n S'-

OSAKA BIBLE SEMINARY .

31-6 chome, Nak&miya-chp
Asahi-kii,, Osaka, Japan
" HISrORICAL SKETCH
- Mr., and .Mrs. Ml, B:..i Madden, pioneering among our people: in Japan, gnVieioned '
a Bible College in Japan about 1935,
Mr. and Mrs. Harold 411. Cole accepted the. call to inaugurate this project,
and Osaka Bible Seminary was instituted in 1937.
Classes, were conducted in the Osaka Christian. Mission buildings which hiad
been completed the latter part of 1937. - ' '
Misses Grace Farnham and Ruth Schotnover of Mabashi in Tokyo sent the first
student.
War-titne economy and'cultural pressures limited enrollment in pre-w^tf'years..'
The last missionaries were evacuated to the United States in 1941.
June 7, 1945 climaxed the tragedies of war for Osaka Christian Mission and
Osaka Bible Seminary- as'faithful Japanese Christians watched with' horror as Uni-
ted^.*6tatBS incendiary bbmbs wiped opt . physical properties used, less *th^ eight
years. : v- V'
Mr. Hiromu Sugano, who had been baptized by Mr,. Madden on March-10, 1913,
protected the title to the' pifopBrfy and* waited for the missionaries to return.
, In April of 1947 -- al^nost .two years after the bombing Mr. Cole was xar
united with Mr.- Suganp in Osaka. . '
Mr. Cola renewed the Osaka Bible Seminary training program in 1940 in tem
porary ^^uar tars. .
Original land of the mission was reserved for Seminary buildings whila- land
for church buildings and homes for missionaries was purchasfe'd after the war.
The Paul Nielsens arrived- in Osaka in 1948, and assisted in -the -Seminary
program for a full term of service.
.Mr. and Mrs. George Beckman began their work in co-operation with Osaka Bi
ble Seminary on December 31, 1948, and during two furlough periods of Martin B.
Clark, Mr, Beckman has served as president of the school.
'In January of 1950 Seminary classes were located in. the newly completed
Asahi church buildings.
On April 23, 1950 the Martin Clarks began leadership of the school,to which
wor-k Mr. Clark had been called by the invitation of Mr. Cole in May of 1946.
..Permanent buildings were begun, pn the original site this, same year, but
lack of funds and inflation due to war in Korea stopped work even as the founda
tion was being laid.
Janpary of 1951 marked the completion of a steel barracks building r the
first of three as;temporary quarters for the Seminary program.
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The Ray Mings family took up their active part in the Seminary on January
1951y and Mr. Mings serves as head trustee of the school governing body.
The 1951-52 school year began in April of 1951 with the post-war reorgani
zation completed and Martin B. Clark as pi^sident.
In1952 a thorough investigation and survey was conducted relative to the
location of Osaka Bible Seminaryt resulting in. a decision that the >place Mr.
Madden had chosen was appropriate and adequate for all foreseeable plans or
needs and that it could not be changed without -unjustified expense^.
1952 also featured the beginning of exchange teaching with the visit of
William L. Jessup of San Jose.Bible College in an effort to foster closer ties
between Bible Colleges in the United otates and Japan followed by Tibbe Maxey
in 1959 and Lewis Foster in 1965
In October of 1951 Miss Jane Kinnett now Mrs. John Hill joined the. work
to spend a term of service in Japanr having been forced out of West China by the
Communists.
Miss Lucille Sherman came in January of 1952 to carry on the small school
sponsored by the mission for educating the missionary children and remained for
a five year term.
Miss Betty Whittington arrived May lO, 1953 to spend two years working in
the office and conducting Bible classes.
^ The first permanent building program was inaugurated in 1955.
On March 30, 1961 more than 250 Japanese and American Christians assembled
to dedicate the new Osaka Bible Seminary building in tribute to the pioneer work
of Mn. and Mrs. Madden, with their daughter Gracfr Madden Braley present-^to par--
ticipate in the services.
In 1962 Bonnie and Lonnie Mings returned to Japan to join the regular staff
of the Seminary Lonnie with his wife,. Coral, on-March'. 5th, and Bonnie with his
wife, Charlotte, on Becember 14th.
The Bill Turners came in September of 1965 to work for a year with the Sem
inary before returning to the States on furlough from the Philippines.
BESIGN AND OBJcCTIVCS
Osaka Bible Seminary was conceived when Mr. and Mrs. Madden realized the
futility of using denominational schools to train Christians to be witnesses who
are dedicated to New Testament principles.
Osaka Bible Seminary has been a college level school from its inauguration
by Mr. Cole, offering to high school graduates a college degree in Bible educa
tion .
Osaka Bible Seminary also provides a certifidate course', to train cbhurnh
helpers and kindergarten workers^ and offers special study programs for those
who have not completed high school.
Osaka Bible Seminary is a school of the BIBLE, giving BIBLE-emphasized and
BIBLE-centered teaching to young men arid women attending its classes so that
they will have a BIBLE foundation for their living and testimony.
^ 3 ^
". '0^^ three-fold objectivey hamelys ..to kin-
did an unquenchebl^y burning zeal in each student's heart to witness to i^ieh of
all nations that Jesus of Nazareth is God's Christ, for the world; to sb'ppbSH:
this zeal with an unshakeable foundation in the indominatable conviction that
^evdxyi 'Sroripturey'^^ breathing the very Spirit of God, is replete with -^r.'knovH
ledge and power essential to the biirih end life' of a Christian; "and to iiavel^'p
aaciH student's ability "as a witness in Using this "Sword of the Spirit#" . '
Osaka Bible Seminary has a secondcsry objective in teaching tho-sinfuinosia
of division among brethren in Christ and the neoessity of knowing and adhering
to^Divine pattern' for' the conduct of the Body of Christ as fbUnd in the .Book
of Acte, the Cpistles and Revelation iji order to produce "onehess" in God's f^
iiy and thus make their witness effectiyeV
^ ^Qsake Bible- Seminary emphasizes ./a .^hird"objective ; in the correiation :bee
tween general education and the BlBL^ " through siich departments of learning as'
Humanitiesy Practical Ministries-ponimunications in order to afford aach'wi-t^*^
i:li^Sli;^]^per and {rrapticai implex ^ v ^
Os^S^JBible Seminary, in pursuing these objectives, seeks to'leave each
witnee$.,^3:e^ entanglement's so as to develop the catholic body of
Christy'and not. the "church" of any p^'^cular krnd or organization# .
ADMlNISTRATIijN
Every effort is being made to maintain an administrative body for Osaka Bi
ble S^inaxy which will insure the./perpetuity of every Christian's effort as
wall as meet the requirements fitting to* such a school and those of the legal
authorities
Five trustees as legal representatives of thb school consist of thj^ fo^
eigners and two Japanese#
ip 'Ffinruino-tT1irrg gs the gpvernihg body of the school- to whom the
gresident and faculty are. directly responsible. " ; !;i
- U'VtRepreaan^ation in the Counri 11n.iv3adv' inci iiriesthn prftstrinnt- of the, echoali
three faculty members, twQ._alumni elect'ed by the Alumni Association^and five
members at large chosen by the councillors- themselves#
Two auditors are selected by the trustees and make a report annually#
.)A11 membezs of any phase of the administration of the school must be
mersed .believers in Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and be in full accord ' with
the .stated-principles and purposes of Osaka Bible Seminary#
^Tha intensive study plan is used in all classes except language, . which
ppssible a larger faculty, permitting some to serve who could not; do scr
otherwise.
All faculty members have college degrees and five have done graduate work*
with ..fo^ur hoid-i^S graduate degrees.
. -and- staff for the 1965-66 schpol year included George .Beckm^, Jiofi
Bumey, Martin Clark, Mrs# Shizuko Hbriuchi, Bonnie Mings, Lonnie Mings, Bay
Mings, Miss Raiko Nagata, Akinori Nakano, Akira Oda, Toshihiko Shimada, Bill
Turner,-Mrs. Betty Turner, Miss Shige Kikkawa as librarian and Miss Yoshiko Kuv
yama as office secretary.
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.. psakva Bible Semina^^y is required by the Japanese Government to eubinit an
budget and financial, report, to the proper authoritiesi cqpies ,Qf ):^which
aje i^y^iable to all. suppbrtdrs arid anyone requesting them- r'-
.A salary scale for Semiqery'"personnel^according to Japanese procedures hjis
beqn adopted which takes";into account family statusf education of the person^
tenure with'the Seminary, education of children xn the f^
qpet of living indexthus guaranteeing each membeiJ^of thi
some raise each
year.-'^.", . - J.ntE a fxf~
^ ^' ^ -- . '3 0 ^.ez whj. :h is 7- - of
iiving ih' Osaka has increased 45%"'ih the eleven years, since the
Seminary base salary was established in 1955-
' " " ' -'t ' r. i ,fi yp-jrs activ-jiy
Osaka Bible Seminary has its basic 'source of income from gifts and dfferi
ings of the Christians in the United States, channelled through the missionaries
whom fhey'support or shnt directly* Jtratz-? ;
t:
fjj Ti' the ai^hpol fr^ the Christians; in Japan jiqMust ibpgii3inilng,:,ap^
anoliil a increase thrOu^h the yB.^a,' but by the most optimxatiic hope!" it!
y^^veral generations bef^^ Viil hot need its roejox qupport from the
' tfixistians ,.of'Ameiiica*'
ACHIEVEMtlMTS
tj We'have gsjined the cor^dence oT th^Jap^neSle
hey ' agreed to accept a goal of ^1000 and did raise $800 forrthe n,eM Sei^.pary
building .and several congregations have placed the school in tfiei3?'"budgetai
: ' ' '"-r vr7' ntiw
_ We have gained the confidence of the Japanese Councillor members^aa^-sdSii ih
^fh^ir. own statement: ''We are -sure that in order tp preach pod rs. Word
in :Japan, mo.re and jmuch (eic) educated, i; and convinced ; preaohoxa ahbuid'ibie
hiraug^^'Mp#" ; .... .... j .
? ' ' -j .znc'
. We have gained the gpnfid.anpe of pqr /ov^ fe<Hp.i(^wpxker8 >inwJapen.iOwtMde:jQ,f
the Peaka area ae seen in the actual cash-raised .end pMbiicity/given for thar::new
Seminary building; as seen in their reedinaee to share finanCiaily; asieaon tin
their co-fopaaationrin the recrqitment program; and ea seen io;thiir will^ingnese
to participate in teaching.
We have graduated 20 four-i-year etudenta of whom. 17 are actiye in sdmO fkind
of evangelistic work*
We. have had 20 twor-year diploma students and 1^ of them are in isome Jkind tof
PhriStian.;WOrk.. ^
We have produced from the total enrollment, of some 103 etudante ovpr a fif^
^ teen year period, 25 preachere end 26. Church related workers,-.whicW^iiie.zTiS^ <0if
tbfti.trained.workere for the Churchee of Christ In Japan* ...c ^ , IV
i-i r We have^mpre. than. 50% of our total enrollment through the years actively
engaged in evangelism somewhere in Japan,
Ws have had 8 former students-study successfully in the United States and
one of our Japanese professors, Mr* Akira Ode, was honored with a echpiarship to
study Greek in the University of Athens, in Athens, ^Greece*i .
.vi Oda has compiled the pnly Greek-tJapanese Lexicon in print; ijij ;tho .world
today, and has been granted another full scholarship for 2 years in the same
university
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5TATISTIc5 FHCih THl FliiLD UF SRVIl
Japan has a population of almost 100 million peopleabout HALF that of the
United States.
Japan is an island country with a total LAND ARlA approximately that of the
State of California.
The total Christian population (using this term very loosely and xncluding
all bodies socalled in Japan) is LCoS than BOO thousand or 8/10 of
Osaka Bible Seminary is in 1966, the ONLY Bible College in Japan which is
neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant.
Churches of Christ (Christian) have approximately ONLY 2000 members in a
bout 45 congregations served by about 31 trained leaders.
Osaka Bible Seminary recruits its students from THIS LIMITED but extremely
needy field.
THE "NllD"
There is a "Need" in our times for BIBLE COLLEGES to train witnesses be
cause there is no foundation upon which to buxld the conversion of people to
Christ such as there was in New Testament timespaiticularly in countries with
predominantly non-Christian cultures.
"The Need" for Christian witnesses trained in a BIbi_E CULlEGE wholly dedi
cated to New Testament principles was seen by pioneers among our people.
"The Need" for a BIBlE COLLEGE in Japan was seen by Christians in America
and has been met by them in their support through the years.
"The Need" for a BIBLE COLLEGE in Japan has been seen by Japanese Chris
tians who have begun to give their support to maintain and improve the school.
"The Need" for a BIBLE COLLEGE has been seen by Christians with proper
trainingboth Japanese and American-who have given their lives to continue and
develop the work.
"The Need" IN Japan demands COLLEGE level training because of the high re
gard that the Japanese people have for education.
"The Need" for BIBLE college training is doubly important in Japan because
the basis for Christian teaching in Japan has been undermined by the influence
of liberal German scholarship and the theories of theology based on Calvinistic
Protestantism which leaves no true basis for Christian education.
"The Need" for a BIBlE COLLEGt in JAPAN arises because adequate national
leadership can be trained best in the land of the people themselves due to a
number of intangible problems arising through the temporary transplanting of a
student in a strange culture and environment, i.e. high school stuoents or grad
uates going abroad to study.
"The Need" of this bible Colxege, OSaKa BIBLE SEMINaKY, is adequate, regu
lar support to meet current financial obligations and to insure necessary growth
in facilities as well as properly trained faculty.
OSAKA CHRISTIAN MISSION, INC. ..v c 1^5
(Of America) Wfff
Osaka Bible Seminary George &Ethel Beckman
Osaka, Japan Nishinomiya, Japan
Furlough Address:
Box 311, Footville, Wisconsin 53537
Area Code 608 Telephone 876-4831
May 5, 1966
Dear Christian Friends:
Greetings in the Name of Christ, our Savior, from our third furlough.
n-ui -According to the RECORD, a publication of the American Bible Society, the
become the Non-fiction Best Seller in Japan. More than 40, 000, OOC copies
ot the Scriptures have been distributed since the end of World War II. This does not
mean that there will be millions of the Japanese people becoming Christians within
the next few months. But this does mean that many of the old prejudices that have
caused incorrect ideas about the Bible and Christianity by the masses ofthe Japanese
are now being pushed aside or disappearing. The Japanese are an intelligent and
talented people. They are in a position to recognize that there is some things avail
able through study of the Bible that is of supreme value for them. They want to
obtain it. Therefore, they are now obtaining copies of the Bible to study it so that
they may obtain what is there for them. They need guidance to help them understand
this precious book. They need many like Philip who taught another seeker the real
meaning of the Scriptures and baptized him.
Osaka Bible Seminary opened a new school year last month. According to
reports received here, there should be 18 attending classes this year. These are
some of the "Philips" in Japan in this generation. They are needed and I am glad
that we have had a share in preparing some of the past students for this very im
portant work. This institution needs more help in different ways to fulfill its task -
prayer help, financial help, personnel help, etc.
Another family returned for furlough last month from the Osaka area. Another
family will return for furlough in July. This makes it more urgent that we get back
w-1 work there. We have made reservations to sail on the President
Wilson, scheduled to leave San Francisco, August 4th. We will need about $2, 000
more for payment of our passage and freight. Pray that this may be in hand by the
fore part of July. We could also use some extra funds to buy a few more supplies to
aid in conducting our work. Pray that we may continue to enjoy good health to be free
to devote our time and energy to the most important work in the world.
JYe are planning to attend the North American Christian Convention before we
leave this part of the States and head back to Japan. This will be the first North Am
erican for Ethel and me in 20 years. I have been asked to be on the panel for one of
the interest group sessions.
Thank you and may God bless you all.
Your ministers to Japan,
The Beckmans
OSAKA CHRISTIAN MISSION, INC.
(Of America)
Osaka Bible Seminary George & Ethel Beckman
Osaka, Japan Nishinomiya, Japan
Furlough Address:
Box 311, Footville, Wisconsin 53537
Area Code 608 Telephone 876-4831
November 4, 1966
Dear Christian Friends:
Greetings in the Name of Christ, our Savior, from our third furlough.
The news about the work in Japan we receive is most encouraging to us as we hear
from time to time from-various sources in Japan. The last part of last year, Osaka
Bible Seminary sponsored two programs that proved to be of great importance accord
ing to the results sent to us.
One of those programs was Tanemaki Kai. This is a preaching rally held on the
campus of Osaka Bible Seminary. The program, housing and all is planned by Osaka
Bible Seminary. A theme is chosen and titles and texts for the various messages are
given to different native ministers and missionaries to develop, prepare and deliver
at the proper place in the program. There is also the best in Christian music that we
as a people have in Japan. The main purpose is to promote a greater determination
to use all the talents, strength and resources of all the Christian workers in Japan and
to give some sense of proper direction of these. According to reports, the meeting
last November accomplished its purpose.
The other of those programs was the Week of Evangelism, The activity during
this week is usually mostly outside of the city of Osaka, Some of it has been there in
the past, but the nature of the program means that it be held in many places in Japan.
The students and faculty members of Osaka Bible Seminary unite into various teams
depending on the requests of the different churches in Japan and the students and fa
culty available. These teams travel to those churches and hold evangelistic meetings
and this includes service for children and different groups in the churches. There
fore, this activity is ususlly outside of the city of Osaka.
Last November thus week was very successful for many people in Japan. The
teams v/ere greatly encouraged. The churches visited were also greatly helped.
Statistically in numbers, the confessions were as follows: Tokyo - 1; Shikoku - 3;
Kiishiro - 12; Kagoshima - 1; Kushikino - 1; Tanegashima - 3. Also some prospec
tive students for Osaka Bible Seminary were interviewed. This is usually the greatest
gain for the seminary.
It appears that Donnie Mings should be given considerable credit for this particular
Week of Evangelism. There is a limit to the strength and time of the students and fa
culty and the money available to pay expenses and this last November these were at a
lov/ level . Thus, there v/as some who had considered not making the effort, but Donnie
insisted that it be attempted. Praise God!
After reading the various accounts I had the following feeling: While v/e are in
Japan, I can give of my ov/n time and strength even though I could not give too much
money to help in the various expenses connected with this Week of Evangelism, From
here I can pray, which is important, but I would have liked to have been able to send
more money to help out. But our mission funds are not too plentiful.
Ethel has been very busy with something that may be classed as an "extra" for a
missionary on furlough. She had started to duplicate some of the Sunday School ma
terial from Standard to be used by some of the Sunday Schools in Japan, She had
promised to continue this until something more appropriate to the Japanese conditions
be done in Japar, She and Naomi Nagata {now in Lincoln Christian Seminary) have
been working together on getting printing plates prepared to be sent to Japan and printed
there. Now Ethel has enough of this done to last until v/e are back in Japan,
Travel seems to be the one requirement of missionaries on furlough. To help in
"missionary education" for the various congregations this is quite essential as there
is something the living presence of the missionary can contribute to this education.
We as missionaries sometimes also can gain something more than the added necessary
mission funds. Ethel and I spent about 5 hours at Standard Publishing in Cincinnati
last month. This was one thing I had wanted for Ethel. We not only saw th .^ plant and
facilities but also spent much time witK'various personnel, expecially the editors or
main people in the various departments. This will be very helpful in getting better
material printed for the Sunday School and D.V.B.S. in Japan. We appreciate very
much the extra time granted to us by these people of Standard Publishing,
We become tired from late hours necessitated by travel. We have the occasional,
customary cold and stomach disorder, but on the whole we all maintain pretty good
health. We are very greatful for this as we do keep very busy and poor health would
make it that much more difficult to get very much done.
There is one part, of our furlough that is very enjoyable. We can buy some of the
ingredients for Japanese foods in Madison. We have eaten some as a family. Also,
we have entertained some of the Sunday School classes by preparing a Japanese meal
for them. This is interesting for them and we like this food very much.
Some may think it too soon and others may think it too late, but we have contacted
a travel agency about our passage back to Japan this August. We had in mind trying
the same ship line we used the last time we returned to Japan, This line has good
accomodations and the price was favorable and also there were sailings at the most
favorable time. We were disappointed when we were told that this line will not have
any ships sailing at the time v/e want to return. We have instructed the travel agency
to search further. Pray that satisfactory sailing may be found soon.
Financially, we could use more mission funds to prepare to return to Japan and
have funds to pay the necessary expenses for the work that have increased with the
inflation that seerns to be rushing over the whole world. Pray that these needs may
foe met.
Thank you very much for your part in making our work possible. May God bless
you all.
Your ministers to Japan,
The Beckmans
OSAKA CHRISTIAN MISSION, INC.
(of America) ^
(not for profit corporation) ^
Forwarding Agents Missionaries
Oden & Rema Brown George & Ethel Beckman
R. R. 3, Stafford Avenue 97 Kamizono'cho
Carbondale, Illinois 629C1 Nishinomiya, Japan
November 12, 1966
Dear Christian Friends;
Greetings in the name of Christ. Thank you for your prayers and other support
of us and the work here.
Everyone was given safety of travel to and from ^the various place during the
Week of Evangelism sponsored by Osaka Bible S^ary. Most were very tired
after returning, some were a little disappointed in part of the results but,
all were very happy about the evidences of victory. Some of the students,
and faculty, too, had attempted some things they had nevever attemed before.
In this respect these people probably gained more than they gave, but the
total picture should be taken into consideration.
Accurate records are kept in heaven and the churches of Christ are not known
especially as "record keepers". But attempting to assemble the various figures
that I could gather from the different teams some statement of activities and
results of concrete form may be given. There were 6 teams who went to dif
ferent places from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. 46 adult
sessions were held and 36 children's sessions v.ere held. Counting those who
made their confession at the meetings and those v.ho stated that they wanted
to make their confession the next Gunday, .vhen relatives could be present
to whom their confession could be a vvitness, or for some other reason, there
were 13 who could be counted as having taken this step during the Week of
Evangelism.
This summary does not take Into consideration many other factors. Teaching
had been done before the meetings. There were !nany hours of discussion with
those who asked for extra help in answer to serious questions. Some of this
took place at the place and time of ..ieeting and some took place hours before
the meeting and some took place after the rreeting where the members of teams
were staying. Also there was much leg power expended in calling from door
to door distributing tracts and announce rents of the church address and services.
There was also some discussion and answering of questions as this was done.
Other results will have to ..ait until the future. There were some new people
brought to the churches for further teaching, and there ia the possibility that
they will become Christians in the future. Osaka Bible Seminarj gained in a
better understanding of her purpose in the minds of some of the church people
who have not had too much contact with her in the past.
One conclusion is certainly accurate. It was well worth the cost in time,
energy and money. All three were spent.
Ethel and Mrs. Fujimoto, the preacher's wife here in Nishinomiya, have
held their first meeting with the women of the ureu. There were 7
women present and these were all from the immediate area. A number of
the people who attend the Japanese churches may travel some distance to
assemble while those who live near the church building refuse to come.
Thus we are very happy when any from near the meeting house attend a
service. These women's meetings are scheduled to meet once a month.
One of the most encouraging things about the meeting this week was the
strong interest in Bible study. Some of the women, not Christians,
stated that they did not feel that they had time to meet, if the main
purpose of meeting was something other than Bible study. They are
already busy with other groups doing other worth while things. But
Bible study was one thing they could not do at the other meetings. If
this meeting here was mainly for Bible study, they felt they could take
time to attend. Please pray that this attitude may continue and that
Ethel & Mrs. Fujimoto can meet this challenge successfully. The next
meeting is scheduled for December 7th. Please remember that date and
pray for this meeting.
The next scheduled event of interest above the regular meetings is to be
held at Osaka Bible Seminary, November 21-23. The 23rd is Thanks
giving Day, a national holiday here in Japan. This meeting is called
"Tanemaki Kai". The name means "seed sowing meeting" and is a
preaching convention. This is an annual convention conducted by
Osaka Bible Seminary. The theme this year is from Philippians 2:16
"Holding forth the word of life". The theme text is from Luke 4:36
"What is the word?" This meeting will bring Christians, preachers
and missionaries from many parts of Japan to Osaka to participate in
singing, praying, preaching, studying and discussion designed to sow the
seed of the gospel, niiure the seed that has been sown and the plants^
that have grown up from former seed sown-. Please pray for this meeting.
Beginning today we have an extra digit in our telephone number. Our
new number is: area code - 0798; telephone number 22-5340.
The Hokkaido Team
G. Beckman K. Takeyasu 0. Doyama
Thank you and may God
bless you.
Your ministers to Japan,
91. fBec^man
The Beckmans
Nishinomiya, Japan
December 14, 1966
Dear Loved Ones at Home,
Once again the Christmas season is upon us with all its hustle and bustle.
The activities here and there are beginning to crowd upon us.
Perhaps some of you read in George's last letter of the women's meeting
we started here in November. I am really encouraged by the interest they are
showing. Our second meeting in December had the same number as the first,
although three in our first meeting were unable to attend that day. Several
of the women are mothers of my Bible School class children.
I wish you could see my Bible School class. They really are a source
of inspiration to me. They are so interested and learn the lessons so very
well, and best of all they are bringing their friends so one by one the number
is growing each Sunday.
I also have an English Bible class on Sunday afternoon. Although the
high school students were not interested, two junior college young women
have been coming. If I keep on, I pray the interest will increase.
Saturday Jenann and Mary sang in the Junior High chorus from Canadian
Academy at an International Youth Rally. There were four international
schools, a Chinese school and a Korean school represented on the program.
Several children appeared in their native costumes. Miss Harding came home
from prayer meeting with us and went to the rally. She thoroughly enjoyed
it as much as I did.
This Friday morning I am going to the kindergarten Christmas program
where most of my Bible School pupils attend. In the afternoon I am to
speak at a PTA in Osaka on the training of children in an American home.
That evening we are having a sukiyaki party for the Seminary students at
the Mings.
Saturday morning I must go to another kindergarten Christmas program,
for our preacher's little boy.
The church here is having their Christmas program this Sunday evening,
the eighteenth. We are having a rice curry supper together, followed by a
candlelight worship service.
Monday George and I are invited to the Christmas program at the Kyoto
Church kindergarten. Probably just George will go.
Tuesday evening, I am to speak to the Women's meeting at Nakaburi
where the Mings work.
Wednesday the Grade school at Canadian Academy has their Christmas
program and Thursday the High school has theirs. The children's vacation
begins the twenty-third and we are having our missionary Christmas dinner
here that day.
Saturday a couple of women are coming to help me make cookies for the
children's program Christmas afternoon. We will give the children a light
refreshment after the program.
May the light of Christ fill your heart with peace and hope especially
at this Christmas season, and may the New Year bring added blessings and
opportunities to witness for Him.
In Christian love,
Stfiei 9/1. ^ec^man.
Ethel M. Beckman
OSAKA CHRISTIAN MISSION, INC.
(of America) v
^ ' 97 Kamizono-cho
Nishinomiya, Japan
December 17, 1966
Dear Christian Friends;
Thank you very much for your prayers in our behalf and in behalf of the
work being attempted here. Your physical help is also greatly appreciated.
The physical is more tangible and in this materialistic age the prayers are
sometimes neglected. We become tired and the strain of a language not our
native tongue and a much different type of thought pattern takes its toll on
our strength. With your prayer support and God's help we can continue.
Ethel and Mrs. Fujiraoto met the second time with the women of the area
and again the interest was keen and in the proper direction. This is very
promising and we thank you very much for your prayers for this venture.
Tanemaki Kai is past and it was successful. The actual number of those
registering was 87, which was a little lower than at former meetings. There
were some who attended some of the sessions but did not register. This is
a convention where both native ministers and missionaries share the main task
of bringing messages developed along a main theme. There is also time for a
more devotional type of session and each evening there is a full hour of hymn
singing which is a highlight of the convention. The people who attend are a
little more earnest than the average and their singing during the hour long
song festival clearly demonstrates this.
I received the financial report on the Week of Evagelism and the
Tanemaki Kai. Because of some unexpected donations the Tanemaki Kai had
a profit of 4560 Yen and the Week of Evangelism had a deficit of only 4403
Yen to be covered by the Osaka Bible Seminary budget. The result was a
gain of 157 Yen or about 43 cents, which was very good for this type of
activity. But the current expenses of Osaka Bible Seminary do continue
to be a cause for prayer.
Last night the annual sukiyaki party for the students and faculty of
Osaka Bible Seminary, usually given by the president in his house, was held
at the Mings house in Hirakata. It was good and appreciated, but Martin
and Evelyn Clark were missed. Please pray for them. This party is the
sign that the Seminary has recessed for the year end. Classes will begin
again on Janurary 4, 1967. In the intensive system we use here I have
been teaching the 12 week period since returning to Japan. I was to have
a 6 weeks rest to get ready for the next intensive. This is somewhat like
a long distance, non-stop flight where it is necessary to have everything
aboard before take-off. But one of the students has a health problem that
may be greatly improved if he could have an operation and then have about
6 months or more of rest. He has one required course to take before he can
graduate. This is a course that I was scheduled to teach the second six
weeks of the next 12 week term. It would be advantageous for this student
to have the operation fairly soon. Thus I may be again teaching after the
year end recess instead of having a needed rest. Ethel will have 6 more
weeks to get ready to teach a course. Please pray for all of us, faculty
and students as we try to cope with the problems that arise.
May God bless you all, especially as we enter the new year.
AMERICAN ADDRESS Your ministers to Japan,
Oden & Rema Brown cn nO o
Route 3, Stafford Avenue JL. dOeckmun
Carbondale, Illinois 62901 The Beckmans