Bethel Fellowship International

It gives us pleasure to announce that Bob Brodland, former missionary-Bible teacher to Indonesia and pastor of old Bethel Temple, with the help of his son, Sam, and granddaughter Liz, has provided several of W. W. Patterson’s teaching material on a wide variety of subjects. The material includes subject matter such as the Pauline Epistles and The Holy Spirit. Perhaps Brother Patterson’s last publication, GREAT THEMES is also available in a 114-page pdf document. 

After these studies were made available, BFI notified its ministers, friends and churches about the material. We received the following responses of appreciation for the materials from as far away as Australia and South America.

⏤ Kevin & Rene Conner write: Thank you so much for W. W. Patterson’s notes. He was a great teacher. He came out to Australia so we heard him in the 1950s. We are praying for another outpouring of the Blessed Holy Spirit here. I believe there is a blowing in the mulberry trees. Praise God the greatest is yet to come. His Church shall rise up and we will see the fulfillment of all things. Glory to God.

⏤ Kerry Brewer, former Bethel Temple Bible School student now living in South America writes: Thank you so much our Bethel Book Room.

In the next few weeks more of Brother Patterson’s teaching material will also be made available. Be on the lookout for studies that will include: Three Days-Three Nights, The Anointing, Joseph, Manna and No Sinners in the Millennium.

In the meantime, why not drop by the Bethel Book Room and browse the shelves? Bethel Book Room is on the BFI Homepage Menu Bar where you are now reading this article. Click on the sixth link to the right of HOME and a sub-menu will appear that contains additional links to materials by familiar Bethel Temple names such Offiler, Patterson, Cabe, McKnight and Zinn. The Bible Chart of The Ages printed in 1946 is also listed.

 

Nils & Andrea Olson came to Japan in January of 1978 and  began their life as missionaries, working and preparing for four years in Kurume City under the mentorship of former Bethel Temple missionaries George & Mary Beth Frazier before stepping out and moving to the city of God’s leading . . . Munakata . . . thirty-four years ago in September 1982.

They celebrated the past 38 years last month on November 13th in a combined “retirement-and-passing-the-baton” day of worship, food, fun and fellowship. Passing the baton of pastoral leadership to James & Tracy Xavier has been a work in progress since they arrived in January 2010 after being sent out from the River of Life Fellowship in Kent, WA by Pastors Jack & Joyce Holt. The Xavier’s  have proved themselves, studied the language, captured the hearts of the congregants and put roots of intention to remain in Japan until The Day.

Nils & Andrea relate they regret none of the past 38 years. Those years were filled with God’s Presence, signs, wonders and miracles. They look forward to what God has for them in the months and years ahead as they re-fire and are boosted like a rocket closer to the Second Coming of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nils & Andrea have included here a link titled “Retire and Refire” of their lives from their high school graduation, marriage at Bethel Temple, ordination, arrival in Japan, four years in Kurume and 34 years in Munakata.

Passing The Baton at MBCC by Riz Crescini, professional photographer and member of Munakata Bethel Christian Center, is 6:47-minute slideshow presentation of the entire day of celebration.

One can also view the actual pastoral leadership exchange and passing of the baton here in this 1hour-32-minute video. The baton exchange portion is toward the latter end of the video. It is mainly in Japanese and may sound muffled, but guest speakers Jack Holt, pastor of the River of Life Fellowship in Kent, along with Gary Barnes, BFI’s retired pastor from the Little Chapel in Cordova, Alaska (now residing in Arizona) speak in English with an interpreter. Nils asked his interpreter from 38 years ago, Hidekuni INADOMI, to translate his parting message for the Japanese present.

The following Sunday, November 20th, speaking about the Kingdom of God, BFI representative Jeff Earlywine, who pastors Bible Fellowship in Federal Way, ministered in the morning service at MBCC. As he ministered, the Holy Spirit revealed several needs through His gift of the word of knowledge. Among those called out by this gift was

⏤ a young man who was to be given powerful and influential favor of the Lord.

⏤ a young couple who have been married five years and wanting a child. The wife had been told by a gynecologist when they were married that her fallopian tubes were blocked and that she could not have a baby. The Lord spoke through a prophetic vision to the couple that children were seen at the feet of their feet. The wife revealed the next evening that she had seen a dream two days before holding a baby in her arms. She awoke suddenly thinking she was pregnant and went to see a local gynecologist. Upon examining, the doctor told the wife that one fallopian tube was open enough for passage. “This,” she exclaimed, “is a miracle.”

⏤another couple, of whom the wife had been apprehensive for all the years of their marriage about buying a house, had just the day before been talking together about finding a larger house, or even buying property to build a house for their family and business needs, was called out by a word of wisdom to “dream bigger dreams.” The very next day, they met with Nils’ calligrapher friend who has been planning to sell his house. He was in the very process of moving from his huge house in Munakata to the city. With their three children, the couple went through the house, which included a huge enough studio for the husband’s business. They decided they would buy the house and called the owner. This young family will be in their house of their “dreams” by next spring.

⏤Pastor Jeff also called the elders-deacons forward and prayed for them. As he was praying a word of knowledge revealed two or three felt very hot hands, at which time sick people were called forward where the elders-deacons prayed for them. Among the healings were extreme leg-back pain and abdominal disorder.

Nils & Andrea are so thankful that BFI sent Jeff & Cheryl to represent them at this very important time of transition as they turn over the work to the Xaviers. The baton has been passed. James & Tracy will now build on the foundation that has been laid. They have grabbed the baton and begun running. Let’s cheer them on to the end!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith . . . Hebrews 12:1

After taking a break for a few months, and before getting involved in further ministry, the Olsons have decided to remain living in Munakata, Japan to stand by and, if needed, be a support to the Xavier’s as they take over the leadership of MBCC. In the next few months they plan on visiting various churches they have longed to visit but have not been able to because of pastoring responsibilities.

⏤Nils & Andrea’s son and daughter-in-law, Mark & Megumi, along with their son, Lucas have also been a great incentive for them to remain in Japan. Lucas is the first grandchild with whom they will be able to spend ample time being a part of his growing up.

⏤Another beneficial reason for remaining in Japan is the Japanese National Health Insurance Program which pays 70% of all total bills. Upon Nils’ turning 70 in another year and a half, the insurance program will pay 80%. This kind of insurance coverage would be not be so easily available if they were to return and live in the United States. It is extremely beneficial for coverage of his Type 1 Diabetes.

⏤Nils will continue performing weddings to supplement their income, plus MBCC will continue to pay the Olson’s monthly rent and give them a small stipend. Nils said he may begin pottery lessons  and wants to begin learning how to barbecue. Andrea, on the other hand, will build relationships with women in their neighborhood, take up quilting and continue her beading and flower arrangement classes. Andrea said, “We will continue to wait on God for His directions into the next phase of ministry. In the meantime, we simply need to rest in our spirit, soul and body. As we pray and wait on God and continue to build relationships within the community and encourage Jim and Tracy, we have an excitement for the future. There is still so much to do in Japan in reaching the Japanese for the Lord.”

Bethel Fellowship International’s spiritual and financial support of Nils & Andrea and their family over the past 38 years has been tremendous. They would like to thank,   

⏤Bible Fellowship, Federal Way,

⏤Bethel Chapel, Mountlake Terrace,

⏤Bethel Family Fellowship,  Bonney Lake and the

⏤Little Chapel in Cordova, Alaska

⏤AND the many friends of BFI

. . . for standing by their missionaries all these years, and ask that they would continue that support in the next phase of ministry for Nils & Andrea Olson.

George Lester Frazier went home to be his Lord on September 26, 2016 at the age of 84 years. He was born on March 26, 1932 in Chehalis, Washington, the ninth of 11 children. He worked long hard hours on his father’s farm as a child, then when the Korean War broke out voluntarily joined the Unites States Army in 1949. While in service for his country, he earned a Purple Heart award for bravery that occurred in live action. When not in Korea, he was stationed in Japan, which gave him an introduction to the Japanese people.

After returning from the Far East, George became a Christian and joined Bethel Temple in Seattle. There he met Mary Beth, after which they married on December 17, 1954. They were looking forward to soon celebrating 62 years together. George and Mary Beth had 3 children, Kathleen, who preceded him in passing in 2013, Sharon, and Dale. Soon after marriage, George attended Bethel Temple Bible School. Because of the great missionary heritage of that church and his previous experience in Japan during the Korean War, George felt strongly called to go to Japan to preach the Gospel. Mary Beth had also felt a call to Asia, though thought that it might be China. When George shared his passion with her, they decided to become missionaries to Japan.

Bethel Temple sent the Frazier family, including 3 children aged 4, 3, and 1 at the time, to Japan as missionaries in 1960. Air travel to the far east was still exotic in those days, so they took a steamship from Bellingham to Tokyo. After spending a year in Tokyo with the Bades, another Bethel Temple missionary family, learning about Japan and studying the language, they moved to the southern Island of Kyushu, as that was where George had been stationed earlier and he felt a strong call to that area. There, God did many miracles, including giving them free land in the city of Kurume under the condition that it be used for a church. George and Mary Beth served in Japan for a total of 39 years. Their original church, the Kurume Bethel Christ Church is still active and growing today. Many Japanese are now pastoring other churches after studying under George in a Bible School that he started in Kurume. Upon retirement from the mission field, they returned to the Seattle area and established an adult family home, where they were able to care for many older people, including some of the parents of their friends for many years.

George Frazier was a dynamic man with a large sense of humor. All who remember him can still see the large smile on his face and hear his loud laughing. He ministered to anyone he met and everyone was his friend. He is deeply missed by thousands of Japanese and Americans alike, as well as his family. George is survived by his wife Mary Beth, daughter Sharon Drury, and son Dale, along with 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Memorial services for BFI veteran missionary to Japan George Frazier will take place on Saturday, October 8, 2016, from 4:30 p.m. at Bethel Chapel in Mountlake Terrace, 23010 66th Ave West, Mountlake Terrace WA 98043, Telephone: (206) 774-9300.

Private family graveside services have been planned. Yet to be announced, a special memorial service in Japan is also being planned.

Your prayers for family members are greatly appreciated.