Hello everyone,
My name is Aimee and I am currently working alongside Martin and Ruth Ghent and family as a short-term missionary in Itayanagi. I am here from May 12-June 15 2009 with a team of eight other students from a Christian university in Toronto, Canada called Tyndale University College. I would just like to share a little bit about my experiences here at Itayanagi Chapel and a bit of what it is like to work as a short-term missionary in an established church setting.
The chapel here in Itayanagi is unlike any other church I have ever experienced. The Ghents do not approach ministry from a “they’ll come to us” nor from a non-personal stand point, but are very active in the community and believe that the most important steps in leading a Japanese person to Christ come with building relationships with them. Some of the programs run out of Itayanagi Chapel are English classes, ballet classes, a youth group, Bible studies and a parenting class for mothers.
I have had the opportunity to help out with the Thursday night English class twice now and it has been such a great experience. The group is made up mostly of non-believers some of which are really seeking after the truth and even come out to some chapel services and Bible studies. Most of these people who are becoming more interested in Jesus really only started hearing about Him by coming out to English classes. They have heard at least part of the gospel either through testimonies shared by Ruth or other short-term missionaries or by coming out to church events advertised in the class. I have started to form some great friendships with some in the group and have had the opportunity to share with them, as a friend, why I decided to commit my life to Christ. I have changed through this experience because I have been refaced with the truth that our greatest callings are to love God and love people. The people in this class need so much more than a rational explanation of why they should follow Jesus, it is His love evidenced in the lives of the Ghents and other Christians that draws them closer to making a commitment to Him.
Some of the Thursday night English class students
Some of the group from the Thursday night English class at the church I have also had the opportunity to help out with the Friday night Young Life group. It was so evident from the first time we hung out with the group that the leaders are so passionate about the youth and seeing them grow in their faith. Most of those who attend are kids who have either grown up in the Itayanagi Chapel or who have been coming for a while, but there are also some who come who come from non-Christian homes. Young Life has such a welcoming and fun atmosphere as it starts out by introducing everyone and having a small share time and then moving into crazy/fun games. It is a great place for the kids and youth to be built up in their faith and for those who do not yet know Christ to learn more about Him. Each time they get together testimonies and creative messages are shared. Since our team has been here, we have had the great opportunity to teach them some new worship songs on their instruments. It is evident that they are a very musical group. 
Sunday mornings at Itayanagi Chapel are so alive. The chapel is nearly full on Sundays and there are usually about fifty people. The Christians here are so excited about worship and are so joy filled. The amazing thing about services here is that many in attendance have actually been coming out to church for years, but have not yet made a commitment to Christ. This is a concept which seems so foreign to many churches, yet this is the norm for this church. The average person in Japan takes about sixteen years to make a commitment to Christ from the time they first hear about Him. The Itayanagi Chapel is unique not only in the amount of seekers that fill it, but also in the ages of those who attend. There is a wide variety of ages here at the church from six months up to the eighties. Many churches in Japan have an average age of sixty, so this is quite different. There is a great sense of community here in the church. After every service, the whole congregation sits down for a meal together. I have enjoyed these times so much because they are such a great opportunity to get to know people and to catch up on their weeks.
Some of the Sunday morning children’s English class performing for their parents
I hope that you have at least a small glimpse of what it is to be a part of the life of Itayanagi Chapel. Please pray for continued growth, outreach opportunities, receptive hearts and strength for the Ghents and the other Christians of the town.
--Aimee
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