Prison Ministry in Japan
"For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye colthed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." (Matthew 25:35,36)
By God’s grace we have had the privilege to visit people in prison in Tokyo, Saitama, Ibaraki, Chiba prefectures since ’91. In Chiba we used to visit them regularly (once a week) but not in other prefectures. We have seen people saved and even receive baptism of the Holy Spirit in the prison.
Ushiku Immigration Prison- Ibaraki prefecture
God, who gave us burden for prison ministry, has heard our prayer and since Feb. 28th ’01, by His grace we have been visiting some people in Ushiku prison regularly -two/three times every week. The rules of this prison are a bit different from those in other places we have come across.
All of them in this prison are foreigners and mostly are just waiting for the money in order to purchase their tickets. According to the law they are free to return to their own countries.
Prisoners who are here are provided with 3 meals a day and each person is responsible for his/her own personal needs: Shampoo, soap, detergents, toothpaste, tooth brush, clothing… as “here’s not a hotel” according to what the officials have told us. They can not work to earn money like in other prisons. Mostly have been arrested for the lack of visa and transferred here for the lack of money to purchase their tickets. Hence mostly are waiting for the provision of their ticket money in order to be able to go back to their families after some years. Some have been waiting for this reason for one year and others for months. But those who have the money would be able to go back in 2-3 weeks time.
Few have court cases to be granted the visa, custody of their children… In any case they were much hurt and sorrowful until Jesus found them and made them His own. Since they have received Jesus God has been changing them and we have seen many prayer request already answered. The officials have also shown interest and one senior official told Esther, “Mrs. Esther I always hear your conversation with much interest.” which was a pleasant surprise to us to know that God has given them favor toward us. Also we’ve been told how impressed the officials were by Brother Geoffrey’s good behavior and personality. He is from Uganda –Africa an engineer by profession who came to the Lord from Catholic back ground. At other times still another senior official told us that our visitations have been of great mental help to the prisoners. Glory to God who works in His people’s life.
Prayer is the power of God given to us in order to win many spiritual battles and see God’s hand move in the lives of others and ours.
Knowing that:
“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of light with whom is no variables neither shadows of turning.” (James 1:17)
It is the Father’s (our heavenly Dad’s) will to bless us more and more every day. We must pray for every need of ours and even for every detail of it.
God the Holy Spirit shall help us by giving us the strength, wisdom, burden to pray for others and ourselves. He shall give us the words to pray out:
1- We must ask the Holy Spirit to come and lead us in this time of prayer.
2- We must ask Him to search our hearts and to show us if there is any sin in our hearts. And when he shows us anything we will ask God’s forgiveness for the same.
3- Then by His leading we can pray for people and all their needs as well as for our own.
Testimonies
Nikufar (Iran) - was arrested for lack of visa and has requested for refugee status. Due to bacteria in his jaw bone, he had to have operation and be bedridden for 6 months but the immigration did not agree and he had a light operation. However the Dr. told him that it was not enough. He could not eat solid food and had to live on canned food. The medicine could not heal his pain either and he asked Yousef to help him with his case. Yousef talked about Jesus with them, encouraging them to ask the heavenly Father in the name of Jesus. One night as he was in real pain, prayed to the heavenly Father with all his heart and in the morning his picture was taken and the next day he was granted permission to go out for a 6 month treatment of his jaw. Yousef gave him the Persian New Testament according to his request. Please pray for his salvation as well.
Leonardo (Philippines)- Had been imprisoned for 3 years on criminal charges and selling of drugs before he was transferred to Ushiku prison. He lost contact with his wife (Philippine no) and child because of that. In his first visit from Esther, as he heard the good news, God opened his heart and he received Jesus as his personal Lord and savior. In his letter to her, he has expressed his dream to serve God ever since he was in prison and his desire to know God and draw closer to Him more and more. He said that it did not matter that he did not have any money on him because money was not the solution to his inner problems and only knowing God in a deeper way could help him go on in life. Now he wishes to join true Christian missions where he can be trained to serve the Lord and live for God. Hence Esther gave him the addresses of YWAM bases ( given to her by Pr. Lois) where he can have wonderful follow up; grow in the knowledge of God and to be closer to God according to his desire ever since he was in prison and encouraged him to go ahead and take that step with much confidence. Please pray for him to grow and be used by God mightily.
He left Japan last week as God provided for his air fair miraculously.
“Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ.” (Philippians 4:4-7)
Prayer List
The Lord has blessed us and by His grace they have come to the Lord through us. It is our privilege to serve God and them to the extent we can. We shall write you about each one in more detail after some time. We shall very much appreciate your payers for the following brothers and sisters and their needs.
Some need Bibles (English, Philippine no, etc and some with large letters.), Air fair fee, Counseling, Bible Teachings in Portuguese and Spanish, Visitors, Christian contacts/churches in their own countries…Please pray and let us know how the Lord wish to use you in this Prison Ministry. The number is increasing and there is need for more help from the Body of Christ.
Ladies section:
Jane- to be reunited with her husband (Japanese) and son in Japan, salvation of her family and in-laws
Leonora- To be reunited with her husband (Japanese) and 3 children in Japan and their salvation, her sister in-law’s salvation who is a Jehovah Witness
Marcerita- to be given the custody of her little son and return to the Philippines, her parents’ salvation
O Ho Te- her husbands healing, her daughter’s (20) future, O’s air fair to go back to China. O’s mother is born again Christian attending church in China
Amna- to grow and be used by the Lord in specially Pakistan, India, USA where her family members are
Leon- growth, salvation of her family and God’s future plans for her and her daughter who live together in Hong Kong
Rosemary- Same as above and God’s plan for her future as she’s gone back to the Philippines
Teresita- air fair (40000 yen) to return to the Philippines
Fariba- to receive Jesus and join church in Iran and be reunited with her husband who was arrested and was in prison and his salvation
Mary- her salvation, Physical healing and provision of ticket to be reunited with her dear family in the Philippines
Nadia- her salvation and provision to go back to Russia
Ema- growth, family’s salvation and be used by God in Myanmar
Jacky- salvation
Men’s section:
Marcello- growth and be used by God in Brazil
Mohammad Ali- Same as above in Egypt
Abbas-receive Jesus and go to church in Iran
Marin- growth and be used by the Lord in the Philippines and his family’s salvation
Ruben- to by law receive the tax deducted from her salary per month, growth, reunion with his family in the Philippines and their salvation and be used by God
Pepe- be given his sons custody and together go back to the Philippines and be used by God
Kourosh- growth, be reunited with his wife (Japanese) in Japan and be used by God and healing of disk hernia.
Mostafai- growth here and after he returns to Iran and be used by God
Babak- growth, God’s future plan as to where to get settled
Silvio- growth, be granted visa to stay on in Japan as the 2nd/3rd generation of Japanese brought up in Brazil
Piterson- same as above
Yoshio- growth and God’s future plans in Brazil
Alfonso- growth and God’s wisdom to whether or not to go back to Mexico
Murdianio-Salvation and provision of ticket to his country Indonesia where his wife and 3 children are waiting for him. He had been arrested on charges of selling drugs and has spent 3 years in prison.
Geoffrey- growth, provision to return to Uganda, be used by God, blessing on his business there and provision for his family’s needs such as school fees etc. and their salvation
Fereidoun- growth and reunion with his family in Iran, their salvation and be used by God here and in Iran as well, also air fair fee to be provided.
Mura Kami- growth in the Lord and be used by Him, air fair to Peru
Shehan- to grow in the Lord, provision to go back to Sri Lanka, God’s guidance as to in which country to be settled down and reunion with his wife (Japanese).
Paul- growth in the Lord, air fair fee to return to the Philippines
Robert- to receive Jesus, provision of air fair to Liberia (Africa)
Ano- grow in the Lord, provision of air fair to go back to Brunei (Africa)
Bizuneu- grow in the Lord, air fair to return to Brunei (Africa)
Saeed- saved and returned to Iran. Please pray for his faith to grow and be a bold witness for the Lord.
Shahrbani- salvation and provision of air fair fee in order to return to Iran
Reza-salvation and air fair fee to Iran
Afshin- same as above
Salvation of Shahram, Davood, Ali, Alireza, Saeed G from Iran
We thank God and are grateful to:
Dear Pr. & Mrs. Ricardo whom God used to open the door for us in this prison again on Feb. 28th. Yousef had visited some Iranian there (to whom we gave Persian Bibles) before at the request of the Immigration officials. God has used them to save Marcello, provide more than 10000 yen in order to make up for his ticket fair back to Brazil and a bag full of clothes.
Please remember them in your prayer as by God’s grace their mission (Living God Mission) has 3 church branches in Japan, 1in Canada and China respectively.
Dear Pr. Oliviera from Brazil for visiting 8 persons from Sth. America, Philippines, Uganda… and provision of 3 travel bags for them on June 4th . Please lift them up in your prayers as his family is seeking the Lord concerning their future guidance as to where God is calling them to continue serving Him.
Dear Pr. Ramos for visiting the 5 South American brothers and provision of some clothes, 2 shampoos, soaps, 2 toothpastes, tooth brushes for them on June 18th . Please remember their church –a church branch of Living God Mission in your prayer that God almighty will bless them abundantly in every way.
Dear Pr. Lois- form YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for provision of lots of winter clothes for Yoshio- Brazilian brother who returned to his country and needed some warm clothing (It is winter now in Brazil).
Dear JoAnne- whose books and anointed teachings we have been giving our new brothers and sisters in the prison for their follow up. She has given us permission to reprint and also translate them into Persian. She is the author of many Bible Studies such as “The Holy Spirit and His Gifts”, the Blood of Jesus and many others which we have been receiving through email. Glory to God.
Dear Dr. Cho and sister Peggy (administrative manager of “Church Growth magazine”) from Korea, who have supported us with their prayers and shall send us complementary CG magazines for those in ladies’ and men’s sections who have eagerly requested us for more copies of CG magazine. Praise the Lord.
Please pray for us too that the Lord’s will and promises will come true in our lives as soon as possible and for more co-workers in reaching out to those in this prison as well as other ministry activities.
Thank you so much
Together in Christ’s service
Yousef & Esther Eisa Khani