Roberta Stephens

Dear “Tidbits” Friends,

Last month a member of our MPT, Dave Simpkins, and his wife, Terri came to Japan for a conference and to observe and participate in my work. This month’s RobertasTidbits has an article that Dave Simpkins wrote upon his return with his observations of some of the things that impacted him while he was here.

Where will you go when you die?

Well, I’m really not talking about whether or not you are going to heaven. No, I’m talking about where you will literally go when you die. Terri and I recently had the opportunity to visit Roberta in Japan. One of the things we talked about is obstacles to evangelism in an essentially Buddhist culture. Here is one I would not have thought of. The whole issue of what is done with this earthly body has plagued people for millennia. Some cultures placed the body in a “sacred” place and let nature take its course. I visited a rather large church in the Czech Republic that was stacked full of human bones retrieved from catacombs. The chandelier was even made of bones. Some of the things we do are difficult to understand. Here, we have large plots of land set aside as cemeteries where our remains are placed in expensive caskets. We have mausoleums where urns of our ashes can be kept.

The idea, of course, is that we can be remembered and honored by loved ones. This is an important part of most cultures. It is especially important for people of faith. In the Buddhist faith, ancestors are revered and usually worshiped. Though, cremation is required by law in Japan, a place where ancestors can be honored is a very important part of Japanese culture. In a very important way, ancestors are seen as powerful guides and advisers. Most Buddhist Temples have a “cemetery” full of family tombs to hold cremated remains of family members. As you might imagine, Buddhist Temples are rather plentiful in Japan.

Now imagine the dilemma a potential convert to Christianity might have if the only place for his/her ashes would be denied because he/she was a Christian. A Christian cannot be interred in a Buddhist Cemetery unless the priest is very open-minded. It has been a struggle to find a way for a cultural link as opposed to a religious link to be maintained. The picture above is taken in one of the growing number of public cemeteries where anyone can buy a plot. Churches can buy a grave here for their congregation or jointly with several other churches. This is a jointly-owned grave site of four churches in the Japan Baptist Union. However, even with such a solution the cultural link is weakened because a person’s non-Christian loved ones are buried in the Buddhist family grave elsewhere. It is hard for me to imagine such an important issue that missionaries have to deal with which is so foreign to our culture. For many of us, where our earthly remains go is more a matter of convenience. Roberta has to deal with issues we would never think of and have difficulty comprehending. Your support (both financial and in prayer) is essential for all that Roberta does.

Roberta has added nine new classes to her schedule beginning in April. Eight of the classes are taught weekly for salary support. It’s keeping her hopping. All of these classes are in Yokohama and requires traveling there 3 days each week. She has to travel approximately 90 minutes one way on the train. One class is for little tykes at Seiro church in Yokohama. There are three children, two second graders and one first grader. This class is a follow-up on the summer program last year where a volunteer did a 2-day cultural program. The next eight classes are being taught at Soshin Girls’ School, a sister school to Shokei Girls’ School where Roberta taught for 18 years. Although the work is not new, she’s finding it a slow process to adjust to preparing lessons, grading 176 students and the commute to and from the school. Unfortunately, lesson plans and grading papers cannot be done on the train because of the crowd and because she usually has to stand for the trip.

Please pray for her stamina and for little “God-moments” that God has definitely ordained. Pray for health and that Roberta is privileged to see God’s mighty work in these girls.

Please remember that new salary support gifts (of $200 – $2,000) this month and in June (received in Valley Forge by the 30th) will be matched by the Luther Rice Foundation. Of course, any gift will be greatly appreciated, especially regular monthly giving. Salary support for Roberta has not reached the necessary percentage. Perhaps you have a friend who would like to support Roberta’s vital work in Japan.

Rev. Dr. S. David Simpkins (Missionary Partnership Team)

Friends, thank you again for your continued prayers and support.

In Christ,
Roberta Stephens