Creative Gospel
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Yasuko Fleming loved to dance; her husband, Graham, to paint and illustrate. Following a vision to share the gospel message through art, they founded All Nations Japan. Through their creative development center, organizing workshops and concerts and producing short films, the Flemings cultivate Japanese artists' talent and faith.
Yasuko, who grew up in Tokyo but came to know the Lord while studying dance in England, was given a vision to start a school for artistic ministries. She called the school All Nations Japan.
Using hip-hop, ballet, and modern dance choreographed to Christian music, Yasuko leads students toward an understanding of worshiping and knowing God. Yasuko builds relationships with her students and families and finds natural connections to invite them to events at church, a first experience for many.
Graham began drawing the moment he could hold a pencil. He loves to explore his faith through painting, music, and filmmaking. Each morning he works on a series of paintings that explore his vision of heaven, blending history, cultures, architecture, and nature in fantastical landscapes.
Under Yasuko and Graham's leadership, All Nations is changing lives. As a 20-something Japanese woman, Miho had never studied dance. Yet something about the flyer for All Nations Dance attracted her. Having suffered from depression, Miho hoped dance might help her become physically stronger. As she attended class, she also learned about Jesus through the testimony of Yasuko.
Shortly before Christmas three years later, Miho was baptized in a freezing river in her hometown of Ome.
Since that time, the staff at All Nations has helped her see her beauty and importance in the sight of God and to understand how she can use her dance to be, as she says, "an expression of love to God."
For more information on this ministry, visit allnationsjapan.com.
Laurie Fortunak is editorial coordinator at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.
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Originally published in: Today's Christian, 2008, November/December, Page 9
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