The Peters have been missionaries to Japan Since 1988. But, their relationship with Japan starts several years previous. Dennis first went to Japan in August of 1983, shortly after Graduating from Bible School. He went as a MAPS worker (Missionary Assistant) to assist Donnel and Venda McLean. After being in Japan for about a year, and seeing the great need where so many have as yet to even hear a presentation of the Gospel once, Dennis committed his life to Japan. He stayed for another year and then went to the States to itinerate as a MIT (Missionary In Training) to Japan. Just a few weeks before his return to Japan in 1986, Dennis met JonJulienne for the first time at her home Church. JonJulienne had come to Japan previously on a two week team outreach and was sensing the Lord's call to the Mission Field in General and Japan more specifically. She came again on a summer team outreach, in 1987. It was at that time that Dennis & JonJulienne discovered their mutual interest and eventually married on June 4, 1988.
In September of 1988, they returned to Japan to begin "Re"-pioneering the church in Toyama City, on the back side of Japan. (The church, "My Friend's House Christ Church" had been started a few years previously by another missionary, but had been without a resident pastor for 1½ years and had dwindled to only 1 Adult, and occasionally her 2 children. Dennis & JonJulienne Pastored the Toyama Church for the next 3 years. During that time their first child, Dennielle died from complications at about 30 weeks. On November 29, 1990 Desiree was born at the Toyama Red Cross Hospital. Her birth and life brought much needed healing to Dennis & JonJulienne after the loss of Dennielle.
Jesse was born on September 4, 1992 in Sacramento. The significance behind the timing of his birth was not lost on his parents. It was on this very same day, just 3 years earlier that Dennielle had gone to be with her Heavenly Father. It was as if the Lord had shown them that He had not forgotten their pain, and had blessed them with a son as if to bring to a close that painful season.
The Peters returned to Japan again in April 1993 where they attended language School. While in Language School they were blessed with the birth of their 3rd child, a girl, Cherisse. You can read about the experience of giving birth in a Japanese Hospital in the Peters' January, 1995 Newsletter.
Since May of 1995, The Peters have been Interim Pastors at Sakuragaoka Christ Church in Kyoto Japan. In October, they are scheduled to head up to Niigata Prefecture where they intend to start several Churches upon their return to Japan following their next Deputation Cycle. The Peters family is next scheduled to head to the States for Deputation in April, 1997.
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