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Smiths
Missionaries to Japan
Dear Prayer Partners, June 24, 2026
Thank you so much for holding us up in prayer. These past 3 weeks, as we have had Katie and Kristen here with us, many times the following verse has come to mind: Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19)
JoAnne and I have thoroughly loved having Katie and Kristen back home with us for awhile this summer. They arrived on June 5th, and our schedule has been full! The morning after they arrived, the 4 of us went to see a couple school sports day events where Katie taught, and Kristen got to visit with her former English student kiddos and their parents. The Lord gave us beautiful weather and safe travel as we took some family time to see the beauty of Hokkaido the next week. Kristen was able to spend some time with her sister Rachel’s family for a few days, and we have enjoyed introducing our daughters to new people that the Lord has brought our way in the past year. Shi, the young lady who trusted Christ, as well as Mrs. Ishiguro and her son, enjoyed getting to know them. This past Sunday Kristen visited with Mrs. Ishiguro, thanking her for making it a priority to come to church, and how it is an encouragement to JoAnne and me. Mrs. Ishiguro replied, “No, it’s been a blessing to me, and I was saved by coming here.” Praise the Lord. Please continue to pray for spiritual growth and steps of obedience for these new believers.
Thank you for the special prayers for our Father’s Day outreach this past Sunday. Though some at the last minute could not attend, we were blessed to have a good group of people in attendance, and it was quite the international mix, with people from not only Japan, but also China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Chile. Some of them can speak Japanese well, and others can only speak their mother tongue and some English. As mentioned in our previous prayer request, we had a morning service with special music and a Bible message on “The Most Wonderful Father”. Afterward we had a cookout in the back yard, and God blessed with several very good opportunities to make new connections with people. The Taiwanese man brought two men, and one of them, the Chilean, said he wants to come again. Another man from Sri Lanka has been in Japan off and on for many years and speaks Japanese well, but he has most recently come to live in our area, and has had difficulties in his workplace. Not knowing anyone, his first several
months in Nayoro were very difficult and lonely for him. Shi met him at her language class, and through her we invited him to come.
He opened up with me in a lengthy conversation, and I trust that God will continue to provide more times with him for the gospel’s sake. An additional blessing was the attendance of Mr. Takahashi, a man whose boy studies English here each week. Mr. Takahashi pitched in helping with the cooking on the grill, and we were so glad to see him here with his son. Though it was just a start with several of these people, it was a very good foundational meeting for future contact, we trust. Thank you for praying! Clearly, many of the people that came, and the smooth flow of the day were a direct result of the Lord allowing Katie and Kristen to be here helping us. It was a joy to serve our Saviour together.
Though Katie can stay until the end of July, Kristen will be returning to America tomorrow, and we appreciate your prayers for her safe journey back to Wisconsin.
JoAnne and I were able to book tickets for an August trip to visit our daughter Emilie’s family where they serve in Asia. Emilie is due to have a baby at that time, so we will do what we can to help out. We will be rather limited in what we can do, not knowing the language or much about life there, but we look forward to a new part of the world to visit and see firsthand the needs of so many who live in spiritual darkness. Emilie had a painful kidney stone flare-up recently, but praise the Lord for healing, and we look forward to seeing the part of the world where they are giving out the gospel as God enables them. I have to complete preparations for the two Sundays we will be away, and a Japanese pastor and his wife will be coming to hold services in our absence.
Grateful for your prayers! The Smiths
Dear Prayer Partners, May 13, 2026
As spring has come to Hokkaido (though we weren’t too sure of that during last week’s “Golden Week” holiday time, when we had both cherry blossoms and snow!), we’re reminded of the consistent care of our Creator, who promised to Noah after the Flood,
“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22)
It’s seedtime in our area, with farmers very busy preparing their fields, rice paddies being irrigated, etc. Though people may not think about it, they are busy in preparation because they believe that a fall harvest will be the result. We do the same with gospel seed, trusting that the Lord, in His time, will bring souls into His great harvest. Thank you for your part in the Lord’s enabling us to be here to plant the gospel seed in the hearts of these people.
A special thanks to all who prayed for our Mother’s Day outreach this past Sunday. Though some we hoped would attend didn’t make it, we had a good turnout, and the mothers appreciated the decorations, refreshments, pictures with their children, etc. We were most thankful for the help of Pastor and Mrs. Honbo, who came to help. Mrs. Honbo was the speaker for the ladies, and she gave her salvation testimony, as well as several passages of Scripture related to motherhood. All of the women who attended are still unsaved, though all of them have heard one or more times the presentation of the gospel. Pastor Honbo and Randy gave some logistical help when needed, and had a time of prayer together in a side room, while Mrs. Honbo spoke to the ladies. Please pray for God to use this to work in hearts of those who came.
Thank you for remembering the new believers with whom we work. While we rejoice over their salvation, we have an adversary that never ceases attempting to quench the work of God in their lives. Anything good from God and good for the child of God will be opposed, so it is no wonder that we see the devil’s efforts to keep people from consistent church attendance, and study of God’s word.
Please pray for wisdom as we work with Mrs. Ishiguro and Shi, that their hearts would continue to desire spiritual growth. We were saddened to hear of the death of a prominent doctor in our city, who we knew for many years, and to whom on numerous occasions we had opportunities to witness. Though he was very kind, as far as we know, he went into eternity without Christ and without hope. One of the things we commonly encounter with the Japanese to whom we witness is general indifference to the message of the gospel. As Paul stated in Romans 3:18: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Mrs. C, a lady who studies English with JoAnne, though exposed to the gospel message as they read the Bible together, is unconcerned regarding her need for salvation. Please pray that God would break through the materialism, culture, and things that choke out the word, and that a holy fear would fall upon people before it is eternally too late for them.
On the family front, we look forward to Katie and Kristen coming back for a visit this summer, and if you think of it, we would appreciate prayer for their safe travel between June 3rd-5th. Kristen will return to the States in late June, and Katie in late July. Also, our daughter Emilie, whose family is serving in a restricted Asian country, is expecting a baby due in early August. JoAnne and I are prayerfully planning a trip to visit them around that time to help out, and to see the place and needs of the people where they live and serve.
Last week we were blessed to have a few days with our daughter Rachel’s family. Though the weather was not too great, we still greatly enjoyed the time. Wishing we could be closer to our other children and grandchildren, but thankful for video chats!
Grateful for your prayers! The Smiths
Dear Prayer Partners, April 12, 2026
Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for us and the people with whom God has given us the privilege to minister. A special thank you to those who prayed for our Resurrection Sunday outreach last week. Christmas programs are usually more readily attended by the Japanese, as it has a more festive feeling to it. But when it comes to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that is the core of the gospel message, and people are brought face to face with the Bible’s teaching of their sin and need for a Saviour, and as such it is more convicting. Though many we invited did not come, we asked God to repare hearts of those who chose to attend, and God gave us a blessed day, as we presented through music, a slideshow, and preaching the Bible record of Jesus’ cross and victorious resurrection from the dead. Afterward we shared a noon meal together. Mrs. Ishiguro and her son came for the Sunday School hour, which contained basically the same content as the morning service. Except for one lady, Mrs. Maeda, who had to leave immediately after the service, the others stayed for the meal. Please pray for the truth of the gospel to penetrate the hearts of those who have not yet received the gift of eternal life in Christ. Praise the Lord for another opportunity to declare “He lives!”
Mrs. Ishiguro (on the right side of this photo) and her son Kentaro have been faithfully attending Sunday School since last August, and Mrs. Ishiguro has opened up more and more, asking questions, showing a spiritual hunger, and she has came for a Bible study with JoAnne and me on Tuesday mornings for the past couple months. She recently told us that she has placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and we are trusting that this is a genuine decision on her part that will continue to bear evidence of the new birth. Both Mrs. Ishiguro and the young lady Shi have declared to us their faith in Christ. Please pray with us, as we continue to disciple them and assist them in their growth as new believers. Pray with us that these ladies will continue to make steps of intentional obedience to the Lord, and that they will openly confess their faith by baptism, as the Lord brings them to that step of publicly expressing their faith. Please pray that Kentaro, as well as Mr. Ishiguro will also be saved.
As we have mentioned before, we met the Ishiguro family as a direct result of distributing Scriptures to homes in their town of Bifuka. We are now doing the same in the city of Shibetsu, and ask that you pray for God to “prepare the soil” of the hearts of people that receive these Scripture portions. They contain an introduction to the church here with contact information. Some refuse them, others receive them, only to briefly look at them and then throw them away. Oh, that people would realize the gift they hold in their hands, when they are given the word of God. Pray that God will bless His promise: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:11)
Shi has been studying Japanese in a class taught by a Japanese teacher for foreigners each week, and last week she told us that she and other students would be giving speeches as part of their class assignment for that week. JoAnne and I went to listen to her speech, and it also gave us opportunity to meet Japanese who were there to evaluate the speeches, as well as the other students. We were surprised at how many foreign students were there, from China, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. JoAnne plans to go take some refresher studies in Japanese, and through this we hope to see some new contacts formed for the sake of the gospel. It’s hard to believe that Mother’s Day is less than a month away. We will be hosting a special afternoon service that day (May 10), and Mrs. Keiko Honbo, who just celebrated 50 years of marriage (her husband is pastor of an independent Baptist church about 1.5 hours south of us) will be the guest speaker. Please pray for the Lord to give wisdom for Mrs. Honbo to bring exactly what the mothers need to hear.
Grateful for your prayers! The Smiths
Dear Prayer Partners, March 14, 2026
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea,
I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)
As we watch and read reports of the war in the Middle East, it’s wonderful to know the presence, power, provision, and protection of God is with His people. We pray for those in harm’s way, for the deliverance of the people of Iran, and for wisdom as Americans living in Japan. We are here to represent our Lord Jesus, not to get entangled with the affairs of this life. But we are American citizens, and with Japan totally dependent on foreign oil, the people here are nervous about how the war will affect them, and America’s role in it.
JoAnne and I thank the Lord for good health through this winter, and each Saturday morning we have been taking New Testament scriptures to homes in the nearby town of Bifuka. Near the beginning of this outreach last August, we met the Ishiguro family, which led Mrs. I and her son to start attending Sunday School, and they continue to come each week. Mrs. I has been also coming to have a Bible study with us on Tuesdays, and next week is a key opportunity to invite her to receive Christ as her Saviour. Please continue praying for this family.
Having finished scripture distribution in Bifuka, we now set our sights on going 20 minutes south to the city of Shibetsu, with a population of around 16,500 souls. Though a missionary family once lived there and a Baptist church got started, they are no longer in Japan, and the church is no longer there. We know a number of people in Shibetsu from English teaching, and two of our daughters taught English in public schools there for years with numerous witnessing opportunities, so we desire to continue sowing gospel seed in Shibetsu, and pray for God to prepare hearts.
Shi, the new believer continues to grow in her understanding of God’s word, and recently returned from a 3 week visit to her home country. She knows some other international classmates, and we’re hoping to have them over for a meal soon, and are praying for outreach opportunities with these people as well. They have a freedom to investigate Christianity here that doesn’t exist in their home country, so we pray God will use their time here to draw them to faith in Christ.
This is school graduation time in Japan, and last Sunday afternoon we held a ceremony for kindergarten graduates, 5 little girls that come to English class with JoAnne each week. Gifts were prepared for the children, and there was a slideshow with an introduction to Bible truths for parents in raising their children. Refreshments and portraits followed. Sadly, 3 children were sick, so attendance was low. But we made the slideshow Bible message available online, and will pass along the gifts later. We pray for these young families who need the Lord.
As we look ahead at the summer schedule, we are praying about various ministry opportunities, and ask that you pray with us for the Lord’s will. Many of you know that our daughter Emilie’s family is serving the Lord in Asia, and Emilie is currently expecting their 4th child, due in August. JoAnne and I are praying about a trip to visit them at that time.
From time to time people have asked about our daughter Rachel’s family here in Japan. Her husband Sekito is preparing for the ministry, while carrying the load of a full-time job, and Rachel stays busy as a mother of their little boy Coe. They are busy serving the Lord in their church’s ministry, and I know they are grateful for prayer. Should you wish to contact them, their email address is: sekito.rachel@gmail.com
Our last furlough to the States was in 2023, and though we got to nearly all our supporting churches, a few we couldn’t get to, and we are praying about when we can next visit them. We don’t know when that will be, but for now, if any of you pastors who support us would desire to have either a video report from us, or work out a livestream report for one of your services, please let us know. The technology is available, and we do want to stay in touch with those who faithfully pray and give to the Lord’s work here.
We will be inviting people to come to a special Resurrection Day service on April 5th, which we trust will be another opportunity to proclaim the great truth that makes Bible Christianity so different from the world’s religions. We serve a God who came to this world as a man, lived a sinless life, became our substitute and paid the full price of our sins, and conquered death and hell as our risen Lord. He lives!
Grateful for your prayers! The Smiths
Dear Prayer Partners, January 16, 2026
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)
It’s hard to believe how fast December came and went, and we find ourselves already halfway through January. Thanks to all who
have faithfully prayed, given, and shown your love toward us in 2025, and we trust God for all He has in store for 2026.
Thank you for praying for our Christmas programs last month. This was a new experience for JoAnne and
me, as for the past 35 years we have always had at least one of our children helping us with gospel outreach
at this time of year. We weren’t sure what to expect for a turnout, but we had good attendance, and are
thankful that we did the program two times, giving us opportunity with many who wouldn’t have come, had it
only been held one time on Sunday. This year we were encouraged to see a couple ladies whose children
study English, bring their children to the Christmas program, a first time to attend any kind of church-related activity.
The greatest joy in the past weeks has been seeing how God has continued to
work in the life of the Chinese lady Shi, who has been faithfully attending services and
studying the Bible with us. We completed a Bible course on basic truths of Christianity, but
she was not yet ready to trust in Christ. We then began a study through the Gospel of John,
and have been working through foundational truths from God’s word. Recently, when taking
a true/false exam on the topic of being “born again” taught in John 3, one of the true/false
statements said: “When a person believes in Christ and receives Him as his personal Savior, he is immediately born again.” Shi
answered “false” to this statement on the exam. When JoAnne asked her why she thought it was “false”, Shi told her that she thought
being “born again” was the event that takes place when a believer dies and goes to Heaven, so being born again can’t happen until
death. This, and many other misconceptions we have been working through with Shi, and taking her to the Scriptures for the answers.
This past Wednesday evening, Shi told us in no uncertain terms that she has indeed placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her
Saviour. Praise the Lord! Thank you for being part in another soul being brought into the family of God, and please continue to pray
for her growth.
Mrs. Ishiguro and her son Kentaro continue to attend Sunday School each week. On the last Sunday of 2025, Mr. Ishiguro
also attended Sunday School for the first time. Little by little he is opening up to further contact. Mrs. Ishiguro has indicated
interest in a Bible study, so please pray that we can get that started soon.
Thank you for also praying for Katie and Kristen, as they serve the Lord in their respective areas. Katie
was able to go spend a couple weeks in Wisconsin with Kristen during the Christmas break. We’re thankful how the
Lord is using them in the lives of youth, as well as elderly folks/shut-ins in their church. We’re thankful for travel
safety for them over the holidays, and the opportunity for us to visit online with our loved ones overseas, as well as
with our daughter Rachel’s family here for a few days.
The Igarashi family we have known for many years. There are 4 children, and the oldest, now college age, were
elementary school students when Rachel taught English to them. We have reached out with the gospel to their family in
various ways many times. The oldest brother and sister, Haruto and Runa, both compete in aerial ski jumping. Both
tried to make the Olympic team for next month in Italy. Runa made the team, but big brother Haruto missed the cut. He
is greatly disappointed, but has a good attitude about it all. They both will be back in Nayoro soon, and Haruto has
agreed to meet with me for lunch in the next couple weeks. Please pray for that meeting, as I try to encourage him to
once again consider that which is eternal, and not only the very short-lived glory of success in sports.
Gratefully for your part in the Lord’s work here,
The Smiths