Christian

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to evety creature" S\ark 16:13
Volume 69

April 1970

Number 2

Nakano Church Dedicates

EVANGELISM
BY FORCE!
Recently a young working man who is attending an English class 1 am teaching has expressed great interest in Christian ity. He has been avidly reading the Bible I gave him and memorizing many choice portions of it. We generally spend over an hour twice a week in the English conver sation class talking about Christianity. He carries the Bible wherever he goes and It is beginning to have a tremendous influ
ence on his life. man who works in the same

New Building

!! i rr

iii i r
New Nakano church buiidipg^ Front,
from northwest corner.

i^i
Nakano church building from the south,
showing both floors.
On Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m. an audience of 70 to 80 people, representing most of our churches in Tokyo, gathered at Nakano to dedicate the new building to
the glory and service of Christ. All of the

Another

there. The last one-half of the money for

the land could not be received, of course, until we had completely vacated the land

trading company as this man has noticed his Bible carrying and church going traits. So, one evening this man offered the English student a ride in his car to the
church for the English class. On the way the English student expressed surprise that the other man knew he was studying English at the church. The man answered
that he had seen the Bible he carries and

and former Sims house and prepared it for

the new owner to take over. We were obli

local congregations who could possibly

make it were there to welcome the visitors

and hear the admiring comments on the well-appointed and glistening white building.
The new building has a total floor

gated by contract to do this by March 31. The target date for completion of the new building was February 28. But because of an unusually dry winter in
Tokyo that was perfect for the construc

had heard he was studying English at the church. The English student then became aware that he was not taking him in the
direction of the church. When asked where

space of about 2,600 square feet. The downstairs has an auditorium, the back one-third which cao be divided off by accordion doors to include a separate classroom, study-office, and Japanesestyle room (with straw mat floor that is just right for prayer meetings, small

tion industry, and because we had a good

contractor, all of the work was finished

he was taking him the man answered that

he was a member of the Soka Gakkai and

by February 20. This is the first instance I have heard of in Japan where a building
was finished ahead of time. When we built
the first Nakano church we set the date

chat he was now beginning efforts to "save" him. He said the English student was being polluted by Christianity, that

for dedication one month after the date the

he was in deep water, and that he was now

using his car to pull him out.

classes or conferences and tea drinking fellowship and conversation), toilet, bap tistery and entrance hall. The upstairs is the minister's home, but there is one large carpeted room that is designed for use for committee meetings and other such general purposes as well as a living room.
The total cost, including furnishings and a new small electric organ, was $40,000. Those who have been reading my Relocation Report in previous issues will know that rebuilding this church became necessary when we decided to sell the back part of the land by dividing the prop erty with a "Straight line thus cutting off a sizeable part of the old church building. This plan made it easier to sell the land and brought a much better price. First we negotiated the sale of the land, and received the first payment. Then we paid the contractor and work began.
While the old church was torn down and

contractor promised to be done, and the

men were varnishing and finishing work at midnight of the day before the dedication
ceremony. So we are very thankful that everything went so smoothly in this case.
as The dedication service also doubled a commemoration of the church's

The barber English car. In

members

car finally stopped in front of a shop in Shinjuku and then the student was told to get out of the the shop were four or five other
of the Soka Gakkai who were

becoming a legally recognized religious corporation owning its own property. Each

friends of the car owner. They tried to force the student into the shop where they
could give him a grilling for hours to rid
him of all Christian him to attend his influence. class then After the and had

of the missionaries of the Cunningham

was given a note of thanks and a cloisonne vase as a token of appreciation from the local congregation for the Mission's gift of the property to the local church. The minister also made a point of inviting the immediate neighbors of the church to the dedication, although none of
them are Christians. Most of them came

English student had begged them to allow

promised them to meet them later for a talk, they finally agreed to let him go. The Soka Gakkai is a very militant new religion In Japan with millions of members in Japan and several thousand new converts in America. They have been strongly criticized in Japan for their strong-armed recruiting methods, because

and participated in a Christian service for

the first time.

the new one was going up, the Itagaki family lived next door in the former Sims house on the back of the lot, and all
church services and classes were held

I neglected to mention above that the architect and contractor were also recog nized and given a note of thanks and a gift in appreciation of their good work for
the church. Harold Sims

of which we thought their militancy had been toned down. Evidently it has not, as evidenced by this incident. They consider all other religions, especially Christianity,
(Continued on page 2)

No. 2 Published four times a year in January, April, July and November for
the missionaries of the Church of

Vol. 69

Tokyo Christian April 1970

Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan by Mission Services, 509 W. Jefferson, Joliet, Illinois. Second class postage paid at Joliet, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 2-26-4 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs. Homer Anderson, 622 Cullum Street, Meadville, Pa. 16335.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164 Japan. Forwarding Agent; Mr. and Mrs. G. Wade Fletcher, R.R. 2, Rushville,
Ind. 46173.

I
April 27, 1970 marks a full twenty years since the Stanley Buttray family first arrived in Japan. They have two sons,
Paul who came with them in 1950 who now resides in Melbourne, Florida with his
Homer and Sue Anderson of First

Christian

Church,

Meadville,

Pa. have

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, House #2001, Sayama-shi, Saitama-ken 350-13 Japan. Forwarding Agent: First Church of Christ, Orange at Center St.. Eustis,
Fla. 32726.

been serving as the Stanley Buttrays' for warding agent for almost twenty years. Such faithfui, efficient, loyal service is
of inestimable value to the Lord, the

Two-year subscription $ .50 Subscription and Flaming Torch $1.00

family. And David, their second son, fif teen years of age, bom in Japan will graduate in 1972. The Lord willing, the Buttrays will be home on their next fur lough when David graduates.

Kingdom, and the Buttrays.

Unexpected Contribution
When we arrived at Nakano for the

the Balkan Season

Sgt. Bill Miller of Wright Patterson Airbase, Dayton, Ohio, in a recent tape letter to us, remarked that it was the cold est winter that he had seen in a long time.
He said: "A number of times it went down

Sunday morning worship on February 15, the preacher handed me a registered

letter that had come for me a day or so

ing! In twenty years of experience here In

Japan this was by far the least responsive

evangelist effort I have ever seen. Two

before. I glanced at the name and address

of the sender, but didn't recognize it. Upon

nights no one came, and three nights only

one person came. But in spite of the mea ger attendance three made decisions to become Christians, and two of these were baptized the following two weeks.

opening the envelope I found the following note (in Japanese language, of course): "Please excuse, my leaving..out the formalities. I was baptized in 1959> being
led by Teacher Akira Nagano (minister of Nakano church at that time), and was in that church until January of 1962. I am thankful that such a deep sinner as I could be saved by the grace of Christ. Please tell Teacher Nagano also that I am truly
thankful. I have enclosed herewith a small

to

ten below zero, but the

about

Chill Factor

was

160 below zero as the wind

condition of the Church

swept across the airfield." To me, this

describes" the

In analyzing this problem I concluded

that the lack of strong conviction, sincere dedication and complete sanctificatlon as in every age has been "The Church's Pre vailing Problem." Herein also Is the basic problem of the Japanese church and its preachers. Well did Jesus describe the Church of today when He said: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart Is far from me." Oh how Jesus must long that we come to Him, "as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings" . . . that He might protect us, encourage us, feed us, and WARM US! But in our inde pendence we will not!!! The Church In Japan has been suffer

today! To write the following neither gives me joy, peace, pleasure, nor satisfaction,
but It well illustrates the true state of the

Church as also revealed in the example

above.

amount of money (30,000 yen or $83.00).

Please use it for God's work. Okamura Sumi

Some of the people at church that morning remembered the girl as soon as I told them her name, but none of them had heard anything of her for many years. Why did she send this generous contribution

For the first time In the history of the Yokosuka Church they decided to hold an evangelistic meeting in the month of Jan uary. It was just three years since we reopened the Church and the membership
totaled seven persons as the meeting began. And all of these were either In school or working. Therefore, the desires and all efforts for the evangelistic effort

and note of thanks after eight years of absence and inactivity? I don't know yet.
The preacher she mentioned has now left

were basically Morohashl San's and mine.

Instead of the usual minimum three- or maximum five-day meeting, a sixteen-day

the ministry and is working in a bank, and there have been many other changes in the church, the world and no doubt in her own life. It is hard to know what goes on in people's hearts, but this is a kind of proof
that seed sown will bear fruit.
Harold Sims

meeting was planned that began on the tenth of January. Even though it was the coldest season (dalkan) of the year, with some reservations, we went ahead with the meeting. But knowing the plight of these people (99% living and walking in

ing from a severe cold spell. And If there isn't soon a yielding of stubborn wills, and a crucifying of selfish aims, bias, pride and traditions . . , the Church will
enter the DAIKAN (coldest) season of all time! And no matter how much they clothe themselves with pious good works, the "Chill Factor" going out from the Church will completely make ineffective whatever spark remains. Well, I didn't plan to say anything about the burden of my heart, but since you now know, pray that I will have strength not only to bear these burdens, but that God will use me to help the

darkness), for JESUS we decided to chal lenge the Devil for the right to govern the
lives of these multitudes!

EVANGELISM BY FORCE

(continued from page 1)

as enemies and deceivers of the people. This group has a political arm called Komeilo (Clean Government Party) and it is gaining power in the national parliment with each election. Such are the power and methods of those who oppose God. The victory, hov;ever, is not promised to the strong but to the lovers and doers of
the Word of God. Andrew Pallon

We began by putting up 65 posters where possible in that area of Yokosuke.

We also took handbills and tracts from

house to house and person to person as we met them on the street. 2,500 handbills were put in the newspaper three times. From 4 to 6 p.m. at the evening rush hour

Japanese
besetting
victorious

human

Christians overcome these problems and become

in Christ.

we passed out handbills and tracts In the

heart of the business area almost nightly. Also, our prayers ascended continuously to God for a great harvest. The result was unexpected and shock

Pray that God will send forth from Heaven a warm refreshing breeze to warm
His Church . . . until HIS WILL becomes
our will!

Stanley Buttray

in Hachioji than any other part of Tokyo.

We know of only one other missionary

PATTON FURLOUGH
Our furlough departure date has been set on June 16, 1970. We will join the PanAm chartered missionary flight departing
for San Francisco on that date. It has not

family living in the city Missionary Baptists and we will be quite a distance
from them.

The size of the lot is 729.68 square meters, or about 7,920 square feet. It is not square, because the street on the west side is slanted outward, making the back
side wider. I am afraid to mention the

yet been decided how we wilt travel across

the States due to the fact that we are try

price,

because it will shock those not

ing to borrow a car in California to be used daring our furlough. If the plan to
borrow the car does not work out, we will

Lois Sims standing on the lot which is being purchased for the new location of Sims' work. This is looking west, and the
lot runs back to the comer from where she

stands. This is a new development, so

there are no houses yet built in the immed

iate neighborhood.

Relocation

Report
Progress continues. The report of the completion of the new church building at Nakano, iacluding a cement block fence along the new property line, is given else
where in this issue.

familiar with land prices in Tokyo. But the total cost will be right at $49,000. Believe it or not, this is next to the cheapest price for any land we looked at in that general area, and much less than some other lots nearby. The land is being purchased in the name of the Nakano Church of Christ, and will be held that way until the new church grows to maturity. It is not my personal possession. The railway company has asked us to defer most of the payment until after their fiscal year and tax report is finished at the end of March. We expect to finish pay ing for the land and registering it about the end of April, and hope to begin con struction of the house early in May. Right

perhaps take advantage of the Flight Plan for the flight to Ohio.

Family

Funds for our flight home are very slowly accumulating, but the greater part

of this travel fund is yet to be raised, In

addition income tax, social security tax, and $800 due on the children's school tuition are to be paid very shortly. Would you kindly send a special offering for our furlough travel to our forwarding agent
now.

A deposit of $84.30 has been made on our flight tickets. The remainder is to be

now we are trying to decide on a floor plan

for the house and a contractor to build it.

paid by April 1, 1970. We have faith that the necessary funds will be on hand when they are needed. Your help would be appreciated.
~Andrew Palton

We ask your continued prayers for us that God may guide us in all decisions

great and small so that His will may be

worked out, and that He may deliver us
from evil and deceitful men who would

To celebrate her tenth birthday the

Sakurayama Church bought herself a new Yamaha Electone organ. At the anniver
sary celebration announcement was made

The other big news is that we have found the place where we are going to

take
next

advantage
time.

of

our

ignorance. More
-Harold Sims

locate and begin a new church. The story of our long and sometimes discouraging search would be too long to tell here, but we believe that in the providence of God we have been led to the right place and it gives us a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. The property we have taken option to buy is located in the city of Hachioji (pronounced: HAH-chee-OH-gee) which is in the extreme western part of Tokyo metropolis, between the neighboring Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures. It is about half way between Isehara, where we lived last year, and Sayama, where we are
living now. It is an hour's train ride from

that Brother Hiroaki Sato would begin ministering both to the Sakurayama and
the Arakawa Churches in April. At this

Tenth Aaniverswy
The Sakurayama Church celebrated its , tenth anniversary on March 8, 1970. It was mostly a private affair, with invitations being sent only to the attendants and
members of the local church there.

service the Pattons announced that they

intended to do evangelism in other areas

of Tokyo upon their return from furlough

in August, 1971.

So at this time the Sakurayama Church

not only glanced back at the distance already traveled but also took on the new

Brother Toshihiko Shimada, professor at the Osaka Bible Seminary, delivered the sermon at the morning worship hour and addressed the audience that gathered for the anniversary service in the after-

responsibilities involved in working in evangelism with a new and young Japanese minister. We pray that this new phase of their history will be marked with great growth and spiritual prosperity.
Andrew Ration

downtown Tokyo, but a rapidly growing area projected to have a population of about 500,000 by the end of this decade.
It serves as a shopping, commercial and transportation center for the surrounding
area.

Within this city we are going into an area called Mejirodai (pronounced: Mehgee-row-die), which means "resting place for the white-eyed bird" a species native to Japan. Just a few years ago this was sparsely populated, wooded farm land. But tiie Keio Railroad Co. bought up a large tract, put an extension of their railway line through the middle of it, and is now in the process of developing a major new housing area of more than 2,500 lots. We are buying one of these lots directly from the company.
The nearest church of Christ is almost

W-iki

10 miles away. As for other churches, a recent survey of Japan made by mission

aries

on an

assignment for

the Japan Part of the audicnce at the tenth anniversary celebration of the Sakurayama Church.

Harvest magazine, showed that there were

fewer churches in ratio to the population

News From

The Pattons
This year there have been four

baptisms so far at the Sakurayama Church two college girls, one high school girl, and a young man who is grad
uating from high school this spring.
Another high school student has decided

to be baptized on his birthday on March 21. There are other seekers who are hunger
ing for God's salvation. Some of them are

under conviction and we expect them to

receive Christ soon, if some stumbling-

block is not placed in their way.

We have tried for some time now to

prepare
confusion

both
in

the

Sakurayama
their

and the
worship

Arakawa Churches so that there will be no

arranging

services so that Mr. Sato can minister to

both churches from the beginning of April. An agreement between the two churches has been worked out and we expect no difficulties in implementing it. Brother Sato will move to the Sakurayama parson age in the first week of April.

Kenneth and Regina Stewart, former president of Pacific Christian College visiting in the home of the Stanley Butlray family in Tokyo over the Christmas holidays. Three of Mabel's filnglish Bible students are pictured, and the Buttrays'son, David.

We are happy to report that the Sakurayama Church is in fair condition at this time when the leadership responsi bility is being transferred from us to Brother Sato. Attendance is fairly good and there are no major problems to impede progress. We have bestowed much labor on this church bm we are trying to push them from the nest and cause them to fly under their own power. Some financial help will have to be continued, particularly in the form of help on the minister's salary. But we hope the church can shortly take that responsibility also. Of course,
we do not know what the future holds but

X -W'
.-^1 r a
> f-

our plans call for our evangelizing in other areas of Tokyo after August 1971.
Plans for the spring and early summer look quite interesting. The JuliusFleenors have planned a youth camp for missionary children for early April at Karuizawa. Noel and Sharon plan to attend this camp and Andrew will drive up at the end of the camp to furnish transportation for some of the youth back to Tokyo. The 21st AllJapan Convention will convene at Nagoya on May 2-5. Then during the first few days of June four brethren from America will be in Tokyo for a leadership conference with
the missionaries and leaders of the

Carl and Grace Fish and their two children with Stanley and Mabel Buttray on the right. The Fish family arrived in Tokyo on January 16, on their way to Singapore and then Indonesia to do missionary work.
Both families'home church is Meadville, Pa.

BOX 368. JOI-IET, ILLINOIS 60434

churches in Japan. So some very interest ing activities which we hope will mean a

great deal to our missionary efforts in Japan are in store for us. We are grateful to you friends for your

prayers for us and your financial support. May the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
Andrew Ration

Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" S\aTk 16:15
Volume 70 November 1970 Number 4

camp At Uke motosu

than we are computers, tractors, etc.;

so the interpreter could be larger!

We had a total attendance of 103, with an average of around 75 for every meal not the highest attendance ever, but a very good camp in every way. We are thankful

for God's protection that keeps us from

sickness and accident, and also for His

presence that gave us all a refreshing

spiritual experience.
Harold Sims

Suzuki San

This year we went back to Lake Motosu August 3-9 for our annual week of camp. Two years ago, after they came there, the J apanese preachers were strongly in favor of trying another location for our Tokyo area camp. Among the reasons were; (1) The camp buildings, mattresses etc. were deteriorating and there were no
modern conveniences. (2) The rent was too

through music appearances this summer. These young people were a great inspira tion and example to the Japanese young

people; and in spite of the language barrier, there was a great deal of effective commu
nication between them.

high. (3) The lakeside, especially on weekends, was being taken over by pleasure-seeking, noisy, littering campers
from the cities who come in their cars and

Another thing different this year was the large number of non-Christians at camp about 50% of the enrollment. One of the teachers of the high school group told me that his teaching was about the

Mr. Stanley Buttray and Mrs. Exie

Fultz with Peter Suzuki at the Haneda

put up tents wherever there is space. (4)

The place is inconvenient to reach by public transportation. Last year we rented a facility along the upper reaches of the Tama River, and had a very good camp there. The rooms were clean, the mats
were comfortable, and there were modern toilet facilities. Also, we didn't have to
cook our food and wash the dishes. But at

most enjoyable experience of his ministry. He said that on the first day he asked how many of them had ever heard of Paul, and only about one-half raised their hands. But chey were avid listeners, drinking in everything and asking for more.
Only one was baptized during the camp a college boy was immersed in a beautiful service on Sunday morning in the sight of a number of weekend campers along the lakeshore. But 1 am sure many of the other non-Christians received a good first impression of Christ and His Word

.\iiport on September 10 as he was prepar ing to board a JAL plane for Los Angeles and the PaciRc Christian College, where

he plans to study for a couple of years.

Peter Suzuki left Tokyo September 10

by Japan Air Lines to enter Pacific Chris tian College. His present plans include two
years at PCC and possibly another two years at a university. On his return to

the end of last year's camp, we asked for a vote of the campers to indicate which they preferred; and they were overwhelm ingly in favor of more rugged Lake Motosu.
Why do they like Motosu? I don't know all the answers to that question, but I am sure they share with me appreciation of the

Japan, he hopes to become a professor and

be in a position to influence many students
for Christ.

and His people, and that they will take an

interest in church and Bible classes, and youth meetings, etc. from now on. So seed
was sown.

Five years ago while studying for uni

versity exams Suzuki San roomed in a home

good clean air, the clear, cool deep-blue waters of the lake, the quiet cool nights
and the beauty of the mountains. Also 1

We had five different classes: Elemen

believe there is special charm for Tokyo

young people in returning to somewhat

primitive living conditions after experienc ing the crowded conditions of modern city
life. And there is value in the bonds of

community living each one taking his turn helping with cooking, dishwashing
and other activities.

tary School Children, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers, College and Adults, and English-Speaking (Ohio Singers, etc.). We could not possibly have organized the registrations so well; but as God worked it out, each class had 12 to 15 members, providing a nice balance in age groups. These classes and the chapel messages were taught and preached by the five

just 50 yards behind the Buttrays' home and the Kamiochiai church. At first, he started to attend English Bible classes
and then the church services. Of the 20

students living in that rooming house, Peter was the only one that continued to come. This resulted in his baptism some
months later.

After entering the university, he moved

to the dormitory of the former Tokyo Bible Seminary, where the Sakurayama church meets. From that time Suzuki San began to

Japanese ministers who were at the camp

and missionaries Paul Pratt and Harold

The camp this year had several unusual

features about it, but the most outstanding was the presence of the "Ohio Singers," a group of 11 young people mostly students at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary who came to Japan for a series of evangelism

Sims. Because of the large number who could not understand Japanese, 1 trans lated the chapel messages into English the first time the Japanese preacher had used an interpreter. He remarked that this is the age when we all use tools bigger

attend the Sakurayama church and growing

in grace and truth became a real asset to

the Andrew Pattons as well as the Buttrays.

During his last two years at the uni versity, he also assisted Mrs. Exie Fultz

( Continued on page 4)

Tokyo Christian
Vol. 70 November 1970 No. 4

Published four times a year in January, April, July and November for
the missionaries of the Church of

Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan by Mission Services, 509 W. Jefferson, Joliet, Illinois. Second class postage paid at Joliet, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 2-26-4 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs. Homer Anderson, 622 Cullum Street, Meadville. Pa. 16335. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs. G. Wade Fletcher, R.R. 1, Rushville,
Ind. 46173.

:"A

vf.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7

Mejirodai,
Fla. 32726.

Hachioji-shi

Tokyo 192,

Japan. Forwarding Agent: First Church of Christ, Orange at Center St., Eustis, Two-year subscription $ .50

MISSIONARY CONVENTION
This is a picture of the 80 people attending our annual get-together of mis sionaries and their families for fellowship,

Subscription and Flaming Torch $1,00

CHURCH GROWTH

inspiration and consultation about the work

of Christ's church in Japan to which we have committed our lives. Some are always
unable to attend because of furlough or

SEMINAR

visiting the Fleenors; Nick Saito and his fiancee, Reiko Nagata. One thing 1 noticed about this conven tion is that almost no one came by train. The highways have improved so much in Japan the last few years that it is chcapcr
to go by car even the Fabers came all the

sickness, etc.; but this year we had, as usual, a good representation attending. This shows how important this cooperation and encouragement and unity is to all of us. The meetings are usually held in June, because that Is the rainy season and a slack time for evangelistic activities as well as a time when highways and trains
and hotels are not as crowded as at other

times during the year. This year the place was at the Takino Health Center in Hyogo Prefecture, near the Harold Coles . We will give you the fun of trying to find them in the picture, but here is the list of those attending. MISSIONARIES;

way from Hakkaido in their Voklswagon bus. The Faber and Jones families stayed with us overnight on their way to the convention; so we had 14 visitors plus our family sleep ing here one night. The Ohio Singers had charge of the young people's meetings. Among us there is quite a large group of high school age youth; and it was good forthem to have this fellowship.
Next year the meeting is to be in the

Ernest Faber family; Tomakomal, Hokkaido; Milton Jones family, Sendai; Mabel and David Buttray, Tokyo; Julius and Julia,
Dana Lee and Gracie Fleenor, Tokyo; Paul

Professors Al Japanese Inn

This summer three Bible college professors (Don DeWelt and Gordon Clymer

from Ozark, and Conley Silsby from Puget

Sound) have been spending a week in each

of varioas mission fields in Asia, giving lectures and sermons of encouragement designed to develop and train native leadership among the churches being estab lished in the different countries. Tokyo was the first stop on their tour. They
arrived here late at night on May 30 just after finishing their work in the Bible colleges. We appreciated very much the willingness of these men to give of their time and best efforts for this purpose, their adjustability in eating Japanese food with chopsticks, etc., their humor, their humility and their deep dedication to Christ and His church; and we felt that both the mis

Pratt and family, Toehara; Harold Sims family, Sayama; Ray, Lonnie and Donnie Mings families, Osaka; Beckman family, Osaka; Bill and Betty Turner, Osaka; Mark Maxey family, Kanoya; Audrey West, Okayama; and the Harold Cole family, Ono
and hosts. VISITORS (of course this includes some missionaries): The Ohio

Tokyo area, and we are planning to invite more of the non-Instrument people to join us to increase our contacts and fellowship. After the missionary convention most of us from Tokyo stayed over to spend two days at Expo 70 in Osaka. We were grate ful for the hospitality of the Ray Mings' home during this time, and enjoyed the time at Expo a great deal. It was the only time any of us had attended any such thing.
Harold Sims

Mrs. Buttray
Right in the middle of the summer camps at Karuizawa, Mabel Buttray became ill. After a number of days of not getting any better, she returned to Tokyo for exam
ination and discovered that she had

Singers group from Cincinnati (11 young people); Isabel Dittemore and Lillian
Martin from Taiwan; Robert Schwab (serv iceman) from First Christian Church in

Okinawa; David Sizemore, on Internship

with Turners from Lincoln Christian Col

lege; Paul Nielsen, former missionary now helping the new Milton Jones family get
settled into the work m Sendai; Rose Najarro from the Philippines, helping the Turner family by teaching the small chil dren; I'aith Tanegawa, from the Luttrell work in Hawaii, learning Japanese; Marvel Hurt, replacing Barbara Courtney for a

hepatitis. After examinations, four days of rest

sionaries and Japanese Christians were blessed and strengthened by our brief
fellowship. On Sunday morning, May 31, they spoke
in three different churches in the area.

That afternoon and evening, we had a rally

(Continued on page 4)

year of service in Sakai; Mrs. Martha Yost, teaching in Ibaraki Christian College; Terry Pace, a missionary with the noninstrument Churches of Christ and teaching
at Ibaraki Christian College; Mr. and Mrs. George Crawford from Salt Lake City,

ing, and aspecial bland diet in the hospital, she was permitted to return home on the condition that she have complete rest. Now, six weeks later, after a daily regimen of complete rest and lots of vita mins, the doctor pronounces her "almost normal" again. By the time you read this,
if it is the Lord's will, Mabel will be back to normal again. However, this disease of the liver requires that a person be careful
for a number of months afterwards.

Stanley Buttray

NEWS FROM THE RATIONS

the week calling in the homes of some of the members of that church while Betty
and the children returned home for school.

While in Rushville, we were the guests of

our forwarding agent: Mr. and Mrs. G. Wade Fletcher, who without remuneration help us so greatly in our work for Chris:. The next Sunday, September 13, we spent with the Sexton church, Rushville, Ind., where Andrew formerly preached and which has been a supporter of our mission
work since 1953. While there we were

guests of the Robert Heebs, very dear

friends of ours.

When we arrived home at the end of

June we were about $2,000 in debt for car

and travel and for our children's school

tuition in Tokyo. Since then our financial condition has improved somewhat, thanks

to

the help of friends and supporters.

The house loaned gratis to the Andrew Pattons by Mrs. Louise Williams of Ml. Victory, Ohio as a service to the missionary cause. The Pattons' furlough address is Box 134, RDshsylvania, Ohio 43347.
We are now settled down in our home

Since we drove across the United States, we were able to cash in our plane tickets

in Rushsylvania, Ohio for a year of furlough in our homeland. Our children are attending their respective schools Philip at Rush sylvania, Stephen riding a bus to West Mansfield, and Sharon and Noel caking a
bus to Zanesfield. The schedule is rather

Buttray and their children. We made a

quick trip to Cape Kennedy and then pro
ceeded on to Seffner to the home of the

which had already been bought. That paid most of the tuition debt. Also, recent receipts have been sufficient to allow us

confusing for Betty as the children go to

school at different times and return at

Phil Hardens. There we enjoyed a steak supper and had a home meeting with guests from surrounding churches. We visited our livinglink church at Clearwater in the

to pay 5500 on the car and travel debt; so now our indebtedness is only $1,000. We thank you very much and would appreciate your further help in the liquidation of the
remainder of the debt. We have received several letters since

our return to the States from our co-workers

morning and evening of August 2, enjoying

our visit with Dr. and Mrs. Coleman and

different times. Other adjustments to Ohio schools from Japan were fairly easy to
make.

the Jones family. We presented our work

to the DVBS at Brandon and at the mid

in Japan. The Sakurayama church had a revival meeting tn the early part of Sep tember. We pray that it was successful in
reviving the church and in winning new souls. We are very grateful to Bro. Hiroaki Sato for his ministry with the Sakurayama
and Arakawa churches. He is a faithful

We spent a most enjoyable seven-week

trip to the Southland. On our last furlough

six years ago, the family did not get to

week service at Central church at Tampa. Burgess Patton, Andrew's brother, and his family were our hosts while we stayed
in the Atlanta area. There we were able

travel with Andrew to several of our sup

porting churches. This time we have made it a point to visit these churches first as much as possible. On July 12, we visited
the Northern Hills church in Cincinnati.

minister and fellow worker in the

to which he ministers .

Lord.

to visit the Mount Olive and Southwest

Please pray for him and the two churches

churches,

both livinglink churches, and the Jefferson Park church where Andrew was a member years ago. There we renewed

A young memBer of the Sakurayama

church and a person who has been a great help to us in our mission work in Tokyo, Peter Suzuki, has been planning for some
time to come to the United States to enter

The next day we journeyed to Claxton,

Tenn. and had a short visit with Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Sims,Harold's father and mother.

our acquaintance with Mrs. L. L. Milligan.

We also visited the Westbrooks and Mrs.
Betsill. Andrew At the North Druid Hills church visited with his former Bible

That same day we crossed the beautiful Smoky Mountains, passed through Cherokee

Indian Reservation, and finally arrived on the shore of Lake Chatuge, N.C., where
Andrew's folks live.

school teacher, Mrs. Nabell, who is now 90 and still teaching a class. The church

had celebrated her 90th birthday on July 1.

We also visited the Ben Hill church and

Pacific Christian College, Long Beach, Calif. Mr. Suzuki is a graduate of Waseda University in Tokyo and his fiancee is also a university student. We recently received word that Peter has already departed for
the States and he should now be settled

On

July 18 and 19 we visited the

church in Winston-Salem and

there met again the Dendy family (she is

Shattalon

Mrs. Milligan's daughter) and Mrs. Sweeney,

now Dean of Women at Atlanta Christian

then journeyed on to Virginia Beach, Va.

for a week's stay. Mr. and Mrs. A1 Floyd

had made out a program for the week with us speaking every night preceded by a potluck supper to the Lindale and Great Bridge congregations at Lindale church; Geneva Park church at Chesapeake; Hill top church at Virginia Beach; Colonial Place church at Hampton; West Park church at Portsmouth; Aragona church at Virginia
Beach; and to the South Norfolk church.

College. We also had a pleasant visit at Atlanta Christian College, which Andrew
had attended as a student.

down in school at PCC. We would appreci ate your prayers for him. After he has finished his studies in America, he plans to return to Japan, support himself as a college lecturer, and be a minister of the

Between some of the Atlanta appoint

ments we were able to drive to North
Carolina to Andrew's home town and visit with his folks who are now in their 80's.

Gospel to his own people. A young high school student of the Arakawa church, who will graduate next
March, has also decided to enter the min istry. He plans to enter Osaka Bible Semi

On Saturday, August 15, all nine of the Patton children and their families, includ ing all but four of the grandchildren, met
at the Patton homestead for a reunion.

nary in April. Join us in prayer for him. Another young man at the Sakurayama
church is seriously thinking about the ministry but fears that he will run into famil y opposition if he makes chat decision. Pray for him also. As we travel about among the churches in the States, we are assured by many that they pray for us constantly. We are very grateful for that and want to urge all of you to continue your prayers for us. "The supplication of a righteous man availeth muchin its working."
Andrew Pallon

Some of us were guests of the Floyds and

some at the Welker home while in the area.

After greeting Betty's aunt and uncle,

Mr. and Mrs. William Schlosser, in Tampa

Fla., we were guests at another church supper at the Fort Myers church and house guests of the Eric Dances, the Underbirds,

August 27 found us back in Ohio enrolling our children in their schools. On September 2 and 3 Andrew visited and

spoke at Kentucky Christian College and had a most enjoyable time of fellowship
with the faculty and students. Our whole family spent the day on September 6 with the church at Rushville, Ind., another of our fine supporting churches. Andrew spent most of the rest of

and the Houses. We are very grateful to the Fort Myers church for their offerings
help with our plane tickets home. A short trip across Florida to the East Coast was made to see Paul and Faith to

Church Growth Seminar

Suzuki San

(Continued from page 2)

at the Kamiochiai church, with about four or five churches cooperating, at which all three men spoke. We scheduled both morn ing and evening two-hour sessions for

(Continued from page 1)

in her Bible classes. This had much influ ence on his decision for further education
in the USA .

Tuesday through Friday in which each of

the men talked about the use of literature,

radio and training localleaders. About 15 to 20 people attended these meetings. We had hoped for a larger response; but those who
were absent just missed something. I almost lost my voice from too much talking and interpreting, but I enjoyed every
minute of it.

In order to fulfil this ambition of going to the States, Suzuki San upon, graduating in April, lost little time in getting a job

with Japan Travel Bureau as an English

interpreter and guide for tourists. In this job the Lord provided Suzuki San with the finest opportunity for improvement in the English language as well as earning the maximum amount of money in the four mbnths before leaving for-,_ the States. For Suzuki San, Expo and the increase of tourism which it brought this year was extremely beneficial this he recognizes as God's special blessings.
As a student in Pacific Christian Col

For me the best time of the week was

Monday, June 1. That was the day for our regular monthly preachers' meeting, and that went on all day. Then 14 of us went to a typical Japanese Inn to spend the night. We had a lot of fun and fellowship, and also some valuable hours of open, frank and mutually helpful and enlighten ing discussion on various subjects. This is what anthropologists call cross-cultural communication, and such experiences are
all too rare.
Harold Sims

We had another first this year when the Ohio Singers helped four nights of the Omatsuri Evangelism. They were a group of II students mainly from Cincinnati Bible Seminary. Among them was the son and daughter of Paul and Kathleen Pratt, missionaries in the Tokyo area who hosted the singers for the summer months. Although most of their songs were sung in English, it did not seem to be a handi cap in holding the audiences. This con firms the saying that music is a universal language, and certainly knows no barriers. Their singing and testimonies reached from Tokyo in Kyushu (1,000 miles) and were well received everywhere they went. Ohio Singers, sponsors at home and here in Japan, thanks for helping those four nights during the Omatsuri (festival) Evangelism, as well as all other witness ing and blessings made possible during

lege,

Suzuki San may be

in the finest

your nine-week summer tour of Japan. The

church was blessed, the kingdom increased, and His name was magnified. Stanley Buttray

environment. But we must remember that it

is a whole new world for him, andhe needs our prayers. And from those persons living in the Los Angeles area, I believe God would expect a real personal and loving

display of kindness for Suzuki San and

all like him.

/I Q>aJu^?!
On July 14, a missionary friend called
and asked if we wanted a baby. They had taken in a young Japanese girl who was in trouble; and a baby girl had been born to her that morning. Now they were looking

Stanley ButCray

OMATSURI EVANGELISM
Hundreds were touched for the first

time in their life by God's Word as they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ during the Omatsuri Evangelism at Karuizawa.

This evangelistic effort is, in my way of thinking, the most unique and rewarding experience a missionary, preacher or young Christian worker can have anywhere in

for someone to care for the baby while they rehabilitated the mother. There were several prospects for adoption, but nothing was decided at that time. So we agreed on the spur of the moment to take care of the
little one.

You usually have a period of some months to prepare for a baby; but now, nine

Japan. Needless to say, I look forward to

this occasion August 13 to 20 each year

Preachers' Group Al Tokai University

with great anticipation. This year marked the first time that
decision cards were used. At the end of the

CONSTRUCTION
PROGRESSES

meeting, over 300 had been received and processed. These revealed that about 30
wanted to become Christians, and about 50 were interested in Christianity. Then
there were about 50 that desired corres

ON SIMS' HOUSE IN MEJIRODAI

The digging of the foundation for the new house began in early June, as planned, but so did the rains. The land there is very

years after our last one, we had just one day to get ready. Some of Lois' friends on the neighboring U.S. Airbase got busy and within a few hours rounded up enough bottles and other equipment to care for her adequately; and we brought her to our place from the hospital when she was just two days old. She has gotten along on her SMA (Japanese Similac) formula, and has brought us a lot of joy through these sum
mer days. Perhaps this is the kind of practical social work that we are called to do instead of passing resolutions asking the government to do this or that.
It has now been decided that the

pondence courses. As the Japanese would say, 'hajima kara owari made." (from beginning to the end) God was praised and glorified. The crowning moment of all the
singing, preaching, passing out of tracts,

hard clay, so the water just stood in the

holes and didn't absorb into the ground. We had to wait out the end of the rainy season

and personal counseling came when two young men were baptized one, the same hour of the night, and the other the next

Robert Warricks, who will be succeeding us in the work here in Sayama this fall, will adopt this baby; and they have named
her Miriam Esther.

(around five weeks)before any further prog

ress could be made. Since the rains gave way to heat in mid-July very good progress
has been made.
BOX 368. JOLIET, ILUINOIS 60434

The pouring of the foundation was finished on July 29; and on July 31 the three boys and I went over to Hachioji to

help the crew of eight Japanese men raise

the framework lifting the heavy pillars and beams by brute strength and coopera tion. It was hot and hard work, but a very thrilling and happy day for us. As of today the roof is on and the

window frames have all been set in place. The plumbing and heating work is also well underway. We hope to be moved in before the end of October, and to begin services there on Sunday, November 1.
Harold Sims