Summer Schedule… God did great things in the midst of our team’s first semester under a new ministry structure. There were plenty of questions along the way and many that still remain, but I’m grateful for his ever-present help and the many testimonies of his working. With the end of the first semester in July, I'm looking forward to God’s plans for me and our movement as we head into students’ summer break. Please pray with me for the following:

① I will be back in the U.S. August 3-26. Please pray for a blessed time with family and friends and personal renewal.

② I will be leading a team of students from Osaka on a mission trip to Taiwan Aug. 30-Sept. 12. Please pray for preparation this upcoming month (more details to come…)

The prayer update of Philip’s Cru ministry in Osaka, Japan 1 August 2012

philipdeanbrewer@yahoo.com https://give.cru.org/give/View/0550250

*PERSONAL RENEWAL WHILE IN THE U.S.

AUG. 3-26

*FOR STUDENTS’ GROWTH AND

WITNESSING IMPACT OVER BREAK

*GOD’S LEADING AND

HELP IN PREPARING FOR OUR TAIWAN MISSION

(8/30-9/12)

Philip

A Special Birthday Present I turned another year older on July 10, but it wasn’t until a few days later that I got my best birthday present. That night our students sang, bought cake and presented me with a thoughtful gift, but nothing could top what God had just given me moments before: a new brother in Christ. I met Hide (Hee-dey) and his friend randomly on campus last fall at Kansai University. It was their first time to hear about Christ, but they were both interested and the three of us met for several weeks thereafter to talk and study the Bible together. We tried to meet up after winter break, but our schedules never seemed to work and we lost touch with each another. I had given up on trying to connect with Hide, but God was still in hot pursuit. One day I got a phone call out of the blue from Hide, saying he wanted to come check out our Cru meeting. I told him to come anytime and he joined us the next Friday night. It wasn’t every week, but Hide kept coming to hang out and learn more about God and the Bible. On July 13 we studied Luke 9, where Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” After the message I saw Hide’s eyes fixed on the floor, deep in thought. I asked him what he thought of the message but he struggled for words. I asked him what, if anything, was keeping him from following Jesus. He shook his head in the negative and slowly said, “I often feel so alone, but the words of the Bible always stick in my heart, even after I go home” (my paraphrase). I pulled out the Gospel tract (Knowing God Personally) that I had shared with him the first day we met and began to talk again about how he could begin to follow Christ. Not two pages into the book, tears began to drip down Hide’s face as we read about God’s love for us. We read through to the end and Hide readily prayed to receive Christ into his life. It was a precious birthday present for me, but, more importantly, it marked the birthdate of a new brother in the Lord. Hide is growing and hungry to know more. Rejoice with me and pray that God would protect and guide Hide and lead others to faith through him.

Top to bottom: Cake and presents on my BD at our Cru meeting; Sharing the Gospel with Hide the night he trusted Christ; Our great group of guys!