It seems a tall order, getting to Japan for my first 4-year term after the peak of a historic pandemic, but God's work does not stop even if the world does. Throughout the past year (almost to the week) I had been on a long vision journey.
It started in February, 2020 where I was led to take a 5 week vision trip to 4 different countries exploring many different options for where God might have been leading me as it seemed there were no open doors to take me to Japan. The end of that trip and the weeks following left me with the answer that Japan was where I was being led to, as it had always been. Thus sparked the many conversations, interviews over zoom, and months of waiting to hear the answer, that through all reason, God had brought up and placed me in a position for church planting set for Tokyo, August 2021.
In the last few months, I have been learning with a fundraising coach, preparing paperwork for a visa, wrestling with the thoughts and feelings of excitements and nerves wrapped up in moving overseas and working on finding and building partnerships with people and churches. It has been interesting work to be sure but it has been filled with surprising connections, movements of God and answers to prayer.
Where I am at now is seeking partners who would be willing to commit to praying and giving in support of my ministry in Japan. As part of the alliance I am required to raise around 60% of the funds I need, with the remainder being covered by what is called the "Great Commission Fund" (GCF). I have yet to reach this goal and am still looking for more partners, both in prayer and in giving. Below is a link if you are feeling led to commit to either one time or regular giving.
I would love to talk with you all more about what's going on and what God is leading me to. Send me a message and I'd love to arrange a zoom call or phone call to talk more or sign up for email updates so that you can get caught up on posts, the transition progress, monthly updates, prayer requests and the like.
I'll end with one of my favorite passages in scripture and a word of encouragement.
Romans 10: 13-15 "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
It takes a Kingdom to do Kingdom work. I am not at this alone. God did not send me alone, and I alone am not one called into Godly purpose, but we all have a role to play in God's kingdom. I want to encourage and invite you into being a part of it, into living out part of our God-given purpose, to see Christ's kingdom to the ends of the earth, and into Japan.
I am going there, but we will get there together~
Love and Blessings!
Jess
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