Those Who are Sending

• Why is follow up so necessary for those who return to Japan?
• Is your friend ready to return?
• Very important! You are a key for returnees continuing in their new found faith!
• What JCFN can do for you.
• Returnee Testimony
• Resources
• Follow Up Application Form

Why is follow up so necessary for those who return to Japan?

You may not be able to imagine how hard it will be for your friend to live in a country where the Christian population is less than 1%, especially, for those who have never experienced Christian life in Japan.

“I thought the church would be the same because we are all Christian!But, it was totally different.Nobody talked to me and I felt so lonely.”

“I haven’t told my parents that I became a Christian.I know I should not hide my faith.But I also know how my parents would react.They would kick me out from the house if I ever said that.I need encouragement but I have no Christian friends around me.Honestly speaking, I am tired of keeping my faith any longer.”

“Since starting work I have only three days off a month.I am so exhausted.How can I go to church on Sunday?”

These are comments of returnees stemming from their experiences.In fact, it is said that about 80% of returnees who go back to Japan as new Christians or with a serious interest in Christ are no longer attending church or interested in Christianity after 4 years! Here are typical issues that the returnees will face…

1. Identity Crisis: Returnees already have lived in another culture while overseas.They may be somewhat confused as to which country they really belong.
   When they become Christians now their citizenship is in heaven! We need to help them see that they are first and foremost, a child of God, identifying themselves with Christ no matter which culture they live in.
2. Family pressure. 99%go back into traditional Japanese families which have Buddhist and Shinto roots and practices.They are often ostracized by family members.They need the family they had while living overseas!
3. Religious traditions. Many are asked to participate in religious practices such as giving offerings at the god shelf in their parent’s home or attending a Buddhist funeral where they are asked to worship.What should their response be?There are literature and resources (3.26d), written in Japanese to help them in these situations.
4. Work situation.So many return and succumb to the Japanese work ethic of staying late at night and working on weekends.They, consequently, have no time for church gatherings.They are also often pressured to join in on company parties which may not fit in with their new Christian grid of morality.
5. Marriage.Do you know that 80% of the Christian population in Japan is female?Many returnees are young singlegirls.Because of the pressures from their parents or society, they feel there is no choice but to marry a non-believer.It causes a serious obstacle for them in their faith.
6. Church/ Spiritual Life. There are less than 8,000 churches in Japan in spite of a total population of 130,000,000.That means each tiny church (average attendance about 30) has to reach out to 16,250 people in their area which is impossible.The laborers arefew. Also, the church services in Japan can be very different from services in America.If they have only experienced church in America with exuberance in worship and more participatory services in a larger group of people, they are often dejected upon returning to Japanese church services with few in number and very traditional liturgical services.We need to encourage returnees to be patient, humble, and respectful of the Japanese church.We can also work together with them in finding new expressions of church, such as smaller groups of returnee fellowships that minister more to their felt needs.

With these difficulties, the returnees often do not have Christian fellowship to support themand pray for them back in their hometowns!

Is your friend ready to return?

These are helpful questions to ask in order to determine whether or not your friend is ready to return.

• Do they have a basic understanding of the gospel and an assurance of salvation with awareness of sin and repentance?
• Have they ever read the Bible and prayed in Japanese? Do they have Japanese Christian friends?
• Did they ever share their interest in Christianity or their faith in Christ with their parents?
• Are they prepared to deal with religious traditions back in Japan?
• Have they ever learned the biblical perspective on working and committed themselves to be a witness to Japanese society?
• Have they learned the biblical principles about marriage?
• Have they ever visited a church in Japan when back home temporarily, or found one to attend after returning?
• Do they have Christian friends who can help them back in their hometown?
• Do they desire to find a good church in Japan as soon as possible?
• Have they ever been to a returnee preparation conference or seminar? 

Very important!You are a key for returnees continuing in their new found faith!

1. Pray for them, write to them, stay in touch!Find out what their prayer needs are!They will face various issues after returning, some of which, you would never have been through.When they look discouraged or stop going to church, seem to be losing their faith or interest toward Christianity, don’t be judgmental or give up on them, but be compassionate and encouraging!They need someone who can totally stand by them.Please help your returnees to lift up each issue to the Lord--their lifestyle, work, marriage, family issues, churches and so on.Also, don’t panic.Trust in the Lord, who “will work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)
   
2. Fellowship is important too!Probably the most important time in the returnees’ life is the first six months that they are back in Japan.This is the period of time when they need the most encouragement and support because they have not established their lives as Christians in Japan.They have to go through various reverse culture stresses and may be not have even one Christian friend who can pray for and support them.As time goes on, they will find a church to attend and Christian fellowship where they belong.But in the meantime, you may be the only Christian contact for them!

If possible, can you make a visit to see them?There are special occasions, such as a wedding or theirbaptism ceremony when you may want to make a trip all the way to Japan!Or you may go during summer vacation.Maybe they will host your family in their home.Even if you do not have time to visit them, Christmas cards and birthday cards are very effective to communicate that they are in your prayers.Keep in touch with them through e-mail!Encourage them to be in Christian fellowship and have them share with you what the fellowship is like and what they learning.

Your responsibility is not over when you send them off at the airport, but only when they find a Christian fellowship/community and have continued in it for a few years.Actually your work is never done, because the host family will always be a second family to the returnee!

What JCFN can do

1) In the US:
Regional meetings and conferences for equipping returnees.
Send your friends to Japanese churches, regional meetings, and Christian conferences for Japanese while they are in the US.JCFN provides various regional meetings and conferences cooperating with other international student ministry organizations to equip returnees for their re-entry.You could participate in these yourselves and learn much of Japanese culture and ways to minister to Japanese.

• Equipper Conference is a 5 day conference which is sponsored by JCFN and ISInc., and co-sponsored Navigators, Inter-Varsity and others.This is the place where many young Japanese Christians get training for their re-entry. www.equipper.org for more information.
• RJC “Reaching Japanese for Christ” is a weekend conference sponsored by different organizations who want to give tools and training to lay people engaged in ministry to the Japanese throughout the USA!Call Dick Durston 303.730.4226 for more information.

2) In Japan

• Introducing Follow Up Partners: Follow-up Partners in Japan are those people who have committed themselves to help follow-up new returnees and are often people who have lived overseas themselves.They have the best idea of what to do for struggling returnees.JCFN seeks to recruit and train such people.You, as an overseas friend, could develop a relationship with the partner who is following up “your “ returnee.Then, with a triangular approach to care, hopefully the new returnees will experience the love of God through many of His people.

• Returnee Fellowship and regional gatherings, Returnee Conferences; Besidesone-on- one or small group fellowship, there are many returnee gatherings that people can take advantage of.Encourage your returnee to attend some of these. For more information, please go to “Event and Meeting Info”(5.00)
  
• Introducing local churches; As mentioned above, Japanese local churches differ greatly, even from one another.With almost 8000 churches in Japan and many fellowship groups meeting, we can help find an appropriate place of worship for EACH returnee, especially returnee friendly churches called, JCFN Follow Up Partner Churches (4.13). Explain and emphasize to the returnee that we are not meant to live in isolation but we were created for fellowship!

Returnees Testimony

Understanding what other returnees have gone through will help prepare you for your own returnee!

THIS SECTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. . . SORRY!

Resources

1. Reach out to Japanese people with books

1. “Making friends with Japanese” ($3.00): Available from the JCFN office(ushq@jcfn.org). (+1.303.730.4226)
   
2. OMF Bilingual Study books ($3.00 each): Available from the JCFN office.(ushq@jcfn.org).
   • “Christianity at a Glance~ Basic Bible study from the New Testament”
   • “What Christians Believe ~ Bible Studies on the Apostles’ Creed”
   • “In the Beginning (Genesis)”
   • “Bible study for Beginners Part 1~Man, God, Sin, Salvation”
   • “Bible study for Beginners Part 2~The Life of Christ”
   • “Bible study for Beginners Part 3~Growing in the Knowledge of God”
   • “Faith in Action (Samuel & Ruth)”
     
3. For more resources: You can contact
   • Multi-Language Medi Homepage: www.multilanguage.com
     Email: mlminfo@multilanguage.com
     PO Box 301, Ephrata, PA17522USA
     Phone: +1.717.738.0582
     
     MLM has a resource catalog for reaching international friends. Included are books in Japanese, videos, Bible studies and Bibles. For more information, please contact MLM directly.
     
   • Christian Bookstore
     401 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA90013USA
     Phone: +1.213.626.1090
     
     CBC is a Japanese Christian bookstore.
     
   • RBC Ministries
     Homepage: http://www1.odn.ne.jp/rbcjapan/
     Email: japan@rbc.org
     
     They provide Bible study materials both in English and Japanese.
     
   • Videos in Japanese
     c/o Mrs. Yoshi Hanks
     Email: LHanks@mindspring.com
     Phone: +1.209.847.6713
     
     These are videos in Japanese and can be borrowed for evangelistic purposes or Christian meetings. All you pay is postage.
     
   • Jesus Video in Japanese
     http://www.jesusfilm.org/languages/ for more information

2. Preparing for re-entry

• “Returnee Workbook” Available from the JCFN office (mailto:ushq@jcfn.org). (+1.303.730.4226)
  
  You can take your returnee through this before they go back.In fact, if you did the study together, it would give you a much better idea of what they are facing when they return and would give you insight on how to pray for them!
  
• “Home Again: Preparing International Students to Serve Christ in Their Home Country” Available from the Navigators.
  
  Contact: The Navigators, P.O. Box 6000, Colorado Springs, CO 80934 (+1.719.598.1212)
  
• “Think Home” Available from International Students, Inc., P.O. Box C, Colorado Springs, CO 80901, +1.719.576.2700.
  
• “Preparing Your International Friend for Life Back Home.” Available from International Students, Inc., P.O. Box C, Colorado Springs, CO 80901, +1.719.576.2700.
  
• Role-Play/Re-entry Simulation Game: Customs and Culture: Available from VISSTA Publications, 1113 Velvet Leaf Dr., Madison, WI53719 +1.608.821.0912

Please apply for follow up for your friend! We need a paper work trail so we can help YOU follow-up your returnee and insure that they are in the best position, not to merely survive their re-entry back into Japanese life and culture, but flourish as a vibrant disciple of Jesus Christ.

Follow Up Application Form

Follow Up Application Form for Sending party

The following form will be used for information we would need in order to provide follow-up care for you or your friend. Please fill it out prayerfully and submit it to JCFN and we will contact you as soon as we can. If you want YOUR RETURNEE to fill out the forms, please click here (3.23).

(*=required)
1) Your Information:

Name: First *Last *
Street:
City: State/Prefecture:
ZIP/Postal Code: Country:
Telephone: *Fax:
E-mail: *

Your relationship with your friend:

How do you know him/her?
very well well so so not very much

Are you willing to continually follow up the person who is moving/ returning?
Yes No
For those who are returning, JCFN will contact you and instruct you in the next stepyou can take.

For those who say No,

Do you recommend someone who can follow up on the person?
Yes No

If Yes,

The person’s name:
Contact info:
Phone number:
E-mail:

For those who recommend another person, we will contact the person soon in order to get more information.

2) Information of the person who is moving/ Returning:

Name: First *Last *
Sex: Male Female
Age:
Date of Moving/Returning (mm/dd/yy):

3) Current Address (before moving/returning)

Street:
City: State/Prefecture:
ZIP/Postal Code: Country:
Telephone: Fax:
E-mail:

4) New Location (after moving/returning)

Same as above

Street:
City: * State/Prefecture: *
ZIP/Postal Code: Country:
Telephone: Fax:
E-mail: *

5) What kind of information would your friend like to receive? (Please click as much as it applies.)

Follow Up Partner (personal contact)
Regional returnee fellowship
Church information

Do you have any specific requests?It would be appreciated if you explain their church background (e.g. denomination) 

Devotional guide and Bible messages through e-mail.
Devotion book “Our Daily Bread” published by RBC ministries in Japanese.
Other (please specify):

6) Spiritual/ Re-entry preparation information

Is the returnee a Christian? Yes No

If so,

When did he/she accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior? (mo/yr)
Where?State/ Prefecture Country:

Is the returnee baptized? Yes No

If so, when? (mo/yr)
Where?State/ Prefecture Country:
Name of the church:
Denomination:  

Spiritual Growth: How do you evaluate your/ or your friend’s spiritual growth? (Please click as many as it applies.)

1) If the person is not a believer yet.

No interest in Christianity at all.
Positive attitude towards Christianity.
Awareness of the fundamentals of the Gospel. (God, Sin, Christ, Salvation)
Recognition of personal problem in relation to God
Decision to act.

Comments and thoughts

2) If the person is a believer.

Assurance of salvation.
Regularly attending church.
Growth in attending regular Bible study or small group.
Recognition and utilization of spiritual gifts and service.
Effective outreach to others.

Comments and thoughts

Returnee Preparation: How do you evaluate your friend’s re-entry preparation? (This is only for those who are returning to Japan.Please click as many asapply

Identity: awareness of identity change and anticipation and preparation for reverse culture- shock.
Family: have already talked with family regarding his/her faith.
Religious tradition: learn and prepare how to deal with religious traditions without dishonoring his/her family.
Work/Career: learned the Biblical perspective on work/careers and have balance between work and ministry.
Marriage: have had a basic understanding of the Biblical perspective toward marriage.
Church: have understood and experienced Japanese church and it’s cultural factors.
Fellowship: have already found a Christian friend/ supporting group back in Japan.
Training: have been to are-entry preparation conference or seminar.

Comments and thoughts

Please feel free to write any concerns or desires regarding this upcoming move.

*JCFN will contact you shortly.Thank you for your cooperation.