Passion: What I learned from you
Kouki, with wife Keiko, at seminary graduation in 2008 with Dr. Eugene Boe (L) and Dr. Gaylan Mathiesen (R).
My name is Kouki and my wife’s name is Keiko. Our Japanese names seemed difficult for our new American friends to remember. Our next door neighbor gave us the nicknames Cookie and Cake, making it easier for him to remember our names. The first winter after moving to Minnesota was the coldest winter in the last ten years. I was newly married, so I was introduced on the local news as “a brave Japanese pastor who brought a new bride to frigid Minnesota.” But for me, Minnesota was the warmest place in the world. The Lutheran Brethren was full of love, genuinely happy for our presence, and gave us the best.
For me, it was you, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America who was “brave.” Japan is said to be the most difficult country for missionary work. Many missionaries have come to Japan, but few people have been baptized, so many missionaries return home disappointed. Japan is sometimes called the “graveyard of missionaries,” however, there is one story we will always remember.
In 1949, the CLB sent Missionaries Morris and Marion Werdal to Japan. The Werdals chose North East Japan, which had the fewest churches and was the most difficult place to evangelize. As I spent time at Lutheran Brethren Seminary, I was able to feel your passion firsthand.
Don’t give up because it’s difficult, but go because it’s difficult. I think this passion is part of the CLB’s identity.
Japan continues to be a difficult country for missions. It is even more difficult now. There are 8,000 Christian churches in Japan, but half of them may close soon. 80% of churches in Japan have had zero baptisms per year. The average number of members in a church in the Tohoku region of Japan is 30, and the number of attendees of Sunday worship is 15.
Our Sendai Minami Yoshinari Church is located in the city of Sendai. Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region and has a population of over a million. The number of church members at Minami Yoshinari Church is 160, and the attendance of Sunday worship services is 100. It happens to be one of the largest churches in the Tohoku region. The simple sermons of the law and the gospel, and simply preaching about Jesus Christ, has attracted many people. Our church began with the mission of spreading the gospel to the entire city of Sendai. Although it has grown, it is still not enough.
Left: The Zeniyas on their children’s confirmation day. Rintarou (15 yrs) and Meiko (13 yrs). Right: Minami Yoshinari Church on Christmas Eve.
But the Lord has spoken to us once again in these uncertain times. Revelation 3:7 gave us a new challenge. Our church plans to build a new sanctuary on the current location. At the same time, our church has been preparing to start a second campus, hoping that it will become a church that covers Sendai. We were planning to start a second campus after building the new sanctuary. However, when LBIM Director Dan Venberg visited us, we were challenged to see if we could proceed with the two plans at the same time. With Paul and Alexa Fraser, the newest missionaries to Japan, I am understanding God’s plans for Sendai!
Since I studied at Lutheran Brethren Seminary, I have never forgotten the love we received. If it weren’t for your love, I might have burned out along the way. But when I thought about your prayers, I was able to stand up again and again. Now, after all this time, I am grateful that, once again, I have the opportunity to work directly with the CLB.
“Because it is the most difficult place, we go there.” I learned this passion from you, the CLB. I am grateful for your sacrifices for the Japanese and the churches in Japan. I sincerely respect you who love Jesus more than anyone else and have a passion for preaching the gospel of Jesus. And I am grateful for the joy of being able to serve Jesus together.
Rev. Kouki Zeniya is the pastor of Minami Yoshinari Church in Sendai, Japan.