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Stephen and Yuki Williams, with their children, Grace and Timothy, served as missionaries in Japan since 1993. After many years church-planting in Iwade, Wakayama prefecture, they knew the time had come to hand over responsibilities and return to the UK. Here is Yuki’s story of how God led them to Edinburgh and the Faith Mission (FM), with Yuki continuing as a partner with Japan Christian Link (JCL).
We are so thankful for the way that God has led and guided us. We left Japan not knowing where we would live or what God had in store for us. But now here we are in Edinburgh with new roles, which seem to fit perfectly with our different gifts and abilities. It was hard to leave our work at Iwade, but after ten years it was clear that it was time for us to move on and we needed to trust God both for the church and for our own future.
Soon after returning, Stephen attended an FM convention and heard they needed some summer help at their Bible College in Edinburgh. Stephen enjoyed this and it led to his accepting a permanent position at the Bible College.
But where did that leave me? I need to support Stephen in his new role and help a little at the college, but I still have a burden for sharing the gospel with Japanese people. Last August, I attended the European Japanese Christian Conference in Switzerland with our daughter Grace and came away with a renewed vision for work among overseas Japanese. If God can use Japanese Christians to reach out to others in places like Helsinki, Barcelona, Milan and Romania, then maybe he can use me in Edinburgh!
So this is the work that God has provided for me. I will remain linked to JCL and seek to share God’s love and His gospel of salvation with the many Japanese who live and work in this beautiful city. I love to meet new people and Christians at local churches have already introduced me to their Japanese friends. Please pray that in these early days God would bring me into contact with people with open hearts. Edinburgh is very different from Iwade, but I think that the need for Japanese people to hear the gospel is the same.
Timothy is also based in Scotland and has been busy working with the FM since graduating from Bible College last summer. Grace finished university in Tokyo last spring and now works for a Japanese finance company in London. The past year has been a wonderful reminder for our family that we can trust God for each and every stage of our lives.
With thanks to Japan Christian Link
