How Good and Pleasant!

 

I came across an interesting comment in Psalms 133:1. Just one sentence by King David, “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!”

Just reading that one verse took me back … way back to 1980. We had been in Japan for two years, studying Japanese in Tokyo. Finally done, we packed up and headed north for the town of Sendai. We had been tasked with the job of establishing student ministries, and Sendai ticked all the boxes. 

What a delightful place!  There were 13 prestigious universities in town, and we had the pick of them all.  English classes taught by native speakers were like pure gold. We were in demand, and the biggest challenge was to pick the places to which we could commit. 

Students of course were initially drawn by the “Engrish” lessons, but they were also quite open to hearing the Gospel. We taught the Bible, in English, to one and all, then followed that up with a Bible study in Japanese.

The biggest success story was “Searchlight Club” “A light for the mind; a light for the soul.” Just about all the Baptist churches in town started branches, and before long we began hearing of chapters popping up all over the country. Even to this day, Searchlight clubs operate in quite a few places.

Actually, the whole ministry started on a college campus where Tony was teaching an English class. Afterward, he went to the student coffee shop, ordered a cup, and sat down nervously. “What can I do?” he thought to himself. “The English classes are good, but how can I introduce these kids to the Bible?”

Just then, a girl approached his table.  “Are you Woods Sensei?"  

"Why yes!" he said, "How did you know?"

"I saw the beard and the Bible and I knew you were the new teacher.  When is your Bible Study?"

"Uhm," he punted.  He didn’t see that coming. But he had to do something. “Thursday nights at 7:00 at my house, with my wife.” 

That student actually never came because of a schedule conflict, and fortunately my wife was able to act like it was planned all along.  This student, even though she couldn’t come,  sent hoards to us and we were soon on our way.

After several years, the students we worked with grew up and had little students of their own. It became obvious that our “youth ministry” had morphed into church planting. 

Oh my goodness.  It was a whole new world for us. On more than one occasion, we were known to say to each other, “Give me back the heathens! They don't fight like church members!”

It was a bittersweet discovery to see that Christians, especially those with strong convictions, can be difficult! I'll never forget a "discussion" we wandered into between two women.  Both of them had decided they would sing a solo on the next Sunday.  Both were equally talented, equally spiritual, but I thought we were going to have to call in an intervention when they started up.

"Oh no, I had NO idea you wanted to sing, YOU go first!"

And of course the reciprocal, "Oh no, I wouldn't think of usurping you, YOU go first!!"

This went on with escalating volume till someone quite craftily offered, “Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you we have some special activities this Sunday, so we won’t have time for special music. Could you work it out over the next couple of weeks?”

Fast forward 50 years. Japan to Australia, Thailand and Hong Kong. Lots of churches, lots of wonderful stories to tell, and lots of the same challenges. Today on the Gold Coast, we’re involved with two Aussie churches and one Japanese group. Today, we can sing along with David … sometimes as a petition, sometimes as a wonderful prayer of pure joy.

“How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!”

David was right, it's really wonderful when people get along.

This Easter season, let’s all see what we can do to make it a song of worship in our own lives and family and churches. 

Thanking God for life, 

Marsha