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Note: This post is from pastor Yutaka Takarada who is currently in Japan ministering alongside Texas Baptist Men volunteers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Takarada pastors the Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas. To support the ongoing ministry efforts of Texas Baptists, click here.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

At 6:45 a.m., we gathered at the lobby and went to our favorite café to have breakfast. At 7:50 a.m., we moved to the convention office. There the wife of the pastor who is staying at the church in Koriyama, Fukushima and their members and children were loading their luggage in the executive director’s minivan. When they got ready, we departed for their hometown in two cars. After three hours of driving, we arrived at the church in Koriyama. There we examined the building with minor damages by the earthquake, and then we joined the meeting of how this church can serve the community in Christ’s love. Full Story »

Note: This post is from pastor Yutaka Takarada who is currently in Japan ministering alongside Texas Baptist Men volunteers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Takarada pastors the Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas. To support the ongoing ministry efforts of Texas Baptists, click here.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

The fifth day in Japan was over with a good night.

A new day has arrived. Even though the sun was up in the east and a morning light beamed into our place, no one wanted to get out of their sleeping bags, because it was so cold. Once we turned off a stove to save fuel, the temperature dropped rapidly here. But it was such a pleasant morning that we all thanked God for the shelter that we could lay our heads down for a night. Full Story »

Note: This post is from pastor Yutaka Takarada who is currently in Japan ministering alongside Texas Baptist Men volunteers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Takarada pastors the Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas. To support the ongoing ministry efforts of Texas Baptists, click here.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

At last, we are headed to Sendai today.

We bought boxes of cup noodles, Kit Kats, two cans of gasoline and four cans of kerosene. The van was fully loaded. As we departed, we prayed together with convention office workers for God’s protection and His guidance so that we could do what the Lord wanted us to do for His glory. We left the convention building at 10 a.m. and arrived at the Yokodai Baptist Church in Sendai after 2 p.m., where we unloaded some of those boxes and kerosene. We filled the tank of the van that the on-site director is driving. Full Story »

Note: This post is from pastor Yutaka Takarada who is currently in Japan ministering alongside Texas Baptist Men volunteers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Takarada pastors the Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas. To support the ongoing ministry efforts of Texas Baptists, click here.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

A tsunami warning was on TV this morning and some of you asked if we were OK. Yes, we are all fine, but it is wonderful to know that our work in Japan is remembered by many people back in Texas.
Full Story »

Note: This post is from pastor Yutaka Takarada who is currently in Japan ministering alongside Texas Baptist Men volunteers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Takarada pastors the Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas. To support the ongoing ministry efforts of Texas Baptists, click here.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

This is the day of worship. We had three choices. One is to go to Tokyo Baptist Church for worship. It would have been easy for John, Gary, and Rex, because it has an English service. Or going to the church where Pastor Kato is serving as an assistant pastor, which is one of the largest churches in the Japan Convention. It has an average of 200 in attendance on Sundays. Full Story »

Note: This post is from pastor Yutaka Takarada who is currently in Japan ministering alongside Texas Baptist Men volunteers in the wake of the recent tragedy. Takarada pastors the Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas. To support the ongoing ministry efforts of Texas Baptists, click here.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

We all slept well, and everyone was ready to walk through this new day. The sky was blue and the sun was up, but it was so cold and windy today that we needed our jackets. In the cold weather like this, our presence gathered cheers of hotel receptionists and hotel guests in the lobby. We were in the center of a cheerful atmosphere created at the lobby this morning. I am sure they sensed something different from us. Full Story »