King's Business - 1960-08

have been invited to conduct a month­ long evangelistic crusade in Tokyo during May, 1961—in the very heart of the huge student population num­ bering some 300,000. In this the world’s largest city, a gymnasium has been secured which will seat over 10,000 people. ( “ A miracle,” mission­ aries and Japanese church leaders agree. The Rotary organization sought the same building for a one-week international convention next May, and was turned down despite Japan’s interest in world trade and the obvi­ ous necessity of impressing the world’s businessmen. But the gymnasium was made available for the Crusade for an entire month — including the very week for which Rotary was turned down!) “ Over 90 per cent of the churches of Tokyo have participated in this invitation,” says Dr. Pierce. “They know that we are forthrightly evan­ gelical, and they want us to come and present the message of salvation through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Last year, Dr. Pierce served as evan­ gelist for the Osaka Crusade in Japan’s second largest city. Over 70,000 separ­ ate individuals attended the evening sessions; thousands more were reached through school and factory meetings and businessmen’s luncheons; multi­ plied thousands more heard the Gos­ pel for the first time over radio and television—and an exact 7,500 deci­ sions for Christ were recorded in the main Festival Hall meetings. “We urge the Christians of America to pray for Japan,” says Pierce. “ Pray for the church in Japan in these days, that it may speak with conviction and authority and Holy Spirit boldness in a day of political unrest and confu­ sion. Christians in Japan have been used to being a persecuted little minority. If we are going to help them find convictions rooted so deep in the Person of Jesus Christ that they can stand without being swayed by poli­ tical changes . . . if we are going to help them emphasize not only the worth of the individual but also the necessity of the New Birth . . . we must do it now." And he adds with deep conviction: “ I must go to Japan for this Tokyo Crusade. I have no choice. So please —pray for us.”

Decision time at Festival Hall, Osaka, during 1959 Crusade in Japan's second largest city. Six 500-voice choirs participated, along with the famed Kyoto Philhar­ monic Symphony Orchestra. An exact total of 7,500 decisions for Christ were recorded.

The gymnasium in Tokyo— a miraculous provision for the Tokyo Crusade to be held in May, 1961.

AUGUST, 1960

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