Japan Missions & The Christ Church Choir

“Now I b2015-04-16 22.54.11ecome a Christian.  On Christmas Sunday in 2014, I was baptized.  I believe that if Christ Church Choir didn’t come to me, I would not accept Jesus and I would still sing Gospel as just only music. But now, I can sing Gospel as the essence of Bible, “God’s words”. ~ Momoko

I read this testimony of Momoko and it still seems surreal that God would use members of a church choir from Nashville, Tennessee to go all the way to Japan, singing Gospel music, to bring the message of the Gospel to so many people searching for a real encounter with God.

2015-04-10 11.45.06-1It was about three days into my recent mission to Japan that I realized God had sent me on a “Christ Church” missions trip and I just didn’t know it!  After three life-changing trips to Japan ministering with the Christ Church Choir music team, I returned to Japan in April this year for 10 non-stop days of music ministry.  Everywhere I went, the reputation and stories of the music ministry from Christ Church went before me and I was welcomed and honored in both familiar and new cities & venues.  At every concert, there were other pastors/ministers/teachers attending who extended invitations for me to return and bring this Gospel music to their church or organization.  I met 2 ministers at my first concert who traveled 6 hours to come that day because they wanted to meet with me and request that I please come back and bring Gospel music concerts to their area.

2015-04-20 05.57.39Gospel music has made an impact in Japan that is hard to explain.  The Japanese people enjoy the soulful musical style but are also compelled by the spirit that moves through this music. Both Christian and non-Christian people enjoy gathering to sing these soulful Gospel songs! As Jesus is lifted up, He draws people to himself and this truly is happening through Gospel music in Japan.  After every concert, I met people who came to me overwhelmed with emotion, speaking of the powerful presence of God that they experienced.  Some of them spoke of feeling healing while others simply said they felt the “light” and “holiness” of God during the concert.

The first Music Missions team trips to Japan by the Christ Church Choir beg2015-07-21 00.14.16an in 2011.  From that mission, there was one young girl who was baptised and since that time there have been 8 total baptisms in direct response to the ministry of the Christ Church Choir music missions: Mika, Naohiro, Masashi, Toshi, Yumi, Tomoka, Momoko and Mamiko. The most recent baptism was of Mamiko Tani who came to my first concert in April and when the concert concluded, she spoke to our host, Pastor Yasunori and told him she decided that day that she wanted to be baptised and make a public confession of faith in Jesus! We know that many others have been impacted by the music ministry and have come to know Christ during this time but these are the ones we know have also followed through with water baptism.

I am also happy to report that each of these new Christians are growing in their faith and some are even teaching Bible classes at churches & universities! Seeing each of them volunteering in their churches, growing in their knowledge of the Word and continuing with their love of Gospel music is truly a blessing.

Along with the yearly trips to Japan by the CCChoir teams, there have been other ministers, like myself, who have been able to follow in the path paved by the ministry of the Christ Church Choir.  Pastor Dan has ministered in Japan along with Geron Davis & Kindred Souls, Wayne & Elizabeth GoodineJaimee Paul & Leif Shires, Elicia Brown and most recently, myself.

2015-04-19 18.41.01-1Each summer, a team of Japanese students & adults come to Nashville lead by our friend, Pastor Yasunori Aoki.  These visits are more than just a tourist trip to Music City USA but an opportunity for these young people to interact with Christians, stay in Christian homes and experience both a Christ Church Choir rehearsal & participate in a Sunday morning worship service.  Each year, there have been salvation decisions directly connected to the influence & experience that the person had on this trip. Every host home is important and every meal served matters.  It is all part of being the living Gospel to people who have never met Jesus.

The people of Japan are open.  The Christian leaders in Japan are pleading for us to bring Gospel Music missions and the doors are open for Christ Church Nashville to continue to make an impact in Japan for the Kingdom of God.

“I can feel the presence of God through singing with Christ Church Choir.  God touched my broken heart and made a new way to me…   2015-07-20 22.38.23After singing with them, I looked around with my tears. I was surprised that Choir members were crying, too.  I decided to be baptized at this time.  I’d like to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I’d like to follow him through singing Gospel, just like Christ Church Choir!  This unforgettable experience lead me to be Christian. I was Baptized in September 28 in 2014. Gospel becomes not only “music” but “living word” to me. I owe what I am now to Jesus and Christ Church Choir!” ~ Tomoka

 

 

You Deserve the Glory

In January I wrote out a list of 20 prayers for 2013 while flying home from Texas. That list has been on my phone this year and I’ve looked at it a few times, reminding myself of my prayers laid before The Lord. Some were specific things with tangible answers. Others were matters of the heart that only the Holy Spirit can answer and supply the need.

As I flew home from a great weekend in Florida ministering with Geron Davis & Kindred Souls (we said Evan Milby is the kindred and I’m the soul!), I read through that list of 20 prayers. It’s a bit surreal to realize that God has so specifically answered more than half of the things on this list. Even the opportunity to be a part of the ministry of Geron and Becky Davis is an answer to one of these prayers. 

God is so good to me I just cry when I think about it. I read that list and kept mentally checking things off the list… Yes, God answered, God supplied, God directed, God opened doors, God sent me around the world this year!

The Gospel is good news. I’m delighted, honored and grateful to share this good news wherever I go, next door in Nashville, across the country and around the world! 

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Pic and a Prayer – DAY 10 The Bridge Ministry Service Project

My prayer focus today is for The Bridge Ministry in Nashville, TN. To learn more about this ministry you can visit http://www.bridgeministry.org/  This ministry reaches the homeless of Nashville, meeting each week under the Jefferson Street Bridge, rain or shine.

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My favorite peanut butter. I had just bought this jar because I was out… but I’m giving it today to someone who needs it more than me.

Today, the members of Christ Church are bringing donations that will be distributed this Tuesday at the Bridge Ministry. People are donating new tents, sleeping bags, blankets, bikes, new underwear, travel sized toiletries and yes…. PEANUT BUTTER.
I love that the church as a community is doing this service project and hopefully people will continue to participate in this ministry in some kind of regular basis.  http://www.christchurchnashville.org/2013/02/05/the-bridge-ministry-service-project/

Bridge give away
A bike, A cart, A sleeping bag… all to be given away at The Bridge Ministry

“The best way I know to pray is to pray the Word of God, so that’s what I’m going to do today. Father God, In Leviticus 19:10 you (God) commanded the Jews that they not “gather every grape of thy vineyard”, but instead : “LEAVE (a portion of) THEM FOR THE POOR AND STRANGER”. Help me to see those less fortunate around me so that I can leave a portion of what you’ve given me to help someone else.  

under the bridge
The Christ Church Choir sang for The Bridge Ministry in September 2012 and have continued this relationship.

In Matthew 25 you said that if we give to the LEAST of these, we’ve given to you.  I don’t want to be found withholding good from someone when all that I have is yours.  I will give to others as if I am giving it to you.  When the woman with the alabaster box came and poured out all of the expensive oil on your feet, the religious people complained about the cost of her sacrifice… as if it has been wasted on you.   You said “the poor will always be with you and you can help them anytime you want but you won’t always have me.”  You wanted us to know that it was never a waste of resources to GIVE lavishly in thanks and worship to God.  (Mark 14)  Help me see that when I give LAVISHLY to others, leaving a portion of what you have given to me for the poor among us, I am pleasing your heart and you receive those gifts as worship to you.  

food under the bridge
Christ Church Choir members helping unload the food donations

I want to be a living example of Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.”  *one version says “do not abstain to do well to the needy;”

clothes under the bridge
Members of the Christ Church choir handing out clothes at The Bridge Ministry

*some photos shown courtesy of Sam Mayercik, Christ Church Choir member and faithful volunteer at The Bridge Ministry

New CD is AVAILABLE!

original post 6/1/2012

The new cd is ready to ship!

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If you would like to ORDER your copy of It’s My Desire to Praise Him, click on the link below to make your purchase. Cd’s are $15 each.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ELGY7EKFLMPGU

Remember to give your mailing address if you need this mailed to you (for non-local-Nashville folks).

New recording…on the way + more MISSIONS

original post: 02/22/2012

I don’t have alot of details for you right now but just thought I would let everyone know that I am getting ready to record a new project in the coming weeks.  About half of the songs will be public domain favorites and the other half are great church worship standards.

After we recorded the Missions Vol 1 project last summer to raise funds for the Japan missions team, I really wanted to do something similar as a solo project.  I will continue to do missions trips, as God  leads & provides, and I believe this project will be both a tool to help raise funds for those projects and  a vehicle to minister to people who want and need to feel encouragement in the presence of God.

This year I will be traveling to areas in the Middle East to walk & pray as well as a specific missions trip to Israel in June.  My dear friends, Frank & Sandra Young from Houston, TX have invited me to go with them to Israel as part of a group tour but more specifically, to sing and minister in some of the Arab Christian churches in the Haifa area.  I will be able to sing on their radio and TV programs that air the gospel in the Middle East region 24/7 each day. http://www.haifancc.org/
We will also be ministering in a Messianic congregation on Mt. Carmel http://carmel-assembly.org.il/   This Messianic congregation and the Arab Christian congregation fellowship with each other and work well together.  This is a beautiful testimony of what Christianity really is and the wall of separation does not exist!

The trip to Israel is a $3600 trip.  A portion of that cost is for airfare and I am blessed to be able to fly using my companion status so my trip costs will be closer to $2000.   If anyone is interested in going on this trip with me, I would love to have some more friends on the trip!   Feel free to check out the information at the following website and get back with me as soon as possible.  You will need to purchase your airline tickets asap and the balance of $2000 will be due at a later date. http://israeltour.webs.com/

As I mentioned, part of the purpose of the recording project is to fund missions efforts.  First, I have to pay for the project!  The initial cost of the project has already gone down from approximately $5000 to $3500 due to generous donations from people directly involved in the recording.   Deadlines for money are coming up quickly so if you feel that you can make a donation to help with this project, your help is appreciated.

MARCH 12:   deadline for $1500
MARCH 19:   deadline for $1000
MARCH 23:   deadline for $1000

Click on the link below to make a donation for this project and the upcoming Missions trips for 2012.  Any donation of $10 or more will receive a copy of the cd recording.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=H88NEEF5EGK34

You can also make donations in cash or check.  Make checks payable to Vanessa Maddoux.

Japan trip 2011

*This blog post was reposted from my previous website. Original posting was on 8/15/2011

Exactly three weeks from today, I leave for Japan with a team from Christ Church Nashville to sing in a series of concerts across the country, Sept 5-15th.  I am sure you are aware of the devastation that took place in cities like Sendai when the earthquakes earlier this year spawned a massive Tsunami that destroyed everything in its path.  We will be visiting these areas and bringing a message of hope and healing to those who have been affected by this catastrophe.  It’s very surreal to think that God has somehow made a connection between Nashville and Japan for us to bring the Gospel to them in this way and at this time.

A truly divine connection has been made with a young pastor from Kyoto named Yasunori Ayoki.  He was visiting with us in Tennessee when the Tsunami hit (some of you may have heard him pray at the Joel Osteen event in Nashville that week) and in a few short days the invitation to go to Japan was extended to the Christ Church Choir. In just a few weeks, we sent 6 people on a preliminary trip to do some ministry while gathering information to better plan a trip with more people.  The result of that trip was an invitation for a group of 15-20 people to return in September to sing at the Jozenji Jazz Festival in Sendai City along with a series of other concerts from Osaka to Kyoto to Tokyo to Kanazawa!  Something we have learned in these past few months is that the Japanese people LOVE Gospel music and specifically Black Gospel Music. Many choirs there are filled with Christians and non-Christians who all gather to sing together simply because they love the musical style.  This is a wonderful opportunity to share the reason why they are drawn to this music.  The Japanese people are not looking for another religion.  They have plenty of religion.  Introducing them to something greater than religion – a living God, Jesus Christ, who brings them hope and healing – they are interested in that!  I’m so honored to have the opportunity to sing and share Jesus with them.

There’s a song by William McDowell called “As We Worship” and I’ve always loved it. (My friend Lici Brown sang on that project, it’s A-MAZING.)  I was listening to it the other day and at one point in the song he just starts saying, “We’ll see miracles, signs and wonders… miracles, signs and wonders… miracles, signs, and wonders…”  Now, I’ve heard this song a million times so this was not new to me but I felt distinctly that the Holy Spirit was saying that WE WILL SEE MIRACLES SIGNS AND WONDERS as we worship HIM in Japan. So many times in the Bible when you hear about healings and other signs & wonders, it was for the unbeliever, so that he would believe.  Japan is filled with people who need to meet the supernatural, loving, faithful, healing, miraculous God, Jesus Christ. I believe we are going with the power of Christ and we will see these things.   Acts 14:3 (NLT) “But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.”

Please pray for me during this time…. pray for the whole team.  We have a long trip there and back as well as a very packed schedule while we are there.  It will be easy for our physical bodies to wear down quickly.  I’m blessed to be going on this trip with people that are truly close friends but this will also be hard because we will need to rest our voices as much as possible since we are singing every day (sometimes 2 concerts a day).  Everything we are singing is something that will take 100% energy to do well.  Pray that I have 1000% energy and health during this entire trip!

Some of you know that I have a HUGE blessing in that I am able to fly for free on Continental/United using a companion pass from my dear friend Rhonda.  Because we are leaving on a holiday weekend (Labor Day), this may make my travel a little more difficult.  Depending on pass-travel factors, I may even have to leave for Japan a few days earlier than the rest of the group as well.  I am praying that I can leave on Monday, September 5th so that I don’t have to leave the states earlier than the team.   I will leave Nashville on September 1st to avoid the Labor Day travelers on the weekend and be in Houston, ready to board the plane for Tokyo.   When I arrive in Tokyo, I will have an adventure ahead of me since I will have to board a train to get from Tokyo to Kyoto.  (pray!)   I am told that there are plenty of signs at the Narita Airport that are written in English.  Still, I may be praying for a guiding angel that day!  Once again… pray pray pray!

It’s so fun to see the posters they have created to promote our concerts!

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Here we are…. with our names written in Japanese!
Alicia Newberry  (soprano and my roomie for the trip)
Elicia Brown  (Who doesn’t like seafood. at. all. Did someone say sushi?)
Vanessa Maddoux  (This Japan trip is part of my weightloss plan)
Shelly Justice  (Soprano but she’s singing alto.  She’s just a sang’n wail’n fool.  That’s all)

singers pic in japanese


and the altos…
Denise Palma  (who just may debut her first solo on this trip!… and will be my peanut butter buddy when I just can’t take the seafood any longer.)
Vicki Pointer  (who has already learned more Japanese than all of us)


our Tenors….

Daniel Palma (well, Daniel is a Bass who is singing Tenor. He’s one of our signs and wonders!) Jay Hodge  (who wins the award for most scrap metal sold to fund the trip) guys


Our AWESOME band!!!  I can’t tell you how excited I am that these guys are going on this trip.  5 STAR TALENT and 5 STAR HEART!
Christopher Phillips (musical director, Mr. Everything)
Garth Justice (drums and resident comedian)
Rich Alves (acoustic guitar and too nice to say anything bad about)
Leif Shires (trumpet and our honorable Japanese language guru)
Randy Smith (bass and vocals…. and Zach’s dad)band


What would we do without these friends?
Amanda Phillips (our cruise director for the trip, also married to Mr. Everything)
Austin Cagle (that’s Reverand Cagle… with his 1 suit)
Lynn Fuston (who will make sure we all sound fabulous)
Zachary Smith ( who will make sure there are plenty of pictures and videos for you to experience Japan as if you were right there with us!)