Our missionaries to Japan are the John Mather Family

Dear Prayer Partners,

Spring was a long time in coming this year. Snow remained on the ground for quite some time after the last blizzard we had in April. The storms we had in March were rather unusual and severe. We praise the Lord for the green grass and flowers that are now finally in bloom. The opening of the cherry blossoms here in Japan is something all Japanese look forward to no matter where they live in Japan. It symbolizes the return of spring and shows that summer is not far off.

More imprtant that the return of spring is seeing the lives of lost souls come to know Christ as their Saviour. Then these individuals really bloom. The blooming of someone who was dead in sins being reborn by the Holy Ghost is a thrilling sight. We long to see more souls saved here in northern Japan. At times, we see individual that are interested in the message of Salvation but will not take the step of faith and repentance.

March and April are always difficult months of the year. During this time, many individuals are transferred by their companies to a new city. Often they are only in one place for two or three years. Depending on the company or government office, they may stay for four or five years. This transferring of employees is a bane to this country. The transfers that employees have are for all practical purposes mandatory. The only choice they have is to take the transfer or quit the company or government office. Since quitting is rarely considered, they take the transfer.

Christians with frequent transfers face a difficult situation. More often than not, the transfer will take them to a community where there is no Bible believing church. Satan uses this system of transfer to try and destroy Christians who are employed under such circumstances. Even if they are transferred to a city with a Bible believing church they can attend, they rarely transfer their membership to that church. Since they know they will be transferred again, they do not wish to bother having their membership transferred. Satan also gains a victory here since these Christians do not really grow and miss the spiritual benefits and blessings of being busy in a local church. They wait to settle their church membership after the husband has retired.

Outside of fisherman, farmers, and business owners (those who are property owners and settled in one place for their work), much of the population of any city is in constant flux. At times, it seems almost impossible to build a local church because of the amount of movement in the population. The static population, as mentioned above, often keep working hours that will not allow them to attend services. When one of these is genuinely saved, it takes a great amount of time to see them grow to the place where they will not work on Sundays.

Even though there are many obstances, praise be to our Lord for He is a God for Whom nothing is impossible. Please continue to pray for the Christians here in northern Hokkaido that they might be lighthouses to all with whom they meet on a daily basis. Also pray that we will be able to raise our children to come to know the Lord as their Saviour and then desire to serve Him with all their heart.

Time seems so short before Jesus Christ comes to claim His own. We pray that each of you will be faithful to Him. Hold the standard high and be bold in your proclamation of the Gospel.

For Our Lord's Glory,

John and RuthAnna Mather with Joshua, David, Hannah, Sarah, and Timothy