Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of the Lord!

Project on "Youth, Globalization and the Church"

In August, Tom attended a conference at Princeton Theological Seminary on "Youth, Globalization and the Church." As a participant in this three-year project sponsored by Princeton's Institute for Youth Ministry, he presented a paper on the situation of Japanese youth entitled "What is the Future of Japan's Past? Maintaining Japanese Identity in a Global Age." This exciting project includes scholars from India, Africa, Latin America, Europe, North America and Japan. For you computer buffs, our papers should soon be available on PTS's website. We have already started the second phase of the project, which will involve interviews with youth from these various regions. A Special Funeral Service Just after arriving back in Tokyo, I was asked to conduct a funeral service for Harue, the mother of Hiroko, a Japanese woman in our church. Harue had struggled for months with cancer and, though she herself was not a Christian, she had given Hiroko permission to have a Christian service out of a sense of gratitude for the constant prayers and support of the church during her illness. This situation gave me a new level of insight into the struggles of Japanese Christians. Before the beginning of the service, the emotional tension between Hiroko and her gathering relatives was high. Hiroko, a strong, committed Christian, had to bow deeply and virtually "apologize" to each of her non-Christian relatives for "selfishly" deciding upon a Christian funeral for her mom. The service itself turned out to be an intimate time for the family to express both their deep appreciation and pain at losing Harue. During the traditional lunch following the cremation, Hiroko's aunt turned to me and said to everyone's surprise, "The Christian service was very warm and personal. Unlike Buddhist funerals, which focus on the priest chanting the incomprehensible words of the sutras, you focused on Harue, her family and the God of love. I'd like you to conduct a Christian funeral for me when I die."

Japanese Translation of the "First Catechism" Published

With the help of the Reverend Kaoru Tanaka, a recent graduate of our seminary, and Dr. Masami Kojiro, one of my seminary colleagues, we published a translation of the PC(USA)'s first catechism in the November issue of "Church School Lessons." Many churches have already expressed an interest in this contemporary catechism for children.

Youth Rally Held at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary

The next major event on our schedule was a rally held on September 25 at our seminary to encourage young Japanese Christians to consider the call to ordained ministry in the church. Since the student rebellions of the late 1960s and early 70s, the Kyodan Church (the PC(USA) partner church with whom we work) has slugged along without any organized youth work. Now the church find itself in a crisis with 40 percent of its population over 60 and only 9.8 percent under 30. Many naysayers had claimed that the youth would not gather for such an event. However, due to the prayers and diligent efforts of many churches, 190 young people came from churches as far away as Kyushu, the southwestern island of the main four islands of Japan. It was absolutely thrilling. You should have heard the hymn singing! Tom preached for 90 minutes on the call to discipleship from Mark 8:27–9:1, emphasizing the identity of the Lord Jesus who calls us into a radically new relation to God and neighbor. In the small group discussions held afterwards, many expressed some sense of calling to serve the church. There was a new joy in the air. After the groups, we heard two moving personal testimonies from recent graduates of our seminary, one from a woman and one from a man. About half of the attendees were women, and that gives us a tremendous sense of hope for this church. Presently, about one quarter of our seminarians are women.

Interview for "Woman's Friend"

On November 12, I participated in a discussion on the family sponsored by "Woman's Friend," (Fujin no Tomo), one of the most widely circulated women's magazines in Japan. "Woman's Friend" was started in the 1890s by a Christian woman who sought to improve the social and intellectual situation of Japanese women. Our discussion featured Yamada Yoji, a famous Japanese film director who has focused on the theme of family in his films, including his well-known series "Tora San." Also, two women—one an anthropologist and one the wife of a government bureaucrat—participated in the animated discussion, which ranged from our personal family stories to the many problems facing Japanese families today. The interview was published in the January 2000 issue.

Upcoming Events in the early New Year

• January 11-13: Annual Continuing Education Seminar for Pastors. This year's theme is "Nurturing the Faith in Churches, Families and School."
  
• February 10-11: Special Evangelistic Service and Lecture, Wajima Church.
  
• February 18-20: PC(USA) Missionary Meeting.
  
• February 22-25: Visit from members of Paoli Presbyterian Church, Pennsylvania.
  
• February 27: Seminar for Church School Teachers of Tokyo's South District.
  
• March 24-25: Youth Camp on "Serving Christ and the Church" in Hiroshima.
  
• Home Assignment Planned

We are planning to return to the United States for two years, beginning in September 2,000, to enable Tom to work on his Ph.D. in Practical Theology/Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary.

With continuing gratitude for your faithful support of us and the mission of the Japanese churches, we remain.

Yours in Christ,

Tom and Carol Hastings