SNCC News 12-26 (“How I wish it were already kindled!”)

SNCC News 12-26 (2012/7/8)

Dear SNCC News Readers,

George left Korea on July 4, 2012 and joined the SNCC congregation on July 8.

We had a regular service (10 – 11 am) as well as the Church School classes after the service (11- 12 noon).

George joined the CS for adults together with a dozen of brothers and sisters in Jusus.

The message title by Pastor Yamanaka was “How I wish it were already kindled!”

The Bible verses for the message were as follow:

Luke 12:49-53

New International Version (NIV)

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

The theme “Not Peace but Division” and the message gave a big impact to my lukewarm faith and required repentance to me.

After the service, I joined my wife and 3 of her friends to travel to Australia.

[Church School for adults after the service]

Strangely, my wife handed a book “愛の鬼才(Ai-no Kisai)” by 三浦綾子(Miura Ayako). It was a book which one of her Christian friends lended to her.

I believe that God is always talking to us through various ways such as church, friend, Bible and environment (circumstances).

I firmly believe that now God is speaking to me personally in various ways.

The message on July 8 at SNCC set fire in my faith/spirit.

I confessed my countless sins to my wife and her friends and asked for their pardon on July 11th at a hotel room in Melbourne.

I wish that the fire in my spirit never go out in the future.

The activities of SNCC on July 8 were as below;

1. Morning Service on July 8, 2012

a. Messenger: Pastor Yamanaka

b. Service Leader: Ms. Tachibana

c. Bible: Luke 12:49-53

d. Message Title: “How I wish it were already kindled!”

e. Piano: Ms. Odagawa and Miss Minori Tachibana

2. Congregation: about 30 adults and 10 kids

[SNCC attendants on July 8, 2012]

3. Prayer requests.

3-1 For a quest of new pastor for SNCC from April 2013. Pastor Yamanaka is to work as a researcher at “Shinnihon Seisho Kankoukai新日本聖書刊行会.” Therefore, SNCC members are praying God to send his successor. Please join our prayers for this quest.

3-2. For the victems of the earthquakes and tsunami, and those who were fighting to prevent nuclear disaster at Fukushima right now, and their families. Expastor of SNCC, Mr. Barkman is working for the mission work for this region.

3-3. For the seekers for their salvation, esp. for those who are studying Bible at SNCC (including Saffraan-kai), and those families of church members who were not accepted Jesus as their indivisual savior. May many of them be led to our Lord and have a chance to know Jesus Christ as thier savior.

3-4 For those who are in difficult situations physically as well as spiritually including members of SNCC and their families, esp. for the bereaved family of Ms. Manami Okamoto and Ms. Atsuko Okada. Besides, mother of Ms. Yuko Ohga, Aunt of Mr. Tachibana (80s, cancer in her large intestine), Mr. Keizo Sudo, Ms. Hisae Mita and Ms. Yuko Ohishi.

Thank you for your kind attention.

In Jesus,

George Suzuki@Sydney, Australia

PS: You can see pictures of SNCC on July 8 as below:

http://georgesuzuki.blogspot.com.au/

or Google serch “SNCC News 12-26”