new church life: jan uary / february 201 4
and wanted to become a General Church member with his wife. A few years
later he started a correspondence course with the Theological School.
The year-end letter notes, “He and his wife loved to do charity work and
wanted to help the poorest area children in China get a good education. They
took on the work of caring for and educating 17 junior high school students in
their home, including weekend classes on New Church teachings. They took
no salary. This kind of charity was astounding to the Chinese people.”
Mr. Jin visited in April and baptized 13 of the students into the New
Church. He asked the children what they want to be when they grow up.
“These days, most Chinese children would say they want a luxurious life.
But seven of them said they want to be teachers.” They said they want to go
back to their home towns “and start a school, like Timothy did.”
Timothy’s plan this year is to bring in another 20 children. Last year the
Asian Mission supported his work with $12,000, but after the baptisms he
asked: “Please don’t support this mission monetarily. We have modest support
from the Chinese here. We would rather have you support us by translating the
Heavenly Doctrines into Chinese.”
They are translating True Christian Religion, Heaven and Hell, Arcana
Coelestia, Divine Providence and Light in My Darkness.
Mr. Jin visited a book store in a Buddhist temple in China, supported by
donors and volunteers, where all books, education and even lodging are free.
Timothy’s church decided to translate 2,000 copies of Heaven and Hell and
distribute them to this book store. Mr. Jin says, “We look forward to seeing
what the result may be.”
Korea
In the Korean New Church Theological School, five students will graduate this
spring. Three will be ministers and two will be missionaries (lay leaders) who
will serve in new New Church groups.
This past year Koreans translated and published The Four Doctrines. This
work was supported by the Asplundh Foundation. They are working on Divine
Providence, Apocalypse Explained, Apocalypse Revealed and Arcana Coelestia.
Japan
The Church in Japan is engaged in outreach efforts and translation. The Rev.
Shiro Matsumo served in Tokyo, then moved north to Hokkaido, and serves
other areas as well. He is dedicating himself wholeheartedly to helping the
New Church grow in Japan.
The Rev. Jiro Kumazawa is serving the Tokyo group. These is also a Kyoto
group growing without a minister. Thankfully, Japan will get an additional
minister this year.
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