EXCERPT
A prominent Japanese church leader appealed for forgiveness on behalf of his country in the emotional final day of the Tokyo 2010 Global Missions Consultation on Friday.
Pastor Reiji Oyama, one of the founders of Japan Evangelical Association, requested time on the closing day of the four-day gathering to reconcile with fellow believers in countries that Japan previously occupied.
Standing on stage, Oyama expressed repentance to representatives of Asian nations that Japan previously colonised as well as countries that it hurt. He specifically mentioned the countries of Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, and China.
“Japan repeatedly killed, murdered, stole, robbed, raped – just humiliated her neighbours,” Oyama said. “Therefore, as a Japanese, I really want to express my feelings of repentance. Not only do I want to repent to countries that Japan invaded and bombed and killed, but also as a Christian I want to really repent towards Israel.”
Oyama explained that Christians for a long time have hated Jewish people because they killed Jesus.
“The thing the Lord desires the most is that we get rid of those barriers and we come together and reconcile and become one,” the Japanese pastor said.
Mission leaders in attendance were asked to pray to remove anger and bitterness toward others from their heart. Japanese church leaders were specifically encouraged to extend a hand to mission leaders of Asian countries that Japan hurt while they prayed.
READ HERE:
http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase/missions/1756/section/1.htm
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