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Finally! A church home!

For several years, we have been searching for a home building for our church in Nago city. We have had several temporary, weekly locations, from karaoke rooms to an hourly room at the city community center. While buying a building would be nearly impossible aside from the direct will of God, even finding a suitable rental has been a long journey. Sis. Stacie poured through, literally, thousands of housing listings. Most were far too expensive. We visited many apartments and shops for rent. None of them worked out. Many, though we would have been happy to rent, turned us away.

In Japanese culture, especially business, there is a very strong tendency to avoid unknowns, such as religion. When owners heard we wanted to use their shop or apartment for a church, in addition to the “risk” of renting to a foreigner, they would often choose not to accept us as renters.

Finally, God brought all the pieces together and just made things work in a miraculous way. This story deserves a full testimony, however, to keep it brief. God worked through my wife, Stacie Panton in great ways. He gave her a location to seek after. Before we knew it, we had a meeting with the housing agency, more meetings, and sooner than anyone would have expected, a contract to sign. We were able to sign, even as foreigners, the contract in our own name, without a Japanese guarantor (a shock to many people familiar with Japanese paperwork). The location exceeded all the requirements we were searching for. While it might seem tiny by western standards, it is well beyond the size of the other locations from which we were turned down.

We had struggled to find a place with a single room large enough for church services. Commercial locations are strikingly expensive. We were thrilled with the location when we first inspected it, however, the owner wanted to renovate before renting.

She wanted to convert, what was an older apartment, into a more commercial-like rental. We had expected some basic renovations. By the end, the owner had completely re-done everything from the floors to the ceiling. She had even consulted with us as to the layout; taking out walls to make a large area, just like we were searching for! Every wall was drywalled and re-painted. New efficient lighting was included, a new bathroom, new kitchen, complete with a new stove (very unusual in Okinawa).

The place looks brand new, and even the housing agent express her surprise at the good value of our rent. Sis. Stacie has also developed a great relationship with that housing agent, who is a very kind woman of Stacie’s age, with two children. She has expressed a lot of interest in our church and I strongly expect she will bring her children to our Bible Club program!

There is much more I could say about God’s wonderful provision; for now, I will just say that we are excited to receive the key this weekend. Many people from Sound of Praise Church (the mother church) have offered to meet us Saturday to help us move.
We have received numerous, and unexpected, donations. Another local UPCI church, which was moving, gave us truckloads of padded chairs, a refrigerator, a pulpit, and many other things. They also donated an airconditioner (which can cost thousands of dollars to buy new here). Today, the kind housing agent went out of her way to connect us to an installation service for the AC. We also received cash donations and some smaller items.

While this might seem like a crazy time to launch a new church (Okinawa is currently in a state of emergency due to an explosion of COVID cases) God knows what He is doing. He is bringing together the people of God and opening doors we can not open ourselves!

Open Doors

Trying to launch a new church during a coronavirus lockdown has had its trials. However, while we haven’t seen much numerical growth, largely due to the necessity of online services, God has been blessing us with opportunities.

A young apostolic couple, David and Haruka Hunneycut has felt called to join us in our Nago city ministry. I was even blessed with the opportunity to marry them at our, then, preaching point.

While enjoying a well-deserved victory-ice-cream treat with my wife, after signing our apartment contract, we were forced to eat outside due to Covid restrictions. Deciding to walk along the seashore we happened to meet two Japanese men. One of them, Takayuki-san, has shown a lot of interest in learning, not only English but about God and the Bible. He requested help getting a Japanese/English Bible, and has, periodically, been attending church services.

Pictured: Signing our contract…

I am so proud of both our children, Kiana (Chie) and Micah (Tadashi). Kiana is becoming quite proficient in Japanese, speaking both languages fluently (Sis. Stacie has been known to translate for a Japanese minister during services as well). Both Kiana and Micah are MKs without a doubt, they love to do outreach and reach out to their friends at school.

Though, technically in a state of emergency, I have had many opportunities, lately to make contacts. I was able to teach at two English Kids Summer Camps, each with about 40 children plus staff. I was invited to and interdenominational christians men’s breakfast. I was able to meat a pastor of a denominational church whom I haven’t met since arriving on this island. I hope this might make some outreach and connection opportunites to some of the other churches that need the full truth.