Shinwa Church
Shinwa Church is typical of the more than a dozen United Church of Christ in Japan Churches that were destroyed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake (The Kobe Earthquake) of January 17, 1995. It is located in one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake In 20 seconds the churchıs sanctuary and classroom area were leveled to the ground. The only church building to escape total destruction was the comparatively new manse on the rear of the premises.
The area immediately surrounding the church was devastated. Approximately 70% of the buildings in the near neighborhood of the church were either heavily damaged or totally destroyed. People died in residences on each side of the church property. Even now, over 2 years later, it is difficult to drive to this church because of the damaged roads and the number of construction sites.
For a number of months the minister and his family lived without gas, or running water. (Many church members were living the same, or worse circumstances.) Worship services were held in the manse. Through the efforts of Word Vision International, a temporary church building was provided for the church at no cost by April, 1995.
In the summer of 1995 the church decided to do special programs for children who were affected by the earthquake. Public parks were closed because they were being used for emergency shelters. Schools were damaged, and many of the local children were living in emergency shelters. In response to this need, from mid July until the end of August they held a daily camp. Games, snacks, study time, and special outings were prepared for the local children, using the talents of church members, missionaries and other volunteers.
Perhaps in part due to the stress and hectic pace, in late fall of 1995 Rev. Kobayashi (42) had a mild stroke. Although he is fine now, of course he has to watch the pace of his ministry activities.
The church estimates that the temporary church building will last about 5 years (it already leaks), and are currently laying the financial groundwork for replacing the sanctuary that was lost. Because of the high cost of building in Japan, estimates for even a modest sanctuary exceed $400, 000. Since they are only one of many churches that sustained heavy damage within the Kobe area, help from other churches in the district will be very limited. Funds from the national denomination and from churches world wide have been exhausted in building the emergency shelters and in providing relief for families.
The Chinese Presbyterian Church of Kobe was one of those churches which the PCUS(A) helped to build many years ago and it sustained damage of various sorts. The Kindergarten sustained heavy structural damage and had to be completely destroyed. The Sanctuary looked almost untouched, but it too had some faults found. But the damage is not all physical. Memb ers who lost everything had to relocate and are no longer able to participate. Businesses of members were uninsured and this has crippled the building fund which is needed to rebuild the kindergarten.
This is the case with the strongest of the churches, which at best were able to provide just what was needed for worship and study, with a little for outreach. However, those churches which were already struggling financially are now in a more desperate situation and struggling with the physical and psychological stresses of the aftermath. They all need your prayers and understanding.
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