Chief International Evangelism & Missions Councilman
6th Degree Black Belt
JAPAN
I was born in Oklahoma and grew up in a pastor’s home. I was saved at age four while my father was away in an evangelistic meeting. I remember definite conviction of sin while lying in my bed considering the merits of becoming an old man and having a death bed” conversion. I felt that I wanted my way all my life, but still wanted to go to Heaven. However, I finally went to my mother and told her I wanted to be saved. She led me to the Lord using John 3:16, which I had memorized.
I dedicated my life to the Lord at 16. When I was a senior in high school the Lord called me to preach. The call to be a missionary came as a sophomore at Tennessee Temple University during the annual missionary at Highland Park Baptist Church. As a missionary from Japan spoke the Lord seemed to be saying, “Would you go to Tokyo, Japan, if I asked you to?” A week-long struggle culminated in a further surrender to the will of God, wherever it may take me. After I graduated in 1976, God confirmed the missionary call to be to Japan through veteran missionary Jim Norton and God’s Word in Romans 15:20-21, which says, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”
After college I went on to one semester of seminary at Temple Baptist Theological Seminary, then worked for almost a year in the editorial department of the Sword of the Lord Foundation under my grandfather, Dr. John R. Rice. I took another semester at Temple Seminary on our first furlough in 1986, and continued to take graduate modular and Internet courses over the years until our furlough of 2005, when I graduated in May from the Maranatha Baptist Graduate School with an MA in Biblical Studies.
I met my wife while on deputation to go to Japan under Baptist World Mission. The members of the candidate committee that she went before encouraged us to write each other. We wrote and dated until she accepted my proposal of marriage in January of 1979. Patty had prayed that, if it were God’s will, we would be married on May 5. Though I set the date without her saying anything other than that she wanted a spring wedding, we were married on May 5, 1979.
Upon completing deputation we left for Japan on May 4 of 1981. After two years of language school, I graduated from the prestigious Tokyo School of the Japanese Language. We moved to Yokohama in 1983, where I founded and pastored the Konandai Baptist Church (later Joy Baptist). From 1987 to 1996 I taught at the Grace Baptist Bible School in Tokyo. I continue to teach there through videos.
In October of 1996 we moved to the northern island of Hokkaido, where I founded the Victory Baptist Church and helped start the Asahikawa Bible Research Institute (now Hokkaido Bible Research Institute), of which I am the head and at which I continue to teach. I also am active in a literature ministry through which I write tracts and books in Japanese, and am heading up an effort to produce a new translation of the Japanese New Testament from the Textus Receptus Greek text.
Education
1970—Graduated from Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin
1970-1972—Studied at Bob Jones U.
1976—Graduated from Tennessee Temple U. with a BA in Bible in August
1976, 1986—Attended Temple Baptist Theological Seminary
1983—Graduated from the two year full time program of the Tokyo School of the Japanese Language
2005—Attended Maranatha Baptist Graduate School, graduating with an MA in Biblical Studies in May
Martial Arts History
1966-1970—Trained and competed in “catch-as-catch-can” wrestling at Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin, earning my letter in my senior year.
1971-1972—Trained in Judo at Bob Jones U., earning a 2nd kyu brown belt.
1972—Trained in karate at at Bob Jones U., earning a green belt
1972-1976—Trained in White Dragon Kung Fu at Tennessee Temple U. mostly under Sifu James Cravens and occasionally under Christian martial arts pioneer Sifu Mike Crain. Founded and led the Kung Fu For Christ evangelistic team.
1975—Trained in Tan Tui Kung Fu under Sifu Warren Obenland.
1977—Was awarded a first degree black sash in White Dragon Kung fu by Sifu Mike Crain.
1981—We moved to Japan to be missionaries under Baptist World Mission. I continued to train in White Dragon, teaching it to my son. In about 1990 I did what may have been the first ever evangelistic Christian martial arts demonstration in Japan at a camp.
1986—Resumed training under Prof. James Cravens while on furlough, in particular learning Wing Chun Gung Fu and some Hsing I Chinese Boxing. Trained in Ba Gua Chinese Boxing and Chinese-Hawaiian Kenpo under Sifu Warren Obenland.
1993—On furlough from Japan, founded the Temple Chinese Boxing Association with Sifu Warren Obenland. Shortly thereafter Sifu Mike McClure joined to be the third founding elder of the organization.
2000—On a martial arts ministry trip to Australia, participated in a GMAU clinic. Cross-ranked 2nd black in Seigi Bushido Ryu by Soke Dr. Kent Haralson and 2nd black in Ishi Ryoku Jujutsu by Soke Chris Foley.
2002—Traveled to Hong Kong to demonstrate, teach and preach for the Hong Kong Gospel Martial Arts Ministry. Two young Chinese trusted Christ when I preached in the main demo and tournament that were held.
2001—Ranked 4th black in kung fu by the Gospel Martial Arts Union.
2001 and 2004—Held GMAU/TCBA Clinics in Japan.
2002—Presented Temple Chinese Boxing to the GMAU for style recognition, which was achieved. Was promoted to 6th Black sash in Temple Chinese Boxing by the GMAU.
2008—I continue to promote the GMAU as a board member and representative, and the TCBA as its director.
