Learning to lead and to follow

[simon at simon-cozens.org]

Learning to lead and to follow

   "And, so, ladies and gentlemen, Simon Cozens..." The pastor's long
   introduction drew to a close, the time had finally come, and I got up
   to speak. For better or for worse, I had the floor for the next ninety
   minutes. My first leadership seminar had begun. I felt... fantastic!

   For the past year and a half, my vision has been to see Christian
   leaders being nurtured and encouraged in Japan, and after a month of
   intense preparation, this was my first opportunity to begin such a
   ministry. About thirty people came along to this first seminar, mostly
   from my church, a few from other churches in our network, and five or
   six from outside church. We even had a Buddhist monk who had seen my
   profile in the local newspaper and decided to come along!

   I managed to get through ninety minutes, the longest I had ever spoken
   in Japanese, and even got the audience involved in the discussion. I
   was very happy with it as a first time; it was, as the pastor had
   said, a great practice for me and an opportunity to develop a
   programme for future teaching.

   Which may come sooner rather than later, as I now have two more
   opportunities to give this seminar!

VIP Club

   First, after fixing up another missionary's computer, I ended up going
   along with him to a meeting of the Shiga VIP Club. This is something
   that I'd been wanting to get involved with for a while, as I think the
   VIP Club is one of the most exciting things happening in the Japanese
   church right now. It's a lay-led group for Japanese businessmen,
   Christian and non-Christian, which hosts speaker meetings, Bible
   studies, accountability groups, coaching, evangelistic outreach, and
   leadership development - which is where I come in. I've been invited
   by our local VIP Club to come to give my seminar with them.

   As well as that, we're currently thinking as a church network about
   the vision and the values which make up the denomination, so I may
   well be giving the seminar again at our denominational retreat in
   March.

JCPI Conference

   As well as teaching, I'll be doing a lot of learning over the next
   month or so, as I will be going to the Japan Church Planting Institute
   Conference in early November. This will be an opportunity to listen to
   teaching and talks on the latest missionary thinking, to pray for
   Japan and for each other, and hopefully also just to hang out and get
   to know other missionaries from around the country.

   I'll also be working there, staffing the resources exhibition as well
   as presenting our Songbee worship software as a resource for other
   Japanese churches to use.

   Please pray that the conference will be good stimulus for me to think
   about mission in Japan, and that I would develop some good connections
   with other missionaries and pastors there.

Prayer points

     * Thank God for the success of the leadership seminar and the
       opportunities for further teaching.
     * Pray for the VIP Club as they seek to reach out to Japanese
       businessmen, and for how I might work with them in the future.
     * Please pray for the CPI conference; that it would be a good chance
       for fellowship and discussion that will further the Japanese
       church.
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