News > Asia

by Daniel J.

From August 12th to the 14th, the Japan UBF Summer Retreat was held face-to-face for the first time in 4 years. Ninety-three people from UBF and 15 people from CBF/JBF attended.

In the first lecture on the first day, Caleb L . delivered, "Jesus came to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:1-10). He wanted to move where the house price was cheap and convenient even though it was far from the church. However, a co-worker suggested that they move close to the church. He was angry with his co-workers. By preparing his message, he realized he was a lost man and decided to live a God-centered and worship-centered life. Then, joy and gratitude were restored to the family as well. In the evening, the workshop was divided into four groups. It was a very gracious and beneficial time for juniors and seniors to share and understand each other's thoughts openly.

On the morning of the second day, we had Holy Communion. During the Holy Communion, as I meditated on the flesh and blood of Jesus, I gave thanks for the love of the cross and renewed my mind. In the 2nd lecture, Naomi O. delivered 'First love, the love of Christ (Revelation 2:1-11)'. She testified that when she lived a life of accepting the love of Christ and the love of the cross every day, her life of faith became more joyful and happy even though she did more than before. She oversees the editorial and writing of the Daily Bread translation and supports the training of the next-generation team.

In the afternoon, she listened to a special lecture on 'The World Before the Fall (centered on Genesis 1-3)' by Pastor Usami of the Japan Creation Science Society and had a Q&A session. In the evening, we laughed a lot at the play prepared by the juniors and were moved by God's great love. In the third lecture on the third day,  Hayato T. of Osaka UBF testified about 'living with the Holy Spirit (John 14:1-31)'. He also hid his belief in Jesus from his anti-Christian parents. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he came to confess his life of faith to his parents, and in July, he got married by faith. He longed to be used as a servant of God who, together with the Holy Spirit, displayed God's glory and spread God's love to his neighbors. The day before the Japan UBF Summer Retreat, a typhoon was approaching Japan. According to the weather forecast, a typhoon will land where the conference is being held on the day the conference ends. During the evening prayer meeting the day before the conference, there was an opinion that it was dangerous because of the typhoon, so we should shorten the conference by one day and return quickly. After discussion, we decided to hold the conference as scheduled. I prayed that the conference would not be affected by the typhoon. As we had prayed, the typhoon landed in Japan a day later than expected, and the area where it landed was also outside the conference venue. God heard our prayers, calmed the typhoon, and had a conference rich in grace. Through the retreat, I met Jesus, who sought and saved the lost and recovered my first love with Jesus. I also made up my mind to live a life that accompanies the Holy Spirit.