Another year

We started this blog when we returned to Japan in the spring of 2009 with the aim that people back home could follow our journey as we seek to plant a church in Sapporo. It has been an encourgement to hear that people have been following this journey and that the regular posts have helped people to partner more with us in this journey and also learn something about this country and its culture along the way. So how has this past year been for Hiragishi Izumi Church? We ended 2009 with Sambi's baptism and full of hope for the coming year. Over the past year we have not had any additions to our small church. Yet we have realised afresh that the task of starting a church from scratch really does take time and patience. Only now are we beginning to see the fruit of time spent getting to know people in the community and being in the places where people are. We have made a conscious effort to be 'out there' and befriend people in the different worlds in which we find ourselves, not least school, football and local sports clubs. Interestingly, people who have come to events which we have held during the past year have been people that we already know in some way. It is not easy operating without a building which is known as the 'church'. Of course, church is about people more than a building, but it is not so easy for people we know to get a handle on where and what this 'church' is. As we go into 2011, there are many challenges but also many opportunities. We are excited to see what God will do. We are glad to have new co-workers on board with us. And we long to see some of our many contacts move towards Jesus and see some new believers from the Hiragishi area who take the big step of baptism and become added to Izumi Church. Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the past year.