Meet the Hoisingtons

“This August marks the first anniversary of our move to Japan. We arrived with our suitcases, and in just one year God has opened the door to various opportunities to learn and serve: a partnership with a wise and patient national pastor, a team of dedicated missionaries, a great experience with our first Edge intern, getting to know our neighbors, many contacts with local churches and ministries, a surge of interest by potential missionary candidates, and numerous opportunities to preach and teach.”

Please pray:

For our teammates – The Broadduses are meeting with a small group of believers in their home. Pray for others with whom they are sharing the gospel; Mr. Aikawa, Miss Hiromi, Mrs. Abe, to name a few. Stephanie leaves us to visit ministry partners in Canada for three months in September.

For our sons – This fall, Nathan begins a year of study at Columbia International University in South Carolina, and Keith will go to Azusa Pacific University. Pray that bothwill grow in their love for the Lord, learn from godly mentors, and gain discernment and wisdom for a life of effective service. Pray that Dean will connect well with Japanese people here; not knowing the language well is difficult for him.

For Fukuoka Bible Church – These folks are currently a part of the fellowship: Pastor Kaoru Inoue and his wife Emi (60s): Three grown children. Pastor Inoue is a gifted expositor who himself has been a short-term missionary in Indonesia and India. Both of them have been very gracious toward us. Mr. Tanaka (40s): A solid believer (single) who teaches English at a local university. Kentaro (19): A pastor’s son from Hokkaido who is studying at Sei-nan University, a nominally Christian school. He was recently baptized on August 1 (see photo on page 1). The Ju family (40s): This Korean family has one daughter in the fourth grade who goes to Dean’s school. Mr. Ju is the local branch manager for Asiana Airlines. Mrs. Morita (70s): A widow whose husband was a pastor. Mrs. Ozono (40s): A lady with a son and daughter, who became a Christian last year. Her husband is not a believer. Pray for wisdom and discernment as she lives out her new-found faith in the home. As we prepare to launch an English program at Fukuoka Bible Church in October, pray for “spiritual maintenance” and family time despite a demanding schedule.

Wanted! We are praying for and seeking a team member to manage our evergrowing short-term ministry opportunities. This person or couple would need to possess a rare combination of organizational and people skills. Preparation would include two years of initial Japanese language study. The role entails interacting with local churches and ministries to identify needs for workers, as well as coordinating the preparation, arrival and ministry of short-term workers for terms of six weeks to one year. We are beginning to “do” many things, and have become very busy. The one thing we can’t “do” is to produce that one, key, necessary end result: changing lives through the transforming power of the gospel; the “fire from heaven” that we can’t manufacture. Please pray with us for Divine action; that the God who called us to “make disciples” will call those for whom He died to Himself; that He will grant to us leaders to train for the next generation of His work in Japan.

For the latest news from the Hoisington family click here. 

The Hoisingtons Dan, Cindy, Nathan, Keith, and Dean

Dan and Cindy Hoisington
PIONEERS – Japan Area
Hibaru 7 Chome 28-7
Minami Ku, Fukuoka 811-1355
Home Phone: 81-92-555-7222
Dan’s Cell: 81-80-4276-2202
Cindy’s Cell: 81-80-4275-2202
Dean’s Cell: 81-80-4274-2202
Cindy’s E-mail: cehoisington@gmail.com
Dean’s E-mail: dhoisington98@gmail.com

Christmas 2009 – “Yesterday we held a Christmas open house for our neighbors. Cindy set up an area at our table where kids (and adults too) could take a ginger bread cookie and select from a variety of colored frostings to make their own design. The turnout was just about as many people as we could handle; 7 ladies and 5 kids (no men). Each of them got a Christmas card with an insert titled “The meaning of Christmas” and the passage from John 1 that declares that the Word who is God dwelled among us, and although His own did not receive Him, those who do receive Him He gave the right to become sons of God (1:1-14). It is difficult to know what information to include in a brief card insert; their heritage leaves them no witness whatever apart from general revelation, and so we have to begin with the very basics (like Paul had to do in Athens ). Please pray that the word of the Lord will continue to grow and be multiplied (Acts 12:24) through contacts such as this event, and through the distribution of Scripture to them in various forms. His work is invisible to us, but it is sure, and through prayer we all can participate in it.”

 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people” – Luke1:68

We thank God for your interest and partnership with us this past year, and trust that this Christmas season will bring a fresh realization of the one true Gift that God has given us!

For the Fall 2009 newsletter from the Hoisington family click here.