Missionaries Japan Mirial Gainer Biography

PRESENT MINISTRY
Miss Gainer has recently transitioned from the Tokyo team to Hokkaido. She began a six-month language refresher course in October 2007. Mirial will assist the Hokkaido team in various outreach ministries and will work in the Miharashidai Chapel in Ebetsu, Japan.

CONVERSION
Mirial's mother led her to Christ in Miami, Florida, when she was nine years old. She seemed to sense the missions "call" about the same time and it never left, even though she tried to avoid it at times. The influence of missionaries such as the Thomas Willeys, the Lee Whaleys, Laura Belle Barnard and the Dan Merkhs all had a profound influence on her life.

EARLY MINISTRY
Miss Gainer has led an active Christian life and has been involved in many phases of Christian service in both Florida and South Carolina. She taught Sunday school and Good News Clubs, worked with the church choir, ministered to youth groups, etc. Mirial also ministered through the Salvation Army, helped a United Methodist church, worked in a tent crusade, counseled with youth, and taught evangelism.

In her first two years in Japan, Miss Gainer worked with the Hokkaido International School. At the same time, she actively made Japanese contacts through a children's English class at school and English/Bible classes at Airin Chapel FWB Church. From 1979 she helped in the Kita Hiroshima Chapel.

After leaving Hokkaido International School, she worked with the YWCA teaching English and Bible and began a ministry at Hokusei University. She served as a member of the Faculty of English at Hokusei University where she conducted a student ministry until leaving for furlough in April of 1992. In 1994, following a refresher course in Japanese, Mirial began a support ministry in the Abashiri and Bihoro churches in Eastern Hokkaido that consisted primarily of teaching Bible and evangelism training.

After serving many years as an associate missionary, Mirial was appointed to career status in April of 1997. She continued to serve in a supporting ministry in the Abashiri and Bihoro churches. Her responsibilities included teaching English as an evangelistic outreach, helping with English worship services, working in the Sunday school and other outreach ministries until she moved to the Tokyo area in 2001.

She was a member of the church-planting team in Tokyo, Japan, April 2001 until her stateside assignment in 2006. It was determined the Hokkaido climate might better meet her health needs. While in Tokyo, she taught the English language as an evangelistic outreach. Mirial assisted in worship services and outreach ministries for the Good News Chapel and made contacts in neighborhoods near the church. She also witnessed extensively to doctors, therapists, and other caregivers following her back surgeries and physical recuperation.

HOME CHURCH
Peace FWB Church, Florence, S. C.