“Kaika” has been announced in Fukuoka! For those like me who didn’t know that Japanese word until today, kaika means “blooming”, and the meteorological agency has declared that the cherry blossom season has officially started in Fukuoka. And although it has also come with some rain to delay the hanami season, it has reminded me of one of my journals from the end of last year that I shared before Christmas.

(Zechariah 10:1 NLT) Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.

There is rain at the start of Spring that brings beauty and fruitfulness for the rest of the season, and God doesn’t want us to just assume it’s coming – He wants us to ask for it! In Fukuoka, I’m looking forward to more in-person services again not just to see people already in our church, but to see the 99% of Japan that isn’t Christian hear the good news of Jesus and have a chance to become part of the church family. So how can we respond to kaika?

1. Pray. Pray for God’s blessing on all our services and outreaches (in-person and online). Pray that God will make them fruitful in sharing the gospel and building the church.

2. Invite. The 99% aren’t going to join one of our services just because it is on, they need to be invited! There are many great stories from people that are part of our church family now because they were invited to church over the last 8 years. So be part of someone else’s story by inviting them to church, Community Connect Groups, and Language Exchange+Alpha.

3. Serve. We love to “serve the Lord with gladness” in Lifehouse, we don’t just want to receive, we want to give too. A great way to see how you can serve starts with the Grow Course.

What’s coming up?

3/20 – 11am Zoom Service. See and talk to some of the church family, worship and watch the message together online. Zoom opens 10:45am.
Join Zoom Meetingズーム参加リンク
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/986515994?pwd=eFMremRjTFhmZlJSdnBMVVlMbTVpQT09
Meeting ID: 986 515 994
Password: 406523

3/27 – 11am In-person Service + Baby Dedications. We’ll be in Tenjin Chikumokubiru, sign up here: http://lifehou.se/fkainperson

4/3 – 11am In-person Service. Week 1 of our Easter series, bring your own communion as we focus on the last supper.

4/17 – 11am In-person Service, Easter Sunday.

4/24 – 11am In-person Service, celebrating 8 years since Lifehouse Fukuoka was planted!

All online services are streaming as usual every Sunday.
https://mylifehouse.com/fukuoka/services/#online

Hope you can enjoy the 3 day weekend!

Fletcher & Yuumi