by Keith Bassham
Last month in this column I spoke of the Shaking of the Nations, and I wondered what “shaking” might take place before I wrote again. I did not know the shaking would be so literal.
Around 3 p.m. local time, Friday, March 11, there was an earthquake about 100 miles off the east coast of northern Honshu Island, Japan. Earthquake, indeed. It was nearly in a class of its own; a magnitude 9.0, meaning the quake released 8,000 times the energy generated by the New Zealand earthquake (recorded at 6.9) last month. That makes it the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake ever for Japan.
And while the quake itself was responsible for comparatively little damage (Japanese engineers know how to build to withstand an earthquake), the resultant tsunami has devastated areas of Japan, changed its coastline, and triggered emergencies in several nuclear reactors on the island nation. The recorded death toll at present is not large, but we expect to learn that tens of thousands of lives were lost when the final tallies are made.
At press time, all our BBFI missionaries have reported they are safe, and at least one of our indigenous Tokyo pastors says all is well for them so far. However, the need for relief, prayer, and help will be massive. Accordingly, the BBFI Mission Office has set up a Japanese Tsunami Relief account, and contributions can be sent directly to:
BBFI Mission Office
PO Box 802757
Kansas City, MO 64180-2757
Be sure to designate your gift to Japanese Tsunami Relief. These funds will be directed toward BBFI missionaries and churches in Japan to use in their relief and outreach efforts.
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As promised, this issue contains a photographic report of the first ever International Fellowship Meeting of the BBFI. While you could make the case that the BBFI is U.S.-centric — it’s organization, elected leadership, and general orientation toward Fellowship life all are very much American — I think this meeting showed us something. I can’t remember the last time a North American BBFI meeting attracted 3,000 people. I certainly have never seen a more responsive congregation in a fellowship meeting than the one I saw and heard in Cebu. And the focus was entirely on the Great Commission. One participant from Manila was overheard to say, “I have never attended a meeting so Christ-centered as this one.”
Mind you, I did catch a few whiffs of local controversy in the sermons. But it was equally obvious that many came prepared to suppress their own agendas and preferences despite the potential for culture clash. I’m often reminded by well-meaning friends, “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” I respond, “They can agree to walk together.” Much of it depends on where they are going.
This I think is a great lesson for us back home. So many people, whose ancestors fought one another in so many places and times, have agreed to allow themselves to be united by the blood of Christ to obey the command of Christ. Something else to think about at Easter time.