wfn.org | Growing towards truth

[BethAH@mbm.org]

November 29, 2000
Beth Hawn
Communications Coordinator
Mennonite Board of Missions
phone (219) 294-7523
fax (219) 294-8669
<www.MBM.org>

November 29, 2000

Growing toward truth: Keisuke Matsumoto (Advent 1)

KITAMI, Japan (MBM/COM) – On Nov. 7, 1999, nine people gathered
for worship at Kitami Mennonite Church, a now 13-year-old
congregation on the northern island of Hokkaido.  The seven
adults present shared their first impressions of church,
Christians and what led them to faith.  It was “thinking about
baptism” month, as the congregation worked to answer the
questions of its newest participant about the meaning of baptism.

The congregation is a family to each other.  Their numbers are
small, but they are determined to continue together in
fellowship.  “Even the little handful that we are, to gather
together and know that we are met by God is a gift … worth any
price,” said Mary Beyler, a mission worker in Kitami since 1988,
appointed by Mennonite Board of Missions and the Commission on
Overseas Mission.  She has served in Japan since 1974.

In this first story of a four-part series, Keisuke Matsumoto
shares his story.  A member of Kamishihoro Mennonite Church, he
drove several hours to join the Kitami congregation as a visitor
for worship on Nov 7.  He spoke each word carefully, with the
wisdom of one who has lived many years and experienced many
changes.

Keisuke Matsumoto wanted revenge on American Christians.  His
first contact with Christianity came when he was a teenager,
through two American missionaries in his town, Ruth and Rhoda
Ressler.  “Americans had bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and here
they come with ‘good news,’” he said.

He wanted revenge for the deaths of two aunts who were killed
when bombs hit Tokyo during his childhood.  “So, I went to church
to prove that Christian faith is not the truth,” he said.

He soon learned that this group of Christians hadn’t participated
in the war.  “If those missionaries hadn’t been Mennonite, I
wouldn’t have become a Christian.  The call to peace called me.”
 “These American Christians were so kind, I gradually gave up the
desire for revenge.  As I became a Christian, I began to
understand that Japan had also done terrible things in the war.”

It took time for Matsumoto to come to faith, a total of 10 years
from the time he met the Mennonite missionaries until his baptism
at age 29.  “I wanted to be sure about Christianity,” he said.
He had grown up learning “right” and “wrong” from government
pronouncements.  Then, after the war, he was told to mark out
textbook passages about those same things because what was
“right” and “wrong” had changed.

“I was looking for truth that would be truth whether you win or
lose the war.  I wanted truth that would still be truth in 1,000
years.  I came to see that Christianity was that kind of truth.

“There is the parable in Matthew about removing the wood from
your eye before removing the dirt from someone else’s eye.
Before I became a Christian, I enjoyed finding everyone else’s
failings, but it wasn’t interesting if anyone else did the same
for me.

“It didn’t happen all at once, but I’m not so bothered now by
failings – in either direction.  I’m not perfect, but I’m much
more humble.”

Keisuke Matsumoto, now retired from his government job, dreams of
serving in Mongolia with his wife, Misaho.  They hope to be
missionaries to street children.

* * *

Bethany Swope       PHOTO AVAILABLE