THE REGULAR—ONCE-EVERY-8-YEARS—LINSCOTT NEWS

Did you know that some cicadas in eastern North America remain underground for up to 17-years? At least we can boast that we’re better than that, with a mere 8 year prayer-letter cycle. Currently, we don’t even have the consistency of the Japanese cicada that comes on time, every July.
However, things are about to change! We are setting our sights high and planning to metamorphose into  monthly communication superstars—as we break with our long tradition of inconsistency and sporadic communications—to enter a new exciting season of healthy living, by consuming “green vegetables & legumes” of the creativity diet to keep us regular.

A CONFESSION, REBUKE, and REPENTANCE

The short:

CONFESSION: We need to raise up financial partners – so, sensing God’s leading for this new direction (and fear of having to eat only cup noodles for the rest of the year) has motivated us to get in touch.

REBUKE: This should be so much more about nurturing prayer and passion for the Kingdom to come to Japan – more than just our ministry and our need for a nutritious diet.

REPENTANCE: Our communications will therefore be primarily to encourage prayer and a sense of partnering for the Kingdom to come in Japan. We are more than happy to have you on the prayer team! (If you do want to send us cup-noodles though, we won’t say no!)

The long:
Since the beginning of 2024, Aya and I have been seriously praying about a new season; in the midst of decreasing paid work, and increasing ministry opportunities and responsibilities, we have considered if we should seek more paid-work opportunities to cover increased needs—we are certainly more than willing to do whatever we need to keep doing what the Lord has called us to do. However, the more we pray and share about it with immediate family and friends in the faith, the more we feel God calling us to raise up prayer, encouragement and financial support partners.

Just recently I met with a leader from an international prayer & mission movement. Hearing the stories of breakthroughs, answers to prayer, God’s dealings with His people in the secret place—leading them to more fruitfulness outwardly—I was both moved and suitably rebuked. Over the years we have neglected to steward the relationships we already have with our praying friends all over the world. Please forgive my laziness and tardiness in this area!

So, we are sending this letter and building this partner network primarily as a call to prayer—to bless Japan, to bless the nations—an invitation to be involved in the move of God in this great nation. I will do my part in keeping regular encouragements, updates and prayer needs.

MINISTRY OVERVIEW

Our ministry activities focus on two main areas:

• Relational discipleship & mentoring – doing it ourselves—in person and online—and encouraging and training others to do it.
• Online media – reaching the churched and unchurched all over Japan with worship, encouragement and discipleship tools.

For the last 20 years or so, we have pursued these main areas:

• DMM – Passionately pursuing a disciple-making movement – raising believers to make disciples wherever they are, and multiply.
  
• ONFIRE JAPAN – Encouraging the body of Christ through online media via YouTube, Facebook, website etc. (onfire.jp) – and print publishing, equipping and training Japanese believers everywhere through print media: books, tracts, training materials. 
  
• FREEDOM MINISTRIES – Nurturing healing through prayer deliverance ministry – one-on-one, small group ministry to see people walk in full freedom in Christ. (sozo.onfire.jp – formerly called “Sozo”, we now call it “Path to Freedom Ministries” Jiyu e no Michi.)

In the last 5 years, or so, we have also seen doors open with: 

• AWAKEN THE DAWN, daily online worship, word and prayer—since January 2021—joined by 100+ people live and another 500~1000 recorded, Japanese speaking believers all over Japan, and the world. (7am Japan time daily and other weekly worship/prayer gatherings. We try to make it bilingual as much as possible so feel free to join!)
  
• THE 33 MINUTE WARRIOR – ramping up men’s ministry, since 2019, with personal discipleship, online Bible plans and challenges, regular overnight camps that nurture long-term transformation. (www.33minute.com)
  
• PURITY MINISTRY – Headed by our good friend/sister/co-worker, Rae-Anna, something that was seeded through leading sex-ed to preschool parents has now begun to take shape – online, resources, and in the daily mentoring and discipleship connections. (https://onfire.jp/purity/)
  
• MENTORING – Regular mentoring sessions—one-on-one & small-groups—we are all learning what it means to be true community, stir and sharpen one-another.
  
• YOUVERSION BIBLE APP – reading plans – since 2019 we have created 22+ Bible plans in Japanese and English, with 27,000 subscriptions in Japanese, and 110,000+ in English. Check out our YouVersion page here. and here (Men’s plans.)
  
• THE MARRIAGE COURSE  (TMC) – using the wonderful content created by the Alpha Course people, we are helping see revival come to couples and families.

This is just an overview—in the coming months we look forward to sharing with you more details and personal testimonies, in text and video—our favourite format!With all the years and changes, some things never change. Of course, we are still eating oatmeal & homemade bread daily – flossing teeth and trimming our toenails when necessary. We have to add though, the new challenge of needing reading glasses (constantly searching for where I put them.) and wondering whether I should invest in hair-growth lotion – or just let it all fall out. Ahhh, the struggles of the jars of clay!

FAMILY

JACOB & AINA – now 24, married Aina in November, 2023, living in Amagasaki and working at Costco. Enjoying marriage, motorcycle touring, a close circle of friends.

LUKE – now 22, living by himself nearby. Working in scaffolding and saving his money so he can establish his own business within the year. Enjoying having a clear vision to start a business and working hard towards that goal.

TOBY – now 20, living at home, 2nd year university, international studies. Already been to North America twice this year for American Football – including the U20 world championships, where they pulled a big upset by beating USA 41-20 to advance to the final, where they lost to Canada 20-11. The novelty of beating the USA in American Football was the unrivalled highlight, however, and caused a firestorm on social media. (Just search for “U20 American Football USA Japan” and you will see what I mean!)

1THES 2:8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 

This verse sums up how we feel going into this new season in Japan. Not only do we want to share the Gospel, we want to share our “very lives” and encourage Japanese believers everywhere to discover more and more of His grace for intimate, vulnerable community. 

We are delighted to have you partner with us for this glorious purpose!
Along with your prayers, if you have any encouragements, or if you’d like us to pray for anything on your heart, please contact us – “… let us encourage one another daily.”

Jef & Aya

P.S.
If you’re reading this newsletter, then you already are connected but please check the three ways to stay in touch:

Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/469522012509133

Mailing list – http://eepurl.com/qwcoL

Website – https://linscotts.com/ministry/

EPHESIANS 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

PRAYER TOPICS: These are the general topics we invite you to join us in continuing to pray for. We will give more specific prayer requests as the needs arise. Men’s movement – may God raise up an army of spiritual samurai (warriors) who know their identity with Christ as Master, reaching out to other men, building community. Purity movement – may God stir a spirit of holiness in His church, becoming a place of safety, faith, love and hope – preparing them to receive a great harvest. Online reach – may God use online media ministries in Japan, like Onfire Japan and many others, to reach the millions of Japanese who would never come near a church. May they provide resources for real God-encounters and spiritual growth. Mentoring & discipleship – may God lead many to personal break-throught through simple mentoring, deliverance and discipleship as the Church of Japan discovers what it means to be a true “family” with Christ as the head.