Hope for Japan

“It is difficult to imagine a world without Billy Graham,” relates long-time Gordon-Conwell professor Dr. Garth Rosell. “For the better part of a century, his has been the voice that everyone recognized; his has been the character that everyone admired; and his has been the message that gave hope to thousands around the globe. He walked among kings and presidents but he never lost the common touch. He preached to millions but he never lost his own sense of humility. He enjoyed access to the rich and powerful, but lived modestly in his rustic Black Mountain home.”

We all have our heroes. As a pastor and missionary, there are several men who have greatly shaped me and inspire me. But, Billy Graham was the GOAT of evangelists in the last millennia. He embodied what I loved about my top three heroes. He had the evangelistic zeal of DL Moody; the pioneering spirit (through crusades, TV, radio, Christianity Today, Lausanne, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, etc.) of David Livingstone; and was a dynamic communicator like John Maxwell.

I have been shaped in many ways by this man. My grandparents came to faith through an evangelistic event with his colleague, and the father of my Gordon-Conwell professor quoted above, Merv Rosell. Grandpa Eddie and Grandma Ruthie impacted me greatly in my faith and life. I began my missionary work with OM, which was founded by George Verwer; who as a teen came to Christ through Billy Graham. I then studied at Gordon-Conwell, which he was instrumental in founding (through merging two schools) and also provided me a generous scholarship in his name.

He is admired for his ability to bring people together. He sought to unite Christians of all backgrounds around the central goal of bringing the Gospel to the world. He worked hard to bring together those from different cultures and races, whether in the Civil Rights of America or through Lausanne (giving voice to the majority world Christian leaders). He tried to find a middle way in the polarities of politics, seeking to counsel and influence those on both the right and left. In our day, we need more leaders like him. Working together for God’s mission. Building bridges instead of walls. Empowering younger leaders. Finishing with integrity.

There is a reason he consistently would be ranked at the top of polls in who people admire or trust. May this next generation see more leaders like him rise up. Who remain humble in spite of the spotlight or fame. Who care for all people even if they walk among the powerful. Who live with integrity at home and in their work.

May it be said of us like it will be said of Billy Graham, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May you also anticipate the joy of heaven because of the great love and grace offered by Jesus.

 Done! 26.2. After months of training and anticipation, I have now completed the NYC Marathon. It is funny how some time can make us forgot the struggle and grueling experience. It should not have surprised me how tough it was. This was my 7th marathon. Yet, this race was both brutal but brilliant.

The slight chance of rain ended up being constant rain the entire race. From the start in Staten Island, it was one mile of slight incline going over the bridge to Brooklyn. I knew right away that this was going to be rough. My training had little trails or hills. So, the bridges and 5th Avenue were killer. Even with performance socks, the rain (and puddles of Gatorade) led to 7 blisters on my toes. This slowed me down from my ideal time to finish at 5 hours 5 minutes.

After painting anguish, it may not seem like I loved the experience. But, it was incredible.  Over 50,000 runners. The worlds largest race. Raising millions of dollars for great causes. Over a million spectators cheering us on. I loved it. Like every race, being on foot gives you a fresh view of the city and its makeup. Almost half the race was through Brooklyn, where I would see Jewish temples next to Hispanic Pentecostal churches. You experienced the diversity and beauty of NYC.

We are currently at a church planting training in Minnesota. But, we’ve met some friends from the city. Cedric pointed out how I ran through his section of Brooklyn. Kim’s youth group kids handed out water in Harlem to me around 1st and 100th. Michael wondered why I didn’t stop by his church in the Bronx 🙂 And Stuart and Jody are preparing to launch in the Upper East Side, near the final leg of the race.

You see the diversity in the live music throughout the race. Bands played Bryan Adams “Summer of 69,” Incubus, Weezer, “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, DJs, hip hop MCs, Gospel Choirs, taiko drummers, school bands, drum lines, etc. One cool scene was a teacher being high-fived by all the kids in his Brooklyn class who came out to cheer him on.

I am grateful for this wonderful experience. And I am thankful that my running is able to provide aid for women in desperate need of hope and restoration, as they are caught in sex trafficking. Thank you to all who have given to support the work of Restore NYC. So far, we have raised over $2,000!! If you still want to make a final donation, please visit https://donate.restorenyc.org/fundraiser/1002976.

In the final miles, your body keeps asking why in the world you would do this. Your mind makes you question if you would ever do this again. At that moment, you may feel it is crazy. But, there will be more races 🙂

Give Life. Bring Hope. This is not only the slogan for Tokyo Life Church, but our life’s passion. When I got connected to Restore NYC, I discovered an organization with a similar passion, albeit in a very different context and type of work. They work with women caught in sex trafficking and walk with them to find freedom and a pathway to a new life, full of hope.

Several years ago I was able to visit Thailand and see the work of fellow Covenant missionaries striving to bring freedom to women caught in sex trafficking. Some women are truly trapped in this lifestyle, with no hope of escape. Some may feel desperate for work. Given that the minimum wage is around 50 cents, I can understand the allure of working in a massage parlor that charges around $10. If you are willing to do more, you might triple this amount. It is heartbreaking to see young girls forced to live like this. I can’t imagine the abuse, the feelings of being used by men, and being reduced to a sexual object.

Many of the women that Restore NYC works with in NYC came with dreams of opportunity. Many are moms who are trying to provide for their families back in other countries. The promise of a job deceived them, as they realized what the work really entailed. Being unwilling to go along with this kind of work could get them deported, out of a job, or worse. They may feel powerless. Vulnerable. Alone. Stuck in a nightmare. Restore NYC lovingly comes alongside these women and walks with them on a path towards freedom and renewal. They help train them to pursue other careers that restore their dignity and allow them to provide for their families. It’s one thing to pull them out of this life, but they still need to replace work options with something.

What can we do?

1. Ultimately, this is about supply and demand. Women (or men) would not fall into this trap if nobody desired and paid for it. The blame cannot fully rest on one side. It is a complex problem. We live in a broken society with broken lives; with broken sexual longings. Obviously, there wouldn’t be millions of pages of pornography if people didn’t view and consume it. One of the first steps we, as Christians, must take is to live out our belief that all people are made in God’s image and worthy of respect and dignity, which is expressed by not fueling and contributing to the exploitation of women.
2. Be part of communities full of grace. We need others to come alongside us to help us break free from our sexual brokenness. Similarly, we should be churches that would welcome those trapped in desperate need of grace and renewal. At our church in Tokyo, we see the brokenness around us, as neighbor businesses offer girls to bath you, love hotels, and DVD shops (though I doubt they are selling the latest Marvel or Disney films). What would it look like to be an oasis for these girls? A place of healing? As well as an oasis where God can be true source of longing for all people?
3. Support the work of those fighting to free those caught in sex slavery and trafficking. I love the work of our fellow Covenant missionaries around the world, the work of International Justice Mission, as well as Restore NYC. On November 5th, I will be running the NYC Marathon to raise awareness and support for their work with women in New York City. My goal is to raise $3,000. I’m already over 1/3 of the way there. Would you consider partnering with their great work to give life and bring hope to these women (and their families)? Would you be able to give $1 per mile ($26), $4 per mile ($104), or more?

Visit this site to donate now: https://donate.restorenyc.org/fundraiser/1002976