by
Bill Geppert
by
Bill Geppert
See: ** for a description of Kinjo University** (If you click this you will leave this web site!)
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I'm serving with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and there are three of us on assignment here. We are called long-term missionaries, whose contracts are reviewed every two years. I have been serving here for 4 years now, with the next two years already signed on the contract. I am paid by the university as an associate professor of English. In a sense then, I am a kind of a tent-maker missionary, following in a small way, the apostle Paul and others down through the centuries. Like all missionaries serving here, I have become a part of the community, while still being an "obvious" foreigner.
Japan has only a small percentage of Christians. (see ) The
vast majority of Japanese consider themselves Shinto and Buddhist. (see =
) Kinjo Gakuin University, considers itself a "Christian
University', and the staff and students represent a larger percentage of
the
Christians in Japan, than is found in normal society. The percentage is
still quite low however, and this makes it a wonderful challenge to be a
witness to the truth and love of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My position in the university is as a member of the Department of English,
in the junior college. It is a two year program that is a part of the
university curriculum. Currently there are six of us in the department full
time, with a number of part-time instructors.
We presently have about 240 students enrolled in the program. The university at large has some 4,000+ students, including
graduate students.
The students as first-year students are all required to attend chapel
service several times a semester, and are required to take courses in
"Christian" education. Whether or not these "requirements" have a
positive
or negative effect on the students is debatable. As missionaries we try to
refect a positive image that being a Christian is a life committment, and
not just a church committment. In addition to the classes and
responsibilities to the department and university, the missionaries offer
some extra opportunities for the students to come into contact with the
Christian Faith, through the Christian Center on campus. We offer a
Lunch-time gathering for students several times a semester. Topics vary, but
hopefully offer some contact with ideas and values that are distinctly
Christian, and designed to offer hope for those students seeking ideas
beyond the normal curriculum. We also offer a weekly Bible Study in English.
There are also Japanese Bible Studies taking place on campus.
I feel that one of our prime directives as missionaries teaching full time,
is to present a caring, giving attitude that reflects a deep concern for the
students. As seen in the picture below, the main purpose of the students in
my department is to study English and to gain communication skills in this
essentially international language.
For these students, English is very much a foreign language. They do not
use it outside the classroom vey much, if at all. Yet, they are attempting
to not only learn the language, but to learn something about the culture of
the teacher as well. As missionaries this includes our lifestyles and
beliefs as Christians. Most of my students are not very familliar with what
this really means. There are many misconceptions about Christians among the
students. I consider it an important task while teaching English, to present
myself as one who lives the faith out in all areas of my life.
I feel this is truly necessary, if the individual students are to ever
consider Christianity as a faith to commit their lives to.
Showing personal
interest in the students as more than just numbers on a class role, helps to
cement bonding relationships that can encourage and help them. Etsuko, Eriko
and Sanae are among my favorite students.
Mission work is not only about church work and evangelism in Japan. To
really hit home in the heart and mind, it must be seen in the day to day
struggles and joys of every day life. For the Japanese, a committment to
Christ involves every area of their social life, intellect and reason. It is
more than just an hour or two on Sunday. This can be as you might expect, a
very long-term effort that is slow in producing measurable results. But
Jesus puts his workers in places to not only sew and reap, but to also
water, and patiently nurture and prune and shape, that in years later,
others might reap the growth in fruit.
My students in this picture are helping to share my birthday by eating some
of the German Chocolate cake, baked by a colleague. These are second year
students, who will graduate next March.
Mina on the upper left is
considering studying in the United States at a junior college. She not only
wants to study English, but choose an area of study in a particular
vocation. Tomoko, Natsu and Maki are currently looking for work and are
concerned about the prospects of finding a job, as well as being concerned
about the job itself. Natsu, in the lower right side has just accepted a
future position in a bank.
It is winter time in a cold office, but Tomoko, Michiyo and Satsuki found
time to come in and spend a few minutes telling me about their Christmas and
New Year vacation plans. Opportunities to practice English and to just spend
time in a "non-Japanese" office is always appealing to the students. My
pictures, maps, books and other knick-knacks present a profile of a culture
that is known only through movies and television.
I also like to have time for some of my past students to come and visit me
in my small, humble house on the edge of campus. It is not only a time for
them to get reacquainted with each other, but a time to share in a meal and
fellowship.
Here we are preparing to make homemade pizza, along with a salad of some
sort. These occasions often mix Japanese, American and European foods
together in a sometimes strange mix. Yuki on the right side is currently
working for an international company, and needs to speak English not only
with Americans, but often with other Asians or Europeans as well. Masumi and
Kaori in the very back are also working, but find time to keep studying
English and to share about their jobs and hopes for the future.
In addition to my duties and activities with the college and university, I
also attend a Japanese church downtown on Sundays. The service is entirely
in Japanese, and with my struggle in the language, it is not always clear
what the sermons are exactly about. It is a joy to worship with these fellow
Christians, as their committments are strong to the faith and to the church.
The picture here is of my English Bible study group in my house for a
Christmas season, Sukiyaki party. Fumiko, in the center of the second row,
had recently gotten out of the hospital from an illness. She was a teenager
at the time of the war, and after the war was one of those who made friends
with a Presbyterian missionary who was one of those who "watered" and
"nurtured." That missionary now retired in the States in her 90s, still
fondly remembers Fumiko.
Fumiko is one of my best students and often has the answers to some of the
difficult questions I pose. Her knowledge is great and her faith is deep.
The other students are also eager to learn more and to understand theology
and especially how it applies to their lives as Japanese Christians.
This is just a short introduction and look at what one missionary does in
Japan, and how the even small activities can have a lasting influence on the
lives of the Japanese whom they come into contact with.
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