Author: antiochphoto

On December 14 in the afternoon, Splendor was invited to an event for Christmas at a center called “Himawari Welfare Corporation” in Yao City. They gave a Gospel concert for 40 minutes. The center was to get involved with them on the Internet since last year. It was the third time to hold the concert continuously for the end of last year and this summer. When they sang the last song’s lyrics of “God is Love”, many people were dancing accompanied with the music. And then, they sang the same song twice with the audience by receiving an encore, “God is Love”. The event was really come alive. The concert was a real blessing.

The Gospel grope named “Gifts” was invited to a Christmas concert at Mt Olive Hospital in Okinawa. They gave a concert for one hour. There were about 100 people gathering at the concert. Many people had a burden especially for doing volunteer work regarding to Great East Japan Earthquake so that they were touched by the testimony about the disaster area. Some of them were really moved to tears, and others bought 5 copies of CD’s. A lot of people were touched by the presence of the Lord. We appreciate it.

Gifts is on the Okinawa tour now.  Gospel concerts by Gifts were held at Okinawa Jerusalem Church and Okinawa Spring of Life Church. Concerts were blessed so much: non-believers attended and CDs by Gifts were sold. Except for Gifts, Voice and Cross Road from Okinawa Jerusalem Church, and Spring of Life and Bless from Okinawa Spring of Life Church participated as Gospel groups, too.

Today, Gifts and Voice, Okinawa Jerusalem Church held the Gospel Live Concert at the famous place called “Kanransha-mae: before the ferris wheel in English” in Chatan, Okinawa.  It was supposed to be rainy but we were very comfortable to stay without rain. In such a weather, a lot of people listened to Gospel songs.

The latest issue 655 the Mikoe Press stating the end time;

The front page:”Russia  Protest against Parliamentary Election Fraud  Anti-government demonstration  Expanded into ten and more cities cross the country” and others; Page of Faith, New series,” Blue Sky in Malaysia 3″ and others, “Gifts Concert at two hospitals in the disaster-area, ; Page of Church Information, “The Roman Pope Praise Mary, Immaculate Conception” ;  Page of Testimonies: “Contact Lenses are Found”, ; Page of Overseas, start of series “Diary staying in China with cartoon and essay”; Page of Society, “COP17  Complicated but Agreed  Difficult Steps to Cope With Global Warming”; Page of Culture, The moment the ending time felt the11th  Earthquake in Turkey 1999.”

On Sunday, December 18, the tea party and the lesson of Gospel will be held at the Women’s Group. Everybody will be welcome. The luncheon fellowship we are supposed to have is postponed to the next month because of the matter of the place.

Time: 1:40 pm
Location: Koenji-kita 2cho-me Kaikan ( Koenji-kita 2 cho-me Hall)
Participants: married woman, woman who has married, children of primary school students and under only in the case of their parent’s attending: only children’s attendance is not permitted.

The Praise, Thanksgiving and Revival Camp will be sent from Monday, March 26 to Saturday, March 31. About the flight information, 50 seats of Singapore Airlines can be offered until February 24 as ¥105,000 the price. And we offer the seat of United Airlines booking the flight only when someone asks as the present price ¥167,000.

We notify about the price of the tour and so on when everything will be fixed.

On December 15, Gifts sang Gospels at a Christmas Thanksgiving Festival hosted by “Karashi-dane-no-kai (A Gathering of a Mustard seed),” a social welfare corporation in Okinawa. The former deputy mayor was invited as a guest as well as Catholic sisters and medical service workers. One of the audience said with tears in her eyes that she was glad to hear stories about the quake-hit areas since she lives far away from Tohoku District. It turned out to be a very blessed concert.

A member of Arao Church had a stomach ache for two or three days and even felt dizziness. She was prayed for in church and was not healed. Then the pastor of the church said, “OK. Since God is telling us ‘to begin to sing and praise,’ let’s sing and praise God.” And he began to sing “Rejoice in the Lord” (Yasuragi 11-40). Then my acute pain was instrantly healed. I praise the name of the Lord who healed me through praise.

A praise band in Denver Church held a Christmas Concert at Appleridge, an elder care facility in the city on December 9. They sang some Christmas songs and three Yasuragi songs in Japanese. At the end of the concert, they sang many famous traditional Gospel songs including, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” together with the audience. Before singing the J-gospels, we gave an introduction to that song in English. Some of the audience were moved to tears by that explanation, and many were wiping their tears with a handkerchief while listening to the songs. After the concert we heard such comments as, “It was the best event in this year,” “Many people sing in this facility, but your songs were full of message. I felt Someone speaking through the songs.”

A sister in Crown of Life Fukuoka Church is working part time in a City Hall. At a morning meeting in her department, they had a time of sharing what they are doing right now. She said that she was singing Gospel songs as a volunteer in care facilities and hospitals. As she shared the lyrics of the song “Eien-no-Ai (Eternal Love),” her colleagues were moved to tears and asked her for a score of that song. They are listening to the worship songs on the Internet. I praise the name of the Lord!

On Monday, December 12, a gospel group Patolis held a concert in a facility in Kushiro-cho. They spent an enjoyable time with a few non-Christian songs as well as Yasuragi songs. Some of the audience warmed up the concert with clapping hands, dancing, and a conductor’s baton. It turned out to be a mirthful concert. In the latter half of the concert, they sang mainly Yasuragi songs.  Some said that they wept while listening to the songs. God seemed to be touching them. After the live, those who are in the institution played a Christmas song by the handbell to the accompaniment of the guitar of Patolis. We give thanks to the Lord.

 

The pastor of Crown of Life Fukuoka Church saw a comment on the church blog called “Fukuoka J-Gospel Club & Karatu Gospel Club”. It said, “Please have a look.  Because I was so moved.” When he took a look at the site, he found that it was a testimony of healing video by Pastor Maeda and Mrs. Maeda, who were healed and recovered from mental disease. Many people are having a look at the site. http://tokyo.antioch.jp/movie/201101-akashi01/index.html

Gospel singing group in Okinawa VOICE, Cross Road, and Gifts held a Gospel concert at a square in front of Okinawa Prefecture Office Building on December 14^th, 2011. Students on a school trip, business men, wives, and many other people stopped and listened to their songs. One person said that he never heard that type of songs and asked for a CD. Another listener told them that he had peace of mind listening to their songs.  All of the groups received great reactions from the audience. Give thanks to the Lord.

The latest news about the team to Europe’s blog is being uploaded in Japanese and English, almost in real time. Please have a look.
http://astone-blog.jp/europe/?lang=en
The Photonews blog is also being uploaded in English.
http://astone-blog.jp/photonews/?lang=en

On Saturday, 10 December, a praise band of Hirosima and Kure Church gave a Christmas Concert for 1 hour at Nigata Hohoemi East Day Service in Kure City. That was the third time to hold the concert at the facility. Pastor Miki delivered a message about Christmas. The audience was listening to the message attentively. We all, including a man age 98, sang some songs from Yasuragi-no-uta, and sang songs for Christmas together while using lyrics printed on A3 size paper. We sang loudly together, and we had a wonderful time. The concert was a blessing.