P o

r u

^
^
no T e-gaiBi

(Paul & Mark's Epistle)

CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

.declare His praise in the islands." Isa. ^2:12

verseas/Address

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

Forwarding Address

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

Mark and Lynn Pratt

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

2910 East 98th St,,

3-4-19 Morino

Kanagawa Ken, 259-11*

Indianapolis, Ind., 46280

Machida Shi, Tokyo 194, Japan

Ph. 317-844-3659

Ph. 0427-26-9778

Ph. 0463-95-1019

Japan.

Vol. 22, No. 2. Spring, 1978

Dear friends,

With the value of the dollar dropping we are very thankful to those of you who have in
creased your promised amount to us. Because of the prayerful regular support of all of you

and with special offerings our needs are being met. "... This is marvelous ..." Psalm 118;23
After a period of drought, vig have beep praising the Lord for our four baptisms during the
last five months. What a thrill it was to be able to have Koichi Homori, our Timothy from Kagoshima with us for our spring evangelistic meeting.
As a result, two more baptisms are in the
offing and more prospects are in the wings. Our church members may have profited the most.
Our Missionary team, likewise has seen good results from literature distribution and street

meetings. We receive about one response per thousand requesting a Bible, directions to the lo
cal church, asking for literature etc. Five have been enrolled in the Bible Correspondence Les
sons, too.

Speaking of literature distribution, how did we ever do without Harold and Neomia and Mary?
The Akers arrived on March 12th. Mary returned with roommate Jan Berte on April 2nd.
Besides
taking charge of the Sunday evening English services, Harold is right in the middle of the lit

erature distribution two days a week.

Both he and Neomia have been able to counsel

in English,

and Kathleen has been able to turn over the culinary and household duties in favor of teaching
and letter writing. Neomia with a reputation for tasty pies will also have many chances to tea

ch those who are making request. Mary came at a good time.

to me at Obirin, I was glad to have extra help in teaching.
too, as well as other English classes.

Having had more classes passed

on
She is teaching Junior Church some,

She will be with us through the summer.

Do pray for Hark and Lynn during this time!

They have been lead to some good land recent
ly and are imploring the Lord for wisdom and trying to get the price of the land reduced.
Most

\
Harold distributing literature, Paul

telling the story at Sakuradai Elemen

tary School in Isehara.

Preachers & Missionaries: J. Fleenor, Itagaki,

Akada, Takamura, Fatton, M.&M. Debalt, M.<M. Akers

M.&M, Pratt, 3. Fleenor, H. Sato,

hashi, lijima and F. Sato.

Morohashi,

Taka

of you realize that though Mark and Lynn will live in the house it will be the property of the
Central Japan Christian Mission. And our Constitution provides that in the event of a disolving
of the mission, the assets will be turned over to other missions of Churches of Christ.
Had you read my article on Missionary Freedom in the Feb. 15th issue of Horizons?
Let me
quote just a portion of it. "I . concur with my wife who often shocks her Japanese friends by
telling them that she had an arranged marriage. 'Oh, yes! God was the go-betv;een for Paul and
me', she explains. In this same way, is it not possible for a marriage of the sent ones
and
the senders with God and His Holy Spirit in the preeminent place which He deserves? As commands
are to be given, He hands them down. As control is in order, he maintains it.
Needless to say
as communication is the key to understanding and happiness in marriage, the two
parties must
maintain a dialogue."
Read the entire article and write me your comments.
Meet Asako Niwano. She is 37, married to a truck driver and they have two children.
She
likes to talk and she tells all that is on her heart. She is so different from other Japanese.

She has been hospitalized for brain surgery and for neurosis. She was at her v/its end
having
tried various religions, without satisfaction. Eighteen months ago she came to the
Sannobara
Church and has come ever since.

"The Bible is different.

It speaks to me and to my need.

Fel

lowship with people who listen to me and take me seriously has met my need. Even if I try stayprofessed
ing away I think of your services and v/ish I was here," she testifies. She has nov;
faith in Christ and will soon be baptized.

work of which he spoke.

God still lives, and He is accomplishing His greater

We Praise His I^ame!!

You met Masaru Shiraki (Jan., 1977 Epistle).

ed and attacked him with a hammer.

He was the mental patient v;hose dad threaten

He is a new man, now, as he says, "by God's grace".

He

has

not missed an evening service (works days) for the past seven months, works regularly and in his
sound mind .rejoices daily in "God's presence,

"..in Christ he is a new creature". Praise God!!!!

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This year's All Japan Christian Convention (April ?S - May 2) shows

a growth in Japanese churches that

citing to see

we've never seen before! It was so ex

people gather Tor the Sunday worshtp" service.

This

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is

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double recent attendances! Not only have the numbers increased but there
seems to be more maturity among the Japanese preachers and more enthusiasm

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and commitment among the lay people. It's been a slow, steady climb with
all indication that churches will be growing in quality and quantity,

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A Non-profit

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

1919^

Organization

Helen St.

South Bend, Indiana, 46637

BULK
U.S.

RATE

POSTAGE

PAID

Address Correction Requested

South Bend, Ind.

Permit No. 316

Yukiya

Another

Shimokawa

family

baptized

united

Feb. 26.

in

fSee Winter,

Christ

'72 Epistle^

CENTRAL JAPAN

CHRISTIAN MISSION

P o -

ForwardirxK Address

r u

(7)
^IK
no T e-gami

(Paul & Mark's Epistle)

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

2910 East 98th St.,

Indianapolis, Ind., ^6280
B

Ph. 317-844-3659
Overseas Address
Paul & Kathleen Pratt

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

Kanagawa Ken, 259-lli

Japan.

Ph. 0463-95-1019

C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry

Mark and Lynn Pratt

Morino

"..declare His praise

in the islands."

Machida Shi, Tokyo 19^< Japan

juN.

Ph. 0427-26-9778

^2:12

Vol. 22, May 1978

Dear friends,
Convention

'

This year's all Japan Christian Convention was held in Okinawa. All year long we get

good-and-starved-up for this feast. Then we sing (in English!) till our throats are
sore, take in some spiritual food (instead of giving it out, for a change), and sit up
till all hours of the night just talking with missionary friends we rarely see. Over

^0 attended the combined Japanese-English convention.

Land News

Money for the land fund has been coming in steadily since the end of Januarythanks
to all of you! On May 12 vje had a meeting with a land owner. We had been looking at a
giant map of the Obirin area with Mr. and Mrs. Takagaki, our friends who teach at Obirin.
There appeared to be very few possibilities. No wonder we had run into so many dead-ends
\itth the realtors.

So the Takagakis offered to try and find out who owned the lots that seemed available,
so we could talk personally to them (and skip the realtors).
A meeting was arranged with one man who owns two or three available places near
Obirin. This first meeting was mainly to meet each other and explain what we are look
ing for. Nothing was said about money. The Japanese like to take their time about these
things; we are to "think" for a while, then meet again.

We are keenly aware that this whole land business is in the Lord's hands. We have no

strings to pull, no large sums of money to flash around, no special power of persuasion.
We must simply do what we know to do, then wait and see' what the Lord will allow to or
cause to happen.

Intern

We are always wishing for more

workers in Japan. This summer we

will have a young man helping us

for about six weeks. He is M^k
Monroe, a student at Great Lakes

Bible College. Mark is from one

of our contributing churches, St.
Louis Church of Christ, St. Louis,
Michigan. We are anticipating a
busy and happy time.

News Involvin/y Dad

Dad and I have been involved in a special evangelistic program that deserves to be
mentioned. It works like this: several of us from the Tokyo area meet at one of our

homes. We participate in a mass tract distribution; we stand in the local schoolyards

telling Bible stories with giant picture rolls as visuals; we pass out survey cards.
The idea is to make contact with interested persons for the missionary in that area.
We rejoice with Mom and Dad over 2 recent,baptismsMiss Tokeshi, a young nurse,
and Mr. Shimokawa, whose wife has been a Christian for several years.

College

English class

Obirin Nev/s

You will remember that I held an English Bible class at Obirin, making use of the
musical, "Natural High." Well, two guys from that class requested another class this
term, so I have begun one. In addition, two freshman girls v/ere interested in a special
class but had schedule conflicts, so I began a second class.

I continue to teach English as part of the regular college curriculum (as well as
-kindergarten and junior high). I don't know how to say this and remain humble, but
anywayone college boy had heard that my English class last year was so good, he
wanted to make sure he got into it this year.; When the kids come to me, it's a step up.
Last week, for the first time, I went to watch an Obirin Junior High baseball game.
I really feel the need to show the students that I'm interested in their extracurri
cular activities. I must try and do this kind of thing more often in my "spare time."
Furlough

We have scheduled a furlough to begin in October of 1978. Regular contributors

will be receiving special info on this. We hope to see many of you then.

Jij

JjlPlCxT

^LmjC

-We. wor-kfidL

FA/fA

P o

r u

no

T e-j^ami

(Paul's Epistle)

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

^ I St ^ 'OverseasAddress

"declare His praise in the islands."

Forwarding Address
Forwarding
Address

Isa. ^2:12
C.J.C.M. - Campus Ministry
Mark and Lynn Pratt

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

Mrs. Mary Lou Bauer

IHIO Kamikasuya, Isehara City,

Kanagawa Ken, 259-llt Japan.

2910 East 98th St.,

3-'+-19 Merino

Indianapolis, Ind., ^6280

^628'

Machida Shi, Tokyo 19^, Japan

Ph. 0463-95-1019

Ph. 317-844-3659

Ph. 0427-26-9778

Dear friends,

Vol. XXII, Fall, 1978

August 12th was a milestone for the Pratt family. On that ae^y, 20 years agp.;..^ur freighter,
the Canada Mail moored in Kobe harbor and our tour began. On thiis-anniversai^ day we were sur
prised by Mrs. Inoue and her daughter who brought flowers and gifts to our door, helping us re
member the occasion. At that time, Mark revealed that he was the first one to set foot on land.
After 20 years do you think ve deserve a raise? A few of our churches have recently raised
their pledge to our work. Let me break down for you how the dollar has shrunk in Japan.
Japan
In 1978 (Aug.15)
In 1958
$1.00

560 Yen

$1.00

186 Yen

$.50

A hair cut

$6.00 to $10.00

$.50
$.30
$.09

Gasoline (per gal.)

Bread (large loaf)
Aerogramme (to U.S.)

$2.00 +
$1.70
$ .55

Besides, our obligations have recently increased,

JUST NOW WE ARE COMPLETING A LOAN

AGREEMENT

TO BUY A LOT FOR THE CAMPUS HOUSE, Kathleen and I alone will need more than $500 a month so we
can fulfill our obligation on that loan, MAY WE REQUEST THAT OUR REGULARLY PROVIDING CONGREGA

TIONS INCREASE THEIR PLEDGES BY 50 to lOC^ IN ORDER TO HELP US MEET OUR BUDGET.
door that is opening to us in behalf of the Campus Ministry,

It is a

great

We just know you will aid us.

Many thanks, Harold and Neomia Akers! You closed your First Missionary Journey with a'well
done'. They are back in harness again at the Milburn Blvd. Church, Mishawsika, Ind. as minister
of conservation. Love's message for them got thru the barriers of race and language. Their de
termination to remember each one's name provided an important key. During their stay they were
able to attend five ladies meetings. Neomia gave her testimony and demonstrated the baking of
delicious pies. She inherited a bigger house and another family to help look after for a period
of five months. Harold became Sannobara's Sunday PM preacher, distributed thousands of tracts,
along with the team, called and took care of various house repairs and weekly church cleanings.
The nice send-off party and numerous gifts our people provided for them are testimony of how all

the people came to love and respect them. Contact them at 4115 W. Washington St., So. Bend, Ind.

Harold & Neomia

adopted by

Japan

One year old beauty

Shara Coyle

Ojizo - Guardian deity

Preacher Shitnada

Sannobara's

and

August brought with it daily temperatures in the 90's

annual Retreat group

and a full schedule at

Our Fourth Annual Retreat with Mr. Shitnada teaching us was a great boost.

our first Daily Vacation Bible School.

It

the church.

This was followed

by

was a great success .in terms of the enthusiasm gen

erated on the part of the teachers and workers.

Mr. Yamada is a teacher. He was crippled by polio at 26. His wife of eight years had work
ed in a Christian book store. Both of them had been sprinkled years ago, so patiently we taught
them about Jesus' example and the meaning of baptism. It was a great day when they both obeyed
His will on August 20th. They will be good leaders in our group.
Mark and Lynn and the kids will be going Stateside for furlough in October.

Mary Lou's address or thru Hubert Lusby, R.R. # 1, Williamstown, Ky., ^1097.
ready gone back after a wonderful 5 month stay with us.

Contact them at

Mary Joyce

has al

It'll be lonesome all of a sudden.

Mr. Carl Bruce, Treasurer of the Clear Creek Church, Ashland, Ohio sent a contribution as a

living Memorial to Mrs. Nellie Bruce.

It will be applied toward payment on the land.

Our Missionary co-op team (Kanto Evangelizing Ass'n.) spent three weeks in what we call our
'coffee house evangelism'.

Crouds flock to the beaches and to the mountains in the heat of Aug-

ust. Many come to Old Karuizawa and nearby Mt. Asama.

Many Japanese workers joined us
this
year. The Fleenors have a camp house within 500 yards of the main drag. Tables are set up in
the yard complete with ornamental oil lamps. Hot coffee and home-made cakes are prepared.
One
team goes out during the afternoon with prepared invitations and hand mike to do the inviting. A
second group goes out to call them in near 7:00 PM, the time of beginning. Another team stands
by preparing to talk with those who come while eating and drinking together. One young man came
every night this year. He was baptized before the last week ended. In addition, many meaning
ful contacts were made and several Bibles were given to those who promised to seriously study.

"God really lives and answers prayerl" This was one man's response upon hearing from Mark
about how He provided the needed land for the Obirin Campus House after months of prayer coupled
with the hours of labor in seeking land. It is a bit larger then we planned but some of it may
be taken for a future road. It is just two bus stops from the Obirin College Campus or a good
ten-minute walk. It is 50 yards from the bus stop and 200 yards from a prominant intersection.
There is a junior high school and an elementary school nearby and a park for children. There is
both older and new housing throughout the area so great possibilities for a church, too.
Won't
you, too, step throuth this open door with us by your assistance and prayer?

CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

1919^ Helen St.

South Bend, Indiana, ^6637

Mon-Prof^
Organization

Research Dept.
Missions Services

Box 177

Kempton, Tnd* li.60i;9

Address Correction Requested

BULK
U.S.

RATE

POSTAGE

PAID

South Bend, Ind.

Permit No. 316

/S3^
CENTRAL JAPAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

Forwarding Address

Overseas Address

Mrs* Mary Lou Bauer

Paul & Kathleen Pratt

2910 E. 98th Sto

1210 Kamikasuya, Isehara City

Kanagawa ken 259-11 Japan
Ph. 046>95-1019

Indianapolis, IN 46280
Ph. 517-B44-3659

NEW CAMPUS MINISTRY ADDRESS

P o - r u no T e-c^Bd
(Paul 8e Mark's Epistle)

Temporary Furlough Address

Mark & Lynn Pratt

Mark & Lynn Pratt

3182 Tokiwa, Machida City

Tokyo 194-02, Japan
Ph. 0427-97-191^

e/o Hubert Lusby, Rt. 1,

Williamstown, KY 41097
Ph. 606-824-5552

Vol. 22, November, 1978

Dear friends.

We're now in the good ole' U. S. of A. on fxirlough. September was very hectic

moving, closing the land deal, preparations for furloughall on top of our regulcu:*
schedules; but we survived. The hills of Kentucky are now giving us a much-needed
change from Tokyo. Lynn's parents did a terrific job of remodeling their basement
into a nice apartment for us. And we are enjoying being together with the members of
our family here in the States.

It was a misty-eyed moment when we saw the Western coast of America from the air

home sweet home. Yet there are some things we must get used to again. The size and

weight of Japanese yen is different to that of dollars and cents. So the first few days
of dealing in American money created a strange sensation. After seeing practically no
yard space at all in Japan, every yard here looked big. Some of these reverse culture

shock experiences are dangerous, though. One afternoon I absent-mindedly started

driving down the left side of a busy streetI
We brought the Hiromichi Kara family with us to the States. We had about one

week to visit with my brother and cousin and their families in the Los Angeles area.
Then on to Kentucky for three weeks. It was really fun showing the Kara family around
the state and watching them enjoy Mom Lusby's down-home cooking, lib?. Kara picked up a
lot of authentic ideas for his Kentucky House Restaurant in Isehara. They visited
several of our chvu^ches with us, so many people got a real treat when they heard the
testimony of this fine Christian family.

Our home in Japan is certainly not standing idle. While we continue to pay the
rent and utilities there. Miss Sarah Burney is living there and carrying on with our
work. She is maintaining our regular classes and has taken on a few additional ones

of her own. These classes provide her financial support. Sarah is helping some with
Dad's church on weekends, as well. We thank her for doing such a good job, so that the
tension of worrying about the work is not hanging over us while we're away. (Oops2
Just got a note from Sarahshe dented the car door on a guardrail!)
Lt us fill you in on where we've been in October and November.

Garden Grove

Church of Christ, Garden Grove, CA; Church of Christ, Harrison, OH; Lystra Church of

Christ, Williamstown, KY; Williamstown Christian Church (county-wide meeting), Wil

liamstown, KY; Milburn Blvd. Church of Christ, Mishawaka, IN; Central Christian Church,
Carmel, IN. An interesting note on the visit at CarmelThere, listening to our pro
gram about Japan, was a Japanese lady. She had already made her decision and was bap
tized the following week. We also spoke to: Attica Christian Church, Attica, IN;
Celina Church of Christ, Celina, OH; White Oak Christian Church (Primary and Junior

Church), Cincinnati, OH. It's been exciting seeing old friends again as well as
presenting our work to some new jieople. We thank all of you who have welcomad us and
especially to those who have had us in your homes.

There's been a lot of interest shown

toward our land project. It's veiy time

ly for us to be back here now to talk

to many of you in person about this.

Since there is so much money involved,
we're eager to give a clear, detailed
explanation when we speak to your chur
ches. We've been able to answer a lot of

questions. This helps clear up any mis

understandings and keeps the missionarycontributing church relationship in a
good position. The payments on the land

run over $700 a month; and we are needing

extra funds for this. Our regular con
tributions cannot cover this expense.

Remember that your gifts are tax de

ductibleand even a small gift will
help a lot.
Karis and Cason are cashing in on all

those hugs and kisses Granny and Papa

Lusby sent in their letters!

We're confining our speaking engagements mostly to the weekends. During the week
I'm working on my master's thesis in order to receive my degree in May from The Cincin
nati Christian Seminary. The class work for this degree was all done before we went to
Japan. Now only the thesis remains, but the deadline is this year. My topic is, "The
Concept of Sin in Japan." I'm literally locked into the basement every morning to work
on my thesis. Karis is happily away at kindergarten in the mornings; but Cason wants to
come down and play with Daddy. So I lock the door. The only problem is that the lock is
on the other side, so when I want out I have to go up the stairs and beat on the door

and hope someone lets me out! If I'm down there too long, I come out talking like the
Zen masters: "Empty-handed, I hold the spade; walking, I ride on an ox." Good grief'
No doubt, everyone is tired out from all the Christmas shopping this season. For
tunately we shipped some Japanese items for gifts, so we wouldn't have to do much
Christmas shopping. We do have another kind of shopping to do, however. With the high
jni^ices in Japan, we bought virtually no clothes and did without several household items

for our three years there. So now we're on the lookout for sales so we can stock up
on a threeorfouryear supply of clothes and other necessary things.

Furlough time is not a vacation; it's just a different kind of work. These are
very busy days for us. We ask your prayers for our health and strength as well as for
Sarah and the work in Japan.

wish you all the joys of Christmas

and happinessfor the new^ear