日本基督教団 南町田教会

Rev. Chang Seong Hwang

 

Annual Theme: “With Christ”

“Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.” Acts 2:28

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13

 

Pastoral Purpose

“even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7)

Pastoral care is led by the pastor. The pastor is to “lead souls” Seelenfühlung in worship, emphasizing God's sovereignty and with the authority to preach God's Word. Pastoral care, derived from the ministry of shepherds, is one of the important ministries of pastors and is the ministry of strengthening, supporting, equipping, building, interceding, healing, and uniting the church. Minami-Machida Church seeks to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12:15)” and to pour out love as to the Lord Jesus, even to one of the hungry, thirsty, traveling, naked, sick, and prison-bound little ones (Matthew 25:31-46).

Pastoral care is the ministry entrusted by the Lord Jesus to shepherd the Church, the Body of Christ. In 2023, we will give priority to times of meditation and prayer in worship services, prayer meetings, and international worship services. Specifically, while remembering each person in the church and praying intercessory prayer, if necessary, the pastors receive prayer requests from that church member and pray for that person further. The preaching of the Bible Commentary in worship shows the reason and purpose for the existence of the church, because the Holy Spirit clearly shows God Himself through the sermon. And through praise, we give glory to God. The work of the Holy Spirit in true worship creates a church of grace and peace.

 

 

 

 Pastoral Policy

Pastoral counseling has an important role to play in light of today's challenging situations facing the church and society. Along with the COVID-19 Overcoming Campaign (devotion activity) from 2020 to the present, Minami-Machida Church has practiced pastoral counseling, including care work in the field of welfare and aroma care. In 2023, we will take a broader view of the meaning of care and promote pastoral counseling to include spiritual care.

In our lives, we question the meaning of life and face anguish that affects the very foundations of our existence. This suffering is called spiritual pain. Spiritual pain requires spiritual care. Spiritual care includes concern not only for the client who is seeking help from the pastor, but also for those involved. The pastor will be comprehensively involved in all aspects of life, not just faith advice. In 2023, the Church will continue to develop its concern for the whole humanity, soul and body, for the congregation and the community, and the free love of Christ living with souls, not only for the members of the Church but also for the residents of the Machida area.

 

Church Activity Goals

“Churches that Evangelize, Educate, and Practice Welfare-Service”

“giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20-21)

We will establish a direction of church activities suitable for With & Post Covid-19.

In the first half of 2023, in view of the domestic situation of the COVID-19 infection, two forms of worship will be held: face-to-face worship with social distanced worship and online worship. The format for the second half of the year will be determined based on the infection situation.

The original state of Christians should stand as worshippers who offer worship and praise to God regardless of their environment. We hope that 2023 will be the year when we can restore worship to its original form and genuinely confess our gratitude in worship. The Church must realize its mission as a community to accomplish the growth of the Kingdom of God that is consistent before and after COVID-19 to overcome this crisis.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Each of the church activities aims to make the church a community of practice of love. Specifically, we will actively participate in community development and donation campaigns through the Livelihood Cooperation Committee at our church, and promote them in a variety of other ways with civic groups and the Migiwa Home.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)

Church activities place their purpose in the role of “fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).” In 2023, Minami-Machida Church is a boat of salvation in which those who have been invited by the Lord will fulfill their calling and evangelize those who have been fished out. We, as fishermen belonging to that ship, aim to be a church that is the body of Jesus Christ in evangelism, education, and welfare activities that can fish out as many people as possible.

 

“Thankful Church” (Ephesians 5:20-21)

The word “礼拝” rei-hai means to “worship” with “repect,” as can be read from the Chinese characters. Believers gather at church on Sundays to “worship” God in humility.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36）

In 2023, Minami-Machida Church will focus on nurturing believers who can worship, serve, and practice the Christian life. We idealize a life of worshiping God, serving and devoting ourselves to our neighbors. The goal of true Christian pastoral care must be as stated in the following Scripture Words; “whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Colossians 1:28).

“Service” includes various tasks such as hosting of worship services, reception, preparing sermon signs, playing music, offering and accounting, cleaning, meal preparation, and so on. St. Paul says, “I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.” Service is a mission given to believers to express God’s glory. Minami-Machida Church will conduct Christian education (church school, prayer meeting, man’s group, women’s group, and youth group) to live as a holy offering. When engaged in the work of "service," church members should fulfill their roles with the eyes of their hearts straight toward God and with pride as Christians.

In particular, we believe that the donation activity in 2023 as a campaign to overcome COVID-19 is a church activity to remember the suffering of the cross in Jesus Christ and to give hope to find the glory of the resurrection. Through this activity, we aim to witness the love we share with and serve our neighbors both inside and outside the church. The believer's way of life is to look to God and give thanks to Him, no matter what the circumstances. It is not to turn our eyes away from the hard places of life. It is to accept the situation, trust God's work in it, and walk in gratitude for God's grace given to us.

 

“Praying Church” (Matthew 20:22)

We aim to create a church where prayer is as natural as breathing, as essential as oxygen, and in an atmosphere where people can confide in God as truthfully as if they were talking to someone they were comfortable with.

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)。

The church is a place of inspired worship and prayer to God, a place of all passion and goodness. Prayer is offered not only through Sunday services, but also through prayer meetings, family meetings, and various gatherings. In addition, we shall strive to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our spirits and hearts through prayer in our daily lives.

 

“A Church that Lives by Faith” (Matthew 8:13)

The Lord Jesus told Simon Peter, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17) and listed faith as a condition for this. The Church is animated by faith, grows by faith, and is completed by faith. Believers can give hope in all things in this world. Through our unwavering faith, we can give hope to the hurting at work, at home, and at school. The Church will carry out the welfare of neighborly love in faith by being concerned, open, and willing to understand and interact with its members and the community. It shall also be committed to increasing awareness of changes in the world and to the work of outreach.

 

“A Church that Lives by the Word” (1Chronicles 11:3)

Scripture says that “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).　 Simon Peter responded to the words of the Lord Jesus as follows. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).” The Church begins, above all, with the Word confessing faith in Jesus Christ. Only when we believe in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and confess Him as our Savior do we belong to Christ.

 

“The Church that is like the Lord Jesus”

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).”  The major direction of the Church is to learn from Christ to “serve and share.” A Christian is one who has been made a child of God. Only from Christ can we know that the ontology of Church and expression of faith is in serving and sharing. We always aim for a life of mutual service, sharing joy with each other, helping each other and maintaining a community bound by strong bonds of love. “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40).” 

The true freedom that Christ has given us is not the indulgence of the flesh, but the fruit of love in serving one another as the fruit of the Spirit. On this basis, we can share all good things in brotherly love and neighborly love. One of the least of my brothers is the neglected in society, the poor, the infant, the elderly, and those with disabilities. To serve such people, the Bible says, is to serve God. We aim to be a church that continually considers the issues of "how church members can serve each other" and "how we can serve society and what we should care for.”