Ryutoku Ishinaga (Michigan)
I had heard about CC here and there before, but I never quite took that first step to join. This time, though, when I learned that Pastor Umakoshi would be invited as the main speaker, I felt a strong prompting—“As a member of Hikari City Church (Michigan), I really shouldn’t miss this!”—and decided to attend.
I had heard from a friend who attended a few years ago that “the schedule is packed from morning to night,” so I went in feeling a little nervous and bracing myself. At the same time, I was just as excited. Once I arrived, I saw many familiar faces already there, and even someone like me—who tends to be shy—was able to relax and feel at ease right away.
The theme of this year’s messages and small groups was, “How do we live as disciples of Jesus Christ?” As Christians, there are times when we are called to carry burdens. At times, we may be asked to make sacrifices, to lay down our own desires, and perhaps even face persecution. And yet, I was reminded once again that we are called to carry those burdens with joy and continue walking in following Jesus Christ. All of it is for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s easy to say these things, but in reality, we are weak, and living this out in our daily lives is not always simple.
Even so, through CC, I had the opportunity to meet and connect with brothers and sisters who came from various places, especially across the Midwest. As we spent time together and shared words of encouragement, I was deeply inspired and filled with renewed energy. I truly hope to cherish the connections we were given here and look forward to seeing everyone again.
Above all, I give heartfelt thanks to God for providing such a wonderful and grace-filled opportunity.
