On the way home, we visited Sou-ai Christ Church.  There we met Pastor Nobuji Horikoshi whom we've known for several years.  He is one of the leaders who are promoting creationism in Japan.  He is the author of several booklets (in Japanese) on creationism.  

 With several members he started the present church 7 years ago in the area where the influence of Buddhism and Shinotism is very strong. Now they have more than 70 people attending regularly on the Lord's day, which is quite exceptional among Japanese churches.  Since the word "kami"  doesn't connote and denote the Creator among ordinary Japanese people, he stresses the importance of using the word "The Creator  ('tsukurinushi' in Japanese)" instead of using "deity ('kami' in Japanese)," especially in evangelism.

The word "kami" is commonly used among Christians to refer to God, but this quite often causes confusion among non-Christian Japanese, and thus non-Christian Japanese fail to reach a deep understanding of the Gospel.  Pastor Horikoshi points out the existence of the Creator by using "the Creator" and teaches the people about creationism.  This practice is effective for evangelism in Japan.  This is one of the reasons why Sou-ai Chriist church is fast-growing and vibrant.

Pastor Horikoshi is a man of vision. He plans to establish a creation museum in Japan, and is preparing for that project.  When he visited the US, he purchased this replica of the head of a tyrannosaurus rex.  

Pastor Horikoshi received this plaque from Answers in Genesis.

We were able to see a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji on the way home.  We really had a blessed family trip.

 

From Yui parking area