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Having been in Kumamoto more than three years, the Roberts have
seen many changes. Many people from different countries have faithfully
come to Kumamoto International Church. Since most foreigners are
only in Japan for a short time, Craig and Hideko find that they
are constantly meeting new people and trying to keep up the momentum
of a congregation that changes. On the other hand, they are slowly
building a core of Japanese members who provide continuity from
year to year. They have baptized seven people and are working
to train them as leaders. The Roberts have also been planting
seeds everywhere, through English classes, Bible studies, the
YMCA, helping people move, volunteer work, bicycle trips, and
other events and activities. As KIC becomes more established in
Kumamoto, Craig and Hideko hope to continue to see God use them
to spread God's love. They are seeking to build support to establish
a church in the southern half of the city, where no church now
exists.
Born in Lewiston, New York, Craig attended Oregon State University
in Corvallis before graduating from Portland State University
with a BS degree in sociology. While earning a Teaching English
as a Second Language certificate from Portland State University,
he was a teacher's assistant at the Helen Gordon Child Development
Center in Portland, Oregon. He was an international shipping coordinator
at Safety Training Systems in Portland for two years before earning
his MDiv degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San
Anselmo, California. A native of Kagoshima, Japan, Hideko earned
an associate's degree in computer programming from Japan Electronic
College in Tokyo. She later earned a BS degree in speech and communication.
She was an instructor at VAL Laboratories in Tokyo before going
to work at PSU Food Service in Portland. She then spent one year
doing data entry and computer work at Yamato Meiboku in Kumamoto,
Japan. Prior to her assignment to Japan, she was an administrative
assistant at the Fuji Bank in San Francisco, California.
The Roberts have two children: Kirie and Chile. Hideko is a member
of Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Portland and Craig
is a clergy member of Cascades Presbytery.
Birthdays:
Craig: June 28
Hideko: January 23
Kirie: December 27, 1992
Chie: May 22, 1995
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