Deaconess Akase Sayuri, age 47, Maizuru Manmin Church, Japan


When I was 24, I met a man in my workplace and was married to him. A year later his violence was revealed. He beat me for following 12 years.

In 2005, I was guided to Osaka Manmin Church. I came to have peace in heart. My husband still beat me and persecuted me more and more. I was sometimes thrown out of the house, and I also had to stay in hospital after being beaten by him. My life was a series of hardships. When he stopped me from going to church, I went to Deaconess Iwamoto Yoko who guided me to the church and offered up home services. I sought God praying in church on the way from work during weekdays.

The God of love showed me evidence of His presence and comforted my heart. My daughter was in the third grade in a primary school. She had a large corn on her finger tip. I prayed and sprayed Muan Sweet Water (Exodus 15:25) to it and prayed with her. Next day, a corn fell off and new flesh was developed. Her finger became normal. Hallelujah!

In 2008, I separated from my husband, and went to my hometown with my three children. But I still was earnest to seek God. It was a remote town but I found a church. It was Maizuru Manmin Church which was a two-hour drive away. I went to the church every week and became filled with the Holy Spirit. I got a stable job too.

In April 2016, I strained the muscle in my back when I was carrying something that weighted around 20kg. It caused a lot of pain. I could not straighten my back so I went home with my back bent. The next day I could not even move my body at all. It was so serious that I could not even go to work.

I received Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee's recorded prayer for the sick on the phone, and began to reflect upon why it had happened and what God wanted me to realize. I realized that I still had greed for and lingering attachments to the world. I shed endless tears. I rent my heart and thoroughly repented. Afterwards, I recovered so quickly that I could go to work in the afternoon.

I came to throw away worldly things even though they seemed trivial and I humbly served others in the workplace. I was blessed to get promoted and receive a raise in pay as well. I give thanks to the Lord who came to me and extended His hands to me. I give all thanks and glory to God.



A panoramic view of Maizuru Manmin Church, Japan.