The Mercers in Yokosuka – Prayer Newsletter
October, 2010
 EQUIP Japan: This photo was taken at the Biblical Church of Tokyo last month where I attended the John Maxwell EQUIP training. Going left to right, first is Pastor Sam Webb, a senior leader in our church movement. Standing next to him is Felix Camacho, the Governor of Guam, a member of the church that Pastor Sam is currently pastoring in Guam. Governor Felix came with his wife just for this conference. Next is my pastor, Scott Douma, followed by me and then two men who are helping me out in the Yokosuka church, Stephen Zimmer and Masayuki Fukushima. I’ll be teaching two of the EQUIP sessions in Yokohama this Saturday. I’ll be teaching in English with a translator from the Yokohama church and this bilingual course will be used for the Bible training school. Please pray for me that the Holy Spirit will teach through me. |
James’ first vehicleJames passed his scooter driver’s test and has his first driver license and a church member gave him a 50cc scooter and a helmet. This is a huge blessing for James. No more bus. Now he can ride his “bike” to church to teach music lessons, to Starbucks for his part-time job, and to the train station for his ride into Tokyo to his college. Please pray for financial provision for James who is in his second year at Sophia University now and has only a 1/3 scholarship. He has a big tuition payment due in November. Alishea leading worshipI snapped this picture recently while some of the young people were practicing music for our youth service. We now have a special second service on the last Sunday of every month at 3:00pm for the youth. Alishea has become one of the key leaders in this group. Please pray for the young people that are being saved in our city. Some are struggling with peer-pressure, habits, and tough situations. We are working hard to create an atmosphere and culture of discpleship. With prayer, these young lives are going to be transformed into powerful leaders. Our next event is this Sunday, October 31st. We have a worship service, party, potluck and movie planned from 3:00pm to 8:00pm. |
Special Prayer RequestWe are about to go to the next level in our growth as a church and I have been feeling that I need to pray more and ask our ministry partners to pray more. So I am praying more personally and I am asking — would you please take a little time and pray for us in the next two weeks? On Friday and Saturday, November 5th and 6th, we are going to have our first Ladies Victory Weekend in Yokosuka. This is an overnight retreat with lots of teaching, praying, counseling and impartation. The purpose is to set free, to equip and to commission new believers to live victorious Christian lives. Kaku Sager is going to come and help Satomi as she leads this event along with several of our ladies who are small group leaders. We would greatly appreciate your prayers – especially for the following ladies who will be teaching: Victory Weekend Teachers
John 8:36 – So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
My multi-talented wifeSatomi was recently asked to write a lengthy devotional for a Japanese language Christian magazine. It should be out in November so I will send a link when it is published. Besides keeping our family going and leading a growing church, she is staying close to God in her devotions. Recently she has been telling me about a growing burden she has for orphans in Africa, and especially a ministry called the African Children’s Choir. She is praying that she can visit Uganda and that the Choir can visit Japan. I’m sure she would appreciate your prayers too.Signing off until next month…
Aloha, Yorokobi and Shalom
(Love, Joy and Peace)
Ray Mercer and family
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How to become a financial partner in our ministry to JapanYou can send a one-time or monthly financial gift to help support our work in Japan by clicking on the following link and following the instructions: Our mission organization, Every Nation, is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountibility (ECFA). All contributions are tax-deductible in the United States and we are committed to the highest level of non-profit financial accountability.
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I used to minister in Hawaii and attended Grace
Bible church with Pastor Sam Webb many years ago Recently had a dream about reconnecting with him…Do you have contact info for him?? He is currently in Guam correct?? Thank you!
Hi Ray,
Thanks for the new update. Love hearing the latest. Keep up the good work–we are in your corner. More importantly, so is the Holy Spirit! It was great to see the gov. of Guam in the pic. My grandfather once led an evangelistic team to Guam and was able to meet with the then governor. The man seemed genuinely moved and prayed a prayer of repentance and salvation with him. Going through my grandfather’s pictures recently, I came across a picture of that moment.
Wonderful to be part of the family of God in Yokosuka! Looking forward to Victory Weekend and watching Father God at work in the lives of the women here. Appreciate you, Pastor Ray, and your whole family. Aloha~
Hi Georgia,
Thanks for taking the time to pray for us and leave a comment here. The Webbs were very happy when I told them that you (and also Howard Rachinski) had sent greetings. We are blessed to be working with people of this caliber just as we were when we were working with Howdy. God must love us a lot! 🙂
Ray and Tomi, it is so wonderful to see your newsletter. I love the pictures. I can hardly believe that your son and daughter are so tall. I still remember then as babies. Thanks for the picture of Sam Webb. Pastor Sam and Nancy go back a long way with Howdy and myself. Seems just like yesterday. He hasn’t changed much, just hair is now white. Love to you and Tomi. Georgia