Letter from Makita Sensei to Believers in South Africa

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Thanksgiving

In the name of the Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ) Shikoku Ring and the Ring Mission Cooperation Committee, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the official mission cooperation agreement between the church in South Africa and the RCJ Ring of Shikoku, as well as for sending Tobie and Annalie de Wet to Shikoku. The mission cooperation with the De Wets has been excellent and blessed. Many thanks to those of you who have sent them to Japan with so many sacrifices and continue to support them. Furthermore, after hearing that you plan to send Stephan and Carina van der Watt as new missionaries to Japan, we are full of gratitude to the Lord and overflowing with joy. With great anticipation, we eagerly look forward to the arrival of the new missionaries.

Why Do We Need More Missionaries in Japan?

We have a very clear and strongly articulated need for and request for new missionaries here in Japan and in Shikoku. However, we realize that there may be various questions among you about the need for more missionaries to Japan. For example: “Japan, being one of the world’s strongest economies, surely doesn’t need any more missionaries?” “The cost of living in Japan is so high, it’s too expensive to send and support missionaries there…” “It’s too difficult to get used to the Japanese culture, customs, and society, and mastering the language. Wouldn’t it be much more economical and effective to just train Japanese pastors?” “The problems South Africa is facing domestically are so large and numerous, shouldn’t we rather use our finances and energy to address those instead of sending missionaries overseas?” I see it as my responsibility to answer such questions.

Therefore, I give the following reasons why we need missionaries here in Japan and ask for your support:

1. Japan is entirely a non-Christian country. It is one of the countries that most urgently needs the proclamation of the Gospel. We need the help of overseas missionaries….

   The population of Japan is approximately 130 million, and even when combining Protestant and Catholic Christians, they account for less than 1% of the population. The total number of Protestants is about 400,000. The majority of Japanese people are Buddhists and Shintoists. Economically, Japan may be wealthy, but spiritually, we are extremely poor. It is completely impossible for the 1% of Christians to reach the 130 million non-Christians on their own. This should strongly highlight the necessity of sending overseas missionaries.

2. Japan as a country may be economically strong, but the church in Japan is not! Especially the congregations on the island of Shikoku are economically struggling and are not able to support mission workers. The church needs overseas missionaries.

   Japan is a wealthy country, but the church is not rich. Even in the large urban areas, church attendance is no more than 150 in large congregations. In the 19 congregations of the RCJ on Shikoku, the average confessional membership per congregation is about 25 people. The vast majority of congregations cannot afford a pastor. “Larger” congregations still have to support vacant congregations financially and otherwise. Many members are like sheep without a shepherd. Members are just getting older, with the average age already over 70! In ten to twenty years, the continued existence of the church on Shikoku will be in jeopardy…. Without the help of missionaries, there is little hope for the survival of the church or the continuation of the church’s mission.

3. The church in Japan needs to be spiritually inspired by the missionary vision and passion of missionaries.

   Mission work in Japan, especially in more rural areas like Shikoku, faces strong opposition. The number of converts/baptisms from paganism for the whole church on Shikoku in 2006 was just one person, and in 2007 it was only four. Mission workers give their best and everything for the evangelization of fellow Japanese, but often both full-time workers and members are discouraged and demoralized. It is immeasurable how much missionaries’ vision and passion can give full-time Japanese missionaries and members renewed courage and inspiration. Tobie and Annalie are making a great spiritual impact on all the congregations and members of Shikoku.

4. The church in Japan needs the historical spiritual inheritance of the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa through missionaries.

   The history of the Protestant church in Japan is only 150 years old. The Christian Reformed Church of Japan (RCJ) is only 60 years old. We need to receive more of the spiritual and historical legacy of the church in South Africa. We need the “import” of your faith inheritance. This is best transmitted through the life and example of missionaries. Even if it is only a few missionaries, their impact is immeasurably large. It is even possible that society and culture itself could be influenced by their presence. We would like the influence of missionaries to be recognized across a wide field.

5. Missionaries open a window to the wider world for the youth and children of Japan and the church in Japan.

   Missionaries create a strong interest in Christianity among young people and children in Japan. Especially in mission work among youth, missionaries play an important role. Mission work among young people and children in Japan is extremely important and necessary. In this regard, we have great expectations for missionaries. The new young missionary couple, Stephan and Carina, should have a significant impact on the youth. Furthermore, it can open a window for our youth and children to the wider world, specifically to Africa. This could lead to young people from Japan becoming missionaries to Africa, particularly in the fields of medicine and education.

6. Missionaries also bring indirect and direct spiritual benefits to the church in South Africa.

   World mission is the calling of the church. When the church fulfills its calling, it enriches itself. The financial burden of mission work in Japan is great for the church in South Africa, but by sending your spiritual inheritance to the church in Japan, you will also be blessed and enriched. There is also the possibility that your church in South Africa can receive something important and valuable from our small church in Japan and be enriched. In the future, it may happen that missionaries from Japan will come to South Africa and make a great impact. God’s ways are so much more wonderful than we can imagine.

7. To make the work of missionaries truly effective, it is necessary to have more missionaries together on the field.

   The work of missionaries can only be truly effective when more missionary couples are working together on the field to encourage each other, strengthen each other, pray together, plan together, and work as a team. It is not easy to be a missionary in a non-Christian country like Japan. Missionaries need to be able to pastorally care for each other. When they join forces, they should accomplish a great work. Furthermore, when there are more missionaries, the work is ensured to continue uninterrupted when one steps down. It doesn’t mean much if a missionary’s work is only for a limited time and then suddenly stops. However, when it continues over a long period, it bears much fruit. Especially now, in the case of the young missionaries, Stephan and Carina, who are coming to follow in the footsteps of Tobie and Annalie, who are retiring, this is an excellent example of what is meant by the uninterrupted continuation of the work. Furthermore, Carina, the daughter of Tobie and Annalie, is already familiar with Japan, its culture, language, and lifestyle. We are absolutely convinced of God’s Hand and guidance in their coming…!

Finally

We are not primarily asking for financial help and support from the church in South Africa. We desire to be as self-sufficient as possible. We also want to contribute as much as we can to the work of missionaries. Unfortunately, our resources are limited. We will be grateful if you understand this. More than financial help, we need the missionaries themselves and, through the missionaries, something of the spiritual inheritance of the church in South Africa, particularly the missionary passion of the missionaries. This is also our expectation for the new young missionary couple.

In the near future, I plan to come to South Africa myself and, with my thanksgiving, also directly convey our need for and reasons for more missionaries.

May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ richly rest upon you.

Makita