If God is love, shouldn’t we help those in need?
Migiwa, based in Nara Prefecture, is the only nonprofit organization in Japan that arranges adoptions for infants born with disabilities. Hiroki Matsubara, who was involved in establishing the organization, worked with the homeless while pastoring a church in Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture. Amagasaki has a large number of homeless people, and the church was no stranger to them. Matsubara recalls a church member saying, “You say that God is love. Shouldn’t we help those in need?” After moving to Nara, Matsubara started a hospice together with Yoshie Sakurai, the current representative for Migiwa.
Matsubara got involved in the adoption of children with disabilities when he learned that over 100,000 babies are aborted every year. He approached obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Yutaka Kyūkawa and said, “We will protect the lives of the infants, so please block these abortions on the front line.” Dr. Kyūkawa pleaded with him to secure a means of protecting the lives of babies with Down’s syndrome since babies suspected of having the disability are aborted 90% of the time. Matsubara’s support would allow him to offer an option other than abortion. This is how the operation to protect babies’ lives and support mothers started. Ten babies have been welcomed into new homes so far.
In addition to his three adult children, Matsubara is currently father to two adoptive children, Yamato (3) and Ema (2). Yamato has heart and lung complications linked to Down’s syndrome, and Ema suffers from West syndrome, an incurable disease that requires 24-hour care. Since adopting Ema in January 2021, Matsubara has had to step down from his position as pastor in order to take care of his children.
Yamato’s biological parents had been struggling with the severe disability of their son and were desperate for relief to the point of contemplating suicide. Matsubara agreed to take over the role of parenthood from them. Ema had been left in a hospital room by her biological parents. Her clothes had become too small for her after she was left in the hospital for so long, and the doctor didn’t know whether she would survive with her severe disability. Matsubara took her in his arms and said, “Let’s go home. I may not be able to do anything. I may make mistakes, but I will be your father. Being criticized for what I do is worth so much more than not doing anything at all and avoiding the criticism.”
Of course, it was a huge decision for his family. “Rather than considering it a burden,” Matsubara explains, “we wanted to see it as simply welcoming the children into our everyday lives.”
Matsubara believes that Christ would draw close to such children if he were walking the earth. “After becoming a parent to disabled children myself, I finally understand how challenging it is. Christ’s command to live together is a huge responsibility.”
Matsubara’s hope is that churches turn their attention toward these matters. Matsubara would eventually like to build a house for these children, too. There are children who can’t live with their parents. There are some who die alone. There are some children with physical handicaps. “In this unfair world, it is Christians who should be responding to those situations,” says Matsubara.
From Christian Shimbun, December 18/25, 2022
Translated by Grace Koshino