Retired Pastor’s Dedication to the PMM in Japan

Heart-warming news gives a big encouragement to the Pioneer Mission Movement (PMM) Missionaries in Japan as well as our Adventist members in the world.  By September, 2004, Suzuki Sigeharu, a 77-year-old Japanese retired pastor, has donated 3 vehicles to the PMM pastors serving in Japan.

First, Elder Suzuki gave one vehicle to Pastor Ko, Ki Rim who is one of the first PMM group in Japan, now pastoring in Fukui Church. Secondly, when Elder Suzuki saw Pastor Lee, Jin Hwan traveling by public transportation to evangelize people in Kawasaki region, Japan, he gave money to Pastor Lee to purchase a van. In fact, this money was saved for his funeral.

The third vehicle was given to the 2^nd group of PMM’s. He contributed his own car then purchased another one for himself. His vehicle is a secondhand wagon he is paying for by installments over a 2-year period. He said, “Now, I can visit the PMM missionaries all throughout Japan. I can drive with my wife and sleep in this car in order to save hotel cost.”  

The story continues as Elder Suzuki supports, with his offerings to Saga Church, where one of PMM pastor is serving. In November, 2004, the Korean Union Conference celebrates the Centennial. He saved about 500 dollars for the trip to participate in this ceremony, but decided to contribute the money to the Saga Church.  

When the PMM missionaries and church members found out about Elder Suzuki’s dedication, they began a campaign to collect money to assist him in visiting Korea. Many people both, in Korea and Japan joined this event. He has been given 1,400 dollars to participate in the celebration. 

Pastor Kwon JohngHaeng, Global Mission and Pioneer Mission Movement coordinator of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, said, “First, I thank Elder Suzuki so much for his warm-heart love and contribution to the PMM. I also thank the PMM missionaries’ responding in action to the warm-heart contribution of Elder Suzuki. This is very beautiful story showing a kind of both-side exchanging love.” 

Elder Suzuki said, “I thank the Lord for helping me meet the most thrilling young people, the PMM missionaries, in 70 years of my life. My goal for what is left of life is to support missionaries.” Now he is promoting the PMM wearing a shirt with embroidered letters, “PMMS Suzuki.” “PMMS” means “PMM Supporter.”  

Elder Suzuki Sigeharu was born in 1927 in an Adventist Family where mother and grandmother were Adventists. During the World War II, he was a trained as a Kamikaze pilot for the Japanese Air Force. In 1944, while he was in training, he didn’t drink and kept himself from immorality, following his mother’s teaching. Also, he cleaned the shoes of his fellows every night using his extra time, remembering his mother’s saying “Help your friends in difficulty.”  Later, he found that he could survive the war because Captain Kobayashi continued to put Suzuki’s name on the last line of the list of those who were to fly the Kamikaze planes on suicide bombing raids, after Captain Kobayashi saw Suzuki shining shoes.  

After the World War II, Elder Suzuki became an Adventist in 1947 and has dedicated his life as a literature evangelist, supervisor in the Publishing House of Japan Union Conference and dormitory dean in Adventist Schools, pastoring for 18 years. In 1997, he was given an award by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto for his temperance stand during the war. He was the only one among 5,000 fellow Kamikaze pilots to take this stand.