CRC's Ongoing Commitment to Japan

The Christian Reformed Church remains active in a variety of ways, especially with the Reformed Church in Japan, in continuing to plan future efforts and responding to the immediate needs of people impacted by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of northeastern Japan.

In various communications to Christian Reformed World Missions, missionaries have drawn a picture of the ongoing challenges and successes and the relief effort that comes in the wake of what is being called "The Great East Quake."

For instance, representatives of several mission organizations, including three from the Christian Reformed Church, have rallied and gathered recently at Sendai Church, a Reformed Church in Japan congregation, to confer about ways in which they can work together to reach out to and support the vast number of people still suffering from the impact of Japan’s March earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Sendai Church is located in the city of Sendai, which is near the coast closest to the epicenter of the earthquake and the problems created by the disaster. Sendai Church’s building also sustained extensive damage from the quake.

Rev. Takashi Yoshida, moderator of the Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ), is the pastor of Sendai Reformed Church. According to a letter translated by Larry Spalink, the Christian Reformed World Missions country leader in Japan, the Sendai church hosted a range of missions groups to discuss ways to work collaboratively.

The missions include Christian Reformed Church in North America missionaries, CRC Media Ministries staff, the Orthodox Presbyterian Mission missionaries and Diaconal Activities Committee members from North America, and the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa "Mission Japan" missionaries.

There were also representatives from several South Korean Christian organizations who have formed the support group “Stand By Japan.” In addition, there were missionaries and representatives of committees of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Koshin).

Several RCJ congregations and pastors were also represented.

In other developments in Japan, CRWM missionary George Young writes in a prayer letter that, despite the devastation and all of the work that yet needs to be done, he and his wife are settling in and for them life is starting to carry a sense of returning to normal.

In other Japan-related news, Michael and Kim Essenburg report that they are making progress in their ministry. They praised God that four Japanese family members were baptized over Easter at the church that meets at the Christian Academy in Japan, where they work. They ask for prayer for those who were baptized that “they will continue to grow in Him and be a witness for Him in Japan.”

Since 1987, the Essenburgs have been supporting the spread of the Gospel by serving at Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ), a K-12 school of over 450 students that is located in Tokyo. CAJ fosters the development of a biblical worldview, using English and an American-style program.

"The school provides Christ-centered education for 150 Japanese students and for missionary kids from 40 missions. Educating missionary kids frees missionaries to share the Gospel with the Japanese. Over 350 churches have been planted within a 15-mile radius of CAJ," write the Essenburgs.

At CAJ, Kim teaches high school English and provides leadership for the English Department. Michael provides leadership in school improvement through coaching, consulting, and training. Michael also serves in missions.

In their recent prayer letter, Kim Essenburg writes about essays her students wrote for the 2011 SLEW (Spiritual Life Emphasis Week) Conference. One young person wrote how after about a year of prayer and consideration, the person had decided to become a Christian.

Another person wrote how a class on suffering that he had taken at CAJ has helped him cope in the aftermath of the disaster. "I felt as if the Lord prepared me for that day, to see the goodness of His will and be strengthened rather than be shaken by the sight of cars being dumped into the ocean like pebbles."

An American youth studying in Japan wrote that he had spent time during the time school was canceled raising money to help earthquake survivors. The experience gave him confidence and showed him he had leadership skills.