Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news
of great joy for all the people (Luke 2:10).
December 10, 2000
Dear Friends,
Christmas greetings from Kamakura, Japan! We pray you have been
graced with an Advent filled with expectation of the birth of
Jesus Christ. As this year draws to a close, we would like to
share what God is doing in our ministry.
The Christmas season has arrived in Japan! Just recently, I was
speeding through Tokyo in a taxi and was astonished to see a bright
red banner dangling ten stories from a department store proclaiming
"Christmas Joy." In this nation of devoted shoppers,
Christmas decor abounds with an intensity that rivals the West.
Unfortunately, "Christmas Joy" often means little more
than shopping and partying, since Christmas Eve is the equivalent
of New Year’s Eve in the West. It is relegated to a fun night
for romance and excitement while O Shou Gatsu, the Japanese New
Year, remains the sacred family holiday. Yet, Japanese Christians
share their joy through Christmas concerts and services. As Christmas
quickly approaches, we marvel at its widespread expression both
in commercial distortions and faithful witness. This Advent, we
have found ourselves reflecting on the true meaning of "Christmas
Joy."
We have great Joy as we look back at God’s faithful provision.
Weekday mornings we continue to wedge ourselves into crowded trains
with millions of other commuters to attend classes at the Japanese
Missionary Language Institute in Tokyo. When we began in April
1999, learning Japanese was an "extreme sport" of joy
or agony. The commute back home was occasionally exuberant, but
more often than not, gnawing feelings of inadequacy in ever becoming
proficient prevailed. Yet, after the summer term in July, the
roller coaster ride suddenly turned into new confidence in Japanese
communication. Now, the ability to read books, pray, write and
give lengthy sermons, and just plain talk with folks about almost
anything is truly a gift from above! Kay began learning Japanese
as a child, so she is not new to the joy of speaking Nihongo.
However, after 16 years away from Japan, language school has quickly
taken her to a higher level of fluency. This year she also joined
a class at a local macrobiotic (Japanese vegetarian) cooking school
for language practice. Along with her new skills in healthy cooking,
she has made lots of new friends and found many who share a hunger
for spiritual as well as physical healing. Several joined us for
a Christmas party and worship service recently. With one term
of language school remaining, God is truly shaping us to communicate
the gospel to Japanese.
Other joyful occasions have been fellowship with youth as well
as vision for the future. I preached at the Nihon Kirisuto Kyodan
(United Church of Christ in Japan) annual missionary gathering
in Nagasaki about our hopes for youth ministry development in
the Kyodan in March. At the same time, my parents Rev. Phil and
Trig Zebley made their first visit to Japan and met many of our
friends and colleagues. It was wonderful they could witness our
work on the field. From August 11 to 24, we served as translators
and guides for several youth ministry specialists from North American
denominations attending the "Japan Youth Travel Seminar"
to observe youth ministry in the Kyodan. Through this experience,
we discovered many youth who are active in the church through
work-camp projects. However, youth are also expressing hunger
for changes in worship and greater inclusion in the congregational
experience. It is exciting to see God at work in young people
both inside and outside the church.
In September, we led our first youth training event at Kawasaki
Church, all in Japanese! The Kawasaki youth group (in Japan that
translates as unmarried people from 16 to 35) invited us to help
them design their first youth service. After hours of preparing
a Japanese program titled "What Are Your Gifts?" we
offered a Sunday afternoon workshop to a group of ten youth. After
leading them in self-reflection about the gifts God has given
each of them, we shared various kinds of Christian music, prayer,
poetry, and drama suitable for youth services. In November, we
returned for their service to preach a team sermon in Japanese
titled: "Jibun Rashisa No Arawashikata: How to Express Your
True Self." I shared about my childhood faith and separation
from God as a youth before returning to Christ in college. Following
the service, a non-Christian young woman named Seiko said, "I
was so happy to hear Christian Sensei’s experience; I thought
I needed a license to become a Christian." For Seiko, hearing
that a minister had also wandered from God helped her come one
step closer to baptism. We praise God that preaching in Japanese
allows us to speak freely from the heart. Kay spoke about loving
God and Neighbor through one’s God-given gifts. A Christian
woman named Chiho later said that Kay’s unique ability to
discern people’s God-given gifts had inspired her to share
her faith through a liturgical dance in the service. Our joy comes
from the discovery that we do not need to be "Youth Ministry
Gurus." Rather, we can minister to Japanese youth by simply
encouraging their faith and helping them to identify their unique
gifts.
The Gospel of Luke proclaims exuberantly, "…I
am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people"
(2:10)
This year our happiness springs from witnessing the Joy of Christ
alive and at work for all the people of Japan. We pray you have
a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. We appreciate your prayers
for our ministry as you continue to be in our prayers. We also
praise God for your lives and unique gifts in ministry.
May you be filled with Christmas Joy,
Rev. Christian and Kay Zebley
The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.172
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