日本基督教団 南町田教会

Rev. Chang Seong Hwang

 

The Main Theme: Christ-likeness

“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” Genesis1:26　

“for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” 1Peter 1:16

 

The Pastoral Agenda

The Church of Christ-Likeness

 ^“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” 1 Corinthians 11:1

At this time when many people are suffering and anxious due to the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the new coronavirus infection, we aim to become "Christ-like” in 2024. God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. We aim to be a church that imitates Christ, believing God’s Word with a sincere heart, overcoming trials together with people, and preparing together the way of refuge.

 

The Purpose of Church Activities

The Model - Becoming More Like Christ”

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6)

God created man alone in His own image. His work of creation has an end. The ultimate end of creation is to increase God’s glory. God works to transform believers into the likeness of Christ, into a glorified body. The purpose of the work of Christians gathered in church is to show the glory of God by imitating Jesus Christ. However, it is God Himself who completes the work.

 

Guidelines for the Christian Faith

Christians should represent Christ in their lives (2Corinthians 2:14-17) ) The Christian life can be divided into church life and social life. In church life, we realize God's will through worship and fellowship, and in social life, we serve others as we serve God. Serving others has 2 important points as follows;

1) Serve others with love

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

2) Regard others as better than oneself

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Christians are converted in identity by the Holy Spirit to the extent that they are able to sincerely practice the true virtues that Jesus Christ has done. It is not by our strength or determination. Even if we are changed by our strength and determination, it is temporary and external. To keep God as our center is to change our life patterns, our motives. This conversion comes from trust in God who has called us.

“All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” 1John3

This Word can only be realized by the Holy Spirit, indwelling us and continually transforming us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and continues without ceasing His work of transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We are already loved as children of God. Those who have the hope that they have already been made children of God will walk out this earthly life with the aim of becoming more like Christ.　

There is something that Christians must be careful about in their earthly walk. There is a difference between a “Worldly Christian” and a “World Christian.” The Worldly Christian is a self-centered, me-first believer. He is one who seeks only his own blessing and uses God for his own ends. However, a true Christian should aspire to be a World Christian. He is one who lives his life's highest priority task, always practicing it daily for the world. It is a life of joyful devotion, not under compulsion, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. A JOY-first life that puts the joy of others first is a Jesus-Other-You-first life that serves Jesus and your neighbor (Other-You) first.

In order to practice a JOY-first life, it needs to be developed 1) by faith and 2) in church. 1) It is achieved by faith, that is, through the infusion of the Holy Spirit, and is not something that can be achieved through human strength or effort. Human beings are weak beings and cannot practice the perfect virtues of Christ on their own. But when Christ is indwelling and by the power of the Holy Spirit, it can be reached by themselves. Moreover, 2) it is realized not as an individual’s ethics, but in the fellowship of the church.

 

Church Activities

The church is God’s gift given to human beings for the salvation of the world. Karl Barth is one of the theologians who emphasized the church's responsibility to the world. According to him, the benediction does not signal the end of worship, but rather the beginning of each person being sent out into the world as the Lord's witnesses. A church for the world is a church that primarily preaches and evangelizes.

“Evangelism” means “propagating the Gospel to the ends of the earth while forming a church that listens to the Word.”(Resolution by the Standing Committee of the United Church of Christ in Japan, September 1995) In Japan, where freedom of religion is guaranteed, religions are free to take root among the people through evangelism. On the other hand, it also suggests free competition for religion. Churches must express the value of their existence through evangelistic activities. This evangelistic activity should not be about expanding their own world, but rather a social service that supports an affluent Japanese society.

 

1. Saving church　“With God”

Team- Praise: Hymns and Congregational Praise

Team-Spirit: The Unconditional Love of Christ (Church・Migiwa home・Kamimizo Familiy prayer meeting)

Team-Work: Evangelism (Sunday Worship Service, Prayer Meeting, Kids English Service, Aroma Academy, Education, Welfare)

The church, as a place of worship to God, forms a community of believers. On this basis, church members share their testimonies of faith with each other, and the spirit of unconditional love of Christ is brought to life inside and outside the church. This spirit will stream as spring evangelism, and will be deployed in the Sunday Worship Service and Kids English Worship Service, Migiwa Home morning worship service and prayer meeting, and other ministries.

2.Training church “With God and neighbors”

Team- Prayer: Sunday Service and Prayer meeting

Team-Education: Teaching of Bible (Kids English Service・Men’s Association, Women’s Association, Youth Association, Dinner meeting)

Team-Networking: Online evangelism (Webpage・YouTube)

The basis of church education is preaching, worship, baptismal sacraments, hymn instruction, pastoral activities, etc., led by the clergy. The church activities of the board members and the activities of each age group and committee are also church education activities conducted by the congregation for the mutual growth of the members.

Church education is fulfilled in a Christian community that aims for true communion. The church is a place that continues to accept each person as an irreplaceable personality. Its work would not be possible without prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Faith education in the church, in addition to acquiring correct teachings on doctrines and the Bible, aims at developing the life practice of listening to God's voice in daily prayer. In recent years, the afternoon church school service has taken the form of a service in which both children and adults participate as worshipers. The worship service is also streamed on YouTube and used as a teaching tool in Christian schools.

3. Welfare church “With neighbors”

Team- Service: Migiwa home morning service・Aroma Academy・Migiwa Home Supporters’ Association・Volunteer Activities of Music and Healing・Devotion Activities・Support activities in the affected areas

At the Migiwa Home morning service (8:30) every morning, the aim is not to evangelize, but to bring participants into contact with the gospel indirectly. In a short 10-minute period of time, participants pray, sing hymns, read the Word, and hear the message. Aroma diffusers are installed in the worship room to provide effective aromatherapy for dementia.

The church is a family in the Lord, even if each person has a different nationality, race, gender, and occupation. It is a family that should support even the elderly who have no relatives so that they can be protected from loneliness and live their lives in peace, touched by the love of God. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” To carry out what is said in Matthew 25:35-36 requires a sensitivity to love that provides insight into what is truly needed, as well as concrete actions. Church has a mission to actively take on those ministries as a practice of community welfare.

As a concrete practice of community welfare, we will continue its support through donations to the Migiwa Home Supporters’ Association this year. In addition, we aim to work closely with the local community by making donations to welfare facilities in Machida City and Kanagawa Prefecture, entering into partnerships, and offering places for welfare projects. By practicing material support and volunteer activities in the disaster-stricken areas, we will also seek a pioneering way of welfare as a Christian church.