I had the opportunity to participate as a staff member in WIT24! The theme this time was “The Narrow Gate.” Our leader, Esther (Kamura), received a vision from God, which led to this theme. Each of the staff members read Matthew 7:13-14 and shared what they received from God during each session, leading to teachings based on those insights. Although each of us focused on different aspects, the flow of the sessions began with understanding what the narrow gate is and smoothly concluded with Jesus, who is the gate.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
What was particularly gracious for me was the deep learning about the “narrow gate.” I explored who this passage was written for, the historical background, and its biblical meaning. We all deeply read the Bible, were touched by the Holy Spirit, studied with commentaries, asked questions to pastors, and listened to messages. Through staff meetings, I received feedback and gradually solidified the points I would discuss.
As the content of the teachings was nearly finalized, and the slides were completed, we practiced among teaching staff as if it were the actual presentation. Even though I had planned to stick to my prepared points, there were moments when new thoughts popped into my head while speaking, and I shared them. However, during the feedback session, I was told that while those thoughts were biblically accurate, they sometimes strayed from the main point. I realized that the most important thing is to clearly convey the key points to the audience. I learned that saying what comes to mind spontaneously might cause me to lose focus, making the preparation period a valuable learning experience.
At the end of each meeting, Setchan (Shimizu) often said, “Make sure you come back! (laughs),” meaning that as we study the Bible deeply, we can become so engrossed in it that we might lose track of time and struggle to come back out. This actually happened a few times, and while it’s something to do during personal time, it was also a lesson in managing time within the limited period we had (laughs).
After the preparation period, the day of WIT finally arrived! And right from the first day, the schedule changed suddenly! (laughs) We unexpectedly participated in a prayer meeting led by Pr. Takashi Nagasawa, where we encountered the presence of the Lord. We learned about the presence of God through the story of Uzzah, understanding that His presence is equivalent to the Lord’s face. It was a blessing to seek the Lord’s presence together with the people from LA!
WIT, EC, and other camps might be similar in that we prepare the program months in advance, and the schedule is usually packed from the first day to the last. When the schedule changed significantly from day one this time, Setchan said, “Of course, God has a plan within our preparation, but He also has a plan for this very moment. When we dedicate everything we’ve prepared to God, He will accomplish what He wants to accomplish!” I wholeheartedly agreed!
Our plans < God’s plan
I learned to surrender to the Spirit while staying within God’s order!
This time, the accommodation was an AirB&B, creating a very homey camp atmosphere. For four days, we cooked together, read the Bible, learned, worshipped, prayed, and encouraged one another. During the ministry introduction, everyone shared how they are using their gifts in the different places where they’ve been sent. Seeing that everyone faces struggles, challenges, joys, and testimonies, and how they serve God fervently was very encouraging.
It was a great blessing that individuals from different places, churches, and generations could gather in one place to study the Word together. I never expected to have freshly caught tuna, something I’ve never even had in Hokkaido, but I’m grateful! (laughs)
During the final testimony session, we shared what God had spoken to us over the past four days. It was touching to see how each person was spoken to and touched by God in various ways. Although everyone has now returned to the places where they’ve been sent, I pray that they will continue to choose the narrow gate, growing in faith and being guided by the Holy Spirit, never forgetting the grace received at WIT!
I sincerely thank everyone who prayed for and contributed to WIT. Thank you to Yuko-san, who provided lodging and cooked meals, Mao-san, who made the delicious tofu, Hanae-chan, who brought us snacks, and the members of Wintersburg Church who provided the tuna. I am grateful to so many people! I also thank Setchan, Kaori-chan (Reddington, JCFN associate staff), our leader Esther, Kacchan (Inatomi), Taiki-kun (Matsumoto), and Saki-chan (Nishikori) for serving together as a team over the past few months!
I look forward to hearing testimonies of how God transforms the next participants as this wonderful JCFN ministry continues!
Harmony
