Library Beginnings

In the beginning, the idea of such a library began in the summer of 1992 as my husband Richard, son Rob and I were packing to come to Japan as LCMS missionaries to serve with the NRK in Tokyo. We packed up a portion of our own library of Christian books, purchased educational materials to share, and also ordered and bought approximately 100 tapes and videos. Although it was my intention to run the library out of our apartment in Fuchu, I soon realized there wasn'tenough space for my dream.

Nevertheless, we began sharing these materials weekly on a TRUST system. There were no library cards or cataloging just trust and it worked very well. It was a non-threatening, yet powerfiil Christian outreach to our Japanese fiends, students, and acquaintances and also an ELS resource for our American co-workers.

Several years later, with love gifts from churches in America we had the money to purchase bookshelves and more Christian books for the missionary volunteers to help them teach English and Bible studies. Most recently, we have purchased some Christian books in Japanese as well as the popular "Veggie Tales" videos-6 of which are available in Japanese.

It was our initial hope that one or two volunteers would come from America to help us with a computer cataloging system. However, it was not in God's plan. Instead He found the helping hands and necessary talent right in our own backyard, and the work began in earnest last winter. While I had the joyful responsibility of purchasing, Adrienne G. organized and directed this summer's cataloging project.

With a computer generously donated by Yoshiki N., the necessary computer assistance was given by computer specialists Satoshi I. and Satoshi N.. With the adept typing skills of Elizabeth B. and other volunteers, all the work has been completed. Presently, there are over 1000 cataloged items, and we are deeply grateful to everyone in America and Japan who helped us.

We humbly give God all the Glory.

The purpose of the Japan Lutheran Church Library at the Lutheran Center is to be a bilingual library open to the members of our congregations and community. We seek to provide both print and non-print material which strengthens the educational work of the church, increases our knowledge of our own faith and others, enriches our worship life, offers assistance for teachers of ESL. provides information on social and economic issues, fosters an appreciation of good books, and deepens our relationship with Jesus Christ. Politics and procedures are established by the library committee.

You are the future of this bilingual resource library. Please come and visit often! If you wish to donate your time to help us check-out books or donate funds to purchase new materials, periodicals subscriptions, supplies, curent encyclopedias, etc., we would be gratefull.

I'm looking forward to seeing you with a good book or video!

Serving the Lord of the Harvest,

                  Sandi N.