Historically Japan has been a difficult society for evangelism. Many believers see the recent triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear radiation as a development that could soften the hearts of the Japanese people to the Gospel, “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, … that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18, NKJV).
Our heart goes out to the people who have suffered. Many are grieving for lost loved ones and friends, tens of thousands are still missing, and hundreds of thousands have lost their homes. One eyewitness told me that after the earthquake there were three massive tsunami waves with one as high as at least 90 feet—a mountain of water. The devastation runs along the coast for about 300 miles.
Every pastor I spoke with in northeastern Japan last month has church members who are missing. One pastor of a church with 250 members cannot locate 50 of them. We visited this pastor after the earthquake and heard testimonies of how God spared the lives of many people.
Most churches in Japan are small. Many pastors do not have extensive training. At the request of church leaders, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is now in Japan providing training in how to bring God’s hope and comfort to people whose lives have been shattered by loss.
None of us understands why things like this happen, but we know that God cares about the Japanese people. The Bible says that “when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
My father held many Crusades in Japan over the years, and BGEA has an office there. Prior to the earthquake we had already been talking with church leaders about going to Sendai for a major Crusade. I visited Sendai after the earthquake, a city at the center of the destruction, and we are praying about returning next year for an evangelistic campaign.
While there, I met some missionaries who had been serving in Japan since World War II. It was thrilling to hear of the work God has done through them and to see them bringing God’s love and comfort to the Japanese people in the middle of this disaster.
Even for a developed country like Japan, it will take years to recover. Pray for the churches as they share the hope of Jesus Christ among those who have lost hope. With your help, we intend to stand alongside them for as long as we are needed. My prayer is that out of the rubble of this earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, the Name of Jesus Christ will be lifted up to the people of this land. God loves Japan.
Our heart goes out to the people who have suffered. Many are grieving for lost loved ones and friends, tens of thousands are still missing, and hundreds of thousands have lost their homes. One eyewitness told me that after the earthquake there were three massive tsunami waves with one as high as at least 90 feet—a mountain of water. The devastation runs along the coast for about 300 miles.
Every pastor I spoke with in northeastern Japan last month has church members who are missing. One pastor of a church with 250 members cannot locate 50 of them. We visited this pastor after the earthquake and heard testimonies of how God spared the lives of many people.
Most churches in Japan are small. Many pastors do not have extensive training. At the request of church leaders, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is now in Japan providing training in how to bring God’s hope and comfort to people whose lives have been shattered by loss.
None of us understands why things like this happen, but we know that God cares about the Japanese people. The Bible says that “when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
My father held many Crusades in Japan over the years, and BGEA has an office there. Prior to the earthquake we had already been talking with church leaders about going to Sendai for a major Crusade. I visited Sendai after the earthquake, a city at the center of the destruction, and we are praying about returning next year for an evangelistic campaign.
While there, I met some missionaries who had been serving in Japan since World War II. It was thrilling to hear of the work God has done through them and to see them bringing God’s love and comfort to the Japanese people in the middle of this disaster.
Even for a developed country like Japan, it will take years to recover. Pray for the churches as they share the hope of Jesus Christ among those who have lost hope. With your help, we intend to stand alongside them for as long as we are needed. My prayer is that out of the rubble of this earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, the Name of Jesus Christ will be lifted up to the people of this land. God loves Japan.
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