/ ^ / f

sa^a QRrisiian dtCission, Jine.

(of Jlmorica)
(Not-for-Profit Corporation)
MISSIONARIES (Ssa/la ^iBlo Sominary forwarding agents
George &Ethel Beckman Roger &Beryl Johnson
Jenann Beckman 3320 Westgate Parkway
8'40 Kamizono-cho Rockford, Illinois 6110 3
l^ishinomiya 622, Japan 1-815-399-3690
0798-71-7170
October 18, 1986
Dear Christian Friends:
As-_ 19lS6_ draws to aclose we are-mlndful-of allof-you who-have upheld
us this past year, especially in your prayers. The Lord has blessed
us in countless ways. He has seen us through some difficult times as
well as times of great rejoicing. In all of these we have felt His
love and care.
c
January 6, Ethel went home with Ruth to help her catch up on some
things before she began teaching the children after the holiday vaca
tion. They arranged all of the children's books so they could find the
one they wanted to read by themselves.
January 7, Classes began at the seminary. We were saddened during that
term when Mr. Henzan had to drop out because of his health. At the end
of the term Mr. Tokuda also had to quit for a time to find a job to
support his family.
March 4, Ethel had an operation for a bunion and had to wear a cast
for eight weeks. The combination of fatigue trying to keep up all of
her work with the cast and the side effects of a medicine for a fungus
on her fingers caused her to have hepatitis. After one day of teaching
in the seminary she was hospitalized for five weeks, then after two
more months of partial rest at home she was fully recovered.
C April 15, We rejoiced to have three new students enroll in the new
school year: Mr. Nishiyama from Isehara, Miss Iwaasa from Tokyo, and
HTss Ohmura from Kyushu. Miss Ohmura stayed with us during summer
vacation to study and was also a great help to Ethel and Jenann.
July 13, Misses Seiko Miyake and Izumi Tabata were baptized into
Christ in a river a short distance from our house.
August 5-7, The annual convention of the missionaries was held in the
Osaka area, with the theme "The Glory of God". It was a great of
fellowship, encouragement and challenge. This was followed by the All
Japan Convention of the Churches of Christ from August 7-9. The mes
sages were some of the best we have heard.
August 26-28, Daily Vacation Bible School here with a total of 30
children. Teachers were Jenann, Misses Ohmura and Iwaasa and Mr.
Fujimoto.
September 9-11 The beginning of Ethel's classes after summer vacation
and clean-up at the Seminary in preparation for the new school term
which began September 15.
October 29, Kobe Women's Luncheon, a semi-annual event to try to reach
some women who may not attend a church to hear the Gospel for th^
first time. Ethel is a member of the planning committee. This time
there were 185 women present.
November 2-3, Tanemaki Kai (preaching and praise convention) at the
seminary. The theme was "I will build my church" and was well deve
loped by each of the speakers. There were more people who came to stay
overnight than we have ever had.
April 21,1987 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first class taught
in Osaka Bible Seminary with Mr. Harold Cole as teacher. Special
events are being planned for that day and at the Tanemaki Kai in
November. In time for these events we are hoping to have all of the
grounds and buildings repaired and redecorated. Pray that we may have
more new students to begin this next fifty years of training Christian
evangelists. One fine young man has been planning to come as soon as
he has graduated from a liberal arts college next March.
We think of you often with deep gratitude and prayer that you may be
jiohly blessed in your service for our LORD throughout this new year.
For Christ in Japan,
George & Ethel