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News
January 8, 2009
Praise the name of the Lord.
I would like to wish you a happy New Year, and report on equipper conference 2008 (ec 08) that we had all been praying about. First started as a place to encourage and equip (as written in Eph. 4:12) Japanese Christians who found Jesus overseas as they return to Japan, ec was held for the ninth time this time. As always, God poured out His blessings. I would like to thank each and every one of you who supported ec 08 in anyway.
Hailing from the US, Japan, Canada, Australia, China and Italy, a total of 350 attendees (including those who couldn’t stay for the entire duration) joined us. Among them, 60 came from Japan. One-third of the attendees came to the conference for the first time. Also, I felt that something distinctive of this year’s conference was the number of attendees who were saved in 2008 and had just begun their life as a Christian.
Our speakers were Rev. Mikio Yokoyama from Japan (Uchinada Bible Church), Ms. Hiroko Yamashita (central Asia), and Rev. Nobuyuki Uchimura (Chiesa Protestante Giappone di Milano) from Italy. Through Rev. Yokoyama’s breaking down of the Scriptures and inductive Bible study in small group settings, we studied the entire book of James. It was a great opportunity for young Christians to draw closer to Scripture, and learn how to read their Bibles. What all speakers had in common in their messages were the love of Jesus through the cross, repentance, being transformed into the likeness of Jesus, and by going through that process, “becoming peacemakers,” just like our theme. I am sure that God spoke and revealed to each of us differently, but we all decided to take a step forward towards something specific and left ec 08 with determination. I would appreciate it if you could continue to pray for us and our walks.
This year’s “peace” theme gave us a great opportunity to look at missionary work. We set up a Missions Booth and introduced various opportunities. Also, we connected live with Japan for the New Year’s countdown, and by showing videos of Japanese ministries in Europe and Singapore, we were able to see the works of God within the Japanese people and take the opportunity to pray for each other. I look forward to even bigger works of God that the attendees will experience.
Below are some comments from our attendees:
“I was able to prepare myself emotionally for going back to Japan.”
“I made up my mind to witness to my family.”
“Until now, I was like a closet-Christian, but from now on, I want people to see me and think it’s great to be a Christian.”
“I was able to tear down the wall I chose to build in respect to Japan, and was able to get over it.”
“I felt the importance of spreading the gospel. Also, I had never felt God’s big love this passionately before. Christian brothers and sisters who shared my problems encouraged me.”
Again, thank you so much for praying about ec 08, contributing in many different forms, and for your encouragement. This year, ec will take a break while InterVarsity’s Urbana Missions Conference (where JCFN was first established) will be going on. We are hoping next time will be the end of 2010. Please pray that a director and staff will be raised up. I pray that God’s works be expanded through each and every one of you, and may He bless you abundantly.
In Christ, Chihiro Nakamura equipper conference 2008 director JCFN US staff
You can download this report in PDF format online. Click here for download PDF ver. report!
January 6, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! equipper conference 2008 (ec 08) has finished in blessings. Report will be posted shortly. Here is the highlight video from ec 08. Check it out!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpVfY0h8jho
November 24 Hello Friends☆, November 19 On Nov. 10, early bird registration has ended. At this point, more than 250 people has registered. Registration is still open!!! We are looking forward to more people to registering!!!
director: Chihiro Nakamura
November 7 !!ec☆Registration Three days left for the early-bird special!! Early-bird discount for the ec registration is ending on November 10th!! After 0:00AM on November 11th (Hawaii Time), the fee will go up $20 for students, $25 for working people/couples, and $10 for children. If you are thinking about attending the conference, let's get the ball rolling and registration going. Booya=D! Megumi Kurata PR coordinator for ec
October 6
2 BIG NEWS!!!!
First news is...
Online registration started!!!!!
Thank you very much for waiting for this. Online registration system has just started. This year, we hope you can enjoy (?) this renewed and upgraded system.
"Yes, I'd like to register, right now!!!"
If you thought like this, click here.
Second news is...
ec 08 Promotion Video is now available on Youtube.
September 9 Thank you very much for your patience. Online registration will begin shortly. Meanwhile, please use registraion in mail. Click here for registration form.
Now, Here is the great news!!! Finally, ec 08 original tee shirts are available to all! Utilize these for your fundraising.
Like these!! ⇒
Click here to check out ec 08 tee shirt designs. Click here to check out ec 08 sweatshirt designs.
June 24 Thanks for accessing ec 08 website. All informations for this year conference are updated here in this website. However, online registration is still in process. I will post here when it gets ready. Sorry for any inconveniences.
Chihiro Nakamura ec 08 director what is ec
Theme peace x piece “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18 (NLT) We often hear the word “peace,” but have you ever thought about the true meaning of this word? Have you ever pondered upon God’s intention for peace? As we encounter Jesus and restore our relationship with God, through Him we are brought into a relationship of peace with God. What God desires is for all nations to have “peace with God.” We can make peace with the seeds placed into our hands and sow the harvest of righteousness. Each one of us may be just one piece. However, our God expects our piece to deliver peace to the entire world. At ec 08, we would like to learn what genuine peace is to God. Where is God hoping to send you as a peacemaker? Let’s seek His will together through ec 08!
purpose equipper conference (ec) is a five night conference which “equips” (Ephesians 4:12) Japanese Christians who met Jesus overseas for their eventual return to their home country as ambassadors of Christ. “It was He who gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” Ephesians 4:11-13 Currently many Japanese are living abroad for various reasons. These include ongoing studies, businesses, and international marriages. The Gospel touches them and many of them become believers, who are to return to Japan some day. There are also those who became Christians in Japan but are now growing spiritually overseas. God can work through them in a great way when they go back to Japan to witness to their families and friends and to spread the Gospel message as they become connected to local churches. Yet in reality, many of these returnees suffer what is often called "reverse-culture shock" beyond the level they had expected, which affects even their walk with Jesus. As a result, and regrettably, many of them depart from churches within a few years of returning home. God has started equipper conference by gathering several mission organizations in order to reverse this sad trend in returnee Christians’ life (please see history). The purpose of equipper conference is to prepare Japanese Christians abroad (mainly in North America) by cultural and discipleship trainings before their return, so that with God’s encouragement they will be equipped as the disciples of Christ to share His love and forgiveness in Japan.
who should come? equipper conference (ec) 08 serves people such as, 1) Japanese Christians who plan to go back home; (please see the Program for the details). (please see the Program Section for more details).
date & place | equipper conference 2008
from december 27, 2008 (sat) to january 1, 2009 (thu)
Where? Calvary Chapel Conference Center: Calvary Chapel Conference Center: http://www.mhsretreats.com/ ec 08 will be held at the conference facility owned by Calvary Chapel in Murrieta, CA, outside Los Angeles. It enjoys mild temperature even in December and it has very open atmosphere. Hot spas and swim pool (both outside) are available during ec 08. history
themes and main speakers at past ec ec 97 “returning to our home land with Christ” Rev. Yuichiro Nakano (Seattle, WA) ec 01 “looking to Jesus” Rev. Hidenori Takahashi (Forest Falls, CA) ec 04 “You are God’s Masterpiece” Rev. Akira Sato (Murrieta, CA) ec 07 “one m.o.re ~ministry of reconciliation~ It’s entrusted to you” Rev. Hiroaki Yonai (Murrieta, CA)
voices of past conferees “Before coming to ec, I was asking God for the direction of whether I should return to Japan or not next year. But I am now confident that God brought me the burden for Japan. I am in peace with returning to Japan.” “I became a Christian while I was staying in the States. But now I am living in Japan. I was spoken through ec as I came back to the place where I became a Christian. I could realize that I am a missionary to be sent back to Japan. “I spend my Christian life surrounded by American Christians. It was a great opportunity that I was reminded of being Japanese.” “I was so thankful that I could serve the Lord with joy through the conference. It was grateful that there were lots of precious encounters. I needed them!! I hope to have more Christians in Japan. I would like to work to connect returnees to the churches in Japan.” “Ec renewed my devotion to Jesus. My desires to love the Japanese people and study their language were also renewed.” “I am not a Christian. At ec I made many precious friends. I think it was a gift from God, because I’d never thought the friendship would become this important to me.” “Just one word, ‘growth!” I was entrusted the responsibility that I haven’t ever had before at ec. Not everything went well, but God used even those experiences as great opportunities. I thank God for He satisfied me, gave co-workers, and bring the relationship closer.”
2007 video diary
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