A Publication of the San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church “Growing together and reaching out in the love of Christ”

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Our Values Serve Adore Nurture Learn Outreach

“Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him.” Col. 2:6a

Vol. 29, no. 2 February 2019

Pam and I are grateful for the wonderful legacy

of the faithful service to us by Rev. Rod and Koko

Yee. Pam and I are deeply humbled to follow in their

footsteps as your next lead pastor. I appreciate all

your love and support that you have given my

family and I over the past 10 years to bring us to this

point. We look forward to an exciting new journey

to make disciples at SANLO years to come.

To begin this new season, I gave a new year’s

sermon on Matthew 28:16-20, and I wanted to share

the four principles from Christ’s vision for the

church, and share with you some of the applications

of that which you’ll see at SANLO over the coming

year that have been approved by the elders.

1st Principle: A gospel vision must be centered

on the worship of God. Our vision should always be

set upon our Savior and our Lord, Jesus Christ. If we

want a vision for the church, then we must first have

a vision of Christ.

Our worship is assured in Jesus’ self-declaration

of His authority over all heaven and earth and in His

death and resurrection (Matthew 28:19). It is His

exclusive authority that grabs their attention and

should grab ours. To help us grow in worship, we’ll

be remodeling parts of the sanctuary as well as the

Nichigo sanctuary, and we will also include the

praise songs from each service in our weekly update

in hopes that you might sing these songs at home.

We pray that in everything we do whether on

Sunday, at work, or at in the yard we will worship

our Lord

2nd Principle: A gospel vision must be

committed to grow the community of Christ. We

must always realize we can’t live or exist alone, we

need each other. The beauty of SANLO is we are

like a family to one

another, so we must continue in that wonderful

legacy.

Jesus outlines that making disciples must

happen in community. He mentions the Trinity as

an example of community. The application to that is

if God never did anything outside of community,

then why do we think we should? We ought to take

from His example and always live in the community

of Christ. Think about how you might continue to

grow the body of Christ. Maybe it’s by getting

baptized, joining a small group, serving, or giving to

GROW SANLO. We are one family with one Lord --

let’s keep growing it together.

3rd Principle: A gospel vision must be

empowered by the Word of God. Jesus commands

us to live, to learn, and to walk in His Word. We

learn to love the Word, because we love our Lord.

This year, we will be committed to the Word as we

always have been. We will bring back Adult

Sunday School to help us grow people more in the

Word. I hope that you will join any of the different

classes that will be offered.

4th Principle: A gospel vision lives secure in

the presence of the Savior. We are eternally held

together by the hands of Christ as we have for the

past 90 years by God’s faithfulness and grace. We

can begin this new year and new chapter in our

church appreciating the great legacy of faith we

have received through a small band of Issei

believers who began in 1929, and yet we strive

forward with a gospel vision to grow SANLO as a

gospel community of growth for every generation. It

is truly my honor to do so as we seek to glorify our

Lord, Jesus Christ.

-- To His Glory, Pastor Eric Yata

GOSPEL VISION - Matthew 28:16-20

GROW SANLO Update

Thank you for helping us finish the year strong!!! We praise God for the $722,100 raised as of Dec. 31st, which is 48% toward our goal of $1.5 million for a new church facility! Thank you for your generosity to the Lord and for our future!! The elders continue to remain in search of a new facility as well as taking steps to further the growth of our church. In December, the elders approved Pastor Josh to full-time status to become a conference pastor as well as an increase for Pastor Brian and increases for the administrative staff on both English and Nichigo side. This was Pastor Rod’s final mark of leadership to believe in the future of our church and to encourage us to walk in faith that God will grow our church and supply for our every need. This faith step does come with about a $12,000 increase in our yearly budget. So, if you have felt the Lord has blessed you through the ministry of our church and you have a desire to GROW God's kingdom in the Bay Area, then please prayerfully consider giving toward the GROW SANLO campaign and our general fund. It may be a one-time donation or pledge to make an on-going donation so we can continue to GROW SANLO. Blessings, Elder Board

Pre

Praise God for how He used a group of nine men:

Jesse Agraz, Robbie LaDuca, Doug Inori, Stan Naruo,

Nathan Masuda, Ross Yamamoto, Josh Ferguson,

Calvin Masuda, and Doug Naruo, to travel to Arizona

to re-assemble a much-needed play structure at NAOMI

House. The Dec. 7-10 mission was a big success as the

children saw God’s love and grace in a tangible way.

Thanks to the team who gave such an amazing

Christmas gift to the Native American children in need.

It seemed like an overwhelming task as none of us

had specifically built a commercial play structure before.

God unified us in such a way that we almost anticipated

what the other was thinking so all energy went toward

building and assisting each other and none went to

thinking it should have been done in another way. This

allowed us to finish the work a half day earlier than we

anticipated it to take.

The NAOMI House staff expressed their gratitude to

the SanLo team on their facebook page, while their staff

resident cook and facilities manager, shared how the

children are enjoying this new, safer play structure.

The story does not end here. As we come into the

new year, there will be an information meeting to share

more in detail about the opportunity for you to join the

next team going this July 20 – 26, 2019. Please consider

how God may be calling you to go and serve the

children and staff of NAOMI House in Joseph City,

Arizona. -- Stan Naruo

Thank you to SanLo for your prayers and

support for this NAOMI House Missions trip. It was

my sincere pleasure to be asked and participate in

helping assemble the play structure for the youth

who are staying there. It was God's blessings and

provision to organize this trip and bring together

a team of men, who were able to work as one, with

a common goal and mission. God provided the

transportation, wonderful food, good weather,

skilled workers, and safety for all, to complete the

task sooner than planned. Seeing the excitement in

the youth to start playing on the play structure, was

pure joy to see. Thank you again for the

opportunity. -- Calvin Masuda

SanLo…. I would like to give my report of how I

was part of a nine-man crew on a very important

‘mission’. To be able to work alongside guys who

gave their best abilities in order to tackle a pretty

complicated project and also to see all become as

‘one’ was a great testimony for all to see how the

Lord can do great things with willing volunteers.

At first I figured dig some holes, set some poles,

attach some slides and it’s done. It was far from that.

Seeing the kids smiling as they went down the

slides was our reward. Thanks for sending us.

-- Doug Inori

I’m really thankful to have gone on this

mission trip since I was not able to go last summer!

God blessed us with safe travels and manageable

weather. Plus His hand was at work through our

team as we completed the mission successfully a day

early. We are very grateful God chose us 9 guys to

serve NAOMI House, and encourage more people to

go. Thank you everyone for being with us through

all the prayer, love and support! -- Jesse Agraz

Thank you, Pastor Rod and Koko Yee!

On Sun., Dec. 30, 2018, Pastor Rod delivered his final

message as our Lead Pastor. What a huge blessing and

gift Pastor Rod and Koko have been to San Lorenzo JCC

these past 39 years, 16 of those years as our Lead Pastor.

Even though Pastor Rod was in extreme back pain,

and not able to stand to deliver his message, the Lord

gave him the strength to not only speak a powerful

sermon, but also commission Pastor Eric Yata as our

new Lead Pastor! It was a beautiful tribute and

transition of passing on the baton of ministry.

The Retirement Celebration for Pastor Rod and

Koko that was scheduled on Jan. 26 was postponed

until further notice. It will be rescheduled once Pastor

Rod is better and able to enjoy the many people who

want to congratulate them and thank them for their

countless hours of sacrificial service and ministry.

Please pray for the Yee family, as it has been an

extremely challenging time. As Pastor Eric told Pastor

Rod, “You are retiring from serving on staff, but we are

not retiring from you. We want to continue to walk

with you as family and a body of Christ. It is now our

turn to serve you as you have served us, just as Christ

did for all of us. Thank you for showing us Christ and

what servant leadership truly is.” Amen!

NAOMI House Playground Team

The Yee family on Dec. 30 – We give thanks to God for Annie, Koko and Pastor Rod!

Pictured at right: Pastor Eric and Pam Yata with their three daughters: Remi, Callie and Noe with Koko and Pastor Rod. Pastor Eric takes the helm as our new Lead Pastor. Please pray for both the Yees and Yatas as they make this transition.

GROW SANLO Update

Thank you for helping us finish the year strong!!! We praise God for the $722,100 raised as of Dec. 31st, which is 48% toward our goal of $1.5 million for a new church facility! Thank you for your generosity to the Lord and for our future!! The elders continue to remain in search of a new facility as well as taking steps to further the growth of our church. In December, the elders approved Pastor Josh to full-time status to become a conference pastor as well as an increase for Pastor Brian and increases for the administrative staff on both English and Nichigo side. This was Pastor Rod’s final mark of leadership to believe in the future of our church and to encourage us to walk in faith that God will grow our church and supply for our every need. This faith step does come with about a $12,000 increase in our yearly budget. So, if you have felt the Lord has blessed you through the ministry of our church and you have a desire to GROW God's kingdom in the Bay Area, then please prayerfully consider giving toward the GROW SANLO campaign and our general fund. It may be a one-time donation or pledge to make an on-going donation so we can continue to GROW SANLO. Blessings, Elder Board

Pre

Praise God for how He used a group of nine men:

Jesse Agraz, Robbie LaDuca, Doug Inori, Stan Naruo,

Nathan Masuda, Ross Yamamoto, Josh Ferguson,

Calvin Masuda, and Doug Naruo, to travel to Arizona

to re-assemble a much-needed play structure at NAOMI

House. The Dec. 7-10 mission was a big success as the

children saw God’s love and grace in a tangible way.

Thanks to the team who gave such an amazing

Christmas gift to the Native American children in need.

It seemed like an overwhelming task as none of us

had specifically built a commercial play structure before.

God unified us in such a way that we almost anticipated

what the other was thinking so all energy went toward

building and assisting each other and none went to

thinking it should have been done in another way. This

allowed us to finish the work a half day earlier than we

anticipated it to take.

The NAOMI House staff expressed their gratitude to

the SanLo team on their facebook page, while their staff

resident cook and facilities manager, shared how the

children are enjoying this new, safer play structure.

The story does not end here. As we come into the

new year, there will be an information meeting to share

more in detail about the opportunity for you to join the

next team going this July 20 – 26, 2019. Please consider

how God may be calling you to go and serve the

children and staff of NAOMI House in Joseph City,

Arizona. -- Stan Naruo

Thank you to SanLo for your prayers and

support for this NAOMI House Missions trip. It was

my sincere pleasure to be asked and participate in

helping assemble the play structure for the youth

who are staying there. It was God's blessings and

provision to organize this trip and bring together

a team of men, who were able to work as one, with

a common goal and mission. God provided the

transportation, wonderful food, good weather,

skilled workers, and safety for all, to complete the

task sooner than planned. Seeing the excitement in

the youth to start playing on the play structure, was

pure joy to see. Thank you again for the

opportunity. -- Calvin Masuda

SanLo…. I would like to give my report of how I

was part of a nine-man crew on a very important

‘mission’. To be able to work alongside guys who

gave their best abilities in order to tackle a pretty

complicated project and also to see all become as

‘one’ was a great testimony for all to see how the

Lord can do great things with willing volunteers.

At first I figured dig some holes, set some poles,

attach some slides and it’s done. It was far from that.

Seeing the kids smiling as they went down the

slides was our reward. Thanks for sending us.

-- Doug Inori

I’m really thankful to have gone on this

mission trip since I was not able to go last summer!

God blessed us with safe travels and manageable

weather. Plus His hand was at work through our

team as we completed the mission successfully a day

early. We are very grateful God chose us 9 guys to

serve NAOMI House, and encourage more people to

go. Thank you everyone for being with us through

all the prayer, love and support! -- Jesse Agraz

Thank you, Pastor Rod and Koko Yee!

On Sun., Dec. 30, 2018, Pastor Rod delivered his final

message as our Lead Pastor. What a huge blessing and

gift Pastor Rod and Koko have been to San Lorenzo JCC

these past 39 years, 16 of those years as our Lead Pastor.

Even though Pastor Rod was in extreme back pain,

and not able to stand to deliver his message, the Lord

gave him the strength to not only speak a powerful

sermon, but also commission Pastor Eric Yata as our

new Lead Pastor! It was a beautiful tribute and

transition of passing on the baton of ministry.

The Retirement Celebration for Pastor Rod and

Koko that was scheduled on Jan. 26 was postponed

until further notice. It will be rescheduled once Pastor

Rod is better and able to enjoy the many people who

want to congratulate them and thank them for their

countless hours of sacrificial service and ministry.

Please pray for the Yee family, as it has been an

extremely challenging time. As Pastor Eric told Pastor

Rod, “You are retiring from serving on staff, but we are

not retiring from you. We want to continue to walk

with you as family and a body of Christ. It is now our

turn to serve you as you have served us, just as Christ

did for all of us. Thank you for showing us Christ and

what servant leadership truly is.” Amen!

NAOMI House Playground Team

The Yee family on Dec. 30 – We give thanks to God for Annie, Koko and Pastor Rod!

Pictured at right: Pastor Eric and Pam Yata with their three daughters: Remi, Callie and Noe with Koko and Pastor Rod. Pastor Eric takes the helm as our new Lead Pastor. Please pray for both the Yees and Yatas as they make this transition.