Seinan Gakuin
4-L Foundation
News
Number 53 July 20, 2017
In Memory of Charlie Fenner
Charlie Fenner, who was a former teacher at Seinan Gakuin Junior High School, passed away on June 28 in Dallas, Texas. He is survived by Joy, his wife of 50 years, who has been a Director of the Seinan Gakuin 4-L Foundation from its beginning to the present.
Charlie was appointed as a Southern Baptist missionary in 1959 and after two years of language school in Tokyo moved to Fukuoka and began teaching in Seinan’s junior high school, which was only for boys during his years there. He took a leave of absence in 1966 and married Joy Phillips later that year. After she completed the missionary appointment process, they moved to Fukuoka as a couple and served under the Foreign Mission Board until 1980 when they returned to Texas.
The memorial service for Charlie, who was born in November 1929, was held on July 7 at the Gaston Oaks Baptist Church in Dallas. The SG 4-L Foundation has received two gifts in memory of Charlie, and if others wish to honor his memory and his service at Seinan Gakuin in a similar manner, checks can be sent to Keith Seat, 6 Whitehall Court, Silver Spring, MD 20901.
A Word from Associate Akane
Seinan Gakuin Associate Akane Forbess arrived in Fukuoka on March 28 and has been serving as an English teacher at the Seinan Gakuin Jr.-Sr. High School and as an assistant to SG Chaplain Lydia Barrow Hankins. Here is what she wrote just a few days ago for publication here:
I have felt so blessed to have been given this opportunity to return to Fukuoka and Seinan since I was here as an exchange student in 2013-2014. I have been able to reconnect with friends, teachers, and others whom I knew from my time as an exchange student, and it has been wonderful.
One main difference this time is that I am here as a teacher and a missionary, rather than as a student. Whereas before I was here mainly to learn, this time I feel a greater responsibility and desire to share my own experiences. Teaching at the junior-senior high school has been a dream come true for me. I have wanted to be a language teacher since studying abroad, and I am enjoying teaching English to the students, as well as learning from the other English teachers.
At the university, I feel that I am finally starting to find my place. We are starting to see more students at English Bible Class, and I have been participating in other school activities, such as English Cafe, where I have become friends with those who want to practice their English. I hope that I will be able to share my faith and experiences within these friendships.
All this to say, I feel that my time in Fukuoka is just beginning. Thank you for your prayers and support. I can’t wait to see what God has in store in the months ahead.
Please continue to pray for Associate Akane, especially when classes and school activities start up once again after the summer break.
Thank You to These Donors
Since the publication of the previous newsletter (No. 52 in April 2017), the Seinan Gakuin 4-L Foundation has received donations of $700. The 4-L Foundation appreciates these gifts that were given by Miss Sumiko Nagasawa, who lives in Kurume City, Japan, and by Ron & Lydia Hankins and Leroy & June Seat. The contributions of the two couples were given in memory of their former missionary colleague, Charlie Fenner.
**For more information about the Seinan Gakuin 4-L Foundation, please check the website (http://seinangakuin4-lfoundation.blogspot.com/), or write Leroy Seat at 1307 Canterbury Lane, Liberty, MO 64068, send an email to SeinanGakuin@4-LFoundation.org, or call 816-429-5205.