BEST stands for Bible, English, Sports, and Travel. College students are first attracted by the chance to learn English from native English speakers - young believers from all over the world. Sports is a major component that helps us make friends and build relationships with Japanese college students. We play many different sports in rotation and everyone is encouraged to play to their best ability with no punishment or shame for losing. Trips all around Japan and throughout the world is a highlight for students. As we make friends through doing activities together, meals together, and just "hanging out" together, believers have many natural opportunities to share Jesus with our friends.
We never try to force them to believe in the Bible or Jesus. We love them with God's Love and what they see in our lives makes them thirsty to know why we're different. Thus, we always strive, in whatever activity we do with people, to be "salty" to where they begin to ask us why we do things or think things the way we do. Once the questions come from them, the relationship bridge is developed enough to the point that it can begin to bear the weight of Truth. If what we say is borne out by our lives and actions - more questions come and a genuine interest in Jesus and His Words.
At this point, we can invite them individually or in a group of their friends to begin to read the Bible with us. Even then, we often set it up to where the students themselves ask the questions and lead the study and we just sit in it as another participant or as a resource person when they get stuck. It's great fun to see the Holy Spirit use His Word to reveal Jesus and draw people to Him. Other students never show an interest in the Bible, and that's OK! We love them as our friends and keep the relationship for the long haul. The seeds we plant in these days often bears fruit later on.
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Our New Student Camp in May 2001 with Hamamatsu students
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Currently we have about 80 students in the Shizuoka BEST. We're at a Sports Camp in July '05 with Hamamatsu & Tokyo BEST Students.
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Sports draws many men into the BEST Club. We have 70% men - 30% women in the BEST Club - a healthy mix to raise up leaders for the next generation of Japanese.
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Pizza parties in our home are a BIG draw for college students. A medium pizza costs $30 in Japan. We make 10-20 pizzas and students can eat all they want for $5! Plus, it's a lot of fun to make together!
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Dinners in our home are the heart of our style of making friends with Japanese students. Whether in small groups or one-on-one, students tend to open up over a home-cooked meal. It's also the perfect chance for them to see our family life ask questions that often lead to discussions about Jesus and the Bible.
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Lunchtime English on campus is often the gateway into the BEST Club. Here short-term team members from Louisville talk with students and make friends.
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Family photos make a great conversation starter! Japanese students love to have the chance to practice their English with native English speakers.
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A caving trip together built bonds of friendship as we helped each other through the cave.
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15 guys took a bus trip around Western Japan for 2 weeks in August 2001 - sightseeing, camping, hiking, playing sports, cooking meals together, having deep discussions, and letting our lives rub off on each other. These guys have become life-long friends!
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Small group discussions in our home become the springboard into reading the Bible together.
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This past year, Daisuke has been helping me to learn to read the Bible in Japanese as we slowly go through the Gospel of John. I read it in Japanese and he reads it in English, then we discuss it in both languages. It's great fun!
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