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A Publication of the San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church
“Growing together and reaching out in the love of Christ”
FF ii rr mm ll yy RR oo oo tt ee dd
Our Values Serve Adore Nurture Learn Outreach
“Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him.” Col. 2:6a Vol. 30, no. 1 January 2020
In the past few years, I’ve experienced a few
bouts of intense neck pain. It usually develops over
the course of a couple of days. The onset is minor and
bearable, but the pain can become increasingly
worse. At its peak it debilitates me to a point where I
can hardly take a breath without
a sharp jolt of pain electrifying
me from the base of my head to
my upper back. I’ve noticed that
these episodes usually coincide
with particularly stressful times.
I’m no Otolaryngologist
(head and neck doctor…had to
look that up!) and can’t be
certain of the causal factors, but I’m reasonably sure
that it indeed is heightened by anxiety that becomes
a literal pain in the neck. Just recently, one of these
occurrences happened right before the holidays. It
was the perfect storm of pressure from trying to meet
year-end targets at work, dealing with strained
relationships in my extended family, stress from
planning the many holiday events, and frustrations
with an unending to-do list at home that triggered it.
Normally, I would try to alleviate the pain with
anti-inflammatory medication and do my best to bear
the discomfort. However, this time, for some reason,
I decided to take a day off from work to do nothing
but rest…and spend time in prayer, surrendering my
angst to the Lord. To my astonishment, the soreness,
which typically takes about a week to subside,
dissipated quickly and I was essentially back to
normal the following day. I was completely
surprised, but should I have been? I often forget the
exhortation from the Apostle Paul to, “not be anxious
about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6–7).
Paul knew, when he included this in his letter,
that people will worry just about
anything, big or small. That in the
presence of worry and anxiety, there
would be an absence of earnest
prayer and belief that we can
wholeheartedly trust in our God and
relinquish our troubles to Him. Paul
also knew that we would fail to
remember that by bringing our
burdens to Him, we would be given
supernatural peace found through an intimate
relationship with our Savior.
For many of us, our anxiousness might stem from
trouble with finances, declining health, uncertainty
with our jobs, or maybe unresolved family tensions.
Brothers and Sisters, if it’s those things, I encourage
you to go before the Lord in prayer. If stress is
emanating from yet other troubles, still, go before the
Lord in prayer. It is through this continual expression
of gratefulness and dependence on His promises that
we are able to receive peace and understanding that
no one else but Christ can give. And while we will still
need to deal with our issues, may we be equipped
with more grace, strength, insight, wisdom, patience,
love and compassion from the Lord.
As we start the new year, I’m reminded that my
burdens are not mine to carry. And the next time I
start to sense even the slightest bit of discomfort in
my neck, I’ll know the One whom I should turn to
first. -- Ben Wu
Stress Test
We praise God for the $866,930 raised toward our goal of $1.5 million for a new church facility! Thank you for your generosity to the Lord and to the future of our church!!!
We continue to search for a suitable facility to meet our growing needs within a close proximity, but we remember this new facility will be a wonderful place for us and our community to receive the gospel and the love of Christ!!!
As the year comes to an end and as we begin a new year, it is a great time to think about giving especially as we think about what God has given to us through His own Son at Christmas. Please do prayerfully consider giving toward the GROW SANLO campaign and the general fund in order that we might GROW God’s family.
GROW SANLO, Elder Board
Most importantly, He brought me home. I
know Jesus is my Lord and Savior and that God
sent Him to personally save me.
Update: It’s been a few months since I’ve been
baptized and I just thought it’d be nice to add an
update to my testimony. Though things have not
been easy by any means, my baptism has
definitely re-framed the way I have chosen to live
daily. Day by day, I choose to make small
changes, fully encouraged and guided by the Holy
Spirit and the wonderful community I have found
at SanLo. God is continuing to change my heart to
always be filled with joy and thanksgiving, and
He is constantly humbling my heart. I cannot
thank Him enough and I cannot thank the
community of SanLo enough for all that you’ve
done to help me grow in my walk with the Lord.
Thank you so much again.
-- Alex Ngauv
“Called to Care” Jan 5th, 12th, and 19th
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Rooms 8-10
Have you ever wondered what to do when you know someone is struggling? Do you desire a more genuine and intimate closeness with God? How about desiring to have deeper relationships with others? Maybe you want to develop your skills in coming alongside those who are hurting.
We believe, that a majority of human difficulties can be addressed by assimilating God’s Word into the life of each individual. If this is something that interests you, we are offering a three-part-series beginning Sunday, Jan. 5, 12, and 19, that will give helpful insights on how to grow closer to God while caring for one another in the family of Christ. If you have any questions or want to know more about the class, please contact Pastor Brian who will be facilitating.
If any one of
you asked me a
year ago if I
would accept
Jesus, I would
have said no. No,
because I had
come to believe
that God wasn’t
there for me. It
would only be
apparent to me
later that God
was working in my life all along. Jesus had been
there with my family and my friends, but I just
didn’t understand the relationship they had with
Him.
I didn’t come to believing in Jesus immediately.
The way I was first properly introduced to Him in
a way I could comprehend was through a Sunday
worship service at SanLo that my girlfriend and
our friends brought me to. I came in with an open
mind and frequently asked questions about the
Gospel after that Sunday. I started to attend
Sunday service at SanLo regularly and confidently
confide in God with my problems. At first I felt
silly for talking to someone I couldn’t see, but it
was through those moments that I felt an
upcoming change in my life.
On Nov. 24, 2018, I came to faith in Christ
during the worship service. I honestly didn’t feel a
change when I came to Him, but finally saying it to
other people felt right and made sense. I felt
comfortable saying to people that I have a
relationship with God. It’s a gift that I’ve come to
cherish above all else. God has been at the core of
everything that has happened in my life and He
has worked so that I could meet Him. I am so very
thankful to have come to believe in Jesus Christ as
my Lord and Savior, and I’m very thankful to be a
part of the SanLo community.
-- Will Clark
My journey up to
this point has been
interesting to say the
least, but throughout
it all I can definitely
see God’s goodness
and grace. The first
moment I remember
learning about Jesus
was when I was a
kindergarten student
at Chinese Christian School. From a young age, I
was led to go through the motions of a Christian
without really understanding what it all meant.
It wasn’t the best experience, however, it
pointed me in the right direction. I never really
knew what it meant to follow Jesus. I didn’t know
what it meant to feel His love and guidance through
faith. I didn’t even know if I truly was a Christian
until I was in high school when I was face to face
with a very heart-breaking situation.
My mom had been diagnosed with cancer and
was given a very short time to live. I was in shock
and pretty angry, but for some reason I couldn’t
shake this feeling that I had a very strong hand on
me. Instead of staying angry, I strangely started to
feel a sense of hope. It was as if a voice was
whispering in my ears saying, “I will not let this
become your undoing. I am here.” It didn’t always
feel like that, especially through the low points of
my life. There were times I even questioned if God
was there and was angry with Him. However,
looking back, I now can see God was always
present, even when I refused to see Him.
I now can see the little pockets of time where
God was saying to me, “I am here. I will always be
here. I love you. I won’t leave you. I won’t let this
destroy you. I will lead you out of this.” He has
brought me through so many valleys of darkness
and brought me out an even stronger person than I
was before.
Coming to Christ
We give God praise for the ways He touches people’s lives and when they respond to His calling. Will Clark and Alex Ngauv were baptized this past April.
They shared their testimonies that day and share with us here.
We praise God for the $866,930 raised toward our goal of $1.5 million for a new church facility! Thank you for your generosity to the Lord and to the future of our church!!!
We continue to search for a suitable facility to meet our growing needs within a close proximity, but we remember this new facility will be a wonderful place for us and our community to receive the gospel and the love of Christ!!!
As the year comes to an end and as we begin a new year, it is a great time to think about giving especially as we think about what God has given to us through His own Son at Christmas. Please do prayerfully consider giving toward the GROW SANLO campaign and the general fund in order that we might GROW God’s family.
GROW SANLO, Elder Board
If any one of
you asked me a
year ago if I
would accept
Jesus, I would
have said no. No,
because I had
come to believe
that God wasn’t
there for me. It
would only be
apparent to me
later that God
was working in my life all along. Jesus had been
there with my family and my friends, but I just
didn’t understand the relationship they had with
Him.
I didn’t come to believing in Jesus immediately.
The way I was first properly introduced to Him in
a way I could comprehend was through a Sunday
worship service at SanLo that my girlfriend and
our friends brought me to. I came in with an open
mind and frequently asked questions about the
Gospel after that Sunday. I started to attend
Sunday service at SanLo regularly and confidently
confide in God with my problems. At first I felt
silly for talking to someone I couldn’t see, but it
was through those moments that I felt an
upcoming change in my life.
On Nov. 24, 2018, I came to faith in Christ
during the worship service. I honestly didn’t feel a
change when I came to Him, but finally saying it to
other people felt right and made sense. I felt
comfortable saying to people that I have a
relationship with God. It’s a gift that I’ve come to
cherish above all else. God has been at the core of
everything that has happened in my life and He
has worked so that I could meet Him. I am so very
thankful to have come to believe in Jesus Christ as
my Lord and Savior, and I’m very thankful to be a
part of the SanLo community.
-- Will Clark
My journey up to
this point has been
interesting to say the
least, but throughout
it all I can definitely
see God’s goodness
and grace. The first
moment I remember
learning about Jesus
was when I was a
kindergarten student
at Chinese Christian School. From a young age, I
was led to go through the motions of a Christian
without really understanding what it all meant.
It wasn’t the best experience, however, it
pointed me in the right direction. I never really
knew what it meant to follow Jesus. I didn’t know
what it meant to feel His love and guidance through
faith. I didn’t even know if I truly was a Christian
until I was in high school when I was face to face
with a very heart-breaking situation.
My mom had been diagnosed with cancer and
was given a very short time to live. I was in shock
and pretty angry, but for some reason I couldn’t
shake this feeling that I had a very strong hand on
me. Instead of staying angry, I strangely started to
feel a sense of hope. It was as if a voice was
whispering in my ears saying, “I will not let this
become your undoing. I am here.” It didn’t always
feel like that, especially through the low points of
my life. There were times I even questioned if God
was there and was angry with Him. However,
looking back, I now can see God was always
present, even when I refused to see Him.
I now can see the little pockets of time where
God was saying to me, “I am here. I will always be
here. I love you. I won’t leave you. I won’t let this
destroy you. I will lead you out of this.” He has
brought me through so many valleys of darkness
and brought me out an even stronger person than I
was before.
Most importantly, He brought me home. I
know Jesus is my Lord and Savior and that God
sent Him to personally save me.
Update: It’s been a few months since I’ve been
baptized and I just thought it’d be nice to add an
update to my testimony. Though things have not
been easy by any means, my baptism has
definitely re-framed the way I have chosen to live
daily. Day by day, I choose to make small
changes, fully encouraged and guided by the Holy
Spirit and the wonderful community I have found
at SanLo. God is continuing to change my heart to
always be filled with joy and thanksgiving, and
He is constantly humbling my heart. I cannot
thank Him enough and I cannot thank the
community of SanLo enough for all that you’ve
done to help me grow in my walk with the Lord.
Thank you so much again.
-- Alex Ngauv
Coming to Christ
We give God praise for the ways He touches people’s lives and when they respond to His calling. Will Clark and Alex Ngauv were baptized this past April.
They shared their testimonies that day and share with us here.
“Called to Care” Jan 5th, 12th, and 19th
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Rooms 8-10
Have you ever wondered what to do when you know someone is struggling? Do you desire a more genuine and intimate closeness with God? How about desiring to have deeper relationships with others? Maybe you want to develop your skills in coming alongside those who are hurting.
We believe, that a majority of human difficulties can be addressed by assimilating God’s Word into the life of each individual. If this is something that interests you, we are offering a three-part-series beginning Sunday, Jan. 5, 12, and 19, that will give helpful insights on how to grow closer to God while caring for one another in the family of Christ. If you have any questions or want to know more about the class, please contact Pastor Brian who will be facilitating.
Rev. Eric Yata, Pastor (English) Rev. Sunao Shimada, Pastor (Japanese)
Rev. Brian Tekawa, Marriage/Family Pastor Tomoko Shimada, Director of Christian Education
Pastor Joshua Scott, Young Adult/Worship Pastor Atsuko Smart, Administrative Assistant
Pastor Scott Shimada, Youth Pastor
Stan Naruo, Church Administrator
Kathy Tekawa, Communications Administrator Office: English – (510) 483-9455 Japanese – (510) 483-9470
E-mail address: [email protected] Website: www.slzjcc.org Like us on our Facebook Page! Any newsbriefs or articles for “Firmly Rooted” should be at the church office by the second Sunday of each month.
San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church
615 Lewelling Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94579
Dated Material
Week ending Dec. 21, 2019
• Please don’t forget to check if you have Christmas
cards at the church. The folders will be out until Jan.
12.
• A new 3-part-series, Sunday school class, “Called
to Care,” will be Jan. 5th, 12th and 19th, 9-10 a.m. in
room 8. Questions? See Pastor Brian.
• Mission Prayer is on Sat., Jan. 4, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Come pray for the specific needs of our missionaries.
Questions? See Stan Naruo.
• There will be a New Year’s Day service in
Japanese and English on Wed., Jan. 1, 11 a.m. A
potluck lunch will follow with ozoni (traditional
Japanese soup) served. Pastor Sunao will bring the
message.
• Little House for families with children up to 4th
grade will be on Fri., Jan. 10, 5:30-7 p.m. There’s a
potluck dinner, devotion and craft for the kids.
Questions? See Michi Shimada.
• Lamb’s Club for babies through pre-school
resumes on Thurs., Jan. 16, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and
meets every Thursday. Questions? Contact Saori
West.
• Winter Vision youth retreat will be Jan. 17-20 at
Koinonia Conference Grounds. Please pray for all the
conferees and staff who are serving. Questions? See
Pastor Scott.
• The Annual Small Group Breakfast is on Sun.,
Jan. 26, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Come for food, testimonies,
and fellowship. It is a great time to hear how the small
group ministry has made a difference to some who
attended this past year. Come if you are in a small
group or interested in finding out more about small
groups. Questions? Contact Pastor Eric.
