Spring Update

Hello friends and family!

With the transition into spring, God indeed makes everything beautiful. Our church is excited to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with a service where the Gospel will be preached and rejoiced in, as well as a ministry event to special needs families.

Some quick family updates over the last few months:

• Zane and Alora enjoyed their Cultural Performances in the Japanese track at the International School of Portland. Alora (Pre-K) were Ninjas, while Zane (Kindergarten) did Taiko drumming.

• Ben got to speak on Lamentations, sharing a bit on God’s faithfulness in his own season of suffering.

• Ben & Segun have continued to go out for evangelism. God is so faithful in His leading, direction, and provision!

• Spring sports & activities for the boys have started (Baseball and Parkour), Reseda is excited and practicing for her ballet exams coming up later in April and is assisting in Alora’s ballet class, and the four olders spent time over Spring Break creating a fort area in the back woods that we hope to utilize for a outdoor kids ministry with our small group of elementary-middle school aged church kids (pictured below).

Loneliness & Isolation in Japan

Due to a lot of compounding dynamics, some of the challenges Japan faces (labor shortages, aging population, and increased loneliness & isolation) can particularly affect rural areas. I am so encouraged by God’s working in Japan. His plan of salvation through the Gospel, the effects of rebirth on priorities and relationships, and the consistent gathering of the Body of Christ are a perfect solution for some of the more challenging problems Japan is facing.

The Rural Japan Church Planter Training Center has a God-sized vision that we’re excited to be a part of even now, while still in the states, by prayer.

Importance of Prayer Partnership

In a study and research review on church planting in Japan, missionaries and pastors were asked to rank the most important aspects of church planting based on their experience. Of items like discipleship, small groups, contextualization of gospel communication, and intentionality of reproduction, the top item was prayer, followed by communication of the Gospel in both word and deed, and having a clear vision of church planting.

I am again encouraged knowing that partnership in prayer will be God’s grace to seeing His plan of reaching people and communities come to fruition. And I am grateful for the efforts that Dawn has put in to develop a strategic and sensitive vision for church planting.

Other thoughts:

Prayer Requests:

Some specific prayer requests from us and from the ministry presently:

• That God would continue to unify, prepare and provide for our family for serving together cross-culturally.

• For a church building in Iwaizumi — the current building has insect issues, and although purchasing one is desired, currently there is nothing available (or open) to being sold. It sounds like services may be held in a home as a temporary alternative until something opens up.

• For strength for Dawn Birkner, the ministry leader — the last 3 months and following month have been the busiest ever for her.

• As always, that salvation would come to the Japanese—that the Lord would open hearts, remove barriers, send workers and empower presentations of His love and the Gospel.

We are so grateful and moved by your care, willingness, generosity and love. Grateful to God for you!

May God richly bless you,

With love,

The Copelands