NEWSLETTER March 1, 2020 Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) Congregations in Kumamoto Rev. Hitoshi and Satoko Adachi ELCA Missionary and Associate LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS ited Kumamoto from Saturday, January 18th till IN THE MIDST OF COVID 19: Monday, January 20th, as a part of their Janu- Thank you for your continued thoughts, pray- ary Term class, led by Rev. Dr. Martin ers, and support to the ministry in Japan. Up Lohrmann, the seminary professor, and Rev. until now, as recently as February 28, five Coro- Dr. Toshihiro Takamura, the JELC seminary navirus patients have been confirmed in Kuma- professor. They moto. Although Hitoshi and Satoko do not know wanted to experi- why, many possible patients have not been ence Japanese cul- tested quickly enough. For example, one patient ture, of course, but in Hokkaido prefecture was confirmed as having in addition, they the virus after his death on Wednesday, Feb wanted to learn 26th. Therefore, it is a huge concern that the and experience number of patients in Japan might be much how Japanese higher than currently reported. churches are thriv- Even in that situation, Hitoshi and Satoko are ing in Japan where continuing God’s work carefully with the help of the Christian popu- the Holy Spirit…. Some services, meetings, and lation is so low, less than 1% of the population. visits to Nursing Homes have been mandatorily Also, they were interested in sustainability, an canceled or temporarily suspended. For exam- important environmental issue in Japan. ple, on Ash Wednesday, which was supposed Pastor Hitoshi arranged that they would attend to be one of the busiest days in their ministries; Sunday service at Kengun Lutheran Church there were 7 services/meetings Hitoshi was which was planted as a mission congregation planning to preside/chair. However, two ser- from Kuwamizu Lutheran Church in 1948, three vices in an advanced care facility in Jiaien, and years after World War II ended. After the ser- one service at a nursing school were canceled. vice, they enjoyed a Japanese lunch prepared During the Ash Wednesday service at Ku- by the congregation. Hitoshi and Satoko joined wamizu, the imposition of ashes was canceled, them after the Kuwamizu service. although Hitoshi had ashes upon his forehead During lunch, seven seminarians and about and preached. The timing of Ash Wednesday twenty five congregants started conversation. and the Coronavirus outbreak may be a mean- One question from a Japanese member at ingful coincidence. Pastor Hitoshi preached that Kengun was “Are you all students at your semi- refraining from going outside or attending meet- nary?” The reason behind this question was ings may guide us towards focusing more on Japanese Evangelical Lutheran Church has on- praying to God and also caring more about ly four students at this moment. Therefore, sev- each other as neighbors. en seminarians seemed like a large group to While Hitoshi is writing this newsletter, the her. So, Professor Lohrmann explained that prime minister in Japan asked that all public el- there were about 200 students at Wartburg ementary, middle, and high schools be closed Seminary. Also, there are seven other ELCA from March 2nd until the end of Spring Break, seminaries in the US, although all the seminar- which is the beginning of April. ies are struggling just as JELC is struggling. About the sustainability issue, the visiting semi- HOW MANY SEMINARIANS AT WARTBURG narians were very impressed that all the food SEMINARY? the congregation prepared were served on chi- Master of Divinity and Master of Arts students na plates and in cups. No disposable cups, from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, vis- plates, or chopsticks were used during lunch. FEELING HATSUMOUDE EVEN IN A CHURCH: After returning from the retreat, Hitoshi is now On January 1st, Hitoshi had the privilege of praying very hard, “Lord, have mercy.” Although, preaching at Kurume Lutheran Church in Fukuoka he attended as an American citizen, his ancestors prefecture just north of Kumamoto prefecture, are Japanese. Japan occupied the Korean penin- which is a historic Japa- sula over 30 years until WW II ended, it is a very nese Lutheran church start- sad and painful legacy not only to the people on ed in 1901. Before going the Korean peninsula but also in many parts of there, Hitoshi was told that southeast Asia. As a descendant of that Japan, the number of worship at- Hitoshi has been so sorry for the past. tendees would be around The first church, they visit- 10. Therefore, he prepared ed, was Pyung Kwang 15 bulletins. However, Church (meaning Peace and about the time the service Glory Church.) According to started, he realized the their pastor, Rev. Sung-Uk number of attendees was Cho, their ancestors were in more than 15 and there North Korea. During the Ko- were not enough copies, which was good news. rean War, many churches After the service, one of the council members there were destroyed by informed Hitoshi that 8 attendees came from one communist forces and some Christians escaped family and many of them do not usually attend on down to the South and settled in Namsan in Sundays. It is very common that many Japanese Seoul. And Pyung Kwang Church began there. people visit either a shrine or temple on New As a Christian baptized in a Russian Orthodox Year’s Day. It is called Hatsumoude, which Church in Tokyo, Hitoshi felt compassion regard- means initial worship when a new year begins ing Korea’s history, because many Russian Or- but, in reality, most people do not return to the thodox churches were destroyed and Christian shrine or temple for the rest of the year. Hitoshi is leaders were killed in the early 20th century. How- now praying that the members of the family will ever, Churches in Russia were not completely de- come back to Kurume Lutheran especially be- stroyed. cause a new pastor will be assigned to that Hitoshi now believes there are Christians in church as of April 1st. North Korea like hidden Christians in Japan when Christianity was banned from the early 17th cen- “LORD, HAVE MERCY” tury till late 19th century in Japan. This time in the In the Kyushu District, from the second Monday Kyushu district pastors could meet with Christians in February to Wednesday, they always have a in South Korea but someday they may meet with once a year retreat. As Hitoshi reported last year, Christians in North Korea as well. they went to Amakusa. This year, the district lead- May the Holy Spirit continue to empower Chris- ership decided to go to Korea. From early 2019, tians in North & South Korea. May the Lord bless the political relationship between Korea and Ja- people in the world and keep us in His Grace. pan was worsening, and it made the number of Lord, Have Mercy in these times of political unrest visitors/tourists to both countries is much lower and illness outbreak. Dear Lord, in these difficult compared to the recent past. Therefore, the JELC times, remind us we are all your children and to Kyushu District leadership decided to go to Korea show compassion to one another. Amen! and meet with church leaders and pray together. However, in the middle of January, the corona- virus outbreak became so severe in China, it was worrisome visiting Korea. However, Korean & Japanese church leaders worked diligently and the retreat was successfully realized. Hitoshi and the other pastors are so thankful for both leaders. ELCA Global Mission Support & Contact Information You can give through your synod office or mail your check to Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Gift Pro- cessing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009. Make checks payable to “ELCA Missionaries” with “(Hitoshi and Satoko) Adachi GCS2051” in the memo line. By credit or debit card, see https://community.elca.org/Japan or call 800-638-3522 and specify “(Hitoshi and Sato- ko) Adachi GCS2051”. By automatic monthly bank withdrawal, or to establish a covenant of prayer, communication and support: Contact 800-638-3522, ext. 2657, or [email protected]. NEWSLETTER March 1, 2020 .