At Alpha Friday Mrs. Ito shared her hope that she can live at least five more years. I had heard that she had health problems, but didn't realize how serious her condition was. She's in her forties, I guess, and wants to live long enough to see her son turn twenty (the age of adulthood in Japan).
Please pray for Mrs. Ito's health and faith. You may remember she came a little late to Alpha the first week because she had to finish her prayers with a Buddhist priest. She still seems far from a decision to believe in Christ, but comes to Alpha each week and actively joins in.
Pray she can continue to open up, and will feel comfortable to ask for prayer on November 19, the week we talk about healing.
Let's pray for a miracle.
Mrs. Ito wasn't the only guest to share more openly this past Friday. Friends who joined the weekend away seemed more open and relaxed. Even Noriyuki, the quietest of all our Alpha guests, talked. A lot! It was great.
Mr. Kusano reported that after the retreat he searched and found a Bible he had from long ago and cleaned the dust off of it. He had received a New Testament at Alpha a few weeks earlier. But he wanted to find his Bible that had the Old Testament, too.
Thank you to those who prayed for our Experiencing Alpha Day in Sapporo Saturday. 58 people from 12 churches participated, and many seem eager to start running the course.
Please pray God will continue to do a great work through Alpha in Muroran and throughout Japan.
Tim
Daily Prayer Requests:
Monday: Thank you for praying last Monday for guests who didn't attend the retreat. The three most regular guests did return this past Friday: Mrs. Ito, Sachiko Yonekawa and Sachiko's friend Ms. Oshima. Sachiko told her sister (a church member) a few days ago, "It's a miracle I'm continuing to go to Alpha each week!" She's enjoying it more than she expected to. Ms. Oshima seems to be enjoying Alpha, too, but hasn't shared very deeply or gotten to know any church members well. Pray she will.
Tuesday: Pray the Lord will lead me as I follow up with Christian leaders who attended the Experiencing Alpha Day and are thinking of starting to run the course.
Wednesday: Pray for the future of Alpha in Muroran. Sunday we had a meeting regarding next year; I was glad to hear that everyone expects to continue running the course after I leave in March. Pray the right person will be led by God to be the coordinator.
Thursday: Pray for Taeko Nitto, the friend who isn't a Christian and is helping staff the evening Alpha. Pray Taeko will continue to grow towards a decision to believe, and that her husband will visit church for the first time this Christmas season.
Friday: Pray for today's Alpha gathering. The theme is "Why and How Shall We Tell Others?" Pray those who aren't yet believers will have a desire to share something of their journey, or Alpha, or the church community with friends. We hope Alpha guests will not only come to our Alpha Celebration and Christmas Party on December 4, but will want to bring friends and family members.
Saturday: Pray for my preparations for preaching tomorrow. Some friends from previous Alpha courses who aren't yet involved in the church may come to the service.
Tim Clark