Tokyo..i love you
They just held Passion in Tokyo....just the other night and I could hardly wait to here about it on Louie Giglio's blog 268generation/blog .
I love the Japanese people. Have since I sent time there 2 summers ago. I wish I could have been in that room that night. So wish I could see those beautiful faces praising God.
Tokyo- largest city in the world with 35,200,000 people. Even after 140 years of protestant missionary witness, Japan's Christian population is still less than ONE-HALF of ONE percent.......only 1 out of every 200 people. HARD TO GRASP, RIGHT? 2,361Japanese are dying each day without Christ.
Some of the info they gave us about Tokyo was that it is a megacity in darkness. This I know...this I defiantly experienced first hand. You can read my journey on my blog in July of 08. It is a country that acknowledges 8 million false gods but refuses to acknowledge the one, true, GOD of Heaven. It is devoid of Christian influence where idolatry, false religions, and cults (almost 180,000) are rampant....no moral book to guide it, no moral absolutes. Life has little value, and hopelessness characterizes the lives of many.
Buddy told us that satan has built a complex web of barriers to the Gospel. Many are absent of joy, hope, meaning, and purpose. 100 suicides occur each day, 73% of the young people say they are worthless human beings,70% of married men have extramarital affairs, and 38% of high school girls admit to giving sex for money.
So once you have been among the people and prayed along the streets....it becomes very hard for you to forget them. I love the Japanese people and I love that God is moving mountains and crushing down ancient strongholds. AND I MEAN ANCIENT STRONGHOLDS! I think you will be deeply moved by what Louie wrote below and they pictures he shared. The following are all from his blog......they made me feel at home just seeing them!
Like The Rising Sun That Shines
Night is settling on Tokyo…and an amazing night it was!
What an honor.
Right place.
Right time.
Tokyo.
Japan.
Coolest venue ever!
Japanese make cool stuff.
Rare that Christians use it.
Secular promoter took a chance on us.
He’s not a believer.
Yet.
But helped us anyway.
Came tonight.
Stayed till the end.
Hosts concerts of every size/kind.
Said he’d never seen anything like it.
“The young people’s eyes were shining!”
Yes to that.
He said it touched him deeply.
Told him it was not just music.
But the God of the songs!
Energy.
Faith.
Not polite.
Yet really reverent at times.
So loud at others.
Such a hunger.
Special, special night.
So worth it.
Investment.
Mattered.
Tomlin and band killed!
KILLED!
Not sure how I did.
BUT Katsumi, my translator was awesome.
I mean AWESOME!
London, your voices were heard.
Your faces seen.
Your shout received!
God has a plan.
A purpose.
A time.
He is sovereign over Tokyo.
The time is now?
Beautiful faces.
Many love Jesus.
One non-believing student told a friend…
“I didn’t know there were this many Christians…
In Tokyo!”
Thanks for inviting your friend.
Praying they will pursue the sound they heard tonight.
Pursue the grace we celebrated.
Hope abounds.
Millions wait.
For the Son.
Of God.
To be shared.
Never count Him out.
Our God.
Is Greater.
Stronger.
Higher.
Than any other!
Healer.
Awesome in power.
Our God.
Manila.
You’re up.
Tokyo is for you.
Behind you.
Praying.
Tokyo.
We love you.
LG
This picture makes me cry! This is what so many of us have spent time praying for. Makes me want to jump on a plane right now! The prayer guide that I still carry around said this about Friday....."Pray that God will cause REVIVAL to break out among existing Christian work that will transform the hearts and lives of Japanese believers and make them BOLD, FAITHFUL witnesses for Christ among family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and everyone God brings their way".
I do not normally link to other's post but Louie's is dear to my heart. In fact, his words fire me up to continue praying for great things! Thank you PASSION for going again. THANK YOU IMB M's working day in and day out disciplining new believers and drawing in the lost. Thank you LORD that with each year more and more have you NAME written on their hearts! PRAISE YOU!
I love the Japanese people. Have since I sent time there 2 summers ago. I wish I could have been in that room that night. So wish I could see those beautiful faces praising God.
Tokyo- largest city in the world with 35,200,000 people. Even after 140 years of protestant missionary witness, Japan's Christian population is still less than ONE-HALF of ONE percent.......only 1 out of every 200 people. HARD TO GRASP, RIGHT? 2,361Japanese are dying each day without Christ.
Some of the info they gave us about Tokyo was that it is a megacity in darkness. This I know...this I defiantly experienced first hand. You can read my journey on my blog in July of 08. It is a country that acknowledges 8 million false gods but refuses to acknowledge the one, true, GOD of Heaven. It is devoid of Christian influence where idolatry, false religions, and cults (almost 180,000) are rampant....no moral book to guide it, no moral absolutes. Life has little value, and hopelessness characterizes the lives of many.
Buddy told us that satan has built a complex web of barriers to the Gospel. Many are absent of joy, hope, meaning, and purpose. 100 suicides occur each day, 73% of the young people say they are worthless human beings,70% of married men have extramarital affairs, and 38% of high school girls admit to giving sex for money.
So once you have been among the people and prayed along the streets....it becomes very hard for you to forget them. I love the Japanese people and I love that God is moving mountains and crushing down ancient strongholds. AND I MEAN ANCIENT STRONGHOLDS! I think you will be deeply moved by what Louie wrote below and they pictures he shared. The following are all from his blog......they made me feel at home just seeing them!
Like The Rising Sun That Shines
Night is settling on Tokyo…and an amazing night it was!
What an honor.
Right place.
Right time.
Tokyo.
Japan.
Coolest venue ever!
Japanese make cool stuff.
Rare that Christians use it.
Secular promoter took a chance on us.
He’s not a believer.
Yet.
But helped us anyway.
Came tonight.
Stayed till the end.
Hosts concerts of every size/kind.
Said he’d never seen anything like it.
“The young people’s eyes were shining!”
Yes to that.
He said it touched him deeply.
Told him it was not just music.
But the God of the songs!
Energy.
Faith.
Not polite.
Yet really reverent at times.
So loud at others.
Such a hunger.
Special, special night.
So worth it.
Investment.
Mattered.
Tomlin and band killed!
KILLED!
Not sure how I did.
BUT Katsumi, my translator was awesome.
I mean AWESOME!
London, your voices were heard.
Your faces seen.
Your shout received!
God has a plan.
A purpose.
A time.
He is sovereign over Tokyo.
The time is now?
Beautiful faces.
Many love Jesus.
One non-believing student told a friend…
“I didn’t know there were this many Christians…
In Tokyo!”
Thanks for inviting your friend.
Praying they will pursue the sound they heard tonight.
Pursue the grace we celebrated.
Hope abounds.
Millions wait.
For the Son.
Of God.
To be shared.
Never count Him out.
Our God.
Is Greater.
Stronger.
Higher.
Than any other!
Healer.
Awesome in power.
Our God.
Manila.
You’re up.
Tokyo is for you.
Behind you.
Praying.
Tokyo.
We love you.
LG
This picture makes me cry! This is what so many of us have spent time praying for. Makes me want to jump on a plane right now! The prayer guide that I still carry around said this about Friday....."Pray that God will cause REVIVAL to break out among existing Christian work that will transform the hearts and lives of Japanese believers and make them BOLD, FAITHFUL witnesses for Christ among family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and everyone God brings their way".
I do not normally link to other's post but Louie's is dear to my heart. In fact, his words fire me up to continue praying for great things! Thank you PASSION for going again. THANK YOU IMB M's working day in and day out disciplining new believers and drawing in the lost. Thank you LORD that with each year more and more have you NAME written on their hearts! PRAISE YOU!