Chris & Leanne August 2022 Prayer Requests

*Please be in prayer for the summer camps our church is a part of this year. Our three oldest kids will be attending with some of their non-Christian friends. Please pray for these camps, because it allows time for deepening of relationships and a chance to hear the gospel clearly preached. Being able to step away from normal everyday life, allows for many barriers to be removed to hear and dwell on God’s Word.

*The Lord has been working on the hearts of some of our close friends. May the Lord continue to open their hearts to the gospel.

*Two ladies have begun a Bible study with our church planting pastor. Some of you may remember them, since they came to Cleveland to stay with us for a week during our time in America. A couple of Parkside families poured love into them while they were in Cleveland. And now they are seeking the Lord in a Bible study. They are not yet believing in the promise, but we seek the Lord for his moving in their lives.

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Chris & Leanne July 2022 Prayer Requests

* Now that summer has arrived, we have more opportunities to gather. Either at the park & BBQs with friends. Or in larger outdoor events or summer camps. God, please open our eyes to the divine appointments you have given us. 

* During summer camp we will have around 15 kids coming who are not Christians. These chances to step away from regular life to be able to hear and dwell on the gospel are so crucial in their journey. May the Lord bless these times. Giving the children hearts and ears to hear. And a willingness to openly discuss their thoughts with the different camp leaders.

* May camp not be the only chance we have this summer to share Christ’s love with the people of our community. May the Holy Spirit give us and our church family the words to say when the moment comes.

Chris & Leanne June 2022 Prayer Requests

* In the past, we have asked for prayer for a mother and her son. The son has a genetic disorder which needed a blood transplant and treatment. We thank the Lord that his blood count has recently come back at only 10% bad blood. He needs to make it to 0% bad blood before he can go back to school. Please pray the Lord will bring about the last little bit of healing. His mother also completed her chemotherapy and is doing better.

They have really been through the ringer with the different health issues. We praise the Lord that they have decided to come to church the last couple weeks. May the Holy Spirit lead in conversations to be able to more fully share the fullness of God’s love with them.

* Also, be in prayer for Chris as he begins to work at networking different churches and missions in the Tohoku area. One of the things which will help the church in Japan moving forward is the unity of the church. Coming around the pastors for mutual support and for cooperation.

Chris & Leanne May 2022 Prayer Requests

Spring is in full swing. This time of year is full of new beginnings and this year is no exception. Since the pandemic began, the borders of Japan have been closed to new residents-which means we have had new missionaries waiting to come and join the work in the field.

Recently, Japan has reopened their borders and now we have 9 new missionaries arriving. It has been hectic, but we are so blessed by the Lord to have these brothers and sisters here now. Some of whom have been waiting for over a year with 100% of their support raised. Please pray the Lord will help us to find the neighborhoods and communities he desires our new coworkers to live and minister. Pray for the new ministry partnerships to be blessed. And for language to come easily to them as they begin learning Japanese.

We thank and praise the Lord for sending more harvesters into the fields. May he send more still.

Chris & Leanne April 2022 Prayer Requests

* During the month of March in Japan, people are preparing for upcoming changes in their lives. April is a time when many people change jobs and start the new school year. With this comes some goodbyes and preparations for new beginnings. Please pray the Lord will give wisdom and opportunities for Chris and Leanne to share Christ’s love and good news with their neighbors and friends during this time.

* Pray also for wisdom for the church leadership as they plan a new year of ministry in Shiogama and Shichigahama.

Chris & Leanne March 2022 Prayer Requests

* Praise God that Chris was able to preach for the first time (in Japanese) at our “mother” church. It was a blessing to be able to share God’s word with the congregation in that way. Please pray the Lord continues to grow Chris’ language ability. We thank the Lord for how he has helped us in language learning to this point.

* During March, a lot of people are preparing for upcoming changes in their lives. April is a time when people changes jobs and start new school years. With this comes some goodbyes and preparations for new beginnings. Please pray the Lord will give wisdom and opportunities to share Christ’s love and good news with our neighbors and friends during this time.

* Pray also for wisdom for the church leadership as we plan a new year of ministry in Shiogama and Shichigahama.

Chris & Leanne February 2022 Prayer Requests

* Please continue to pray for our church plant in Shichigahama. We are praying about and looking for ways to get into the lives of the people and community of Shichigahama. There are so many who have never heard the good news of the gospel. But we need to find points of connection with those around us to be able to share. Please pray for these opportunities.

* Also, pray for us as a family as we get into the rhythm of ministry in the year 2022.

Chris & Leanne January 2022 Prayer Requests

Thank you for all your prayers throughout the holiday season. Interest in Christmas has been growing over the years among our Japanese friends. We praise God for the six families who came to Sunday worship for the first time. For four of the families it was their first time ever entering a church for any reason. The message was focused in on the angels sharing the good news with the shepherds. In the same way God specifically chose to whom the angels would announce Jesus’ birth. We know God chose for these families to hear the announcement as well. We pray the Holy Spirit will use the seeds spread during that time to take root in their hearts.

Chris & Leanne December 2021 Prayer Requests

Dear Parkside family,

Thank you always for faithfully praying for us and those God has given us to serve.

This month we ask that you join us in fervently lifting up our friend’s son. This special little boy has a genetic blood disorder that requires him to have a blood transplant before age five. He finished the chemotherapy and received the transplant in the middle of November. He will need to be in isolation for about a month, remain in the hospital for about 4 months, and then stay quarantined at home for a year. Please pray for God’s healing and care for this little boy (4years old); that his body would accept the healthy blood and begin producing this healthy blood quickly. Please pray for his 7 year old brother who cannot be with his mom and brother for this extended amount of time. Please pray for God to give strength to our friend as she cares for her younger son and is away from her older son. Please also pray specifically that God would get the glory in their eyes and the Lord would to draw this family to himself. Last year around this time, God answered our prayers to help older brother speak. We pray God shows them his power and love at this time too.

We also ask for prayer for wisdom in how to care for the many kids who have stopped attending school and are shutting themselves in from society. We are seeing this more and more, even amongst our close friends and in our church. Japanese parents cannot force their children to attend school because of the history of severe bullying. Our church is praying how to minister to these kids and their concerned parents.

Please also pray for the many opportunities the Christmas season brings to talk about Christ. May we, our teammates and our Japanese Christian brothers and sisters be bold in sharing the reason for celebrating this season.

Chris & Leanne

Chris & Leanne November 2021 Prayer Requests

* We thank God for the friends who have been attending church and/or smaller Bible studies. We pray the Lord will open their hearts to the gospel. And that they would come to trust Jesus to be the Lord of their life.

* Please pray for the different Thanksgiving gatherings we will be having this month. Yes Thanksgiving day is an American holiday & people here enjoy learning about American culture. But it is also an important time to point our friends towards God with thankful hearts. To share how all good things come from above. We are excited for these opportunities to share of God’s provision of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.