The Season of Pruning and being Pruned
Greetings, everyone!
First of all, I want to begin with a huge thank you.
After our recent financial emergency, so many of you reached out to us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and generously gave toward our family. We were genuinely overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. I can't fully express how much it means to know that so many people are willing to stand beside us, especially as we prepare for our little daughter to arrive very soon.
We are still waiting to hear back from the bank regarding the missing money, so please continue to pray that their investigation will uncover what happened and that the money will be recovered. But regardless of the outcome, we have been reminded once again that God provides for us through His people. Thank you. Truly.
And now, I have some much bigger news to share.
After much prayer, many conversations, and seeking the Lord together, Misako and I have begun making plans to leave YWAM Sendai.
This is not something we have decided lightly. I've spent the past seven years serving with YWAM Sendai, and this ministry has been a huge part of my life in Japan. I've made lifelong friendships, learned countless lessons, served alongside wonderful people, and experienced many things I never could have imagined when I first arrived in Japan.
So yes... saying goodbye to this season is difficult.
But we believe the Lord is leading us into something new.
A few months ago, Misako and I were participating in a YWAM East Asia Gathering event over Zoom, and one of the topics discussed was how YWAM is entering a season of "pruning." The speaker used the familiar example of a tree: in order for a tree to grow healthy and bear good fruit, sometimes branches need to be cut back. It can look like loss or even death for a season, but the purpose is to make room for new growth.
That image really spoke to both of us.
As we've prayed about our future, we have come to believe that the Lord is pruning us from YWAM Sendai so that we can have greater freedom to pursue the ministries He is placing before us.
For me, that includes continuing to pastor Lighthouse Church and disciple the people God has entrusted to us. For Misako, that includes continuing to develop her drawing, animation, and creative ministry. And for both of us, it includes preparing for and caring for our daughter as we enter the wonderful and slightly terrifying adventure of parenthood!
There are still many questions about what this next season will look like. Should I pursue a full-time job? Should I receive pastoral training or attend seminary? Should we join another missions organization? Should we develop our own creative ministries? We don't have all the answers yet.
And that's okay.
We're not trying to figure everything out at once. We're simply seeking the Lord and trusting that He will make the next steps clear in His timing.
One thing I want to make especially clear is that we are not quitting missions.
Our desire to serve the Japanese people, share the Gospel, disciple believers, and see God's Kingdom grow in Japan has not changed. If anything, we feel that the Lord is preparing us for a new way of pursuing that same calling.
So, while this is the end of one season, it is also the beginning of another.
Please pray for us as we make these decisions, especially with our daughter arriving so soon. Pray for wisdom, financial provision, good counsel, and clear direction from the Lord. Please also pray for YWAM Sendai and everyone continuing to serve there. We love the people we've served alongside, and we want to see God's purposes fulfilled in Sendai and throughout Tohoku.
And finally, thank you.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me throughout my seven years with YWAM. Thank you to those who supported me financially when I first came to Japan, those who continued supporting me through DTS, film school, marriage, ministry, and everything in between, and those who have only recently joined us on this journey.
Your prayers and generosity have never been wasted.
Whatever this next season looks like, we are still here. We are still serving. We are still seeking Jesus. And we are excited to see where He leads our little family next!
God bless you all, and thank you for walking with us.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
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