Taka & Eri from Tokyo

Takahiro and Eri Ueki (Taka and Eri), senior staff members of Japan Campus Crusade (JCCC), graduated with Masters of Divinity in Teaching and Exposition and Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies, respectively, in 2008.

Before joining JCCC, Taka had studied only for a year in a seminary in Japan. He stopped because he was diagnosed with incurable Hepatitis C.  But God did the impossible for him. He healed him through a clinical trial treatment in 2001-2002. That was when he reconsidered further theological studies and came to EAST.

Why EAST?

• An EAST Lecturer Dr Danny Loe (and wife Becky), who were instrumental in sharing Christ with Taka years ago, recommended EAST to Taka.
• Both Taka and Eri had several Christian friends in Singapore.
• Both EAST and Singapore’s multi-cultural milieu added to the attraction.
• EAST has a good balance of academics and ministry.

Taka and Eri remember fondly their time at EAST, especially the faculty and staff who were very kind to them and their young son, Tomoki, then age two borned in Singapore. “The librarians, Julie and Mala, were always helpful and caring,” says Eri, “they were like angels to us.”

They also enjoy the deep bonds they formed with the multi-cultural community,  which taught them how to work with people from other countries. “I bonded with the Korean brothers who, like me, had to overcome English,” says Taka, “and one of my best friends was Amus, church-planter from N India.”

Taka and Eri are grateful that EAST has developed in them the head, heart and hands to teach God’s truth to their Japanese co-workers. One of the greatest needs among the staff workers, which God is enabling them to meet, is integrate biblical truths to the ministry context and challenges.

Prayer Pointers:

1. Pray for their sons, Tomoki (14) and Kazuki (10), to have more Christian friends their age.
2. Pray for them as parents to raise their (strong-willed) boys with wisdom, and patience and to help them grow in God’s ways.
3. Pray for Taka as he helps staff members to grow spiritually, to listen to God deeply, and help them to be healthy Christian workers.
4. Pray for both Taka and Eri who are working on translation projects and materials. Taka helps to develop Japanese resources (e.g. New Life in Jesus in Japanese, and devotionals suited to Japanese Christians’ context and culture. Eri is involved with the translation of “The Significant Woman” materials to be contextualized to the Japanese audience.) Pray that their translation projects and resources development will go smoothly and help their readers grow in faith in Jesus.