responded

::: language lessons continue to lead to spiritual receptivity, and, in today's case, christian salvation...

• in my morning session, mrs. murakami responded positively to my invitation to attend a ministry outreach event scheduled for early august at our colleague's church...the event is a cooking class designed to introduce japanese women to the aroma of a community of christ-lovers...at this point, we view her willingness to spend time outside of class with us as an indication of her general interest in furthering our friendship...

• in my afternoon session, my language tutor -- a young man with a warm smile and sharp business mind -- responded positively and wholeheartedly to my invitation to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior...in a quiet corner of a lively starbucks in downtown kobe, God brought to bear weeks of planting seeds of the gospel...excitedly, we immediately walked a half-mile to a christian book store, talking along the way about some basic aspects of christian living...what sheer joy to buy this believer his first bible!...baptism, discipleship, maturity in faith and good works, the fruits of which are cast against the truth-canvas of God's redemptive plan for all creation...an exciting trajectory certainly lies in store for him, his family, and our church...as you join me and claire in praising God for calling this young man "out of darkness and into his marvelous light" (1 peter 2:9), please take a moment to thank God for the full measure of spiritual blessings you have in christ (ephesians 1:3-14)!

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