Rosanne Jones in Japan, Ruth Treneer in London
Rosanne Jones has been working in Japan and is currently in England so we caught up with her to ask her what she’s doing now and what she’s been doing in Japan…
What are you doing now?
I’m currently on home assignment with OMF from Japan for 12 months. I’ve been based in Oxford for the past 6 months and now I’ve moved to London. Home assignment is an important time in my work for resting, reporting back to churches and people who support me about what’s been happening and seeking to strengthen those relationships, and also re-equipping myself for my work in Japan
What do you do in Japan?
I’m a staff worker with KGK (that’s part of IFES and the Japanese equivalent of UCCF). I work in West Tokyo with 7 CU’s and on a number of other campuses where there’s only one Christian. I work in a team of 7 people and we have contact with about 400 students. Japan has about three million students, with about half of them living in greater Tokyo (an area like London and the South East) were there are about 400 universities. Between the team we have contact with about one quarter of these campuses, with three-quarters still being unreached. With these CU’s my job is mainly one of training and supporting the leaders.
In what ways do you train the leaders?
Most CU’s are very small so they might have one, or maybe two, leaders. Initially I meet with the leaders and go through 2 Timothy with them looking at what leadership involves. Then I might do a one-to-one Bible study with some of them. We also have a training session for leaders (which is like a short houseparty).
How do Japanese students go about telling their friends about Jesus and what sorts of pressures are they confronted with?
There are a number of events which are good evangelistic opportunities. In November a day is set aside when all the universities will put on events. Each society in the university will do something and that’s often a good opportunity for Christians. Many of them run coffee bars where people give their testimonies. In the biggest CU I’m involved in a number of the girls are doing one-to-one Bible studies with people and one guy, with a flat near the campus, organises regular curry nights! Christmas also provides some opportunities to talk to non-Christians about Jesus. Last year we were able to organise an event with On top of this work, one of our main focuses for evangelism is a five day camp in August. It’s similar to camps here with games, sports, talks, group Bible studies and seminars. About one-third of the people who attend are non-Christians.
However, many pressures make evangelism hard. One of the main ones is time – most students will commute for an hour to an hour and a half to get into college because it’s cheaper than living near campus and many of them will hold a part time job. There seems to be little time or space for relationships. Christians are often intimidated and so don’t make the huge effort that’s needed to make real friends. Japanese culture says that you don’t interfere with others and that you don’t hold opinions of your own. People just don’t know how to relate or communicate. The Christian students really need to get beyond this and start having confidence in the gospel and themselves.
Another major problem is the huge desire to succeed, acquire and conform. This materialism makes Japan an easy place to live on the surface but the cost of giving up on the gospel and pursuing personal gain is easy to see. This makes it very hard for Christians to stay focussed and to keep trusting God.Thanks for your time Rosanne.
What can we be praying for you and your work?
Rosanne Jones in Japan, Ruth Treneer in London, Top
Ruth Treneer, IFES co-ordinator for London, writes about her work with international students in this country
Freshers fair ended. I made my way out of the revolving doors of Westminster University Campus, onto Regents Street surrounded by huge numbers of students from all corners of the globe. I had stood for the last few hours patiently praying and handing out invitations to our international coffee bar thankful for the 3 or 4 opportunities to talk with individuals. As I left I was struck again by the challenge of reaching international students in London with the love of Jesus.
Statistics tell us that over one-quarter of a million international students study in London each year, and many more throughout the rest of the UK. Often they are vulnerable, lonely, needing affirmation and friendship. Not only do they struggle with the practicalities of British life: the cold, the food, public transport, but also the emotional upheaval of leaving securities of family life to find themselves alone here. What a challenge for me and all of us to welcome internationals and to show them the love of Jesus.
Please pray for all those who are arriving from around the world in our universities throughout the UK this Autumn. Pray that they would be welcomed and build good relationships with British students but more importantly that many would come to find the love and presence of Jesus and that others would grown in that love.