Kowai, Kowai, Kowai!

We have felt the presence of God draw near more than once, among the homeless, poor and marginalized at our Roses Church in the park. For some, that brings comfort; for others, it brings a holy fear. For all, it brings transformation.

During this last December, we witnessed one such transformation here in Japan. While we were gathered in the park, one person began lamenting their poverty—the lack of a house, a loving family, a job—and another responded by expressing her deep gratitude to God. We wondered if this would cause a conflict.

“I know how you feel,” Peke-chan said to the man, with compassion. “I live in a cramped space, without even a proper kitchen to cook in. I have no career, no husband. But today, my God gave me eggplants!” As she went on to describe her joy at receiving these special love gifts from God through the generosity of another church member, we could really feel Jesus draw near. 

So could Akaiwa-san, a new believer sitting nearby. It frightened him. 

“Kowai, Kowai, Kowai!” he burst out. “Scary, scary, scary! In all my seventy years of life, I have never heard anyone talk like this. There is such a huge gap between you and me, I don’t know what to do!” The presence of Jesus seemed to give him a deep awareness of his own sin. We prayed together about his desire to repent before this powerful God of love.

The following week in the park, that presence came again, but in a different way. When Peke-chan was verbally attacked by another attendee, it was Akaiwa-san who intervened. “Stop!” he said. “I love Peke-chan! When you attack her, you hurt me as well!” We all sensed the presence of God released through his kind words, and as the conflict resolve, Akaiwa-san even hugged the aggressor. There was a dramatic change in the atmosphere, as this new believer took on peacemaking in such a mature way!

Having a church in the park—without any walls, and with an all-are-welcome heart posture—leaves us very vulnerable to various troubles and attacks. It is God’s presence that protects us, bringing peace through thanksgiving, holy fear, repentance and reconciliation. Jesus is raising up peacemakers in the park.