In praise of faithful witness

Today the Christian church remembers Toyohiko Kagawa, renewer of society.

He was born in Kobe, Japan in 1888. Orphaned early, he was disowned by his remaining extended family when he became a Christian.* Kagawa spoke, wrote, and worked at great lengths on ways to imploy Christian principles in the ordering of society. His vocation to help the poor led him to live among them. He established schools, hospitals, and churches. He also worked for peace and established the Anti-War League. He was arrested for his efforts to reconcile Japan and China after the Japanese attacked and invaded China in 1937.

In celebration of his witness, recognize those people at Christ the King (and in your community of faith) who work on behalf of the poor and oppressed, and who, through their work, reveal the peace of Christ that is a gift of the resurrection.

*I have known a few Japanese nationals that have converted to Christianity. They were rejected by their family and friends and paid a heavy price for confessing that Jesus is "Savior and Lord."