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  • How Not to Teach Middle School

    woman hiking in foggy mountains

    Throughout the week, I share the story about my faith journey A LOT. As a mobilizer with SIM, I’m one of the first conversations people have with us as they seek to discern God’s calling for them in His kingdom work around the world. An important part of every conversation is getting to share my journey and inviting the person on the call to share theirs.

    A favorite line I like to share in my story is “If you don’t have a firm sense of your identity in Christ, and you don’t have a firm sense of His calling on your life, then you probably shouldn’t try to teach middle school English!”

  • New, But Not: Our Journey to Japan

    Linda, Kohei, and kids stand in front of Ippo Ippo group building

    By Linda Koyama

    Hi, I’m Linda. Nice to meet you. I’m currently writing from Yamagata, Japan, where my family is partnering with a local church. You’ve probably never heard of Yamagata. Don’t worry, neither did I until it was presented as one of the potential prefectures we’d be serving in. 

    So where exactly is Yamagata? Think north of Tokyo about 200 miles (300 kilometers), or a 4 1/2 hour drive by car. It’s in the southern part of the Tohoku region, closer to the Japan Sea side (rather than the Pacific Ocean side). It’s definitely not one of Japan’s hot tourist spots, but this region is known for its ski slopes, onsens, and delicious fruits.

  • It's a Different World...

    Tia stands in front of a Japanese shrine

    By Tia Blassingame

    Okay, if you look like me you probably started singing that song title and know exactly where I got it from. Perfect, because it has been playing in my head all week! This is truly a different world. Right now, I am at a homestay with my onēsan (pronounced ohnay-sahn) and her family. That term right there is already different vocabulary for you I’m assuming. Onēsan is “older sister” and a “homestay” is when you stay overnight (or more than one night) with a family. In basic “Tia terms” (that’s me), I’m at a sleepover with my sis and her fam. Let me backtrack a bit...

  • Living a "Relevant Life"

    a cup of coffee and the bible open to psalms

    Rethinking how God's Word is "relevant" to our lives and ministries

    By Kent Muhling

    I sometimes pray Psalm 143:8 at the beginning of my morning devotions. It reads, 

    “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, 
    for in you I trust.
    Make me know the way I should go, 
    for to you I lift up my soul.” 

  • Urbana '22

    Urbana '09 logo

    From Urbana to Japan!

    Did you go to Urbana '22? Let's reconnect...

    Urbana is a huge student missions conference sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship...

  • Learning to Be Good News

    Brown2

    Reflections on 10th Anniversary of Japan’s Triple Disaster

    By Kent Muhling

    As the ten-year commemoration of the March 11 disaster approaches, many of us think back to our experience of that day and the days that followed. I am reminded of some of the lessons I learned then, lessons that continue to shape our ministry today.

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