Sakura (cherry blossoms) are over, but it is getting warmer and warmer (at least here in Northern Hemisphere).  How are you?  I hope this letter finds you well.

I am sorry that this letter is arriving to you so late.  The latest one was sent out in February.  Today, through this letter, I would like to report to you mainly about All Nations Returnees Conference (ANRC) which you have been faithfully praying for.

Second Step

I felt that the ANRC we just had was our “SECOND STEP”. Everything was new to us last year.  That is why we struggled quite a bit to run and host the conference.  However, because it was the first time, we had such a huge expectation for the Lord!  Since we had nothing to compare with, all we could do was to expect and wait for His work to begin!  Our eyes were naturally and completely fixed on Jesus.

This time around, since it was the second time, we had expectations from the participants since they knew how powerfully it was blessed last time.  We were able to improve some aspects from our experiences.  Last time our topic was “the reality and potential of returnees”, and this time, we focused on their “POTENTIALS”.  We discussed on ministries that returnees can initiate and/or involved.  The main theme was “Bridge to the World”, carried over from last year, and its sub-theme was “One Body Many Parts”.  Some of the topics were:

1. Becoming Bridge Builders to welcome returnees
2. Involved in International Student Ministries in Japan using returnees experiences
3. Building partnership among Local Churches in different Cultures because returnees know the needs and realities

We welcomed more than 700 participants.  We were also able to broadcast live online and the total of more than 1,000 people had participated fully or partially to this conference.  (What a technology!)

ANRC Continues, continues, and continues…..

This second ANRC just got STARTED!  Next ANRC is going to be held November, 2012.  Until then, we wil be moving forward to continue to build NETWORK to encourage different regions, to deepen PARTNERSHIP to support, serve as God’s family.  It doesn’t matter where you are saved, what nationalities you are, we can move forward together for the world mission.  Out of ANRC, regional meetings, small groups, and conferences are planned by returnees and their friends to welcome other returnees and others in different locations.  These are indeed works of BRIDGE BUILDERS.  Please refer to ANRC homepage for updated information.

Trust and Obey

I shared a little about “Trust and Obey”, my newyear resolution in the last letter.  Not having my foundation on the things I can see or understand, but in spite of the circumstances, putting the complete trust in the Lord who is Omniscience and Almighty.  At this second ANRC, it was obvious that all of this was His work as we were allowed to trust and obey the One who does the work.

It is such an honor and privilege to have served in the preparation and running of the ANRC as JCFN.  As the ministries of returnees are moving forward and spreading, JCFN is still the only ministries with full-time staffs and the office, even we are so small.  Therefore it was evident that we were involved in ANRC in the way we did.  However, I must confess, although it was natural and expected, this had given us lots of challenges and sacrifices.

For instance, although I was in Japan for almost three months for the conference, I couldn’t spend nearly the time I hoped for in doing follow up.  There were so many people whom I wanted to meet and pray together, take them to small groups and to churches.  Those are the ones who would not be able to come to ANRC for one reasons or the other.  I am not regretting for ANRC at all, however, the reality was, I just couldn’t manage it well enough and the follow up work was stopped.

I know God knows.  Because of ANRC, there were so many people with needs who were able to get connected or reconnected.  So, I trust God and His timing and ways.  Even though we couldn’t do the follow up of people in the way we usually do, God is still in control.  I trust that through ANRC, God had raised a handful of people as Bridge Builders who would do the personal level of follow up in different places of Japan.

My desire and JCFN’s desire is not to understand the situation, but even when we don’t know why nor can’t figure things out, we trust God of love, Almighty, and Omniscience who is in control of every situations.  There are many small great things started out of ANRC.  We are prayerfully looking forward to see how God would unfold these things in the near future.

This is all in Japanese, but you can watch the main sessions of ANRC online.  Please watch it or introduce it to your contacts.

1. Video - ANRC Conference (Main session only)

http://allnations.jp/an10/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97&Itemid=42&lang=ja

1. Audio of ANRC (Main session and seminars)

http://allnations.jp/an10/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=46&task=viewcategory&catid=3&lang=ja

1. Video report from CGNTV about ANRC

http://japan.cgntv.net/_inc/player.asp?pid=2304&type=vod&player=8&bit=high&vid=46947&dreamon=Y

Thank you for serving with us through prayers and support.  We will continue to keep you updated how ANRC move forward in the future.

JCFN from now till summer

1. May and June, we will be investing our time and energy for “Relocation”.
2. The other day, we made an official announcement, but at the end of June, our Japan Office Staff, Yoko Funatsu will resign.  We have found a part-time person to take over the finance part of the administration in Japan.  May and June will be the time for new person to learn the position.
3. In the mid-May, we will be sending out our newsletter, equipper. June edition.
4. May 29-31, there will be Central Conference in Chicago, Rise and Shine camp in Seattle.
5. June 5-6^th, we will have equipper conference executive committee meeting in Long Beach.
6. June 10-14^th, Maki Goto, our Japan staff, will come and join our JCFN Annual Joint Staff Meeting.

Please pray with us!

We are so grateful for your prayers.  Please remember these activities during the spring time. Please pray, especially for the new location for US Headquarters and that we would be able to move by the end of June. Please also pray that the Lord would provide us with all the needs we need.  May God bless you richly!

Setsu Kuroda JCFN International Director