“You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God”, the apostle Paul wrote of the Thessalonians.  God is still doing that in Japan.

A struggle that Japanese Christians have is getting rid of idols that they used to worship.  Takuji & Hiroko Yamazaki are planting a church in Okazaki and ministering to a church in Toyohashi.  The Yamazakis were thrilled that Mr. O asked Takuji to assist in burning his Buddhist idols, declaring that he is now only worshiping the true God.  Takuji went to the Christian cemetery with Mr. O, to burn the idol the following day.  Takuji said, “It was a blessing to destroy the idol there.”  (Photo of Takuji Yamazaki [R] with Mr. O at the idol burning.)