Well, lessee.... we got to Japan 28 years ago and started attending Kotake Cho Bible Church. In that time, our kids were born, passed around all the 'aunties' at church, grew up, moved out and got married. Aileen and I went from being wet-behind the ears kids just out of college to being one of veteran couples in the church. We've had four pastors, and even moved to a new building. BUT, we are still using the same hymnals!!

In a long overdue move, at our annual meeting last February the church decided its time to update our singing a bit with new song books, with the Big Change happening this coming January 1. This is ground-shaking stuff for most of the folk here :-)

But the recession has hit us pretty hard. Giving is way down, and barring the Lord's intervention, before the year is out we're not going to be able to pay the pastor his full salary. And with the overall small size of the church in Japan, it's hard to get 'economies of scale' going on Christian materials. The new hymnals are going to cost $40 each! (Well, $42 but let's call it an even $40).

Unfortunately, our young pastor is kinda getting himself worked up in a knot over the finances. Aileen and I plan to kick in for a good handful of the new books, but we'll need about 20 more. With this once-in-a-lifetime recession going on, it's crummy timing, but we were wondering if some folk back home might want to bless the church by buying them a hymnal or two.

If you'd like to encourage the folk here in that way, you can click the Paypal button here, which will let you use your credit card online -- pretty quick and easy. Unfortunately, we can't give you a tax-deductible receipt that way, though. If you'd like such a receipt, you can send the funds to TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187 -- put in a little note saying that it's for Selanders/Hymnals.

Hope you don't mind us asking for your help like this -- we're not trying to pressure anyone. Blessings!