im

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
Linkletter No. 115

January, 1961

Dear Christian friends,

Preacher's Meeting

Last time I started out saying: "We are enjoying a very spring-like winter," Strike that
out. I must have just finished eating one of Pauline's very fine dinners when I made that statement.
Since then we have had a genuine winter in every respect - except for snow. The kids are still hold
ing out for that.

It has "been a very full season. Our children, Paula and Markie, got home from school Decem'ber22nd after a 20 hour journey. Miss Velma Wier, a teacher in the Armed Forces Dependent schools

near Tokyo, was our guest over Christmas. She is from the church in Richland, Oregon. All three were
in time to share in the joys and services of Christmas; visiting several of the aged and poor bring
ing cakes and small gifts; the annual suk-iyaki party in the Center for our helpers and their families
attending the Christmas party of the Rotary club where for the first time the entire Christmas story
was read; going to the family night services at the Kanoya church and Christmas eve followed by
caroling in which 24 young people climbed aboard the Carry-all ending up with hot chocolate and cakes

at our house at midnight; and the 5O0 a.m. waking on Christmas morning. All the youngsters wanted
to be up first but the baby took the honors. Her early morning cries were the signal 4 pairs of feet
to hit the deck and pandemonium to break loose.

By 6;30 the floor was covered with wrapping papers, and all of us were happily counting
our blessings - not only for gifts received but for the friends who remembered us so far away both
in time and distance. By 7:30 we had eaten and at 8 o'clock we were on our way for the long day's
journey. 900 - Sunday school and church at Matsuyama. Attendance was three times the average as
many youngsters came to get a treat of some kind. We treated them to the story of Jesus by slide,
song and tape. 11;30 - Iwagawa for English Bible Class at the high school, 90 students were there.

We joined in Christmas carols and in seeing again the slides. Afterwards they gave me two Japanese
records. 12:30 - lunch in the car on the vacant grounds of the horse market near the edge of town
while the snow came down in spits and starts around us. 1:50 - Services at Sueyoshi church and again
the joy of telling the Old Story every new. Afterwards we put the chairs around in a circle for a
Japanese style Christmas party of tea and cakes and greetings. 3:50 - departed for Kanoya over the
mountains and thro\igh the trees. 4:45 - arrived home weary and hungry. 5:30 - Christmas dinner with
all the trimmings done as only Pauline can do it. 7:00 - the whole family out the door and into the
car for the trip to Tarumizu at somewhat above speed limits. 7:50 - led the children in singing the
Christmas story in a series of ten songs followed by the regular service, slides, Lord's supper and

closing "tea meeting". The church gave us a big box of Japanese-style tangerines (mekans) as we were
about to start for home. 10:30 - back home weary and worn but still not too tired to laugh and eat a
little warmed-over turkey.
The week between Christmas and Kew Years is the busiest week in the Japanese year. The

house must be cleaned, food laid in for the coming guests, accounts straightened, all bills paid.
We did our share. The Christian Center was thoroughly cleaned, and re-arranged. Shelving and cab
inets were installed to make for better service. New bookcases were installed for a permanent study
library. As much as possible, money was sent off to pay all bills. We didn't get them all paid but
we sent a token anyway. The Book Store under the management of Miss Ourasaka-san, a Christian girl
from Kanoya, did a good business during December. Profits were used to help present Hakata doll sets
to the Nativity to the orphange and the leper colony, to provide a fine roadside display of the same
dolls with explanatory scriptures and to send the Calendars and Christmas tracts to four-hundred

Christians, friends and business contacts.

For New Year's we had the Alex Bills family from P^san, Korea. We began the New Year by
attending 6 a.m. services at the leper colony, Paula translated for Alex's sermon. The Bills added
an extra festive note to the family gatherings at this time'of 'the year: our 19th wedding anniver

sary on the 29th and Gregory's birthday on the 50th. Paula and Markie had their Japanese friends in
for an evening of games and fun. The Pratt boys came over to help Greg enjoy his birthday.

The Bills went home the^^e^reniaag-of the 1st. The ,2nd was a day for receiving callers-old friends,
former students and helpers. It was nice to see them again and to see them doing well,many of them
in the Lord's service. Then we had two more days to enjoy our youngsters "before they went back to
school. Markie gave his homing pigeons their finally loving care. Pauline fixed the children's
favorite foods and stayed up nights sewing on "buttons, fixing seams, and tears. On the last night we
gathered around the pinao>^d had a family hymn sing half the night. . Paul Pratt did his part "by
standing in line from 5:30 a.m. in front of the Kagoshima station one morning to "buy tickets for the
kids so they would not have to stand up all the way. Wednesday, the 4"fch
January, we drove 2 hours
up the other coast to visit missionary friends, the Vfentzes, and after lunch, put the children on the
express for Kohe. We watched the train out of si^t around the curve and stood there on the platform
for a few moments feeling veiy lonely indeed. Pauline wiped a few tears out of her eyes.
We spent that night with Paul and Kathleen Pratt in Kagoshima City and part of the next day and

then home once more for the realities of life. T/Sgt Don and Virginia Smith with 2 of their boys
came for a few days visit. They are stationed in Pukuoka in northern Kyushu and Virginia has been
lending a mighty good helping hand on my correspondence lately. We had a nice visit and they got a
first hand view of missions in action (or inaction as the case may be).
January 9th began our 5th Institute at the Christian Center. It has run every night for 2 weeks
from 7:15 to 9550. Harold Sims of Tokyo was our guest teacher. Since he is the best missionary

linguist among_US_ Jae^3!/BS_JjelL^able^JioLpr&aent _a chanenging

iTigt-nintive nourse on the book of _

Romans. We had 5 regular students but delegations from various churches swelled the total to 25 on
some nights. A total of 38 different people attended the course with an average attendance of 12.
Two students, a man and his wife, journeyed up from the island of Tannegashima and stayed for the en

tire 2 weeks. In addition to the teaching every night, we got full mileage out of Harold Sims by
having him speak to the Kanoya church ladies meeting, to the Kanoya Rotary Club, to the leper colony,
to the orphanage, at Tarumizu church and to the bi-monthly preacher's meeting. Thanks heaps,Harold!
This last meeting goes from place to place with the preachers and their wives acting as hosts.
This time it was our turn. We had a fine 2 day meeting of praying,planning and preaching. One even
ing we had a sukiyaki supper for the entire group in the Center. Also that night one room of the
Center was converted into a giant bed room for all. The next day before leaving we all gathered around the piano in the front room for an hour of hymn singing and chorus practice. We brought the
session to a halt reluctantly so those leaving for far away places could catch the bus.

All in all we can say that the ending of the year and the beginning of the next has been full
and rich. We have had>opportunity to share our hearts, our hopes, our home, OTor happiness with many,
many people both American and Japanese. They, in turn, have shared the same with us. You who read
this letter have shared with us as well in many of the same ways and this is one of many good reasons
why we begin this year both with thankfulness and great expectations.
In His service.

P.S.

Now is the time to plan your missionary program for the summer D.V.B.S. Revised packet and
study course available to those who will use it. Write us: Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan.
LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission
Box 139

U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
r-CP.

North Vemon, Indiana

North Vernon, Indiana

Permit No.

Mr. Harold McFarland

Missions Services
Box 968

Form 5547 Requested

Joliet, Illinois

f7jm<ZSTTEnl
A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family
to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
Linkletter No. 116

March, 196I

Dear Christian friends,

Visitors from Iwag-awa

Emerson said, "The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it," Ve have two front doors
at our house. One into the living room and one into my office. There are not many hours of the
day when they are not opening to someone.

Mayte it is our friend and neighbor, Commander Descrow of the U.S. Navy stopping by for a cup
of coffee and a short visit on his way to work. Or maybe it is the newspaper man about mid-moming

sticking the paper in the door. (Published in Osaka, it is already a day old before it arrives).
Before noon the postman will bang on the door and hand a bunch of mail inside. If he has a register

ed letter, he will ask me to put my seal on a piece of paper before he surrenders the letter.(No
sir! My signature which positively can neither be read nor duplicated by any one in this town will

not do.)
In between times there may be a deliveiy man with some kind of box or other - or the bill col

lectors for the water, or the lights, or the telephone, (it seems like they were just here yester
day and what makes those bills so blame high?) The carpenter will stop in to discuss some problem
of construction. Miss Ourasaka from the bookstore will come in to discuss the Japanese mail that
comes in and answer it; and at any time little Faith will pop in the door with a request for three
rubber bands, a big- piece of white paper and a black crayon. I let out a yelp and say, "Don't
bother me!," but she just stands there with those big blue eyes looking up at me till I dig out what

she wants. (What makes this gal so persistent?)

On Mondays we try to relax a little but the doors swing open, too, on that day. About once a
month it is Paul and Kathleen Pratt and children and we have a good visit while the youngsters
burn up their energy outside in the yard. Or it may be our nearest missionary neighbor. Miss Susie
Thomas, who lives about 15 miles away. When she opens the door I say, "Suzie Q, How do you do?"
and .after a meal together she and Pauline will have a good talk and she may spend the night with us.
Other missionaries fnrom farther away drop in once in awhile. If it is their first time they say,
"How in the world did you find this place? This is the end of the line," But before, they've left

I've usually got them brainwashed and they are agreeing with me that Kanoya is really the "center
of Japan."

We can always tell when school is out every day for the front gate will slam and presently a
group of girls will be pressing the buzzer and calling, "Faith-chan". If the weather is bad, they
come in the house and play dolls but if it is nice they go outside and play on the swing and talk.
Greg's friends gather round the front door at the same time. On rainy days they play cars and the
rest of the days they play marbles, ride the bikes and have Japanese wrestling.
Other callers come with different things on their mind. I took the children to the circus one
day last month. During the performance, a man sitting in back of me asked if I were a missionary.
I said yes.

He asked if he could come see me,

I assured him he could.

I'll be there tomorrow he

said. The next afternoon he came and we had a long talk about religion, I gave him a number of
things to take home and read with him. Still he didn't want to leave. Finally he got to talking
about himself. He told me how he had been in and out of ,the insane asylum many times but they were
never able to find anything wrong. Then he'began to explain in detail all the treatments he had
received and it wasn't long till his conversation became hopelessly confused but he never stopped
talking. Later he brought back all the tracts and books I had- given him and left them at the church.
I had explained over and over that they were gifts for him to keep and use but the message never
got through.

0n6 day two high school boys from the town of Iwagawa stopped in on a Saturday afternoon. Their
teacher had sent them to ask if I wouldn't come and visit their schopl and give a lecture. I told
them I would be glad to do so. We invited the boys to have supper with us and to stay all .night. It
was their first time in an American home but they got along fine. Two weeks later I visited them

and their teacher in Iwagawa and out of that meeting began an English Bible class in the high school
which has been held eveiy two weeks for some time now. Almost 100 young men and women of the school
are enrolled in this Sunday morning class.
On another day a young man named Senuki came to call. In fact, after the first call he never
ceased calling either in person or by phone. It was tedious to listen to him but because of his

'much speaking' he won out, Bro, Yoshii, the two younger children and I, accompanied him in a trip
by car, foot, boat and bus to a remote section of the peninsular here. We had an opportunity to
bring a Christian message to people who had never heard it before. Just recently, he gathered.all
his friends and neighbors at his house.out in the country. Bro. Yoshii and I went there for the
night and told these people the good news of Christ for the first time.

One afteiTnoon two young ladies knocked at the door. "We want to know how to become Christians",
they said. Then they folded their hands in their laps and waited. It was obvious from looking at
them they knew nothing, whatever of Christ but that they were expecting some simple and ready formula
that would answer their qdestion and fulfill their need. I heartily wished I could answer accord
ing to their desire but alas, there are no simple answers to this question, especially not in this
country. I put New Testaments in each of their h^ds_ and gave a general outline of its contents.

I then pointed out some specific verses about Jesus' life and teaching and suffering. After that I
showed them some things that Christ asked us to do if we would follow him. In this way we spent
over an hour but it was not the kind of answer they wanted. They never came to grips with what I
was trying to tell them. I gave them tracts and scripture portions to read. I showed them how to
find the church and when the services were. But neither the preacher and I have heard from them
since in spite of repeated invitations.

Visitors from Kushira have been frequent callers of late. Either the preacher or a delegation
from the church. There are many problems but basically it all stems from the confrontation of a highprincipled young man whose sermons are quite long with several strong-willed much older Christians
who would rather have much shorter sermons and less urging to do the Christian thing in all affairs
of life. How to solve the problem. The young minister wanted to change his title from "pastor" to
."evangelist". He thought in this way the people would have more respect for him. Next came two el
ders from the church. Would I not exchange their pastor with the pastor from another church. I re
plied that I didn't call the preacher and I wasn't going to dismiss him. It was their duty to handle
the matter themselves. We prayed together and they left.
Sometimes when night comes, I review the day in my mind. It seems that I have done no work of
any kind save open the door to visitors and yet I am deathly tired. Perhaps they also serve who
only sit and listen.

P, S.

1,

In His Service,

A new set of slides with script, "1959-60" with the Kyushu Christian Mission is ready for
loan. Write Mrs. Gladys Auerswald, Box 139, North Vemon, Indiana,

2,

An outstanding missionary packet of pictures, stories, and visual aids prepared for BVBS
but good for any missionary gathering is now ready. Send S3.00 to cover material and
postage to: IQ^ushu Christian Mission, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan.

LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission
Box 139

North Vernon, Indiana

U, S. POSTAGE

Biairold HeFarlaad
Missioita Servioe

Permit No.

Boic 968
lUiaols

Porm 5547 Requested

PAID

North Vemon, Indiana

1

rZ7w?ZeTTfiR
A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family
to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
April, 1961

Linkletter No. 117

Pres. Martin B. Clark and Guest,

Grace Madden Braley at Dedication Services

Dear Christian friends,

Once a year, at least, the whole family comes out of hiber

nation in Kanoya and journeys to the annual conventions of the
Japanese Christians and the missionaries.

It's not easy. The Japanese school year ends in March.

During the next two or three weeks the railroads of the country
are filled to the "brim with excursionists and young people making
the transition from country to city; from high school to universi
ty.
To get tickets to sit and sleep on the train, we got up at

3:50 a.m. one morning, drove 65 miles to the Kagoshima Railroad

station and stood in line at the ticket window.

down and stood with us.

Paul Pratt came

Finally at 8:50 a.m. we got the coveted

(and last) four tickets.

Finally the last suitcase was packed and we caught the bus
out in front of our house to make the "big journey. An hour on
the "bus, an hour on the ferry, 15 minutes in a taxi, and eighteen
hours on the train "brought us to Kobe where Paula and Markie were
standing on the platform to meet us. What a pleasure to be to
gether again.

We went promptly to my sister's, Isabel Dittemore, where we

made ourselves to home. Paula and Markie and Cousin Janet spent

most of the first day just admiring the baby and holding her.
Luckily, our week there coincided with the children's school va
cation so they had plenty of time to relax.
Tuesday was given over to travel to Kyoto for our annual
physical examinations. Thermometers, needles, specimens, charts,
pills and paperwork. We didn't get a complete bill of health,
but some of us did, Gregory is over the slight case of TB he had
last year and it looks like Markie has the early stages of a case
this year. The Dr, will be watching him closely.

Tuesday night and Wednesday was the 12th annual convention

of the Japanese churches of Christ. A large youth hostel was
taken over for the occasion. In return for the rock bottom prices,

everybody took turns developing a spirit of "togetherness" set

ting the tables, serving the meals and cleaning up afterward. In
between there was plenty of good singing and preaching and some
lively discussion on the issues of the day here.
Yes! we have
problems in Japan, too - but we can safely say that the fellow
ship we have in Christ is more important to us all than any of
the problems that arise to plague us from time to time.

The high point of the week came on Thursday afternoon, March

51, when we all moved over to Osaka Bible Seminary for the ded
ication of the new building. Here was a dream come true for all
of us here in Japan but especially for Martin B, Clark, President

Two happy Christian young men at the

of the Seminary.

Japanese convention

On the site of this building, Mr, and Mrs. M. B. Madden began work in 1935 In 1957 Harold and
Leone Cole came and started the Osaka Bible Seminary, Since 1950 the seminary has been led by Bro.
Clark, together with the Beckman, Cole and Mings families. In spite of meager equipment and tempor

ary army pre-fab buildings the Seminary has pushed_ forward so that today fully 75?^ of our pulpits in
Japan are filled with graduates from Osaka. A remarkable record.

Through the years Bro. Clark lias led in pushing, praying, pleading for a new building. At the
Nagoya convention two years ago the Japanese brethren voted to help do it. Likewise the missionaries.
Many oi*
who read this letter sent offerings for this project. This is a note of thanks to you.
Congratulations, too. For if you could see this building you would rejoice in it just as all of us
are here.

On dedication day, Grace Madden Braley, daughter of the Maddens was able to come from Korea
where her husband is stationed. She, Mr. Cole, Mr. Nagano, one of the original Japanese Christians
in Osaka, and Mr. Clark gave us the historical continuity of the work and the building from the
beginning to the present.

Concluding the Dedication services, I spoke using a statement by Goethe: "Three things are to
be looked to in a building: that it stand on the right spot; that it be securely founded; that it be
successfully executed. "Naturally, I concluded that this building filled the bill on all three counts.
Personally speaking. I can not help.but feel thajL-this new_building^and__what it represents marks
a turning point in Japan of the plea for restoration of the church as it was in New Testament times.
Through it, a great victory has been won and a real unity achieved. A focal point of progress and
pride has been established. We are confident of better days ahead - even though at the present momeni:
the progress of the gospel in Japan is probably at its low point since the war.

Thursday night and Friday the missionaries made good use of the new building as they held their
8th annual convention. There were 78 of us counting the children. I always want to coimt them
because it would be a mighty poor gathering without them. All the Osaka and Kobe missionaries took

us into their homes. Our family was at the Clarks. A fine program had been arranged and everybody
entered into it with a will. V/hen it was all over with a banquet on Friday night, we could all sing
with one heart, 'the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above',
Ve spent Saturday talking over mutual concerns in the kingdom with Clarks. Attended Resurrec
tion Day services in a local Japanese church and that afternoon a similar worship and communion with

the missionary brethren.

Monday we spent in a last visit with our family and that night took a

train homeward.

We arrived physically worn out but strengthened for another season of patiently continuing a
Christian life and witness here in Kanoya. Pauline wants to be remembered to each of you and both
of us ask that you will remember us and those who labor with us when you pray.
In His Service.

LINKLETTER

Non-profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission

U. S, POSTAGE
PAID

Box 159

North Vemon, Indiana

North Vernon, Indiana

Permit No,

Form 5547 Requested

Mr, Harold BfcFarland

Mssions Services
Box 968

Jollet Illinois

A monthly report by (he Mark C. Maxty family

to the friend} of the

Kyuibu CbrinUn Minion

Kinoyi, Kagothiaui, Jkpai^ <

Llnkletter No.

118

June,

1961

Dear Christian Friends,

Hideo Yoshie (yow-she-e), pastor of the Kanoya

Church of Christ, will be in Che United States from

August, 1961, for a year of study. We would like to

introduce him to you. What better way than to let
him tell you about his life and hopes himself:

Hideo Yoshii in front of Kanoya

"I was born in Tokyo in 1932. In 1946, I moved to Kanoya with my family. The war
had ended tlie previous year. At that time a congregation was being born here in Kanoya
through the influence of a Chaplain (Paul Cook), of the Christian Church, who had already
gone home.

I began to attend the Bible study classes held at various homes of Christians.

Since we did not have our own minister nor missionary at that time, missionaries
used to come down from Osaka once or twice a year.
In 1948, I was baptized by Mr. Paul Nielsen when I was in the first year class of high
school. After two years of studying the Scripture, I found and believed that Christ Jesus
of two thousand years before was still alivs, and that He was indispensable to me even
though He seemed to be quite a stranger to me at first. Ths Cross of Christ changed me
in the way I feel, think and live.

Being a Christian meant to me dedicating myself to Him. I had almost made up my

mind to enter Bible College to become an evangelist, but my decision was not strong
enough until a missionary and his family came down to Kanoya to live for evangelism in
1950. I found that he came down here willingly, by faith only, being informed that this
congregation needed leadership. Now I had a chance to see Christianity in a person, not
just to read about such a one.

Fortunately, I could help him by means of English,

though mine was poor, in visiting and preaching at

different places. I was beginning to know the Gospel

and its power. I helped him several months until my
graduation from high school and my resolution of enter
ing the Seminary was made solid.

During those days I was quite convinced that

Christianity was not a so-called 'religion', but was the

true way of life. I saw that the people in the leper

colony rejoiced by hearing this very Gospel, which joy

neither gold nor silver were able to give. I was hearti
ly touched to know that the missionary and his family
could rejoice in the midst of inconvenience because of

the love for the lost. The missionary above mentioned

is Mr. Mark G. Maxey.
Hideo it Miyoko Yoshii
Son,

Makoto

It was my joy that soon after 1 became a Christian,

my parents were won to Christ, and from now out of

our family of nine, seven have been Immersed into

Christ and two are seekers.

In April, 1951, four boys from Kanoya entered

the seminaries in Osaka and Tokyo. I was one of them
and entered Osaka Bible Seminary. The school was
still in its pioneer days and it had its first four grad

uates the following year. I enjoyed my busy seminary

life in study, preaching and doing side-jobs to support
myself. I owe much to Mr. Clark, President of the
Seminary, for what I am. Especially with regard to
the position of New Testament Christianity learned in
Group Baptiv;jd
Bro. Yoshii
Kanoya Church, April, 1961

seminary days.

There is a city next to Osaka named Moriguchi, where no church existed. I started
preaching with Mr. Mings, missionary, using a kindergarten building. This was the same
month that I entered the Seminary. 1 served this church eight years, until I was requested
to come down to preach here in Kanoya. Now the congregation in Moriguchi has its own
church building. It took me five years to graduate because I was taken ill the fourth year
before graduation and was forced to rest a year. After graduation I continued to serve Mori
guchi church along with helping the seminary by teaching English and in translating and
interpreting. At this time, my family name, "Casha", was changed to "Yoshii" owing to
family reasons.

In May, 1959, 1 received a formal invitation from my mother church in Kanoya and
decided to accept it. I had quite a time making a change and finding a co-worker to serve
the former congregation, because we have so few laborers among us here in Japan. But
God provided the way and I began my ministry here in Kanoya.

Just before that, I married

my wife. Miyoko.

I am the fourth minister of the Kanoya church. It has much more meaning for me to
preach here, because it was here I was reared in my early Christian days. Once I began
to serve, I felt that I should serve here as long as His will permits. As the Scripture says,
"The Harvest Indeed is Plenteous, but the Laborers are Few!"

During my ten years of ministry, I have met with

various problems just as other ministers do.

Most

of the problems here in Japan are caused by uncer

tainty about the lack of confidence in New Testament
Christianity. I grew up solely in this current, but I
want to know more about the significance and spirit
of the Restoration Movement. I think it is most neces

sary. The reason why I emphasize it is that not

many people in Japan have been trained in this think

ing. In other words, the effect of it is a feeling of

"isolation. "

Frankly speaking, the weakest point of our

churches in Japan is the lack of true-to-the-Bible
literature. Most ministers and Christians have to

depend upon denominational publishers for their

literature.

Meeting of Kagoshima Pastors

And Missionaries

My dream in seminary days was to go over the State

side, not only to study the history of the Restoration Move
ment and its true spirit in the classroom of the Bible col
lege, but to feel and grasp it also, by paying visits to local
churches and talking with the people in them. I am also
interested in seeing how local congregations are support
ing themselves and sending missionaries overseas. I also
desire to learn various good elements out of your faith and
practice. I want to have you understand and pray for our
difficult evangelism in Japan for the sake of our growth
and development.

I would like to make good use of what I can learn in

the States for my future contribution to our churches in
Japan, and also for our training institutions if possible.'

Mark G. Maxey

Thank you, Hideo. We are glad that your dream can come true. We fully concur in
the need for some one to catch the spark of the Restoration plea, and to transmit it here to
the churches in Japan. Personally, we have felt such a need for a long time.

A further personal word about Bro. Yoshii. He was one of the first persons I met when
I came to Kanoya. Instantly, I was attracted to his winsome faith. The day he came to our
house to announce his decision to preach the gospel, is forever burned in my mind as an
unforgetable spiritual moment.

We want to insert here a letter of commendation from Martin B. Clark, President of

Osaka Bible Seminary:

'

'

--~-

"This is to commend our Bro. Hideo Yoshii to you. I have known him for more than ten
years and have watched him mature as a youth to manhood as well as develop into a preacher
of the Gospel of Christ,

His devotion to Christ has never wavered from the time Bro. Maxey met him and
encouraged him to come to Osaka Bible Seminary to study. He quickly became a very help
ful co-worker even in high school with his ability in English. His record in the class room
is excellent. His work in helping to plant and nourish one of the congregations here in
Osaka was outstanding. I shared with him the agony of a personal decision that took him
from this work in Osaka back to his "home" church

in Kanoya. In this incident he demonstrated that

the Lord

his Master.

He served on the faculty of Osaka Bible Seminary after his graduation as well as being the minis-

ter of the Moriguchi Church. He demonstrated his

ability as a teacher. This ability will be an asset to
the work in Kanoya where Bro. Maxey intends to

tQ

Hnl

Du

develop his Training Institute as rapidly as possible.

Bro. Yoshii is worthy of every consideration in the

matter of help so that he might obtain further education to develop his ability as a teacher.

I have no reservation in making this statement

of commendation for my Brother in Christ and my

co-worker and yours in the fellowship of the further

Christian Center Site Of Present

And Future Training Institute

ance of the Gospel"

Thank you Bro. Clark. We feel with you that

Hideo Yoshii is one of our very best men and that
he will be a credit both to the Japanese brethren
here, and to the Kyushu Christian Mission while he
is studying in the States.
In passing we would like to point out that we
have no program for sending young men to the
United States for training. We do not admit for one

moment that residence in the U. S. , and study in

one of our seminaries there, is necessary either
to understand Christian or to preach it. The train
ing available in Osaka Bible Seminary is compar
able in every way to the training offered in our
stateside institutions.

P/

j"

EbMta I

;ifc.JAPAN
j

Considering all churches, all cases and all N,

1S fields in the Orient during the past 30 years, the

i-H 1 I LiIt . I

1 practice of sending students from this part of the

world to the Unite'l States has not produced an impressive record. Some fell afoul of liber

alism, some of the American standard of living, some never came back and of those
did, nothiany are actively preaching the gospel.

-Ate. pexftuaded, however, of better things conce^magjnea-like Hideo Yoshii -

mature family men, graduates of a Seminary on the Field with several years experience
in the ministry, who go to the States for a limited period of study in a special field.

To deal with the specifics of Bro. Yoshii's trip let us explain:

1.
He is on leave of absence from the Kanoya church from August, 1961 until
June, 1962. PJis wife and son will continue to live in the Kanoya parsonage and the Church
will continue to pay his salary to her, to maintain her living in Japan. Mr. Maxey will
conduct the work of the Kanoya church in his absence. Following Mr. Yoshii's return to
Kanoya next Jxine, the Maxey family will go on furlough.

2.
Mr, Yoshii will enroll in the graduate department of Cincinnati Bible Seminary
taking all the courses concerning the Restoration movement he can, and other subjects to
make a full course. Upon Mr. Maxey's return from furlough, he and Mr. Yoshii are plann
ing to work together to conduct a full-time Christian Training Institute in Kanoya, offering
a two year course. Mr. Yoshii's study in the states is additional training for that respon
sibility.

3.
Mr. Yoshii will be available for speaking appointments en-route to and from
Cincinnati and during his stay there. Until July 15, send any requests for speaking dates to
us here in Japan. Until August 15, in care of Martin B. Clark, 7 14 Outlook Dr. N. E.,

Grants Pass Z.Oregon. After August 15, directly to Hideo Yoshii, Cincinnati Bible Seminary,
2700 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio.

4.
Mr. Yoshii will be speaking as a representative of the Kyushu Christian Mission
and will give an official receipt for all offerings received. From each offering he will take
out his actual travel expenses plus $10 for his own living and educational expenses. The
balance he will send to North Vernon for deposit and to apply on his travel expenses to and
from Japan. We have asked the Church at North Vernon, Indiana to have oversight of Bro.
Yoshii and any offerings received during his stay in the U.S.
5.

Any special gifts to help on this trip would be appreciated.

In His Service

A monthly report by the AftfrA G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
July, 1961

Linkletter No. 119

Dear Christian friends,

Japan remains newsworthy in a world in which every comer is shout

ing for attention. Winds, storms and rains "beat her shores. Kanoya has
her share iDut through the years our actual damage and danger has "been
slight,

A year ago there were demonstrations against the U.S. This year
there are demonstrations against the anti-demonstration law. But we have
never felt the people more friendly "both to us and to the United States.

S.M Chang presenting me

with a Korean doll

Japan is suffering from inflation and substantial price rises in all the "basic commodities. This
in tum "brings higher wages and more interest in material things. Yet the churches and preaching
points that we serve continue to hold their own and quite often we find people with a genuine interest
in finding out toth what the present and future life is all about.

The nation-wide conversion of Japan so long hoped for and prayed for does not appear. Neither
does it appear that Christianity has failed. A strudy Christian community endures and occasionally
prevails.

Nowhere was this more in evidence than in Kanoya church where in April, 8 new "believers were

"baptized into Christ "by Bro. Yoshii, One of these was a young chief from the Japanese navy, who had
attended Paula's English class sometime ago. After class he talked to her one day about religion and
she mentioned that Buddhism was a religion for the dead, more than the living. This irritated him
greatly and he decided to find out what she meant. At the end of his search, he found the "new and
living way,"

We haven't told you of the activities of recent weeks very well. Once a year as we take turns in
visiting the different churches for the bi-monthly preacher's meeting, we get to Tannegashima, the
island to the south. In early May we were there again. Paul Pratt brought his two boys and we had a
grand fellowship together with the preachers and Bro. and Sister Ikeda. On the second night I talked
on "Freedom in Christ" trying to point out the concept of liberty in Christ as against bondage to the
law. The application was to the ministers of the church here in Japan who have in mind to form a union
under the leadership of two or three "power-seekers" in Tokyo. The visible response was nil and I ex
pected none, A few weeks or months will pass before I know whether I got the point across or not.

After the meeting was over, the weather turned foul and no planes or ships left for a week, except
for one day when I managed to "escape" on the only plane to leave.

Bro, Daikusono and his family left the church at Kushira and moved across the bay to Kajiki,
where he will be working with the Pratt's as well. That leaves us more short-handed than ever, but I
am praying that from this need, leaders from within the churches themselves will come forward to pray
and preach and teach,

Bro Yoshii is making plans to leave for the U,S. the first week in August, An immense amount of
paper work has been done and still more is required. Signs at the American Consulate in northern

Kyushu advertise: "See America", but probably no country on earth is so difficult to enter, if only
for a "look-see". Only the most hardy, and the most determined would persist until the last paper is

signed and the final approval received. To get one paper, one day last week I got up at 4 a.m. Left
the house at 5 a.m. Drove 65 miles. Got a train at 7^12. Arrived at Pukuoka at 12:45 Took a taxi to
the Consulate. Got the affidavit notarized in two hours. Went down town for lunch. Got on the train

a-t 5:45 Arrived at Kagoshima at

Had a cup of coffee with Paul and Kathleen Pratt. Drove 65

miles and got home at midnight. Tired? You bet!

The last of May, S,M, Chang came for a visit. He is pastor of the Dai Kyo Church of Christ in
Pusan, the southern most tip of Korea. He had tried for six months to get into Japan for a visit,

Harol'i Sims and I wrote letters, documents, visited officials and promised "pie in the sky" to get
him in for a three months stay. Between Japanese and Koreans it is somewhat like the situation in New
Testament times when "the Jews has no dealings with Samaritans,"

Anyhow, he finally made it and we had a happy time together. He visited the churches "both here

and over Paul Pratt's way, making some telling points "both for Christ and about the great danger of
communism to Christianity and the world. On the last point, though they are sitting next to the powdei
keg, the average Japanese could hardly care less. A trade mark of the Japanese intellectual is to lear
toward the Soviet and away from the TJ. S.

After he left us, Bro. Chang went to Osaka Bihle Seminary for six weeks of study and visits with

other missionaries, pastors and Japanese leaders "both in Osaka and Tokyo. Hjr family and I are prepar
ing to return his visit.

The convention of Rotary International came to Tokyo in June. Commander Desbrow and I attended

along with other members of the Kanoya club. I plan to get to Tokyo at least once in a year so this
made a convenient and interesting time to go. Enroute to the city and while there I found time for
visitat ion^^business,- attending a -councillors'-^-meeting of Osaka^Bible Seminary,-visiting Christian
publishers, and missionary friends. Harold and Lois Sims made me welcome during my stay. It was an im
pressing and rewarding week but the big city is not for me. I was happy enough to get back to my fam

ily and to my work in Kanoya where the sky is bluer, the grass greener and the people are friendlier,

(l only say all this because it is true).

Not to long ago a couple of teachers from a town 25 miles away came to ask if I wouldn't come to
their school to teach English. Since I have always operated on the proposition that I would answer
any call made of me, I agreed.
only provision was that I be allowed to use my own Bible Study

course for English classes. They agreed. Since that time I have been going every Friday by train to
this government school, I am confident that Christians will come from these contacts. Pray that it
will be so.

Paula and Markie got back home from High School in Kobe June 17th for their summer vacation.
Needless to say, no day passes in which we do not give thanks to God for a Christian home and a housefull of happy children.

Continue to remember this work and the summer program of evangelism, youth camp and teacher
training.
In His Service,

LINKLETTER

Non-profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission

U, 3, POSTAGE

Box 139

PAID

North Vernon, Indiana

North Vemon, Indiana

Permit No;

Mr, Harold McFarland

lAissions Services
Box 968

Form 3547 Requested

Joliet, Illinois

TJNMlGtfEn
A moncUy report by the Mtrk G. Maxty family
CO the frieads oi the

Kyutbu CbriilUa Million

Kanoya, Kagoihima, Japan

Linkletter No.

September, 1961

120

Dear Christian Friends,

We'll tell the story of Summer, 1961 the easy

It has been outstanding.

way - in pictures.

In July we went to Korea. For ten days we en

joyed the hospitality and fellowship of S. M. Chang and
pastors of the Pusan area and John and Jane Hill at
Taejon. In spite of the poverty of the people, they en
couraged us by the warmth of their faith, their singing
and their praying.

Back home, Bro. Yoshii got his passport just in

A Korean Village

time to leave on schedule and 1 took over his duties as

well as mine. Camp was an outstanding success the

first week in August. Co-workers, Paul and Kathleen
Pratt of Kagoshima helped make it so.
August 8-25, Bro. lijima and I led 14 all morn

ing class sessions.

At night, using the car as a sound

truck 25 meetings were held, including Sundays. Va
cation Bible schools completed the summer.

1,'

: KOREA

msB
Welcomed to Korea by John Hill and
family at Taejon

K *IUAN
o, Mokii'o^"

.fcS. 1 *'

;,<

JAPM

'^ffrsusMtw

Bnt

(. P

TI
N

'

A kyushQ

UiyE^6-?vS.X5T?-- -

And by Bro. Chang and pastors of the

Pusan area

\\

.!a

Bro. Yoshii, Kanoya pastor, left by

train for a year at Cincinnati Bible

This old Korean man atood on the

dock as we departed

Seminary

-.tr.'.-..

. i* *

li'-

They wisre attentive at classes

And hearty eaters at mealtime

Then Bro. Stephen lijima of Tokyo

and myself visited all the churches
for special meetings

The cab of the truck was fitted to

spread the good word by (ape re

corder and amplifier

?4:4s-: ii|^-.J

t :i \

[i :.fr *
During the same 3 weeks Bro. lijima

August was also Vacation Bible school

time at Kanoya church and elsewhere.

taught a daily course on Galatians.

These four had perfect attendance

-3Rjn"

i . * -

And throughout the summer we had a happy time with a

growing,

going family

I^uline and the girls

Myself and the boys

Hopt^, Paula, Faith

Cref;oryand Walter

So completes our 11th year. It was September, 1950 when we arrived to begin this

missionary work. We will complete a six-year second term and begin our furlough in June,
1962.

There have been some changes since 1950 - e specially spiritually. Not nearly as many
as we had hoped when we started. But the seed has been sown. A harvest is forming. Growth
and increase is inevitable. We have long since learned that we have no strength in ourselves
The Lord is faithful and we propose to remain faithful to Him.
Yet, being human, we also need the encouragement and undergirding which those of
like precious faith can provide. "Out.of sight, out of mind" is a saying the missionary some

times thinks of when he is blue but the feeling is only temporary. What he really believes
is:

"Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love."

In His service,

rZTwZerrfi^
A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family
to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
Linkletter No.

121

December, 1961

Dear Christian friends,

CkfUtm^'S

We've neglected you recently.

It wasn't for lack of news,

We have an unpaid bill at

the printers and did not want to run it up anymore.

Jap^H

But Christmas calls for a greeting and this we wish to do. Through the years you have
enabled us to continue on at this task both "in season and out of season" and we are deeply

***"^<'-^

grateful. We wish for all of you a Christmas in which love and joy and peace abound because Christ is there.

* '*

If He is there for this one season we know He will be there with you

also in every month of the New Year.

A brief review of the past five months might be in order. On July 4th, we had 85
American and Canadian people here representing most of the missions and missionaries
working in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures. It was a real American picnic, complete
with the trimmings and a new 50 star U.S. flag.

In mid-July after wading through paper mountains of red tape, our family took a trip to
Korea. We drove to the Northern end of the island of Kyushu and rested at the home of

,.

~
_

S/Sgt. Don and Virginia Smith, Christian friends in Fuicuoka, before taking the night ferry
to Pusan, Korea
Korea.

It is only 90 miles across the straits from northern Kyushu to southern

We went in a very small vessel, 3rd class, below the water line in an airless room.

But for the price ($55 round trip) and the shortness of the trip we couldn't complain.
During our ten day stay, in addition to enjoying the new and different scenery along the
railroad from Pusan to Seoul, we saw some of the historic sites in the capital city, enjoyed the hospitality of John and Jane
Hill, at Taejon, and visited their work. In Pusan, Bro, Chang took care of us. We met about 25 of the Korean pastors and
spoke 8 times at the churches in Pusan and Taejon.
Early August the annual Christian Service camp was held at the Christian Center in Kanoya.

We put up the tents.

The

typhoons took them down. We put them up again. Down again. Up again for the rest of the camp. The largest group of
campers we have ever had came. Three pastors and two missionaries had all they could do to take care of them. It was nice
to welcome A1 Hammond back to home territory as camp speaker with dynamic messages every night.
August 3rd, Bro. Hideo Yoshii of the Kanoya church left for a year's study at Cincinnati Bible Seminary where he is now.
Many of you have had a chance to hear him speak. From what we have heard, we know that he has been a good student, made
a strong testimony for the Gospel and a good name, both for himself and Japan. If all goes well. CBS will grant him a degree
in May and he will be back in Kanoya in June, shortly before we depart on furlough.
The remainder of August was filled with the 5th Annual Leadership Training Course conducted by Bro, Stephen lijima of
Tokyo with a small assist from myself. This was coupled with special revival meetings almost every night. Most successful
of these were a series of three meetings held on the front lawn of the Christian Center and attended by fine groups of people
from our neighborhood. A special visitor at this time was Mark Layman, student at Midwest Christian College, who had spent
the summer helping Howard Davis at Nagoya. August ended on a very lonely note as Paula and Markie returned to their
studies at Canadian Academy in Kobe. Paula will graduate there in June. Markie is a Sophmore.
September was a real struggle, preparing a weekly quota of messages and talks in Japanese for Kanoya church and else
where. (Before Bro. Yoshii left it had been a montly quota). Also, we struggled getting the building ready and equipment laid
in to stave off two big typhoons which were expected to wipe us off the map. Wind and rain we got, but we were happy when
the centers of the storms went elsewhere. A highlight of the September was the annual convention of the Kagoshima churches
held at Kajiki, We hired a bus for the day and 45 people from this area had a happy day together - six hours of the bus and
six hours at the convention.

October was brightened by the decisions for Christ and baptism of seven people in the Kanoya church. One of these was
Commander Yoshida, commander of the Kanoya Air Base Support Squadron. (Japanese Naval Self-Defense Force). He has
proved to be a faithful Christian leader both in the church and the base where there is a weekly Bible study group. Another
very bright spot was the first birthday of Hope, on October 4th. We all love her so, even though that blonde, curly head of
hers is now getting into everything. We were happy to have Harold Sims of Tokyo with us for a fe>v days of preaching and fell
owship on his way back from the island of Tannegashima. This was his fourth trip down this way. The Japanese love to hear

his fluent and persuasive Japanese and we used him to the full.

He was guest speaker at a young people's rally which the

Kanoya young people held, using the theme, "Good Soldiers of Christ Jesus".

There were 25 present. October came to a

happy close at the Kanoya church on the 30th, when I performed lie wedding ceremony for Katsuo Shimoda and his bride,
Katsuo first came to the mission as an apprentice carpenter to his' Farther when he was 16. That was 8 years ago. Now he's
the man I depend on for maintenance of buildings and equipment.

Where shall we begin to tell about November? Bro. Wesley Walker of Sapporo, Hokkaido at the northern tip of Japan had
invited me to come and hold a meeting at the Moiwashita church in mid-November. I did two weeks of work ahead of time in
order to squeeze out the time for the journey. Leaving Sunday afternoon the 6th, I had supper at Miyazaki with the Thiessens,

Mennonite friends. At the Osaka airport I had a happy visit with Paula and Markie. At Tokyo airport that night, Bro. Sims
and Bro. Ikegaki, Pastor of the Nakano church were on hand to welcome me and put me up for the night. Most of Monday on
the train brought me to Sendai where I was happy to see again, Paul and Marcia Nielsen, college classmates and Bro, Takefuji, the pastor there. After speaking and showing pictures that night, an all-night train ride brought me to the northern tip
of Honshu. A four hour ferry ride and I landed at the southern tip of Hokkaido. Four more hours on an express train and I
arrived at Hokkaido's largest city, Sapporo. On the train, Ihopped upin the brakeman's seat on the rear car and helped my
self to a eye-popping view of the mountains, plains, forests, streams, and cattle and sheep farms of this frontierland of Japan,
The sight of fields filled with shocks of corn and golden ears hanging on the barns to dry made me postively homesick.

Moiwashita Church of Christ, I found to be a going concern under the leadership of Wesley Walker and Pastor George
Suzuki. They had done a tremendous job of advertising and invitation so that the church was filled every night. Even a duffer
at Japanese like myself can do his best when he has a hous<j full of people eager to listen. These were the largest crowds I

had seen night-aft^r "i|i?^tJn-^-church in Japan. What a joy ! Iri addition to the sermons, I used a number of charts and slides
from tJie Vizualided Bible Study series each night. Previously at Kanoya we had remade all English slides and charts of this
series into Japanese slides and together with the Japanese explanation on tape. On Sunday afternoon we all had a happy time
of fellowship, as we ate sukiyaki together. This was also a farewell party for Wes' mother, Mrs. Olive Walker, who is
leaving the active work in Japan and returning to the U.S. The meeting came to a grand conclusion on Sunday night when those

who had confessed their faith through the week were baptized - there were^ieht^ We enjoyed the new found friends in Christ
at Moiwashita. There is more freedom to express oneself and to accept Christ that we find in our area. We enjoyed seeing
the first snow fall of the season and the second one several inches deep. We enjoyed the happy fellowship in the Walker home
and the fine cooking of Margaret Walker.

All in all it was a real blessing to me.

On -Monday, 1-apent sevgn hours-on-the-train-going-fur-ther north and Ga&t-eo the-city^of Obihiz^;^ Her-e I-enjoyed-ths-hospi^ tality of Ernest and Neva Faber. Ernie showed me his city and that night I spoke at the Obihiro church of Christ where he

and Bro. Ofuchi labor. That night when I bought my ticket back to Kanoya I was 2864

J^

quote this figure for the benefit of those who think of Japan as a little wisp of a country where all the missionaries are next
dauf neighbor's.
*
"
A night on the train brought me to Sapporo. Wes Walker drove me an hour to the airport at Chitose. An hour or so on the
plane and I was back in northern Honshu at Misawa Air Ba&e. Chaplain Frank Griffin showed Lt. Tokura smd myself his work
and took us to dinner. In the afternoon, Lt. Tokura took me by bus to Hachinohe, another Navail Air Base like Kanoya. Lt.
Tokura was formerly an elder in the Kanoya church until transferred north. We visited other Christian families that evening
and held a small service in his home. Another night on the train brought me back to Tokyo, where the combined hospitality
of the Sims, the Walkers, and the Pattons helped me to get my business done in the Z4 hours I had available. Velma Held,
the friend of all missionaries, had a package ready for Pauline and the children.

I took a late afternoon train to Osaka and spent the night at George and Etliel Beckmans. Since they were just back from

furlough, we had not seen one another for some months and hac a lot to talk about. On Friday, I visited chapel at the seminary
called on Kenji Niro, my "son in the gospel" from Kanoya, took care of some business down town, and was on hand in the

afternoon for the quarterly Councillors meeting of Osaka Bible Seminary. Business went much slower than expected as is
usual with meeting in Japan. That night the Coles, the Mings, and the Beckmans gathered at Isabel Dittemor^s, in Kobe, for
prayer meeting and I gave a short message. It was nice to be with Isabel and Janet, Paula and Markie again.
On Saturday Nov. 18, I arrived back home to a warm welcome by my family.

Friend and neighbor, Commander Desbrow

of the U.S. Navy, joined us for supper as we talked over all that had happened during the intervening two weeks. I figured
that I had traveled about 3750 miles using 46 different conveyances - car, bus, train, plane, ship, subway and interurbans,
in 15 prefectures, spoken ten times and visited in 14 homes of Japanese pastors and missionaries. In fact, thinking it over,

during thijj ^rtn I have been able to visit every direct support missionary station of the churches of Christ in Japan, Korea
and Okinawa
estcepHpHsT^'Every vi.sit"iia8 been a blessing and has afforded both opportunities for
evangelism and study.

It is a'blessed fellowship we have ti)gether-in Christ.

Well, it is time to bring this to a close.

We'll take it up from this point the next time around.

Every blessing to each

of you.
In Christ,

s#
LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission

Box 139

s ^

Non-Profit Organization

Mr. Harold Mcrarland

Uisslons S^TViceS

Box 968

North Vernon, Indiana

PAID

North Vernon, Indiaina

Permit No.

:CllUcila

Form 3547 Requested

U. S. POSTAGE
1