"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? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:13-15

The Beautiful Feet Project has arrived in America, and I wanted to give a quick update on our last day of ministry in Shingu. 

We concluded our kids camp with a full church service where we invited the parents to see their children sing and speak in English. My friend Koki from college also came to Shingu church with his brother and sister and law. Koki is not a Christian but has been receptive to Christian communities for the past 8 years. Shingu is his home town, so he returns there every summer while we are ministering. 

Worship and the English skit went very well, and the parents were engaged. During the sermon I summarized the life of Jesus, and finished on the story of doubting Thomas.

The Holy Spirit kept prompting me to improvise during the message, so I eventually yielded. I discussed the doubts I had when my back was injured in Shingu. I really struggled to understand how God would make a way with the situation, and I wrestled with fear and anxiety. But God provided me a doctor, who put me on an accelerated pathway to recovery. This allowed me to speak my message standing, without pain. 

It was an unexpected twist, and one of those moments where you trust that God's doing something for His glory. My injury was an incredible witness to the healing power and love of Christ. 

At the close of the message we invited Jesus to speak into our lives, turning our doubt towards belief. I then asked if anyone had faith in Jesus. Over 7 adults raised their hands including our friend Koki and his brother. 

This was a huge first step towards following Christ.

I want to be clear. Even though we then prayed for salvation together, many of these adults do not fully grasp what it means to follow Christ. When the Japanese hear about Jesus and his love, they are often moved emotionally. They want to know what they have to do, in order to add Jesus to their portfolio of Gods.

The notion of renouncing their Shinto Gods, Buddhism, and ancestral worship can take years to navigate, or be a deal breaker all together. 

God did an amazing work in Shingu, over 7 people have more faith in Jesus. We now need to continue to cover them in prayer. The enemy hates this, and wants to pluck their seed of faith from the soil.

Pray for them to find Christian community. Pray for Jesus to continue to reveal himself to them through his word, through answered prayers, and through the circumstances of their lives. Pray for them to understand that Jesus is the only way to true salvation. Pray for people of faith to minister to them, and help them take further steps towards following Jesus. 

God has done incredible things in Japan to create access to Jesus. He's given us a vision of equipping and mobilizing 20 short term missionaries to Japan next year, so we can see fruit like this on a greater scale. 

The Beautiful Feet Project has poured out into Japan for 18 straight days, and we have returned to America completely empty. Thus we will plan on using the rest of August to recharge, and will be radio silent until then. Please pray for God to renew us, fill us with his Spirit, and reveal his plans for 2020. 

I'll leave you with a final encouragement, and you can prayerfully consider. 

"If every Christian is already considered a missionary, then all can stay put where they are, and nobody needs to get up and go anywhere to preach the gospel....

But if our only concern is to witness where we are, how will people in unevangelized areas ever hear the gospel?

The present uneven distribution of Christians and opportunities to hear the gospel of Christ will continue on unchanged." -C. Cordon Olson

Pictures and videos from our tip can be found here:
photos.app.goo.gl/jWkCrLPKM7Y5r4fV8

~
The Beautiful Feet Project (Joe, Felicia, Isaiah, Lily, & Preston)

"Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Matthew 19:13-15

Children are an amazing gift from God, innocent, and full of potential. They are also loud, unruly, and wild. I love the disciples' reaction to the disruption of children in the synagogue. Reading between the lines, I imagine them saying, "Are you mad!?! This is the Son of God! The king of Salvation! Get these kids out of here! This is no place for children." 

Meanwhile Jesus's heart says, "I love these children. I know them by name. Bring them to me for I have blessings for them." 

He stops what he's doing and places his hands on them. 

Ministering to children is messy, inconvenient, and stressful. It never goes according to plan. Success is often redefined moment by moment, which requires flexibility. The past 48 hours have been challenging for The Beautiful Feet Project as we've attempted to lead Shingu's 4 day camp for the first time. We've have tried new things this year. Some of which have worked well, and others not so much.

In Japan there are countless obstacles between children and Jesus. Masa and Tomoko Kinoshita have a reckless abandon for sharing the gospel with the children. They strive for excellence in their ministries, and have an unparalleled intensity for breaking through these obstacles. It's humbling working with them, and often difficult match their level of desperation in seeing the Gospel spread through Shingu. 

The Kinoshita family, their church, and The Beautiful Feet Project have given their all during this camp. Now God can multiply our efforts.

​Tomorrow is a pivotal day of camp. I will be sharing Matthew 19:13-15 and my testimony with the children. We will then give them an opportunity to come to Jesus. Please pray for the following children to take their next step towards Christ.