Roberta’s residence and the bulk of her ministry is in Tokyo. She is starting a program in hopes of placing volunteers of all ages year round in Japanese Baptist Union churches and institutions.Dear Tidbit Friends,
One of the sustaining verses for me during this last year of illness has been Psalms 18: 1-2 “I love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” King David was often alone in his struggles, where it was just the Lord and he. In contrast I have been surrounded by capable doctors and so many people like you. I have struggled to keep the Lord as my rock, and this is the reason I return to these verses so often.
Return to Japan: Now after more than a year since discovering that I had cancer, I am cancer-free and have received permission to return to Japan. The departure date will be August 21st. I have not known the exact date for long so I understand if this early date comes as a surprise. Immediately after my return, I will revisit people in Sendai/Shichigahama area with whom I worked ten years ago. Then I will return to Yokohama to set up house in a mission residence on Kanto Gakuin University campus.
Opportunities for the Gospel: I will be formulating my work in conjunction with local leaders, but now it looks like I will be doing Bible study and English classes with parents of children in Kanto Gakuin primary schools. September is in the middle of their school year. Their curriculum is already ongoing, making it difficult to just begin a new program, so I might be just conducting some impromptu classes until the new school year begins in April.
What excites me about this aspect of the work is that the parents who will join my classes will be those who have put their children in a Christian school, who are asking “so what’s Christianity all about?” In other words, they will all be newbies in learning about Christianity. How many of you have such chances with people in the US or wherever you are living? In a nation where most people do not know the Lord, the opportunities are great to teach the fundamentals of the Gospel. My church base will be with the same congregation as before. However, the distance from my house is great, and it will be costly to commute. But, this group of believers wants to move beyond the fundamentals.
Pray: Firstly, please pray that even now before I begin God will be preparing the hearts of parents I will meet. Secondly, pray for the Suginami- Nakadori church as they formulate what they would like me to help them with.
From September on please use my new address only. :
Roberta Stephens
Senkyoshi Kan
1-50-1 Mutsuura-Higashi,
Kanazawa-Ku, Yokohama
Kanagawa-ken, Japan 236-0037
Helping To Give An Extra Lift: In my last letter at the end of July I mentioned another opportunity to participate with me in ministry. The “Extra Lift Matching Funds” program is an opportunity to help missionaries like myself who lack the total funding necessary to do ministry in Japan. Due to the generosity of some people, should you choose to participate in this program, your monthly gift for the next year will be matched dollar for dollar. You don’t need to use the internet or credit card for this if you prefer not to. For those who would prefer to use the internet, please click here. If you are not a donor who has previously given recurring contributions (monthly or quarterly), and if you can commit to contribute $20-$100 per month for at least one year, then you can qualify to have your gifts matched. The open window for applying for this opportunity lasts until noon on September 27th. Contact myself, Dave or Pat Kelley if you have any questions, or use the card on the next page and send it in to International Ministries.
Thanks so much for your “EXTRA LIFT” in helping with my ministry in Japan.
In Christ,
Roberta Stephens