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May 2001
Greetings to you
I hope that you are enjoying the new season. Here in Tokyo, it
is a special time of year, as the city comes to life with plum
blossoms, cherry blossoms and azaleas. It’s also a joy to
cast off the winter clothing once again. This is now my favorite
time of year in Japan.
However, it is not only the beauty outside that beckons at this
time of the year. For the church, this is also a season with great
symbolic meaning. Beginning the season with some spiritual house-cleaning
and sadness at letting go of things we have held on to, we then
move into preparation for the time of Jesus’ death and the
celebration of His resurrection.
In the Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ), Easter this year
was celebrated as a time of joy. For the churches in the Kanto
District, it is a traditional time of gathering for fellowship
and fun. Approximately 500 people from 18 churches in the KCCJ
Kanto District gathered together at Tokyo Church for a friendly
choir contest. Many had traveled two or three hours to participate
in the event. Some were nervous, but for the most part, all were
ready to simply enjoy the evening together.
The contest began with songs led by the young adults groups.
Following this, we listened to seven groups perform their musical
numbers. The variety was enjoyable to see. The type of music ranged
from a church’s young people singing the song, "Joy"
(from the movie "Sister Act") to gospel music by fully
uniformed choirs. Among the songs I recognized were "Jesus
Loves Me," "Because He Lives," "Leaning on
the Everlasting Arms," and "Majesty." Some songs
were performed in Japanese, others in Korean, and yet others in
English. From two people representing a new church outreach site
singing a song from a hymnal, to a full-scale band, to church
family units performing with sign language, instruments, and gestures,
the variety was amazing.
The service included a message and special music. At the end,
the congregation received copies of the Hallelujah Chorus (in
Korean) to sing together. All I can say about this was "wow!"
Without any practice, everyone knew their parts and sang with
"gusto." It was truly a joy for me to be able to participate,
both as a member of the young adults choir and as a judge.
Easter, however, had an additional component to it this year
for the KCCJ. This was the news from the Japanese Ministry of
Education regarding its selection of history textbooks for approved
use in Japan’s public schools. Of great concern to Koreans
was the failure of these textbooks to mention certain historical
events, such as Japan’s role in the "comfort women"
(women forced to serve Japanese military personnel for sexual
release). To bring their concerns before the Japanese government,
a prayer sit-in was held for six days in front of the government
building for Japan’s House of Representatives. One KCCJ layman
fasted, prayed, and slept on the site for six days. Members of
the KCCJ, United Church of Christ in Japan, and National Council
of Churches in Japan joined him at various times throughout the
six days to pray, display concern, and to express their desire
for an honest portrayal of Japanese history. It was their hope
that educating young people regarding the truths of the past would
help improve relationships between Japan and other Asian countries.
On the home front, this spring brought with it the joy of a visit
from my parents. It had been two years since they were last in
Tokyo, so we again enjoyed some of the city and countryside together.
My parents also appreciated the opportunity to meet some of my
friends, Japanese, American, and Filipino, who are working in
various ways to strengthen and encourage the Christian churches
in Japan. A neighbor, Juvilyn, is a missionary intern working
with the homeless in Yokohama. Another friend, Kim, participates
in a Bible study group with approximately 100 women from Japan
and other parts of the world. Other friends they met reach out
in their communities through leading youth groups, offering English
lessons, and opening their home as a place for people to rest
and relax.
Please continue to keep the KCCJ in your prayers, as they strive
to adapt to the needs of a bilingual church for five generations
of Korean residents in Japan. I’d also ask your prayers for
the Christians in Japan, that they might know increased joy in
faith and the desire to share God’s word with others.
In Christ,
Gail Beran
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 185
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