Seinan Gakuin
4-L Foundation
News
Number 56 February 25, 2020
Despite many changes
in 4-L Foundation over the last two years, we continue to move forward and are
pleased to announce an expansion of our support at Seinan Gakuin.
(For newcomers to this
newsletter, please see the website below.)
Our currently appointed
associate Akane Forbess will finish her third year in March 2020. She has done
a wonderful job both at the junior high school and high school teaching ESOL
classes, and at the university, leading English Bible Class and relating to
university students as well as faculty. She has made a lasting impression on
both students and administration, and as a result, the principal of Seinan
Gakuin Elementary School has asked her to stay on at Seinan for another half
year and fill in at the elementary school for a teacher on leave. 4-L
Foundation has voted to make her extended time official and claim her still as
our associate, which means among other things that we will continue to provide
affordable housing at the seminary dormitory and continue to hold her up in
prayer in her ministry at Seinan with 4-L Foundation.
This year will also bring a
newly appointed associate to Seinan. Sylvain Panu from Atlanta will arrive in
Fukuoka in March to assume teaching and ministry responsibilities from the new
school year in April. Sylvain has been
working as a psychological therapist and brings much experience in working with
middle schoolers and high schoolers. We are most blessed to have a new
appointee who also speaks Japanese. (Lydia met him at the Japanese Baptist
Church in Atlanta.) After some frustrating months, Sylvain’s visa has just
recently come through, and he will arrive in Fukuoka on March 25.
The Theological
Department at Seinan has graciously agreed to allow us to rent two apartments
for the two associates. Since I am no longer on the ground there at Seinan, 4-L
Foundation will be relying on Akane to work with us in the transition period and
orientation for Sylvain, as well as in setting up the second apartment.
Chaplain Bunchiku Ryu will also be
assisting and will continue in a supervisory role for the work of the 4-L
Associate at the university.
In news of Seinan
Gakuin, a former board member of 4-L Foundation Ken’ichi Takara will retire as
Chief Administrative Officer at the end of March. His successor is Kouji Ohba
who was baptized last year. This is one of several positions including
chancellor, president, and principals that require for election or appointment
a person who professes Christian faith. Effective in May, Naoki Imai will
become Chancellor over all six schools under the Seinan umbrella. Imai holds
PhDs in the fields of both science and literature. He is on the faculty of the
International Culture Department and is well-respected on campus as a person of
deep faith and insightful intellect.
Personally, I am
happy to report that the Volunteer Center with Chaplain Ryu, my successor, as chaperon has resumed student
volunteer trips to The Philippines.
We are always
thankful for the generous gifts from our directors and friends. Pray for
Sylvain and his preparations for arrival at Seinan, for Akane in her new
position at the Elementary School, and for Seinan Gakuin and those assuming new
roles of great responsibility, and for all incoming students and new faculty
and staff. We hold up Seinan Gakuin in
prayer to “be true to Christ,” as we too
strive to be faithful where God has led us to plant our lives.
⮚
Lydia
Barrow-Hankins (former Chaplain at Seinan Gakuin), President
⮚
Charles
Cantrell (attorney, former exchange student at SGU), Secretary
⮚
Keith
Seat (attorney), Treasurer
⮚
Leroy
Seat (former Chancellor of Seinan Gakuin), Founder
⮚
Gary
Barkley (Chancellor of Seinan Gakuin)
⮚
Charles
Dozier (grandson of Seinan Gakuin’s founder)
⮚
Joy
Fenner (former missionary to Fukuoka, Japan)
⮚
Karen
Schaffner (former President of Seinan Gakuin University)
For
more information about the Seinan Gakuin 4-L Foundation, please check the
website: