A missionary to Japan shares the gospel in an unlikely place.

Tennessee: Land of the Rising Son

by Shannon Little

When I answered the phone on a cold, January morning, I had no idea God was inviting me to be part of an amazing event He’d planned since before the world began. On the other end of the line was my friend Darvin Oakes, pastor of Hardin Valley FWB Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. As we talked, he told me about a young family who had been visiting the church for several months. Recently, they had shown interest in following Christ. The reason he was telling me about them? The family is Japanese.

I’m ashamed to admit that my immediate thoughts were skeptical. Six years in Japan, as well as mission studies, taught me that several years usually passed between the time a Japanese person first hears about Christ and the time he is ready to make a decision to become a Christian. But, I wasn’t taking into account the power of God’s love and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Ichitsubo family came to Knoxville in March of 2010. Mr. Ichitsubo, a professor at Kyoto University, was participating in metallic glass research at the University of Tennessee. His wife, also quite talented, is the first chair violinist for the Kyoto symphony. They have two children—a son and a daughter.

Upon arriving in Knoxville, their first order of business was to find a place to live. They met with a kind realtor who just “happened” to be a Christian. She showed them a house that perfectly met their needs. At the end of the transaction, this Christian realtor invited the family to attend church with her. To be polite and repay her for her kindness, they attended church for the first time. The family enjoyed the services so much and felt such love from the church members that they began to attend faithfully every Sunday morning.

A few months later, Brandon Presley, a young man from the Hardin Valley church and a gifted pianist, knocked on the door of the Ichitsubo home. He was selling pizza coupons to raise money for Bible and arts competitors to attend the national convention. Mr. Ichitsubo invited the young man in and asked him to play his piano competition piece. In return, Brandon invited the Ichitsubo family to church. Soon, a new family was attending Hardin Valley. The Ichitsubos continued to attend services faithfully at two churches for several months. All the while, they were exposed to the gospel and received the love of Christ through church members.

I had returned from Japan for my very first home assignment only two months before Pastor Darvin called. I was still trying to figure out how to live in America after spending four years struggling to fit in Japanese culture and to understand one of the most difficult languages for an English-speaker to learn. I hung up the phone and immediately prayed, “Please, God, help me remember enough Japanese to be able to explain Your love to this family!”

One week later, I found myself on my way to Knoxville to meet the Ichitsubo family and use my newly acquired Japanese language skills to explain the gospel to them and answer any questions they might have. To say I was nervous would be the understatement of the year. My prayer was that God would use my stumbling speech to share His love with this family.

The Hardin Valley FWB Church is one of the friendliest churches I’ve visited. Although over four years had passed since I walked through their doors, the warmth and love of the church family made me feel like I was coming home after a short time away. Over lunch, the Ichitsubo family and I got to know each other. I was thankful my prayers were answered and I had not totally forgotten my Japanese language.

Ron and Jane Franks graciously hosted our lunch. As conversation around the table wound down, Ron sat next to Mr. Ichitsubo and, starting with creation, explained the concepts of sin and separation from God and God’s great love for us as shown in the plan of salvation. Mrs. Ichitsubo does not speak English very well, so I shared with her, in her own language, that the God who made the world loved her and made a way to forgive her sins and allow her to live in Heaven forever.

After about an hour of talking, Ron asked the question, “ Do you want to become a Christian.” Mr. Ichitsubo quickly answered “yes.” His wife was a little slower to answer and looked a little less certain. She and I talked a little more. I answered a few more questions and she said she was ready to believe. We prayed together and two precious people joined the family of God.

Two weeks later I was on the road to Knoxville again—this time to attend the baptism of the Ichitsubos. I met with them at their house and this talented couple treated me to a private piano and violin concert. We then went to a nearby Japanese restaurant—by far the most authentic of any Japanese restaurant I’ve been to in America. As we sat and ate in an environment that felt authentically Japanese, Mrs. Ichitsubo opened up and asked questions that had been rumbling around in her mind and heart. “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “What happens to people who die before they hear about Jesus?”

My mind raced as I simultaneously prayed for wisdom to answer the questions and begged for the ability to remember the Japanese words to explain the answers! As we talked, tears filled her eyes. She explained that since praying that simple prayer two short weeks earlier, she knew something was different in her heart. And, even though she didn’t understand all of the details, she was confident God loved her.

The next day, I watched in amazement as this couple was baptized before a church full of people who loved them. It was bittersweet as I told them “see you soon” and made plans to visit them in Kyoto when I return to Japan. Two days after the Ichitsubos arrived back in Japan, the massive earthquake and tsunami heaped devastation on an area that, while not physically near to their home, is dear to their hearts. Through Facebook, I have watched as Mr. Ichitsubo has worked through the questions of “why” and “how.” I have been thrilled that, even in the midst of tragedy and sadness, hope and peace beyond explanation continues to be evidenced.

About the Writer: Shannon Little is a missionary to Japan. She is currently on furlough. Read more about Free Will Baptist ministry in Japan at www.fwbgo.com.