In 2oo3, Delores and I decided to explore the possibility of returning to Japan as pastors of Tsukuba International Christian Assembly in Tsukba, Japan. We flew to Tokyo and the missionary picked us up in his vehicle and we drove two or three hours to Tsukuba. We spent three weeks there preaching every Sunday and visiting the people of this international congregation. At the end of three weeks we told the current pastor that we would be willing to move to Japan in December 2003.
We returned to our home in Corpus Christi, Texas and resumed full-time work with Comfort and Encouragement Ministries. The Lord graciously touched a dear friend of ours to become secretary of the ministry in Corpus during our time in Japan. We planned on pastoring for just a little while in Japan, but maintaining Comfort and Encouragement Ministries. We so appreciated her offer.
A few weeks after returning from Japan, I began thinking about how we would survive financially while pastoring the small congregation in Tsukuba. Our salary would be $100 dollars a month. The church provided our housing and a vehicle, but how would we support C&E Ministries? One day as I tried figuring out how we would make it financially while in Japan, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. “I’ll provide for you out of my bounty.”
I knew the Lord’s voice and I chose to believe him for the financial miracles we needed. You know what? God took really good care of us and Comfort and Encouragement Ministries and the church in Tsukuba! Truly, the Lord miraculously took care of us personally as well as the C&E Ministries office in Corpus Christi.
The God who owns everything in the universe promises you and me, “My people will be filled with my bounty,” Jeremiah 31:14. Let’s move ahead boldly!
