Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Christian
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" fAark 16:15
Voiume 70
January 1971
Number 1
OIl|urcl| Jerftcatcs ^utlrfmg
On Dec. 6, 1970, the Mikawash ima
Church of Christ dedicated a fine new
building, which was the result of several
years of planning and a year of very sacri
ficial and commendable financial contribu
tions. There was an attendance of well
over 100 people, including some prominent
visitors from Korea. The sermon was
brought by a Japanese minister from Yoko-
hama who had been influential in Dro.Cho's
(minister at Mikawashima) decision to
enter the ministry, and I brought a short
message.
The old building will now be forgotten
except by the old-timers. This is actually
the third building in the 45-year history of
this congregation. The first building was
burned down during the Second World War.
Then the building preceding this one was
probably the second one erected by our
mission in the post-war period, In those
days building materials were scarce, and
we had to purchase the glass and concrete
that was used through Church World Service
with American dollars. But that simple
building erected more than 20 years ago
was sturdy and served very well until the
church just outgrew it. It was in that old
building that I preached my first sermon in
Japanese; and many other memories are
associated with it from the time we lived
in that part of town and centered our work
there.
One of the visitors from Korea, who
was present at the dedication, was a young
student in Tokyo in the days when the
Mikawashima church was first being estab
lished. He remembered the old building
and Mrs. W. D. Cunningham well. He has
been a minister (mostly with the Presby
terian church, though) for a number of
years in various churches in Korea, but
was truly happy to see the large new church
here.
There are two things about this new
building that I think are worthy of very
special mention. The first thing is the
generous giving of the members which made
such a building possible. The total cost
of the building (including some for the
fence and shrubbery) was 21 million yen
or $60,000. All but one tenth of this was
received in contributions from the members
of the church; so that the building was
dedicated debt free. There are no really
wealthy people in the congregation, but
there are a few rather successful business
men who really gave joyfully and sacri-
fically.
One of them told me, "I only expect to
be involved in a building for the glory of
God once in my life; so I am giving with
that in mind." Two of the men contributed
about $8,000 each, and several others gave
Inside of Mikawashima Church
$3,000. Even the poorest members gave
as much as they could in order to do their
share. One Sunday during the summer, 1
watched as one obviously poor old grand
mother unfolded very slowly five one-
thousand-yen bills into the hand of the
building fund treasurer. You could tell it
had been carefully saved up over a long
time and meant that a lot of her sweat and
blood and life was going into this project.
God blessed that kind of giving with a fine
building of which all of them can be
justly proud.
The other thing 1 wanted to mention
specially Is a beautiful, stained-glass
window in back of the pulpit, which cost
exactly one million yen and was contri
buted by a lady of some means in the con
gregation. The window was entirely done
by Japanese craftsmen, and is very well
executed in color, proportion and artistic
feeling. It is Jesus reaching down and
pulling Peter up out of the water. The man
who preached the sermon said that, to his
knowledge, this is the only Protestant
church in Japan with a stained glass
window.
The buildinj is of steel and concrete
construction, and has 2,160 square feet
downstairs and the same amount upstairs.
The upstairs is the worship area, and has
the stained glass window. Downstairs is a
Mikawa^ima churdi building from
the street.
fellowship hall and Sunday School area. It
is equipped with heating and air condi
tioning also. We commend the Mikawashima
brethren on a job well done, and pray that
this building may be used for many years
for proclaiming the Gospel.
Almost 10 years ago this property was
turned over from the Cunningham Mission
to the local church. Since then they have
been self-supporting. This is an illustra
tion that self-support is possible and good
for the church. ,, , ,
Harold Sims
MRS. SATO IMPROVED
Mrs. Sato was permitted to celebrate
Christmas at home this year instead of
heaven. After a serious operation in June
1970 for cancer of the stomach, the doctors
declined to give her more than two months
to live.
However, much prayer was made in her
behalf. And I would like to believe that
the prayers of the two American doctors
before and after the operation, plus your
prayers at home, those of the missionaries
and Japanese Christians, changed the
course of history for her life.
Although she has been in the hospital
three times since the operation, and even
though her present condition is "just skin
(Continued onpage 4)
Tokyo Christian
Vol.70 January 1971 No. 1
Published four times a year In
January, April, July and November for
the missionaries of the Church of
Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo,
Japan by Mission Services, 509 W.
Jefferson, Joliet, Illinois. Second
class postage paid at Joliet, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley BUttray, 2-26*4
Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161
Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs. Homer
Anderson, 622 Cuilum Street, Mead-
viile, Pa. 16335.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8
Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164
Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. atid Mrs.
G. Wade Fletcher, R.R. 1, Rushville,
Ind. 46173.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7
Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi Tokyo 192,
Japan. Forwarding Agent: First Church
of Christ, Orange at Center St., Eustis,
Fia. 32726.
Two-year subscription $ .50
Subscription and Flaming Torch $1.00
Mabel Buttray and David, her youngest
son, with two young Japancse men in front
of the Kamiochiai church. The Japanese
on the left came to church two months ago,
.stating frankly that he is a Communist.
Pray for him. Kato San, the young man on
the ri^t, became a Christian six years
ago at Kamiochiai while a high school
student. The last two and a half years he
became caught up in the "student unrest"
and he has been away from Cod and the
church. He has now been back since Novem
ber. Thanks to God forbearing and answer
ing prayer.
MRS. LUTTON BACK IN JAPAN
Lois' mother, Mrs. Ethel Lutton from
St. Petersburg, Fla. and an active member
of Central Christian Church there, arrived
in Japan on December 21 for a six-month
visit with her family in Japan. This is her
second trip to Japan. She was with us for
several months four years ago.
Two days after she arrived (on Decem
ber 23), a big, combined welcome and
Christmas meeting was held by the Ladies'
Bible Class at the Nakano church. It was
remarkable that she remembered all their
names and many of the Japanese words she
had learned on her previous visit. She said
that this time the fish soup tasted real good,
although four years ago it almost made
her sick!
piom the PaM(m6.
Since September, Betty has stayed pretty
close to home to keep the children in school
while I have continued traveling here and
there among the churches. Noel celebrated
his 14th birtnday on December 22nd and
Stephen his 10th on January 5th. Sharon's
l6th and Philip's 12th birthday occurred
in July. Sharon is taking driver's training
at school so that she can get her license
in the States, rather than In J apan. Learners'
permits are not issued in Japan; one must
enroll in a driver's school which is run on
a commercial basis and the fees are expen
sive. If one fails the test, he has to pay
another fee and retake the training.
We have been able to visit most of our
regular supporting churches since we
arrived in the States. We hope to visit the
rest before we return to Japan in August.
On September 18-20, I was able to
visit the Scottsville church near Louisville
again and preach during a weekend revival
which they had planned. Then, during the
following week, Bro. Wayne Jocelyn, their
minister, visited with me in the homes of
the members of that church. We had a joy
ous week together. On Saturday of that
week, I spoke to the First Church, Barber-
ton, Ohio at their Faith-Promise Rally,
returned home that night, and then the
family accompanied me to Fort Recovery,
Ohio the next day where I spoke both mor
ning and evening.
The next Sunday October 4, was my
birthday; and I am happy that I could cele
brate that occasion by visiting the good
folk at the Medaryville, Ind. church and
our dear friends, the Wendell Parmans,
who minister to that church. The next Sun
day the whole family spent the day at
Betty's home church at Piqua, Ohio. This
church is our largest supporter and most
of the members are well known to us. They
had just moved into their new house of
worship, though it was not yet finished.
They have a beautiful and very adequate
building now; and it was dedicated on
November Srh. They are In debt for their
building and could have used this as an
excuse for cutting back on their missionary
giving, but they have not. God is blessing
them and their ministers, the Fred Schrei-
bers, whom we have known from college
days.
After visiting the Huntsville, Ohio
church on Wednesday, October I4th at their
prayer meeting hour, we spent the whole
day on the next Sunday, October 18th, with
the Utica church another faithful sup
porter of ours. Communion with those folk
and their ministers, the Kenneth Neals,
and the families with which we spent the
night was indeed sweet. On the following
weekend, I traveled alone to Swartz Creek,
Mich, to speak to the folk at Calvary church
and participate in their first Faith-Promise
Rally. It gave us all great joy when they
exceeded the goal they had set. The con
gregation is only two years old and their
missions goal for the following year was
$6,000. Over $11,000 was promised to mis
sion work during the rally. It Is thrilling
to see such a good start in a young con
gregation. After a very pleasant visit with
the folk at the Duplain church, St. Johns,
Mich, and the Justin Sheppards, their min
isters, I returned home.
We were refreshed and encouraged by
the visit on the morning and afternoon with
the chxirch at New Holland, Ohio and the
Howard McGinnises, their minister. Then
during the following week, Betty and I
attended the Conference on Evangelism
sponsored by the Cincinnati Bible Seminary.
We enjoyed both the program and meeting
many old friends whom we had not met for
many years. On the following weekend, we
were favored with a visit from the Bill
Millers of Dayton and on Sunday evening
we spoke to the Middleburg church, which
is near us.
Sunday, November 22nd, was spent
with the Rushsylvania church, and I spoke
to them in the evening of that day. This
church has helped support us since 1947
and they have been very good helpers in
the Lord. We are fortunate to be able to
live in their town during our furlough.
Taking advantage of the Thanksgiving
holidays, our family attended the National
Missionary Convention on November 24-27.
Mr. and Mrs. James Williams and Miss Ruth
Foster both of Fisher, III. were our gracious
hosts. It was a great convention and we
felt that Martin Clark, president of Osaka
Bible Seminary, brought one of the best
messages. We got a wonderful blessing
from the visit with the congregation at New
Carlisle, Ohio, where the Ray Joneses
minister, on November 29. Then, on Dec
ember 6th, we visited and spoke to the
church at Mt. Victory, Ohio, where the
Ron Ringwalds are ministers. This church
is near us and is the home church of Mrs.
Louise Williams, who has helped us so
greatly by lending us her home in Rush
sylvania during our furlough. I spent most
of the following week inPittsburgh, speak
ing to the Norwin church at their midweek
service and to the Duquesne church during
their Faith-Promise Conference. Both
churches are our good helpers In the Lord.
Getting to know the folk of both churches
better gave me much joy.
On December 13th, I enjoyed visiting
the Marian and Garrett churches In northern
Indiana. The Harlan church is especially
dear to me because I ministered some to it
while I was a student in Cincinnati Bible
Seminary. Our friends, the LeRoy Haynies,
now minister to the church. While in Garrett,
I was the guest of the Frank Lillies, who
have been friends since our college days.
The brethren at Garrett gave me a very
warm reception.
On our 18th wedding anniversary,
December 20th, we again worshiped with
the Rushsylvania church, and then I spoke
to the Area Mens' meeting on the following
night. On December 22nd, we again visited
the Bill Millers of Dayton to celebrate our
son Noel's and their daughter Martha Ann's
birthdays. On Tuesday, Stephen and 1
traveled to Hayesville, N.C. to visit my
parents over the holidays while Betty and
the other children kept the home fires
burning.
(Continued on page 4)
Tliis is ihe house and church, looking
al it from the west or front of the house.
Several months ago we showed the floor
plan in the Tokyo Christian. The picture
is takm from the empty lot across the street.
And this is the view from the second
floor of our neighbor's house, showing the
front of the church. We already have some
shrubbery planted here since this picture
was made.
As seems to be usual (everyone we have
met so far in Mejicodal had similar experi
ences), we moved into our new place before
the work was finished. But we felt we had
to keep the October 29th date that had
been set well in advance, because the
Dale Wilkinson family were on their way
from the United States to begin their new
missionary careers and were planning to
live temporarily at Sayama, where we had
been. Also, we had announced in the paper
that services would begin on Sunday Novem
ber 1. I visited the house two days before
moving to see now the work was progressing.
The place was swarming with about 20
men; but it didn't seem possible that it
would be liveable very soon. 1 patted from
the contractor that evening with the old
words from the Hide and Seek instructions,
'Ready or not, here I come."
The first two weeks were most hectic
and unsettled, but we were blessed with
generally good weather and every day saw
much progress. Now we are pretty well
settled and used to living here. In all this
time we haven't found anything about the
house that we feel is inconvenient or a
mistake or that we wish we could change.
In other words, we are very happy and
satisfied with our new home.
W
This is on airplane view of ihe entire 2,500 lot development tak^ by the
construction company during the early stages about two years ago. The Keio
electric railway runs through the middle of it; and the Mejirodai station can
be clearly seen. The main part of Hachioji city is off lo the upper ri^t side of
the picture. Hiis development formerly looked like the faim land in the lower
right hand side. Our lot is marked a little below and left of the center.
This is the attendance at our first
worship service on November 1. We were
especially honored to have Mr. and Mrs.
Cliff Nelson visiting with us that day and
representing the Clovemook Christian
Church of Cincianati, Ohio at the beginning
of our new work. There were a total of 13
present for the worship service, and five
children came for the first Sunday School.
/\11 of them are still coming. We had a hard
day's work on Saturday getting the place
ready for a worship service, but it was a
wonderful and encouraging start and we
were truly thankful.
Now wc are averaging over 10 children
in Bible School every Sunday morning, aid
around 10 for the worship service. The first
baptism was on December 20.
More than 80 good friends from eight
different churches in the Tokyo area
attended our dedication service on Sunday
afternoon November 15. llereYukio Itagaki,
minister of the Nakano church is preaching
the dedication sermon. The communion table
has a carving of DaVinei's "The Lord's
Supper" built into it, as can be seen in the
picture. This work of art was given lo us
by some U.S. sailors several years ago,
and wc believe we have found just the
place for it.
This d^ also marked the 23rd anni
versary of our first arrival in Japan. Many
of the people gave us much-valued words
of encouragement, and we appreciated most
of all their unoivying attitude of rejoicing
with us in the comforts of the nice new
house and the beauty of the little chapel
building. It was truly one of the memorable
days of our experii^ce in Japan.
Many people commented upon ihe good
construction work in this building. 1 am not
(Continued on page 4)
PICTURE STORY
(Continued from page 3)
an expert, but I do believe we got a good
fair deal from our contractor. During the
program, we presented the company with
an inscribed certificate of thanks and com-
moidation of their work. Here I am reading
that and the contractor is standing to
my left.
This relocation project has taken a
long time; but in looking back, our hearts
are just full of joy and thanksgiving because
we truly believe that God has been leading
us all the way. It is by Disgrace and prov
idence that we are here today, and we
know this is an answer to the prayers of
many of you faithful Christian friends.
We feel that a great responsibility and
privilege has been given to us in being
here. And while we look forward to serving
as the evangelist in this new area, we also
feel very much the need of prayer and the
help that comes from the Holy ^irit.
Harold Sims
NEWS FROM PATTONS
(Continued from page 2)
Upon our arrival, I found Dad ill with
asthma a disease that has bothered him
for many years. He is 88 years old and
otherwise enjoys good health. On the fol
lowing Monday we put him in the hospital
where he received some relief, but he still
needs an oxygen tent to breathe freely.
Your prayers for him would be appreciated.
Now we are back home again where we
have just welcomed the entrance of the
New Year. God only knows what it holds;
but we face it with confidence and with
the realization that He cares for us. Though
we do not know the future, we do know our
God! We pray that He will bless all of you
abundantly through the New Year.
Andrew Paiion
Shin Chan's Error
Sunday afternoon December 20th the
Kamiochiai church had their children's
program. There were about 60 children
that attended. This is about twice as many
as the yearly average. Many of the children
took part in the program and everyone
enjoyed it and had a good time.
One interesting part of the program was
when Uegaki San, a member of the Sakura-
yama church, told about Christmas through
his dummy, named Shin Chan. Uegaki San
is presently a taxi driver and has only in
the last few years discovered this talent.
Also, he has for more than a year been
making his own dummies and selling them.
While Uegaki San was explaining to his
dummy Shin Chan about the New Testament
being divided into many books such as,
Mattai-Den, Marka-Den, Luka-Den, (Japa
nese pronunciation), he asked Shin Chan
which book came next. Shin Chan answered,
"Oden," and all the children laughed. You
would have laughed too had you been there
and knew that oden is a very ordinary
Japanese food made from fish, and can be
bought almost any time of the day from
vendors that cook it in small pushcarts.
Stanley Buttray
PATTON FLIGHT
DATE SET
Over the holidays we received informa
tion from our travel agent that there will
be a Chartered Missionary Flight from San
Francisco to Tokyo on August 31, 1971; and
we have made a S30 deposit on our tickets
for that flight. About nine months from now,
we expect to be back in Tokyo and in
church-planting and evangelistic work again.
The total cost of our plane tickets will
be SI,140 $190 for each fare with no
reduction for children. This is not too
early to start a fund to cover this travel
expense. If six churches or individuals
would each kindly undergird the fare of
one of us ($190 each) the job would be
dok.e. Of course, any amount large or
small would be welcome and helpful.
Those who can help us with this travel
fund will please send their contributions
to our forwarding agent and designate them
"Travel Fund."
It will be necessary for us to purchase
and transport to Tokyo various items of
equipment and supplies. Among these are
an electric typewriter, an apartment-size
gas range, a washing machine, a slide set
covering the whole Bible and a tape recorder
to be purchased in Tokyo.
Andrew Patton
NEW MISSIONARY FAMILY ARRIVES
The Dale Wilkinson family from Gocin-
naci, Ohio arrived in Japan to begin their
missionary work on November 7, 1970. We
were all very happy to greet them and wel
come the encouragement of this new blood
and the addition to our crew working on
the building of Christ's Church here. Dale
was a research chemist; but, after his con
version, felt more and more that the Lord
was calling him into His service. There
were some discouraging moments along
the way, but he persisted until he finished
his work at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary
and finally arrived in Japan. It was a privi
lege to get to know Dale and his wife
Peggy and their two children during our
furlough in 1966-*68, and we are glad to
have them here. For at least a year, most
of their time will be spent in language
study at a school in downtown Tokyo. They
are living in a rented house not far from
where we were located most of this year
in Sayama-city of Saitama Prefecture.
BOX 368. JOLtET, ILLINOIS 60434
From left to right is Mabel Buttray; Mr.
and Mrs. Sato; a friend; and Yoshiaki San.
MRS. SATO IMPROVED
(Continued from page 1)
and bones," still the last two weeks of
December her condition has shown definite
improvement. Even the dotcors were sur
prised at her last check-up, which was late
in December.
God does work in mysterious ways
"His wonders to perform." And I know that
God will restore her to normal health again,
if it is His Will. And as we begin and con
tinue the New Year 1971, this is our prayer
that HIS WILL be done.
One aspect of such illnesses in our
Christian lives should not be overlooked.
According to Romans 8:28 and other Scrip
tures, it is quite clear God uses of these
occasions to reach others in the family and
to teach lessons that cannot be learned any
other way. His ways often may be difficult
to learn, but certainly not His wonderful
love and compassicn.
Stanley Btitlray
This group from the church held a one-
day "training" session early in November
at a German Christian Service Camp. Mrs.
Shimizu, at the right, has not been bap
tized yet pray for her.
MAR 5
Sims ra^/SLETISR PIHSI QTJARTSR 1971
Rear Ibrlendsj .
"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup5 thou
..maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant
places? yea, I have a goodly inlieritance" Psalm 16s5--6. The
lines have certainly fallen in-good places for us during the good
year of 1970. By the mysterious, powerful and gentle guiding
hand of God's providence we were able to purchase a piece of
land in a locacion thar has been admired bj'" all who have seen it
and build a solid and comfortable house and chapel building on
very happy relations with our contractor, and ;e are
content /ith his workmanshipo God has indeed answered many pray-
ours, delivering us from deceitful and evil men,
and giving us the joy of dealing confidently with trustv\^orthy men
an -o.ur__stewardship 0f $80,000 real i zed: -from- the- &ale-of-^fehe Rakano
property. We thank and praise God for.all of this,
v/e are happy to be in this new developing area, \ith its potential
.'.or future growth, and. have never wished we had gone som.e7here el-
Last January, when we first saw the place where we now live,
che^ lots had been laid, out and the streets had been paved in
-he 40 blocks of our southwest quadrant of this development. There
^"/c:,s just one house, and that not finished, Tod.ay there are thirty
eeven houses with people living in them, and 13 being built,
A; cnis writing it has been 12 Sundaj'"s since the first service in
:he new Mejirodai chapel building on Nov, 1, We are averaging 15
or 16 children in Sund.ay bohool, and about 15 adults in the worship
services each week. The first baptism in- the ne\Y church was on
Lecember 20, This was a woman who had attended a Baptist'church
xor some time before moving into this neighborhood. She told' us
^ne had. been wai'cing for the new building to get done so she could
.suart coming. Her husband, mother, and two young sons sat dovm at
-Che front to see the baptism,, whioh added a lot of meaning to the
3ej?vice for all of us,
Hext month we will begin a few English classes for different age'
order to make contacts with some of the young people. In
ac-o.ition, Lois /lll start a ladies Bible Class on V/ednesday morn-
J.ngs I am se^rving as the preacher for the church, so in addition
GO uhese duties, I have to write and print bulletins in Japanese
language, Lois is the organist. Young Philip Goto, who was bap-
'cised v/hen we were in Isehara almost two years ago, is now a fresh
man in college and is coming to help us in Sunday School teaching,
SYLVIA Am RAVE
night before our special Christmas program, Recember 20, I v/as
wakened bjr the telexDhone at 12^20 AM, It was a taxi driver ask-
directions to our house. Lois and I got up and turned on the
nt door light ;ondering who could be coming to see us at this
outlandish hour of the night. It turned out to be the surprise of
a lifetime,, .there stood our daughter Sjrivia and her fiancee. Rave
Smith, Rave is a sophomore at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, and. his
home^home is Ontario (near Mansfield), Ohio, They had sold Rave's
'-ar to pay for their tickets and had left Cincinnati on the same
:ra.j the first semester of the school year ended. They are defin-
-\tly planning to be missionaries to Japan in the future, and Rave
wanted to get a little acquainted \Yith the peonle and the work here,
Sylvia j/anted to get married in her home church at Nakano where she
lived from age six months to sixteen jrears. So, our Christmas v/as
not only extra joyful, but verjr busy, as we began making plans for
the /edding.
On Christmas day we had the other six missionarj'- families and some
single folk at our house for a turkey supper and a wonderful fell
owship,,, 35 people in all. As each familjr cane in, shaking off the
first snow of the winter, Sylvia and Rave met them in the entrance
way and had a lot of fun watching the various expressions of total
surprise,
They xvere married in the Fakano church at 2g30 PM January 15th,
This is a holiday in Japan, in honor of all 3roung people"who be-
-.v,ue 21 years of age and adults during the year, so it was a fi:
ing day for o^xr 20-year-old couple to be ^ed. The ceremony was pci
formed loj Paul Pratt, our fellow missioilary, with Stephen lijima,
and Yulcio Itagaki having the Scripture reading and prayer in Jap
anese, About 80 people attended, including many Japanese friends,
the missionary group, Sylvia's first and third grade teachers, and
her closest friend from school who happened to be visiting her par
ents here at the time. The Pratt family most graciously arrang
ed for Sylvia and Pave to use their home in Isehara for the next
five months as their future home. They will return to the U.S.A
in the summer and complete their schooling in Cincinnati.
GRAKDMA LUTTON
On the night of Pecember 21, Lois's mother, lirs. Ethel Lutton from
St. Petersburg, Florida arrived in Japan for a visit. She lived
"With us for about 4 months in 1966, and liked Japan and its people
so much she was anxious to come back for another visit. The lad
ies at Uakano church combined a welcome meeting for her with their
Christmas program on Pec. 23, and much to their delight she remem
bered almost all of their names. She expects to be with us until
summer.
SHORT SUJffllBR FURLOUGH PLAFFEP
I've are planning to make a trip to the United States this summer,
j:t has been 3 years since v^e were in the homeland. Until this term
we have stayed in Japan 5 to 6 years before taking a furlough. -The
main reasons v/e are coming now are personal, but we believe they
are reasonable and acceptable to our supporting brethren.
1, Jonathan will graduate from High School at the Christian Acad
emy in June, and he plans to enter C.B.S. in the fall. We want to
3,0company him to the U.S. and help him get settled, and make arr
angements for his schooling,
2. Hope and Tom are expecting their first child, our first grand
child, this spring, and of course we want to see them and the bab^-
:>. \'Je want to visit ourfaniily, frieM,~~and supporting congregat -
ions and keep in touch v/ith people and developments.
The reasons we are planning a SHORT furlough ares
1. We don't want to be away from the new work too long.
2. We don't.need to stay in the U.S. a full year.
3o The children will need to get back to Japan in time for the new
school year in Sep-t:0iji"'oer,
The thing that really clinched our decision about the furlough is
the availability of charter flights for missionaries. We can tra
vel to the V\fest Coast for approximately 5^200 per person where the
regular economy.fare is '43S0, So, V7e have applied for space., leav-
ing Japan Monday June 21, and from San Francisco for our return on
August 31.
This will give us only about 10 weeks at home. If anjr of you have
a special date duning Ji^y or August on which you would like for us
bo visit you, please let us Icnow as soon as possible so v/e can arr
ange as good a schedule as possible for our travels this summer.
Yours in His sei*vice,
HAROLI) Am LOIS SIMS
Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
July 1971
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[IN
Tokyo Christian
Vol. 70 July 1971 No. 3
Published four times a year in
January, April, July and November for
the missionaries of the Church of
Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo,
Japan by Mission Services, Box 177,
Kempton, Indiana 46049. Second class
postage paid at Kempton, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray,
2-26-4 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs.
Homer Anderson, 622 Culium Street,
Meadviile, Pa. 16335.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8
Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164
Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs.
G. Wade Fletcher, R.R. 1, Rushville,
Ind. 46173.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7
Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192
Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurch
of Christ, Orange atCenterSt., Eustis,
Fla. 32726.
Two-year subscription $ .50
Subscription and Flaming TorcASl.OO
NEWS
IN BRIEF
Shigeru Akada, minister of the
Kumegawa Church of Christ, and for
several years our most eligible bachelor,
was married in a quiet but very impres
sive ceremony on May 17 in the wedding
chapel of Aoyama University. The bride
was Shiiko Abe, second daughter of the
minister of the Hayashino Church of
Christ in Okayama Prefecture. After a
short honeymoon, they moved into
quarters in a part of the ICumegawa
church building formerly the home of
the A1 Hammond family. Akada-san had
his first contact with Christianity about
15 years ago while a high school stu
dent. He attended an English Bible
class at the Nakano church. After two
years in a secular university, he dedi
cated his life to service for Christ and
went to Osaka Bible Seminary and com
pleted the course there.
A daughter, Rebecca Jane, was born
to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Schmidt (nee Hope
Sims) on April 6.
Jonathan Sims graduated from high
school at the Christian Academy in
Japan on June 18. He plans to enter
the Cincinnati Bible Seminary in late
August of this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Christianson
arrived in Japan on June 5, 1971. They
are graduates of Pacific Bible Seminary,
and Warren is now in the midst of grad
uate study at the Institute of Church
Growth in Fuller Seminary at Pasadena,
Calif. They are going to live at the
Harold Cole home in Ono City, south
bf.Kobe, for a year while the Coles are
on furlough in the U.S. During this time
Warren hopes to do a lot of research on
the church situation in Japan in connec
tion with his thesis at Fuller. Warren
visited most of our missionaries and
helped in summer camp and other vouth
ANNUAL MISSIONARY COVENTION
AT AMAGI
? . .JMi
W
Each year our missionaries in Japan
meet for a few days of fellowship. The
various "board" missionary friends find it
very difficult to understand how we can get
anything done without a boss, committee,
legislative body, etc. Some of them envy
our freedom and joy. The alternative to
organizational machinery for us is this
convention where we can all come as fre'
agents and let each other know what we
are thinking and doing and thus be edified.
Most of us would not miss these opportun
ities if it is at all possible to go.
We not only have meetings for the
adults, but for the children of different
ages. And, of course, our talking (and even
singing) is not limited to the formal meeting
times. It is like one big family reunion.
This year the planning was in charge
of the Tokyo missionaries, and we met on
April 57 at the Baptist Conference Grounds
activities while serving with the U.S.
Navy some years ago.
Mejirodai church had a spring
Vacation Bible School (the Japanese
school year begins early in April, so
all of the students have a break In early
spring). It was the first experience for
all of the children and most of the
teachers; but we were grateful for some
outside help particularly a young lady
who graduated from Osaka Bible Sem
inary this year and is working with
Shikoku Christian Mission. Up until
this school, we had never had more
than 20 children in Sunday School. We
had 33 register for the school, and had
a new record attendance of 38 the Sun
day following. Since that time the
Sunday School has made good progress.
On Pentecost Sunday, we reached a new
record of 42 in attendance. Also, that
same Sunday, one of the sixth-grade
boys stayed for the worship service for
the third Sunday, and announced that
he had decided to stay for the adult
meeting every Sunday from now on
the first result or fruit. We pray many
more will do likewise as they get into
the upper grades.
Mejirodai church also had a four-day
pre-Easter evangelistic meeting. The
attendance was very poor; but we are
thankful that on April 4th we had one
addition to the church by transfer from
a Baptist church some distance away.
on Amagi mountain about 100 miles south
of Tokyo. The cherry blossoms were in full
bloom at that time, and it was a great
meeting in every way.
There were a total of 105 people there.
This Included all but three of our mission
aries in Japan, several military people,
visitors from Okinawa, Taiwan and Australia
and two families of the noninstrumental
churches of Christ. We had invited other of
the noninstrumental people; and it is hoped
that others will come in future years. Those
who were present this year were thrilled
with the fellowship and the freedom and
the spirit of our meeting.
More important than the number of people
present was the very fine spiritual tone of
the meeting. This was remarked upon, by
various people. All of the messages helped
to develop this. We also dealt with prac
tical problems. We had a very interesting
discussion all Tuesday afternoon led by
three of the Japanese preachers on their
view of "The Role of the Missionary."
The teenagers entertained the rest of
us one night with a very well-done drama-
t'zation of the story of Esther.
This picture above is somewliat
informal I don't think we ever really got
ready for the picture.
HIS WITNESS STILL LIVES
Mr. Lan, a Chinese Christian student,
recently died of liver trouble. He was a
member of Exie Fultz's English Bible
class, and also attended Mabel Buttray's
class until his hospitalization.
At the funeral on Sunday afternoon,
Exie Fultz had the opportunity to talk to
two persons that came occasionally to the
Bible class. Both had been baptized by
sprinkling. Mr. Yuen, a Chinese, had been
sprinkled by his preacher-father on the Island
of Taiwan a number of years before. But
Miss Onuma, a J apanese, had been sprinkled
only about two years ago.
Due to the influence of Mr. Lan as an
immersed Christian while living and even
now in death along with the ^propriate
words of Exie Fultz which were just enough
of a reminder, that same night they both
were baptized! They were brought to the
Kamiochiai church and both were immersed
(according to the Scriptures) by Stanley
Buttray.
Now that our children are out of school,
we are spending the summer in our final
cineraries prior to our departure for Japan
)n August 3Ist- The greater part of the
nonth of June was spent away from home,
defore that, 1 traveled alone most of the
time.
The first few days of April were spent
n a missionary rally with the Cherry Street
Zhurch of Charlottesville, Va. Wliile there
also visited our good friend. Noble
Fribble, and First Church, Charlottesville,
where he ministers. On that trip, I also was
ible to visit Roanoke Bible College, speak
n chapel, and observe the good work there.
The following week I served as
;vangelist in a revival at the Belle Center
Ihurch of Christ, where Bro. Ivan LaVallee
ninisters. We had a wonderful time together
luring the week. On April 1822, I was
vith the Westlake (Ohio) Church of Christ,
where Bro. Gerald Finnic ministers, to
jpeak during their missionary rally. Betty
ilso spent a day there and spoke especially
:o the ladies of the church. Since it is in
;he area where our home is located, our
whole family visited the East Liberty
Ihurch of Christ on April 25th.
On the following Sunday, May 2nd, I
worshiped again with the Rushville, Ind.
rhurch and in the afternoon some of the
:olks of that church and I departed for
southeastern Oklahoma and the Kiamichi
21inic. We visited Ozark Bible College, a
Reini^al Fires rally, and the Cookson Hills
Children's School on the way. We rejoiced
n the good work of all three of these Chris-
ian institutions. At the Clinic we were
ible to enjoy the fellowship and singing of
)ver 6,000 men and the preaching was great.
Fhe good folk of the Rushville church paid
ny travel and registration expenses to the
Clinic. For this I express my heartfelt
hanks. It resulted in a great personal
ilessing to me.
On May 9th, we spoke to the McGuffey,
!)hio, church where Bro. Ted Cadwallader
s minister. The church here at Rushsylvania
isked us to speak to them again on May
l6th; and we asked Bro. Hideto Yoshii of
2^3an and the Cincinnati Bible Seminary to
FILM LIBRARY
DEVELOPING
Another film. Triumph and Defeat, was
purchased recently and added to our film
library. It has already been used twice in
evangelistic meetings one a five-day
meeting at the Yokosuka church, and the
other a three-day meeting at the Arakawa
church in Tokyo.
Mr. Fleenor and I together now have a
combined total of 11 films. Seven are Moody
Science Films and four are the Li/e o/CArisf
series by Cathedral. These have been used
quite extensively. We are hoping to increase
:he film library until a complete set of each
is attained.
- Stanley Buttray
visit in our home and speak to the church
at that time. 1 interpreted for him, since it
it is a little early for him to speak directly
in English. We had a wonderful visit with
Hideto, talking in Japanese about Japan
and our work for Christ there. On May 23rd,
we visited Betty's aunt and the folk at the
Eaton, Ohio church which helps to support
us. Since May 30th was Memorial Day, we
visited the church at Ft. Recovery again and
then in the afternoon visited the two ceme
teries where Betty's parents and other
relatives are buried. Again the Ft. Recovery
church had a covered-dish dinner in our
honor and both the food and the fellowship
were very enjoyable. On June 6th, the whole
family visited the Rushville, Ind. church
again, it was refreshing both in body and
spirit to be able to again enjoy their
company.
Upon our return home, we began
preparations for the three-week trip which
followed. The trip took us to Wheeling,
W. Va.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Meadville, Pa.;
Chippawa, Ontario, Can.; Cedar Lake, Ind.;
and to Floyds Knobs, Ind. Wherever we
went we were entertained royally and were
encouraged in our work for Christ in Japan.
We spoke at and enjoyed the fellowship of
the following churches during that trip:
Warwood Church, Wheeling; Belmont Ridge
Church, Beallsville, Ohio; in the Pittsburgh
area, Bryn Mawr Church, Homeville Church,
Duquesne Church, and the Norwin Church;
the Church at Meadville, Pa.; the Niagara
Church of Chippawa, Can.; and then we
drove across Canada to Cedar Lake, Ind.
There we spent a week at the Lake Region
Christian Assembly participating in the
Bible and Missions Program. We received
a great blessing from that camp.
Then on June 27th, we were able to
meet again with our dear friends and sup
porters of the Scottsville Church, Floyds
Knobs, Ind. Our visit and their tenth anni
versary coincided, and it was topped off
with a big picnic dinner at a park.
Now, at this time of writing, we are at
home again for a week. This little breathing
space will be followed by two weeks of
camp. The week following that will be
spent at home, breaking up housekeeping
here and making preparations for setting up
housekeeping again in Tokyo in September.
After leaving Rushsylvania, our next stop
will be at Maryville, Tenn., where we will
participate in a missionary fair. The fol
lowing two weeks will be spent with my
parents in Hayesville, N. C. On the week-
(Continued on page 4)
GUESTS
AT BUTTRAY HOME
Monica Fish visited the Buttray family
for a few days in May. Slie was on her way
to enter Cincinnati Bible Seminary. She
was planning on visiting relatives in Cali
fornia, Iowa, Ohio and Meadville, Pa., vdiere
she hoped to find a job for the summer. Her
parents are now missionaries in Indonesia.
Patti Wise, daughter of Danny and Hazel
Wise of San Diego, Calif., visited with the
Buttray family during June. Her parents are
Navy people and were formerly stationed
at Yokosuka, Japan. Her grandparents have
been sending Christmas boxes to the
Buttrays for 20 years.
nmm
On Sunday May 30th Kenji Nakamura and Kyoko Endo were
married in a ceremony at th^ Kamiochiai church. This was one of
the very few weddings where both the bride and groom were Chris
tians. Nakamura became a Christian about nine years ago in the
Kamiochiai church. Miss Endo was the first to become a Christian
at Kumegawa, where the At Hammonds started a church.
From left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Endo, Mr. and Mrs. Nakamura,
the bride and the groom, and Mabel Buttray.
Though we have two months left before
returning to Tokyo, this is the last time
before that date that we will be able to
address you through the Tokyo Christian.
Our plane tickets to Tokyo are already
purchased. We are very grateful to all of
you friends who have had a part in that.
Our passport and visa are in hand; and we
have reservations at die Home of Peace of
Oakland, Calif, for accommodations. While
there, we will do our purchasing and arrange
for shipping the supplies and equipment we
will take with us.
It has been a wonderful year that we
have spent with you fellow members of the
household of faith and fellow citizens of
our home land. Many friends and brothers
have been pillars of strength and encourage
ment to us. We wish to thank all of you
again for your kindness to us wherever we
went among you. As we return to Japan, we
believe that you stand back of us and that
your prayers and your support eiccompany
our way. We claim the promises and the help
of our God who is our refuge and the source
of our strength. And now, we set our faces
toward Tokyo, not knowing what awaits us
there. We have had enough experience in
that city to know that things willnot always
be rosy for us. But we have also known the
goodness of God long enough to know that
He will never forsake us as long as we keep
our minds and hands set on the accomplish
ment of His will. We are idealistic enough
to have some plans for our lives and for
the spending of them in God's service. But
we hope that we are practical enough to
realize that pediaps some of these ideals
will not be realized. Everything must be
submissive co die will of God. May He
accomplish His purposes.
We are grateful for your hospitality,
prayers, support, encouragement and interest
during the past year. Weshall always cherish
the many kind things you have done for us
during that time.
It is not easy to say farewell to you
who ate our fellow laborers in the Lord. It
was not easy to say goodbye to our friends
in Japan last year- But now we will be
absent from you and be present with them
for a little while. We look forward to the
eternal kingdom where lovers of God will
sit down together as one big family at the
marriage supper of the Lamb. MayGod save,
guide and protect us for that hour! Farewell
for now!
Andrew Patton
PATTON REPORT
(continued from page 3)
ends, we hope co commute co Atlanta to pay
a final visit co some of our friends and
supporters there. Between August 16th and
August 19th, we plan to drive across the
southern part of the States to California.
Then on the morning of August 31st, we
are scheduled to board a plane for Tokyo,
arriving there in the evening of September
1st. So will end the year's furlough in our
home land. It has been a good year indeed!
- Andrew Patton
ATT/I/Df
national Mis^v
^nto- AIL Uie ULoaIxI - A&w-!
MEMORIAL COLISEUM
PORTLAND, OREGON
SEPTEMBER 21-24, 1971
SIMS TO MAKE SHORT VISIT TO UNITED STATES
As announced before, our family plans
to make a lO-week trip to the homeland
this summer. I don't think we should call
it a furlough, because we will be traveling
almost every day. We do look forward to
seeing our family anJ many friends again,
and to getting back here and into our new
work again. We will leave Japan on June
21st on a missionary charter flight. We will
return to Japan August 31st on another
charter. This arrangement makes a big cut
in the expenses of the trip. We will go first
to Cincinnati, Ohio, then down to Tennessee
and Florida and back up through Virginia
and Pennsylvania to Cincinnati again for a
few days before departure. We know there
are many that we will be unable to visit;
but we are thankful that people have coop
erated and things have worked out so we
can be with most of our main, regular sup
porting churches in an order that will avoid
needless backtracking and long trips
between places.
BOX 177, KEMPTON, INDIANA 46049
Preparation for this trip to the United
States has been the easiest of any that we
have made. We are just leaving our clothes
hanging in the closets here and packing
nothing away. Also we are not planning to
rent any place in the U.S. this is just a
visit. (We do plan to bring a few changes
with us, of course.)
During the 10 Sundays we will be away
from the pulpit of the new church here in
Mejirodai, I have arranged for four preachers
and six laymen from different churches to
preach one Sunday each. The members here
are excited about the opportunity to hear so
many different speakers, and we hope it
will be an edifying time for all.
We do sincerely ask your prayers for
God's blessing upon us as we make this
long trip. Pray that we may have His pro
tection and care, and that we may be
mutually strengthened in the faith, both
yours and ours.
Harold Sims
SIMS NEWSLETTER '."/po..
October 1971
Lear Eriends;
It was a great encouragement and joy for us to fellowshijp with so many of
you face to.,face this summer and to know better your Christian lives of
faith and prayer, witnessing, and good works. We tried to absorb some of
the zeal and vision for Christ that characterized so many of'the church
es we were privileged to visit, and hope the trip will strengthen us in
our work here.
As,we said all those goodbyes it always seemed that time had been all too
short, but we are thankful that we kept every appointment on the schedule
that had been planned last spring in correspondence between Tokyo and the
various places. Y/e praise G-od for His gift of safety over the 24,000
miles, and our continual good health. Everyone cooperated in arranging
meetings to fit our travel plans and showing us a good time. The hospit
ality of over 40 homee-Hwas indeed a wonderful experience.
THIS WAS^^TRIP^}^'
1. We left Tokyi3^:atri.rLO-- '&^ June 21, on a NWA-charter flight arranged by
the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, and arrived in Oakland, Cal.
at 6:40 AM the same day. At 9 that morning, with Japanese dust still on
us, we were talking to the Vacation Bible School children in Napa, Cal.
Sylvia and Lave went directly to his home in Ohio after arrival in Oak
land, but Mrs. Button stayed a few days in Napa before going on home to
St. Petersburg. Thursday, June 24, we v/ent by plane to Cineing^bsa^Ohio
where we were greeted by Hope and Tom, and our .gEaM-haujhfe^^^
Tamilv, and the Hubert McGuires frdm"'ClovernC" brother Earl and his family, and the Hubert McGuires ffom"'Cloveiffitrk It
is a great experience to meet one's grandchild for the first time. Our
parents enjoyed this back in 1953.
2. Y/e stayed in Cincinnati for a week, speaking at Y/estern Hills, ^d
Montgomery Road churches on Sunday, and Bridgetown*and Westwood-Cheviot
(VBS) during the week, between visiting our family, getting acquainted
with Becky and introducing Jennie to C.B.S. Luring this week 1 rented a
1970 green Pontiac which v/e used for our trip; a short swing north and a
long circuit south and east.
3. Leaving Cincinnati on July 2 we first went to Ontario, Ohio to meet
Lave's family and attend a reception for him and Sylvia. Then we spent
J\aly 4th v/ith the brethren in Markle and Bluffton, Indiana. July 7th we
were in Garden City, Ind. where the ch*urch was experiencing a continual
spiritual blessing following a Paith-Promise Rally earlier. Y/e v/ere in
Cincinnati again for a delightful evening in McGuire 's back yard on July 8.
4. July 9 we arrived at my parents' home in Claxton, Tenn. V/hile there
we spoke at Claxton and Oak Ridge churches on July 11. YiTednesday 14th
we went up to speak at the Pirst Christian Church in Johnson City, and
spent the next day with my brother Ralph and his family in their lovely
new home. We also visited the Appalachian Christian Tillage and Mabel
Griffin, my former Sunday School teacher who now lives there; we also am
the excavation for the new Pirst Christian Church building.
5. July 16 we were with the Christian Church in Bainbridge, Ga. We had
a very nice crowd on a summer Priday evening for a barbequed chicken
ner and slides and talk about Japan. The next day, after a picnic limch
with the area ministers in a North Plorida park we drove across Plorida
for a covered dish supper with the ladies of the Englewood Church in Jack
sonville. 1 preached for dual services there the next morning.
6. V/e were in Eustis, Plorida for that Sunday evening and the 3 nights
following, and gave a special series of messages with illustrations from
o*ur Japan experiences. 1 was very happy with the interest and response
from young and old. We also had good times during the days visiting old
friends, swimming, working on address list, etc.
7. Next, v/e spent a few days with Lois' mother in St,
ing at Central Christian Chxarch there.' On Jxily 28 we were at Beth^
Christian Church outside of Carrollton, Ga., enjoying the S.^ch
and talk with old friends under beautiful shade trees back of the church.
The next day we saw Atlanta Christian College, Christian City, and Six
Flags Over Georgiao July 30 we were in High Point, H.C. for a brief vis
it with the Northside Church where my father ministered a few years ago.
8. On August 1 we were in the rapidly growing Northside Church of Christ
in Hewport Hews, Virginia for all services, and then we stayed there for
the Virginia Evangelizing Fellowship Rally. This ,v/as. the only convention
we were able to attend, and we got much from it. August 6 we spoke at
"Bethany", the oldest Christian Church in Virginia, v/here my grandfather
was an elder, and also visited my uncle ^d some cousins in that part of
the state. V/e were in First Christian Church in Charlottesville for all
services on August 8.
9. Aug. 9 & 10 we visited Lois* sister and her husband in Jilaryland, and
also the Hyattstown Christian Church where. Lois* grandfather used to pre
ach. Aug.- 11 we were with my sister in Y/ilmington, Lei., and spoke for
Lel-Bware Church of Christ in the southeast corner of Pennsylvania. Aug^.
12 we~were in Fayette City, Pa. for the only Thursday evening of our en
tire trip. Aug. 15-16 we visited Lois* other sister Horma and her fam
ily east of Pittsburgh, and stayed with long time friends, the Bob Hel-
becks. Sunday Aug. 15 we were with the Shenango Church in Newcastle, Pa.
in the morning, and Monroeville in the evening. On Aug. 16 we visited
the nearly completed new building of Lois* home church in Turtle'Greek.
10. Aug. v/e had a lovely evening v/ith the folk at Y/arwood Church in
Y/heellng, Yf. Va. and then the next night Mother good fellowship with a
number of friends in Chester, Y/. Va. v/here I was born.
11. Y/e returned to Cincinnati on Aug. 19, and the next day Jonathan moved
into the C.B.S. dormitory and began his freshman orientation. During the
first v/eek away from home "we thought he grew up a lot. Since that time
he has gotten a part time job in the Seminary secretarial pool and seems
to be adjusting to and enjoying life there a lot. Lave and Sylvia moved
into a mobile home in Cincinnati during the summer, and both of them are
continuing their studies at C.B.S. this year. V/e enjoyed a good day of
fellowship with the Clovernoofl Christian Church on Sunday Aug. 22.
'ileW oWiJU Ozark Bible^''Cu'l"'l'fcyge lro' '-be--bhe^ fix a I i^hap^al speaker of
the new school year on Tuesday morni^ Aug. 24. It was an inspiration to
see^the fine student body and the spirit of the school there, and they
gave a substantial offering.
13, .On Aug. 27 we visited the Standard Publishing Company to greet many
friends Who work there, and received a nice lot of out-of-date VBS and
Sunday School materials that will be of great help to us in the work here.
14. .\e spent Aug. 29 in Napa, Cal. (Sunday). These people always do such
a terrific job of welcoming us home, and sending us off to the ;field. Al-
mo.st ICQ people were in Crane *s back yard for a fried chicken picnic on
Sunday afternoon.
The only difficulties and trying times we had on the entire trip were
(1 getting to the airport; in Tokyo on time, and (2 missing the charter^
flight returning to Japan.
(1 We were half way to Haneda airport early on a rainy morning when
jbe I ^ middle of an-expressway. The starter would
not even^^ke^s^^^ ITe tried- pushing, but could not move the heavily
loaded car. Finally, a cement-mixer stopped and the driver asked if he
could help. (I will never say another-word in criticism of these notor
iously bad drivers). He offered to at least pull me off the expressway
and by that time the car was started again. We got to the -airport thru
very heavy traffic at the last minute.
(2 At the end of the trip I sent our passport to Washington L.C. to
have Jonathan's name removed since he was remaining in ^erica-^.>^.nal^
to have it returned to Cincinnati special delivery, but^^me^body goofi^-'s
and it didn't come until the regular mail on Monday moriiliig^Axtgv-^f)';
It was then mailed to me c/o Gen. Del. at San Francisco Airport P.O. It
was in my hands mlnutea-aftar the charter flight
took off for TokyoT" bul~lha? too late. Y/e had to buy tickets on a
regular Pan American flight the next day, which cost_feQO^.more than the
charter. Bobby and Danny had two wishes fulfillea, to spend, one night
in a motel and -hn a. 74T. The charter company refunded 90^ of our
unused tickets just 3 days ago. -
BACK IN JAPAN:
We are very thankful to report that the Sunday School and church here at
Mejirodai held up very well in attendance during the summer. On the 3
Simdays since our return we have had more than and .
more than 10 in worship services. Best of allo^ne housewife^.^^ has i
"been attending a long time made her decision ^haptised--jTfew days ^
ago. We all had been praying for her, and we prDisK^i^ar--tnis.
We have had seve^ral visitors in our home recentlyl^Gr^pe^^rnham;i^ re
tired missionary back in ifapan for a visit from her home inHii^e^oh.
Dawn^Peigj^s and^^m^ter Nancy returning from a visit to Korea and miss-
''she iiF^^^^ffi^%gent for5 and V/alter andJM|^yJteey, new miss-
tries to Japan - -' -^
-Wft have boDg
We have gotten
ings, so that the fact of being in America a few weeks ago already seems
something like a dream.
t-foyota Caronar)oream, with black upholstery, 2 years old.
back into a routine of classes and meet-
Many are no doubt wondering about the effect of the dQj.lar-ven revaluat-
ion on us. The yen has increased and the dollar declined in value, so
when we go to the bank with dollars we don't get as much yen as before.
Of course prices here haven't gone down, so iV la-like, a salary^^^Gut-from
' However, v/e can live like this, aml^lii'keep oi& ^wages
^fozeiTas long as yours are at least. We are willin^^^to n^ke necessary-
sacrifices to -and beliS'irJ^a-t if-jtoeric^"~wiil AiaciE-
!S on v/ages and prices for a few years we will all benefit
Almost everyone in Japan talks about "Nixon shock". The surprise announ
cement of the Red China visit and then the import surcharge hit like a
bomb. It seems like the China visit is giving aid and comfort to left
ists everywhere, but in God's providence it might be a breakthrough re
sulting in more stability in Asia and more opportunity for communicating
the gospel. We pray for God's will to prevail in all matters great and
small in our own lives first of all.
Your's in His service
SIMS TOKYO MISSION
Forwarding Agent;
First Church of Christ
315 Orange Avenue
Bustis, Fla. 32726
HAROLD SIMS
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Bustis, Fla.
Permit #57
Address Correction
Requested
1 ' ' /
0 //
Tokyo Christian
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
November 1971 Volume 70
Number 4
SETAGAYA CHURCH DEDICATES
NEW BUILDING
BETTY PATTON ILL
WITH HEPATITIS
Though we had only arrived back in
Japan on September 1, Betty was hospital
ized for tests andobservationon September
13. Her case was later diagnosed as
infectious hepatitis.
While we were yet in California, she
had swollen ankles and ageneral feeling of
being unwell. We attributed this to tired
ness due to our travels and thought that
she would recover soon. After our arrival
in Japan, her condition gradually worsened
until she developed a painful headache
and became nauseated. When we consulted
a doctor on September 13, he admitted her
to the hospital immediately. After a couple
or three days, they were able to diagnose
her case partially through a mistake. They
took blood tests on two successive days
instead of one as they should have and
were able to discern a deteriorating liver
condition by comparing the two tests. She
was allowed to return home on September
22 and is now recuperating there.
Already our medical bill, as a result of
this illness, has amounted to about $530,
including that for Gamma Globulin shots
for me and our children. Needless to say,
this is a pretty bitter dose of medicine for
our weak finances!
Your prayers would especially be
welcome now for Betty's recovery and for
the rest of our family that we do not con
tract the disease. If Betty does not make
proper recovery, she will have permanent
damage to her liver. In spite of her illness,
God has been very good to us all. We are
enjoying His presence and His blessings
with us always. We pray that all of you also
are enjoying God's blessings and grace.
- Andrew Patton
On September 19 at 3:00 p.m., the
Setagaya Church of Christ dedicated a new
building. It is the first two stories of an
eight-story, steel and concrete apartment
building. It is of very solid construction
and well proportioned and designed. The
larger part of the building will be rented
out and managedby the developer who built
the whole building. All the church had to
do was furnish the land, which is in a good
location for such a building and pay for the
furniture in the church. The first story will
be used mainly by the kindergarten, and
the second story by the church. Similar
uses of valuable locations have been made
by various other churches of different denom
inations in downtown Tokyo; but this is
the first one of our group to do this cooper
ative venture with a housing developer.
This is the third building of the Setagaya
church, which was started in 1924 by Mr.
Bunzo Fujita, a close friend and co-worker
with the Cunninghams. The first building
was erected at the beginning and was
enlarged and renovated several times
BACK TO
SCHOOL!
Our children entered the Christian
Academy in Japan again on September 6
and began another year of school work.
Sharon is now a senior and if her credits
can be worked out properly, she will be
graduating next spring. This causes us to
remember our age more vividly and that she
will not be with the family much longer.
School tuition is higher this year. One
of the first bills we received after our
arrival in Japan was one from the Academy
for 633,800 yen (about $1,920) for the year's
tuition for the four children. That means
that we must pay around $65 a week, or
$260 a month in order to pay that bill off
by the end of the school year. That bill,
Betty's doctor bill, a preacher's salary,
our salary, and the general expenses of the
work will require more money than we have
been receiving. We would appreciate a
special offering from you friends at this
time to help us climb this financial hill.
The general decline of the worth of the
dollar in relation to the Japanese yen has
deepened our difficulty. Instead of the
former official exchange rate of 360 yen to
the dollar, we now receive from the bank
'hen we exchange dollars for yen only
ibout 334 yen to the dollar a loss of
(Continued on page 4)
Portion of an eight-story apartment
building which will be used by the
Satagaya church. Picture taken during
final stages of construction.
through the years. It was the only building
of the 12 Tokyo churches to survive the
war, and was the first church building in
which I worshiped in Japan. The second
building was erected in 1950, but it used
some of the materials of the old building.
Mr. Hanyo, the son-in-lawof the founding
minister has been the minister there for
about 40 years. His oldest son is now serv
ing as the assistant minister.
- Harold Sims
This was the Yokosuka church camp at Karuizawa in August.
In the left background are Mr. and Mrs. Fleenor. On the right are
Stanley and Mabel Buttray. The young man in the left center
background was baptized three weeks later.
Tokyo Christian
Vol. 70 November 1971 No. 4
Published four times a year in
January, April, July and November for
the missionaries of the Church of
Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo,
Japan by Mission Services, Box 177,
Kemplon, Indiana 46049. Second class
postage paid at Kempton, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray,
2-26-4 Kamiochiai,Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo
161 Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mrs.
Homer Anderson, 622 Cullum Street,
Meadville, Pa. 16335.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 3-7-8
Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164
Japan. Forwarding Agent: Mr. and Mrs.
G. Wade Fletcher, R.R. 1, Rushville,
Ind. 46173.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 3-33-7
Mejirodai, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192
Japan. Forwarding Agent: FirstChurch
of Christ, Orange at Center St., Eustis,
Fla. 32726.
Two-year subscription $ .50
Subscription and Flaming 7orc/j$1.00
Tlie Sims family ai me airport as we prepared to leave from
Cincinnati for Tokyo. Front, left to right: Danny Sims, Becky and Hope
Schmidt. Back: Sylvia Smith, Jonathan, Harold, Bobby and Lois Sims.
Sm FAMILY RETURNS FROM SHORT VISIT TO UNITED STATES
We arrived back home in Mejirodai at
about 8:30 p.m. September 2, Tokyo lime,
from a 10-week, 25,000-mile trip to the
United States this summer. The visits with
everyone were too short in lime but very
full of joy, interest and inspiration; and
wc return to pur work h^e feeling refreshed
and strengthened in spirit in spite of the
slight physical fatigue from that much
traveling. Certainly, we are deeply grateful
to God for His guidance and care, bringing
us safely over those many miles; and we
are also filled with gratitude to the many
friends who bedded us and fed us all along
the way.
I will give you an outline of our trip.
June 21:
June 21:
June 21-23:
June 23. p.m.:
June 24:
June 27. a.m.:
June 27. a.m.:
June 2830:
June 30, p.m.:
July 2-3:
Left Tokyo at 10:00 a.m.
Arrived in Oakland,
Calif, at 6:40 a.m.
Talked to children in VBS
at First Christian Church
in Napa, Calif.
Spoke at prayer meeting
at First Christian Church
in Napa, Calif.
Arrived by TWA at Cin
cinnati, Ohio airport. Met
by Tom and Hope Schmidt
andgranddaughter Becky,
brother Earl and family,
the Hubert McGuires and
other friends from Clover-
nook Christian Church.
Preached at Western Hills
Church of Christ in Cin
cinnati.
Talked and showed slides
at Montgomery Road
Church in Cincinnati.
Spoke to all classes at
VBS of West wood-Che viol
Church of Christ in Cin
cinnati.
Showed slides at prayer
meeting of Bridgetown
Church of Christ Cin
cinnati.
Visited with Mr. and Mrs.
Art Smith of Ontario,
July 4, a.m.:
July 4. p.m.:
July 5-6:
July 7, p.m.:
J uly 913:
July 11. a.m.:
July 11. p.m.:
July 14. p.m.:
July 15:
July 16, p.m.:
July 18, a.m.:
July 19-21, p.m.
July 22-27:
Ohio Dave's parents.
Here they held a belated
wedding reception for
Dave and Sylvia.
Preached at Church of
Christ, Markle, Indiana.
Preached at Christian
Church in Bluffton,
Indiana.
Visited with Mr. and Mrs.
Doyle SchmidtofHudson,
Indiana Tom's parents.
Tom, Hope and Becky
were also with us for
this weekend at his home.
Spoke and showed slides
at Garden City Church of
Christ, Columbus, Ind.
Visited with Mr. and Mrs.
A. E. Sims in Claxton,
Tenn.
Preached at Christian
Church in Claxton, Tenn.
Showed slides at Village
Christian Church, Oak
Ridge, Tenn.
Spoke and showed slides
at First Christian Church,
Johnson City, Tenn.
Visited with brother
Ralph and family in John
son City.
Showed slides at Chris
tian Church, Bainbridge,
Ga.
Preached at Englewood
Christian Church, Jack
sonville, Florida.
Missionary - evangelistic
meetings in First Church
of Christ, Eustis, Flor
ida. Spent the days in
Eustis working on our
address list and other
business connected with
our work.
Visited with Mrs. Ethel
Lutton in St. Petersburg,
Fla. Lois' mother.
July 25, p.m.
July 28, p.m.
July 29:
July 30. p.m.
Aug. 1, a.m..
Aug. 35:
Aug. 6:
Aug. 8:
Aug. 9:
Aug. 10:
Aug. 11:
Aug. 11, p.m.
Aug. 12, p.m.
Aug. 13-14:
Preached in Central
Christian Church, St.
Peierstxirg, Fla.
Spoke and showed slides
at Bethany Christian
Church, Carroilton, Ga.
Visited Atlanta Christian
College, Christian City
and Six Flags over
Georgia.
Showed Slides in North-
side Church of Christ,
High Point, N.C.
Preached in Northside
Church of Christ, New
port News, Va.
Attended and spoke once
at Virginia Evangelizing
Fellowship Rally in
Northhampton Church,
Hampton, Va.
Spoke and showed slides
in Bethany Christian
Church, Bumpass, Va
Spoke and showed pic
tures in First Christian
Church, Charlottesville,
Va.
Visited with Mr. and Mrs.
Alex Havelicsek of Lin-
thi cum Heights, Md.
Lois' sister.
Showed slides at Hyatts-
town Christian Church,
Clarksburg, Md.
Visited with Mrs. Chas.
Heckert of Wilmington,
Del. Harold's sister.
Spoke to Delaware Valley
Church of Christ meeting
in the home of Grover
Andrews in Brookhaven,
Pa.
Spoke and showed slides
in Church of Christ,
Fayelte Citty, Pa.
Visited with Mr. and Mrs.
Bob Helbeck of Monroe-
(Continued on page 4)
patrons Arrivo Back m Japan giU oj J\ieiAM.
We are now safely back in our home in
Tokyo and are about settled down and
accustomed to living in Japan again. We
arrived at Tokyo International Airport on
schedule on the chartered flight on Sep
tember 1. The missionaries and other friends
were there to welcome us.
We had a long trip which was cut up
into several different stages from our home
in Ohio. We left Rushsylvania, Ohio on
July 24 and stopped first for a missionary
rally at Maryville, Tenn. There we spent
four wonderful days with the First Chris
tian Church, enjoying the great fellowship
with the folk there. From there we drove
on to Hayesville, N. C. to visit my parents.
We spent two weeks with them and were
able to help out with the work on their
little farm. Bidding them farewell, we set
our faces toward California and Japan. We
spent the first night with my brother,
Lawrence, his wife, Shirley, and their chil
dren in Montgomery, Ala. Being delayed
for a half day for Philip to see a doctor,
we resumed our journey again in the after
noon of the following day.
The trip, of course, was long and
tiresome and our old Plymouth wagon, which
had served us pretty well, began to give
us trouble. A valve burned out for the third
lime and the transmission developed a leak.
We continued to pour in gasoline, oil, and
transmission fluid and drove on. Finally,
we limped into Fontana, Calif, at 3:30 a.m.
on August 19. There we were royally
entertained for a week by Betty's aunt,
Gladys Stackhouse, and Betty's cousins,
the Bitonties, and Perezes and the
Stackhouses. They helped us sell the
Plymouth and aided in.other preparations
for the remainder of our journey to Japan.
On August 26, we caught a plane to
Oakland, where we were the guests of our
fine friends of the Home of Peace until our
departure on August 31. At the Home of
Peace in Oakland we purchased supplies
which the Home will ship to us. As usual,
when we return to Japan, a big dock strike
was on and it is uncertain when we will
receive the shipment. We will just have to
make out with what we have until it does
arrive. Fortunately, we shipped a great
deal of our winter clothes by parcel post
and the greater part of that shipment has
already arrived at our home.
This is almost the first time we have
returned back to Japan from furlough and
have not had to "pick up the pieces" as
far as our work here is concerned. This
time, however, we have found the Sakura-
yama and Arakawa churches in fairly good
condition. There are several new people
in the audiences and the Christians have
shown fine growth over the year of our
absence. God has blessed them and they
are rejoicing in Him. Even the mid-week
services in both churches are enjoying an
increased attendance and interest. They
are now studying with great interest the
Book of Job. Brother Hiroaki Sato, the
minister, is doing a fine job of ministering
to the two churches. Bible School and wor-
^
It?, i n
Some of the attendants at the Sakurayama
Church worship sendee on the first Sunday
after the Puttons' arrival in Japan.
ship are held on Sunday morning at the
Sakurayama church and then some of the
folk of that church commute to the Arakawa
church for Bible School and worship there
in the afternoon. That plan is working out
very well and it enables the two dturches
to cooperate in the work.
Just as soon as Betty has recovered
her health which will allow me to have more
time available for evangelism, Brother
Sato and I plan to open a new preaching
and teaching point. We have prayed for
God's guidance in the matter and already
have a place in mind for the site of the
new work. Please join us in prayer for the
opening of this new work and that the peo
ple's hearts may be opened for the reception
of the salvation of the Lord.
It is good to be back in Japan and
engaged directly in the work of the Lord
here. The difficulties and problems before
us are great, but there are almost unlimited
opportunities and possibilities for mission
ary service here.
"The hanwst indeed is plenteous, but
the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, thai he send forth
laborers into his harvest."
Andrexo Patton
The first two converts of the Omatsuri
Dendo this year. Shimada San. a teacher in
the Osaka Bible Seminary, was the speaker
the first four nights of the "outdoor" evan
gelism, and was used by God in a wonderful
way in preaching and counseling. Seventeen
were brought to Christ during the eight-day
effort.
Walter and Mary Maxey (Walter is the
oldest son of the Mark Maxeys of Kyushu
Mission) are the newest missionaries in
Japan. They will be living in Tokyo for
one year while studying the intensive
Japanese language course at International
Christian University.
- Harold Sims
Bro. Jim Banta of Forest Lake, Minn,
again passed through Tokyo on busi
ness about the middle of September and
then continued on to Formosa. While in
Tokyo he visited the Buttrays and the
Pattons. He expects to pass through Tokyo
again in about a month on his way home.
It is always a pleasure to be with Jim and
to enjoy his fellowship.
Mrs. Exie Fultz, a fellow-missionary
in Tokyo, returned to the United States
on September 16 for a short furlough.
Two of the members of the Sakurayama
church arc now studying at Pacific
Christian College, Long Beach, Calif. One
high school graduate who is a member of
the Arakawa church intends to enter Osaka
Bible Seminary next spring.
- Andrew Patton
At the age of 81 Miss Grace Farnham,
a retired Church of Christ missionary,
after an absence of ten years, returned to
Tokyo, Japan on September 1st. Because
of her many years of missionary service,
both pre- and post-war, she is enjoying
renewing old acquaintances. The land,
church building, and a thriving congregation
at Mabashi, Tokyo are a testimony today
of the work started by Miss Farnham years
ago.
At present. Miss Farnham is staying
with the Stanley Buttray family at Kamio-
chiai. Her present plans are to stay in
Tokyo until the spring of 1972. During this
time she hopes to visit other parts of Japan
and also a missionary relative in Korea.
After a long illness Mrs. Sato, the
preacher's wife at the Kamiochiai
church, died on August 25, at the age of
51. Mrs. Sato had been sick with cancer
for more than a year and a half.
When she was operated on in May 1970,
she was given not more than two or three
months to live. But, during the year and
three months that followed, she never
seemed to give up hope of recovery. Surely,
it was her faith and the prayers of many
(thank you for praying) during this time
that sustained her.
Besides her husband, she leaves behind
two sons. The eldest is the preacher at
tlie Sakurayama church, which is just a
short distance from his father at Kamiochi ai,
Tokyo. The youngest son is still a univer
sity stirdent.
Pray for God's comfort and blessings
upon the family in the future that lies
ahead. Pray also for the relatives that
attended the funeral and their salvation.
-Stanley Buttray
TRAGEDY
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Anderson, the
forwarding agents for the Stanley Buttrays,
recently experienced the tragic death of
their son, David.
David, their only son, was killed
suddenly on June 22nd when the light plane
in which he was flying developed trouble
immediately upon being airborne and
crashed, taking the life of the pilot also.
David's untimely death, at the age of
32, leaves behind his wife l.ois, a dedi
cated Christian, and their two sons, Darin
Mark, five, and David Eric, four.
At the time of his death, David was in
the midst of a busy life, working for the
telephone company. However, he found
time also to become a deacon and teacher
in the new Overlook Christian Church at
Mobile, Ala., and was enjoying the fellow
ship of God's people there.
Though Lois' home is Findlay, 111.,
she is still living at their same address:
613 Wesley Lane E., Mobile. AL 36609.
SIMS FAMILY RETURNS
(continued from page 2)
Auq. 15. a.m.:
Au(i. 15, p.m.:
Auq. 18, p.m.:
Aufi. 19:
Auci. 20:
Aw. 22:
Aug. 24:
Aug. 25:
Aug. 29:
Sept. 1:
ville. Fa. friends and
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fowkcs
of Irwin, Pa. Lois'
sister.
Preached at Shenango
Christian Church, New
castle, Pa.
Preached at Monroeville
Christian Church, Mon
roeville, Pa.
Spoke at Warwood Chris
tian Church, Wheeling,
W. Va.
Spoke at Fourth Street
Christian Church, Ches
ter, W. Va.
Returned to Cincinnati.
Jonathan entered the
dormitory at Cincinnati
Bible Seminary and began
Freshman orientation,
^oke and showed slides
at Clovemook Christian
Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Preached at first chapel
service of Ozark Bible
College.
Attended Convocation at
Cincinnati Bible Semi
nary.
Preached for both ser
vices at First Christian
Church, Napa, Calif.
Left for Japan.
Wc now have almost one-half of our
family living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tom
Schmidt works at the Federal Reserve Bank
there. The Schmidts live in an apartment.
Dave and Sylvia Smith are living in a mobile
home and botli of them are continuing their
studies at CBS. Jonathan is beginning his
freshman year there.
When we returned to Japan, we found
that the house and church here had been
well cared for during our absence. The
attendance had held up well during the
summer and there were no major problems.
It felt good to get those suitcases unpacked
and put away and to settle quickly into the
routine activities as if tlie summer had all
been a wonderful dream.
- Harold Sims
One of the most descriptive and
endearing terms of our Savior, Jesus, is
"The Lord is my shepherd;" and, certainly,
it is one of the coTnerstones of out faith . . .
and yet. He often sends Christians (Christ
like people) to bring comfort and encour-
ment when His children are in need.
So, if you happen to live near to Lois
at Mobile or to David's parents, Homer and
Sue Anderson, at 622 Cullum St., Meadville,
Pa. why not give them a visit. If unable
to, even a letter or telephone call can
become God's "Balm of Gilead" to heal
the broken heart. Pray for them.
-Stanley Buttray
BACK TO SCHOOL
(continued from page 1)
nearly eight percent. Furthermore, the
exchange rate is expected to fall even
lower and we will receive less and less
yen for the dollar.
Stephen is continuing his piano lessons
at school and also hopes to learn to use
the trumpet in one of the school bands.
Philip is now also taking trumpet lessons
at school. Noel hopes to start guitar les
sons soon.
- Andrew Patton
Missionary Stanley Buttray inviting the
people to come and enjoy the wonderful
music and messages during the eight-night
Omatsuri evangelism. Thousands of people
make their umy past the Union Church on
the left on their way to the Obon Odori
(festival dancing) each night. The greatest
opportunity for evangelism in Japan! Hun
dreds hear the Gospel for the first time.
Pray that God uill bless and mutiply the
efforts, and that many will yet discover
the 'Truth.'
BOX 177, KEMPTON, INDIANA 46049
One of the 17 baptized at the Omatsun
evangelism in Karuizawa. As you have
guessed, this young man was the leader of
five hippies that came to Karuizawa to climb
one of the mountains to 'find themselves"
or God! In an unusual tray, they were brought
to the Omatsuri evangelism one night and
the leader found Christ! The other four were
moved, but did not yield. Pray for God's
blessing on the seed sown.
BRO. CHO'S DAUGHTER
On September 15, the eldest daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Cho (ministers of the Mika-
washima Church of Christ) was married to
a young medical doctor from Osaka. Grace
(meaning of the Korean name) Cho has been
the organist at the church for some time
now, and last spring graduated from the
Tokyo Conservatory with distinction. The
wedding, in the beautiful new church build
ing was attended by a large crowd of church
people and friends, and it was really a
nice ceremony.
There is a Korean school right across
the street from the diurch which was built
and continues to be operated by people
sympathetic to the Communist North
Korean regime. For a long time they have
opposed any students of that school attend
ing the Mikawashima Sunday School. But
that day hundreds of the students were
crowded on the fire escape and in the play
ground to get a glimpse of the bride. And
when they emerged after the ceremony the
whole neighborhood rang with cheers from
the school children. All of the Communist
indoctrination cannot keep people from
being human.
- Harold Sims
S E A S O
from
i
i
IE TINGS
-r 0
November 1971
Dear Friends,
At the end of October we completed our first year of work in Mejirodai. It has
been a good year for us, and for some of our new neighbors into whose lives Christ has
come. Mr. and Mrs. Mineo, former members of Minato Church and early residents in
this area, have been very faithful; and we have seen 3 housewives added to the little flock.
Although our membership (not counting our family) increased only from 2 to 5 souls, this
is a growth rate of 150 percent. So we have set a goal of the same growth rate for next
year. Of course the goal is just human planning, and we know it is God alone who has
given and will give the increase. We look unto Him in thanksgiving for the blessings which
He has given so far, and in trust and expectation for the future. The Sunday School has
also been doing well, averaging more than 30 children every Sunday. Lois and I together
have contact with almost 100 people every week through English conversation classes with
different age groups.
Family developments that brought much joy this year were:
1. Sylvia and Dave's surprise homecoming and wedding at Nakano Church on Jan. 15.
2. The birth of our first grand-child, Rebecca Jane Schmidt on April 6.
3. Jonathan's High School Graduation at Christian Academy on June 18.
4. The second visit to Japan by Lois' mother, Mrs. Ethel Lutton, of St. Petersburg.
5. We were greatly blessed and encouraged by the 10 week trip to the United States this
summer, and happy that we were able to see so many of you who will receive this letter.
Thanks again for your hospitality.
Cincinnati, Ohio has become our "home town" lately. More than half of the family
(counting sons-in-law) lives there. Hope and Tom and little Becky are still in the Grand
Ave. apartment. Tom is employed at the Federal Reserve Bank, and they work in
Clovernook Christian Church. Sylvia and Dave are both studying at C.B.S. and working
part-time, and they live in a mobile home out on Glenway Ave. They are still planning
on coming to Japan after finishing school. Jonathan is a Freshman at the Seminary. He
lives in Alumni Hall, and is working as utility man for the secretarial pool there.
Bobby and Danny (in the 11th and 5th grades at Christian Academy) are with us in
Japan and enjoyii^ the luxury of each one having his own room.
In 1972 we are coming to the 25th anniversary of our wedding and our arrival in
Japan. Oh, how God has faithfully led and kept us through these years and the changes
that have come]
Again at the end of this year we commend you to God and the Word of His Grace
and to Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today and forever. May you have a joyous
Christmas season and a bright and beautiful new year with a minimum of inflation, frus
tration and temptation and a maximum of elation, relaxation and dedication.
Yours in His service, ^
Harold and Lois Sims