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Not-for-Profit Corporation
Missionaries:
George & Ethel Beckman
Jenann Beckman
2-4-15Kiyoshikojin
Takarazuka, HyogoPref.
665 JAPAN
Phone #0797-86-1261
October 28,1993
Osaka Bible Seminary
Forwarding Agents:
Roger & Beryl Johnson
3320 Wesigaie Parkway
Rockford, IL 61108
815-399-3690
Dear Christian Friends,
"TheLord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distantshores rejoice." Inthese troublesome times
throughout theworld it is good toknowthat theLord still reigns andthat He will work out Hispurpose for
those who love Him.
The all Japan convention of the Churches of Christ was held in Kobe, July 23-25, with the Ono
Church of Christ as hosts. The theme for the convention was "Accordingto the Eternal Changeless Living
Word." There were about 400 in attendance. We attended the evening session on Friday. Jenann took a
loadof peopleinthe car onSunday, but GeorgeandEthelstayed homesotheycouldhaveworship for any
who could not go to the convention.
As in the United States the latter part of Julyand the month of August is the time for camps. Since
the churches of Christ have no camps for youngpeople in this area, our young people go to Shinshu Bible
Camp northwest of Tokyo. Mr. Ikeda was on the staff for two camps which some of our young people
attended. Inthe first camp MiyaKurioka, a firstyear highschoolstudent, went toShinshuBibleCampalong
with the seventeen young people from Tanabe accompanied by our daughter, Ruth Hinson, and Mr.
Yukawa, a kindergarten teacher of the Tanabe church. Inorder to save money they rode commuter trains
which took over twelve hours making several transfers along the way.
In the second camp the following week Misses Naoko Ikebata and Seiko Miyake attended a study
camp for young Christians in Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo.
Toward the end of August Miya Kurioka also attended a camp for junior and senior high school
students in Wakayama sponsored by Dave Hinson and Mr. Ueyama and the young people of the Kinan
Church of Christ in Tanabe. In this camp the campers did all the cooking and cleanup. Miya made her
decision to become a Christian and is now studying Thursday evenings with Mr. Ikeda in preparation for
baptism.
On September 15,a holidayhonoring the elderly, Megumi Church had a special evangelistic meeting
with Mr. Takegawa of the Ono Church of Christ. In the morning and afternoon Mr. Takegawa held a
seminar with church members on the subject of evangelism. In the evening he preached for the special
meeting. There were 40 people in attendance for the evening meeting which is more than double our
regular attendance. Two women who are Christians and live in this community have been coming
frequently to Sunday morning and one couple who came to the meeting for the first time came to worship
a week ago. They seemed interested and said they would try to come as often as they could.
The semi-annual Kobe Women's Luncheon was held October 26. The special feature on the
program was Mr. Shinozaki who sang and gave his testimony. He told how while he was in the depts of
despair he met the love of Christ through the love of a friend. Miss Inoue, the main speaker, told howshe
was set free from hatred for a man who had cruelly treated her in the presence of the pupils in her classroom
and was able to relate that love to her pupils.
The annual preaching convention, knownas Tanemaki Kai, (Seed SowingMeeting) at Osaka Bible
Seminarywillbe November 2and 3. This year's theme isthe "Crucifixionand Resurrection." Mr. Nakahara
from Shizuoka Prefecture will be the first speaker, the eveningof the 2nd. He is one ofour non-instrumental
brethren. Mr. Ikeda, preacher of Megumi church, is the second speaker the morning of the 3rd, and Mr.
N. Saitoh, preacher of Kamizono Church in Nishinomiya, will be the third speaker the afternoon of the 3rd.
Besides her regular classes Ethel has been writinglessons for the Naomi Kai (Women's Fellowship)
of Megumi church, they have been studying the book of Exodus this year. Since there is no material in
Japanese for such a study, Ethel has been writing the levssons, with Jenann's help in getting them into better
Japanese, and the women take turns leading them. It has been rewarding to see howthe women have grown
in their study and ability to add to the material to make it a good lesson.
May the love and encouragement of the Lord be with each of you.
Yours ministers to Japan,
GEORGE & ETHEL BECKMAN