Since 1989, when Redeemer City to City's story begins, Gary and Lois Watanabe have served as church planting missionaries and church planter trainers in several countries, including Mexico, the Philippines, and most recently in Japan. They began their work with Redeemer City to City in 2007, networking, training, and coaching church planters both locally and globally. In addition to being genuinely wonderful people, Gary and Lois are lifelong practitioners within the City to City network whose joy and enthusiasm are a great endorsement of this unique work.
More from our guests
Many of City to City’s early leaders, including Gary and Lois Watanabe and Jay Kyle, got their start with Mission to the World, whose global church planting work continues today.
To learn more about City to City’s emphasis on coaching church planters, check out Why is Coaching Church Planters Important by CTC’s Senior Director of Global Coaching, David Whitehead.
You can also explore the ongoing work God is doing through City to City Japan.
Finally, this episode closes with a reference to a poem by Corrie ten Boom, which we’ve reprinted here:
“Life is but a Weaving” (The Tapestry Poem) by Corrie ten Boom
My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.
