June 2025 Update

Hello! I pray you are doing well. I can tell you have been praying for me because I am feeling blessed! I have just returned from an overseas outreach to Japan, wrapped up a Discipleship Training School (DTS), and moved into a new apartment in Vancouver. God is doing so many things!

Japan Outreach

Since my last newsletter, I have spent two months (April-May) traveling through Japan with a team of ten people, sharing the Gospel, giving out free hugs, showing love, hosting worship nights, answering tough questions about faith with non-believers, organizing kids' programs, doing prayer walks, interceding for the country, and making friends all along the way. It was a short, intense time, but God was doing miracles. Here are a few stories from each location we were in.

Yokohama

We began with two weeks in Yokohama, on the main island of Japan, Honshu. Here, we teamed up with the local YWAM base, which was in the lecture phase of their DTS, as well as other local ministries in the area. One highlight from this location was evangelizing on the beach with a local surf ministry called Waves of Grace. Some of our students began playing a game of volleyball with a large group of high schoolers, and they were able to share the gospel with them and even hand out a few Bibles!

Otaru/Sapporo

We then traveled up to the northern island of Hokkaido, staying first in the port city of Otaru. YWAM Otaru kindly hosted us for two weeks with the help of Casa Church. We would listen for God in the mornings to direct our ministry time. He told us to do prayer walks through the city, highlighting buildings for us to pray over or people to talk to. He also led us to worship and stand outside the busy train station holding signs that read ‘free hugs’ in Japanese and English. Through this ministry, we were able to interact with countless people, and many incredible moments happened. In particular, we met a young man named Masato. He is studying at university and taking English classes, so he wanted to practice with us. After he gave us all hugs, I was able to have a long conversation with him about our faith, life as a missionary, life in Japan, and his goals. He wanted to keep talking, but he had to leave, so we invited him to a passover dinner that our hosts were preparing. During our stay in Otaru, we saw Masato five more times. He kept showing up and asking more questions, deepening his relationship with us, but more importantly, with the members of the church we were serving. Masato invited his mom along to one of the church events, and she instantly connected with some of the women of the congregation. And since then, she has been consistently attending the church. Masato even helped us with running the kids' ministry at the church, translating bible stories, and joining in with games and dances. God is moving in his life, please pray for his journey of faith and ask that he would meet Jesus.

Asahikawa

This was our last stop in Japan. Asahikawa is a beautiful and lively city surrounded by stunning mountain ranges deep in the heart of Hokkaido. Here we stayed with Cross Church, led by Pastor Yoshi and his superhuman wife Ayumi, along with their EIGHT children. These guys are incredible, they carry such an infectious heart for their city and country that it’s hard not to fall in love with the people of Japan along with them. Our ministry was similar here to the rest of our time in Japan, worshipping and doing free hugs in popular spots throughout the city, leading children’s programs, hosting worship nights, teaching sermons at church, and going on prayer walks. Yoshi was the manager of a gorgeous coffee shop, and he hosted an English club there every Friday for people to come and learn/practice English. We were able to invite many people to these events through our street ministry, and we had some phenomenal conversations. God was ministering to past traumas, mental health issues, misunderstandings, loneliness, and so much more. People were asking us if God would understand them if they prayed in Japanese, then were asking how to pray and talk to God. There was genuine curiosity and a desire to understand our faith. Please pray that the people of Japan continue to ask questions and that God would reveal Himself and answer them.

Montana ACT

The day after we returned from Japan, we left on a 14-hour road trip heading to Montana for a week to be part of a regional YWAM gathering. All of the bases from Northwest America were invited to convene and spend time building relationships, discussing topics concerning the current state of missions and ministry, sharing stories of God's triumph in our lives, and worshipping together. Our outreach team was in charge of organizing and running the kids’ program throughout the week for all the parents who were taking part in the sessions. It was an exhausting week, but we had so much fun serving and spending time with the kids. It was incredible to see the DTS students take the challenge of keeping up with 40 children in their stride and absolutely crush it.

Grad and Goodbyes

After being in Montana for a week, we were back in Vancouver. We spent a week debriefing the lecture phase and outreach phase of the school, talking about our feelings, telling stories, and resolving conflicts. We also prepped our students for re-entry, as the DTS is a unique experience, and it is often hard to go back home and move on. At the end of the week, we had a graduation ceremony and celebrated with the students for finishing their DTS. Then we said, until next time, and the 2025 DTS was over. It was a precious time, and I am so grateful to God that this is what He has called me to do. I look forward to seeing where each of the students will go next and can’t wait to see them again. Thank you to everyone who made the school and outreach such an incredible time. God bless you!

What’s Happening Next?

New Apartment

I moved out of the staff/student housing on June 1^st into a basement apartment with two other guys. I now have my own room, and I am even closer to the office. The staff housing is great fun, but it is a difficult place to live sustainably for the long term. Having been there for two years, I started to want to move out, and I began praying for a place to call my own back in February. I hadn’t told anyone about any serious desire I had to move out, but one of my colleagues, Andrew, found the apartment, asked if I had ever considered moving out, and offered me one of the rooms. God had answered my prayer! I will be paying more for this place than the staff housing, but God has told me He will provide, and I’m excited to watch Him do what He says He will do. The rent will be just under $800 CAD/month.

DBS (Discipleship Bible School)

On July 10^th, YWAM Vancouver will be running a DBS, which is a bible school where you read through the entire Bible in three months to see the story of God’s redemptive plan play out through history, sit through lectures that explore major themes of the Bible, and complete homework which teaches you how to read the bible, find out the context of passages, and lead bible studies. It is an incredible course, and I had the privilege of completing it myself last November. Now, I will be staffing the school and even teaching on it. After the three months of learning, there will be a two-month outreach to India and Thailand in October and November, where we will be teaching about the Bible and helping people learn how to do the same, contributing to the global spread of the Word. I will be writing more about this in my next newsletter, as the school unfolds.

Fundraising Update

Thank you so, so, so much to everyone who partnered with me to send our team to Japan. You are mobilizing missions around the world and making outreaches like this possible. You rock!

The truth is, I need more support. As I feel called to stay in missions, I need more people to commit to consistent monthly donations. My goal is to receive $2000CAD/month, but currently I am receiving under $600CAD/month. This goal gives me room to gradually pay off my student debt ($13k USD) and also be generous and hospitable when the opportunity arises.

So please, pray and ask God if He is encouraging you to join my team as I minister to people in Vancouver and around the world.

Check out the support page on my website for ways to give. Here is the link to that page.

I have also created a Facebook group where I will be trying to post more frequent updates on what God is doing through my life. If you would like to join, you will find the link to my Facebook account at the bottom of this page.

Americans pay attention!

I have found a way for you to receive tax deductions on your donations! Yes, this means you can now give money to keep me in the mission, and the government will then give you money in return. Pretty sweet, right? I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to start donating right away. Here is the link to get that set up.

Canadians, you can receive tax deductions on your donations by using this link with the code: ezekielsmithYV01

Prayer Points

• Please pray for the nation of Japan. God is breaking down walls around their hearts. People are ready for Jesus.
• Please pray for the DTS students as they go back home and go into the next chapters of their walk with God.
• Please pray for the upcoming DBS. Our four students: Emily, Mishma, Claire, and Sarah. The speakers, who will be teaching each of their topics. For Andrew and the rest of the staff, including me, as we prepare and run the school.
• Please pray for the DBS Outreach to India and Thailand. For safety and health. For moments to be stretched and see God fill the gap. For opportunities to teach and share the gospel with those who need to hear.
• Please pray for me. To find time to rest before the DBS begins. For provision as I step out in faith with the new apartment. For peace, joy, and confidence as I staff and teach on the DBS. For the provision to go on the DBS Outreach. For more people to commit to monthly donations.

Thank You!

Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for reading my newsletter. I am blessed to have you on my team. If you would like to know more about what I am doing or chat, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I will try my best to respond as quickly as possible.

God bless you,

Ezekiel Smith.

Email: Ezekielbairdsmith@gmail.com           Website: WWW.smithezekiel.com

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