David & Sue Verwey More about David & Sue Verwey

2017 November Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friend,

The Lord continues to help us supply much needed Bibles to China. Recent reports indicate that the Chinese authorities have been cracking down on Christians. The conversion of many in the communist party seems to have given them cause for heightened concern. Surveillance cameras have been installed outside known churches in order to monitor those frequenting them. Although China claims to grant religious freedom, atheism is promoted as the national belief. Laws have been passed, forbidding members or retired members of the communist party from adhering to any religion. Please continue to pray for the Christians and those involved in the distribution of God’s Word.

Typhoon season in Japan is from May to November. Japan Mission workers did not get much sleep on the night of October 22, as the winds shook the buildings and rain beat against the windows. Typhoon Lan dumped 700 mm of rain in our area and packed winds of up to 200 km/h. Seven people died as roads and bridges were washed out. A number of our roof tiles were blown off and strewn about the property. Our workers worked hard to fix and clean up the property. We praise the Lord for protecting us and the property from any serious damage. We know that this is partly due to the faithful prayers of many. Thank you for your part in this.

As 2017 draws to a close, we are again reminded of the fact that we are surrounded by a multitude of people who have been blinded, who place their hopes in things that are so empty. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4a). The stores are bustling with people who are preparing to celebrate the New Year. About 70 million people will to go to the temples and shrines to pray for health, prosperity and a long happy life. It is believed that the first prayer offered in the New Year is of special significance and will be answered. Each shrine specializes in some special form of blessing. There is even a shrine where gangsters and thieves can go to pray for a special blessing to prosper in their job.

We believe that there are those among the masses who are chosen by God, whose hearts have been prepared by the Holy Spirit and must hear the Gospel. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Eph. 1:4). This is why we can boldly pray and ask the Lord, “Please lead us to the seeking ones among the masses, whose hearts have been prepared by the Holy Spirit.” We have seen God do miracles to put us in contact with such people. It may be through a dream or even a vehicle that explodes. The Lord recently sent such people to us.

A van was making deliveries of medical supplies nearby on September 19. It was around 1 pm when we heard a number of loud explosions that shook our buildings. As we ran outside, we saw a van engulfed in flames, coming down the road and plunge into the entrance of our property!

We later learned this vehicle was making deliveries of oxygen canisters, when the driver noticed a fire that had started underneath his vehicle. He drove the van out to the main road, stopped the engine and put the hand brake on. He called the fire department while trying to extinguish the flames himself. As the fire engulfed the vehicle, the driver fled and sirens could be heard in the distance. Then there were a number of deafening explosions, blowing apart oxygen canisters and parts of the vehicle. This fireball then started to move down the hill and plunged into the entrance of our property! A number of fire trucks soon arrived to extinguish the blaze. Fortunately, no one was injured and our property sustained minimal damage.

Representatives from the medical supply company raced to the scene to apologize. They were stunned and dumbfounded by this freak accident. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to show kindness and witness to those who came to clean up the property, for the rest of that day and the next. We handed out a number of tracts, as we spoke with them of how wonderfully the Lord had protected us all on that day. We were keenly aware that we may be the only ‘Bible’ some of those people ever ‘read’. Pray that these precious souls would remember seeing Jesus through our kind and gracious attitudes, and for the seeds that were sown.

Christmas is a special time of year when Japanese people are especially open to Christianity. Japan Mission workers will be involved in over 100 gatherings, to help churches reach those in their community who desire to learn more about the meaning of Christmas. Pray for wisdom and strength, and that the Lord would transform the hearts of many through these evangelistic opportunities.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and the way you continue to partner with us to reach the lost for Christ.

We pray that you will have a blessed Christmas and New Year.

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