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PRAISE REPORT FROM JAPAN
Beloved friends
You are the foundation upon which God continues to build His Kingdom and enable me to bring the Light of His Word – Jesus – first to the Jews and then to the nations.
Every trip outside of Israel expands and enriches God’s Kingdom as well as my own life. Christ transcends language and cultural borders or boundaries. It is thrilling as we share not only our love for Him, but also His love for Israel, my adopted home land.
My recent ministry to the Believers in Japan was no different and yet unique.
While flying home I began to write this report and was listening to a traditional Hebrew song (Give thanks to the Lord because He is good) being sung in Japanese! Despite “Replacement Theology” being in 75% of the Japanese churches, all of my hosts had an unequalled passion for Israel. Thus they had translated many of our songs into their own language. It was their precious way of making a bridge between us.
Thus they hungered for the current news and for a deeper understanding of the Word. God provided a variety of ministry opportunities – several short and others extensive and intensive.
Of course the trip began as it ended, sharing Jesus with the lost.
Moishe drove me to the airport. “I’ve never heard such story” he said and “yes” he’d be interested in learning more. Sadly he’s not responded to my follow up phone calls, but he HEARD the message.
Oliver was my seatmate from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt. His arms were covered with brightly colored and abstract tattoos. He promptly told me that when he transferred from a business to art major, he “came out of the closet.” This precious Jewish (and gay) young man was ready but ill equipped to argue the claims of Christ. But he too HEARD of God’s love.
Hansi was the waiter (from India) in the Frankfurt airport. He claimed to be a “non- practicing Muslim and listened intently to every word I shared. I became concerned that he spent so much time at my table. But at the end of each “session” he went right back to the “all roads lead to God” argument.
On the last day in Japan I was taken to the 
“Temple of Mercy” in Tokyo. These two rickshaw runners posed for the camera.
That gave me the opportunity to share Jesus right in that center of the occult. Each listened intently (Thank God for an excellent translator). One nodded that he wanted Jesus to have his life because he “had heard about Christianity.” We exchanged cards but at the last minute, neither was ready to pray. Kiyomi will be following them both up.
Kiyomi (translator)
Religious Strongholds
Japan is a very religious nation. Budha and Shintu are 
their “gods.” Fear is their single motivator. Fear of man and fear of “god.” The above mentioned Temple of Mercy is anything but a source of mercy. Before the people can enter, they go through a ritual of “cleansing”. First they buy their “fortune” on a rolled up piece of paper. Then they take their prophesy to the fire where they burn it causing a smoky vapor to engulf them. This vapor is supposed to bring them good luck, so they pat the smoke into their hair, onto their clothes and breathe it deep into their lungs. Our hearts were broken as we watched even the tourists immerse themselves in this smoke, thus inviting the spirits of darkness to pervade their lives. Across from this furnace was the fountain of cleansing water. Each pilgrim would rinse their mouth from the water which poured from the faucets and then spit it into the basin…thus “cleansing their mouths from impure words.
Only then were the pilgrims enabled to enter the Temple and pray for mercy never knowing if mercy would be granted.
 This fear of the gods also affected their fear of each other. Hiding their emotions and feelings behind stone walls of “hospitality”, “saving face” or “shyness” intimacy is quite rare even between husband and wife! I think their wearing of face masks to keep them from germs is only an outworking of the internal masks of self protection. Fear and tradition keep them isolated and bound.
Desperate for relationship many of the women are finding Christ is their answer!
There are some Shintu customs which have a striking similarity to Judaism. Three times a year are major festivals during which the priests march through the streets carrying their gold encrusted arc. Rather than cherubim, these arc have horns similar to the horns on the Burnt Altar and the Altar of incense. I’m told there are enough similarities in the two languages that give rise to the belief that one of the “lost tribes” wound up in Japan!
Ministry reports:
Nagoya
 My hosts, Gary and 
Carol Hall are pastors at Nagoya International Christian Assembly. While there is a preponderance of Filipinos, many African nations are represented, along with Canada, Brazil, Holland, Ukraine, Ethiopia, and of course Japan. Over the years, the Halls have sponsored many of these sometimes new believers, through Bible school and then have sent them back to their home countries to plant churches! My assignment was to teach on the Kingdom Holidays bringing
their application to today’s church. Over the two weeks, we met 9 times and still barely made a dent! Nevertheless the response was fantastic.
- · I thank God thru you who helped me to understand and find His hidden jewel (the Word). His desire is for the people to understand His Word and to open those who are blind.
- I really give glory to God for His goodness to us and to you. I really bless all of your teaching to us, a lot of revelation I got. I give thanks to Him.
 Perhaps the highlight was our Passover Seder. It was one I’ll never forget. They were very creative: using tortillas instead of Matzot and the Japanese style of a TV dinner called “Bento boxes.”
One of the attendees said, “This night has revived my spiritual life. God really does love me!” Hallelujah!
When I taught on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) a woman was saved! Through the graphic teaching of the High Priest and the scape goat, the woman came under conviction. Although I did not call for a response (very unusual for me) I did pray for everyone individually. When she came forward she told me that she “loves Jesus so much” and had just made her decision to follow Him! Hallelujah 
Another highlight was the opportunity to preach on Sunday morning in the Japanese church. I was told this was highly unusual for two reasons. 1) The pastor never invites anyone not of his denomination and 2) he wasn’t there, thus leaving his church totally in the hands of a stranger. But here’s the really fantastic thing. The pastor went to Bible school in Jerusalem and has led many trips to Israel. While here, he brought his team to a city called Kiryat Gat to pray. This is a tiny city in the south near Ashqelon. Well, two years ago a small revival among the youth (my beloved “son” Yaron) began in Kiryat Gat! Isn’t God incredible?!
For two years God has been speaking to me about doing something practically for His people to demonstrate in action His Father’s Heart. I didn’t mention this to anyone, yet Pastor Gary took up a collection for a benevolent project of my choice! Thus I returned home with the seed which will reap a great harvest. Until the Lord gives further direction the seed will be planted in the bank where it can bring forth an increase.
Tokyo - Aglow
Aglow is an international ministry to, for and by women. Recently the national president had died and the women were in need of encouragement and exhortation. Thus I went to the three scheduled  meetings with a good measure of fear and trembling.
First were two regular monthly meetings, one in Tokyo and the other in Ibaraki. The assignment was simple – my testimony. Well of course there’s nothing “simple” with God. He has a way of making everything exciting and eternal. Upon walking into the meeting room in Tokyo I met an American pastor. Having a man at these women’s meetings is only slightly unusual but noteworthy. Almost immediately we found mutual ground. Pastor Bill lived and ministered in Portland, OR and went to the same seminary as I did.
The response to my testimony was a filled altar as women ran forward for healing of issues of rejection, abandonment and betrayal. I was most shocked because there had been so much laughter and joy as I told my story. Of course I had to explain why I went from “Joan” to “Joanie” and the healing touch of God in my life. But those words struck a deep chord in the souls of most of the women. For at least fifteen minutes the Holy Spirit ministered to each woman at the altar. Then I led them in a simple prayer for God to reveal the areas of wounding, repent for believing the lies of the enemy and finally forgiveness. Then I spoke a “mother’s blessing” over them as Pastor Bill gave them a “father’s blessing.” God collected many tears that day (Psalm 56), tears of joy and release.
Later the women gave testimony:
- · During the time of silence at the altar, God showed me how much bitterness I was carrying. Then He released me of it all!
- · I never realized that my mother loved me until you blessed me as she should have. I had a vision of her carrying me as a child!
- · I realized my daughter’s shyness might be due to my fears of an early delivery. I kept saying, “Don’t come out.” Thus to this day she tries to stay hidden.
- · I forgave my grandmother for saying, “You’ll never have children.” And I never did.
- Friends, God is really amazing when we simply get out of the way!
Pastor Bill immediately extended an invitation to return to Japan to minister the message of the Father’s Heart to his church. (I accepted and will bring a team to help with the ministry, hopefully in November.)
The ministry in Ibaraki was not quite as dramatic, but equally as powerful because God is the same. Here is the new national president receiving prayer under the tallit (Jewish prayer shawl). Later she reported that the word spoken over her was a confirmation of what God had been speaking to her!
Prayer Army
The final ministry was to the Aglow prayer warriors throughout the country. They had planned a two day meeting on beautiful conference grounds. A Passover Seder was planned for the evening. Time was of the essence as we were quite limited by the hotel. So I had serious doubts how we could do a complete Seder set up in 45 minutes. I’ve never seen such organization. The women were able to transform the entire room from a classroom to a Seder! Truly this is an army of the Lord.
 To see my Haggadah written in Japanese was a thrill.  The women did a massive job. I was able to step aside and only interject an occasional teaching. The women had a wonderful time as you can see by these pictures.
The dramatic reading (Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22) was the best I’ve heard in 19 years! A holy hush descended on the room as we knew we’d been taken into the heart of the Father as He watched the Cross.
The Cross is what the Gospel is all about. And the Cross is at the heart of every one of my messages. Whether I’m sharing my testimony of faith or the Kingdom Holidays, God’s love as manifested by the Cross is central.
  The Cross is, at the same time, a message of love, peace, joy, holiness and justice. It is a message of mercy and punishment, of hope and dread. May I never tire of its beauty and horror.
In conclusion I am indebted to each of you who prayed for and help support this trip. I believe that many lives were touched by this ministry as evidenced by the invitation by Aglow, Nagoya and Tokyo to return.
On a more personal note, I was able to see the fruit of the ministry I received in Dallas last year. God’s peace and strength and above all His joy were ever present. Two more testimonies bear witness:
- · Joanie you are so comfortable to be with and so much fun.
- · You’ve given us tremendous freedom and released us from the burden of all that “Jewish stuff” that so many people teach us. Now we’re able to celebrate the Kingdom Holidays as Gentiles who love Jesus and Israel!
 So few people speak English that I had to be escorted throughout the subway and train system. This was the subway map!
The ancient art of tie-dying is a sight to behold. The process is so like our sanctification. The pattern is drawn on the material and then holes are punched out along the pattern lines. Then the ladies stitch the holes shut – but so tightly that the dye cannot penetrate. Then the fabric is immersed in boiling water. This process might be repeated several times. Finally the threads are removed and the result is magnificent.
With love to each of you,
Joanie
PS. I am glad to be home and plan to stay here for a while. God is pushing me to finish the Holiday Book as a top priority. Second, a precious couple answered my plea to translate for me on the streets. Haim and Karen both have a passion and anointing for evangelism. It will be wonderful to have a steady team with whom to minister. Please pray for us all. Third, there are some wonderful ministry opportunities being offered to me here in the heart of Jerusalem. So I ask for your prayers for God’s clear leading and wisdom to balance all the above.
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