Dear Tom,*
Thanks so much for your response to my request, even though you
hesitate to give your full support to my statement. I respect your feelings and will not place your name with those
giving support. But might I have the
privilege of looking one more time with you at the wording of that statement:
After 30 years of ministry
in Japan, I know of no other method of evangelism that offers so much potential
for a clear personal witness to thousands (the couples) and for drawing the
interest of tens of thousands (the families and friends) toward the Christian
church and, hopefully, its Savior. (Japan Harvest, Summer, 1999)
While assenting to the idea that wedding ministry does offer great potential, you objected to the use of “no other method” and “so much potential.”
I am concerned that we consider
the words of the statement exactly as they are and not read into them more, or
less, than is actually there. The key word in the statement is “potential.” I am suggesting that there is no method of
evangelism, (a) in Japan, (b) at present that offers so much potential. What is this potential -- or, what are the possibilities ? that wedding ministry
offers to us? It is (1) the potential
for effecting a clear, personal witness to thousands ? the couples in the time
of orientation, and (2) the potential for drawing the interest of tens of
thousands ? the families and friends.
Toward what is the interest of these “tens of thousands” drawn? For now, it is toward the Christian Church, in
which they previously had no interest whatsoever!
Yes, the statement is rather definite.
But I am convinced it is backed by very strong evidence. Please consider the following.
(1)
In the year 1999 I met 334 couples in a close, personal time of
orientation. They were ready, eager, to
hear anything I had to give them that related to their “day we have dreamed
about.” They heard, as part of the
explanation of their ceremony, a clear gospel message about the One, True God
who made them and wants to have relationship with them in their daily lives.
Tom, what method available in Japan today offers this kind of potential for witness? 334 couples in one year! In a face-to-face
witness opportunity! How many
non-Christians are you able to witness to in one year, in such a
ready-to-listen setting, by conventional means of evangelism?
(2)
In 1999 ? brace yourself, now! ? more than 15,000 people experienced a
genuine Christian worship service in our chapel, most of them for the first
time ever in a church! One year!
One minister! 15,000 people!
Many of them came to me spontaneously to say they felt deeply
moved. And these are people who had no previous interest in the Church. Do you think they might feel some interest
now? I am convinced they do. And, because of the delight they felt in
their first church experience, they are now far more likely to enter a church
when they are given the opportunity than they were before. Furthermore, having had their interest drawn
toward the Church now creates the potential
of their becoming interested in the Savior, the Lord of the Church!
Tom, what method of evangelism in Japan today offers so much potential for drawing the interest of people to the Church ? people who had no previous interest in it? In how many non-Christians during the course of a year are you able to create an interest in the symbol of the Christian faith through traditional methods of evangelism?
“This is only one small step,” we might say. “Our concern must be evangelism that saves souls.” But we don’t save souls until the first step occurs. And here is the opportunity to help 15,000 people, otherwise untouched, to take that first step toward the Savior! Is there any method of witness available at present that has the potential of getting the attention of so many people? I submit that there is not.
This is what I mean by taking the words of my statement at their face
value. The issue is potential. It is the potential for (1) effecting an initial witness and (2)
drawing the interest of formerly disinterested people toward the Christian
faith. I am not saying that wedding
ministry brings about the final result desired for evangelism. But evangelism must begin with an initial contact. I am
convinced that no other method of evangelism, (a) in Japan, (b) at
present, offers so much opportunity
for making that kind of contact.
I assure you that, if you still would rather not have your name used in
support of the statement, I gladly give you room for those feelings. Your declining will not in any way alter the
respect and admiration I feel for you.
Bless you.
Doyle
*Not the friend’s real name