Carol and Tom Hastings

Carol and Tom Hastings have four children, Rose (16), Paul (14), Sarah (12) and Katherine (2). The older three attend the nearby American School in Japan.

Besides the full-time teaching load and other responsibilities as a tenured faculty member at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary, he is also called to preach often in Japanese churches and to give seminars and lectures in churches and related organizations. He writes and does research in Japanese and English and sometimes presents those results at academic meetings in Japan and abroad. He is also presently invloved in a number of translation projects. He serves as an associate and book review editor for the Japan Christian Review and is a member of the Japanese Academy of Christian Studies and Japan Christian Education Society. Also, he serves on the board of directors at Joshi Gakuin and the board of trustees at Kinjo Gakuin and the American School in Japan. For fun and renewal, he is involved in music ministry in our church and leads a Kerygma Bible study which meets Wednesday night in the Hastings' home.

Carol pours much of her energy into caring for our four children (Rose, 16, Paul ,14, Sarah, 12 and Katie 2), but manages to be involved in a number of other ministries. She is involved in the church choir and helps to lead our church's Sunday School (Rose and Paul are also teaching Sunday School). At Christmas, she sings Handel's Messiah in the seminary choir, giving her a chance to get to know Tom's students. Also, she hosts a group of seminary students who visit at Christmas for an evening of carols and fellowship. Lately, she has become involved with Ai no Kesshin (Love's Decision), a Christian group which helps finds loving homes for babies whose mothers aren't able to care for them. The Hastings will eventually become a foster care family for newborns awaiting the completion of the adoption process. In addition to all of this, she also tries to keep up with our missionary correspondence. For fun and renewal, Carol attends the yearly Christian woman's conference in January, is involved in the Kerygma bible study and teaches a few piano students.