3/11 Earthquake – initial e-mail replies from PARTNER CHURCHES IN JAPAN to the PCT

Subject: Japan Earthquake News 3/11 – Concern from PCT

E-mail sent Friday, March 11, 2011 3:30 p.m.

To PCT Partners:

United Church of Christ in Japan (Kyodan) [UCCJ]
Brotherhood of Christ Church - Kirisuto Kyodaidan [BCC]
Jesus Christ Church in Japan [JCCJ]
Church of Christ in Japan [CCJ]
Asia Evangelical Missionary Fellowship [AEMF]
Korean Christian Church in Japan [KCCJ]

Dear Sisters and Brothers

We are just receiving the news reports about the 8.8 earthquake that struck the north east of Japan this afternoon. Although the reporting is sporadic at present we understand there is already concern about fires and tsunami.

Please know the officers and staff of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan express their deep concern at this difficult time.

We will await further updates from the media but if any of your churches can provide us your views and concerns too that would be helpful.

Sincerely yours in Christ

Carys Humphreys

On behalf of and in the absence of
Rev. Chang Te-Chien (Andrew)
PCT General Secretary

==============================
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

E-mail REPLIES RECEIVED TO DATE – 11-14 March 2011

(1) Reply received: 3/11 17:52

Thank you for your concern about us. Now, I'm trying to contact with churches in the area of the earthquake.

But the telephone is too busy. Thank you for your pray for us.

Rev. Keiichi Sawa

BCC, Brotherhood of Christ Church (Kirisuto Kyodaidan)

Our friends in Christ,

I'm forwarding the message from our moderator Rev. Kazuo Inoue. We appreciate very much for your concerns.

Elder Yoshi Fujimori
Secretary for International Affairs
The Committee on Ecumenical Relations
The Church of Christ in Japan

--------------------------------------------------


Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We would like to express our deepest appreciation for your concerns and prayers regarding the devastating earthquake which occurred this afternoon in Japan. Due to the disruption in communication systems, we are still unable to reach our congregations in Tohoku area where the
damage was the most severe, but we'll keep you updated as soon as we gather some more information.

We thank you again for your prayers and communion in Christ.

Rev. Kazuo Inoue
Moderator
The Church of Christ in Japan (CCJ)

(3) Reply received: 3/12 08:42

Greetings from UCCJ in Tokyo.

We truly appreciate your deep sympathy for the gigantic earthquake that we never ever experienced.

As for churches in Tokyo are OK but in Sendai where the earthquake hit most severely, we are still not able to get contact with them.

Please keep on praying for us and as soon as we get exact information, let us inform you again.

Sincerely yours in Christ

Makoto Kato

Executive Secretary for Ecumenical Ministries
United Church of Christ in Japan Kyodan

(4) Reply received: 3/12 Sat 12:48

We appreciate you of your deep and warm concern about the disaster of big earthquake, fire and Tsunami.

In spite of the terrible disaster, we are protected by the hand of God.

Both all of the churches in Kansai Area including AEMF members in Kyoto and members in other distant districts (Nagano Prefecture and Hokkaido), who were invited to the Missionary Conference held in Shin-Zhu last October. They are thankful to you for your kind concern.

We'll give thanks to God for His mercy.

But many Japanese people including Christians are suffered from the awful disaster. We don't know their update. We can also get the information only by the TV news.

Please continue your prayer to God having a pity and mercy upon those people. We thank you for your rapid expression of love in Christ.

We are grateful for being protected in God' hand by supporting of your prayer.

Please send our best regards to the PCT members.

May God bless all of you.

Pastor Lin Mao Hong

AEMF/ Asia Evangelical Missionary Fellowship

Thank you so much for your e-mail which let me know the officers and staff of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan express their deep concern at this difficult time.

My family members and me are fine. Members of Abiko Glory Church are fine, too, The chapel of Abiko Glory Church are also good without some cracks on ceiling.

But,….

The situation of lack of foods and car-oil are already started. And the roads have traffic jams. (On the Friday I drove a car 12 hours to take my wife and daughters who were in the refuge of the University in Tokyo!)

May God leads churches in Japan can be the salt of the land and the light of the world in this difficult time just as PCT.

Thank you very much again for your deep concern and prayer for us.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” Psalm 46:1-2

Rev. NINOMIYA Ichiro

Abiko Glory Church, Jesus Christ Church in Japan

(former missionary partner with PCT)

Dear Ms. Humphreys,

Thank you very much for your prayer and e-mail. Here is the UCCJ update:

The UCCJ established the Relief Planning Committee (chair: Rev. Naito) on
Saturday, March 12. It is responsible for the initial actions, i.e. investigation,
consolation visit & planning. Dispatched to Tohoku & Ou Districts are four
executives:
Rev. Ishibashi, moderator, Rev. Fujimori, executive secretary
Rev. Morita, chair, Committee on Social Concerns & Rev. Kato, executive secretary.

They left Tokyo on Sunday, March 13, a