tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-123277452011-12-07T02:22:11.753+09:00Reaching, Teaching, Training in TokyoASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.comBlogger451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-64286349823897994652011-12-07T02:05:00.008+09:002011-12-07T02:22:11.778+09:00

In September, our Chi Alpha ministry team and two prayer supporters joined with OneHope (formerly Book of Hope) for a missions trip to Taiwan. We ministered to elderly, youth, school children, indigenous people, and pastors in churches, schools, restaurants, homes, and community centers as part of a OneHope community transformation project.In one city we ministered mostly to the elderly in

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-46104519861524703752011-09-22T23:08:00.000+09:002011-09-22T23:09:19.471+09:00

Portland, OR, USA York, UK Bellingham, WA, USA London, UK Prague, Czech Republic Buenos Aires, Argentina Denver, CO, USA Shanghai, China Chiang Mai, Thailand Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Iguazu National Park, Argentina Create your own travel map or travel blog. Vacation rentals at TripAdvisor

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-4518254104876734992011-08-31T20:45:00.000+09:002011-10-25T20:54:48.236+09:00

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ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-9587607757089695172011-06-26T23:06:00.005+09:002011-06-27T22:36:31.746+09:00

It has been over 3 months since the Great East Earthquake and of course much has changed. Amidst nuclear radiation concerns, in Tokyo we are encouraged to conserve electricity this summer. It is still strange to see dimly lit train stations and streets. Relief efforts continue and rebuilding lives is underway. Missionaries and national churches work together to show practical demonstrations of

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-45674935776049269402011-03-29T23:33:00.002+09:002011-03-29T23:44:43.581+09:00

When the earth and all its people quake, It is I who hold its pillars firm.~Psalms 75:3As you already know, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 struck near the main island of Japan and caused a devastating tsunami and nuclear plant problems. Looking back over my time here, I can see that God has been preparing His people for “such a time as this.”In February the church I work with, Tokyo Urban

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-70725805526171163882011-03-16T22:48:00.003+09:002011-03-17T01:11:50.862+09:00

Today a friend asked me on FaceBook how far I am from the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear plant explosions. I am in northwest Tokyo about 360 km (224 miles) south of Sendai city which was hit by the tsunami and earthquake. The nuclear plants are 318 km (198 miles) away in Fukushima. See the map here.Many others have asked me how to pray for the present situation. Here is the blog that I am updating

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-64008684684587071232010-12-07T00:31:00.000+09:002010-12-07T00:32:05.544+09:00

This year has passed so quickly!  With God’s grace I have served as the business manager for the  field office while balancing ministry at two campuses, Tokyo Urban Church, and the Global University Japan office. This fall our ministry team hosted 2 more teams from churches in Hawaii.  Hawaiian dance and ukulele lessons were a great way to meet and interact with students on 3 campuses and with

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-11347399436326438742010-08-30T21:38:00.004+09:002010-08-30T21:50:38.441+09:00

As always, this summer has been exceedingly busy with hosting missions teams. In May we hosted a team from International House of Prayer University (IHOPU) led by Robert who worked with us last year. In June Eliot and Marcell from Eastern Michigan University Chi Alpha helped with outreach at various Tokyo campuses. From June 26-July 6 a team from Kalama Valley Assembly of God, Honolulu, Hawaii,

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-71469614398054857352010-07-11T16:11:00.003+09:002010-07-11T16:23:00.609+09:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di4Pw93fKv8

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-39927413782170851932010-05-14T22:12:00.002+09:002010-11-05T00:48:56.446+09:00

Each March our campus ministry team hosts a training seminar in preparation for beginning the new school year in April. This year 73 people attended! They represented 18 churches and 17 universities from many parts of Japan! We also had 14 high school students (the most we've ever had of this age bracket) and 3 junior high school students. If young people can catch a vision for campus ministry

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-61478391888957344422010-03-26T18:17:00.000+09:002010-03-26T18:17:27.508+09:00

EBSCOhost: The Congregational Leadership Crisis Facing the Japanese Church

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-74825241820794667122010-02-03T22:29:00.000+09:002010-02-03T23:15:13.453+09:00

By Susan Ricketts and Joyce Kitano NOTE: This article was written for the Japan A/G missions newsletter, The Works.   The Malaysian Assemblies of God Youth Department hosted the 3rd Asia Pacific Youth Alive Conference at Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia from December 10-12. Over 2,000 young people from 29 countries were represented.  Asian countries included Bangladesh

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-7686886770637712032009-12-22T00:39:00.004+09:002009-12-22T00:49:07.389+09:00

This past year has been an amazingly filled year of ministry. This past winter our ministry team began planning for summer teams. In the spring we held a training seminar and began the new school year at Waseda University and at the University of Tokyo. In May the Japan Assemblies of God (the organization that I partner with as a U.S. Assemblies of God missionary) celebrated 60 years of

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-86332584278261500632009-11-07T18:50:00.006+09:002009-11-07T19:05:35.501+09:00

October 2009Life is filled with change, isn’t it? This summer was very busy with teams and workers. Soon after the last workers left on August 10, a MAPS construction team came to renovate missionary housing in Tokyo. For 3 weeks-from the end of August until mid-September- they worked on my kitchen and another missionary family’s home. I really appreciate their hard work to change my 82-year-old

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-54197027391792956482009-07-29T17:01:00.018+09:002009-07-29T23:33:11.427+09:00

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ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-27214451752579753932009-05-02T19:52:00.002+09:002009-05-04T15:54:14.376+09:00

The past few months are now a blur with all the activity that took place. In March We started weekly prayer at the student center. We held a Chi Alpha Boot Camp for student leadership training on March 13-14. We tried to make it fun and practical. At the end of March, I went to district youth camp. The guest speaker from Singapore challenged the youth to dedicate themselves to serve God

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-81900929224343880682009-03-19T15:01:00.004+09:002009-03-30T14:07:38.983+09:00

The Chi Alpha Boot Camp went well. According to the registration list, there were 26 people who came. More students came on Friday night. Most who came were from Central Bible Church and were working people. Although everything didn't go exactly as planned, we managed to be flexible and everything worked out okay. Sakai Sensei had a sudden problem with neighbors next door to the church come up

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-9263877960473440942009-03-03T00:21:00.001+09:002009-03-03T00:26:19.860+09:00

Two Sundays ago I gave a message in Japanese at my former church, Windy Chapel. I didn't have a lot of time to prepare, but as I was praying about what to speak on, I felt really impressed to talk about a topic that I had recently taught from The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. Chapter 21 talks about protecting the unity of the church in really practical ways. So, I got the Japanese version

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-82052067531079994272009-01-22T14:31:00.008+09:002009-03-03T00:34:13.513+09:00

What happens when missionaries and college students meet with God for a 3-day get together? New missionaries are raised up! That’s what happened at the second World Missions Summit held at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio from December 30 – January 1. About 4,000 missionaries and Chi Alpha university students gathered to hear about missions needs around the world and to respond

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-52910988521395355792008-12-14T17:52:00.003+09:002008-12-14T18:11:15.439+09:00

How's your Christmas season so far? The "Unforgettable Christmas" outreach went well Friday night (December 12) at the Chi Alpha Student Center. We aimed for an interactive experience so as to make it memorable. Last month's guest speaker and his wife came and brought one of his wife's students plus their two little boys. (She teaches English on a part-time basis.) An American missionary

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-48682228027306881862008-11-11T19:14:00.007+09:002008-11-22T20:23:30.670+09:00

Over two weeks ago, my co-worker and our team leader Joyce returned to the States for her year-long furlough. I knew that I would step up as the team leader and I'd been somewhat dreading it. You see, I'm a reluctant leader and really identify with Moses in Exodus 3. God has always had a way of pushing me and I generally fall into line--eventually. Interestingly, at our last staff meeting, I was

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-86430209324029346252008-09-29T19:27:00.001+09:002008-09-29T19:29:38.930+09:00

In June I reported that a missions team from Carbondale, Illinois saw 4 people received salvation. I found out later that it was 7. That’s miraculous for Japan and demonstrates spiritual hunger in people’s hearts. As I ride the train and pass thousands of people in the stations, I’m always praying and asking God, “How do we introduce 126 million unreached people to

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-42524767603935324282008-09-19T15:33:00.003+09:002008-09-19T15:45:00.736+09:00

This past week was really busy with getting the Chi Alpha Student Center in Tokyo ready for our grand opening this coming Saturday, September 20. See the following website for pictures of volunteers working hard. Be sure to scroll down.http://www.chialphajapan.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=35This next week will be even busier. Monday - The fusuma (

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-35060813935301054482008-06-23T13:56:00.004+09:002008-06-30T16:54:33.024+09:00

Ever since arriving in Tokyo on May 8, I feel like I parachuted onto the field because the pace of ministry has been non-stop. The first two weeks were spent getting settled by unpacking, cleaning, buying new appliances, taking care of utilities, banking, etc. I think you get the picture. This term I am working with a different church—Tokyo Urban Church. Pastor Sakai, two of his college

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-41668788458853994662008-04-01T12:05:00.010+09:002008-04-02T07:24:33.403+09:00

Today as I was looking for some info online, I happened across this video posted by another University of Alabama Chi Alpha alumnus, Mike Wilhelm. Although this video is not directly related to Japan, it is indirectly related to my going to Japan. When I was a student and then later on staff at the University of Alabama with Chi Alpha, I met many students from around the world. I found that I

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-47134209801540198172008-03-28T00:41:00.007+09:002008-04-04T12:19:11.424+09:00

As I've said in previous blogs, Chi Alpha Japan now has a student center. It is presently being renovated. Please watch the following video and let me know what you think.

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-44978316413354121892008-03-07T05:05:00.005+09:002008-03-29T09:08:45.240+09:00

Great news! As of February 25, I received financial clearance from my missions organization, AGWM. That means that my budget has been raised and that I can purchase airfare. Soon thereafter, I bought a one-way ticket with a departure date of May 7 from the Huntsville, Alabama airport to Tokyo on Continental Airlines. It will be an early departure (6 AM) so I don't envision anyone except family

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-65555979329046797882008-02-07T14:48:00.002+09:002008-06-30T16:56:52.502+09:00

As of this month my support base is at the 95% level. That means that about $200 in monthly support remains to be met. Thank you to those of you who have either joined my support team or have stepped up your support during the past few months. Join me in praying that I can finish up this month and get the financial clearance that I need before buying airfare. Due to the fact that a missionary

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-79227727368695902872008-01-04T15:47:00.002+09:002011-02-11T18:14:37.607+09:00

Merry Christmas! Christmas is always a wonderful time for evangelism in Japan. People want to experience Christmas and thus are very open. About 130 people attended this year's Japan Chi Alpha Christmas event. This year it was a jazz concert with Steve Sacks, an American saxophone player who is also a Christian. Many people who were first-time visitors/non-Christians responded how touched

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-31114538182127433432007-09-08T03:22:00.001+09:002007-09-08T03:41:53.231+09:00

Praise God for a good first term as a career missionary in Japan. I miss Japan, but I am also enjoying being back home with family and friends. Since July, I've been on the road, reconnecting with supporters and sharing what God is doing.Just before leaving Japan in June, it became official news that our ministry team had been given a church building to use as the national Chi Alpha Student

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-69273702931709581942007-07-18T13:17:00.001+09:002007-09-08T03:45:49.841+09:00

The past few weeks have been busy with wrapping up ministry and saying "sayonara" (Japanese for "goodbye.") The farewells started last month when a Chi Alpha team from Sam Houston State University came for 2 weeks of ministry at various churches and university campuses in Tokyo. This team was the most relational one our staff has ever hosted. Everywhere they went, even on the trains, they found

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-12236060253374711882007-03-29T23:51:00.001+09:002007-03-30T00:31:16.318+09:00

This was the title of my first Japanese message (based on Luke 8:4-15) that I preached recently at my home church here in Japan. I didn't preach just once but TWICE in one morning. I was glad to see that my first Japanese teacher came.<?xml:namespace prefix = o />In preparing for the message, I thought about Japan's historical resistance to the gospel in view of Jesus' parable of different

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-20480401869399129442007-02-13T01:30:00.001+09:002007-02-13T02:22:47.277+09:00

Christmas is the best time for evangelism in Japan. People are most open to hear the gospel because they want to experience Christmas. <?xml:namespace prefix = o />On the 16th, our campus ministry team held a Christmas dinner/concert for all of the Tokyo area Chi Alpha students. While planning the menu and the food, I kept thinking about Jesus' feeding the thousands and praying that God would

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1160804412326072742006-10-14T14:40:00.000+09:002007-03-30T00:29:51.636+09:00

After July, ministry slowed down as students went on summer break. I've spent the past two months praying more and reading, studying Japanese for an international test in December, teaching English, preaching, and working with a 60-member gospel choir, as well as exercising and becoming more physically fit. <?xml:namespace prefix = o />Working with a 60-member choir and a talented couple in my

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1154350733005879752006-07-31T21:30:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:47.387+09:00

HOSTING SUMMER TEAMSAt the end of May, 2 ministry staff left and the 3 of us left wondered how we would do ministry. Although transition is never easy, it is still part of the growth process.God has answered our prayers for help. Karen Dickey, an MK studying at Southeastern University in Lakeland FL, came as a summer worker. Because she grew up in Japan, she is fluent in Japanese and knows Tokyo

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1146153216825190682006-04-28T00:36:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:47.330+09:00

For the last few years, there has been an annual campus ministry training seminar. This is usually held in March, just before the new school year starts in April. God has used this to raise up new workers every year who, in turn, start new campus ministries. Last year and this year, the guest speakers have been local pastors who have vision for reaching today's students who will be tomorrow's

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1146151967005748782006-04-28T00:32:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:47.265+09:00

One of my supporters asked me to make a short video a while back. Japan is famous for its electronics, so I went by myself to Bic Camera and asked a sales clerk lots of questions about video cameras.  I learned a new word in the process (Gazo means resolution), and I'm glad to say that I ended up buying a really good Canon camera that can be used in 10 different languages.  Since then I've

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1139141698272275362006-02-05T21:14:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:47.130+09:00

Every month during the school year (April to May), we hold a prayer meeting for students and church leaders who do campus ministry in the Tokyo metropolitan area. As of the end of 2005, one of our volunteers put 3 of our meetings online. If you've ever wondered what a bilingual message sounds like in English and Japanese, you can listen to them at the following links:May-05 Meeting http://

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1128510449510320332005-10-05T20:04:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:47.070+09:00

Monday, September 19, was the 5th Annual Windy Road Concert at Windy Chapel. For those who don't know, I sing with a Japanese choir and we sing Black Gospel style at my church. Black Gospel choirs are extremely popular here and a very effective means of evangelism in reaching young people. They are attracted to the upbeat, joyful music and I believe that they are tasting a bit of the Holy Spirit.

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1124284767308174322005-08-17T22:19:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:46.826+09:00

Another Chi Alpha team from Grambling State University in Ruston, Louisiana went to Hokkaido to conduct gospel workshops and evangelistic meetings. This team has come for the past 3 years to serve the same church. I flew to Asahikawa to meet up with the team on July 15. Initially, I was to supposed to help the team with communicating with the hosting Japanese pastors.  However, because of the

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1124284442839834972005-07-31T22:14:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:46.766+09:00

This summer has been filled with hosting American university student teams.  The planning and hard work that goes into hosting these teams is worth it all to see the impact on students who have never heard about Jesus Christ.  The first summer team came from Chi Alpha at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.       The next team came from Inland Church in Los Angeles, California

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1120838390215634792005-07-09T00:59:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:46.669+09:00

The Chi Alpha team from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale IL was here for about 2 weeks in June. This Chi Alpha has sent teams to Japan for the last 3 years. They were great servants ministering on campuses and in churches. They helped with campus ministry by inviting students to their gospel concerts, performing drama, leading Bible studies, and of course praying and building

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1115190725472935752005-05-04T16:12:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:46.406+09:00

I pray that this finds you well and prospering in the Lord. Here, the colors of Spring are everywhere--camellias, Japanese cherry blossoms, azaleas--and Summer is just around the corner. Just this week the temperatures in Tokyo went from the mild 60s to the 80s. I believe it's going to be another hot, humid summer.By now, you've probably heard about the tragic train derailment in Japan. I live

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1114235535339427372005-04-23T14:52:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:46.332+09:00

Serving as a missionary in Tokyo, Japan 

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12327745.post-1114068553120356242005-04-21T16:23:00.000+09:002006-10-14T14:54:46.261+09:00

This month ended my first term with Japanese group lessons. We ended the term with an outing to Kamakura, a very beautiful tourist area outside of Tokyo. Kamakura has many temples, shrines, and churches which I find interesting. We were told that many intellectuals live there, and they tend to be most interested in religions. I've since learned also that is the history of Japan. The intellectuals

ASRickettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856736346228525151noreply@blogger.com0