What Won Kimura

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 13, 1906

BROTHER KIMURA, the Japanese evangelist, tells the story of his conversion as follows: A missionary teacher, a lady, came and got twenty-five Japanese boys into a class to tell us about Jesus. We boys had great curiosity to see this foreign lady, and while not caring about Jesus, we did care to see how everything looked, her dress, her books, her furniture, her pictures; but every time she would have us read the Bible. We had the Gospel of Luke; soon we read till we come to the crucifixion; she could not speak Japanese; she had English Bible, we had Bible in Japanese language.

When we read story of cross, she got down on her knees and pray for us. We could not understand what she prayed, but watched her close; soon she began to cry; then she fell on her face, weeping bitterly. Then twenty-five Japanese boys cry too.

Then inside of three weeks all us twenty-five boys gave our hearts to Jesus. She did not reach us through our heads, she reached our hearts; and when you have Jesus in the heart, it is well. Some Japanese get head religion and turn from their own religion, but when “higher critics” come, then all their head religion go, and they are left without any; but if they get it in heart, they become strong. Many of these twenty-five boys are evangelists and preachers. My father kept wine shop; soon I led him and my mother to Jesus, and the business was given up. Then I led many more Japanese to Christ. It is not so necessary that the missionary have the language if she have the love of God for souls in her heart; that was what won me; all because this woman who could not speak our language loved our souls.—Missionary World.