2017 March Prayer Letter

David & Sue Verwey

Dear Praying Friend

We have been faced with new opportunities and challenges during 2017. It is becoming more difficult to deliver Bibles to China. Borders are tighter, and on the inside arrests, harassment and threats have become more frequent. When God closes one door, He opens another. If one raid on the delivery system causes those we work with to re-examine methods and systems, it should never cause us to give up. The God who gave Peter and Paul wisdom, strength and courage, is the same today. He is on our side and He has called us to take the Gospel to the furthest parts of the world. In the case of China, the best and most important role we can play at this time is to further provide Scriptures to the many millions still waiting for them.

Over the years, workers have met hundreds of pastors and evangelists throughout China. When asking what we can do for them, without exception, the answer has been: Please pray for us and send us more Bibles. Alone we are able to do so little, but together we can have a part in transforming the lives of many Chinese people. We can be the answer to the prayers of many and provide something of eternal value. We can hardly think of anything more exciting, rewarding or more joyous than feeding the spiritually hungry and fueling the flames of revival, which also in 2017 will continue to sweep across the nation of China. Please pray for discernment and protection for the many Bible couriers.

We stand amazed to see the many contacts that we have been able to make through the Kid’s Club. The wife and son of a Buddhist priest joined during December. The mother attends the English Class and learns about the Bible, while her son attends Kid’s Club. We were surprised to see her husband join the English Class in January! Even though he is a priest, he is interested in learning about the teachings of the Bible. Please pray that God would transform the hearts of this family.

We are excited to see how the Lord is using the Kid’s Club to change hearts. One missionary in the area who sometimes helps us with Kid’s Club adopted a Japanese baby with Down Syndrome. Some of the unsaved mothers were deeply moved when they realized that this missionary had intentionally adopted this baby with disabilities, because she knew the difficult circumstances these orphans face in Japan. Many such babies are aborted or discarded. Some of the mothers wondered: What would cause a lady to commit to a lifetime of personal sacrifice to raise a baby with disabilities in a country that was not her own? It was a wonderful opportunity to share of God’s love and how even such a child is precious in the sight of God. It is exciting so see these mothers encounter Christ-centered living in action as they engage with us. Pray that the Lord would work in their hearts as He draws them to Himself.

Recently after Kid’s Club, a 4-year-old boy came up to one of our teachers and asked, “You taught us last week that God created the World. Why did He decide to create everything?” The staff member was surprised by the depth of the question and how much he had been paying attention! She replied, “Because it made God so happy to have a creation to love.” We have been amazed at the ways God has been revealing Himself, and how well they are receiving the truth of the Gospel. Pray with us as we continue to lead them to the source of ‘Living Water’. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’ (Matthew 19:14).

The Verwey family was blessed with wonderful news at the beginning of 2017. Our oldest son, Jesse and Risa, are expecting their second child in June. Our middle son, Alex and Eri who work with us in Japan, are expecting their third child in July. This would bring the total number of grandchildren to five! Please pray for safe deliveries and that the grandchildren would grow in their knowledge of the Lord. The Lord has blessed our family beyond expectation. Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers (Proverbs 17:6).

Thank you very much for your faithful prayers. May God richly bless you as we continue to serve Him together.

David and Sue Verwey
(On behalf of the Verweys and the Japan Mission staff)