Saniku Day Worship at Mountain View Japanese Church Highlights Seeds of Faith

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The Mountain View Japanese Seventh-day Adventist Church welcomed students, families and staff from Saniku Gakuin Santa Clara Japanese School on Oct. 18, 2025, for a special “Saniku Day” Sabbath worship celebrating faith, testimony and spiritual growth.

Saniku Gakuin, which serves more than 360 students—most from non-Adventist homes—was represented by nearly 60 fourth-grade students, along with their siblings and parents, who joined the congregation for a morning of worship led by the students themselves.

The fourth graders opened the service with music centered on prayer, trust in God and hope amid life’s challenges. A children’s story emphasized the Bible as God’s personal “love letter,” reminding listeners of Scripture’s relevance and care for every individual.

The Sabbath message was presented by fourth-grade teacher Narumi Meyers, who shared her personal testimony, likening faith to a mustard seed that grows over time through God’s leading. Meyers recounted how her journey of faith began in childhood through her grandmother’s connection with missionaries in Japan and her early experiences at a Christian kindergarten.

She shared how familiar Bible verses, including 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, sustained her through periods of loneliness and frequent relocation. A visit to a church during middle school rekindled her spiritual peace, and later, a Christmas concert by the Hiroshima Saniku Gakuin Academy choir became a turning point when she sensed God speaking to her heart.

Through the ministry of Pastor Hirota, whose life testified to God’s redeeming grace, Meyers, along with her sister and mother, committed their lives to Christ and were baptized. She later attended Hiroshima Saniku Gakuin Academy, joining the same choir that had once inspired her, and discovered a passion for sharing God’s love through music.

“Like that tiny mustard seed,” Meyers said, “God grew the small seed of faith in my heart into something much larger—something that could give hope and encouragement to others.”

Today, as a teacher at Saniku Gakuin, Meyers views her role as planting and nurturing seeds of faith in her students. She highlighted the school’s unique mission among Japanese language schools to integrate Bible learning and spiritual development, reminding the children of God’s promise in Isaiah that they are precious, honored and loved.

The service concluded with musical presentations by the fourth graders, including “Kamisama no Ki ni Naritai” (“I Want to Be a Tree of God”), symbolizing spiritual growth rooted in Christ, and “Mahiru no You ni” (“Like the Bright Noon”), expressing gratitude to Jesus and a desire to reflect His light to others.

Following a fellowship potluck, the church offered a special afternoon Sabbath School program to give visiting families an opportunity to experience the weekly spiritual nurture provided to children and adults. Participants engaged in songs, Bible stories, activities and fellowship.

Founded in 1982 to share the gospel within the Japanese community, Saniku Gakuin began with a small number of students meeting in church classrooms. Today, the school continues its mission through prayer, Scripture and Christ-centered relationships.

The church invites continued prayer for Saniku Gakuin Santa Clara Japanese School, its students, families and staff, trusting God for the growth and harvest of seeds planted in faith.