An Opportunity to Serve

“Can I borrow this commentary from the CBI library to help me prepare my sermon?”

We have often received requests like this from local pastors who do not have access to valuable resources for sermon preparation. Sadly, the answer has normally been no, since our current lack of a catalog system means it is not feasible to lend books to outside patrons.

Next Steps for Deeper & Further:
Enhancing the CBI Library

The library is a critical part of any institution of higher education, because students learn not only from classroom instruction but also from engaging with a variety of materials as they complete assignments and pursue their own investigations. Christ Bible Seminary is no exception.

CBI’s new renovation has made the library more user-friendly as a resource for both seminary students and local pastors, but there is still room for improvement. The CBI library holds approximately 12,000 volumes, and yet in our 20 years of existence we’ve never had a full-scale library software system that tracks books that are checked out and allows patrons to search our catalog online.

In order to bring our library up to industry standards, Christ Bible Seminary needs a reliable library software system and a budget for its implementation. The library enhancement project also includes support for a part-time staff member dedicated to the library and provision for library infrastructure improvements that were not included in the original renovation project.

The cost for the library enhancement project is $25,000.

Campaign Need

The total cost for the four “Deeper & Further: Next Steps” projects comes out to $199,941. By God’s grace, we have received a 1:1 matching grant for up to $46,005 of the total amount!

Please stay tuned for further information about the translation development project next week. Meanwhile, would you consider making a special gift today to help us reach our goal?

Any funds raised beyond our goal will be used for other CBI efforts to take the gospel deeper and further throughout Japan.

New Year’s Prayer Week

In the hustle and bustle of life in Japan, it is easy to forget that there are powerful spiritual forces at work. The Japanese New Year holiday is one of the most spiritually significant seasons in Japan. For Christians, this is an invitation to unite in prayer and cry out to the living God. 

CBI has created a prayer guide and a set of devotionals designed to focus our intercession on the spiritual dynamics at play during the Japanese New Year holiday. We long to see the day when the name of Jesus is cherished and proclaimed all across Japan. We invite you to join us for this focused season of prayer from December 29 to January 4.

Phone #: (+81) 052-462-8331
Fax #: (+81) 052-462-8334
CBI.Friends.Japan@gmail.com

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