Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA 21
In the fall of 1996 a document declaring the formation of the Japan Presbytery
was distributed to our congregations, as well as to other Kobe churches and
denominations with which we have fraternal relations.
The Presbytery has fraternal relations with several churches in Japan. In 1996
fraternal delegates were received from the Reformed Church of Japan and the
Presbyterian Church of Japan.
The Japan Presbytery consists of four organized congregations: Higashi Suma
pastored by Sumito Sakai; Okamoto Keiyaku pastored by Shigeru Takiura;
Mukonoso pastored by Gene Spear; and Kasumigaoka which is currently without a
pastor. There are also two mission stations: Hontamon pastored by Sumito Sakai
under the Higashi Suma Session; and Kita Suzurandai pastored by Bill Sterrett.
Bill Sterrett has accepted a call to be pastor of Trinity Christian Community
Fellowship in Larnaca, Cyprus. He is to leave Japan on July 2, 1997. A
presbytery farewell dinner was held for the Sterrett family on June 14 at Suma
International House, Kobe.
Pastor Gene Spear will reach retirement age in August and is to return to the
U.S.
Lie. Shigeki Komuro returned to Japan from Korea in the fall of 1996. He has
done occasional preaching at Kasumigaoka and other congregations.
Pastor Nobuo Miwa continues to do independent evangelistic work in Korea.
He is still a member of the Japan Presbytery, but his work is not officially under
the Presbytery. Support from Japan is through private voluntary contributions.
The Presbytery processed two pastoral calls to Pastor Miwa. One was from
Mukonoso Church to be pastor after Pastor Spear's departure, and the other call
was from the Presbytery to be missionary-pastor at Kita Suzurandai Mission
Station. Pastor Miwa has declined both of these calls.
With Pastor Miwa in Korea, Pastor Sterrett's call to Cyprus, and Pastor Spear's
retirement, the Presbytery is concerned that there will be a shortage of pastors in
Japan. Pastors Takiura and Sakai will be the only ordained ministers with six
worship centers to serve. The Presbytery has reminded the Foreign Mission Board
of its commitment to maintain two ordained missionaries in Japan. The Foreign
Mission Board has not yet found replacements for Pastors Spear and Sterrett. The
Foreign Mission Board has formed a plan to send pastors from the U.S. on a shortterm
trial basis, with the hope that some will be led to serve in Japan on a longterm
basis. We ask you to continue to pray that the Lord will raise up pastors for
His Church in Japan.
From June 1-15, an evangelistic team from the Westminster Church in
Singapore visited our R.P. churches in Japan. They are a fervent Psalm-singing
church who hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith. The team gave
testimonies and did personal work in each of our congregations.