Pastor Greg Hall was selected to represent the International Churches, Chapels and English Speaking Christian Community on Okinawa. He was appointed as the Executive Chairman of the International Committee for the Okinawa Franklin Graham Festival. His first task was to unite local Pastors and Military Chaplains to build a team to accomplish the various goals of the Festival. (Please see http://www.ofgf2006.org/ for more info.) Greg also served on the Senior Leadership Team with Mamoru Kuniyoshi-sensei, Tamotsu Uchimura-sensei, Motofusa Higa-sensei, and Masahiro Orita-sensei and Saito-sensei as liaison from the International Churches and Chapels. Together the Japanese and International Churches & Chapels worked to mobilize leaders and laypersons to accomplish the many goals of the Festival.
Jenny Hall served as the English Secretary in the Japanese Festival Office. While working in an all Japanese office was challenging, hearts were knit together in unity to work for the Lord! Many people from our congregation (Okinawa Church of God MTTM) were involved in the Festival in significant ways: Mitch and Victoria Culbertson (Children's Committee and Franklin Graham Security), Larry Brantley (Counseling & Follow-Up), Jeffrey Smith (Youth), Greg and Eiko Mitchell (Office Volunteer and Venue Construction), Linda Cobb (Festival Choir), Jack Letcher (Interpreter CLW) Jacqueline and Tane Vincent (Audio Visual for multiple Rallies prior to Festival), Mike & Gina Scheck (One Accord Band), Summer Rivera (Children's Festival Guide), Summer Sullivan (Children's Festival Guide) John & Bea Valenzuela (office volunteers). Each of these people played an important and significant role in the success of the Festival. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!
After over a year of work, the Festival finally came! What a miracle to see Japanese and Americans coming to the Lord! Please pray for these new Christians! Whether Japanese or American, they will face many challenges as "baby" Christians.
Please see the Franklin Graham Festival Website for more information on the ministries of Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: http://www.grahamfestivals.org/ or http://www.bgea.org/
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday, December 4, 2006
Press Release Okinawa Franklin Graham Festival
Press release from DeMossNewsPond.com
Franklin Graham Festival: The First Evangelistic Event in Okinawa, Japan, in More Than a Decade
In a Country That is 1% Christian, 30,792 Heard Graham Deliver a Message of Hope
OKINAWA, Japan, Nov. 6, 2006—Although The Battle of Okinawa during World War II was some 60 years ago, the impact of that event is still very present on the island and in the hearts of the people.“Seeing more than 200,000 civilian and military names written in stone at the Peace Memorial here is an overwhelming experience,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “Peace has since come to Okinawa, but I’m here to talk about an eternal peace that we all can have in our hearts through Jesus Christ.”Graham held his first Festival in Japan at the invitation of local pastors, leaders, and churches, a group which grew to more than 130 participating churches from many different denominations. The three-day Festival drew 30,792 to the Chatan Sports Complex in Okinawa, Nov. 3-5. Considering less than 1% of the population of Japan is Christian and that the average church has about 40 members, local organizers were astonished at the response to the Festival. By the final night of the event, more than 1,942 responded to the invitation to put their faith in Jesus Christ.Okinawa has a diverse population, with 13 U.S. military bases with 150,000 American citizens living on the island. The Festival marked the first time that local Okinawa churches and international and English-speaking churches joined together for such an event.Each night, crowds heard Graham’s straightforward message of hope and forgiveness, along with energetic and traditional local music from artists including Asia and Chu Kosaka, Reiko Uehara, Marre Ishii, a mass gospel choir, guitarist Dennis Agajanian with Monty Gaylord, and the California-based Tommy Coomes Band.On Saturday two different events for children were held. 1,780 international and American children came for Kids Quest, a fun program with drama and music, designed to teach kids about God’s love. Later in the day, nearly 5,000 local kids attended the Okinawa Children’s Family Festival, tailored specifically for the Japanese community. A total of 722 children responded to the invitation.The Japan Festival marked the final evangelistic event of the year for Graham. Volunteers in several cities around the world are already hard at work preparing for the 2007 Festivals. Next year, Graham is planning to conduct events in Hong Kong; Korea; Ecuador; Panama; Ukraine; Binghamton, N.Y.; Tacoma, Wash.; and Norfolk, Va.
Franklin Graham Festival: The First Evangelistic Event in Okinawa, Japan, in More Than a Decade
In a Country That is 1% Christian, 30,792 Heard Graham Deliver a Message of Hope
OKINAWA, Japan, Nov. 6, 2006—Although The Battle of Okinawa during World War II was some 60 years ago, the impact of that event is still very present on the island and in the hearts of the people.“Seeing more than 200,000 civilian and military names written in stone at the Peace Memorial here is an overwhelming experience,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “Peace has since come to Okinawa, but I’m here to talk about an eternal peace that we all can have in our hearts through Jesus Christ.”Graham held his first Festival in Japan at the invitation of local pastors, leaders, and churches, a group which grew to more than 130 participating churches from many different denominations. The three-day Festival drew 30,792 to the Chatan Sports Complex in Okinawa, Nov. 3-5. Considering less than 1% of the population of Japan is Christian and that the average church has about 40 members, local organizers were astonished at the response to the Festival. By the final night of the event, more than 1,942 responded to the invitation to put their faith in Jesus Christ.Okinawa has a diverse population, with 13 U.S. military bases with 150,000 American citizens living on the island. The Festival marked the first time that local Okinawa churches and international and English-speaking churches joined together for such an event.Each night, crowds heard Graham’s straightforward message of hope and forgiveness, along with energetic and traditional local music from artists including Asia and Chu Kosaka, Reiko Uehara, Marre Ishii, a mass gospel choir, guitarist Dennis Agajanian with Monty Gaylord, and the California-based Tommy Coomes Band.On Saturday two different events for children were held. 1,780 international and American children came for Kids Quest, a fun program with drama and music, designed to teach kids about God’s love. Later in the day, nearly 5,000 local kids attended the Okinawa Children’s Family Festival, tailored specifically for the Japanese community. A total of 722 children responded to the invitation.The Japan Festival marked the final evangelistic event of the year for Graham. Volunteers in several cities around the world are already hard at work preparing for the 2007 Festivals. Next year, Graham is planning to conduct events in Hong Kong; Korea; Ecuador; Panama; Ukraine; Binghamton, N.Y.; Tacoma, Wash.; and Norfolk, Va.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Welcome to Okinawa!
Our family would like to welcome you to Okinawa! We have been on Okinawa for two years now and we love it! It wasn't so easy in the beginning however, we really missed our friends and family. We would like for you to visit our church and get to know some new friends! Before long, we'll be family!
Please note the schedule below and call us for more information.
"Okinawa Church of God, a place to find Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness"
The Halls
Upcoming Events
Feb. 16, 2007 - 7:00 pm Power House Fellowship & Bible Study at the home of Jeffrey & Lanisha Smith (on Kadena pick up a map on Sunday or call 897-8954) Bring a Bible, snack and bring a friend!
Call the church for more info. 897-8954
Regular Sunday Morning Schedule
10:00 am Sunday School
11:00 am Praise & Worship, Message Pastor Greg Hall, M. Div
11:00 am Nursery ages 2 and under with Summer Rivera (Coordinator)
Preschool ages 3, 4, 5 join Tony and Ingryid Welch for "Praise Town"
Children's Church grades 1-6 join Pastor Greg Mitchell for children's church
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
