MANAMI OKUBO

I am excited that the Deerfoot Baptist Church is having the privilege of hosting a special friend from Japan.  Since my first visit to Japan in 2008, when I met Rho Iwahashi and Dr. Ken Horiuchi, we have had conversations about exchanging students or missionaries for a time of cultural and spiritual enrichment.  An invitation has come to us to provide a missionary to Japan for a period of one to two years or more.  This is a matter still under prayerful consideration.  It would be a great opportunity for a single or a young couple from Deerfoot Baptist Church to serve the Lord in Osaka, Japan under the mentorship of some of the greatest Christian leaders I have met.

Manami Okubo

On April 7, 2012 I recieved a personal request from Ryo Iwahashi, chairman of the board of Japan International Food for the Hungry, to host a young lady from Grace Mission in Osaka for the purpose of providing lanuage and cultural training in her preparation for an appointment as a missionary to Kenya, Africa.  I was very happy to recieve this invitation.  First, I prayed about the invitation and what it would mean to me, to the Deerfoot Baptist Church and to our ministries here.  Secondly, I informed the Deerfoot Baptist Church Missions Committee of the invitation and my desire to accept the invitation.  The announcement received a very positive response. 

After receiving a confirmation from the Lord that this was the right thing to do, and the supportive and positive attitude of our missions committee, I emailed Ryo and joyfully accepted the invitation to host his missionary in the making.  Over the past few days details regarding hosts families, ministry schedule for Manami, ESL and more have been addressed.  Everything is coming together nicely to welcome Manami to Deerfoot on June 13.

In my efforts to be right on target in all of our responsibilities on this side I have talked to Ryo numerous times.  In my last conversation, just a couple of days ago, I pressed him hard on what he was expecting of me and the Deerfoot family.  It is important to me to meet Ryo's expectations and to be meet Manami's needs.  I asked Ryo to give me the top two or three things that he wanted us to accomplish.  I will never forget his answer.  He said, "(first of all) I want Manami to be among Christians who live out the Christian life in the everyday circumstances of life.  I want her to see Christian families living out their faith in their homes.  I want her to see young people who have an authentic faith in Jesus Christ that truly does affect every area of their lives."  WOW!  Thank you Ryo for your answer.  You have your priorities for Manami in the right place. 

Ryo went on to mention ESL (English as a Second Lanuage) training, mentoring by the pastor and opportunites to work with children. 

Ryo understands that the Christian life is "caught" as well as "taught".   Hence, he wants an enviornment for Manami that will allow her to "catch" the truths of the Chrisitan life by watching us in action.

Manami is a PK, her father is a pastor.  She was saved when she was eight years old and because of her church's emphasis on ministry to starving children in deprived regions of the world Manami sensed the call of God to be a missionary to the starving.  Manami's time with us this summer is intended to be a time of broadening and strengthening her Christian faith, her use of the English language, and her cross-cultural experience with children.

What is next?  Hopefully we will see some of our youth go to Osaka, Japan for a similiar mission and purpose.  Hopefully we will see other opportunities for individuals like Manami to come to Deerfoot.  These are ways that we learn more and more about the human race and the human family.  All are in need of Christ as their Lord and Savior and all who know Jesus is a part of the great Christian family.  We welcome our sister, Manami Okubo, to Trussville, Alabama and specifically to the wonderful family of Deerfoot Baptist Church. 

Manami will leave us at the end of the summer to go to Kenya, Africa under the auspices and authority of Japan International Food for the Hungry.  There she will minister among African people who are in great need of food, nourishment and education...and most important...in need of the Lord.  Part of Deerfoot Baptist Church will go with Manami.  For this I am deeply, deeply grateful!!!

Our God is a Global God,
Roger Willmore