away, or discard have become more difficult because shipping prices are 5-7 times higher than pre-covid.
- PRAY that as we transition out of TMC over the next couple years we will be able to encourage and coach the Leadership Team (Dale) and those serving in children’s ministry (Ann).
Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #173