Updates on Japan Presbytery’s Disaster Relief Work
(Report to the Missions Ministry Team - August 27, 2011)
Written by Rev. Makihiko (Mack) Arase, Pastor of Megumi CP Church, Tokyo, Japan
A. Relief Work
I am on the Disaster Relief Task Force of the presbytery, which is comprised of six ministers and three
lay persons. It functions as the coordinator for the voluntary work and the manager of the funds relating
to the disaster relief effort. So far, the presbytery has participated in the following work by sending
monetary support and/or short-term volunteer workers.
1. Kita Ibaraki Disaster Volunteer Center (Kita Ibaraki, Ibaraki)
100,000 Yen
Volunteer team served a meal at the evacuation center in early April
2. Shiogama Bible Baptist Church (Tagajo, Miyagi)
500,000 Yen
Located close to the tsunami damaged area, the church works as the center of the relief supplies and
human power. Ichikawa Grace CPC is supporting this church.
3. Iwate 3.11 Church Network (Miyako, Iwate)
500,000 Yen
The network is offering various supports for kindergartens, vocational aid centers, evacuation centers
as well as sending “listening “ (counseling ) volunteers. Rev. Tamai is the contact person with this
network.
4. EMMAUS, The Disaster Relief Center of the Tohoku district of the United Church of Christ in
Japan ( Sendai, Miyagi)
500,000 Yen
The center helps the people in the tsunami damaged area. The spirit of “slow work “ is emphasized.
The volunteers should not seek “speed and efficiency “ of work, but try to have quality time being with
the victims. Revs. Karasawa and Miyai and I have been involved with the work here. Many
non-Christians have also joined this church related ministry from across the nation.
5. Haramachi Church, UCCJ (Minami Soma, Fukushima)
350,000 yen
The church is located within the 25 km radius from the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant. People
are not prohibited to stay in the town, but many people have evacuated in fear of radiation
contamination. The church and its Seiai Hoikuen (Holy Love Daycare Center for Children) are facing a
very difficult situation. My father used to be the pastor of the church and we have many friends in the
area. Megumi CPC and Kibougaoka CPC are supporting the church.
6. Fukushima First Baptist Church (Okuma, Fukushima)
350,000 Yen
The church is just 3 km from the crippled nuclear plant and nobody can return to their hometown.
Many of the church members have evacuated to the same place and so can maintain the faith
community. Koza CPC is supporting the church.
7. Isaiah 58 Net (Sendai, Miyagi)
100,000 Yen
The headquarters is at the Baptist seminary in Sendai. It sends groups of clinical psychotherapists,
heavy equipment operators, caregivers, cooks and ministers to the most severely damaged areas. Rev.
Matsuya keeps the relationship with the network.
8. Iwaki Kibo Church (Iwaki, Fukushima)
100,000 Yen
Iwaki is in the south of the Fukushima nuclear plant. The father of a CP member is the pastor. A bit
of good news is that the parishioners have gradually begun to come back.
9. Taira Christ Evangelical Church (Iwaki, Fukushima)
100,000 Yen
The church functions as one of the central disaster relief centers in collaboration with the city
administration. Various kinds of supports are given through the church. Koza CPC has been dispatching
working groups.
10. Kesen-numa First Bible Baptist Church (Kesen-numa, Miyagi)
500,000 Yen
The church building was lost by the tsunami. They try to rebuild the church, preach the Gospel,
and give support to the surrounding community. Koza CPC keeps the relationship.
11.Federation of Christian Kindergartens and Nurseries
1,000,000 Yen
The federation supports the damaged Christian child care activities.
12. Volunteer work of Brazilian congregation and Hispanic congregation that use the Koza
facilities
500,000 Yen
The presbytery defrays the travel expenses of the two ethnic groups’ volunteer work in Taira,
Fukushima and Kesen-numa, Miyagi.
13. Two individuals
700,000 Yen
The support for the two victimized individuals who had membership at Sagamino CPC.
The breakdown of the giving to the disaster relief fund, as of July 26, is roughly as follows.
From Overseas
Japan
11,537,163 Yen
The CP denomination
Hong Kong Presbytery
MMT March
MMT April
MMT May
MMT June
4,070,500 Yen
Churches
Churches
Presbytery
2,014,750
3,117,000
1,044,766
1,759,812
1,734,128
($25,000)
(HK$4,100)
($12,411.10)
($21,945.53)
($21,854.17)
1,375,844
($17,363.00)
1,978,000
92,500
2,000,000
Note: Many of the churches under Japan Presbytery have been giving to various disaster relief
ministries in addition to the giving through the presbytery as recorded above.
B. Accident in the Nuclear Power Plants
On June 19, the Presbytery’s committee on theology and social concerns came out with a statement,
“Our committee’s Repentance on the issue of nuclear power plant accident.”
The statement begins with the article 6. 10 of our Confession of Faith. “Christian stewardship
acknowledges that all of life and creation is a trust from God, to be used for God’s glory and service. It
includes the conservation and responsible use of natural resources as well as the creative use of human
skills and energies. These gifts of God are to be shared with all, especially with the poor.”
The committee argues that the Japanese government and the electric company should be accused of
their irresponsible operations. However, it’s not right to press all the responsibilities on them. We, as
Christians, are entrusted the stewardship to take good care of the created world. Based on the Bible and
the Confession of Faith, the Cumberland Presbyterians believe that Christians are responsible in all
aspects of life. In the light of this belief, we cannot help but confess that we have been irresponsible
about “electric power”, which is one of the foundations of our life.
The last part of the document is a prayer of confession.
God, the Creator of the heaven and the earth, we now pause to realize, through the sufferings of the
earthquake, tsunami and the atomic plant accident, that there are fields we humans cannot take control.
Forgive our sins that pollute the earth and the ocean and hurt human beings. We repent from our
heart that our arrogance and indifference caused such a serious accident and put many lives in danger.
We change our way of life so that we never make the same mistake again. We devote ourselves to
human health and integrity of creation and seek for a true affluence which shall be in harmony with
nature.
Lord, have mercy on us!
C. Appreciation of the global nature of our church
As I wrote for the Missionary Messenger [June 2011 edition], Japan Presbytery received an enormous
influx of prayer and support. It was a moving experience to know that so many brothers and sisters in
the world were really caring Japanese people and showing their concern through various expressions.
The disaster was so huge and the nuclear accident is still so difficult that the relief endeavor will be
long and hard. But the presbytery is determined to walk a long way together with those who have
become our partners. The Cumberland Presbyterian family in other parts of the globe shall be a strong
encouragement and power to us. Please continue praying and supporting. Representing the task force,
let me express my deepest gratitude for all the support that you have already given and are going to
give.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the next MMT and MC meeting.
Grace to you and Peace
Mack