gonzalezinjapan

March and April 2024 Update

Our Easter service was a celebration of God’s goodness in the middle of an oblivious world.

Japan, having a Buddhist and Shinto context, rarely lends itself for the proclamation of Easter.

Spring colored with the many tulips, cherry blossoms, and the many flowers around speaks of new life in creation. This is a time for many to look for salvation, in a country where less than 1 percent know Christ. We were blessed to have two guests attending our service. One came from our Gospel Community class, and the other one from hundreds of flyers we passed out in the community.

We prayed, we hoped, and one person came. That is still the norm for us here. We placed hundreds and other times thousands of invitation, yet we are so glad when one shows up. We had set up a lunch after the Easter service. Juan Carlos barbecued hamburgers for everyone, and that seemed to create a great atmosphere of sharing.

We are already talking about our end of the year outreach.

Would you begin to pray for this venue and plan?

The Gospel Choir announcement from the community bulletin that goes around the neighborhood!

The Atagohama Community Center Choir

After Covid and with all the restrictions here in Japan, we are glad to announce that our Gospel Class has started back again. Colette does a fantastic job, creating the right setting so that God can work in the hearts of all the participants. We began with 11 so far and they are all non-believers who have become friends through the many years of this community relationship. Out of this choir, God has saved several people who have been baptized and have experienced God.

Would you please pray for this outreach that God may take it to a different level?

Planning for University outreaches and Kids outreaches

We are planning to receive several people in the next few months. These volunteers are coming on their own and want to help us do our work here through Momochi Symphony Church. That will happen provided all goes according to God’s plan.

Would you pray for these that are coming that God will help them with finances and everything else? Would you pray for more volunteers?

Thank you!

Our immense gratitude goes out to you for your support with finances and prayers.

You all know our places to give online toward our ministry here in Fukuoka, Japan. But let us place it here again for those who need it.

If you would like to help us in our outreaches to children, youth, and through media, please feel free to send us your offerings to this same place and mark “00” for outreaches.

Juan Carlos and Colette Gonzalez

291431

https://giving.ag.org/Give/Details/4ffeb04d-1842-4f79-8e20-ca3450dd60b7?CookieCheck=1

***Under Advance Giving Options Be sure to check “00”Class

Or email us: juancolettegonzalezag@gmail.com

If you would like to help our existing building project, here is an updated list of various things you can help us with:

1- Sound equipment (Already donated)

2- Camera for web broadcasting (Already donated)

3- First Floor outside window shutters for typhoons ($10,000) (Already donated)

4- Second floor children’s classroom furnishings ($3,000)

5- Third floor furniture for long term and short term workers, and media center $6,000

6- Front door remodeling with overhang for rainy days. $5,000

7- Remodel downstairs bathroom for handicap access. $5,000

8- Replace awning material. Unknown

9- External spiral roof staircase and emergency escape. Unknown.

10- 2 Microwaves for kitchenettes. $1,000. (Already donated)

The church and building is the center where evangelism is happening.

For any of these building items:

***Under Advance Giving Options Be sure to check “”Class (60) Proj 5562.

Thank you!

Prayer Requests:

1- Would you pray for the vision to reach children and youth?

Would you pray for the evangelistic venue and that God help us rent the right place and that He would provide the finances?

2- We need American and other volunteers for several assignments.

-To reach children

-To reach the youth in neighborhood schools and universities.

-To lead worship and play instruments.

Would you pray that the Lord would call and send these volunteers?

3-Pray for a healing touch for:

-Oga san who recently lost her husband.

-Seiko san who is dealing with rheumatoid arthritis.

-Yamaguchi san who is still bed ridden due to back pain.

-My dear wife, Colette Gonzalez, who is dealing with pain in getting up of seated positions and when lifting her left leg. The MRI was conclusive that she has no more cartilage between the femur and the hip. We are asking God for a miracle in Colette’s life.

-For Colette’s Mom, Mary, who is still dealing with visits to the ER after coming out of chemotherapy. Mary continues to teach her Seniors class at her church in Oceanside even now.

-For Melody, Colette’s sister who had a knee replacement. She is getting better after many PT sessions and now she is even riding her bicycle.

4- Pray for our digital media outreach that God would help us and use it for reaching many here in Japan.

5- Pray for our grown children in the USA. For Nicolette and her family.

For Stephen and his wife. Stephen and Sabs will come to visit us at the end of May. Please pray for a good family time and for us to create great memories.

50 days of prayer for all Japan.

We have been praying from Easter all the way until Pentecost Sunday at 9 am and 9 pm Japan time. Our prayer focus is that God will begin an awakening here in Japan. Would you pray with us?

Thank you for praying for us and for your financial support.

May 1, 2024 9

January and February 2024 Update

Our Japanese church continues to take steps toward being a full fledged church. An annual report, a business meeting, and vision were part of our work these first months of 2024.

The vision for the next few years will be to reach out to children and youth so that a new generation can come to Jesus in Japan. Though our efforts will be focused on those age groups, we continue to pastor, disciple, and release into ministry those who the Lord has entrusted us here in Fukuoka.

We have had two Bible Studies that continue to challenge us all to “come closer to Jesus.”

It was in a Bible Study where Juan Carlos challenged a Japanese older man, Yamaguchi san, to keep a prayer journal. After some instructions, in the next Bible study the journal pages revealed the prayers of this Japanese believer. A beautiful thread of prayers for other people entrusted the prayer requests to Jesus who can give healing and mend the broken in body. The truth is that Yamaguchi San is in constant pain due to a severe back problem and now is in a home for the elderly. He came out of the JW’s and began fellowship with our Japanese church while Brian and Sally Snider were here last year. Now, would you pray for Yamaguchi San that God would perform a miracle of healing in his back? That would be a blessing.

Secondly, I received word that our friend John Bueno has left this earthly place to his reward in heaven. I made a quick plan to attend the viewing and the service in Springfield, MO. While in transit, I also received word that our newest member’s husband had passed away. Colette and the members from our church worked hard to set in motion a Christian funeral in our church. It was he first ever in our facilities and well attended by friends and families.

While I was in Springfield, I was also thinking what was happening in our church in Fukuoka. A big thanks to Colette for stepping up and the church members who served the friends and family of Yoko Oga. Would you pray for strength for Oga San in these days of transition? Thank you.

Farewell at the airport for Brian and Sally Snider who filled in for us!

Would you also remember the Buenos as they have experienced loss during this time? While I was with them, the gatherings were marked by a sense of family and friends reuniting.

El Salvador Executives and pastors at the Bridge of Flags

Moises Ramirez, John Easter AGWM Executive Director, and JC

JC, Rich Guerra SoCal Superintendent, and Ray Rachel former SoCal Superintendent

Hno. Orlando & Mari Fkores, Hno. Jeremias Bolaños, and JC

Rev. John Bueno was not only my childhood pastor but extremely influential in my ministerial calling and formation. As a child educated in Liceo Cristiano from K-12, I will always be indebted for the scholarship help. Also, I will always be grateful for the time living in his home in Costa Mesa, CA. Those were formative years and unforgettable times.

Prayer Requests

1- As we pray and ask the Lord to help us reach children and youth, would you pray with us?

2- We need American and other volunteers for several assignments:

-To reach children;

-To reach youth in neighborhoods, school and universities.

⁃ To lead worship and play instruments.

Would you pray for volunteers that the Lord would send them to us?

3- Pray for a healing touch for:

⁃ Oga San who just lost her husband

⁃ Yamaguchi San who is bed ridden due to back pain,

⁃ The Bueno family in the USA as they have recently lost Pastor John Bueno.

⁃ Colette Gonzalez who is experiencing pain and stiffness in her hip. She will have a MRI scan to find out the cause of the recent pain. Pray for complete healing.

4- Pray for our digital media efforts in creating programs and broadcasting our Sunday services. Lots of work is to be done, and finding time and help from the Lord is what we need!

5- Though Colette’s Mom, Mary, is now cancer free, we ask you to pray for her recovery after chemotherapy. Praise God.

6- Pray for our grown children in the USA. Nicolette and family; Stephen and family.

7- Pray for our 2024 Easter service and outreaches!

Thank you for your continuous support and prayer for our ministry here in Japan.

March 8, 2024 4

November and December 2023 Update

The day of the church building dedication finally arrived. The mailman arrived with telegrams. That’s right! In Japan, we still send and receive telegrams with congratulatory messages. Let me show you what they look like:

Telegrams from other Assemblies of God Districts in Japan. Beautiful!

Beautiful designs, aren’t they?

We arrived back in Japan on October 17, 2023. Since then, we have had two major things happening, the church dedication, and our personal boxes arriving, clearing customs, and setting up a new kitchen gas stove with range.

In the process of getting things ready for the church, we received a donation of chairs and flowers for the big day from Coast City Church. A big thanks to Pastor Doug Reid and the Hunts for making it possible to have these much needed items on time.

Flowers that everyone took home after the event!

The celebration was set for two days. On Sunday, the church people enjoyed the festivities. We were graced by the presence of the Japan Assemblies of God Superintendent Rev. Kiyoshi Tsuchiya, Asia Pacific Area Directors Ty and Cina Silva, Japan Field Coordinator Alex Humphreys, and many friends from the community.

The Silvas, Tsuchiya sensei, the Gonzalez

Then on Monday December 4th, 2023, we repeated the program for the pastors of our Kyushu island and other guests, including the realtor who gave words of congratulations. There were non-believers and pastors together in the same place thanking God for a new church building. This is huge in Japan as there is less than 1 percent of Christians in the whole country. Our Assemblies of God only has 200 churches for 127 million people. This one church is not just one more, but it is a strategic church determined to share Christ and love the community.

It was remarkable that many of our pastor friends attended, and bringing with them greetings from their congregations. Also, our missionary family made their presence felt in the program by helping us out.

JC, Daniel Matsunaga, and Takaguchi sensei

Yoshiyama sensei who was my Japanese teacher and friend in ministry. She is now retired!

These were two days of celebration that will be forever in our hearts and minds.

Thank you for giving and praying for us. All of you had a part in this successful journey. That is our belated “Thanksgiving” testimony.

The second thing happening was our personal items arriving, clearing customs, and installation of a gas range.

Colette is pretty happy about her new range!

We did it all. There is no one that specializes in American size appliances, the reason we did this. It’s a blessing to have an oven for baking for special occasions. The last stove lasted us over 27 years, it was time for a new one. Merry Christmas to our home.

Speaking of Christmas, we wish you the best Christmas for you, your church, and family. May the New Year bring joy and peace for you and yours.

We love you,

Juan Carlos and Colette González AGWM Missionaries to Fukuoka, Japan

Tsuchiya Sensei JAG Superintendent and the Gonzalez

December 6, 2023 2

October 2023 Update

We had our last itineration service at Honolulu First Assembly after a year of visiting churches. We have finally come to the end zone! For this we are praising God and we want to thank you for your faithful support and your prayers.

We were so blessed to visit Bayview AG with Pastor Renee Lo and Alex Lo. That was so neat to see them in action in their church,

Pastors Lo and Chi Alpha Missionary Roneel Ryan Chaudhary and us.

We also spoke for Kailua AG with Pastors Dan and Jan Preciado for Wednesday and on Sunday 10/8 in the morning. We certainly were blessed by them and the reason why we come to Hawaii.

Pastor Dan & Pastor Jan Preciado and us.

On Sunday night, we spoke for Honolulu First Assembly with Pastors Ko and Pastor Ernie Chow. It was so good to see some of our friends in the audience. First Assembly has committed to planting a church in Fukuoka, to teach university students and children with us. This campus will be a joint effort of First Assembly and us. This will be our main focus for the next term.

Prayer Requests

1- Transition of ministry between Brian and Sally Snider and the Gonzálezes. Pray for a smooth transition.

2- Pray for our shipment, that our boxes of personal and ministry goods may clear customs with no problem.

3- Continue praying for Colette’s mother, Mary, who is fighting cancer again.

4- Pray for our grown children, Nicky Phillips and Stephen González and their families. It has been hard to say good-bye, leaving everyone again.

5- Pray for protection and traveling mercies while we go to Japan and while in Japan.

October 12, 2023 4

August and September 2023 Update!

We are not finished the month of September yet but we have final clearance to return back to Japan!

We are waiting for a few more people’s Faith Promises and finishing some services, and then we will be on our way to Fukuoka, Japan.

Pastors Javier and Ada Cruz in Holland, MI and us

I want to thank all of you for making this post CoVid year in the USA a great time for our missions work. We have left many times in tears of joy after services, meetings, phone calls, and emails that have encouraged us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

While we write this update, we are also dealing with our shipment of belongings and work equipment to Japan. There are too many details to deal with, but we want to thank Melody and Loren Hunt for helping us get the shipment out in the right way! Then, we will deal with clearing customs in Japan.

Pastors Doug & Gretchen; Melody & Loren and us on our last supper!

Now, as we depart we don’t say good-bye, but see you soon. We have been methodically and slowly saying “see you soon” to our daughter Nicky and her family; to our son Stephen and Sabrina; family in El Salvador and family in the USA. Words are not enough to convey the emotions.

Prayer Requests

Colette’s Mother continues her chemotherapy treatments, and there is no change of her cancer diagnosis as of yet, but God is able. Keep her in your prayers.

Pray for our departure and all the transitions back to Japan.

Pray for our last set of services.

Pray for our Nicky, Stephen, and their families. Our grandkids, too.

Pray for the vision for a new campus of our church in Fukuoka, Japan.

We thank you again for giving and praying for us.

Yours,

Juan Carlos and Colette González

AGWM Missionaries to Japan

September 22, 2023 0

May, June, July 2023 Update.

It has certainly been an incredible summer visiting churches, friends, creating new friendships and connecting with family everywhere. We are very close to being finished with our itineration and promotion of our work in Japan. This time in the USA is coming soon to a close. We are just waiting for a few more promised pledges and then we will embark for a new term in Fukuoka, Japan.

This update is to let you know the things that have to happen in order for us to return to Fukuoka, Japan. The shipment of our personal belongings and ministry equipment will happen in the next month and then we will set a departure date, though we are aiming for the beginning of October, 2023.

We have visited churches in Southern California, and have connected with some incredible congregations. We have been blessed everywhere we have gone, including St. Louis, MO.

During these months we also attended “Missionary Renewal” in Springfield, MO. This was a time to be refreshed in God, to strategize with our region, and be trained in new policies and security updates.

We returned to Southern California and continued visiting churches until we went to General Council in Columbus, Ohio. There we attended different sessions, helped our Asia Pacific Region booth, and connected with many pastors, friends, and colleagues.

From there, we went to Holland, Michigan to have services in Sinai Church AG and also in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a service at Misión de Fe Church AG. These churches were an incredible blessing to us.

We have a few services left, and we want to give you an opportunity to send your faith promises if you have not already done so.

Also our building project has received several donations, the last one was to buy the shutters for the windows on the first floor of our building.

This is again how to give:

If you would like to support us. Here is the link to set up your faith promise and your reoccurring offering.

To give online

https://giving.ag.org/donate.

Or email us: juancolettegonzalezag@gmail.com

If you would like to help our project, here is an updated list of various things you can help us with:

1- Sound equipment (already donated)

2- Camera for web broadcasting (already donated)

3- First Floor outside window shutters for typhoons ($10,000) (Already donated)

4- Second floor children’s classroom furnishings ($3,000)

5- Third floor furniture for long term and short term workers, and media center $6,000

6- Front door remodeling with overhang for rainy days. $5,000

7- Remodel downstairs bathroom for handicap access. $5,000

8- Replace awning material. Unknown

9- External spiral roof staircase and emergency escape. Unknown.

10- 2 Microwaves for kitchenettes. $1,000.

The church and building is the center where evangelism will happen.

Acct 291431

Note that it is for Momochi Symphony Church Project 5562 Class 60.

Prayer Requests:

1-For our family, for protection and provision.

2-For our shipment going to Japan, that we may have all the details covered.

3-For our vision to start a new campus for University Students and Children outreaches.

4-Saying good-bye is always hard. Pray for this transition.

5-Pray for our church, fellow missionaries in Fukuoka (the Sniders), and the transition as we return.

Colette and I would like to thank you for your continuous support, prayers, and words of encouragement to us. We cannot do our work without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Your Missionaries in Fukuoka, Japan.

Juan Carlos and Colette Gonzalez

AGWM Missionaries to Japan.

August 13, 2023 0

March, April 2023 Update.

We continue our itineration travels in Southern California; though in March we went to North Carolina, then in April to Washington State.

The days seem shorter and not enough time in the day to meet, greet, present our missions work.

This was true in North Carolina where we had 10 meetings with pastors 5 services in 10 days.

We thank James Dodd, Seniors Director of the North Carolina Network of the Assemblies of God; James connected us with many of his pastors friends and in turn they made us their friends and missionaries.

A special visit to the area where Colette was born. Pastor Jim Aschborn met us at a restaurant with former members then took us to their church where other church members recalled stories about times when Colette’s parents pastored when Colette was a child.

That was a super time with a pledge signing on the spot, it was a real highlight to this trip.

The Missions convention at Reinnessance church was a blessing to our work. Thank you to Pastor James Goings and Jeff Dodd.

Jim Aschborn in front of Penderlea AG church

As we came back to Southern California, we only had a few days to prepare to have three days of missions services in Toppenish, Wa. We thank Pastors Enedeo and Enedina Garza for taking care of us for a week.

Speaking from Wednesday to Good Friday 2023

Pastors Enedeo and Enedina Garza and us!

We pray for all of you who are supporting us already and we pray for those who are still praying about how to help us on our next term of missions work.

Here is a way for you to help.

https://giving.ag.org/donate

A special mention to Imagine Church. Imagine church was a church pastored by Bill and Teresa Seybert; Chris and Melissa Seybert and Joe and Misty Santos. Their church closed down during the pandemic, the gave us large offering for the next new church campus building and outreach. They emptied their kingdom funds in our Japan church plant account! No words will adequate express our thankfulness. Thank you!

Pastors Chris & Melissa with family and us

Our Stephen and Sabrina celebrated their wedding after 3 years. I had the privilege to perform their wedding ceremony, though the official ceremony was performed by Pastor Drew Smithson, this was attended by family and friends.

Officiating my kids wedding Stephen and Sabrina. Also in the picture Nicky.

Pray for:

1- Our family including our grown children, grandkids, parents in time of transition, for good health and God’s protection.

2- For our personal budget to be raised and be completed.

3- For our church work in Fukuoka, Japan. For the Sniders who are pastoring and all that is involved in it.

4- For our vision to plant a new campus and reach out to children and university students.

Juan Carlos and Colette Gonzalez

AGWM Missionaries to Japan.

May 24, 2023 0

Update December 2022 January, February 2023

We thought we would have a slow end of 2022 but our travels took us to many places and we enjoyed celebrating with family and friends.

We also heard that our church in Japan had a great gathering, we thank God for Brian and Sally Snider who continue to do outreach in Fukuoka. Sally had a broken knee during the holidays though she is back doing ministry along side of Brian. Please keep them in your prayers.

We spent our Christmas with our son Stephen and daughter-in-love Sabs. We had plans to celebrate the end of the year with Adam, Nicky and grandchildren but a very infamous airline canceled their flights even before they went to the airport. Our wait of many years to celebrate together was scrapped and we wished it was different. But during these last few years, we have learned to trust the Lord specially during these times, haven’t we?

We know that God has everything under His control.

We began the year in Ventura and while there an epic rain storm hit the area. In the last ministries retreat, we were gifted two night in a hotel by the beach. Colette and I went in spite of many weather warnings. We visited many local sites and we were in Ojai, Ca when we were almost trapped there because of torrential rains. We left unharmed and knowing that God has everything In His hands.

During January and February 2023, we are not only having our weekend services but we are following the SoCal Network tour for pastors and leaders. It gives us a chance to connect with many pastor friends we have not seen for a long time and because of schedules we might not see otherwise. Just to give you an example of our travels, on one weekend we traveled over 1,000 miles by car from the high desert, to Fresno in the San Joaquin valley, back to San Diego. We are grateful for this chance to meet many, reconnect with some and itinerante in new territory.

We must raise our personal support for the next few years, while we were blessed to help our church plant, we are focusing on our personal budget for cash and pledges.

One example of how God has worked, one of our new pastors friends says next to us in one of the many stops with the SoCal network and he said: “I will personally support your ministry to Japan.” Another Pastor asked us if the their church supported us and he said: “We’d like to support you.” This kind of response is what we pray for so that our time here in the US can be fruitful in connection, fund raising and most importantly prayer support.

If you would like to support us. Here is the link to set up your faith promise and your reoccurring offering.

If you would like to help our project, here is a list of various things you can help us:

1- Sound equipment ( already donated)

2- Camera for web broadcasting (already donated)

3- First Floor outside window shutters for typhoons ($10,000)

4- Second floor children’s classroom furnishings ($3,000)

5- Third floor furniture for long term and short term workers, and media center $6,000

6- Front door remodeling with overhang for rainy days. $5,000

7- Remodel downstairs bathroom for handicap access. $5,000

8- Replace owning material. Unknown

9- External spiral roof staircase and emergency escape. Unknown.

10- 2 Microwaves for kitchenettes. $1,000.

The church and building is a center where Evangelism will happen.

Lastly, we received a call from one of our churches in Hawaii that they would like to partner with us as we plant a church for university students and help our efforts in doing children’s evangelism.

To give online

https://giving.ag.org/donate.

Or email us: juancolettegonzalezag@gmail.com

Please pray for all of these endeavors.

We thank you again for helping us and working together with us as we reach the “never reached” in Japan.

Your missionaries to Japan.

Juan Carlos and Colette González

AGWM Missionaries to Japan.

Pastors Stephen, Sabrina, Dennis Geronimo and us!

May 24, 2023 0

September, October, November 2022 Update

We arrived in August after some pandemic protocols were lifted in Japan, allowing Sandra Marroquin to come to fill-in the pulpit in our absence.

A big thanks to Sandra Marroquin for going to Japan for a 3 months assignment

Tonight, November 2nd, 2022, we are taking Brian and Sally Snider to the airport in California as they begin their Fukuoka bound flight. The Sniders will be the missionary pastors in our absence.

We could not have imagined this a year ago. God orchestrated the volunteer missionaries and their financial budgets so we can be in the USA raising our missionary budget.

Sandra Marroquin transitioning with the Sniders. Ishimura San translating.

Since our last update, we have connected with family, friends, pastors, supporters, prayer partners, etc. We still have not connected with all of you, but we are trying.

OCFA Missions Convention with our Stephen and Sabrina

Geo Week at Vanguard University and receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Because of distance and scheduling challenges, we realize we will not be able to go to all of you, but we thought that if you would like to receive a video update specifically for your church, please send a request to: juancolettegonzalezag@gmail.com

We will be happy to work on it and send it.

We also have received special offerings for our church building remodel.

We have already received offerings for a church sound system and a camera for media creation.

Thank you to our donors.

There are some items that we will still need to work on, such as storm shutters for our church front windows; we need to make our church handicap accessible. If you would like to donate toward these remodeling items, here is the information again.

If you would like to give to our ministry and building project here is the information.

You can do this by sending a special offering to our Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) Account under:

Juan Carlos and Colette Gonzalez (Japan)

1445 Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO 65802

Acct 291431

Note that it is for Momochi Symphony Church Project 5562 Class 60.

Or you can give online.

https://giving.ag.org/donate

Look for Juan Carlos Gonzalez or Colette Gonzalez Acct 291431

Under advanced giving options, go to Options, then Class 60 Project #5562

Or send us a message to juancolettegonzalezag@gmail.com

Thank you for your prayers and support of our ministry in Japan.