Living a Life that Matters

I would like to encourage you to take some time and listen to two sermons by very gifted pastor (Frances Chan) from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. Noriko and I had the chance to visit the church in February and meet Frances, which was really treat for us. Below are two amazing messages that show the true power of the Gospel and how it is impacting the world in an eternal way today!

On the church home page, go in the bottom right corner of the page and click on "Get a sermon" right above "Welcome". Then select a sermon from the list and listen or watch it your browser, or you can download via iTunes to listen to them in your iPod or iPhone. I recommend listen to 3/8 first and 3/15 second.

Living a Life that Matters - "Living Eternally" -- 3/8/09 -- Francis Chan
Living a Life that Matters - "Living to Display the Gospel" -- 3/15/09 -- Francis Chan

Free free to drop me a line and tell me what you think. Thanks.

Baptized at Hitotsumatsu Beach in (Chiba) Japan

New Hope Tokyo baptism crew at Hitotsumatsu Beach in Japan.

Here's a short testimony I gave at Hitotsumatsu Beach in (Chiba) Japan, 13 August 2008, after I was baptized in the ocean. I spoke in English and our friend Yuka Yoshihara translated my short speech into Japanese for the group of (40+) people gathered (mostly from New Hope Tokyo) who had come for the event.

I was fortunately to have been raised in a Christian home, and I was baptized as a baby by my parents. I went to a Christian high school and college, but really didn't walk with God much at that time. I think this situation of being culturally Christian without really having a personal relationship with Christ is common in the USA now.

About eight years ago I attended an Alpha course and learned more about what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Two years ago I visited friends (Daisuke and Cheryl Ikegami) living in Ichinomiya (very close to Hitotsumatsu Beach). During that trip I felt that God was giving me a passion for Japan. I started to pray a lot about how I could serve God in Japan and started to consider moving to Japan to do ministry in Chiba or Tokyo. Within a short time I met Noriko. She was not a Christian then, but God touched her heart and she became a Christian so quickly (within 3-4 months). Now she is my fiancee and we plan to get married soon and she will move to the USA.

I am so happy I could get baptized as an adult here by the same pastor (Shintaro-sensei) who baptized Noriko in the same area of Japan where I first felt God placing a desire in my heart for the people of Japan to know Christ. Thank you for letting me join the New Hope baptism event and to everyone for all your support.

After Richard's baptism at Hitotsumatsu Beach in (Chiba) Japan, 13 August 2008

UPDATE: New Hope posted a short video of the baptisms which were part of the Beach Camp last week in Chiba. Select the "Beach Camp 2008 Memorial" link on this page.

Crazy Love

Check out the several short videos (click "Videos" on the left) that talk about the concepts Pastor Frances Chan wrote about in his new book "Crazy Love". Good stuff and really thought provoking!

Boldness will be rewarded

This is a short but very powerful video testimony about one man's efforts to share the gospel. Wow! I pray that only I could be that bold!

1.2 million Japanese visit Hawaii each year

Here is a recent statistical report from Don Wright at RJC about Japanese coming to Hawaii, especially Oahu. Over 100,000 people come every month to Hawaii from Japan. They come for between five and six days. Most come for pleasure. Between 10,000 and 16,000 each month come for honeymoon, and 5,000 more come for a marriage ceremony. One hundred or more come to study.

Wow, what a concentration of opportunity to reach out to Japanese!

As Don mentioned in a recent email right after the RJC Hawaii conference...

"I hope that we will be able to make a list of Hawaii cultural experience opportunities that we can share with churches in Japan. Then when people come to Hawaii they can experience Hawaii within the context of Christian faith. About 100,000 Japanese tourists come to Hawaii every month and about 90% of them come for pleasure. How exciting it would be if more of these could attend a Christian worship, go surfing with a Christian, attend a Hawaiian lunch, or meet a group of excited students."

I love Don's passion for this ministry and I find his years of service personally inspiring.

Merii Kurisumasu!

ENGAGED: Noriko and Richard

Meet my new life (ministry) partner...Noriko Akiba.

I officially proposed to Noriko on Saturday, June 30, on the Golden Gate Bridge. I thought the bridge would be a nice spot since it represents the gateway to the West from Asia and is a symbol of connecting two different places or things. The Golden Gate Bridge has always been on the top of my mind when I thought of San Francisco. Noriko was completely surprised that I proposed to her on the bridge. This was evident by her mild shock and tears, which was followed by a very happy celebration with a few friends who came with us. I hope you enjoy the photos. :)

Grace and peace to you,

Richard and Noriko