Teruyuki Ibata
I first met Thierry when I was in primary school, back when I accompanied my father, a pastor, to the Imperial Palace for a prayer walk. At a time when we didn’t see nearly as many foreign tourists as we do now, the opportunity to meet a “foreigner” was rare, so the memory stayed with me. Now, more than ten years later, I was invited to this Psalm and Dinner MOGs meeting in 2024. I am amazed by this remarkable providence.
In 2024, I had just changed jobs to a company near Otemachi. My salary had increased and my working environment had improved, but my heart was far from God. I felt a vague anxiety and fear toward my “future” work and life. Wanting to change something, I decided to visit the TMP office, which is located between my home and my workplace. At first, I felt as though I was just going there to chat.
I felt a sense of resistance toward the words of the Psalms. When I read the Old Testament, many words—such as “destroy” or “judgment”—felt sharp, and I had a sense that I myself was being condemned. However, through the many questions posed at the Psalm and Dinner MOGs meeting, the misconceptions at the root of my anxiety and resistance were gradually revealed. It felt as if the hardened shell covering me was flaking off piece by piece. These discoveries were so enjoyable that, before I knew it, I was attending the regular monthly meetings. Meanwhile, in my daily life, I still rarely prayed or attended worship services.
After a year and a half, I developed an adjustment disorder due to interpersonal relationships at the office and took a leave of absence. I was paying the price for having “consumed” the Word for my own convenience without practicing it in my daily life. I became unable to sleep or eat properly, and I felt as though my future had turned pitch black.
However, through the Psalms, as I saw David—struggling, cornered, and wounded—relying on God’s help, my focus shifted from the unsolvable worry of “anxiety about the future” to the grace given now and the help God has prepared.
Once I began to feel this way, this group became not just a place where I could “feel better by talking,” but a place where I could “receive encouragement through the Word.” My attendance at worship services has increased, and I have found opportunities to pray for my family and friends in my daily life.
While I still struggle with sleep issues, I am able to work toward returning to my job without becoming overly pessimistic. This is something I could never have done alone.
I am truly grateful to Thierry and Caleb, who always listen to me attentively and pray for me. The Psalm and Dinner MOGs Meeting, where we can talk from the heart and engage deeply with the Word, brings me much learning and joy. May this ministry be increasingly blessed.
