Aburatani Seiichiro, a resident of Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Seiichiro Aburatani appeared at the door of missionaries Peter and Mary Willms soon after they began the Brethren in Christ work in that city. He came in response to an advertisement for an interpreter, and he became a loyal supporter of the mission and one of the first lay leaders of the Hagi Church. When illness forced him to quit his job, he started a private English school in his home. He was helped in this venture by volunteer English teacher, Doyle Book. Aburatani was baptized in the second baptismal service of the new church in September 1955. He was appointed a member of the original board of the church incorporation in 1959. A detailed recordkeeper, from 1962 to 1970 he tabulated responses to the radio broadcast sponsored by the mission. He assisted in the leadership of the Hagi Church meetings and led a home meeting in his mother's house in Agawa. With his wife, he retired to a small house in Shimonoseki in 1982

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 1. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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