Follow-up in Chapel Wedding Evangelism
May 18, 2000
On April 23 our fifth Vespers (Sanbi
no Yube ? gEvening of Praiseh) at the wedding chapel was held. This was designated as an Easter worship
service. The purpose of these services
is, of course, evangelism. They are an
attempt to bring back couples who have been married in the chapel to another
lovely, meaningful experience in church.
At the same time the services are open to friends, family, and anyone
who might care to come.
Approximately 45 people attended this fifth service. (The first Vespers was held just one year
ago on Easter Sunday, so this was a kind of anniversary.) Twenty of these people were ten couples who
had been married in the chapel. Most of
these couples brought a child to receive the prayer of blessing planned for
this occasion. With three children of
parents not previously connected with the chapel, the visiting minister from a
local church and I blessed a total of eleven children.
The main feature of the service was the choir. This time only seven of the group of twelve music teachers who supply an organist and two choir members for each wedding were able to participate. But their music was marvelous as they presented classical selections, Easter hymns, and contemporary praise songs. I almost melted as I heard these ladies, as yet non-Christians, singing in Japanese at the top of their voices, gIfd rather have Jesus than anything!h and gBecause He lives, I can face tomorrow!h I had selected the music, praying that the words would penetrate the hearts of those who sing them. The ladies themselves arranged some of the songs and practiced earnestly for the occasion.
We invited the couples to a teatime after the service. With warm-hearted missionaries Jack and Beth
McIntosh, Rev. and Mrs. Ishiguro from a local church, and visiting ministers
Rev. and Mrs. Shioya greeting the couples, the ice broke, and soon the entire
group were chatting, laughing, and taking pictures of their children with Thelma
and me and those mentioned above.
Thelma and I feel this was the high point of our Vespers services so
far.
I have since sent to each couple who attended an enlarged photo of the
entire group, and, to each of the children blessed, a certificate of blessing
and photos of the moment of their special prayer time. All of this is an attempt at follow-up by
establishing relationships and making gchurchh a pleasant experience for these
who do not yet know the Savior.
The next Vespers is planned for July 16. We are gturning the choir looseh for a concert of ggospelh music
that has been attracting so much attention in Japan. Along with the hand-clapping, foot-stomping spirituals that have
been at the center of this style of music, the choir will be singing praise
songs from a series of music books and tapes I have loaned them. Again, a local church will be introduced by
inviting its minister to provide a brief message.
September 24 will welcome a concert, in country style, by a family of three who are all legally blind. They are lovely, personable Christians, and their testimony is powerful. A time of blessing for children will be part of this evening also.
You might remember that I have recently begun an effort to contact all
the couples married in the past who have not responded to my request, issued at
the pre-ceremony time of orientation, for a snapshot of themselves. An astounding 42 per cent have responded,
but many seemed to have forgotten. I
have sent out several hundred personally addressed letters so far, and there
are about 200 more to go. I have
received warm letters from more than ten of the couples contacted in this way,
and some of them have declared they will attend the next Vespers.
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Into the joy of meeting couples for their gday we have dreamed about,h
both in the orientation time and in the wedding itself, something desperately
sad has happened. The parents of a
recently married daughter called the chapel to ask for a time with me. They came with their daughter, bride of a
few weeks, who had a black eye and a swollen face. The guy had been beating up on her. I found that he has been sniffing glue (thinner) for a long time
and that the abuse began while they were living together, unmarried, prior to
the wedding ceremony.
Now pregnant, the girl thought he would change if they got married and
she had their baby, and so the wedding was conducted against the wishes of the
parents who saw the danger. With a
clear pattern of abuse already visible, and with thinner involved, I had no
recourse but to tell her she must not go back to the guy, regardless of his
promises. I pointed out that both her
life and the life of the baby could be in great danger. The parents had already come to this conclusion,
and the girl seemed to accept the counsel.
The situation is unspeakably sad.
This is my first encounter of this type in over 900 weddings. Right now, Ifm feeling pretty glum.
As I have said for many years, I wouldnft give you two cents for some of
the stuff that happens in mission work, but at least there is never a dull
moment!
Doyle C. Book