HICKS’ PRAYER REQUESTS for January 2007

Ministry Needs:

On January 13^th, Mari and I have been invited to join the International VIP Club Leadership meeting. As the VIP ministry is greatly expanding their focus of ministry, God’s wisdom is necessary to carry out the growing outreach opportunities. The VIP business men’s outreach began in 1993 and for the first 7 years, from 1993 to 2000, the focus was to target the area of Tokyo. The second 7 years, 2000 to 2007, was spent targeting the entire area of Japan. The goal and focus of the third 7 years, from 2007 to 2014 is to spread the Gospel throughout the whole world from Japan. Please pray that countless numbers of souls will be won into God’s Kingdom.

Thank you for lifting up in prayer our Kawagoe Church dedication ceremony on January 14^th for the new “stained glass” windows that adorn our sanctuary. When the question was asked what we could do to enhance our worship atmosphere, Mari and I suggested stained glass windows on each side of the pulpit. A missionary named Janet Brown donated her time, energy and talents to cut and soldier the glass, Mari did the design, and Neal made the frames out of oak. I also placed flood lights outside the windows to accent them at night.

Thank you for lifting up the project we are working on now.  In light of our upcoming furlough this year, beginning in September, we are putting together a DVD of our combined ministry outreaches.  We plan to complete this project and put this in the hands of everyone one of our supporting churches and personal supporters.

Please also pray for us as we are working to see the translation of the Mission Society’s “Global Outreach Seminar” put into Japanese from English. This exciting ministry tool is being used and promoted by the Mission Society in several churches stateside, and is revitalizing and involving congregations in renewing their commitment to local, national, and international missions. Our goal is to present this seminar to national Japanese pastors and their churches, to see the church in Japan grow in numbers and in their involvement of the Great Commission. Mari and I see this as a major new ministry that God is preparing us to step into. Our national staff member James Oshiro is working together with us to translate it and then to take it to Japanese leaders.   

This year in September 2007, Mari and I will be returning stateside for our home assignment furlough time. We have contacted all of our supporting churches and are waiting for their written response as to when would be the best time for our ministry visit. We need prayer for this major undertaking to come together, so as to maximize our time back home.

In this regard, we have a little over 40 churches in 17 states to visit.  We have not visited several of these churches in over four years, so we are overdue for a ministry visit. We also are sensing some tension in that some of our large supporting churches, which we have visited in the past two years or so, are wanting (expect) us to visit again when we return later this year.  Yet, many of our smaller supporting churches who have stood faithfully by, are also waiting for us to come and see them.  Our time stateside will be from the beginning of September into the first week of December, and then from January of 2008 into April or perhaps May.  Please pray for God's wisdom and timing to be revealed. 

In addition to visiting our present supporting churches, we are in ‘real need’ of adding NEW supporting churches to our support base family.  We have two goals we must realize: one is to offset the support that Mari presently receives as a mission credit rebate by working here on the field in the Academic Office of the Christian Academy In Japan.  As the Lord leads and provides, Mari will step out of that job either totally, or on a part time basis, and as a result there will be an immediate drop in our ministry funding.  As we are only a "two person" team representing the total work of the Mission Society in Japan, having Mari work a full time job in addition to the ministries we conduct, places a constant and very heavy load on Mari's shoulders. We will need approximately $2,500 a month of new support to offset what Mari makes, so she can join me (Neal) for the ongoing work and new ministry opportunities that are on the horizon. 

Secondly, we have not managed to achieve a "healthy account" as mandated mission-wide by the Mission Society Board of Directors.  To keep the Japan field and ministry healthy, we must see "cash gifts" come into our account, over and above the normal monthly requirements, and to achieve a level of approximately $20,000.  This requirement and need also must be factored into our next home assignment furlough time. Thank you for lifting these important needs up to the Lord who is more than able to "supply all our need."  (Phil. 4:19)

PERSONAL & FAMILY NEEDS:

Our oldest son Neal has graduated from college, and is now in Philadelphia going through Microsoft Certification Training. He plans to complete his training and testing and be certified by this coming spring. His prayer request is to locate a good company where he can work, using both his English and Japanese language and computer skills, either in the States or in Japan… he says he prefers Japan.

Also, our youngest son Phillip, who graduated from High School at the Christian Academy in 2004, is still here at home and working part time jobs.  We are praying his interest in going to college will be rekindled. Financially, both our sons need help for their ongoing schooling and training.

Thank you for praying for Mari as she has just returned to work at the Christian Academy. Please continue to pray for her strength and health, as so many students and teachers have been sick, and they all come to Mari before going to the school nurse, or going home. Please also pray Mari will finish out the school year with good vigor before our return stateside.

Thank you for praying for me (Neal) that I will find a good pattern for exercise, both spiritually and physically, that I will draw closer to the Lord in prayer and in daily devotions, and be a ready instrument in His hands for witnessing the Good News to the Japanese.