Dear Friends,

SE'S NEWSLETTER
Jan, 1964
To paraphrase a famous newspaper editorial, "Yes, Kyoko, there'is a Christ,"
The events of the last few weeks have brought this reality vividly into our thinking
and fill>ed us anew with hope and joy. To give fuUt details would be impossible in
the length of this letter, and it involves much that is personal, but just as an
illustration I would like to tell you about our oil furnacs* .
Heat has always been a problem for us heretoo much in summer and not enough
in winter. Heretofore we have gotten by id.th (1) a sanall wood stove one year,
(2) a portable kerosen heater two years, (3) gas heater three years, (4) oil space
heater eight years (with circulating; fan for the last three)' Each time we changed
there was a litiie improvement, but the best we had been able to do was heat our
one -large-JLivingT^liningroom, so from ti^^eto-tij^ we reneVped our- quest-for-some -
better way.
Last summer .I wrote to my brother Ralph, in Cincinnati, asking if he could get
me some information on an oil ftirnace that would heat our entire house, He wrote
back right away that a good friend of his sold them and would like to look over our
house plans. Before we fully realized all that was involved a furnace was crated
and on the way to California ih time for the J^^axeys and Pratts to bring it across
with their freight vhen they returned from furlough early in September.
Before the heater arrived we began to feel some chilly apprehensions. Perhaps
we had acted a little hastily in asking my "on-the-ball" brother's help. Before
this, the one problem had been keeping warm during the winter months. Now there were
2 bigger pj^oblemspaying for the furnace and getting it installed. Those were the
days just after paying "ttie tuition for our 4 Christian Academy students, and we were
in as poor condition financially as we have ever been.
Then one good day came a letter saying that the Montgomery Road Church, \diere
Ralph is minister, had taken a special offering which paid for the furnace and about
$300. toward the expense of installing it, What a reliefI and deliverance from
worry and straina humbling and unforgettable gift of lovei
After much searching, planning and negotiation we found a company that knew
how to install it and agreed on a pric^. After putting up with 2 weeks of noisy
duct-making the furnace began operating oii "Dec, 6, \^le all appreciate and enjoy
the warm house this winter more than we can say.
This is just one instance. There are more. Recent reports from Eustis show
several large offerings that did much to make our financial picture at the end
of the year an encouraging one. Also we received boxes from several of our living-
link churches and cards and small gifts- from many friends both in Japan and the
U, S,
The world would say concerning these things, "there must be a Santa Claus",
but we prefer to acknowledge v^at we certainly knowthat all these good things
come to us because of Christ, All of our real friends are those in Him, and all
those idio support our livelihood and work do so in His name. All that we have and
are is really Christ's. How utterly dependent we are on Him, and how con^iletely He
is "with us". This is the old and new meaning of Christmas to us this year.
We had a big Christmas week. Sunday Dec. 22 I preached the morning sermon at
Nakano church, and most of the afternoon was occupied with preparations for the
4-hour program beginning at 5 First we had a worship service, and then all ate
rice wrapped sea weed,^ rice-crackers, mandarin oranges, tea and cake. Fojlowing
that the Sunday School children gave 2 plays, and for the first time at this church
awards were given to 4 for attendance throughout the year. Partly because of all
the Sunday School children and some parents being present we had a new record of 94
people present that night,
Christmas day. fell on the regular 4th Wed, meeting day for Lois' Ladies Bible'
Class. Since most of the Japanese have no celebration of Christmas in their homes,
they Wcinted their Christmas meeting on that day. One of our U. S, Air Forces school
teacher friends gave us an IS lb, turkey for the occasion, and we had a real feast
for 15 of the ladies and 5 children plus oxir family. For mary of them it was the
first time to eat turkey and dressing, V/ observed oiir own family "Christmas"
on Dec, 24.
On the night of Dec, 25 our family attended a special program at the English
school vAiere I teach two evenings a month. I was given a good opportunity to preach
the gospel by being invited to speak in both Japanese and English on The Meaning of
Christmas to about 40 people i/Aio never go to any church. Those present included one
-2-
meaber of the Japanese national diet and an internationally famous
flower arrangement.
teacher of
Again on Dec. 2? the five other Tokyo area missionary families came to our place
for the annual program and party, 1/e consumed another 15 pound turkey and lots of
cranberry salad, etc., that day -also. There were 3^ present, idiich takes on the
proportions of a family reunion. Actually we often function for each other as family
during the long years of separation from'the homeland and consider ourselves much
blessed by this association.
We now are into the great year of the Olympics, for vrfiich all citizens of Tokyo
have been working and hoping for many years, Ayear-ago I would have predicted that
the road construction and other plans would not have a chance of getting finished on
time, but now I don*t know. These people have a lot of admirable traits, and one of
them is diligence. Maybe I*m just getting the fever along vdth the rest of them.
Perhaps the preoccupation with sports and "double-the-income" drives, etc,,
will cause more indifference toward religion and the gospel of Christ then ever be
fore, but we are glad to be here at this time doing what we are endeavoring to do
daily, some little old discouragements not^-dthstanding.
Yours in His service,
HAROLD Sim
SIMS TOKYO MISSION
First Church of Christ
Orange and Center
Eustis, Florida
V -
Missions Services
Box 968
Joliet, Illinois
: V
Non-profit Orgariization
U, S, Postage
PAID
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SIMS N3WSLI2PTI2H
April, 196^
Dear Friends, ' .
I ^ust returned from a 3 week trip to south Japan, and before
the fatigue and the stack of things to do and read catches up with
me, and while the outstanding impressions of the trip are still
fresh in ray mind I want to get this newsletter off to you.
At 7 PM on March I3 we left Tokyo 'station by limited express train
for Kagoshima, which is about 1000 miles from Tokyo and at the end
of the Government Railway line. We crossed the beautiful bay down
there via a one hour ferry that runs along the foot of Mt. Sakura-
jima, the towering, gray-broi-m, active volcano that rises abruptly
out of the water, and then we rode ianother hour by bus to the home
oT'our^good^ friends--inie Mark^Ma^y family. It took exactly^ 26t[ours
to get from our door to theirs. They have a son just 8 months older
than our Jonnie, so I took him with me on this trip. I think the
change of air and the valuable new experiences more than made up
for the week of school that he missed.
On Sunday March 15 I began a heavy schedule of speaking averag
ing at least 2 hours a day of public preaching or teaching (as well
as a lot of visiting with Maxeys and others) for 15 straight days.
For eight nights there were special lectures on the gospel of Luke
from 7 - 9 PM at the Christian Center next door to Maxey's house.
These were the eighth in a series of Leadership Training Institutes
that the Maxeys have sponsored over the past few years. The average
attendance was 22, and a good number of those attended every night
and received certificates.
The next week special intensive Luke studies were conducted at
3 of the outlying churches. We began at ^ in the afternoon and
ended at 9 at nighttaking just one break from 6 until 7 for supper
which the ladies at each place prepared. These meetings had an
average attendance of eleven.
It would be hard for you to imagine the scene. We sat on the
straw mats around the little foot-high Japanese dining tables with
Bible of all sizes laid open before us where plates would normally
be, and feasted on the Word. There viere various types of listeners
an old man who had served with the Japanese army in the Russo-Japan
ese war in 1904, old ladies adjusting their glasses and the distance
as they searched for the different passages, high school young peo
ple sitting stiffly at attention for 2 solid hours, etc.
This concentrated study was a very fruitful experiment. The
hostess at our last meeting said she felt she was standing right
there in Jerusalem. She got so carried away that along with the
refreshments she brought out one of her cherished bottles of home
made combination (peach, plum, kumquat) wine which we had to refuse
ever so gently.
The final 3 days before Resurrection Sunday we had a special
evangelistic meeting at the Kanoya church, with attendance going up
beyond 40, and 7 people in church for the first time every night of
the meeting. I preached on The Prodigal Son, 1/hy Did Jesus Die?,
and Two Men on the Road to Emmaus.
Resurrection Sunday began with a sunrise service at the leper
colony outside of the city of Kanoya. Then all day we had the Fifth
Sunday Convention of the Christians in that peninsularepresenting
9 different towns where there are churches or home meetings. I was
particularly impressed with the remarks of one of the poor farmers
from a mountain village who told how he learned the grace of giving.
First he put an egg in the offering envelope every month. Finally
he thought that was not enough and took a live chicken under his arm
to church one day. On the way home in the bus he fell into conver
sation with a man who gave him a very good slack season job.
One fine young man studying to be a pilot in the Japanese Navy
Air Force made the confession of faith. He had spent about 4 years
studying Zen Buddhism, but had found no satisfaction there.
-2-
Also we managed to work into our schedule a hurried visit to
Japan's only rooket base. Tokyo University is testing rockets and
equipment on a small scale, and we saw one countdown and launch.
Being a visitor from the big city I was asked to speak to the Rotary
Club. I told them the story of the Good Samaritan. Apparently
nothing could have been more new or interesting to them.
On Monday Mar. 30 Mark Haxey and I flew up to Ivobe, where Mark
had a speaking engagement that night. (Jonnie went back to Tokyo
on the express train with missionary Paul Pratt), Then on Tuesday
the yearly Japanese convention began in Hagoya. There was an at
tendance of over 80, and a very good spirit in the gathering. It is
our one opportunity to see many of our fellow-workers from different
parts of Japan.and we are always encouraged by the fellowship.
Lois and the children kept the classes and other things going
while we were away. Bobby announced the night before I left that
he would be the father for the interim. I asked just what duties
he thought that involved, and he said, "Oh, reading Time Magazine
and stuff."
Spring is definitely in the air, giving all of us the blessing
of renewed and fresh hope and zeal to get out and do things like sow
the seed and work the field. We ask your continued prayers for us.
Yours in His service,
HAROLD SIMS
SIMS TOKYO MISSION
First Church of Christ
Orange and Center
Eustis, Florida
Non-Profit Organization
U, S. Postage
PAID
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Permit No, 57
f!AY 2 mi
r.Iissions Services
Box 968
Joilct, Illinois
Christian
'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume No. 63
Kanji Ogawa
One of the Tokyo Christians
You Should Know
by Harold Sims
It seems almost unbelievable now, but
about 40 years ago there was a dairy farm
operated by a Mr. Ogawa located in the
now heavily populated section of Tokyo
called Ebarabetween Gotanda station and
the Tama River. One of the chores of
little Kanji Ogawa was delivering fresh
milk every morning to the home of the
well-known Congregational Church mission
ary Barley Downs. Through this rather in
cidental daily contact the young man deve
loped an early and continually deepening
interest in both Christianity and the En
glish language. He came to a very strong
conviction early in life that every person
needs a real religion or faith as his guide
and stay through the battles of life, and
Ii2-fcltlhat Buddhism and-Sldntoism,~wliicli-
in his experience only seemed to be oc
cupied iwith ceremonies and traditions and
not with the real needs of life, were not
the answer. So he turned to Christianity,
knowing at first only that he liked the hap
py, confident atmosphere around the homes
of Christian people.
After finishing his compulsory educa
tion he got a job in a bank in Kawasaki
city, and since that time his whole life
work has been in the banking business. He
went to the Keio Commercial Technical
School at night to further his education,
and after finishing that he entered the
downtown YMCA English School. There he
went to the regular night school course for
3 years and pretty well mastered the
language. But after that he continued to
belong to the English Speaking Society,
and became one of the most active leaders
of the all around program for young
(Continued on page 2)
Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee
Spring Meeting
The Spring evangelistic meeting at the
Kamiochiai Church was held from May 4th
to the 8th. Your prayers for the meetings
were appreciated and helped make them
a success. Mr. Hideo Yohii, pastor of the
Church in Kanoya, Kyuhu preached the five
night meeting. The nightly services were
nothing spectacular, and yet by comparison
it would be considered a very successful
meeting. Thsee person were baptized, aver,
age attendance about 25, and the members
were quite faithful, helping in many ways.
For example, they passed out handbills
and tracts every evening. Others remained
in front of the Church doing the same and
inviting each passerby into the service
until the evangelist began his message.
Others took care of tape recorded religious
music that was sent from the Church by
a loud speaker. After the service, the mem
bers went and sat with the newcomers and
counseled with them further concerning
salvation, Often using their own testimony
as a basis of encouragement. Also the faith
and zeal of these young Christians was
strengthened and increased. This also is
very important, as nearly all are one or
two year old Christians between the ages
of 17 and 26.
Sunday School is still held in the after
noon at the Kamiochai Church. And at
Summer, 1964, No. 1
All Japan Convention
Five young people from the Kamiochiai
Church and myself drove by car to Nagoya
to attend the 15th All Japan Christian
Convention, it was the first time that any
of them had travelled that far by car,
and also the first time to attend the Church
of Christ Convention. It was a very interest--
ing trip for all. At the first Sunday evening
after returning baclr^rome, each one ex
pressed their impressions of the conven
tion. This convention experience will not
soon be forgotten, but with the passing of
years, these young Christians will be able
to look back at the teaching received as
stepping stones to the solid rock founda
tion Jesus Christ.
Stanley Buttray
present we don't have any specially trained
Bible School leader. But before Mr. Ko-
bayashi left, he had used more and more
the young members of the Church in the
leadership and teaching of the Bible
School. So, since his departure the young
Christians have taken over completely the
Bible School responsibilities, and are doing
very well, in spite of the lack of any
formal education in the Bible.
Stanley Buttray
msm
m
The Patten Family on board the President Wilson as they were leaving for the
States and a furlough May 20th.
TOKYO CHRISTIAN
THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN
Published quarterly by the Missionaries
of the Church of Christ Cunningham Mis
sion. Tokyo, Japan, for the information
and inspiration of every Christian whose
heart is open to the call of Christ, and who
is wiiling to help in the supreme task of
carrying out the Great Commission of
Christ: Matthew 28:19, 20.
Entered as second class matter in the
Knoxville, Tenn., Post office under the
act of March 3, 1879.
Two-Year Sub^iption 50 cents
Subscription and "Flaming Torch" $1.00
MISSION STAFT
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 575
2-Chome, Kamiochial, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo,
Japan. Forwarding agent: Mrs. Homer And-
ersooi, R. D. 1, Meadville, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton are now
in the United States on furlough. Forward
ing agent Mr. or Mrs. Ray Armstrong, Rt.
3, Box 310, Piqua, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims 1-52 Aral
Macihi, Nagano^Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Forward
ing agent: First Church of 'Christ, Orange
at Center St., Eustis, Fla.
Padcages for Japan diould be sent direct
by parcel post to one of the missionaries
whose addresses are shown above. Consult
your local post office concerning mailing
rules and limitations of size and weights.
If you change your address please notify
H. L. Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Ten
nessee, giving both your old and your new
address. If you make an offering of $1.(W
or more you are entitled to receive this
paper if you so request. Churches or groups
making an offering of $10.00 or more may
request a bundle of 10 copies for distribu
tion.
ONE OF THE TOKYO CHRISTIANS
(Continued from front)
people conducted by the YMCA for more
than 10 years after he finished the regular
school course.
During the war he continued working
at the bank. There was some comment
and slight persecxrtion becakise of his
Christian convictions and interest in Eng
lish, but his faith was strong enough to
endure those things.
After the war, when the YMCA was
meeting in a crowded temporary building,
both Sam Saunders and Owen Still were
helping with the English School a couple
of days a week. When the Yocho-machi
church began meeting in the home of one
of the pre-war members and Sam Saunders
began preaching there, Mr. Ogawa and
Mr. Kanematsu (a YMCA secretary and
father of the girl whose story appeared
in this place in the last issue) acted as his
interpreters and also brought many of the
people with whom they had contacts to
the services. Mr Ogawa has been a faithful
and active leader of Yocho-machi church
since that time, and is now an elder there
and one of the trustees of the local church
which was incorporated as an independent
congregation a little over a year ago.
He Is now the Branch Manager of the
Yawata Branch of the Mitsubishi Bank
(one of the largest financial organizations
in Japan). According to the rules of his
company, he will be forced to retire at
the age of 55, which will be in another
year or two. Being in good health he is
looking forward to his retirement years as
a golden opportunity for service to Christ
and His Church. He feels humbly that his
experience and position in society will give
him an influence and hearing among the
young people who are just getting start
ed out in the business world and running
into the conflicts and temptations connect
ed with living the faith-life in the midst
of the materialistic and competitive busi
ness world. And he is now thinking about
and searching for the best way to exert
his influence for teaching the young people
to have confident and conquering faith.
Even now, in his position, he is able
to bear an effective testimony to Christ.
He has organized a Bible Class among the
employees of his branch which meets once
a week. Of course in connection with his
daily work he belongs to the Chamber of
Commerce, various bankers clubs and
associations, the Lion's Club and other
civic organizations; and from time to time
he has good opportunities to give some
witness to his faith in Christ.
Last year he visited Gardena, Cali
forniaa Sister City to their suburban city
along with the mayor and other officials
from the Japanese city. While they were
in the U. S. he enjoyed attending the
Gardena Church of Christ for Sunday wor
ship services.
Last fall at Thanksgiving time the
Ogawa's only child, a daughter 25 years
Pqq 2
old, died very suddenly. She had been
suffering from chronic asthma all her life,
and suddenly burst a blood vessel while
coughing and passed away very quickly and
quietly. After the funeral Mr. Ogawa sent
all of the guests a letter of thanks, accord
ing to the Japanese custom.
Following is a rough translation;
"Greetings"
"We express our warm thanks and
salutation for the many words of sincere
sympathy which we were given and the
many kinds of monetary gifts we received
on the occasion of our daughter Misako's
funeral. Misako's was a lily-short life of
only 25 years, but having received faith
according to Christianity she had already
done what she should have done and learn
ed what she should learn, and without
knowing the unclean side of this world
she spent hetf days in thanksgiving. At the
time of her passing there was no suffering
or pain but it was the most quiet and
peaceful calling to heaven, and now after
the ceremonies we have put her bones in
the beautiful and peaceful Musashino
"Spirit Garden" under a stone cross in
the place that we had prepared.
Four years ago we had chosen this
spot as our eternal resting place when it
was purchased by the hand, of our church.
At that time our daughter placed flowers
there and was very joyful that we now
had this place to sleep peacefully. Naw
having received life in the spirit world
she still lives on in our hearts.
Now that the ceremonies have all been
fully completed we want to send you a
small gift as a token of our thanks for your
guidance and help to us. We beg you to
receive it. And may the Lord's grace and
leading be richly upon all of you is our
prayer as we close this brief greeting.
Mr. and Mrs. Kanji Ogawa"
An informal shot of the Pattens talking with Japanese and missionaries on.
board the President Wilson.
Page 3
Marching Through
Kyushu With Maxeys
by Harold Sims
It is always a privilege and joy to plan
for and then adventure through a trip down
to the home base of our good friends the
Mark Maxeys at the southern extremity
of the island of Kyushu. During the Past
12 years I have made six trips down there,
and each one has left many happy mem
ories of good fellowship in teaching and
preaching the Word all over that prefec
ture. There have been improvements in
high-ways and buildings every time I have
gone, but there could hardly be any im
provements in scenery or hospitality. The
work has steadily grown, and there are now
several well-established churches at various
small towns in that part of the country.
So (When I was invited some months ago
to be the lecturer for the Eighth Leader
ship Training Course at the Christian Center
there in March I looked forward with keen
anticipation to the change from our
routine activities and smog in Tokyo to the
refreshing rural atmosphere and to the
added opportunity for service.
The Maxeys have a boy named Gregory
who is just 8 months older than Jonnie, so
I took Jonnie out of school for the week
before his Easter vacation and had him
with me on this trip.
We left Tokyo Station at 7 PM on
March 13 by limited express train and
arrived at Kagoshima stationthe end of
the government railway lineat 5:30 the
next afternoon. Then we crossed the beau
tiful bay down there via a one-hour ferry
trip which runs along the foot of Mt.
Sakurajima, a gray-brown active volcano
that rises abruptly out of the water. From
the ferry port we rode another hour by
bus to the Maxey home. It was 26 hours
from our door to theirs.
As soon as we had exchanged greetings
J asked-ahout the~schedule for the next
daySunday March 15. Mark said, "I'll
drive, and when I stop you get out and start
pounding the Book." And that wasn't any
exaggeration. It was his Sunday to visit 2
of the outlying churchesone about 70
kilometers awayand we spent a large
part of the day in the carry-all.
That evening from 7-9 the special stu
dies on the gospel of Luke began. For the
first week they were held at the Christian
Center next door to the Maxey home in
Kanoya city, i quote from Maxey's April
Linkletter: "Harold was thoroughly pre
pared and his lectures were as thoroughly
appreciated. His wit and humor enlivened
the sessions as he covered the most im
portant events and teachings of this gospel.
On several nights I brought in delegations
from outlying churches taking them back
home later. Thanks to the wholehearted
cooperation of Bro. Yoshii of the Kanoya
church 21 of his members had perfect at-
tendance every night. Twenty-two others
from elsewhere attended part-time. I
thought it was our most successful train
ing course to date."
The next week we conducted special
intensive Luke studies in the churches in
the towns of Sueyoshi, Kushira and
Tarumizu. The class began at 4 and ended
at 9 PM, with a break from 6 to 7 for
supper which the ladies at each place pre
pared. These meetings had an average of
eleven in attendance.
It would be hard for you to imagine
the scene. We sat on the straw mats around
the little foot-high Japanese dining tables
with Bibles of all sizes laid open before us
where plates would normally be, and feasted
on the Word. There were various types of
listenersan old man who had served with
the Japanese army in the Russo-Japanese
war in 1904, old ladies adjusting their
glasses and the distance as they searched
for the different passages, high school
young people sitting stiffly at attention for
2 solid hours, etc.
This concentrated study was a very
fruitful experiment. The hostess at our
last meeting said she felt she was standing
right there in Jerusalem. She got so carried
away that-along witJi the refreshments she
brought out one of her cherished bottles
of home-made combination (peach, plum,
kumquat) wine which we had to refuse
ever so gently.
The final 3 days before Resurrection
Sunday we had a special evangelistic meet
ing at the Kanoya church, with attendance
going up beyond 40, and 7 people in
church for the first time every night of
the meeting. I preached on The Prodigal
Son, Why Did Jesus Die?, and The Two
Men on the Road to Emmaus.
Resurrection Sunday began with _a
sunrise service at the leper colony outside
of the city of Kanoya. Then all day we had
the Fifth Sunday Convention of the Chri-
tians in that peninsularepresenting 9
different towns where there are churches
or home meetings, I was particularly im
pressed with the remarks of one of the
poor farmers from a mountain village who
TOKYO CHRISTIAN
told how he learned the grace of giving.
First he put an egg in the offering envelope
every month. Finally he thought that was
not enough and took a live chicken under
his arm to church one day. On the way
home in the bus he fell into conversation
with a man who gave him a good slack
season job.
One fine young man studying to be a
pilot in the Japanese Navy Air Force made
the confession of faith.
In the midst of other activities we
took a little time out to drive through the
mountains to one point overlooking the
sea that serves as Japan's only rocket base.
Tokyo University is testing rockets and
equipment there on a small scale, and we
saw one countdown and launch. Also an
other bright afternoon we drove part-way
up the big volcano for a magnificent
panoramic view of the bay.
Being a visitor from the big city, and
since it was International Understanding
Week, I was asked to speak to the local Ro
tary Club. I told them the story of the Good
Samaritan. Apparently nothing could have
been more new or interesting to them.
Jonnie returned to Tokyo on the ex
press train with missionary Paul Pratt on
March 29. Mark and I flew up to Kobe on
March" 30;-and then went from there to
Nagoya for the annual convention of the
Japanese Christians. Thus ended March.
How many of you caught the meaning of
that first word in the title?
T0KYO CHRISTIAN
Ladies Outing
by Lois Sims
One day each year the women of the
Nakano Church Bible Class plan an outing
or picnic together. We have visited the
Marineland at Kamakura beach, viewed
the Chrysanthemums at Shinjuku Imperial
Garden, strolled tihrough the ejctensive
Rose Garden near Jindaiji temple etc. in
past years. We look forward to these re-
ifresihing and pleasant days together.
Someone suggested it would be nice
if we could go to a hot-spring hotel during
Cherry Blossom season this year, but since
all places are overcrowded at that time of
the year we decided to go a little later. On
Tuesday May 12 at 10 AM ten women and
3 pre-school children left Nakano station
by train- for Izu-Nagaoka, near the Hakone
mountains about 60 miles south of Tokyo.
We finally arrived at the beautiful private
ly-owned' inn at 3:15 PM. Rooms had been
reserved for us through the kindness of one
of the class members iwho had formerly
worked for the company that owns this
place. The price was only $2.15 per day-
including 3 mealsso everyone could
afford the trip. (Ordinarily such a place
would cost more than twice as much).
When We arrived at the inn we were
greeted at the entrance by the manager,
maids and cooks, and they made us very
welcome guests and the visit most enjoy
able in every way. With the exception of
an elderly couple and one lady who seemed
to be vacationing there, we were the only
guests in the inn. So we could use any of
the rooms and the entire spacious garden
and lawn around there for our devotions
without any outside disturbance.
The weather was just about perfect,
and the clear mountain air was invigorating.
Soon after we arrived tea was served and
we were told that the hot-spring bath would
soon be ready for us. This is a courteous
Japanese custom. All Japanese like to take
a steaming hot bath after a long trip. Dan
ny was usually the first one into the big
pool of mineral water. It was "fwimmin"
to Ihim, and he and the preacher's 2 little
boys really had a good time.
The meals were served in typical
Japanese style. We were seated on cush
ions on the straw mat floor around low
tables. I think Danny is the only one who
didn't enjoy the eating. Keichan years
old) did bis best to convince Danny that the
raw tuna fish was as delicious as candy,
by eating his portion and some of Dan
ny's too.
We had evening, morning and mid-day
Bible readings, and informal discussions
wttiich (were helpful to each of us. Two of
the young women were singing from the
Victory Chorus Book one afternoon, and
asked me to join them. We worked out 2
trio numbers and sang them at our evening
devotional hour. The following morning we
met outdoors on a knoll overlooking the
hotel, with a lovely view of Mt. Fuji.
We returned to our homes on Thurs
day afternoon in time to prepare the even
ing meal and greet our children when they
returned from school. The delightful
change refreshed each one of us physically
and spiritually.
Street- In Front Of Komiuma
Church To Be Widened
For years one of the disadvantages for
us missionaries in visiting the Kamiuma
church has been that the street is so narrow
you cannot drive a car into it and it is
hard to find parking space elsewhere. Now
in connection with the Olympic games a
large new sports center has been built in
this section of town, and the main street
that runs about 150 yards from the church
has been doubled in width to bear the
heavy traffic.
So the local ward has now decided
to carry forward a long-standing plan to
widen the little lane that leads from the
main street in to the church. It will be
come an ordinary two way street for auto
mobiles. Twenty-two taubo (a taubo is 36
sq. ft.) of land will be taken by the ward
office from the front of the church pro
perty. But because of the new street the
value of the property will be increased
appreciably. Also the government has
agreed to pay a fair compensation for the
land they will take.
We expect to use the money received
from the government for either remodeling
or perhaips entirely rebuilding the church
building there, which has deteriorated quite
a bit since it was bought as an old house
almost 15 years ago.
Kobayoshis Leave
Kamiochiai
After two and one half years of pas-
toring the Church at Kamiochiai, Mr. and
Mrs. Kobayashis have closed their ministry-
There were many tears and sad faces at the
parting, and even yet they are remembered
in every prayer. The Kobayashis have re
turned to his home area and are planning
on doing frontier evangelism. Mrs. Ko-
bayashi had a very serious ulcer operation
in which she almost lost her life. This is
not a very good place for recuperation aS
the Church is located on one of the busy
streets of this area.
The continual noise, shaking of the
buildings, and the rattling of windows from
late at night until early in the morning. . .
caused by the trucks buses, and taxis . . -
plus the fact they are building a subway
under the street and work only at night
... is an unbearable condition even for
a healthy person.
Mrs. Kobayashi's health is continuing
to improve. Please continue to remember
them in your prayers. I have been doing
most of the preaching since the Kobayahis
left the 29th of March, and will continue
Page 4
to do so until we can find a native preach
er. Your continued prayers for the Church
and its various problems will be greatly
appreciated.
Stanley Buttray
The Conyention
in Nagoya
On March 31, April 1 and 2 of 1964
the 15th convention of our Churches of
Christ (or rather the believers, since we
don't have an official or delegate "Church"
convention) was held. The location was an
old and very reasonably priced hotel on
the seaside about one hour out from
Nagoya, the third-sized city of Japan. All
of the planning and arrangements were
handled by the 3 young Japanese preachers
of the Nagoya area and they did a wonder
ful job.
The approximately 90 people who at
tended would represent a pretty good cross-
section of our brotherhood in Japan. There
were some young people who were able
to come because the Universities were hav
ing their spring vacations, some older
ladies, some new Christians who came along
for the ride or curiosity, and also more
than half of the Japanese preachers and
many of the missionaries.
One sign of the changing times was
the number of private oars vieing for the
limited parking space in the narrow street.
Highways have improved so much in Japan
that some folks now consider it easier to
drive long distance with a carload of peo
ple than to go by the crowded trains. The
conditions of the roads made this unthink
able a few, short years ago. Also economic
conditions have changed so that some of
the Japanese preachers now have their own
car.
Other signs of the changing times were
the observation that most of the Japanese
preachers are now married men with sev
eral children, three of the missionaries are
grand-parents, and all the missionaries
spoke in Japanese language.
One of the crucial times during the
convention was an all-afternoon discussion
meeting among the preachers and mission
aries. The main subject was the purpose,
meaning and future of the convention. Al
though growing very slowly, our brother
hood In Japan is facing and thinking
through the various issues that have con
tinued to rise in each generation of the
Restoration Movement. We can be thank
ful that they are thinking and really con
cerned about many basic things. There is
a serious search going on among many
of the Japanese ministers for what we
might call our identity or distinctiveness as
a religious group, and along with the search
there is an increasing group conscious
ness and loyalty and heartening deep per
sonal friendship between many of the
ministers, and the missionaries are in
cluded in this.
'7iom the Simi in '^cpcn 1964
This spring seems to have been mostly routine activity, with no
major news to report. At Nakano church we had a special meeting of
some kind every Sunday in May, which helped increase the attendance.
Also we helped in an evangelistic meeting and performed one wedding.
Prom June 15-23 the whole family went on a trip to Shlkoku Island
for the annual convention of misslonai*ies. We left Tokyo on a night
train (taking the 3-decked second-class sleepers so popular here) and
the next day at noon we crossed over to Shikoku by a one-hour ferry
trip across the Inland Sea. Our. destination (near the Don Burney
home) was another 3 hour train ride through the mountains.
We all stayed in a lovely small hotel with natural air condition
ing. (Air was pumped into the building from a nearby cave, and of
course that air is the same temperature the year around and also
heavily ionized) The hotel owner was pleased to have about 70 Ameri-
canrguestBy and gav^us 'Tin0-^csi?ll;arity~aHd~servioer^l;~rrascnabl0"
cost. We were treated to a special showing of the long-tailed
chickens (one was 28 ft. long) for which that part of the world is
famous, some other sightseeing and swimming in the area, and very
good local newspaper and TV coverage. Besides all this there was the
good fellowship with our fellow-workers from all over the country.
After the 3 day convention we returned across the island another
way. That route is so mountainous and sparsely populated that there
is no railroad yet, so we bounced for 5 hours in a small bus over a
narrox-^ mountain road, with many breathtaking experiences in meeting
trucks on curves and in watching the rocky river plunge through the
gorge i mile straight below.
Early the next morning we took a ferry back across the Inland
Sea, dotted with pine-covered islands of all sizesa very beautiful
picture-post-card scene. We docked at Hiroshima, and after visiting
the home of a good friend who had moved there we toured the peace
park which marks the spot where the first atomic bomb fell 18 years
ago.
We spent Sunday in Okayama Prefecture visiting the Robert Wests
who recently returned to Japan and their work. On Monday we stopped
for a few hours with the Coles and Clarks in Osakaand then re-
turned^home Tuesday. With our four Tull-fare tickets it is expensive
to travel with our family, so that ispprobably the extent of our
travels for this summer except to camp in August.
Things were going along fine in every way, and then on the night
of June 28 while we slept soundly upstairs a^^^^j^roke into our
house through the kitchen window, ransackeaTnSooxmstairs and stole
all the money we had in the house. Fortunately for the thief, and
unhappily for us there was quite a bit here at the time. There was
a little over ^100 in Mission funds, local church offerings, and per
sonal money, and about '4k00 which Pattens had left in our care when
they went on furlough. The police are convinced that because of the
method of entry, opening of the combination lock and the fact that
only cash was taken it was the work of a professional and there is
very small chance of recovery. The shock made us lose all energy
I'or a few days, but we will make out, I am planning to pay it back
nth by month from some side income I am getting from teaching Eng-
sh two nights a week.
When we signed up to buy Hope's Senior ring at Christian Academy
a few weeks ago we sealed a decision that had been discussed, in^the
family for months. Briefly, our plan is for Hope to graduate from
High School here in Japan early in June 1966. This means that our
third term of service xfill be extended to 6 years, and furlough wil
We feel Hope will be happier^^n every way
if she graduates ^ among her many close friends. She has attended
every year of school but the sixth grade (our last furlough) at this
small school for missionary children on the outskirts of Tokyo.
To go on a little further with our plans: Sylvia is just 2 years
behind Hope in school, so we hope to locate in the U. S. for a period
of years until both girls are established in college
before T^^r^urn to Japan with our boys. During this time we would
not expect to depend on living-link support, but we do not desire to
lose contact with either Japan or our supporters. Most of the details
remain to be worked out. We ask that you join us in the sincere pray
er that the Lord's will might be known and done. We want our lives
to be in His hands.
-2-
I would like to add a word about finaroes. Some missionaries
say the longer you are "out'* (away from the homeland) the less you
are "in" (successful financially). And indeed it has been our ex
perience that while our living-link churches have always been most
faithful in keeping up their pledged support, our general fund
receipts have declined a little each year. Very frankly we hope there
is no decline in our already modest amount of support these next two
years. Continue to remember us in your prayers and budget, please.
We need both. And we are truly thankful for all of you who do so un
selfishly and sacrificially support us.
Yours in His service,
HAROLD SIMS
SIDELINE BROM ONE OP THE EUSTIS CHHISTIANa
Last year at the North American Christian Convention,
in a thrilling message, I heard a Japanese Christian professor urge
upon us the importance of sending missionaries who will work hard to
present the message of Christ in the people's own language. In the
opinion of one of his fellow-missionaries, Bro. Harold speaks the best
Japanese of our missionaries. Lois also teaches Bible classes in
Japanese. We can be pleased and thankful to have a part in this work
through financial and prayer support. It is hard and often discourag
ing work, but Japan needs Christ. Let us be willing to give ourselves
more completely to serving our Saviour through the Sims family.
The Sims' address in Japan is 1-52 Arai Machi
Nakano-Ku Tokyo
Japan
How much they would appreciate a personal letter from youJ Church
progress, family news, comments on their newsletter, and assurance of
your prayers will give them a tremendous lift in their spirits.
PRAY FOR EACH OP THEM
HAROLD - LOIS - HOPE - SYLVIA - JONNIE ^ BOBBY - DANNT
May God bless each one of you who receive this.
SIMS TOKYO MISSION
First Church of Christ
Orange and Center
Eustis, Florida 32726
Missienil Senriees
Box 968
Jeliet, 111.
D. E.
Non-Profit Organization
U. S. Postage
PAID
Eustis, Florida
Permit No. .57
Return Requested
Tokyo Christian
'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
Volume No. 63
Mission Auitudes
I am sometimes asked by American
Christians what I think of the attitude of
the brethren in America toward world
missions as compared with their attitude
five or six years ago. It is an interesting
question and it is important that we con
sider it for purposes of self-reflection. Are
we really doing more toward obejdng the
Great -Gommieeiennow- than-4^etofore3
It is a very difficult question to answer
because of the many factors that are in
volved and because it is difficult for one
individual to get a general impression of
churches in the whole country. From my
own extremely limited opportunity for ob
servation, however, I would like to give
my personal opinion of this matter.
The writer certainly does not wish to
convey the idea that we as a people are
doing what we could or should in the
cause of world missions, for we definitely
are not. We have merely made a beginning
in performing this chief task of the
church. I do not know whether it could be
described even as a good beginning or not.
In the past I have heard some of our
people speak of us as possibly having
reached the saturation point in missionary
support. That attitude reflects rather that
we are saturated with faithlessness and a
mental and spiritual stupor that will not
allow us to see either what the will of
the Lord is or the mission potential that
exists among us.
I do not even think that there are many
Christians among us who think that we
are doing even a small part of what they
ns to do in Tnissions. Most of us.
Kilnberlin Heights, Tennessee
Patton Travels . .
The first month of our furlough (from
June 6) was spent at home. This was due
to the illness of Betty's father. Since that
time, however, most of my time has been
spent in travels in the interest of the
work in Japan. Betty and the children
have been able to visit four churches
and the Lake James School of Missions
with me but the rest-of the time I have
traveled alone.
Three of our supporting churches, five
churches which we had never visited be
fore, two camps, one school of missions,
and one rally have been visited. Besides
this the whole family made a trip to
Western North Carolina to visit my par
ents. All of my brothers and sisters (I
have eight) from far and near except two
gathered at the old homestead at Hayes-
ville, North Carolina on Sunday, August
30 and we enjoyed a barbecued chicken
feast together. The old home place is situ
ated on the shores of the beautiful TVA
lake, Chatuge and in the Blue Ridge
Mountains. We were happy to find both
Dad and Mother in fairly good health.
Our children also had a wonderful time
during the summer. Besides traveling to
the places mentioned above, Sharon spent
a week in the Mahoning Valley Christian
Camp. We were overjoyed when she com
mitted her life to the Lord and was bap
tized at this camp. She spent another
wonderful week with our good friends,
Mr. and Mrs. Wade Fletcher and their
children, of Rushville, Ind. Noel and
piifHp oppnt wooTr jsiih. -Cthe:
then, are agreed that we must do more
than we are doing in carrying the gospel
to the whole wide world.But have we made
any progress in our attitude toward and
practice of world missions in the last few
years? ys, I very definitely think that
progress has been made. We should thank
the Lord for this and encourage one an
other for even greater gains in world
evangelism. This great work demands an
ever-expanding effort and there can be
no room at all for complacency.
I have noticed an increased interest in
missions and missionaries during the past
five years. Maybe one reason for this is
that it has become more popular to be on
the side of missions than before. But for
whatever the reason I am happy to see
that we are thinking more of doing our
duty than was true heretofore.
It seems than our missionaries are
better supported than they were formerly.
Continued on Page 2
dear friends of Rushville, Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Heeb and their four children. Now
three of our children are in school and
they and Betty will be tied down at home
most of the time during the rest of the
school year.
We are certainly enjoying our fur
lough travels. We are meeting again many
of the friends we have known for years
and are making a number of new friends.
We hope also that we are helping to
further the cause of missions in general.
Our schedule of speaking engagements
is now full for October and November.
But from December we have many open
dates. If you desire for us to visit your
church at any time after December 1st
please contact us. We will try to arrange
a time when we can either speak about
the work in Japan or show our slides on
the work or both.
Andrew Patton
FaU, 1964, No. 2
'You Ought To Know,
Something About God'.. .
"You too ought to know something
about God," is a remark that would hard
ly be noticeable in the U.S.A., "the land
of the free and the home of the brave."
But if you should hear the same remark
here in Japan by one young woman to
another ns they were .r^urning froni Jhe
Obon Festival, your ears would have
strained to hear more, as did mine.
This kind of experience continued each
night throughout the Obon Festival which
began August ISth and ended on the 21st.
The Obon Festival is for the purpose of
welcoming the return of the Spirits of the
dead. Since Karuizawa has become a sum
mer resort with an international flavor,
its fame has grown until thousands visit
this secluded mountain resort which is
located about a hundred miles from
Tokyo.
The Buddist temple is located just
behind the Karuizawa Union Church. Per
mission was received from the church to
use church property for evangelistic street
meetings each night of the festival.
As the thousands went by on their way
to and from the temple, they had to pass
by and some even took a shortcut through
the church property and the street meet
ing. It was estimated that 5,000 tracts
were passed out each night. And that 50
to a 100 persons stopped momentarily
each night to hear either the gospel chor
uses or the preaching and testimonies.
Also, probably another 25 or 30 each
night had more than a passing interest
as they sariir-bBnnfteSTrrotngrniHff
church, joined in the singing and listened
attentively to five and ten minute testi
monies. An average of ten of these would
remain until the end, which was about
10:30 P.M. These were dealt with and
given further teaching. The combined ef
forts of missionaries and native Chris
tians resulted in five persons baptized.
A couple of these were baptized as the
Philippian Jailor, the same hour of the
night (midnight). Each night was a
thrilling experience for all. The vendors
came and put up all kinds of stands,
selling all kinds of trinkets, toys, char
coal roasted corn on the cobb, and gas
filled balloons. Men and women in their
bright colored summer kimonos passed by
on their way to dance to the rythm of the
Obon music which continued for five
nights and could be heard for a half a
mile.
Continued on Page 3
TOKYO CHRISTIAN
THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN
Published quarterly by the Missionaries
of the Church of Clurist Cunningham Mis
sion. Tokyo, Japan, for the information
and inspiration of every Christian whose
heart is open to the call of Christ, and who
s willing to help in the supreme task of
carrying out the Great Commission of
Christ: Matthew 28rl9, 29.
EntCTcd as second class matter in .the
Knoxville, Tenn., Post office under the
act of March 3, 1879.
Two-Year Subscription 50 cents
Subscription and "FlamingTorch" $1.00
MISSION STAFF
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 575
2-Chome, Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo,
Japan. Forwarding agent: Mrs. Homer And
erson, R. D. 1, Meadville, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton are now
in the United States on furlough.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sinas 1-52 Aral
Machi, Nagano^Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Forward
ing agent: First Church of CShrist, Orange
at Center St., Eustis, Fla.
Packages for Japan should be sent direct
by parcel post to one of the missionaries
whose addresses are shown ab<we. Consult
your local post office concerning mailing
rules and limitatdons of size and weights.
If you change yoim address please notify
H. L. Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Ten
nessee, giving both your old and your new
address. If you make an offering of $1.00
or more you are entitled to receive this
paper if you so request. Churches or groups
making an offering of $10.00 or more may
request a bundle of 10 copies for distribu
tion.
MISSION ATTITUDES
Continued from front
None of them are supported as they ought
to be. I do not know of any missionary
who has not had his financial difficulties
and at one time or other has only been
able to remain on the field by the slightest
of margins. Support is so meager that
in most cases expanding the work is al
most an impossibility. But our mission
aries are better supported than was the
case a few years ago. In spite of difficul
ties, too, most of our missionaries are
remaining on the field and are trying
to carry on their work in the meager
funds that are available.
More new missionaries are being sent
out than formerly. We would like to see
their number increase by many fold, how
ever, and to see them more evenly distri
buted around the world. But I do not
think that an authoritative organization
will solve the problem of missionary distri
bution. Our churches in America are un
evenly distributed but I do not think that
we should establish an organization with
authority to place ministers or close or
open churches. The problem must be
solved by enlightening our people. In the
past five years we have had hardly any
new missionaries go to Japan, for exam
ple. A country with the population and
the lack of missionaries and Christians
like Japan has deserves far more than
we are doing in evangelizing it.
We are happy to see the general ex
panding involvement of our people in our
total mission program. New churches are
beginning to support and encourage mis
sions from their beginning. Missions are
being discussed and missionaries more
prayed for among the Christians. Summer
camps are constantly using missionaries in
their programs. Missionary rallies are
widespread among our churches. An in
creasing number of young people are in
terested in becoming missionaries. I think
these things indicate an increasing aware
ness of our responsibility toward world
missions.
But certain stumblingblocks and bad
tendencies must be taken out of the way
of our missions program before we as a
whole can become committed to any great
extent to the cause of missions. The pres
ent attitude of non-involvement and
selfishness must be erased. Someone jok
ingly said to the writer recently that he
hated missionaries because they made him
feel guilty for not going to the mission
field. That man was sincere, but there
are many who do not want to invite a
missionary to their church because they
fear he might disturb their complacency
and involve the church in missions. They
complain that they are too small to sup
port missions. When the church is small
or young is a good time to start mission
interest in it. Some complain that they
are in a building program or financial
crisis and can not take on an additional
financial burden. Maybe their financial
crisis has its roots in lack of interest in
missions. I know of a number of churches
which have increased their support of mis
sions while they were building an edifice
to house the congregation. I wonder if
the church that is not giving as much for
the conversion of the lost in the whole
world as they are giving for their own
local work is not asleep to its responsi
bility as well as forgetful of its potential.
Swinging support to the mission or mis
sionary in the limelight is a hindrance
to world missions. I am convinced that if
we missionaries in Japan, for example,
would make plans for building some big
institution like a hospital or school in
that country and advertize it heavily in
the American press that our people would
support it. They might channel to us the
support which they have been giving to
another missionary who is not in the lime
light and who is doing a far more im
portant job in evangelizing the lost than
we in our well-supported institution. We
refuse to build an institution just to gain
support. Institutions, no doubt, are helps
to preaching in areas of the world where
they are needed. But they are not so neces
sary in Japan for the country is so well
developed that they can do a better job
in most of these fields than we would
Page 2
be able to do. So we will continue to
preach as we have been doing. In the
meantime we will not have anything
spectacular to report to the churches in
America. The result will be that we will
be meagerly supported, new missionaries
will shun the field, and the Japanese will
be unevangelized for the most part. We
can very well bear to be poorly supported
and little publicized but the fact that mil
lions of Japanese are dying without Christ
for lack of a missionary is very difficult
for a Christian who has any care for men's
souls to bear.
Another fact is disturbing. Very few if
any of our churches are looking for a
missionary to sponsor. Several missionary
recruits who could be on the field at work
are having to roam the country to raise
support. A sincere Christian detests beg
ging. - The recruit constantlyv rs-i t s
churches, gets an offering which helps
him temporarily and is left without the
slightest promise of any support after he
reaches the mission field. What would
happen if we had scores of new mission
aries and scores of churches seeking a
missionary to support? Wonders! No
doubt, we would have a large number of
new missionaries if they did not have to
go through the shameful experience of
roaming the country begging for support.
These are but a few of the observa
tions we have made of our missions
program. We have many things that are
commendable. Let us hold fast to these.
But we must take a closer look at our
attitudes toward missions before we can
make any appreciable progress toward the
evangelization of the world.
Andrew Patton
Exerpts from Letters from
Our Japanese Christians
Now in the U. S. on
Business or Study . ..
"Finding a church for me was great
work. I phoned 2 churches, one is First
Christian Church and other is . . . church.
Finding church made me sick in a sense,
because I had been in hot telephone box
for about 30 minutes talking with a secre
tary of the church.
After that, I felt something wrong in
my body and went to bed and spent 3
days there. Only . . . church was kindly
sent me detail map checking my place
and church. My decision was made, "to
..." without hesitation. I personally
wanted to attend First Christian Church.
"There is few, but it is alive so
called forgotten Americans. It is not black-
colored people but white-colored people.
The other day I was begged some money
by American on the street, time 12.25
on the way from church. I don't know his
intention but it is truly happened when
the sun is shiny.
"If is very sorry to notify Americans
that nobody can defeat me at table ten
nis."
Page 3
"You Ought to Know"
Continued from front
The air was filled with excitement as
the festive spirit of Obon seemed to lighten
and gladden the hearts of thousands of
visitors from every part of Japan. li kim-
ochi des ne, and subarashi, nesshin des
no, meaning: "It is a good and wonderful
feeling and they are very zealous aren't
they", were some of the remarks made by
some persons as they momentarily stopped
to listen to Christian choruses sung to an
accordian. These remarks definitely indi
cate a greater blessing received from the
street meeting than the Obon music and
the dancing.
The man in charge of the concession
next to whereI was -passing out -IrHCts
came and asked me, "Where are you going
next?" He thought that we went from
festival to festival as he did and held
outdoor evangelistic meetings. Not a bad
idea at that!
But such an effort is never without
opposition from the Devil, and sometimes
come from unexpected sources. For exam
ple, the following remark was made by a
couple as they passed by, "I understand
that down yonder (by the temple) they
have an arena (for Obon dancing) but
what is this? This must be the op
position!" And they were so right. Then a
foreign couple passed by and said to one
of our missionaries in a voice sharp
enough to split a cake of ice, "You are so
tactless". And passing by another mission
ary said, "You are bringing disgrace upon
the name of Jesus Christ". But these
modernists couldn't be more wrong! For
God used these methods, native Christians,
and missionaries to bring at least five
persons into His Kingdom.
Then came the oppositionfrom with
in! The Union Church is made up of Mis
sionaries of many denominations who are
tion. And of course we Church of Christ
missionaries are only three or four in con
trast to the hundreds. Consequently, the
tracts that were used were interdenomi
national in content and approach. But I
had brought some of my own New Testa
ment tracts. And one of the Calvinist mis
sionaries had it translated by one of his
native workers, and exploded all over the
place denouncing us as water regenerates
and Campbellites. But of course his twis
ted understanding couldn't be more
wrong. For we are neither, just simply
Christians that believe the words of Jesus
when he said, "... He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved".
Pray that the Good Seed sown this
year continue to bring forth fruit, and
that next year, next year's meeting will
bring even a greater harvest.
Stanley Buttray
TOKYO CHRISTIAN
L. to R. Kinie Inomata, Koko Watauabe, Sumie Sekimo.
Three of the Tokyo
Christians You Should
Know . ,.
When I saw these 3 girls come hiking
up toward the dining hall at Motosu Lake
one afternoon last August with their ruck
sacks on their backs, still smiling and
energetic after the 5 mile hike around the
lake from the bus station, I realized how
much the camp means to many of our
young friends here and also thought I
should introduce through this column the
"3 little sisters" team of business girls
from Sakurayama Church.
The story of how these young ladies
became Christians is nothing dramatic or
extraordinary, but it is interesting and
rather typical.
When Miss Kiraie Inomata was a third
year student in High School and also at
tending Muto-san's English classes every
week she occasionally went to Andrew
Patton's Sunday evening English Bible
Class which was near her home. In the
summer of 1962 she saw the advertise-
ment and heard the announcement, about
the camp, so decided to go. From the
first day of the camp she was deeply im
pressed by Mr. Kobayashi's evening vesper
sermons and began to think very seriously
toward a decision for Christ. On Friday
night at the camp fire she almost stepped
forward to profess faith in Christ, and the
next Lord's Day (Aug. 25, 1962) she
was immersed at the Kamiochio Church.
Since that time she has been a faithful
member of Sakurayama Church, and she
has now become the organist there.
She graduated from a Junior College
and is now employed In the Foreign De
partment of the Mitsubishi Bank.
Also at the '62 Motosu Camp there
were 2 other girls from Sakurayama, but
until that time they were not well ac
quainted with Inomata-san. Miss Yoko
Watanable and Sumie Sekino were High
School classmates. Watanabe-san's mother
was a Christian, so was very happy when
Yoko began going to Andrew Patton's
Bible Class from time to "time. When lliew
were in the second year of High School
she invited her good friend Sekino-san
(who also lived in the neighborhood) to
go to the Sakurayama classes with her.
Sekino-san had formerly attended Sunday
School in another church, so was not op
posed.
Watanabe-san was baptized at Lake
Motosu on August 16, 1963, the second
year that all 3 girls attended the camp.
Sekino-san was baptized on Jan. 1, 1964,
So this year at camp they were re.al
veterans and made a real contribution.
Watanabe-san is employed in the Im
port Department of the Bank of Toyko.
In the evenings after work she is taking
a night course at Sophia University in
social work.
Sekino-san works at the First Mutual
Life Insurance Company. All of them are
helpers in the Sunday School at Sakur
ayama and faithful and happy Christians.
Harold Sims
Summer School,
Fall School.
This summer the Sophia University
(Catholic) in Tokyo had another of its
30 day summer sessions for a group of
about 300 students from the U.S. who
wanted to enjoy a summer of travel and
pick up some college credits along the
way. Since we were staying in the city
this year, and the subject of "Religions
of Japan" was interesting to me, and the
lectures were in air-conditioned rooms,
I decided to attend. There were 3 different
professors (all Catholic priests) who were
specialists in the fields of Zen Buddhism,
Confucianism and Japanese psychology,
and it was very stimulating mentally to
have this refresher course during those
hot July days.
Now this fall I have a very practical
use for the summer study. Akada-san, our
Nagano boy who has been studying in
Osaka Bible Seminary for the past 3 years
Continued on back
TOKYO CHRISTIAN
SUiVDIER SCHOOL
Continued from page 3
is now in Tokyo. He came back home to
take a special summer course at the Tam-
agawa University here. Two of the sub
jects he lacks before graduating from
O.B.S. are Comparative Religions and
History of Missions, and at the request
of the Osaka faculty and Akada-san it
was arranged that A1 Hammond teach him
History of Missions and I teach Compar
ative Religions for 12 weeks this fall here
in Tokyo6 hours a week in each sub
ject. Two young men from the Shimoo-
chiai Church who plan to enter Bible Col
lege ne.\-t year are also studying with us.
Harold Sims
Summer Comp . . .
Hope and I spent a lot of days and
had a wonderful time at Motosu Camp this
summer. Our first week there was July
12-18. This was the first week of the
camp season, but some folks had gone up
the week before and cleaned up the place
and cut down the weeds so it was in
better condition than I had expected.
The campers this week were all Amer
ican kids, mostly from the Church of
Christ that doesn't use instruments (who
own the campground) or from our
churches. There were about 80 people
in all, counting the faculty, cooks, etc.
It was a lot different from our camp,
because we had all American style food,
all the lessons were in English, we had
2 campfires and stunt nights and Hope
and I both had boy friends.
Then on August 10th the camp for
young people of our Japanese churches
began. This was the sixth year that Hope
and I have attended this camp, so we are
getting to be veterans at camping even
though we still can't swim very well.
But this year, on the day we got to camp,
the Pepsi-Cola truck came and I arranged
to sell that in my store. Thanks to that
extra attraction I did more business this
year than before and made better than
$10.00 profit.
At this camp we all have to help wash
dishes with our team and do other hard
work. Also the activities are all in Japan
ese language, which we don't understand
too well, and the food is all Japanese style
which we don't digest too well after the
first 3 days. But we still had a lot of
fun.
This year a total of 139 people at
tend the camp, which is more than ever
before. This Includes the faculty and fami
lies and cooks as well as the students.
The camp was divided into 3 parts5
days High School and College students,
3 days for families and employed people
(the week-end) and 3 days for middle-
school pupils. Ten different churches were
represented.
Sylvia Sims
Mr. Armstrong Passes
Ray Armstrong, Betty's father, returned
to his Maker and Lord on July 19, 1964.
His heart and body could stand no more
and so they just gave up. He had been
sick with diabetes for several years. He
had already had a severe heart attack
and a stroke that took a terrible toll on
his strength and health.
We had expected to have to return
home a year ago because of his health.
But he seemed to muster strength and
was able to fight until we returned home
for our regularly scheduled furlough on
June 6. A sore on his left foot refused
to heal. So the doctor had him hospital
ized on the day after we returned home.
Gangrene had developed in his foot and
the leg had to be amputated. The oper
ation was successful and the leg healed
well. Later on, however, he had more
strokes, the last of which caused his
death.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have served
as our forwarding agent since 1953. We
appreciate the spirit of self-sacrifice and
service which have characterized their
work in this capacity. Their help has en
abled us to spend more time in the work
in Tokyo.
Mrs. Armstrong is herself in poor
health which has caused her to have to
relinquish her work as our forwarding
agent. Another fine Christian couple has
agreed to take her place. They will be
introduced to our friends and supporters
before we return to Japan.
We will be living with Mrs. Armstrong
until our furlough is completed. There
fore, our address will remain the same.
All communications and funds for us until
further notice should be sent to;
Andrew Patton
R. R. No. 3, Box 310
Piqua, Ohio 45356
^Andrew Patton
Page 4
Vacation Bible Schools . . .
"Sayonara, minasama. Shizukani shite
lesu-sama (Mr. Jesus) to tomo ni
Kaerimasho" (Good-bye everybody. With
Jesus let us quietly return home).
This song ended the 3 days of D.V.B.S.
at both Nakano and Kamiochiai churches
this summer. I was asked to play the
organ at Kamiochiai, and helped with the
refreshments, recreation and handwork at
Nakano, and I was glad to do whatever
I could to make it a success.
Japanese Vacation Bible Schools are
only 3 days long for several reasons, such
as lack of teachers, no Standard D.V.B.S.
supplies and short vacations. The average
attendance was 30-40 this year. It was
only for first through sixth grade chil
dren. After singing, prayer and a story
they divided into age groups for study of
the lesson and handwork.
At Nakano we had some competition
with the local shrine. It was that time
of August when they have the children's
"omatsuri" or festival. The parents dress
the children up in bright kimono. There
are some idols which the older boys
carry, and then there are long ropes at
tached to some of the idols which are on
wagons and the girls and young kids
pull those. Anyway they made a lot of
noise as they passed the church.
I asked Mrs. Imada, one of the
teachers, what the purpose was and she
didn't know. She asked the children why
their friends went and if they knew what
the meaning of all this was. They told
her it was "omoshiroi" (Interesting, ex
citing) but no one knew the meaning.
She used that opportunity to show them
that there is meaning and purpose be
hind what was taught at D.V.B.S.
Hope Sims
High Sdhool and College Week
SEASON'S CtNEETINCtS PROM JAPAN AG-AIN
After the successful completion of the Olympic Games xn Tokyo
during October, the whole city is having a kind of day-after-Chrlstmas
breathing spell. Although everything around us seems to change, we are
still at the same place, doing the same work, getting the same pay etc.
as la.st ve ar
How about you? We trust all of you are really living and growing
with the Lord, that you have a good Christmas, and^that He will bless
you richly and lead you abundantly through the coming^year. ^
We have had problems this year. > ^
Robbers stole a 'lo?%P^^^f^tfSm-Wr^-house here, and the house in
St. Petersburg was left in bad shape by bad renters. Several serious
problems' in the churches continue. And we are sure that trying times
have come to all of you also, for that is part of life. But in the
end of the year we feel all of you can and should join us in thanks
giving to God,
The Lord has shepherded us through another year.
What more could we want I
He has given us rest in the green fields f health and happiness.
He has led us along the quiet waters of peace in this area ot the
earth, stability in the work, harmony at home, . . ^
He has renewed, revived and sustained our souls through periods oi
literal and spiritual drought.
He has led us in right paths (we believe) in the church and personal
decisions,
that His name may be glorified.
Hw as we look into a new year we need have no fear--
though we may walk through dangerous, discouraging ways, or even
in the valley of the shadow of death--
Because God is with us. ^ i.. 4-^
His rod and staff, sometimes stern and corrective, are comforting to us
In addition to all these blessings, the Lord has given us a seat at
His table, where HE is bcth host, food and servant.
_J^U3, the anointed one, has graciously anointed us with
His Holy Spirit.
He has filled our cup with a full measure of goodness.
Surely God's goodness and mercy never failing shall continue to lollo
us all the days of ur lives.
And we shall dwell in God's eternal house forever.
HAROLD AND LOIS
Hope (16) Sylvia (14) Jonnie (12) Bobby (9) Danny (3) SIMS
1-52 Arai Machi
Nakan#-ku TOKYO
21 r-