Testimonies of SDJCC Members, November, 1999
Number 11 = Table of Contents =
| Returned to God | Dick Fukushima |
| "I Chose You" | Tomoe Fukushima |
| A Vision for all Seasons | Tracie Kobayashi |
| Grammar for God | Paul Lodronio |
| Before I Was Born | Hitomi Nakao |
| All Things Work Together For Good | Frank Ogura |
| Rediscovering the Lord Presence | Toshio Suzuki |
In 1953, my family moved back to the States because my parents wished for us to reside herepermanently. We settled in Riverside, California where I finished Jr. High and High School andwenton to College in Pomona.
When I was in high school, my cousin invited me to attend a youth group meeting at RiversideJapanese Union Church. This was the first time I ever set my foot inside a Christian Church. Atchurch I made many friends, enjoyed great fellowship, and started to attend the worship serviceregularly. The warm atmosphere of the church moved my heart and I desired to be baptized.Subsequently, on Easter of 1958, I was baptized by Rev. Peter Chen. For a few years following, Iwasactive at the church, providing assistance as a substitute Sunday School teacher, transportingchildrento and from Sunday School, and sending out weekly newsletters. However, soon after I enteredCollege, Rev. Chen moved to another church and I started to lose contact with my Christianfriends.My faith in God's salvation was not yet grounded and I started to drift away from God, pursuingotherinterests such as football. Often times on Sundays, I visited L. A. to watch the L. A. Rams play,instead of attend church.
After graduating from College, I began to work for General Dynamics in Pomona. My parentsreturned to Japan soon after I started my new job. I met my wife Tomoe in 1965 through mysister'sfriend and married her in September of 1966. After three years at General Dynamics, and twomonthsprior to my wedding, I moved to Chula Vista to work for Rohr Industries. We were blessed withtwodaughters, Debbie and Daisy. Tomoe and the girls started to attend the Japanese ChristianChurch(then called the "San Diego Holiness Church"), for which I was glad, because I felt that it wasimportant for my children to know God at a young age. However, I was engrossed in football anddidnot go to church with them.
One Sunday morning when I was still in bed (looking forward to watching the pro-game on T.V.),Debbie came into my room and said, "Daddy, let's go to church!" When I explained that I had animportant game to watch that day, she told me, "I won't go if you're not!" I thought it wasimportantfor them to continue their search for God, and from that day on, decided that I should attendchurchtogether with my family.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, "He has made everything beautiful in its time". God used my daughterstoawaken me spiritually and to lead me back to Him. I became a born again Christian because Ihavecome to realize how much God loves me and how much I need His help and guidance in my life.
The Lord constantly watched over my years with Rohr Industries and kept our family togetherwhenI was away from home on long term assignments. This marks my 33rd year with the firm, and Iamthankful for God's provision of my job through the difficult times.
In spite of my shortcomings, the Lord has guided me through all these years through His grace.Thankyou Lord for everything you have done for me.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
One day the friend invited me along to the Japanese worship service with her, and since mydaughterwas already attending their Sunday school, I felt obliged to attend. This was the beginning of myencounter with our San Diego Japanese Christian Church.
I was born in the outskirts of Numazu City, Shizuoka during the time when Christianity wasundersuppression. I was the youngest of 10 children and adored by my Father. My Father had difficultywalking due to a spinal injury he suffered from a bad fall, and soon after I was born, he becamebedridden and remained so for seven years. When one has a physically ill member in the family,theopportunity is present for many religious groups to come knocking on your door. One such groupinsinuated that the illness may have been caused by some evil curse, and our family had grown todetest anything associated with religious groups since then. My Father died of pneumonia in1950.
In 1962 while I was studying at "Bunka Fukusoh Gakuin" (School of Apparel and Design), Ireceiveda letter from my older sister in the United States who was there studying English. She wasassistingan American family with housekeeping chores in exchange for a place to live. The couple hostingmy sister was impressed with her diligence, and as a gesture of goodwill in light of the Christmasseason, offered to have me sent over. I had always dreamed of America and told my sister of mydesire to go--contrary to my Mother and brothers' wishes. My Mother wanted to keep heryoungest"baby" close to her side, and my brothers thought it unwise to send a young woman ofmarriageableyears to a foreign land, let alone on what appeared to be a futile trip. Nonetheless, I started topreparefor the trip, and applied for a student visa. It was around this time Mother became distraught. Shebecame taciturn and started weeping bitterly every night in bed. Initially, I felt sorry for her, buteventually that sorrow turned to resentment, as I began to think in disgust that I would notrespondwith such lamentation as a mother. My heart became as cold as stone and I began to despise her.Herdepression worsened to the point where she now suffered insomnia, and as a side effect of thesleeping pills she was prescribed, she developed a speech impediment and loss of bladder controlaswell. My family wrote to my older sister who in turn tried to dissuade me from making the trip.AsMother began to recover however, I eventually succeeded in convincing her to let me go. A weekafter I obtained my visa, I set forth to America bidding farewell to everyone, leaving behindMother'ssad expressions.
Two years had passed, and I was preparing to return home to Japan, when a relative suggestedmeeting an eligible Japanese bachelor in the US. I agreed to this "omiai" thinking there can be noharm in trying something like this once, and that was how I met my present husband. A year laterwemarried, and in 1967, we were blessed with our first daughter while on an assignment in Seattle.
I don't remember the content of the sermon I heard during my first worship service in San Diego,butI won't forget the warm greeting and wonderful Japanese food that was served for the New Year's"Shinboku" Meeting. I began to attend church regularly since then and through the Bible that wasgiven me, learned about the Lord's wonderful love for us. I became increasingly aware of God'spresence, which had been unforeseen until then. My arrogance in thinking that I did not needGodor that faith was only for weaklings began to peel off. Very much like the traveler in Aesop'sFableof the "North Wind and Sun" who sheds his clothing one by one, I began to shed my arrogancethrough the power of God's amazing love for me. When it was getting closer to Easter, I had theopportunity to view a movie portraying Jesus' life on TV. I was very touched by Christ'ssufferingsand death on the cross for my sins and I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior. I was baptizedbyRev. Fukiage in Easter of 1974. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you,thatyou should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask in Myname,He may give to you." (John 15:16)
One day I was suddenly reminded of an incident that took place when I was of Junior HighSchoolage. I was home alone when I sensed that someone was in our front yard. I looked up and saw anelderly woman with silver hair and blue eyes silently handing me a copy of a flyer. It was unusualto see a foreigner in the countryside and I was quite surprised. I don't recall what was written onthatflyer, but in retrospect, I am convinced that she was a missionary passing out a tract. I was undertheimpression that my first encounter with God was made at the Japanese Christian Church, but it isinteresting to note that a point of contact may have been established 20 years before.
It was all God's grace that led a meek individual like myself to come to the US against the wishesofmy family, to be prevented from returning to Japan, and to becoming a Christian. "But by thegraceof God I am what I am."(I Cor. 15:10) Apostle Paul teaches us that "Grace is something that Godpours out to those who are not deserving of it." To my inquiry, "Lord Jesus, just how much doyoulove me?" He had opened His arms wide and hung on the cross. "I have loved you with aneverlastinglove; therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3) Lord, I thank you frommyheart.
I am grateful that my daughters have married and are building warm Christian families. I praythatI will continue to walk in the Lord with a faith that, even of the size of a mustard seed, is full ofmeaning and life. Praise the Lord.
My attitude towards myself at the time, had been that I had to be the best of the best. And if Iwasn't---then, I felt that I was nothing. That no one would take notice of me, or my parentswouldn't love me anymore. So that would basically explain why I had gotten so involved into myTaekwondo. I was so involved with this sport that I had actually stopped going to church for awhile, claiming that it had been my only day of rest out of the entire week.
My attitude towards others had fallen within that same category as my attitude towards myself.All of my friends had been the most popular people in school, I could never relate to any one ofmy family members who ever had a problem, and all of myteachers were just people paid toteachme things that didn't pertain to me.
My attitude towards life, God, and death had been that, life was like a rose, every time youmessed up in some form or way (not sinning, just making mistakes), a petal would fall to theground. And when all of your petals are gone, your life was then over, leading you into the valleyof death. After walking through this valley, in my mind, I had envisioned that I would surely gotohell because of the fact that I had disappointed God in too many ways to be mentioned. AndwhenI say essing up or I had isappointed Him, I don't mean that I sinned, but that I simply messed up.In things like, losing a tournament, or getting a 'B' in history. Just simple things like that.
But then there was my attitude towards God. Wow! In my mind, God had always been thehardestone to please. Many nights before I went to bed, I would pray, begging God to forgive me forgetting a 'B' on my English midterm, or a '9:43' on my 1 mile run. God had just been the moststressful person within my own life. Until I had realized that the most stressful person within myown life had been me, and that God had been the very least. And at that point I had started goingback to church little by little, becoming closer and closer to God, and realizing His true messageand story. Because this time, I walked into the House of God with an open mind, not with theattitude that my parents had wanted me to go there.
After a while I started getting involved with the youth. One day at a youth meeting our leader,Ralph, had mentioned something about a camp called Winter Vision. He had the other youthmembers explain what this camp had been like since he had never been there himself. And fromwhat the other youth members had said about the fellowship you will receive with otherChristians and Children of God through this camp, I thought that Winter Vision would be a funexperience to have. So after a while of debating with my parents whether I should go to WinterVision or to the next tournament for Taekwondo, I chose Winter Vision hands down. And I suream glad I did! Because on the night of January 17, 1999 at Winter Vision '99, I accepted JesusChrist as my Lord and Savior. And I will never ever forget that night at Winter Vision. Neverever.
As for now, my life has been completely changed by the grace of God. My attitude towardsmyself and towards others, has been magnificent. I can accept myself as well as others for whothey are. And not for what they do or who they know or what they wear, but just simply for whothey are.
My interests have been more focused on school, God, youth group, and Taekwondo.While mypriorities are God, School, youth group, and then Taekwondo. Making sure that I have quiet timeevery day, trying my best at school, giving it my all, attending youth group and church everyweek, and going to Taekwondo at least three times a week. And as for Christ, lets just say that Hehas affected my feelings and goals in so many ways known and unknown that it is impossible tomention. But I know for a fact that Christ has risen me up to God and has made me a lot morecompassionate towards my family, friends, and others whom I know or do not know. And by Hisgrace, he has overwhelmingly affected my goals in life.
One of my goals had been to be in the National Honor Society, and on April 14, 1999 I had beenaccepted. Another one of my goals yet to be accomplished is that I want to make it all the way tothe 2004 Olympics for Taekwondo. And lately God has stood by my side throughout all of thepain and work, making it easier for me to compete, and giving me the passion to never let go ofall of my goals in life.
Christ has changed my relationship with God and my friends into a relationship where I nolongerfeel like anything is missing within my heart. I feel complete.
Ever since I was a young boy, I always knew there was a God. Growing up, our family wouldattend Mass every Sunday. I listened to sermons proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,andin my heart I believed. Looking back on those times, I now realize just how important a personalrelationship with Jesus Christ is. It makes everything connect: the confession of sins, the askingof forgiveness, the acceptance of Jesus and the discipleship under God. This relationship withJesus was something I did not have when I was younger. In fact, a personal relationship withChrist is something that I've only recently experienced and have begun to enjoy. I give all thecredit to God for turning my heart towards Him, because there was a period in my life when Hereally only mattered on Sundays for an hour, in addition to my times of great need.
Throughout my college and early working years, I learned about the world. In an environmentwhere one was encouraged to explore, to experience new things and with a steady flow ofincome, I basically followed what I desired. The friends I mainly spent time with had similarbackgrounds and interests: single, career-minded, sports-minded, and ready to have fun justaboutevery weekend. I was living a life away from the Lord most of the time, certainly a life void of arelationship with Jesus. While most of my friends followed their desires, there was one who wasdifferent. One friend who followed a principle of living that didn't center on the fun andpleasurable things this world offers. With the exception of summer, 1994 was a year ofconfusion,heartache and stress in my life. During July of that year, I was invited to attend a HarvestCrusade. This same friend, who struck me as being different, was there with me, walking by myside as I began to take my first steps into the arms of Jesus.
Amid hundreds of new believers, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior that evening. Standing onthe grassy field I was humbled, yet I felt a sense of acceptance and belonging which almostbrought me to tears. Listening to my group leader welcoming us into the kingdom of God andencouraging each one of us to follow Christ through the Bible rang through my ears like acomfortable melody. Yet it was a melody slowly drowned out by the music of this world.
Even after accepting Christ as my Savior, I continued to live a life fueled by my passions. For thenext several years, I continued living for weekends with friends, vacations and dating. However,during this time, I also began to read the Bible fairly regularly. What shattered me out of mynormal, everyday schedule was the knee injury I suffered on St. Patrick's Day 1996.
The accident left me with my knee cap totally detached from the patellar tendon on my lower leftleg. Extensive surgery was required to repair the damage. While resting at home, just weeks afterthe operation, my left leg began to swell. Complications arose as blood clots began to form deepwithin my veins. The condition was serious enough to warrant another week in the hospital. Andwhen I was finally discharged, not only was I concerned with how my knee was going to heal,butalso whether I'd have the courage to take the blood-thinning medication prescribed by my doctor.Taking the medication orally was not an option, even though it was a liquid. Instead, prior tochecking out of the hospital, the nurses spent some time teaching me how to give myself a shot. Ipracticed on a pillow first, then I practiced on myself. I guess I learned well because they sent mehome with instructions to give myself shots in the stomach twice a day!
Because of the nature of my injury, I went on disability from work. During the weeks and monthsthat followed, I found myself faced with a daily decision. Being alone in my apartment most ofthe day, I had my choice of distractions to engage in. The VCR was always ready for the nextJames Bond episode from my friend's movie collection. Magazines of various interests werespread around the apartment. Cable TV with its morning talk shows was just a click away. Andone day, I even found myself watching Barney the purple dinosaur on TV.
Despite these obstacles, a desire grew within me to read the Bible daily. With my undividedattention, God spoke to me, through His Holy Word. And I began to feel peace. A peace onlyGodcan give, through his grace and mercy (John 14:27). What a joy it was to hear the Good News,ringing above the silence in my apartment! It might have been quiet, but I definitely was notlonely. The bitterness I felt about my situation fell away to be replaced by the warmth, peace andjoy as only the Words of the Bible can give. The question marks in my mind on what the Biblewas really about and who Jesus is slowly began to be erased. Enveloped with a new awareness ofJesus Christ, I continued to recuperate and rehabilitate. The kindness and generosity of familyandfriends was another source of comfort during this time. In three short months, I was back at workand closer to our Lord.
With the assistance of a physical therapist, my left leg continued to get stronger. Catching upwiththe pace of work, I soon returned to a regular schedule of activities. However, my zeal forreadingthe Word did not diminish. It was during the latter half of 1996 that I began speaking with aco-worker who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. His earnestness in proclaiming theLordcaptured my attention. The more we talked about God, the more comfortable I felt reading theBible and heeding the words of Jesus Christ.
What continued to escape me was realizing the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus.Igrew comfortable with the idea that setting aside time and allowing the Bible to speak to meduring that half hour or so was acceptable. If I wasn't going to take the next step on my own, thenadditional motivation was needed. During Father's Day weekend 1997, I was driven to thehospital by ambulance and admitted into emergency.
The deterioration of my health was sudden and amazing. Feeling fatigued that Friday night, Iawoke the next morning feeling worse. My stomach felt abnormally full. After waking from anafternoon nap, I was in severe pain, with an extremely bloated stomach and could barely breathe.With great difficulty, I made a desperate call to my parents who convinced me to dial 911.
Lying on a movable bed in emergency, I was in a daze. Just knowing the seriousness of mycondition forced me to think about life. I thought about my family and those I loved. I thoughtabout all the things I yearned to experience. I thought about the past, the pleasant and unpleasantmemories. And then I thought about the Lord and admitted to myself that something was lacking,something I could no longer ignore. Ashamedly, I made a promise with God that if He continuedgranting me the privilege of living, that I would change my life and follow Him.
I spent the next 10 days in the hospital, recovering from major surgery to my digestive system.During the next fourteen months, my faith in God grew stronger, blessed with a special friendwhose love for the Lord and joy in singing and praying to Jesus we shared together.
Because of His mercy, on August 23, 1998, God gave me the privilege of rededicating my life toJesus Christ. In His glorious name, I was baptized as a member of the San Diego JapaneseChristian Church.
Being a Christian to me means knowing that I am no different from any other person living inthisworld. It means knowing how lost and separated from God I am without confessing my sins andaccepting His love, mercy and gift of salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.He is our one and only bridge to our Father. I am so grateful to all my brothers and sisters inChrist. Everyone has made me feel welcome and has guided me in my walk with Jesus. Mostimportantly, I give all my thanks to God for inscribing a new paragraph in my heart:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father inheaven." Matthew 5:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of Godrevealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
Following Jesus continues to be a daily journey, but knowing his promise in John 3:16-17 willjoyously sustain me for a lifetime. As my Savior and Lord, I praise His name all the days of mylife.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world throughHim might be saved." John 3:17
I have been to church before I was born. My father is a pastor. My mother and father lived in anapartment, but we moved into a church building shortly after I was born. While my father waspreaching and my mother was playing the organ, I was placed on my mother's back or beside theorgan. I learned to love music, especially hymns.
My father built a new church building and we moved there. I went to the school in the area. SinceChristianity was not popular in the countryside of Japan, my classmates said, "You come fromchurch? I'm scared of the cross at the front of your home."
I have been hearing about Jesus and praying to God since I was a little girl. When I was in fourthgrade I had experienced deep repentance. I went to a Bible camp for the first time, and confessedthere that Jesus had died for my sins and was resurrected from the dead to save me.
My father was very busy teaching at a Bible school, doing radio evangelism, and serving on amission board, but he took good care of me. The church had grown and started a mission church.My father came to the U. S. for study. His school was in Dallas, Texas. My sister and I did notknow a single word of English, but our teachers and friends were so nice to us. We really enjoyedlife there. I was baptized at a church in Dallas.
After my father graduated from his school, we came back to Japan and spent one year in Tokyo.And after we came back to the U. S. again, I went to Grossmont High School and enjoyedlearning there. After graduation I started to work. This year is my third year of work. I want anewand challenging type of job this year. I want to do whatever I can at home, at church, and at work.I hope to please God through my life.
"Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. Thisisthe true worship that you should offer." (Romans 12:1 TEV)
I went to the San Diego Japanese Christian Church Sunday school from the age of eleven andlearned about Jesus Christ. Mr. Tasaburo Mukai gave me rides to church. Later his son TomMukai gave me rides.
Rev. and Mrs. George Yahiro would make visits to our home and farm. He would encourage thewhole family to accept Jesus. On one occasion, he asked if I would like to trust in Jesus as mySavior and Lord. I said yes and said a prayer and asked Jesus into my heart. My whole familybelieved in Jesus Christ and was later baptized. I was about eleven years old at that time.
My faith in the Lord has been tested through major trials and crisis times.
In 1959 my mother Masae died of cancer.
In 1960 our farm crop froze and we almost lost one year's income.
In 1961 I had major back surgery.
In 1962 my father who had been an invalid for 10 years, died overnight from an intestineblockage.
In 1999 my sister Ruth was hospitalized and is now in a convalescent hospital.
Like the old Andre Crouch song says, "Through it all, through it all, I learned to trust in Jesus."The Lord has helped me and forgiven me. He has given me peace and assurance within, in timesof trials. He has been with me all these years. If you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior,won't you accept Him today?
Some of my favorite verses are:
"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completionuntil the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1: 6
"Who shall separate from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famineornakedness or danger or sword? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nordemons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anythingelse in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus ourLord." Romans 8:35, 38-39
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him andare called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
I first went to a church in Japan eight years ago. My senior friend went to a church, and heinvitedme to his church. I was proud at that time and thought that I could do everything by myself. Godbroke me when I built myself up and was insistent in my pride. I think God arranged for me tomeet Him and to see miracles through Him.
When I was preparing my testimony I was thinking about God's miracles and how many timesGod showed them to me! I always tried to manage things by myself. Every time I tried to do so, Ihad forgotten to trust in the Lord. I had to always be corrected by the Lord. Yet I could not becorrected until I saw His miraculous works. I think that the recent experience I'm going to shareisalso an instance of God's miraculous works in my life.
Last August my boss told me, "Why don't you work at our Mexican office?" When I heard hisoffer I instantly thought about witnessing in a foreign country as well as working there. Since Ihad a dream to do evangelistic works in a foreign country, I accepted this offer with great joy.
I also met opposition from my friends. Their reason was that I could face a lot of temptationsoverthere. I hesitated a little when I heard such advice. However, I had a strong desire to go andovercame the opposition. I had a little fear, but I resolved that I would do my best to live myChristian life even though I might have trouble encountering both new life and job at the sametime. Then I finally came to Tijuana, Mexico.
Everything was new but life was so good to me in Mexico at first. But I spent five monthswithout going to church because I didn have any information about the churches in this area. Iresolved that I would do my best as a Christian, but I spent my days in vain and my faith wasgetting weaker and weaker. I could not work well and had a bad relationship with my boss andcoworkers. I was very aggressive yet attentive to other people. I came to hate such a life.
I wanted to live as a Christian witness, but I became frustrated with my day to day life. I came tohate myself because I could not live as a good Christian.
But God helped me out of this situation. In April I was able to drive a car and go anywhere onSaturdays and Sundays. I visited Rev. Tsuchiya at the Los Angeles Union Church. I have been toLittle Tokyo and I knew the church. First I thought I would come to this church every Sunday.
Rev. Tsuchiya welcomed me and introduced me to the San Diego Japanese Christian Church. Itwas too far to commute to L. A. every Sunday. Next week I called the San Diego Church andconfirmed the location on Saturday, and I came to this church on Sunday.
I thought that I could keep my Christian life. I really looked forward to the worship service at thischurch.
The message was wonderful. It was very similar to my pastor's message in Japan. I could listen tothe message without any uncomfortable feelings. The worship songs were also wonderful in bothJapanese-speaking and English-speaking departments. I never imagined that I could sing myfavorite songs in English. I was so glad when I sang "Shine, Jesus Shine" because this song isoneof my favorites.
How many times I disobeyed God and was tempted to sin! But God forgave me and invited me torenew my faith.
Now, I am thankful from the bottom of my heart to the Lord who loved me and died for my sinthat I could praise and worship Him here in San Diego with all of you.
