Christian Funeral in Japan
Ready for the funeral
Right after Christmas, one night at midnight,
we got a call from one of our members that
Grandpa had died quietly in his sleep. This
was quite unexpected, but right away we had to
start preparing the funeral. First of all, it is
the wake, and then the actual funeral. Many
people who never would dream of going to a
church come then, because funerals are very
important in Japanese society. So at the wake,
all the colleagues of the son showed up, and they all got a copy of Power For Living, a booklet
used to introduce the Christian faith to new
people. Since it is a funeral, everyone listens
very carefully, and it is great chance to present
the Message of Hope and Salvation. Some of the
family members also got to sit and hear, may-
be for the first time. Most people who attend a
Christian funeral for the first time are quite sur-
prized and moved because of the love and care
they feel from the church people.
We pray that this man’s life and death will be a seed that will eventually sprout and bear fruit so the rest of his family can be harvested into the Kingdom of God. Later on, in February, we went to the church grave to put his ashes into the grave.
This might all seem really strange to a westerner, but to a Japanese with buddhist thinking, taking care of the dead, and knowing where your ashes will be laid to rest, is of real concern. Some people will even come to the church and ask; “Where will I put my bones?” Here in Takarazuka, we not only have a church grave, but we also strive and pray that many more will find true hope for their lives here and hereafter by getting to know Jesus as their Saviour.
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