Oct 5 Sermon English Manuscript

Matthew 8:23–27 October 5, 2025                  

 “The Little Boat in the Storm”            Rev Yoshiro Konno

Nasushiobara Mission Station

75th Anniversary Worship Service              

Today, we hold what is likely the first-ever anniversary worship service for the Nasushiobara Mission Station.

First, a question for everyone: The bulletin already says “75th Anniversary,” but how many of you thought the mission station began at this current location and in this building? Please raise your hand.

According to the annual records of the United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ), the Nasushiobara Mission Station was founded on October 1, 1950. For the basis of the 75th anniversary, please refer to the “Memorandum” distributed today. It’s a document exchanged when the current church building and land were donated, dated February 13, 2000.

Let’s look at the background:

1. Rev. Haruo Fukumoto, already retired from Nishi-Nasu Church at the time, had a prayerful desire to evangelize in the northern region beyond Nishi-Nasuno Church. Although Japan’s land bubble had ended, the Nasushiobara area was a strong candidate for capital relocation, and land prices here were at their peak. You may be surprised by the prices listed. Rev. Fukumoto donated the building and the land to the Kuroiso Mission Station of the UCCJ, under Rev. Isaburo Kuniyoshi. Rev. Fukumoto passed away in June 2000, the same year he made the donation.

2. Rev. Kuniyoshi, the supervising pastor of the Kuroiso Mission Station, accepted the donation and made it official. He later retired from Utsunomiya Uwamachi Church and passed away in October 2002. The trembling handwriting in the documents reflects his age. It was as if the baton of life had been passed from Rev. Fukumoto to Rev. Kuniyoshi.

3. Rev. Kuniyoshi and Rev. Mitsuro Yokota, then chair of the Tochigi District Committee and pastor of Yojocho Church, handled the appointment of the next pastor.

4. The name “Kuroiso Mission Station” was retained for the time being. In 2005, when “Kuroiso City” was renamed “Nasushiobara City,” the church name was also changed to “Nasushiobara Mission Station.”

5. Until the next pastor arrived, Rev. Fukumoto served as a cooperating pastor. Then, in April 2000, Rev. Masao Sasaki was appointed.

To summarize: this year marks 75 years since the founding, 50 years in Kuroiso, and 25 years at the current location. However, the exact time and place of the original founding in Kuroiso remain unclear. The only record is the UCCJ annual listing of October 1, 1950, as the opening of the Kuroiso Mission Station. No other records exist. It’s said that Rev. Kuniyoshi, then pastor of Utsunomiya Uwamachi Church, began pioneering evangelism in a believer’s home in Kuroiso on that date. For 50 years, the mission station moved from house to house in Kuroiso, never having its own building. We don’t know the addresses or the number of believers from that time.

Then, 25 years ago, Rev. Fukumoto purchased and donated what had been a dental clinic at the current location. Soon after, Rev. Sasaki began worship services. The first believer was his wife, and it’s said that for a while, Rev. Sasaki preached to his wife and the clock.

According to UCCJ regulations, a mission station can apply to become a church if it has more than 20 members. Our Kuroiso Mission Station has remained a “mission station” for all 75 years. I believe there’s a meaningful message in that.

When Christianity began to spread, today’s Bible story that we read became the basis for the symbol of the church—a little boat. The boat represents the church, the fellowship of faith, and even the life each of us carries.

Unlike cars that run on roads, boats are always swaying, affected by wind, rain, and waves. They rarely follow the path as planned. The Nasushiobara Mission Station, as a little boat, has weathered 75 years of storms and could have sunk at any time—but it didn’t. Let’s explore why, through today’s scripture. I’ll share two points.

First, this story of the “little boat in the storm” appears similarly in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. What I noticed for the first time is that in Mark and Luke, Jesus and the disciples get into the boat together and set out. But in Matthew, Jesus boards first, and the disciples follow later. It may seem minor, but I think Matthew carefully considered the order of boarding.

We were invited by Jesus and joyfully boarded this little boat. But living by faith and following Jesus isn’t easy. It wasn’t what we expected. Even with faith, we can’t avoid storms, and we feel like we’re sinking. Maybe we know that Jesus is with us, but he seems to be asleep—not immediately helping in times of trouble. Though invited by Jesus, the reality is harsh. Perhaps Matthew wanted to say that. When Rev. Kuniyoshi began the Kuroiso Mission Station in someone’s home, there must have been similar hopes and expectations. Our own faith journeys may have started with similar hopes—but things turned out differently.

Yet, Matthew shows that by going through many storms with Jesus, our faith is strengthened each time. We come to know calmer waters and are given a more certain horizon of faith. These storms become essential steps in growing genuine faith.

Second, the boat is hit by an even fiercer storm and nearly swallowed. The disciples, once fishermen, try to manage the boat while drenched, but it is of no use. As we age, we gain life wisdom, but unexpected events still overwhelm us. That is the harshness of life.

The disciples cry out to the sleeping Jesus: “Lord, save us! We are drowning!” Their desperate plea echoes our own.

There are many kinds of storms: storms of disbelief, doubt, loss of loved ones, illness and aging, escapism, financial hardship, and the storms of this world’s times. A small boat cannot avoid being overwhelmed. That is why we cannot cross the lake without faith.

Jesus then says, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” This phrase appears four times in Matthew. “Little faith” does not mean “no faith,” but rather “small faith.” It may sound like a rebuke, but I hear it as Jesus gently speaking to disciples who struggle to fully believe—still loving them and staying close.

Then Jesus seriously rebukes the wind and lake, and “there was a great calm.” The word “great” emphasizes that it became even calmer than before the journey—so quiet and peaceful it felt unreal.

Our little boat—the Nasushiobara Mission Station—and the boat of our lives cannot avoid unexpected small and large storms. But because the Lord Jesus is with us and calms the storm, we’re okay. On this anniversary day, let’s renew our gratitude and trust that we can move forward through the storms.

Let us take a moment to reflect and pray as God directs and I will close us with a prayer.