For the few who still visit here – we are now fully functional.  All pages are up-to-date.  Take a moment to visit, and leave comments or questions if you have any!

Part of our transition process involves rebuilding this sight.  While this main page has our latest update the other pages are still under reconstruction.  Please pardon our delay.  We will have current information available as soon as we are able.  Thank you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

While our last few months have been full of stressful transitions, we are well aware that we have much to be thankful for.  Last week our church family hosted Get Free Brevard, an outreach event that brought social and religious resources together to minister to those in our community suffering with addictions.  The event was held in the housing projects and was used by God to feed 300+ people with a free chicken dinner and the love the of Jesus Christ.  Once again our eyes were opened to how blessed we are just to have three square meals a day, a roof over our heads, and a relationship with our loving Heavenly Father.  We pray that each of you will know His blessings this holiday season.

We just wanted to take a moment to bring all of you, our prayer partners and supporters, up to date on where we are in our transition process.  On October 25 our status as Mission to the World missionaries ended and we began the “Seminary/Internship” chapter of our lives.  We are excited about the amount of support we have received thus far and the unique ways in which our church families have shown their support of our plans.  The church plant we are presently serving with (Redeemer, PCA, Port St. John) and our “mother” church (Christ Community Church, Titusville) are working to develop a part-time/internship position for James in which he will be responsible for developing mercy ministry in both churches through coordinated efforts among the two congregations in reaching our local communities.  At this time, we have received almost enough support (through individuals and the two churches) to sustain us but not enough to cover the cost of new seminary courses.

James is more than ready to ramp up the seminary schedule.  He will finish his 4^th Systematic Theology class next week and hopes to add three classes to his schedule in early December.  He has mapped out a possible schedule for classes and if all goes well will graduate from seminary with an MA in Biblical Studies in June 2010 (only 1 ½ years!).  Of course, he will only be able to accomplish this if we are able to afford enrollment in the three classes he is hoping to take, beginning next month.

In order to achieve all that we are planning there are still very specific things that we are praying to see happen before the end of November.  While James is taking seminary classes, and serving at the church, Joyce plans on working full-time.  We hope to see her income provide the remaining funds for our family, including enough to rent a place of our own, as we are currently living with her parents.  We would like to use the support we are receiving to pay for seminary classes and to supplement our cost of living.  With the current unemployment rate in Florida being at 14% we consider success at this endeavor nothing short of a miracle.  Joyce’s resume is full of secretarial skills and she is putting in, on average, two resumes per day.  (If anyone reading this knows of opportunities and can assist in finding employment please let her know.)

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this update.  We are very excited about the ways in which God had lead us so far and will continue to lead us in the months ahead.  Thank you for praying with us.

Prayer Requests:

1.        That Joyce will soon find employment that will sufficiently meet our financial needs, be fulfilling and pleasant for her, and conducive to the family schedule.

 

2.       That God will provide housing in Port St. John (the area of our ministry focus).

 

3.       That we will be able to afford the classes that James hopes to begin in December.

 

4.       That we all will have hearts tuned to “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, that the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4)

Here is a copy of our most recent newsletter.  A new chapter in our lives has begun.  Please pray with us through this transition and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have comments or questions.

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

    What an amazing journey our lives are!  How thankful we are that you have been with us!  Whether you’ve joined us in our itineration for Japan, been with us since our early years of marriage, or have been a part of our entire journey, we thank God for each and every one of you and the support you have given us along the way!  Because of our love for you and our excitement about what God is doing in our lives, we ask that you would pray before reading this letter, read it carefully, and then please prayerfully consider remaining on this journey with us.

    On the day God called us to Japan, we remember the missionary who recruited us saying, as he preached through the Great Commission,  “In this passage God has opened the door for you to go into all the world.  You need not pray, ‘God, I’ll go if you open the door.’  You need to pray, ‘God, if you don’t want me to go, please close the door.’”  We have prayed that very prayer many times since the day God called us to Japan and we believe He has answered.  Over the last few months it has become quite clear to us that God has closed the door for us to return to Japan.  While we love the people of that nation, and sense a tremendous need for the gospel to go forth there, we no longer believe God is calling us to the front lines of that ministry at this time.

    While we are very sad to see this door close we are very excited about the new door God is opening to our family.  To explain this new call we must first give a little background for some of you.  During the early years of our lives together, James put in long weeks working full-time to provide for his new family and to finish his Bachelor’s degree just so that he could go to seminary.  He was in the process of registering for seminary when God made it clear to us that He had another form of training for us.  God wanted us to go to Japan where He trained us in aspects of church planting, relationship building, team dynamics, and a plethora of outreach and ministry opportunities.  He also gave us experiences that stretched our faith and built our trust in Him so that we might be prepared for His next chapter in our lives.

While we were in Japan, our home church, Christ Community Church, planted their first daughter church in Port St. John; a work we have been praying to see for more than 15 years, as it is the community we consider to be our home.  Though we did not originally intend to have much to do with the church plant, God led us to worship, fellowship, and finally participate in this work.  God knit our hearts to the people of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and through them re-opened our eyes for the need of the gospel in this community.  Already He has given us all sorts of opportunities to love people with the gospel.  Through all of this, we believe He is calling us to stay in PSJ, to assist the church plant in these early years of development, and to finish seminary. 

    Our pastor has agreed to open up a fantastic opportunity.  For the next three years, James will serve Redeemer Church while completing his seminary education and requirements for ordination.  This has been our desire for more than 15-years and we are very excited to have this opportunity.

It has been two weeks since Fay began to pass through our area.  Though she dumped lots of water we thought we were in the clear – She passed and our road was dry.  Wow were we surprised when two days later the road in front of our house began to fill with water!  Word is that rain anywhere along the St. John’s River creates bigger puddles for anyone who lives along the St. John’s river basin – even if it doesn’t rain at all in their neighborhood.

Our driveway is the first one on the right.

This is one block east of our house! 

 

 

We pray the the line of storms brewing in the Carribean stay far from our coastline!

Isaiah 43: 19-21 “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

Our US Home- Redeemer Presbyterian Church

A friend recently asked, “Is it possible to put down roots in two places?  To call two places home?”   I have thought often of that question.  While it may be possible, it is most definitely, not easy. We find that while we thoroughly enjoy being in the one home, a large portion of our hearts ache for the other.  The moving from one back to the other is no different than transplanting a rose-bush.  While, with great care, the bush will survive the move, it is still going to droop and suffer in the exchange.  There have been times in this year that our spirits radiated joy, and times, in our frailty that our hearts have ached.  But we continue to trust our Lord and King with the promise He makes to fill us with His life-giving water.

How’s the Support coming?  When are you going back?

Our Japan Home - Oyumino Alive Church

These are quite possibly the two most common questions we are asked and I am sure we are not the only missionaries with the following answer.  The devaluation of the American dollar has required an increase in our budget.  Therefore, while we have raised new support, the budget increase keeps us at 48% of our support needs.  At this point we still hope to return to Japan in January 2009.  Please continue to pray that the Lord would provide the remainder of our support.  We do not doubt that He is sovereign over the American economy as well as over the hearts of those He has called to be supporters of the work in Japan.  And we know that this is part of His work in our hearts as well.

Yearning for Japan

This is the time of year for Summer newsletters and we have received our abundant share.  Just in the last week, we have received updates, just like this one, from four of our co-laborers in Japan.  Each time we read one of these updates our hearts ache with home-sickness.  Seeing the familiar faces and scenes takes us back there and refreshes our longing to be there.  It is good to see that the Oyumino Alive church plant is still thriving.  We are excited that the interning pastor there, Mr. Dedachi is very close to his ordination.  It is thrilling to know that Covenant Community School, Int’l finished strong in the Spring and looks forward to an exciting new school year.  We read of testimonies from the English teachers and college ministry workers of the many Japanese who are challenged and trying to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is so much happening in our second home and so much more that could be accomplished – with more laborers.  “Pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest that He will send laborers (into the fields of Japan).”  There are many families, not just ours, and several singles raising support to join the work in Japan, please join us in asking God to miraculously provide for those He has called to answer this call to the fields of Japan.

What’s Happening Now?

James and Joyce are busy trying to line up appointments with churches for the Fall.  If your church would like us to visit and share about the Spiritual needs and ministries in Japan please contact us a.s.a.p. to set something up.
James has been chipping away at seminary for a couple of years, via distance, through Birmingham Theological Seminary.  He hopes to continue with his next class this Fall, however, we currently do not have the available finances and are trusting God for this provision.  If you have a passion for theological education and are interested in supporting us for this specific need then please send your check, made out to James Repp and designated on the memo line for seminary tuition to:  James Repp, c/o Mission to the World, 1600 N. Brown Road, Lawrenceville, GA  30043-8141.  (This would not be a tax deductible donation.)
School for the children begins on August 18.  Josiah will continue to home-school and attend a co-op class or two.  Jeneva will attend public school until we return to Japan.  While both children would prefer to be starting at their school in Japan they are excited about beginning a new school year here.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to read our update.  If you are interested in supporting us financially or increasing your current support level please visit the page titled, “Financing the Ministry” listed in the sidebar to the right of your screen for more information on how to go about doing that.  Thanks for your faithfulness and prayers.

In His Grace,
James and Joyce Repp

Email us at jr4japan@gmail.com
Chat with us on skype: user name – jr4japan

On Sunday, July 27, James celebrated his 40th birthday. We invited his closest friends to join us at Fujiyama Steakhouse for our celebration. We had dinner, cake, a slide show of James throughout the years, and a great time of fellowship! Happy Birthday James!

Well, that was one busy, event filled month.  Joyce celebrated her birthday (she is now the new 28!), Josiah went to Jr. Hi camp, and Jeneva went on her mission trip to Yakama, Washington, (Not sure why they haven’t blogged about these trips yet but I will make sure that by the end of the week their pages have updates!) and this past weekend James celebrated his birthday.  James and Joyce visited the Pittsburgh area mid-month and had a wonderful time.  We were given the opportunity to briefly share with the presbytery and were happy to make a few new contacts there.  We were also able to visit with our supporting church in that area and renew that relationship.  Overall we felt very encouraged by the visit and we are looking forward to what God will do through our time spent there.  It is likely we will re-visit the area in October to follow up on a few of our new contacts.  Praise the Lord for a good month!

We invite you all to visit our additional webpages when you get a chance.  The kids are always updating with photos and blurbs.  James and Joyce aren’t as consistant…However, there is a new post in the “Perspectives” catagory, for those interested in a brief devotional type write up on tearing down the idols in today’s culture.

Thanks again for visiting our blog!

Our little girl has gone out on her first solo mission trip!  Well, not exactly solo.  She is with a team of 10 others including her Grandmom and Grandpa.  She left on Thursday afternoon for Washington State.  They will spend the next week ministering to the Native Americans on the Yakama Indian Reservation.  Each time I have talked to her she seems to be having a really great time!  Yesterday they visited Mt. Hood, today they will have orientation and tomorrow they will start their building projects and Backyard Bible Club.

Please pray for Jeneva as she ministers to other children her age.  Please pray that she will have a sensitive heart and desire to serve.  Pray too that she will grow in her understanding and love for the Lord.

(Pictured: Jeneva on Mt. Hood - Sorry it isn’t the greatest photo   It was taken with a cell phone camera!)