DALE & ANN LITTLE

Home Assignment

January 2023

At the end of December we returned to Maine USA, then left for Michigan to be with our 3 children, their spouses, and our 3 grandchildren. Never enough time with grandkids! On Jan 10 we returned to Maine.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
We have been almost as busy church planting in Tokyo from Maine as when we had our apartment in Tokyo! Between email, zoom, social media, etc., “remote work” really is work! We look forward to in-person ministry for about one month when we return to Japan on Feb 15.
  • Continue to PRAY that in our new hybrid way of leading TMC (both remotely and in-person) we will learn to encouragingly coach and guide the Leadership Team (Dale) and the Sunday School team (Ann).
  • GIVE THANKS for the restart of TMC’s twice a month Sunday School in Jan, and PRAY for Ann’s children’s ministry team.
  • PRAY that the Lord would guide Bob & Keiko (and TMC) in deciding whether to become our part-time, bi-vocational pastoral couple for English ministries.
  • PRAY that the Lord would speed David & Lina’s visa applications through the Japan Immigration process so they can become our full-time pastoral couple for Chinese ministries. They are coming through Singapore from a third country.
  • GIVE THANKS for Moto (Japanese ministries pastor), Kevin (Chinese ministries apprentice), and Jon & Laura Prins (ServeBeyond missionaries).
  • PRAY that TMC will become established with its own younger leadership, financial stability, and connection with the EFC of Japan.
DALE & ANN
  • PRAY for travel safety (and some enjoyment along the way) during our Feb-Mar trip to Japan. We will serve in Tokyo on weekends while living 4-6 hrs. north of Tokyo midweek.
  • PRAY that Dale will enjoy preparing and giving a paper on church planting theology in late March at "The Centre for Church Planting Theology and Research” in Durham UK at Cranmer Hall, Durham University.
  • PRAY that during Apr-May we will be able (finally!) to begin visiting our supporting US churches. A few visits have already been arranged.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #176

Aug-Sep 2022

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
  • GIVE THANKS that David & Lina, missionary appointees with SIM Singapore, will be joining TMC staff as Chinese ministries pastoral couple alongside Kevin & Grace.
  • PRAY that we will be able to secure Japanese visas for David & Lina, with SIM Singapore as sending agency and ReachGlobal/EFC Japan as receiving agency.
  • PRAY that the Lord will supply another missionary couple or single (man or woman) to pastor TMC English ministries alongside Luke & Hannah who are part-time bi-vocational.
  • PRAY for assurance of salvation for K-san and especially that he will learn to know the love of Jesus.
  • PRAY that SW will learn to show his love for Jesus by obeying him when it is easier to follow the world’s ways.
  • PRAY that the Lord will provide TMC’s newest member H-san with better employment and improved health, and GIVE THANKS that he is helping lead some worship services and a small group.
DALE & ANN
  • GIVE THANKS for our one granddaughter (born Jul) and two grandsons (one born Mar) in Michigan and Missouri, and that we have been able to visit all our children and grandchildren this summer. Lord willing, we return to Tokyo on Sep 13-14.
  • PRAY for our transition during the fall months as we move our primary residence from Tokyo to Maine at the end of the year. We will maintain a secondary residence in Japan to give us the freedom of re-entering Japan while covid border restrictions are in place, and we will continue to carry a full-time missionary budget. (More info here.)
    • PRAY that Ann will be able to raise up a children’s ministry team at TMC that she can coach in-person and remotely.
    • PRAY that Dale will be able to continue encouraging and coaching TMC leaders in-person and remotely.
    • PRAY that the Lord will bless our first ServeBeyond Asia retreat in Thailand Oct 10-14. We have delayed it for 2 years due to covid.
    • PRAY that we will be able to visit all our US supporting churches during the first half of 2023.
    • PRAY that beginning in 2023 we will be able to 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 n Asia, and for Dale to teach his modular seminary classes in Tokyo.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #172

Dec 29, 2020

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2020 newsletter—go there to see some pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS for Dale’s continuing good recovery from polymyalgia rheumatica and hip replacement surgery.
  • PRAY that we will indeed be able to return to Tokyo on Dec 27, with negative COVID tests in the US and Japan. [We did indeed return—see this post.]
  • GIVE THANKS for all 6 of our children and one grandchild, and PRAY that we will continue to find ways to connect and encourage one another.
  • GIVE THANKS for those who have donated to TMC’s church planting startup fund. PRAY that TMC will be able to meet all its financial costs in the next few years and that God will raise up donors in the meantime.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #157

Nov 23, 2020

NOTE: This post resumes these monthly prayer updates after a four month hiatus due to my health (Dale). This month’s prayer items are from our Nov 2020 newsletter.
  • GIVE THANKS for our new house in Cape Elizabeth, Maine—Ann’s hometown—where we have been since our home assignment began in mid-Jul (pic below).
  • PRAY that we still might be able to virtually visit a few of our eastern US supporting churches during this home assignment. COVID-19 and Dale’s health challenges have prevented us from physically visiting them. We hope to try again in a few years.
  • PRAY that we will be able to return to Tokyo in late Dec. or early Jan. While in the US for this fall home assignment we continue to rent our apartment in Tokyo.
  • GIVE THANKS for excellent health care in Maine for Dale, and PRAY for his full recovery from polymyalgia rheumatica (by Jun 2021?) and hip replacement surgery on Nov 3. In Feb. in Tokyo Dale was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), an auto-immune disease. His chronic joint pain was not under control until the end of Aug., sometime after a specialist in Maine altered his medications. The same doctor referred him to another specialist who diagnosed advanced osteoarthritis in his right hip. So Dale had total hip replacement surgery on Nov. 3, including the removal of an unexpected golf ball sized bone spur from within the hip socket. Dale is recovering well and prognosis is good.
  • GIVE THANKS that Dale can remotely teach his Japanese seminary theology class while in the US. The semester ended late Oct and he is still grading student papers. Thankfully, Japan Bible Seminary is giving Dale extra time to complete his grading.
  • GIVE THANKS for all 6 of our children and one grandchild, and PRAY that we will always find ways to connect and encourage one another. Although we are all in the US, we have not seen any of them since last Christmas and may not see them this Christmas. But we have been enjoying weekly Friday Family Fun nights by Zoom since April.
  • PRAY that the resources Ann prepares and sends for her remote children’s ministry at TMC will be used by parents to teach their children about Jesus. Ann has been sending email links to a monthly LOOM video Bible lesson she makes for children (in Japanese and English) and sending crafts for each lesson by postal mail.
  • PRAY that Ann’s online women’s ministry at TMC will become an encouragement for all the ladies. Inspired by women’s ministry at the Mill Lake EFC in BC, Ann is beginning to use a variety of media to reach out to the thirty women connected to TMC.
  • PRAY that the Lord will meet the financial needs of TMC through the giving of believers who gather in Tokyo and through overseas donors who give toward the EFCCM Ministry Expansion Fund for TMC (#2-2302). US individual donors: go to “How to Give” here. TMC has been stretched since the onset of COVID to cover the financial costs of facility rental and TMC’s portion of our bi-vocational Japanese pastor’s salary (pic below). This fund has helped us launch and is now helping us establish TMC. The long term goal is for TMC to cover all its costs, both facility and personnel, but until then this fund is a great encouragement to TMC.
2019_01-2 Harada-2
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Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #156

Jun 26, 2020

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our June 2020 newsletter—go there to see a couple pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS that we were able to get tickets to the US.
  • PRAY that we will be able to connect with our supporting churches.
  • PRAY that we will be allowed to return to Japan in November.
  • GIVE THANKS for the medical care Dale has received here in Tokyo and that he was able to arrange an appointment at a specialist in Maine. PRAY for ongoing therapy and a good relationship with doctors on both sides of the Pacific Ocean so that we can live in both parts of the world.
  • PRAISE GOD that we have returned to carefully planned worship services at our TMC rental facility. PRAY for continued wisdom as TMC navigates the covid-19 world.
  • GIVE THANKS that Ann will be able to do a bit of TMC virtual ministry with children while on home assignment and Dale will be able to continue leading the TMC church planting team.
  • PRAY that the parents of the children Ann is reaching will be motivated to use these tools to teach their children about Jesus.
  • PRAY that TMC members, attenders, and partners will be able to cover facility rental costs and TMC’s Japanese pastor’s stipend.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #155

May 25, 2020

Church Planting at TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
On May 25 “stay at home” and other COVID-19 disaster restrictions were lifted throughout Japan. TMC is planning to resume physical gatherings in some format starting Sunday June 14, while maintaining virtual meeting options.
  • WE THANK THE LORD
    • For TMC staff who have been able to cover for Dale during his illness over the past four months and that he is able to gradually resume more TMC leadership responsibilities.
    • That worship services, small groups, and prayer meetings have continued relatively smoothly in virtual format during COVID-19.
    • That the number of people attending English worship services on Sundays has remained steady and the Japanese worship services have seen an increase.
    • That Ann has been able to encourage her outreach English class ladies and the mothers of her children’s program by sending them masks, crafts for the children, etc.
    • For the launching of TMC’s monthly “Young Adult Fellowship” in the English Department on May 23.
  • PRAY
    • That TMC will faithfully bring the truth, grace, hope, and encouragement of Jesus Christ to TMC believers and that others in our corner of Tokyo will turn to Jesus. Fear abounds in the “new normal” of our COVID-19 world. People are worried about getting the coronavirus. They are stressed from trying to care for their children at home while schools are closed. They struggle with trying to work from small homes and apartments. They are concerned about financial survival.
    • That new believer Mr. MK will remain faithful to Christ in the midst of personal stressors and uncertainty about the viability of his business.
    • That members, attenders, and partners will be able to cover TMC’s facility rental costs and our bi-vocational Japanese pastor’s stipend. TMC’s offerings have taken a hit during COVID-19 despite on-line giving options from Japan, Canada, and the US. We have had to access the EFCCM church planting fund for TMC more than anticipated.
    • For wisdom for Ann as she considers whether to restart her ladies’ and children’s ministries before we take our summer and fall home assignment in the US.
HOME ASSIGNMENT
We were scheduled for two 2-month home assignments this year to visit our eastern US supporting churches, one in the spring and one in the fall. Dale’s illness and COVID-19 changed those plans. Lord willing, we hope to take a 4-5 month home assignment starting mid-July.
  • WE THANK THE LORD…
    • That despite Dale’s compromised immunity he has not caught the coronavirus or even any colds in the past few months. His immune system is returning to normal and his chronic pain level is significantly reduced.
    • That the doctor has cleared Dale for flying starting July.
    • For his provision for housing and vehicle in the US (Maine).
  • PRAY
    • That we will find affordable flights to the US at the time we need them.
    • For wisdom to know whether and how to visit our US supporting churches.
    • That we will find ways of continuing to lead TMC in Tokyo even during our home assignment.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #154

Apr 11, 2020

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our April 2020 newsletter—go there to see pics and further info about the items below.
  • GIVE THANKS for the excellent medical care Dale is receiving.
  • PRAY that his joint and surrounding muscle pain will subside completely and that infection will not set in due to his weakened immune system.
  • GIVE THANKS that the staff at TMC have been able to cover for Dale.
  • GIVE THANKS that Ann has been able to encourage the ladies and children in her outreach ministries.
  • PRAY that the Lord will use TMC to bring his blessing, encouragement, and peace to members and attenders in our new COVID-19 world.
  • PRAY for wisdom to know when and how to resume our full load of ministries: leading our church planting project at TMC, facilitating the Asia work of the EFC of Canada Mission, and visiting our US supporting churches on home assignment.
  • PRAY for our 6 adult children (and 1 grandbaby) in the US, some of whom are struggling with isolation, temporary job loss, and anxiety. Even though we video chat with them almost weekly, we do wish we could be geographically closer to them to provide some practical support.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #153

Mar 14, 2020

Dale’s Health
On Feb 11 Dale was hospitalized in Tokyo with a high fever, severe joint pain, and bacterial pneumonia in both lungs. He did not and does not have the new coronavirus, COVID-19. He was cleared of pneumonia and discharged after ten days on Feb 21.
Test results for pain in his joints were available ten days later: “polymyalgia rheumatica” (PMR), in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues resulting in inflammatory arthritis. His treatment is a gradually decreasing dosage of oral steroids for 4-6 weeks until an ongoing, regular dosage can be determined. The doc says he should be better by early- to mid-April. In the meantime, his pain continues, though gradually reducing, and his immune system is compromised. So he has temporarily stepped back from most church planting responsibilities, delegating those to our TMC leadership team.
* GIVE THANKS that Dale’s pneumonia has cleared up.
* PRAY that Dale’s joint pain will go away and that he will gain strength for life and ministry. The only ministry he has had the strength to do in Feb and Mar has been essential emails.
* PRAY for Ann as she has been Dale’s primary care giver.

Travel Plans
Our Asia EFC of Canada Mission retreat in Pattaya, Thailand Mar 30 - Apr 3 that we were leading has been cancelled due to COVID-19. But we are still planning to take our first short home assignment this year from sometime in April to mid-June, based in Maine. We hold our travel plans lightly these days due to COVID-19 and Dale’s health, resting in the assurance that our Lord is both loving and sovereign.
* PRAY for wisdom to know when we should travel.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #152

Dec 19, 2019

NOTE: This month’s prayer items are copied from our December 2019 newsletter—go there to see pics and further info about the items below.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* GIVE THANKS for the opportunity to share Jesus with children and their parents at Wakuwaku Christmas Family Time.
* PRAY that children will continue to attend our monthly Wakuwaku Family Time.
* PRAY that the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to transform lives at TMC.
* PRAY that the balance in our TMC Church Planting Startup Fund will increase.
* GIVE THANKS that we can enjoy Christmas in Maine with our children.
* PRAY that the first ever EFCCM Asia retreat will be a time of refreshment and encouragement for our missionaries spread throughout Asia.
* GIVE THANKS for our 23 supporting churches (plus individuals).
* PRAY that our 2020 home assignment ministry will be a blessing.

2019_10_06-1

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #149

Jul 20, 2017

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* PRAISE GOD for the opportunities we had to share in 15 of our supporting churches on home assignment during the first half of 2017. Give thanks for their faithful prayer and financial support.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAY for new opportunities to share the gospel during TMC’s intensive summer English classes, July 24-29.
* GIVE THANKS
that the Forster family from Hillside EFC in Greenbank WA, one of our supporting churches, will be helping us teach the classes.
* PRAY
for Ann’s preparation for starting our TMC Sunday School this fall. Pray that the children will give their hearts to Jesus Christ early in their lives.
* PRAY
for wisdom as we consider how and when to expand our TMC Sunday events to include Japanese and Chinese language gatherings. Currently, we have a Japanese Bible study and an English worship service on Sundays. We’d like to add time slots for a Japanese Sunday School, a Japanese worship service, and a Chinese gathering.
* PRAY
that the Lord will raise up leaders to serve in TMC’s multi-language environment.

2017_07_09-2

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #123

Jun 10, 2017

HOME ASSIGNMENT


2017_05 Jasper
* PRAISE GOD for the good connections we have made with 15 of the 25 churches on our support team during our home assignment in the first half of 2017. Thank God with us for their faithful prayers and financial support. We return to Tokyo on Jun 20–21.
* GIVE THANKS for safety while driving over 20,000 mi / 32,000 km and for some opportunities to relax along the way.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* PRAY for TMC’s summer English outreach program, July 24–29: distribution of advertisements, a good response to the advertisements, full classes, and preparation for the short term teachers who are coming. The Foster family from Hillside EFC in Greenbank WA, one of our supporting churches, will be joining us.
* PRAY for our plans to start a Sunday School at TMC: timing, curriculum, students, teachers, and helpers. Pray that the children will give their hearts to Jesus Christ early in their lives.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #122

May 13, 2017

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* GIVE THANKS that during our six-month home assignment in the first half of 2017 we have been able to solidify our connections with many of our partnering churches.
* PRAY for safety as we continue to drive and fly many miles in Canada and the US before returning to Tokyo in mid-June.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
* GIVE THANKS that Jesus Christ is building his church that we are planting at TMC!
* PRAY for strength and encouragement for Jon Prins (EFCCM) as he leads TMC during our home assignment.
* PRAY for more opportunities to teach about Jesus Christ in our outreach English classes, especially during our one week intensive English classes July 24–29.
* PRAY for church planting leaders for each of our future language-specific departments, especially Chinese Mandarin.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #121

Mar 19, 2017

FAMILY


For Dad L's funeral
* GIVE THANKS for the godly life and legacy of Dale’s father, Rev. Lea Little, who went to be with his Lord at 92 years of age on February 6 while Dale was reading Scripture to him. We miss him dearly but are so glad he is now with Dale’s mother, Louise, who passed away in 2012 at 94 years of age.

Arvid Olson notes in his book "The Historical Development of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Missions" that Dad was the "Father of Canadian Free Church Missions'' (p. 57).

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the spiritual and numerical growth we are seeing in our church planting project at Tokyo Multicultural Church. Jesus Christ is building his church that we are planting at TMC!
* PRAY for strength and encouragement for Jon Prins (EFCCM) as he leads TMC during the remaining months of our home assignment.
* PRAY for wisdom and peace for Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) as he has had to return to the US for three months to find solutions for his mother’s aging needs.
* GIVE THANKS that Kevin and Grace from the EFC of Macau have joined our TMC missionary leadership team.
* PRAY for more opportunities to interact about the biblical truths of Jesus Christ with the parents of the children in TMC’s outreach English classes.

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* PRAY that in the remaining three months of our six-month home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
* PRAY for safety as we drive and fly many miles, visiting supporting churches.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #119

Jan 31, 2017

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


* GIVE THANKS for the spiritual and numerical growth we are seeing in our church planting project at Tokyo Multicultural Church! Jesus Christ is building his church that we are planting at TMC!
* PRAY for wisdom, strength, and encouragement for Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) and Jon Prins (EFCCM) as they lead TMC during our home assignment.
* PRAY for more opportunities to interact about the biblical truths of Jesus Christ with the parents of the children in TMC’s outreach English classes.

HOME ASSIGNMENT


* PRAY that on our six-month home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
* PRAY for temporary housing for us in greater Vancouver BC area Feb 6 - Apr 20.
* PRAY for safety as we drive and fly many miles.

FAMILY


* GIVE THANKS that God has led each of our children to life partners of his choosing.
* PRAY that each will continue to honor the Lord in seeking his will for their lives.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #118
(NOTE: Jan 2017 prayer items are copied from our Dec 2016 prayer letter.)

Dec 28, 2016

2017 HOME ASSIGNMENT


It’s hard to believe that 5 years have passed since visiting some of our supporting churches. During the first of those five years we served in tsunami recovery ministry in northeastern Japan (2012). And then for the past four years we have been launching and establishing Tokyo Multicultural Church. From Jan-Jun 2017 we will be visiting at least 15 of our supporting churches (this time mostly in western Canada) to report on what God has been doing in and through our ministry.

Please PRAY
  • That on our home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
  • For housing in greater Vancouver BC area Feb 6 - Apr 20.
  • For safety as we drive and fly many miles.

INTRODUCING BRYAN AND JESSICA LITTLE


BnJ Wedding 2
Bryan married Jessica Lange on December 18 in St. Charles (greater St. Louis, Missouri). They met in 2012 at their church (First Evangelical Free Church in Manchester MO) after Bryan began working as an engineer at Boeing in St. Louis. Jessica works as an occupational therapist in the school system. Participating with them in their wedding was a wonderful way to begin our home assignment months!

GIVE THANKS that God has led Bryan and Jessica to one another and please PRAY that they will continue to honor God in seeking his will for their lives.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #117

Nov 26, 2016

ESTABLISHING TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


2016_11_03-1
God is blessing TMC! Thank you for praying. Believers are being encouraged to love and obey Christ. People not yet a part of the family of God are learning about the love of Jesus.

Other evidence of God’s blessings include…
  • A few new mothers with their young children are coming to our Moms and Tots outreach English classes.
  • Worship service attendance topped 30 on a recent Sunday. Our usual fall number has been about 20-25.
  • Our first (US) Thanksgiving gathering in Japanese was enjoyed by 28 people on Nov 23.
  • Christmas plans include an outreach children’s party on Dec 11, outreach candlelight service in Japanese on Dec 23, and Christmas Sunday worship service on the 25th.
  • The number of Chinese (Mandarin) speakers at TMC is increasing.
  • We are expecting a young couple from the EFC of Macao to join our missionary staff in the new year.
  • We will be inviting short term workers to teach one week of outreach English conversation classes at TMC, Jul 24-29, 2017.
  • TMC currently covers 80% of its monthly facility rental cost. We hope TMC will become financially independent in 2017. Until then our EFCCM Church Planting Startup Fund provides the difference.
  • We are dreaming about launching TMC#2 by 2020.
Please PRAY that Jesus Christ will continue building his church that we have the privilege of planting at Tokyo Multicultural Church.

SIX MONTH HOME ASSIGNMENT


From mid-Dec 2016 to mid-Jun 2017 we are taking a home assignment in order to visit our western Canadian and northwestern US supporting churches. Church planting colleagues Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal) and Jon Prins (EFCCM) will lead TMC during that time.
  • Please PRAY that on our home assignment we will be able to communicate clearly our church planting ministry at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
  • And GIVE THANKS that we will be able to celebrate Christmas in Maine with all of our children: Kristy & Matthew Fujiura (wedding: May 29, 2016), Bryan & Jessica Little (wedding: Dec 18, 2016), and Matthew Little & Victoria Azagoh (wedding: Aug 4, 2017). This will be our first Christmas with our children since 2011.

KnM Wedding 2-2
Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #116

Oct 25, 2016

TMC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT


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We are seeking younger leaders to join us in establishing Tokyo Multicultural Church and launching TMC#2 in about 2020. Lay and pastoral leaders are needed to serve both internationals and Japanese people in Tokyo.

PRAY that the Lord will raise up future TMC lay leaders and church planters who will clothe the gospel of Jesus Christ with a loving church community in the world's largest (and livable) megacity.

SIX MONTH HOME ASSIGNMENT


From mid-Dec 2016 to mid-Jun 2017 we are taking a home assignment in order to visit our western Canadian and northwestern US supporting churches. It has been almost five years since we have seen many of them. During the first of those five years we served in tsunami recovery ministry in northeastern Japan (2012). And then for the past four years we have been launching and establishing TMC.

Please PRAY
  • That on our home assignment we will clearly communicate our ministry, especially our church planting at TMC and our vision to launch TMC#2.
  • For housing we will need in various places.
  • For safety as we drive and fly many miles.

Thank you for Praying for The Littles! – PTL #115

October 22, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #104

FALL HOME ASSIGNMENT


Because we do not want to be away from Tokyo Multicultural Church for a long period of time, we are taking two short 2 month home assignments in 2015, one in the spring and the other in the fall. For both we are based in Maine USA.

During our Oct and Nov home assignment we are visiting 7 supporting churches while seeing our children along the way. We return to Tokyo on Dec 10. To visit our Canadian supporting churches we are planning a 6 month home assignment beginning late 2016.

Please pray that we will clearly communicate our Tokyo church planting ministry and that the Lord will give us safety for our many miles of flying and driving.

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

Pray for Duane Dietze, ReachGlobal partnering church planter at TMC, as he leads TMC while we are on home assignment. His ministry responsibilities double when we are away.

Give thanks for leaders currently with us (Nico from Germany) and for those planning to join us soon (Alicia from Canada, Jon from the US, and Kevin & Grace from Macao).

Pray that God will raise up long term future pastoral leaders for TMC’s language-specific departments. Our English Department is the most developed and we have launched our Japanese Department with a Sunday Bible study. We hope our next department will be Chinese (Mandarin).

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #104

September 16, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #103

KRISTY GETS ENGAGED


Kristy came to visit us for a few weeks in August with her California boyfriend, Matthew Fujiura. Matt proposed to her on our trip north to "Takayama by the Sea,” our vacation spot in Japan (and a very romantic spot for a proposal!) In October, Kristy settles into her one year post-doctoral placement at the counseling center of California State Polytechnic University in Pomona CA while her Matthew teaches special needs children in the California school system. We are anticipating something like a spring wedding in California!

Pray for the Lord’s blessing on Kristy and Matthew Fujiura’s engagement, the flurry of wedding planning, the wedding itself, and most importantly, their marriage.

TEACHING THEOLOGY

Dale completed his 13th year of teaching "Contemporary Theology” in Japanese at Japan Bible Seminary in Tokyo this week. He now finalizes his preparation for teaching Church Planting Theology at ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University located in greater Vancouver BC. This new course will be
live streamed from Tokyo Multicultural Church. All requirements, including research, can be done online. See more here.

Pray that Dale’s part time theology teaching will continue to contribute to the development of church leaders for Japan, including for TMC.

TMC: SHORT TERM ENGLISH TEACHER COMING

We are looking forward to having Alicia Lim join us at TMC as our outreach English teacher for one year starting Mar or Apr 2016. She comes from Ottawa ON via the EFCCM. Ann’s weekly “Little Lambs English Circle” (moms & tots) and bi-weekly ladies outreach English class, as well as Duane’s weekly outreach English classes starting in Oct all provide a base for Alicia’s English teaching ministry at TMC.

Pray that Alicia will be able to raise all her required finances this fall and that we will be able to secure a “religious activities visa” for her to arrive in Tokyo by Mar 2016.

SECOND TWO MONTH HOME ASSIGNMENT IN 2015

We will be in the US Oct 5 - Dec 10 for our next home assignment. Please pray that visits to our supporting churches will be fruitful and that the Lord will give us safety for our many miles of flying and driving.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #103

May 23, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #99

HOME ASSIGNMENT


At the front end of our Apr 7 - Jun 3 home assignment in the US we visited our scattered children in California, Missouri, and Nebraska. And at the end we gathered with them all once again, this time to celebrate the graduation of Dr. Kristy, Psych.D., from Rosemead School of Psychology in greater Los Angeles.

During this home assignment we are visiting six churches on our ministry support team—in ME, VT, MA, NJ, and BC. We hope to visit at least that many more on our next home assignment Oct 5 - Dec 8. We are reporting on Tokyo Multicultural Church and sharing about Onagawa Megumi Project, a gospel centered tsunami recovery project with which we partner.

The “turtleback” Ann is modeling at the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is made by the tsunami survivors employed at the Onagawa Megumi Project. You can order their creative products online at their website: megumiproject.net.

Give thanks for the 27 churches that make up our ministry support team, as well as individuals. The Lord has graciously provided us with 31 years of ministry in Japan through the faithful giving of his people. And most of our supporting churches only see us once every 5 years!

Give thanks that we have been able to enjoy our three children twice on this home assignment. What a treat!

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

During our home assignment Duane Dietze and Jon Prins have been leading TMC. GIVE THANKS for their ministry. Please PRAY that the Lord will raise up future leaders for TMC prepared by the Lord of the church to lead in a dynamic multicultural environment.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

In June Dale begins his 14th year of teaching his one semester “Contemporary Theology” class at Japan Bible Seminary. PRAY for clarity as Dale teaches this class in Japanese and that his students will be encouraged to critically grasp the breadth of Christian theology around the world.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #99

April 19, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #98

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


Easter Sunday April 5 was our 2nd anniversary at TMC. Duane Dietze, Japanese Department missionary, preached in English (through simultaneous Japanese interpretation). Howard Plucar, who was the pastor of our mother church two years ago, led communion as a visiting pastor. And we enjoyed some special piano music.

In the afternoon we had an international potluck and then viewed some pictures of our first two years. In two short years, the Lord has grown TMC from a nucleus of 6 people to a weekly worship service of about 20. Our worship service includes a Japanese Bible study during the English sermon—the beginnings of our Japanese Department. On a typical Sunday we have people from 10 different countries.

Pray that our Japanese Department might grow. Ask the Lord to use our evangelistic English classes and the personal relationships of our TMC people to bring Japanese people to the Lord and TMC.

APRIL - MAY HOME ASSIGNMENT

All our Sundays in April and May are booked in some of our supporting churches. We hope to visit the remainder of our US supporting churches during our Oct-Nov home assignment.

Pray that the Lord will give us quality opportunities to share about TMC during our home assignment. And give thanks that we have been able to visit our three children, Kristy, Bryan, and Matthew, and that all of us will be together for Dr. Kristy’s graduation in Los Angeles on May 21–22 with a Psy.D. from Rosemead School of Psychology.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #98

March 17, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #97

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


Ann’s new weekly “Little Lambs English Circle” is enjoyed by four moms with their tots, and one more mom who sometimes attends. Lilly (Taiwanese) from TMC helps Ann teach the evangelistic English class. Whenever possible, the ladies and their children stay around after class. Little Lambs will take a break during our April-May home assignment.

Pray that TMC's Little Lamb’s English Circle and signs will help us connect with people in our corner of the world’s largest megacity. And ask the Lord for wisdom as we lay plans for expanding our outreach English conversation classes.

Many people walk by our store front church. A few have joined us because they have seen us as they pass by. Since putting up two outside signs in March we hope TMC will become even more visible in our community. One of our young ladies from China, an architect here in Tokyo, helped design our TMC logo.

HOME ASSIGNMENT IN APRIL AND MAY

From April 7 - June 4 we will be taking the first of two short US home assignments this year. During that time TMC will be in the capable hands of our colleague, Duane Dietze (ReachGlobal). And Jon Prins will also be coming to help lead TMC during our first home assignment this year.

Pray for Duane and Jon as they lead TMC in April and May. And ask the Lord to give us a fruitful home assignment, reconnecting with some of the churches on our ministry support team.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #97

February 25, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #96

LITTLE LAMBS ENGLISH CIRCLE AT TMC


In February, Ann launched “Little Lambs English Circle,” a moms and tots weekly class at Tokyo Multicultural Church. The classes include English teaching and songs for 2-3 year olds, as well as a Bible story.

Five moms with their tots have registered. The maximum number is six. One of the moms has attended Ann’s English classes in our apartment complex and our children’s Christmas events there. The others have all come because this one has spread the word: one mom inviting another.

The moms and tots do not want to go home after the classes! One mom even suggested that Little Lambs become a daily class.

This class was to be taught by a short term missionary from Canada beginning April. But due to lack of support funds this couple cannot come, at least for a while.

Pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be received warmly by these moms as they listen to the Bible stories. And pray for wisdom for us to know if we should or how we could continue the class during our upcoming home assignment.

JEMA CONNECT 2015

The purpose of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association is to network and equip as many of the 1600 evangelical missionaries in Japan as possible. Currently, JEMA membership stands at a little less than 1000.

JEMA Connect, the annual conference for Japan based evangelical mission leaders and missionaries, was held Feb 23-25 in Tokyo. As the voluntary, part time President of JEMA, Dale once again had oversight of the events. He will be stepping down from his JEMA leadership role in Feb 2016.

Pray that the Lord will lead the JEMA search committee to a new President who thrives on collaborative leadership and will model what it means to lead “for others.”

FIRST OF TWO 2015 HOME ASSIGNMENTS

Plans for our first two month US home assignment in 2015 (Apr 7 - Jun 4) are well underway. A few Sundays are still open. Jon Prins will be substituting for us at TMC during our home assignment.

Pray for Jon’s preparation and two month interim ministry of teaching and leading at TMC. And ask the Lord for a fruitful time of reconnecting with some of the churches on our ministry support team.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #96

January 25, 2015

PRAY FOR THE TOKYO LITTLES - PTL #95

TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH


On Feb 3 Ann begins teaching a new class at TMC called "Little Lambs English Circle." PRAY that this weekly outreach English class for moms and tots will bring some new contacts for TMC’s Japanese Department. So far, one mom has signed up.

Dale has submitted Seth & Sandra Winnipeg’s "Certificate of Eligibility” applications for their religious activities visas to Japan Immigration in Tokyo. Pray that their applications will be approved soon and that the Winnipegs will have adequate financial support to arrive in Tokyo by mid-March. They plan to join TMC while teaching outreach English classes at TMC and another EFC church.

Pray that the Lord will raise up a financial support team for Jon Prins so he can join us full time at TMC soon.

HOME ASSIGNMENT

We take a home assignment in the US from April 7 to June 4. Jon Prins will be an interim church planter at TMC during those two months. Pray that the Lord will orchestrate all the details for Jon’s to join TMC for that interim ministry.

JAPAN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

Once a year in late February, Japan Evangelical Missionary Association holds a series of events in Tokyo for all evangelical missionaries in Japan. Pray that as voluntary President of JEMA, Dale will be able to carry through well on all the planning for the event (“JEMA Connect 2015”) and that Japan based mission leaders and missionaries who attend will be encouraged.

Thank you for Praying for the Tokyo Littles! – PTL #95