This month, would you consider sharing this newsletter with someone who might be interested in God’s work in Japan? To subscribe to monthly emailed newsletters, click here!
A Busy Month
A lot has happened in the last month! Momentum is building toward Japan, and God has been answering prayers all along the way. One big answered prayer: this week, I moved in with a new roommate in Louisville, which I hope is the last move I will have to make before the Big One!
On top of that, there have been several opportunities to share about the work God is doing in Japan and to invite people to partner with Mustard Seed’s mission to glorify God by making disciples in urban Japan. One of the sweetest examples was the day I got to spend at Southeast Shelby County, where I spent two years as a resident on staff. On the day I visited Shelby Co.’s men’s and women’s groups, they were studying the prophet Isaiah. (If we’re allowed to pick favorites from the Bible, Isaiah would be one of mine!) As I introduced the vision of Mustard Seed Network, I read from Isaiah 56:
“And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant––
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer…
The Sovereign Lord declares––
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
‘I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.’“
As a Gentile foreigner to Israel myself, I’m grateful for this verse, and I can’t wait to get back to Japan where the Sovereign Lord is intent on gathering still more to Himself!
If you’d like to set up a meeting to find out more about what I’ll be doing in Japan with MSN, please reach out to me at nathan.storms@mustardseed.network!
Support Update
I am so grateful for the generosity of God’s people making this possible. The support represented by this little sliding bar is incredible!
It’s worth noting that any monthly support that begins now, while I’m still living Stateside, will build toward the one-time goal. Monthly support is my greatest need right now! Once the one-time goal is reached and the entire monthly number is active, I’ll be able to move! Thank you again for your generosity in support – both with finances and in prayer.
Another way you might support this journey to Japan is by forwarding this newsletter to someone who may be interested in God’s work to reach the unreached in Japan! (If you’re receiving this update via forward, thanks for reading this far. You can find out more about Mustard Seed Network here, or subscribe to receive future newsletters from me!)
I also want to continue to ask for your prayers as I keep moving towards Japan!
Please Pray For…
- Partnerships. I am excited to continue cultivating ministry partnerships here in the States as I prepare to be sent to Japan. I know that I need these partnerships in order to be sent well, and I hope to be able to share encouragement in ministry in return! In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands his followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” I believe we have the opportunity today to obey this command either by going or, if we can’t go, by intentionally sending people with our support. Please pray that God reveals opportunities for ministry partnerships that will help send me to Japan and which will remain mutually encouraging relationships for years to come!
- Provision. I’m aiming to move to Japan in January 2024 – 11 months from now! Before I can move, I need to raise both one-time and monthly recurring financial support. I know God is not daunted by that need! Please pray for God’s provision of financial support! If you are interested in partnering with Mustard Seed Network, I would love to connect and share more information with you. Please email me at nathan.storms@mustardseed.network so we can talk more about what partnership looks like! (You can also set up financial support on MSN’s website at this link.)
- Preparation. Please pray that God would continue to prepare me for this transition and for future ministry in Japan. Pray that I would be “sanctified by the truth” of His word. Pray that my heart and mind would remain anchored in His faithfulness. Pray that I am equipped to boldly proclaim the mystery of Christ, in the meantime here at home and soon also in Japan!
N.D. Storms 