1. Esther : Renounce or not renounce

2. How many Japanese are in Canada?
Diaspora= people who are moving countries 　　
ex) ESL students, university students, working holiday, company workers…
How many Japanese are in Canada?
Long term stayer 57,000
Working holiday 6,500
Visitor 2,000,000
Student 40,000

3. How many times more open to the Gospel when people are outside of their own country?
more than 30 times!

4. 70 - 80% will leave their faith once they are in their own country!
Without follow up…
% will leave their faith once they are in their own country!

6. Beautiful Who is Esther? Time of Xerxes… diaspora at Persia
Adopted daughter of Mordecai
Beautiful
Story is set in the crazy power game
Her identity was hidden (2:10-11)
God’s name was hid but not absent

7. Who is Esther? Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy (2:19-23)
Ask Esther to report to the king
She gave credit to Mordecai
Haman hates Mordecai because he did not kneel down or pay him honour (3:2)
He plot to destroy the Jews!

8. Renounce or not renounce
Mordecai found out the Haman’s plot and was in huge distress (4:1-5)
Esther tried to find out what is going on (4:6-8)
Mordecai not only told Esther what was going on but also ask her to save her people from
the plot of wiping Jews out from Susa! (4:6-8)

9. Renounce or not renounce
Problems!
Esther has been hiding her nationality and the family back ground (as Mordecai instructed)
Esther was not called from the king (4:9)
Without being summoned the king, if one approach the king in the inner court, put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them (4:9)
This is dangerous!!!

10. Renounce or not renounce
Mordecai’s response
1. Her life is in danger anyways (4:13)
2. Jews will be saved with our without her (4:14)
3. Her own very purpose in life is at stake (4:14)
Do you want to live life in absence of God?

11. Renounce or not renounce
Esther’s response
Ask others who are living in Susa for the intercede prayers and fast three days as she does. (4:16) It is not one man show but it is with community .
Will make a move even without the kings calling (4:16)
If I perish, I perish (4:16)
God’s will be done
Live life with God rather than life without God

12. Japanese diplomat in Lithuania 1939-1940
Chiune Sugiura
Japanese diplomat in Lithuania
He issued over 6,000 family transit visas to save Jews disobeying the Japanese Foreign Ministry, risking his career and his families lives.

13. Rodrigues step on Fumie to save people who are already renounced
Silence
The story based on the fact in Japan 17th Century at the great prosecution
Rodrigues step on Fumie to save people who are already renounced

14. What is your stepping stone?
Fumie
The stepping stone
What is your stepping stone?

15. Dorthy Vaughan

16. Do we live life with life or death?
Busy= 忙しい
忙＝　心　(heart) + 亡　(death)
Do we live life with life or death?
How can we live as a Christ ambassador?