Ozark Bible College516 N. Wall St.

Joplln, Mo.

IXOJ

Tokyo ChristianVol. 5Jf,

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, Spring, 1955 Number 1

Buttray's Furlough PlansThis will probably be my last time to

write to you before coming home in May.Time is rapidly passing and our first fiveyear term in Japan will soon come to a close.Since our arrival in April, 1950, many andvaried have our experiences been in helping

to establish the Lord's church in Japan.

Primarily, my work has been teachingin the Bible Seminary and o£ course thelanguage study also was a requisite from thebeginning. But due to our time spent inteaching in the seminary, preaching, andvarious problems, it was impossible to continue language study without many breaks.Consequently, our abaility to speak the language has suffered, but this has not hinderedour work to any great extent.

On December 20, 1954, our family wasincreased by the birth of our second son,

David Stanley. Although a little small atbirth, he has more than doubled his weightIn less than Three montHs." We wish to ex

press our thanks and appreciation to thechurches and friends for supplying his everyneed.

Traveling by airplane, we are planningto arrive in Meadville, Pennsylvania on May

14. After a few weeks with our families and

home church our plans include visiting,especially those churches which have supported us through the years. "We praise Godfor churches and individuals like you who

have made it possible for us to manifestChrist Jesus as the Only Saviour, even forthe Japanese people.

We hope that you will continue to supportus even during our furlough as we will havemany expenses and must plan and preparefor our return to Japan. As I wrote last

time in the Tokyo Christian of the definiteneed for Christian books, so my plans are,

the Lord willing, to do something about it.

I trust that by this time the Lord has alsoopened your heart to this urgent need andhas given you the desire to cooperate inaccomplishing this great task.

I am convinced that the means of print

ing valuable books is a necessity and can bethe balancing power in awakening the Japanese Christians to walking in the Spirit and

obedience to one Lord and Master.

After May 1, please address all future

correspondence in care of our forwardingagent: Mrs. Homer Anderson, R. D. 1,Meadville, Pennsylvania.

—Stanley Buttray

TRUSTEES MEET IN INDIANAThe trustees of the Church of Christ

Cunningham Mission, Inc., met at Indian

apolis, Indiana, Wednesday and Thursday,

April 27 and 28. At the conclusion of the

meeting a motion was made and passed that

the acting secretary formulate a statement

concerning the meeting, and that the state

ment be included in this, the final issue of the

Tokyo Christian, as published under the di

rection of the Church of Christ Cunningham

Mission, Inc.

Settlement' Of Annuities

The trustees of the Mission unanimously

-votod that a committee composed of-T. O.

Hathcock, Mrs. E. G. Nabell and O. C. Crow-

der be empowered to settle with all living

annuitants holding contracts with the Mis

sion. This action was taken after letters from

the annuitants approving such a .settlement

had been read.

The Tokyo ChristianThe trustees decided unanimously that,

following this issue of the Tokyo Christian,

the paper will be no longer published by

the Church of Christ Cunningham Mission

itself. The mailing list of the Tokyo Christian

will be furnished to A. E. Sims, the presi

dent of the Mission, Harold Sims, Andrew

Patton, Stanley Buttray and Mr. William

Walker, who has been called to work in

connection with the Wakaba Cho Church.

So far as the Mission is concerned these

missionaries will have the privilege of con

tinuing to publish the Tokyo Christian them

selves by unanimous agreement, assuming

all financial responsibility for its publication.

Mission FundsA motion was adopted that all funds now

held by the Church of Christ Cunningham

Mission, Inc., be held intact by the Mission

looking forward to the possibility of unani

mous agreement among Harold Sims, Andrew

Patton, Stanley Buttray and "whatever mis

sionaries work with the First Church (Wa

kaba Cho) except that taxes on the property

held by the Zaidan, expenses of the Mission,

and settlements with annuitants as directed

above shall be paid from the funds of the

Church of Christ Cunningham Mission, Inc.

In the event of failure among the mission

aries mentioned above to reach agreement

as to disposition of funds satisfactory to the

Church of Christ Cunningham Mission, Inc.,

the funds will be disposed of as the trustees

of the Church of Christ Cunningham Mission,

Inc. may determine.

Mission Property

Many letters from friends, donors, mis

sionaries and from the Japanese concerning

the future of the Cunningham Mission were

read and carefully considered. These included

a petition from the Wakaba Cho Church In

Tokyo.

After carefully and prayerfully consider

ing these letters, a motion was unanimously

passed that all questions relating to the

title and disposition of the residence of mis

sionaries and mission buildings occupied by

churches be deferred for later consideration.

Appreciation To Hathcock

The entire committee then presented to

Judge T. O. Hathcock a vote of appreciation

for his faithful and unselfish services as

president of the Mission through many years.

His wise guidance and consecrated leader-

sliip has been invaluable to the great mis

sionary enterprise in Tokyo. The meeting was

adjourned with prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Orvel C. Crowder

Acting Secretary

Tokyo Christian Page 2THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN

Published quarterly by the Qiurch of Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan, for the information and inspiration of every Christian whose heart is open to thecall of Christ, and who is willing to help in the supremetask of carrying out the Great Commission of Christ:Matthew 28:19,20.

Entered as second class matter in the KimberlinHej^hts, Tenn., Postofflce under the act of March 3,Two-Year Subscription 50 centsSubscription and "Flaming Torch" $1.00Alfred E. Sims Editor

MISSION STAFFMr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 575 2-Chome, Kam-

iochiai, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokw, Japan. Forwarding agent:Mrs, Homer Anderson, R. D. 1, Meadville^ Pa.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 27 Sokurayamo, Na-kono-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Forwarding agent: Mr. orMrs. Ray Armstrong, Rt, 3, Box 310, Piguo, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sims, 450 Arai Machl, Nakano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Fordwarding agent: A. E. Sims, 310Brown Ave., Turtle Creek, Pa.

TOKYO BIBLE SEMINARY27 Sakurayama, Nakano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

TRUSTEESMr. T. O. Hathcock, Chairman, Lawrence Bain, Miss

Eva Green, Orvel C. Crowder, J. E. Lipscombe, Mrs. E. G.Nobell, Alfred E. Sims.

Packages for Japan should be sent direct by parcelpost to one of the missionaries whose oddresses oreshown above. Consult your local postoffice concerningmailing rules and limitations of size and weight.

If you change your address please notify H. L.Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, giving bothyour old and your new address. If you make on offering of $1.00 or more you are entitled to receive thispaper if you so request. Churches or groups making onoffering of SI 0.00 or more may request a bundle of 10copies for distribution.

and we should add our prayers to theirs.

There is strength and blessing in a great

fellowship of prayer. May there be a constant

stream of fervent prayer for God to be nearto bless and guide the Missionaries at alltimes.

used in accordance with His will and bringthe light of the gospel of Christ to manythousands.

—Harold R. Sims

Sara V. Myers, New York—We received thebook, "Flaming Torch" and do thank you!It is a WONDERFUL book and intenselyinteresting. If you have any more in stockplease send me another copy. May the "Flaming Torch" continue to light the way formillions until He comes. And from a laterletter, "Please send me two more "Copiesof that wonderful book if you still have anyremaining. I wanted to mail them to friends."

(We still have a few copies left.)

EDITORIALS

An ApologyWe beg your pardon for the delay in

the publication of this issue of the Tokyo

Christian. The chairman of the board of

trustees of the Church ^of Christ Cunning

ham Mission, Inc., requested the holding up

of the publication until after the trustees

meeting, so as to have a report of that meet

ing in this issue. We hope to publish future

issues regularly. The Missionaries themselves

will be responsible for its future publication.

As you may gather from the report of the

trustees meeting, steps were taken looking

toward the ultimate dissolution of the in

corporation. This does not mean that the

Mission itself will cease to exist. The real

Mission is composed of the Missionaries, and

these missionaries are continuing the work

to which God has called them. They are

working together in unity and harmony and

God is blessing their work, in spite of the

fact that the work is more difficult since

Japan has been given back its independence

with, the signing of the treaty, as mentioned

in one of the notes from Japan.

Pray for the MissionariesSince our missionaries are facing diffi

culties as mentioned above, there is all the

more reason why we should redouble our

prayer effort on their behalf. They are earn

estly praying for God's help and guidance

Buttrays Now At HomeOn Furlough

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray and their

five month son David arrived by plane at

the Greater Pittsburgh Airport about 9:00

A.M., May 14. There to greet them were

their son, Paul, Mrs. Buttray's mother and

other relatives. It was a most joyful reunion.They returned to their home at Meadville,Pa. After a few weeks of rest and visiting

mth relatives, they are now available for

speaking engagements. Address them: c/oMrs. Homer Anderson, R. D. No. 1, Meadville,Pa.

Shintoism Still Holds ManyOn January 5, 1955, the present Prime

Minister of Japan—Ichiro Hatoyama—joinedthousands of his fellow-countrymen in worshipping at the Shinto Shrine. About threemillion souls bowed their heads before theMieji Shrine in Tokyo during the New Year

Holidays, but he went to the Grand Shrineof Ise (ee-seh) which is the grandmotherof all—the home of the sun-goddess, originof the Japanese race, etc. Before the warall State Ministers reported their assumptionof office here, for the Shinto cult centeringhere is the force that was used by the militarists to build up nationalism, but he isthe first to do such a thing since the war.

When I saw the picture of this in thepaper I expected a big reaction in the news

papers about reviving militarism, religiousfreedom, democracy, etc., but it was notto be so. I asked several people about it andthey said it was simply a popularity seekingdevice to get votes. (The very popularity ofsuch a thing is what should be feared, thoughHatoyama himself might be a hypocrite)and not really believe in the sun-goddessor the pre-war system). The foreign officeissued a statement attempting to put all atease by the explanation that the Prime Minister is a Christian.

What does all this mean for us as Christians? (1) There is no longer the muchtalked about "spiritual vacuum," which washere in the disillusionment of the immediatepost-war period. The old national religionwith its thousands of years of deep rootsis coming up again. (2) The "return tonormalcy" shows in the political field howshallow democracy has been received and inthe religious field it has shown up manyshallow Christians. The faithful still remainso, and those who come now really come

"Life of Christ Visualized"Now on Sole in Japanese

After months of all kinds of red-

tape and lengthy explanations to officials

in the Customs Office, Finance Ministry andMinistry of International Trade and Industry,the Life of Christ Visualized, Part III in

Japanese language( 33,000 copies) was finally cleared on Jan. 20 for import without

duty. Of course we had to pay about $80in storage charges while they were trying tofind out how we paid for it, how it would

be distributed and 1000 other things. Itwasn't that we were doing anything illegal,but just not according to the regular patternor procedure, and that gets bureaucrats all

mixed up. I had to use all the Japaneselanguage and psychology I knew, and it ispitifully insufficient at such times.

The 7 one thousand pound boxes were

left in our back yard, and with the help ofAndrew Patton and one of the Japanesepreachers we finally got them all opened

_an.d_ distributed among^hG-misBionaries in

Tokyo and all over Japan. Now they areon sale in all of our churches and in several

of the Christian Book Stores in Tokyo. Wedon't know how many have been sold so far,but we think that they will move a littlefaster after we get more advertising out.

The first question most people ask is,"How about Vols I and II?" So we hope theproject will go along until all are completed.

We do thank and praise God for Hisblessing and guidance upon this project thusfar, and we pray that these books may be

Page 3

seeking the truth and willing to stand for

it. But the attendance at all services is

smaller and the general interest in the com

munity is noticeably down. (3) The explan

ation about Mr. Hatoyama's Christian faith

is a good example of the extent of many

people's Christian conviction. Of course we

cannot fully feel and understand all of the

pressures and temptations that our Japanese

brethren have, but if God's word Is true

we do not believe He is pleased with this

idolatry, and we trust that God will raise up

many Christians in this country with real

convictions concerning the one true God.

So we labor on. Please remember this

event as an indication of the present national

mood in this country and pray for us and

the faithful Japanese Christians.

—Harold R. Sims

Seminary NewsShin Haniu, Seminary dean, has had all

his teeth extracted recently. He will receive

his new teeth in about a month. In the

meantime he must be absent from school

for three weeks.

Stanley Buttray and Julius Fleenor, Semi

nary teachers, and their families plan to

refu?n tVXm^Tca^on furrough in the summer.

Because of critical circumstances which

have developed in his family, Chozo Ishimine

must return to his home in Okinawa for

consultations with his father. It will require

about three weeks for this journey and his

return. Mr. Ishimine also plans to return to

Okinawa to work in summer camps and to

preach during the summer vacation which

begins in July.

Mr. and Mrs. Namio Kamata will also

return to Okinawa for camps and evangel

istic work during the summer.

The mother of Shojiro Ito became 111 a

few days ago and will have to be hospitalized

for about a month.

Yujiro Ito withdrew from the Seminary

at the end of January and will try to enter

the Tokyo Theological University in April.

Mr. Mikami, who entered the Seminary

in November, is using his musical talent to

help in the presentation of Seminary pro

grams in the churches to encourage young

chirstians to study in the Seminary.

Hideo Fukuda who has had tuberculosis

for one year is rapidly regaining his strength

since he entered another hospital. The

Tokyo ChristianChurch at Erwin, Tenn. continues to sup

port him during his sickness.

The faculty and students of the Semi

nary sponsored a Seminary rally on the

evening of January fifteenth to increase

interest in the Seminary. More than forty

persons were present. Special programs have

also been presented in several churches in

Tokyo to challenge young people to study in

the Seminary in preparation for Christian

work.

All of our students, Japanese teachers

and the ministers of all our churches were

recipients of CARE packages at Christmas

time. All of these packages were donations

by the American people through CARE.

The Seminary library has been given a

big boost recently by gifts of books sent

by Lt. Col. Jesse T. Nicholas of Fort George

Meade, Md. Most of the volumes of the

Interpreters Bible, the Works of Josephus,

many of the back numbers of the Standard

Bible Teacher and Leader are a part of the

contribution which he has made. These books

which he has sent are a great help in our

work.

The Seminary students were highly

pleased with a Christmas gift which they

received from Mrs. Cora B. Halsell of Bon-

ham, Texas. Mrs. Halsell sent each of the

men students a shirt and a blouse to each

girl student. Lots of hard candy was received

in the package. It Is certainly a tragedy that

all of the smiles, polite bows and the thank

you's from these students cannot be heard

and seen by those who so graciously re

member them in the name of the Lord.

If Jesus Came ToYour House

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day

or two—

If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what

you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room tosuch an honored Guest,

And all the food you'd serve to Him would

be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him you'reglad to have Him there—

That serving Him in your, home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you

meet Him at the door

With arms outstretched in welcome to yourheav'nly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes

before you let Him in.

Or hide some magazines and put the Biblewhere they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope Hehadn't heard.

And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loudhasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and putsome hymn books out?

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or wouldyou rush about?

And I wonder—if the Saviour spent a day

or two with you.

Would you go right on doing the thingsyou always do?

Would you Keep right on saying the thingsyou always say?

Would life for you continue as it does fromday to day?

Would your family conservation keep up itsusual pace.

And would you find it hard each meal tc

say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always singand read the books you read,

And let Him know the things on which youimind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhertyou'd planned to go.

Or would you, maybe, change your plansfor just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet youivery closest friends,

Or would you hope they'd stay away unti:His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,

Or would you sigh with great relief wheiJle—at last —was—gone?-

It might be interesting to know the thing!that you would do,

If Jesus came in person to spend some tim<with you.

—Heard on WIBC "The Gospel Story'

LET ME DIE THE DEATH OP THE BIGHT.

EOUS. NUMBERS 23:10. THE RIGHTEOUS

HATH HOPE IN DEATH. PROV. 14:32.

To lay life's burden down for aye, an'd gentljfall asleep; to rest from every sorrow, everj

care, forever on the Saviour's breast—

This Is not death.

To leave a little while before the rest, ant

wait with Him above, away from sin, and toil

and strife, and only feast upon His love.

This is not death.

To wait the resurrection morn, beyond th(waiting wilderness, where faith and hop<forever cease and only love remains to bless

This Is not death.

Then cease we hence to mourn for thos<

whose spirits are forever freed, whose live!of labor now are crowned with gloriou!immortality

Through Jesus' death.

—H.McD

Tokyo Christian

living near her. We are thankful for this

answer to 3 years of prayer that this young

woman would begin to come, and for the

influence of this quiet, humble Japanese

Christian family.

Since I need an interpreter the other

women suggested that she do it. I mentioned

that she was not a Christian, but they had

an answer ready for that and said she would

study the Bible and learn more quickly if

she had to interpret for me. So I asked her

and she consented. We didn't realize how

difficult it would be. I must meet with her

earlier in the week and explain the teachings

in simple terms with her making notes. But

still words used in the Bible are different

from ordinary conversation, so she has to

learn a lot of new words. We pray that

while doing this she may learn many things

about the spiritual life and the kingdomof God.

—^Lois Sims

Seminary Graduates

Japanese Churches ComingTo Maturity

In accordance with our purpose of estab

lishing self-supporting and self-governing

churches we have told several of the larger

churches to go ahead and set up articles

of incorporation for the local church. The

rules, name, trustees, etc., must be approved

by the Religious Section of the Education

Ministry, which has issued a form to be

used by the religious bodies as an example.

Two of the churches—^Wakaba and Nishi-

ogikube — have completed their original

drafts. We missionaries studied the law con

cerning religious bodies and also what ma

terial we could find on church constitutions

from other sources, and also met with the

leaders of the government. Now within a

few weeks these two congregations will be

free and independent in Christ—owning their

own property and governing their own affairs.

Only in this way can we build truly strong,

indigenous churches. This move does not

mean that we love them less or forsake any

responsibility or care for them, but is simply

a means of helping them grow spiritually.—H. R. S.

The fourth graduation ceremony of theTokyo Bible Seminary will be held on March

25, 1955. Five men are expected to completerequirements for the Bachelor of Theologydegree and one girl will receive a certificate

showing the completion of our two-yearcourse. We rejoice to see these young peopleadded to those already trained by the Seminary for the Master's use. Some information

about each of those who expect to graduatefollows.

Sumitaka Daikusono, age 23, of Kag-oshima Prefecture Kyushu attended highschool in his native place. After his graduation he entered into Tokyo Bible Seminary.He is expected to receive the Bachelor of

Theology Degree. He is single and is nowministering to the Sakurayama Church whichmeets in the Seminary building, Mr. Daikusono was recruited and sent to school byMark Maxey, Kyushu Christian Mission.

Yasuharu Hosio is a native of Tokyo andis 22 years of age. Since the circumstances

of his family required him to work duringthe day, he attended high school at nightuntil his graduation. He is aiming at theBachelor of Theology degree. He was recruited by Stephen lijima who ministers tohis home church and teaches at the Seminary,Since the preacher training- school recentlyestablished on Okinawa needs teachers badly,Mr. Hosoi has accepted the invitation of theOkinawa Christian Mission to teach in theirschool for at least two years, beginningApril.

Fusako Kurahara is 22 years old andis a native of Tokyo, She graduated fromhigh school, however, in Yamaguchi Pre-fectui'e on the southern tip of Honshu. Afterworking as a typist for a bank in Tokyofor one year, she decided to resign from thisposition and enter the Seminary. She willreceive a certificate showing that she hascompleted our two-year course. She is amember of the Mabashi Church where one

Women's Bible Study ClassAt Nakano

Shortly after our return to Tokyo the

women of the Nakano congregation asked me

to have a Bible Study Class for them. We

were unsettled, but after repeated requests

I planned a meeting for the first Tuesday

of November. Bi-weekly meetings have con

tinued since that time.

We met in 2 adjoining Sunday School

rooms at the church, and there were 15

present for the first meeting. It surely was

a happy hour for me remembering old ac

quaintances and meeting new Christianmothers.

The meetings seem to mean much to the

the women, and the attendance has not fallen

below 10. The Bible Study and prayer periodstrengthens each of us; for they do nothesitate to make prayer requests, and aswe each remember the problems of the other

we are drawn closer to Christ and to each

other. Your hearts would be touched by thecourageous lives some of these women are

living.

One of those who has just begun toattend regularly is one of our neighborsand my close personal friend, but not aChristian. She is a Nisei (American-born

Japanese) and speaks English very well,but though she had been invited often andpromised to attend she never came untilrecently. During the week before she beganattending she was visiting me and told how

deeply she had been impressed with the fineexample of one of the Christian families

Page U

of our faculty members, John Muto, ministers and she will continue her work with

that church.

Yasoji Nakamura is 30 years old anda native of Yokohama. He graduated from"an industrial high school of Tokyo. Duringthe war he entered the navy and wasstationed at the naval base at Yokosuka.Four years later the war ended and for twoyears he received veterans benefits from theJapanese government. During three yearsafter the war he worked for the Prefecturalgovernment of Kanagawa Prefecture afterwhich his decision to serve the Lord causedhim to enter the Missionary Alliance BibleInstitute in Tokyo. He transferred to TokyoBible Seminary in November, 1953, at thebeginning of the second semester and isseeking the Bachelor of Theology degreefrom the Seminary, He and Miss Yaeko Kam-

ata, another Seminary student, plan to bemarried on March 20, 1955. He is now ser

ving the church at Kamiuma, but after hisgraduation he and his future wife plan tomove to a rural district in southern Japanto preach the word.

Shigeo Shinos Is 26 years old and hehails from Nagano Prefecture. After hisgraduation from the Hosei University Industrial School, he also entered the Missionary Alliance Bible Institute. Mr. Shinone de

cided to transfer to Tokyo Bible Seminary inNovember, 1953, and hopes to receive theBachelor of Theology degree. On March 13thhe plans to marry a girl who is a memberof the church at Setagaya, Mr. Shinone hasbeen called to minister to the Asahi Churchof Osaka and he will begin his work theresoon after his graduation from Tokyo BibleSeminary.

Hideyoshi Takahashi hails from IbaragiPrefecture and he is 26 years old. Aftergraduating from an Industrial school in Yokohama, he entered the Missionary AllianceBible Institute. He also transferred to TokyoBible Seminary in November, 1953, and isseeking the Bachelor of Theology degree. Heis single and is now serving a church inKawasaki.

Due to the fact that two of our fourtiryear students lack a few credits requiredfor graduation, they will be unable to graduate this year. They are Akiro Nagano ofTokyo and Miss Yaeko Kamata of OkayamaPrefecture.

We praise the Lord that these fine youngpeople have been prepared for His work.Our thanks are also extended to you whohave made it possible for these servants ofthe King to be trained to be bearers of goodnews.

—Andrew Patton

Christian"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, Summer, 1955

MgI——Seminary News

Missionaries who attend'ed the Seventh All-Japan Convention in Tanabe, Wa-kayauia Prefecture on March 29-31 and the missionary rally which followed onApril Ist aiul-2ad. Next Year's convention will be held in Tokyo.

Evangelism at NakanoIt has been customary at the Nakano

Church to have a spring and fall evangelistic

meeting each year, but this year as springapproached there just wasn't much enthus

iasm. Offerings were a little off and attend

ance was down some, so the members were

wondering how much good it would really

do and whether expenses could be met. Fin

ally it was decided to go ahead, but we

would try a new method. Up until this time

the custom has been to have a different

speaker each night of the meeting, becatise

all of the preachers have busy schedules.

It was decided to ask Mr. Hanyu, minister

of the Setagaya Church, to come for the full

week. Finally he was able to arrange his

schedule for the week following Pentecost.

Next publicity hud to be arranged. The

police restrictions here in the city have be

come more strict in recent months and we

were refused permission to paste posters onfences and poles, put up standing signs any

where that might obstruct someone's view,or use the loud-speaker. A good number of

hand-bills were printed and the memberswere exhorted to take them and distribute

them personally to friends. By the middle ofthe week the idea had taken hold and somemore had to be hastily printed.

God answered prayers and work withHis blessings and everyone was surprised andencouraged at the good results. There was

1 baptism. Attendance every night was higher

than the average Sunday A.M. attendance,reaching a high of 53, and many new peoplefrom the community came and expressed an

interest.

One or two old members came back. This

is indeed a rare thing in Japan. One night

I was over visiting the preacher while he was

loolcing through the list of old members. Heasked if I knew some of them. Of course I

did and I suggested that it might be a goodidea to visit these people and urge them

to come back. After he had recovered from

the shock (pastoral visitation is very uncommon) he thought it might be possiblebut was afraid he wouldn't know what to

say.So that night I went with him to oneof the houses down the street from the

church. We found at home the first girl who

had been baptized here when the church was

started in our house in 1950. She hadn't been

to church in more than 3 years, after a misunderstanding between some of the folks.

Of course she was surprised and embarrassed

to see us, and said she was ashamed to come

back; in fact, she had not even walked along

the street in front of the church for months.

We told her she was welcome to use the

street and also to come back to church.

After a couple of weeks we were thankful tosee her there. Now the young preacher here

has the idea and has been doing a good

job of visiting some of the wayward oneson his own initiative.

•—Harold Sims

We believe that the Tokyo Bible Seminaryis in a better condition to train faithful lead

ers than it has ever been. This is true inspite of the fact that we have fewer studentsand teachers than we have had recently.

The resignation of one Japanese teacher, thedeparture of Mr. Buttray on furlough andthe departure of Mr. Fleenor on furlough inJuly accounts for the shortage of teachers.A large graduating class in April and the

addition of only three new students accounts

for the shortage of students. The students

are manifesting a more earnest desire to

study and know God's Word and to maintain

unity among themselves and the faculty. The

upperclassmen are trying to guide and

strengthen the other students by way of

personal example and exhortation. We believe

that if this spirit continues, the students

will be better trained to carry on a fruitfulministry than any of the former graduatep

of- the Seminary.

Very encouraging reports have been re

ceived recently from those who graduated

from the Seminary in April. Mr. Hosoi It

working zealously on Okinawa. Already he

is respected and loved by the Bible College

and the churches there. He teaches in the

Bible College and every moment he can spare

from that work he spends in evangelistic

meetings in the churches. He has a tremen

dous amount of responsibility for a youngman who has just graduated from a seminary.He needs your prayers. Mr. Takahashi re

turned to his native place where his friends,

who have desired for a long time thai

churches be established in their district, have

waited for him to graduate from the Semin

ary. He preaches to .'several groups of peoplewho gather in homes in their various com

munities. He expresses in his letters th<

great joy which he has in the service of the

Lord. Missionaries from Osaka who visited Uf

recently have brought reports of the workof Mr. Shinone in Asahj Church. Osaka. Thai

Page 2

THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN

Published quarterly by the Missionaries of theChurch of Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan,for the information and inspiration of every Christianwhose heart is open to the call of Christ, and who iswilling to help in the supreme task of carrying out theGreat Commission of Christ: Matthew 28:19, 20.

Entered as second class matter in the KimberlinHeights, Tenn., Postoffice under the act of March 3,1879.Two-Year Subscription 50 centsSubscription and "Flaming Torch" $1.00

MISSION STAFFMr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 575 2-Chome, Kam-

iochiai, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. (Now on furlough)Forwarding agent: Mrs. Homer Anderson, R. D. 1,Meadville, Pa.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Patton, 27 Sakurayoma, Na-kano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Forwarding ogent: Mr. orMrs. Roy Armstrong, Rt. 3, Box 310, Piqua, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Horold Sims, 450 Arai Machi, Nakano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Fordwordlng agent: A. E. Sims, 310Brown Ave., Turtle Creek. Pa.

TOKYO BIBLE SEMINARY27 Sakurayama, Nakano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

TRUSTEESMr. T. O. Hathcock, Chairman, Lawrence Bain, Miss

Eva Green, Orvel C. Crowder, J. E. Lipscombe, Mrs. E. G.Nobell, Alfred E, Sims.

Packages for Japan should be sent direct by parcelpost to one of the missionaries whose addresses areshown above. Consult your local postoffice concerningmailing rules end limitations of size and weight.

If you change your address please notify H. L.Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, giving bothyour old and your new address. If you make an offering of $1.00 or more you are entitled to receive thispaper if you so request. Churches or groups making anoffering of $10.00 or more may request a bundle or 10copies for distribution.

In the Spring issue of the Tokyo Christianit was announced that the trustees decided

that the paper be no longer published bythe Mission itself. "So far as the Mission is

concerned these missionaries will have the

privilege of continuing to publish the TokyoChristian themselves by unanimous agree

ment, assuming all financial responsibility forits publication."

This is the first issue published underthe above-mentioned plan. Our intention is

not to change the nature of the contents or

the fundamental policy of the paper, but tocontinue to inform and encourage those who

are interested in the cause of Christ on this

field.

It so happens that this issue containssome startling information that may be

thought to be controversial. Controversy is

not our purpose and the things mentioned

here did not originate with us. Futhermore,

the matter's coming to a head at this time

is merely coincidental. But we feel a strongresponsibility to keep our supporters fullyinformed concerning such important issues

those now before us.

We send you this information with the

humble request that you will pray for usand for the work here in Tokyo, that allthose who wear Christ's name may be faithful to Him and united in Him.

We wish to express our deepest appreciationto Bro. A. E. Sims Avho has served long andwell as the editor of this paper. He has donethis service at great sacrifice of time and

energy without any remuneration and, weare afraid, very little cooperation from themissionaries. We are sure the readers joinwith us in thanking him for the great servicehe has done to the work of this Mission.

THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN

The last issue of the Tokyo Christian

carried a report of the trustees meeting. It

said "many letters from friends, donors, missionaries and from the Japanese concerning

the future of the Cunningham Mission were

read and carefully considered." Among thosethere was the following surprising and disturbing one. We don't know how many

people received It, but the indication is that

it was widely distributed. The urgent appealmade to brethren all over America, futhermore, the fact that the mailing list of thispaper is available to various persons, obli

gates us to use this means of providing answers to some questions that may be in yourminds after reading it.

CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL CHURCHTHE CHURCH OF CHRIST

CUNNINGHAM MISSION16 Wakaba-cho Shinjuku-ku

Tokyo, JapanEstablished 1301

Dear Friend:May -we have your help in a matter of grave

importance?The Board of Trustees of the Church of Christ

Cunningham Mission is meeting during the North American Christian Convention being held in Indianapolis,from April 27th to May 1st. It will at that time makedisposition of funds now held by them which wereoriginally raised by my parents for mission work inJapan.

The Japanese Christians request that these fundsbe established as the CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL FUNDand the interest from it be invested in evangelismin Japan, following the plan for evangelistic work usedsuccessfully by Mr. W. D. Cuningham. I would liketo suggest that the fund be adminstered by a committeecomposed of friends of my parents, with Judge T. O.Handbook as chairman. Judge Hathcock has for manyyears been a loyal friend of my father and mother andcan be fully trusted to carry out their wishes.

By establishing such a fund the original donorswould be assured that their contributions were beingused for their intended purpose and that the work of myparents would be continued far into the future. This request comes from the members of the followingChurches of Christ in Japan: Cunningham MemorialChurch, Setagaya Church, Nakano Church, ArakawaChurch and Nishi-Ogikubo Church.

Won't you join us in this appeal and telegraph orwrite before April 27th if possible to: T. O. Hathcockc/o Atlanta Christian College Booth, Cadle Tabernacle,Indianapolis, Indiana. Please ask others to do the same.This is an urgent matter vitally affecting the entirefuture of the work in Japan. Telegraph or write now—before it is too late

Very Sincerely,Eloise CunninghamExecutrix of tne will ofMrs. W. D. Cunningham

We concur with the writer that thisis a "matter of grave importance . . . vitallyaffecting the entire future of the work inJapan."

WHO IS ELOISE CUNNINGHAM, thewriter of this urgent plea? She is the oldestdaughter of Mrs. Cunningham, employed asa civilian in connection with the U. S. Security Forces in Japan. Many years ago sheturned away from the faith of her mother andfather and became an Episcopalian, and sincethat time has never to our knowledge attended a service of worship In a church ofChrist. Of coui'se she is not a member ofthe Cunningham Mission or the Zaidan (corporation holding the property in Japan).

WHO ARE THE JAPANESE CHRISTIANSMAKING THIS REQUEST? The great majority of the members of the 5 churches namedknow nothing of it. Some of the easily persuaded Japanese preachers are being usedto sanction something of which they knowonly a small part. Others have not yet provedtheir loyalty to the principles of New Testament Christianity. This group is principallyinterested In the funds.

WHAT IS THE EVANGELISM FOR

WHICH THE FUNDS ARE REQUESTED?

As an example we cite the special evangelisticservices for the month of May, which areannounced in a special printed hand-bill ascelebrating the establishing of the independence of Wakaba-Cho (Cunningham Memorial

Church.) The ladies meeting, one of Mrs.

Cunningham's favorite activities, is being ledby the Chief of Women's Work of the United

Church of Japan, and the preaching is beingdone by 'different leaders of the Disciples,United Church, etc. Is this the "plan forevangelistic work used successfully by Mr.Cunningham?" By contributing to this willthe "Donors be assured that their contributions are being used for their intendedpurpose?"

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MISS

CUNNINGHAM'S LETTER? The trustees controlling the funds In America are being askedto cut off support of the Zaidan, (whichmeans the missionaries operating the presentMission property In Japan), and turn allfunds over to another committee. We notethat the trustees provided that money fortaxes, etc., should continue and did not yieldto pressure such as this letter.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS BEHIND THIS LETTER? (1) The first implication is that the work of "CunninghamMemorial Church" Is the only true continuance of the Cunningham work. However,there are 13 churches in the Tokyo areawhich were established by the Cunninghamsand those associated with them. We believethe best memorial for the Cunninghams isthe whole work of these churches. (2) Thesecond implication Is that Eloise Cunninghamis-the only responsible person connected withthe Mission. The readers know there arenow 3 families carrying on the work. (3)The third implication is that the presentmissionaries are not carrying out the policiesof evangelism followed by the Cunninghams.This is not true. Our loyalty is to Christand His Word. The Cunninghams stood onthe same ground. Therefore our purposesare one in Christ. (4) The fourth implicationis that five congregations In Tokyo agreewith Miss Cunningham's proposal. This alsois not true. The preachers^ for personalreasons, may have committed themselves,but the people as a whole have not. Thereare 8 churches not mentioned.

We have confidence that the Board ofTrustees will be good stewards of the fundsin their care, but this letter presents to youbrethren at home several matters that callfor earnest prayer. First pray for the Wakaba-Cho Church which is being led astrayinto separatism and denomlnationalism bya few false teachers. Also pray for the unityof the Spirit among the Christians andchurches. From several recent developmentswe fear that a division among the few smallchurches here is very possible. Pray forthe Japanese brethren that their love mayabound more and more in knowledge anddiscernment, that they may be strong infaith. Pray for us that we might be faithful and that God might fill us and use us.May His Word run and be glorified. II Thes3:1-5.

The Christian Missionary

During the past several months we have

communicated with William Walker, a missionary recruit to Japan, concerning his working with the Wakaba-Cho Church after his

arrival in Japan. He was first contacted bythe trustees of the Church of Christ Cun

ningham Mission with reference to this work.After investigating the circumstances closelyand thinking about it, he informed the trus

tees that he would be willing to work withthe Wakaba-Cho Church only if the missionaries on the field, namely, Stanley Buttray,Harold Sims, and Andrew Patton, were inagreement with his doing so. A few dayslater we received letters from Bro. Walkerasking our opinion on this matter.

We were pleased with this considerate

attitude of Brother Walker, not bccause wewished to control him or the Wakaba-ChoChurch, but because he thus showed that hewas interested in maintaining the unity ofthe churches in Tokyo. Both he and we feltthat if the peace and harmony of thechurches connected with the Church of ChristCunningham Mission were disturbed it wouldbe tragic and out of harmony with the Christian religion.

There was one condition connected withBrother Walker's coming to Japan whichforced us to disapprove of his assumingleadership of this church. He had franklydiscussed this problem with Harold Sims justbefore the Sims left for Japan, as well as inhis -letters^to us mentioned above. He hadaffiliated himself with an organization knownas the Christian Missionary Fellowship. Sincewe were firmly convinced that the tendenciesof this organization were extremely questionable and therefore dangerous, we felt thatapproval of Bro. Walker as missionary toWakaba-Cho Church would involve the brethren at that church and the rest of theChurch of Christ Cunningham Mission inthis danger. Therefore, we told Brother Walker that if he would sever his connectionwith the CMP. we would be more than happyto approve of his leadership of the work atWakaba-Cho. He stated in the above-mentioned letter to me that in his entering theCMF "there is a calculated risk involved,but it seems to me that the course is worththe risk, and that problems, in any course,must be dealt with as they arise." He furthertold me that if we would not agree to hisworking with the Wakaba-Cho brethren, hewould close the matter and make other arrangements ooncerning his work in Japan.Since we have not heard from him since thattime we concluded that he had given up thewhole idea.

Imagine our surprise, then, when we received information through others a fewweeks ago that Bro. Walker was seriouslyconsidering the acceptance of a call from vhechurch at Wakaba-Cho to become their mis

sionary. Since none of the members of that

church had met him, this was tantamountto his acceptance of a call from Miss Eloise

Cunningham, who had met him and had

strongly insisted that he be allowed to work

THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN

with that church. Miss Cunningham is not a

member of Wakaba-Cho Church or of any

Christ of Christ, is not and has not been amember of the Church of Christ Cunningham

Mission and is not a missionary.

The Church at Wakaba-Cho is completelyfree to call Bro. Walker. But it seems very

strange to us that he should insist on workingwith this church when he knows that his

doing so will divide them from other churchesconnected with this mission, simply becauseof his affiliations with a questionable agency.If he will only give up his affiliation with theCMF, we will be happy to welcome and cooperate with him. Otherwise, we cannot ap

prove of his coming because It would beequivalent to our approval of the CMF andto our compromising the work here. If Bro.Walker will meet us where we can conscient

iously meet him, we shall be enthusiasticindeed over his coming to Wakaba-Cho.

The matter would be a little less serious

were It not for the fact that Miss Cunningham

is now trying to swing at least four morechurches to her side against us. She has

written letters to brethren in America using

the names of these churches as taking theirstand against us for her cause. If this policy

continues what can avert a rent in the

churches? And mark well, brethren, who

is causing this dissension. Only if Miss Cunningham ceases her efforts to divide thechurches and if Bro. Walker withdraws from

the CMF or gives up his idea of working withthe churches connected with the Church of

Christ Cunningham Mission, can there be anyunity among the brethren here.

We shall now state some of the reasons

why we are opposed to the Christian Missionary Fellowship with which Bro. Walker isaffiliated.

1. We are opposed to the attitude ofcompromise manifested by the leaders ofthe CMF. We have no doubt that they be

lieve the basic truths of the gospel. But

brethren, it is traitorous to pledge allegiance

to the Captain of the Christian army andat the same time stand with sheathed sword

and talk peace at any sacrifice while theenemy makes an aggressive war against theCaptain of our salvation and the saints ofGod. He who is thus guilty negates his own

belief of the basic facts of the gospel. Now

have the leaders of the CMF distinguished

themselves by their defense of the truth

against the attacks of those who intend to

destroy it? We quote from Missionary Pel-lowshi'p, monthly publication of the CMF.November, 19 50: "At annual meeting it was

voted that the CMP should apply for affiliation with the International Convention of

Disciples of Christ. Such application was

made to the International Convention meet

ing in Oklahoma City, October 8-15th. The

CMF application was voted down by the

Committee on Recommendations, and the

Convention Assembly." Since abundant proof

that the Disciples denomination has departed

from the faith of the gospel and has become

an enemy of the truth is within easy reach

of anyone who is willing to Investigate, we

shall take it for granted here. It is certainly

.significant that the CMP seeks fellowship

Page 3

with the International Convention of tht

apostate Disciples denomination ratlier than

repudiating the whole thing and joininghands with those who stand against modern

ism and for the gospel of Christ.As further proof of their p«4icy of com

promise we quote from the same issue ofMissionary Fellowship: "As the CMF prepares to establish missions in new fields, we

will be most wise to arrive at a well-thought

policy concerning the territories where othermissionary groups are working. Time, study,and maturity will be requisite to establishing a territorial ethic that will neither com

promise the claims of the Great Commission

nor make us a by-word among other sincere

believers to whom we wish to extend the

positive challange of apostolic Christianity."The "territorial ethic" which they here advocate Is comity agreements with those whomthey call "other sincere believers." We must

not encroach on the territory of the Disciples

or of any other sectarian group though wemust "extend the positive challenge of apostolic Christianity" to them! Instead of thisbeing a "territorial ethic" it ki downright

unethical to thus compromise the gospel ofChrist. Futhermore, how can they harmonizeBro. Walker's coming to Wakaba-Cho undertheir direction and against our advice withtheir avowed "territorial ethic?"

2. We are opposed to the desire for au

thority which we believe the CMF has.Though they are not in agreement with theultra-modernism of the Disciples denomination, It Is evident that they aim at anauthoritative and powerful position compar-^able to that of the Disciples. They aspireto build a "conservative" group whose authority shall adhere In the founders and

leaders of the CMF. They assume in theirpublications that the major objection whichothers have against them is that they areorganized. Though our experience with "organized" missionary work has taught usthat it is not practical and expedient, wehave more basic grounds for opposition tothe CMF. We oppose it on the basis of ihoauthoritative status which it tries to assumeand for which it was founded and exists.

They mistrust the missionaries and tie them

down to the decisions of the CMP: "Missionstations can be opened or closed only withthe approval of both the missionaries of thefield involved and the Board," (MissionaryFclliowship, April, 1951). They have agreedon the policy that ". . . no missionary mayseek to raise funds for a 'special proje^it'uTi-less the field conference and the home boardapprove the project" (April, 1951. Jlission-ai*y Fellowship.) "Those desiring to becomeaffiliated recruits of the CMP are oxamlue-aaccording to carefully set general, spiritual,physical and educational standards" (May1951, Missionary Fellowship.) No missionaryorganization should delegate such authorityto Itself. But we are convinced that theirdesire for authority is not limited to ihatgroup of missionaries who are directly affiliated with them. Their aspirations will not befulfilled until their authority and dignity

[Continued on 4]

[The CMF CoDtinued from 3]

reaches even greater proportions.

3. We are opposed to the CMF becauseits very nature and existence 'divides thebrethren. Only such individuals whose weakconvictions or lack of information will allow

them to compromise the gospel of Christcan affiliate themselves with this organization. Those who are set for the defense

of the gospel can have no fellowship with it.The result is that this organization is a

means of dividing the brethren. The proof

of this proposition is found right here atWakaba-Cho Church. The character of the

CMF being what it is, tliey force the brethrento take sides for or against it and the result

is that churches are divided over the organization.

Now, just why has the CMF approved

of Bro. Walker's coming to Wakaba-Cho?Do they believe in honor and justice? Dofhey wish to divide the churches in Tokyoand participate in establishing a seminary inthis city in rivalry with the one which isestablished and functioning? Do they lackinitiative in evangelism so they must build

on another man's foundation and resources?

Do they wish to have their missionaries calledby a person who is self constituted in authority and not a member of the Church ofChrist? Their answer to these questions will

be found in whether they allow Bro. Walker

to come to Wakaba-Cho while he is affiliated

with (heir organization.

—Andrew Patton

[SEMINARY Continued from 1]

The present students of the Seminary

have decided to publish a mimeographed

paper in Japanese concerning the work ofthe Seminary and her graduates and send it

to the churches, the Seminary's friends andthe graduates. This should help to create In

terest among Japanese Christians in the work

which Tokyo Bible Seminary is doing.

The Seminary students have also decided

to plan and present a literary program once

n month to develop their respective talents

and give them experience in that kind of

work. The audience will consist of teachers

and friends of the Seminary.

In order to help our brethren in Kyushuto train leaders for their churches the TokyoBible Seminary is offering a correspondencecourse and offers their students half as much

credit for the same subject studied In theclassroom. The maximum credit which is al

lowed in these courses is the equivalent of

one year's work in the classroom. We are

hoping that this will help to supply thedeficiency In the number of workers In the

Kyushu district and raise up many leaderswhich would not otherwise be enlisted in

any specialized service for Christ.Each student of the Seminary is required

to present to the faculty before his graduation an essay on some Biblical subject. Weaxpect to have only one graduate next yearand he has already presented an outline ofhis essay to the teachers for their approval.

THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN

His subject Is the conversion of Paul. This

should prove to be interesting as well as

helpful to him and the Seminary.July ninth will mark the end of this

twelve-week spring and summer school term

and the beginning of the summer vacation.

The students can use this time to do evangelistic work.

Our Lord has greatly blessed and usedTokyo Bible Seminary until now. We prayfor grace to make us worthy of further blessings and service In the future.

—Andrew Patton

Buttrays left Tokyo International Airportat 6 P.M. on May S for their furlough. There

was a large crowd down to see them off.

During the year while the Buttrays areaway the house where they have been livingwill be occupied by the Cloyd Christmanfamily from Okinaw who have come up toTokyo to study the Japanese language for ayear.

Mr. Norman Downs, sending a cheek fromthe Pandora Church for $15.88 writes: "Iam very sorry to report that we have fallen

.short of the goal of $20.00. We hope thatwe can do better than this next month."

That statement is worthy of some comment.That is a very small church with a verysmall attendance. If all churches gave asmuch to missions In proportion to membership, as this church at Pandora, the causeof Missions would really prosper. May Godbless this little church with a conscience onMissions.

We have received a letter with severalinquiries among which were the following:"We understand that the Cunningham Mission was going to be dissolved as soon aspossible. Is this correct and is it in theprocess of being dissolved?" It all depends onwhat you think of as "The Cunningham Mission." If you are thinking only of the Corporation which was formed in America tohold the Reserve Funds of the Mission, thenthat might be dissolved some time in thefuture, after the remaining funds shall bedisposed of. The reserve funds are now onlya fraction of what they were right after thewar. The larger part of these funds weroused to rebuild the Mission Churches andother buildings that were destroyed duringthe war, and also the Tokyo Bible Seminary

building. But the Cunningham Mission wasin existence for more than 35 years beforethere was any Corporation, and we expect itto continue for many years after the Corporation is dissolved. To our way of thinking,the Missionaries constitute the Mission.

—A. E. Sims

la Every Way Christ Is Proclaimed and

Therein I Rejoice. Phil. 1:18.

Since we returned from our furlough 1have been visiting the Mikawashima Churchat least twice a month. We used to live in

that neighborhood and have always had agreat interest in this Christian group of Koreans. For the past 2 years the church there

has had no minister, so I have been preachingone-half time in Japanese and the elder of

the church has been preaching the rest ofthe time. He hesitates to take very agressiveleadership because he feels unqualified, butit is exceedingly difficult to find a goodKorean preacher here in Japan. Because ofthis situation the church has not been making any advancement and is just barely holding its own.

They have been content with only morning services for a long time, so recently Itold them that I hated to see the churchclosed on Sunday evenings and proposed thatservices for the Japanese be held Sundaynights. Formerly we used that system successfully for about 3 years but because ofvarious problems the Japanese meeting finally gave up about 2 years ago. One or twoof the members consented and the rest saidnothing, so I found a Seminary student willing to try to get the group together againand we arranged to start services for Japanese again on Pentecost Sunday evening.

I was very surprised to be informed onthe previous Sunday that the Koreans haddecided to begin evening services and allwere going to work harder for the church.Two of the ladies were having a daily earlymorning prayer meeting on behalf of theeffort. They had decided that the above-mentioned elder would I)e officially calledthe temporary minister and do the preaching.Also cottage prayer meetings were to be arranged.

Well, I thought, if it takes racial prideor jealousy to stir them up to more Christianactivity, very good. Last Sunday morning wehad the best attendance at the Korean services we have had in a long time.

By the way. we began the Japanese services in a rented hall on a main street inthat section of town. There were 7 presentfor the first service.

—Harold Sims

MR. AND MRS. HAROLD R. SIMS

Announce

The Birth of a Son

ROBERT JOEL

On June 20, 1955

Ozark Bible College516 N. Wall St-

Joplln, Mo.

(10)pxopttf'iy o£

library|ii|g Apfg "pypT .Fi COLI"^^^

Tokyo ChristianVol. 55

"Go ye info all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, Fall, 1^'^5 Number

Seminary NewsFall term began at Tokyo Bible Seminary

oil otipLember thiiteeuth. Everybody liad re

lumed to school excopt two students from

Okinawa who were delayed one week be

cause of foul weather which made it unsafe

for sailing.

All of our Seminary personnel enjoyed

a fruitful and happy vacation. John Muto

and Stephen Timima, Seminary teachers and

Peter Itasaki, a senior in the Seminary,

spent about one month in Hokkaido. There

they visited with Mr. limima's parents and

conducted various services in homes in the

surrounding district. While tliere they looked

around for a placc for Mr. Itagaki to start

a new church after his graduation next

spring. '

Chozo Ishimine and Mr. and Mrs. Namio

Kamada spent the summer in Okinawa. There

they taught in Christian service camp and

witnessed about forty decisions for Christ.

After camp they spent the remainder of the

in' chtrrches t?n lhe~i5tandS7~

Mamoru Saito was welcomed to the Semi

nary as a new student at the beginning of

this term. He is of Korean descent and his

relatives, who are farmers in Kyushu. Japan,

are Japanese citizens. He has had almost

two years of training in Seoul Biblo Semi

nary and has already gained some experience

in preaching while in Korea. He speaks

Korean, Japanese and English and we are

now using him as an interpreter in the Semi

nary. He now attends the only Korean church

winch we have established in Tokyo.

Wc have reported several times on the

condiiion of Hideo Fukuda, who was taken

ill with tuberculosis while attending theSeminary almost two years ago. Ho has nov.'been allowed to leave the hospital and has

returned to hl.s homo in the country for

further rest. For some time doctors thought

an operation might be necessary before hecould reco\er. Ilut they finally decided that

would not be neces.sary. Since the dangerof a recurrance of this disease is still groat,it will not be possible for him to lead a

normally active life for several years. Mr.Fulciida and we are very grateful to thechurch at Erwin, Tennessee for their helpin nursing him back to health. His faith

in the Lord is strong and he looks forward

to full recovery and a fruitful life as a mini

ster of the gospel.

Mrs. Namio Kamada of the sophomoreclass lias not been well recently. Her doctor

Continued on 4

Harold Sims preaching on a mountain-top about 25 miles from Tokyo at the annual outdooworship service of Nakano Church on August 21, 1955.

Report From Butt-raysArriving in Los Angeles, former Chaplain

Uussell Barber of Japan met us and was our

gracious host for the next two days. Hemade it possible to visit and speak to thestudents at the Pacific Bible Seminary, and

to meet the new president and the faculty.

They have a fine school and are doing awonderful work for the Lord.

It was a wonderful feeling and a privilege

to put foot once again on American soil,which brought again to our minds its history,how our forefathers bought and fought for

the religious freedom that was so dear to

them, with the result that each one of uscan road the Word of God freely and worship

Him as we understand His Word. No longer

is it necessary to bow down and worship thePope and obey the customs and traditions ofmen that have been handed down through

the generations. What a privilege it is to befree, in Christ Jesus!!!! This has been theburden of our hearts as we worked in Japan.

To set the Japanese people free from the

Satanic power of their false religions and the

custonis and traditions of their forefathers.

God is di'pvndiiig on each of you to help Hismissionaries of the Cross in Japan to fight

this great battle. Every war requires indi

vidual and personal sacrifice to wage a suc

cessful fight. Thus it is with every soldier

of the Cross. He must depend on Jesus

Christ to lead forth the battle, for He is our

Great Commander-in-Chief. But, without the

cooperation of those on the front line, the

reserves, and those on the home front it

w^ill be impossible for our Lord to wage isuccessful battle against the opposing forceof Satan.

Brethren, we the soldiers of Jesus Chrishere in the States have access to the greatespower, greater power than even the dreadfuatom or hydrogen bombs which have thpower to destroy even whole cities. What ihis power??? The answer is PRAYER!!Simple, childlike prayer of faith unlocks th-Power of Almighty God who created hcaveiand earth. Lest we forget, remember ho\Elijah prayed—God heard and answered, antit didn't rain for three years; Gideon praye<

—God hoard, answered, and the sun st00(

still for a whole day; while Peter was iiprison the Christians were praying in th'house of John Mark's mother—God heard

answered and Peter was miracously set free

Paul and Barnabas were singing and prayini

in prison, God heard and answered, and th'prison doors were opened and Paul amBarnabas were free; during the Second Worl<

War on the occasion known as Dunkirk

thousand of lives were at stake and wha

might have been a terrible slaughter turno<out to be a successful evacuation, becaus

thousands of Christians in Great Britan wer^

mysteriously led to the churches that fatofunight to pray—God lieard, answered an^

tlie usually treacherous waters of the Englls

Channel besame suddenly calm, permittln;

thousands of lives to be saved from certai;

death.

Continued on 4

THE TOKYO CHRISTIAN

Published quarterly by the Missionaries of theChurch of Christ Cunningham Mission, Tokyo, Japan,for the information and inspiration of every Christianwhose heart is open to the call of Christ, and who iswilling to help in the supreme task of carrying out theGreat Commission of Christ: Matthew 28:19, 20.

Entered as second class matter in the KimberlinHeights, Tenn., Postoffice under the act of March 3,Two-Vear Subscription 50 centsSubscription ond "Ftaming Torch" $1.CX)

MISSION STAFFMr. and Mrs. Stanley Buttray, 575 2-Chome, Kam-

iochiai, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Jopan. (Now on furlough)Forwarding agent: Mrs. Homer Anderson, R. D. 1,Meodville, Pa.

Mr. end Mrs. Andrew Patton, 27 Sakurayamo, Na-kano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Forwarding ogent: Mr. orMrs. Ray Armstrong, Rt. ^ Box 310, Piqua. Ohio.

Mr. and-Mrs. Harold Sims, 450 Arai Machi, Nakano-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Fordwarding agent: A. E. Sims, 310Brown Ave., Turtle Creek, Pa.

TOKYO BIBLE SEMINARY27 Sakurayamo, Nakono-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

TRUSTEES „ , ...Mr. T. O. Hothcock, Chairman, Lawrence Bain, Miss

Evo Green, Orvel C, Crowder, J. E. Lipscombe, Mrs. E. G.Nabell, Alfred E. Sims.

Packages for Japan should be sent direct by parcelpost to one of the missionaries whose addresses oreshown above. Consult your local postoffice concerningmailing rules and limitations of size and weight.

If you change your address please notify H. L.Hamilton, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, giving l»th/our old and your new address. If you make an offering of $1.00 or more you are entitled to receive thissaper If you so request. Churches or groups making anjffering of SI0.00 or more may request a bundle or 10:oples for aistribution.

rhe Bounce BackThere have now passed 10 years of con-

inual change in Japan since the end ofhe war. One of the strong national char-Lcter traits of the energetic people on these)vercrowded islands is a natural and neces-

lary ability to bounce back. Perhaps theice dealer across the street from our houses a typical illustration. When we movedlere his home was built of salvaged pieces»f burned sheet metal and was hardly wide

snough to lie down in or high enough totand in. After much personal sacrifice and

leavy borrowing from all their relatives they7ere finally able to build a modest 2 room

louse with a sort of front porch for the

tore. The night after they moved into thelew place and tore down the old one a firea the next door house spread to theirs and

urned it to the ground before they had fin-

shed one full night's sleep in the new house.)f course they had no fire insurance. But

his discouraging loss was borne with stone-

aced Buddhist fatalism, and somehow heorrowed and built again and now runs auecesBful—business—a-sign -Of. which la the

act that he recently had a motor attached

3 his bicycle.

Ten years ago the city of Tokyo and allf Japan was in ruins. Even when we arrived

1 1947, many of the main streets were 2

ingle lanes separated by piles of rubble in

le middle. Fortunately these have all longince been cleared, for now their full width

I overtaxed with hundreds of clangingtreet-cars, roaring buses and rootin-tootin'ixis (not to mention several million jay-alking pedestrians).

When I first looked at the property whereur Bible Seminary now stands there were

Tokyo Christian

perhaps 5 houses within % mile. Now the

whole district is built up solidly. At onetime the owner of the empty lot next to theschool offered to sell it to us at a reasonable

price. We thought it was too high, but otherssoon paid more for it and there are now

about 10 houses and stores crowded into

that lot. Thus the whole city has in thisdecade rebuilt and added many fine buildings. The national budget balances, employment Is high, television sets and luxury itemsare going like hot-cakes, while this year'srice crop is expected to be the largest inhistory. A Rip Van Winkle would never knowthere had been a war.

In terms of things that can be measuredthe rebuilding of the Cunningham Missionwork has approximately paralleled that ofthe Japanese nation. Eleven church buildings,four missionary residences and a Bible Seminary building have been completed. Most ofthe church buildings include parsonage apartments. The total area in buildings is morethan 5000 feet square of floor space. So wecan say we have bounced back, and thankGod and tak;e courage.

For more than half of this past decadeJapan was occupied by American troops, andsome are still here as security forces. Ourwork has been assisted in many ways bythe kindness of various Chaplains and menof all ranks. This peaceful occupation andthe idealism of the no-army constitution inJapan was shattered by the outbreak of theKorean war. Now at the end of these 10short years we hear the thunder of revivingnationalism and sense an increasing approvalof the developing Japanese army. There isstill much opposition (very strong amongyoung Christians) to anything smelling ofmilitarism, but in large measure we can saythat the once disillusioned national spirithas returned.

In the spiritual realm also, we are sorryto say, there has been a return to normal.Just after the war there was much talkof the "spiritual vacuum." We are thankfulfor the privilege of having been here duringthose heart-warming days of evangelist'sparadise when every meeting was well attended, and opportunities for opening newmeetings were constantly before us. Butresurgent Buddhism and Shintoism and manynew religions have filled that vacuum untilsometimes it seems there is no more roomfor the one meek and lowlv in heart. Tn

late summer and early fall the streets fillwith chanting: mobs carrying their godaround for his yearly walk. The people don'tthink of the occasion as religious, but asfestive; and rice wine is the essential element. But the social pressure is so greatthat even a great many nominal Christianscompromise with idolatry and participate toavoid ostracism. Not only this, but manyother temptations in a pagan society haveled many who once professed faith to fallaway. The burden of making a living absorbs the complete thoughts and energiesof many. The materialistic, atheistic Ideastaught in all the universities undermine the

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faith of numbers. Various discouragements

and problems in the Christian life take a

great toll, especially when the seed has been

sown In ground not sufficiently plowed up.

We are thankful that we are still free

to preach In Japan,' but the low level of

interest In the things of God and the soul

is discouragingly apparent to anyone. We

believe that God's Spirit can bring a real

revival to the small Christian force here

and we ask you to pray to that end.—^Harold Sims.

— :o: —

Eyangelistic MeetingAt Mikawashima

On the spur of the moment we decidedon July 30 to have a "home-force" meetingat Mikawashima Church during August. Iwas to speak 20 minutes each evening inJapanese and one of the elders (there is no"pastor") would preach on the same subjectfor 20 minutes in Korean. At the same time 2of the young people- said they would cooperate in a D.V.B.S. So, with some misgivings among the older folk the 2 meetingswere aonounc^d.

We began on August 14 with 14 present,and this was more than double the regularSunday evening attendance. The next A.M.more than 20 children came and were thrilledwith the materials which had been tracedfrom used American books and mimeographed. The children naturally told othersand the week ended very successfully with anaverage attendance of 24.

Before each evening service we went outinto the neighborhood and held street meetings for which I played the accordian. Itwas eye-opening to me to see the conditionsof poverty a stones throw from the church.It was encouraging to watch them gather andlisten. The attendance each evening exceededour expectations, and we ended with an average of 18 for the whole week. The spiritsof all of us were given a lift, because Goddoes bless our efforts if we give Him theopportunity.

—Harold Sims.

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Two new missionary families arrived in

July. They are not affiliated with the Cun-

nin^am MissibnT^but we are ha^py to welcome them to Tokyo where they will studythe Japanese language for a year or more

before moving elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs.

Claude LIkins and family arrived on July 6.The Lord led them In finding a suitable

residence very soon and within a week Bro.

Likins had enrolled in the summer course

at Language School. The Don Burney familyarrived in Yokohama on July 25. Their ulti

mate destination is the island of Shikolu,but they will live In Fleenor's house whilethey are on furlough and study Japanese.

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A few weeks ago it occurred to me thatsomething about Bro. Sudo, who has charge

of the dormitory at Tokyo Bible Seminary

and preaches at one of the small churches,

would be interesting to readers of the Tokyo

Christian. I asked him to prepare a short

history of his life which I might use as reference material. When he handed it to me

I was surprised to find that it was written

in very good English and that it coveredthe subject very thoroughly and interestingly.So I immediately decided to give it to youas he wrote it except for a few minor changesin spelling and grammar. Here it is:

—Harold Sims.

Aklhani Siido

Personal HistoryKy Akilmru Sudo—02 Years Old

rastor of Soka Church of Christ

When I was eight years old my mother

tiled. My step-mother was the sister of a'amous Christian, Dr. Kingo Miyabe, and of

jourse she was a Christian too. As soon as

she came to our home I was led to go to

Sunday School. That place was supervised)y Miss Alice Miller, an independent mis-ionary for the conservative non-instrumentirethren, wlio appealed to the Cunninghamso buy a part of the lot on which she wasonducting a "charity school" in 1902. Thisras the place of which the workers of the

'otsuya Mission a few years later coulday "The Yotsuya Mission is the nearestuilding of any kind to the Crown Prince'salace."

Four years later my step-mother was dl-Drced. I don't know the reason. According

I her leaving I gave up attending the Sunday

jhool.

When I was 18 years old. after graduation

om Middle School, one summer-time I went

the sea-side and spent the whole summer

.cationing with the Christian family of

)saburo Takekoshi (later a member of the

ivy council of the royal family) and with

e Christian family of Hantaro Mizuno whoIS a professor of the Joji University (Sop-

i) which is affiliated with Saint Ignatius

urch. Members of both families treated

Tokyo Christian

me very kindly and persuaded me to be aChristian. These sweet homes gave me some

unspeakably good feeling while I was in a

dry and motherless family.After the summer vacation I began to

attend church to be a Christian. That church

was the First Church of Christ of Yotsuya

Mission. On the 4th of February in 1912

when I was 20 years old I was baptized by

William Dayton Cunningham and have con

tinued the Christian life.

In 1915 the Panama California Exposition

was held in San Francisco and San Diego

to commemorate and congratulate the open

ing of the Panama Canal. My uncle kept anart store In Tokyo and he was appointed thepresident of the Japan Exhibit Association

at that fair. He sailed to San Francisco many

times on behalf of the exhibition business.

One day I asked him to take me with himto San Francisco. In November, 1914, I sailed

from Yokohama with him on board the

S. S. Tenyo Maru, the biggest boat at thattime in Japan, and hired as a salesman of theExposition Association. After the expositionwas over I worked in my uncle's branch

store in San Francisco. Every Sunday I at

tended the Presbyterian church in that citywhere Dr. E. A. Sturge, the author of "The

Spirit of Japan" directed. He taught a BibleClass after the service and I attended his

class every Sunday. He was called "the father

of the Japanese" by the Pacific Coast Japanese and he died in 1934 at the age of 79

to the great sorrow of the whole Japane.'?e

people. After his death many books such as"A Life of E. A. Sturge" and his sermons

"Arrows from My Quiver" were publishedby Japanese in both Japanese and Englishlanguages.

In October, 1921, I came back to Japan

and hired at the Japan Trading Co. as a

clerk of the export department. From Feb.

1922 to July, 1924, I was dispatched to the

branch office in Calcutta and Bombay.

In December, 1924 a conscription came

over me. I was drafted into military service

and stayed 2 years in Hokkaido as an infantryman.

After 2 years of military service I came

back to the same company branch office In

Osaka where I became engaged in the dyna

mite business and travelled all over Japan

to such places as hydro-electric dams, rail

way tunnel excavations, coal mines, etc. In

September, 1927 when I. was traveling in

Gumma Prefecture I suffered an emergency

rheumatism In ray right foot and thigh

which was caused by tonsils and was known

a few months later when the operation was

completed in Keio hospital. I was in the

hospital almost 1 year and nearly 2 years re

cuperating in my home with a nurse.

One Sunday morning in 1930 I attended

the Naka-cho Church walking on a cane.

My right foot had become a little shorter and

I still felt a little pain at my right foot

joint. After that I attended church every

Sunday and Prayer Meeting.

In January, 1932 I wa.'? elected a deacon

of the church. At that time there was no

pastor and another deacon and I preached

alternately Sunday mornings and evenings.Once a month we held Pastor's meetings inMr. John Chase's house, who resided atNakano where the Tokyo Bible Seminary nowstands. I attended the Pastor's meetings as arepresentative of the church, and sometimesI thought I should rather be a pastor andoffer my whole life entirely to God. But Icould not decide. I hesitated because I wasa rich man like the young man in Matt.19:22.

In December, 1933 I recommended myfriends Mr. M. Yoneda as the Pastor of thechurch and all of the church members agreedwith my recommendation. After I quit assubstitute pastor I remained as a deacon.

During the Pacific War I lost my wholepos.sessions and my only property (land) wasoccupied by many suffering people while 1was evacuated in Sendai in northeast Japan.

One day In 1949, I met Mrs. Cunninghamat the church. She said to me that I shouldbe a Pastor and get into Tokyo Bible Seminary. But I was afraid that now that I was55 years old I could not study among youngboys. But a few months later I decided andentered the Tokyo Bible Seminary.

After the completion of 1 year of thecourse I began to evangelize at the SokaChurch of Christ which is 17 miles fromTokyo. We now have 22 Christians and 30active attendants. The church meets in partof a sewing school. The only trouble is thatthere Is no place for baptism.

In autumn of 1930 I was tnarrled. Wehave "sons^nd l~daugKtef. Nbw~my twosons are working and my daughter is goingto Middle School.

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The following post-card was received recently. It was from a young man who usedto be active in Nakano Church and entered

the Bible Seminary in 1952, only to discoverthat he had T.B. He has been in a hospitalnear the school since that time and after

removal of a lung and much rest he is nowwell enough to return to his home for a yearof rest and recuperation. The card was from

his home in a rural section of southernJapan.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sims, I left the

hospital on the 5th and came here on thelOih. I thank you for what you had givenme during staying there, especially for thatyou had nie known Christ. I am afraid Ican't do anything for Christ, but I am intending to do my best as a Christian. Herois no church, and I have not yet found any

Christian here. But I am here. I pray for

you, and pray for me please. Your brotherin Christ. Yasxiya Fujiwara.

The Eugene Morse family stopped in

Tokyo for a week on their return trip toBurma, and they were able to visit all of

the Tokyo missionaries and see some of thework. We were thankful for the Inspirational

messages Eugene brought to the Nakano

Church, the Minister's Meeting, and the Biblev^eminary students and faculty. Morses and

Buftrays left the same day going In opposite

directions. It is a small world.

BUTTRAY - Continued from 1

Friends everjTvhere, PRAY, pray as never

before to our Father in heaven that He will

lead victoriously His missionaries in Japan to

triumph over the forces of Satan. Beloved!

Fellow-soldiers of the Cross! The Devil is at

this very moment using every method that

is known and unknown to deal a death blow

to the Lord's Church in Tokyo and to the

missionaries. We must rise up in arms NOW

and FIGHT. . . Or wage a losing battle.

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Return To The Field

The Lord willing, we are planning to return to Japan in August of 105G. There are

yet many churches which we should visit and

plan to do so in the remaining months of our

furlough. However, we have a strong desire

to take some more school work in one of our

loyal Bible Colleges. And if we should, time

and the number of churches that could be

visited would be limited. I don't know the

solution just now. but know that God will

guide in all things.

We will need on returning to Japan atleast ?2,500.00. This will take care of the

bare necessities, such as boat or plane fare,excess baggage and a few items for the home.

Then for one project that I have in mind on

returning to Japan is an offset press to printvarious books, such as those written by theRestoration 'preachers. Text books and studybooks in the Japane.se language is a glaringweakness in our Bible Seminaries. Our stu

dents are definitely handicapped because ofthis weakness and we must do somethingabout it soon. Also thousands of New Testament Tracts should continually come from thepress in order to do effective evangelism.The amount needed for this project is about$4,000.00. As the Lord has blessed and prospered you, I know that you will want tohave a part in this project in order thatbetter trained native Japanese will be goingforth from our (The Lord's) Bible Collegesto fully reap the harvest that God desires.

We sincerely regret that we were unableto have an article for the last edition of theTokyo Christian. We were traveling andteaching in Christian Service Camps and atthe same time were visiting twentj'-onechurches in a period oS one month.

Mabel and I wish to take this opportunityto express our appreciation to each one ofyou that had a part in supporting us whilewe were in Japan. May God abundantly reward you for your part in preaching theGospel in Japan and may He lead you to aneven greater life of service in the vineyardof our Lord, which is the whole world.

The Lord %vas gracious to us in our return to the United States and gave us a safejourney and a wonderful fellowship withthe missionaries in Hawaii before comingdown in the home-land at the Los Angelesairport. We were certainly glad that we hartmade plans to stop in Honolulu for two davs.

Tokyo Christian Page 4

for we were exhausted upon our arrival.

This was due partly to the preparation forreturning and also the duties of caring forDavid, our little boy, who was only four anda half months old at the time. We enjoyedseeing Carl Clark (a classmate) who ispreaching for the Kaimuki Church in Hono

lulu. He took us around the Island and

showed us the missionary work that is beingdone and giving us the opportunity to meetmost of the missionaries. We showed slides

to the Kaimuki Church and a number of

the missionaries were invited for the occas

ion. We thought that the U. S. custom offi

cials in Hawaii had given us a diffult time,but I know that it was nothing compared tothe custom insi>ection required of us at theJudgment Day.

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SEMINARY - Continued from 1

has diagnosed her ailment as appendicitisand she expects to undergo an operation forthis soon.

Yukiya Mikami who entered the Seminary in November, lf)54, has been given aninvitation by the Union Theological Seminaryof New York to study there and he will depart for America next fall. He is a musicianand entered the Seminary for two years ofBiblical training. He desires to become a songevangelist.

We praise the good Lord for His manifold blessings on Tokyo Bible Seminary. Youhave had a part in the realization of theseblessings. Thank you.

—Andrew Patton.

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Sayonara— (good-bye)We have said farewell to a true-hearted,

sincere Christian and brother, Airman First-Class Bill Claycomb. While he was stationedin Tokyo he became a close friend of themissionaries and rendered invaluable assistance to the missionary cause.

Bill first put in his appearance in Tokyoin M