Pastors, Properties, and Punches!
- Soren Haidri
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Greetings to all of you fine people out there!
Summer is still in full swing here in Sendai. The cicadas are singing from morning until evening, the humidity is trying its very best to demoralize and turn us into jelly, and somehow our little daughter has decided that nighttime is the perfect opportunity to practice Kyokushin Karate on my wife's ribs. I think she's a true prodigy. It has certainly been a month full of surprises, exciting opportunities, and new beginnings, so let's jump right in!
New Church Ministry Unlocked!
The biggest news is that Misako and I have begun leading a very small church here in Sendai! Some of you may remember Joshua, one of my YWAM teammates. For the past year, he has been leading a simple house church started by missionaries who eventually returned to their home countries. Now that Joshua is also heading back to the United States for a season, the question became: "Who will continue leading the church?"
While praying together one morning, I felt the Lord placing this responsibility on my heart. After talking with Joshua, my YWAM leaders, the foreign leaders in charge of this home church, and the members themselves, everyone felt peace moving forward. So, by God's grace, I am now serving as the pastor of our newly named Lighthouse Church! Here we are at our rented location, The Gospel Cafe in Sendai city!
When I hear the word "pastor," I picture someone with decades of wisdom, seminary training, and an extroverted people-person. Needless to say, stepping into this role feels both exciting and humbling! Thankfully, our little church is wonderfully simple. We gather together, have a time of worship, study the Scriptures verse by verse, ask questions, pray for one another, and encourage each other to follow Christ more faithfully. My desire isn't to build a large church overnight, but to faithfully disciple the people God has already entrusted to us.
Please pray that the Lord will give me wisdom as I learn how to shepherd His people. Pray that He would provide a preferably local experienced pastor or mentor who can help guide me, and that if seminary training is part of His plan for my future, He would make that path clear in His perfect timing.
New YWAM House Unlocked!
Speaking of new beginnings, YWAM Sendai has finally rented a new property! Praise the Lord! This house is only a short walk from Ayashi Station and will serve as our new base for hosting guest speakers, visiting mission teams, staff members, and our weekly meetings. After many years of praying for more space, we're incredibly thankful to have this resource available to us.
One of our newest teammates, Andre, has already moved into the house. Interestingly enough, he actually served with YWAM Tokyo about ten years ago before returning to America for a season. He's been praying and waiting for the opportunity to return to Japan, and now the Lord has opened that door once again! We're also excited to welcome Basil and Sophie from YWAM New Zealand later this month. It's encouraging to see our little Sendai team continuing to grow, and we're excited to see how God will use each of these new staff members to reach the people of Tohoku.
New Daughter Not Yet Unlocked!
Our little girl is doing wonderfully and continues to grow healthy and strong. According to Misako, however, she apparently believes nighttime is reserved exclusively for kicking, punching, and practicing her Tiger Style Kung Fu. Wouldn't want to catch those tiny yet deadly fists! Watching Misako's stomach suddenly jump because of one particularly enthusiastic kick never fails to amuse and slightly terrify us.
We're getting closer and closer to her due date on September 28th. It's exciting... and to be honest, just a little terrifying! Becoming parents is one of the greatest adventures the Lord has ever called us to, and while we know there will be many sleepless nights ahead, we're incredibly thankful for this precious gift. Please continue praying for a safe delivery, good health for both Misako and our daughter, and wisdom for us as we prepare to become first-time parents.
As always, thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support. Whether you've been praying for us since I first arrived in Japan or have only recently joined our journey, please know that your partnership truly makes ministry here possible. We are deeply grateful, and we pray that the Lord richly blesses each one of you.
1 Peter 5:2-4
"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you... And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
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