John Livingston

The month of May is a somewhat different month for us in a number of ways, primarily though because the many students that we are working with are finishing their school year, including those that come to our church and who serve at the church with us in various capacities; for example on the worship team, or helping with the children’s ministry, translation, etc. We help them out in many ways, like helping them move out of the dorms, and giving them rides to the airport. Five of those who needed a place to stay after moving out stayed with us for anywhere from three to five days. We also offer to keep some of their belongings in our garage or wherever we can store it until they return in the Fall. But we are glad to serve them in all these ways and the extra time together after their studies allows us to get to know them and minister to them in a deeper way. As much as we hate to see some people gone for the summer or missing for Sunday worship as families take vacations and travel too, it also allows us to focus more on other people, as well as a chance to step back and reflect and ask the Lord how he would like us to go forward and what he might like us to add or do differently in the future.

This May for the second time we also served in a big way at a Region wide conference for Japanese and those ministering to them. A conference with an attendance of about 120. Last year, for me that was sharing testimonies and a lot of one-on-one time encouraging and mentoring young people. This year Yoriko was asked to be the worship director for the whole conference which added a lot on her plate not only for the three days of the conference but for the last three months planning and delegating to the various people and worship teams taking part in the conference.

We continue to work through the book of Acts on Sunday, now up to chapter 10. The book seems to be working out well as far as ways to speak both into the lives of Christians and those who have yet to make a decision.