Emmaus Worship Part I

I am fully aware that I don't look like the typical stereotypical missionary. When students in Sendai first heard that there was a missionary coming to work at the student center for a year they immediately pictured an older, white male. Since I am neither old nor white and I am 22-years-old I like to think I was an unexpected surprise.

As I've been here now for over a year students have started to feel comfortable enough to ask the question that's been burning in their minds since I arrived, "Why did you want to become a missionary in Japan?"

To be honest, when Pastor Sharon came up to me after service and asked me if I would be interested in such an opportunity I didn't say yes right away. I had and still have serious reservations about evengelical work in international settings because if done forcefully it can close the hearts of many people unless the missionary has a good understanding of the culture in which they minister. It meant a lot that Pastor Sharon had asked me personally. Also, I realized that this would be a great way to be useful to Sycamore Church as the first missionary to go to Japan after we've received so many ministers and Pre-School teachers from Japan in our 100-year history. But, I had absolutely no concept of how I could be useful without theological training and only basic conversational Japanese.

I needed more information before I could make that decision. So, I spoke to pastors from Japan and to people in the national church body of the U.S. about the kinds of work that United Church of Christ missionaries do. But, what convinced me was an e-mail from Jeffrey (director of the Sendai Student Center). It described Sendai and the student center activities but in the first paragraph it said, "I too believe that it is our role as Christians to walk alongside people who are in need...Evangelism is not about converting, but about enabling people to discover a source within themselves which gives them true life. True Life is what I call God. And I believe that our center has enabled many young people to be enlivened as they pass through on life's journey."

We are now standing in the Emmaus Center. I imagine that the people who were a part of creating this building were inspired by the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. In the process of sharing life and conversation with one another we can learn to see the presence of God in our midst even if we already have faith and belief in that presence.

As a young person, I realized that I could contribute to this community simply by being present, sharing meals and walking alongside those in need of comfort in their lives. All of my life I feel as if I've been searching for a way to be useful, a way to serve. This chance to work among you here in Sendai provided me that chance and I am extremely grateful that you've accepted me and walked alongside me for this past year.