I wish to congratulate you for considering Soukei education for your children. With Soukei you will be giving your children the life’s foundation for integrating body, spirit and mind

As you know, the world is undergoing rapid transformation. 
Everywhere in the world people are mistaking material wealth for personal happiness.  The all important spiritual values are well nigh forgotten.  At such a time as this, I believe the kindergarten education needs to focus in on the importance of spiritual values.

The Reverend Takeshi Matsuo, the renowned founder of Soukei, was an accomplished scholar of the Bible.  He studied at the Westminster Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, USA, the world class institution of the Biblical scholarship.  That was in the early part of Showa era.

After the ill-fated attempt of our country to become the hegemonic power of Asia came to an end in 1945, he called on several of fellow scholars and pastors to establish a Christian church dedicated to the truth of the Bible.  Thus the Reformed Church of Japan was born.  Matsuo sensei himself began his church work in an old abandoned school building in Kitaurawa.  The Soukei Kindergarten was established in 1946 using the same building.

He unceasingly toiled as a caring pastor, and also as the able administrator of this kindergarten.  Children loved this genial “encho” sensei.

I was introduced to him when I was a junior in high school. A friend of mine who held high regard for pastor Matsuo had been concerned about my mental depression.  I once aspired to become a fighter pilot, but my hopes were dashed as that war ended.  Though I was only fourteen years of age in August of 1945, I felt that my life turned totally meaningless.  Three years later I even began to wish to end my own life.

Then came that morning.  The very morning when pastor Matsuo received me in his study and gave me sage counseling, my despair was completely lifted.  His words healed the deep wounds of my heart, and I rejoiced in the love of God.  I unloaded the burden of my heart at the foot of Jesus Christ. Thus began my new life as a believer.

Matsuo sensei’s faith, his dedication to work and his purpose in life, all helped me develop my own.  Four years later, I followed his footsteps to attend that elite seminary in America.  Eventually I received the appointment to the much coveted position of presidential interpreter in the diplomatic corps of the US Department of State.  I served Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan personally in that position.  Mine was to turn their English words into my native tongue for Japanese prime ministers and other political leaders, and even for members of the imperial household.

And to this day the memory of Matsuo sensei’s warmhearted response to my spiritual needs are quite vivid. Looking back these seventy some years with a great sense of gratitude and happiness, I am keenly aware that I was given hope that day when he talked to me.
This is what Soukei means to me; the life-giving love of God, and the wisdom and compassion of the teacher.

My best wishes to you and to your children.

コーネリアス・飯田

お子様の教育を双恵幼稚園で、とお考えのご両親に心から敬意を表します。皆様は、双恵幼稚園を通じてお子さまの生涯に豊かな知性、健康な体、そして何よりも尊い「心」、この三者のバランスがとれた基礎を提供することになる、と私は考えるからです。

ご存じのように今、人間社会はすさまじい変革を経験しています。情報化時代、サイバー革命と呼ばれる現代では、世界中の人が、物質的な豊かさ無しでは幸福でありえないかのように誤解しています。「心」はお留守です。このような時にこそ幼稚園では子供たちに、心の持つ中心的な大切さを指さし示す必要があると私は思います。「双恵」がその答です。

双恵学園の著名な創設者である松尾武牧師先生は聖書の学問を究めたお方でした。私は数多い先生のお弟子たちの末席を汚すものです。恩師は、アメリカはフィラデルフィア市にある、聖書の学問では世界的に有名な、ウエストミンスター神学校に学びました。昭和の初期でした。
師は、日本がアジアの盟主たらんと試み敗退した1945年に、親しい数人の牧師に呼びかけ、聖書の真理に堅く根差した教会を設立しました。それが日本キリスト改革派教会の誕生です。先生ご自身も北浦和で廃校になっていた小学校の校舎を用いて教会を始めました。双恵幼稚園も同じ場所に1946年に発足しました。

私は高校の二年生の時に先生に初めてお目にかかりました。師を深く尊敬していた一友人が、私が生きる希望を失って悩んでいるのを見かねて紹介してくれたのです。実は、少年時代の私は戦闘機のパイロットになりたい、と強く憧れていました。ですから太平洋戦争で日本が敗れた中学二年生の時、人生の目的を見失ってしまったのでした。

先生が私を書斎に迎い入れて下さったその朝、私の三年余り続いた虚無感は完全に霧散しました。先生の一言一言が私のこころの傷を癒し、私は深い神の愛にふれて喜びに満たされたのです。その信仰、お仕事への献身、そして人生の目的はすべて私の模範となり、私は先生の足跡をたどるようにしてかのアメリカの神学校に学びました。やがて請われるままにアメリカ合衆国国務省の外交官として大統領付通訳官の地位に着き、1988年の退任までカーター、レーガン両大統領に親しく仕えたのです。

今日に至るまで、あの日、私の精神的な苦脳に温かな心で対応して下さった松尾　武先生の面影は極めて鮮明です。この六十有余年を振り返るとき、私の心は感謝と喜びで一杯になります。あの日、先生は私に生きる希望を与えて下さったのです。

これが私にとっての「双恵」です。命を与える神様の愛、そして叡智と慈しみで導いて下さる恩師、この二つです。皆さんのお子さん達の幸せを心から祈りつつ。

Harold Borchert

Takeshi Matsuo long ago set a standard that endures today in his son,and in his son’s son. Joshua 24:15 was more than just another verseof Old Testament historical scripture…it was a banner, an ensign, anda testimony…”as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Haruna sensei of Itayado sat in my house in America before I became a missionary, and he told Mrs. Borchert and me a story of the coal mines, and of men who went there for their faith. I knew of Takeshi Matsuo long before I met him. When I finally did meet him in 1953, I learned of “Two Grace” not only, but I learned also of “True Grace.” Of grace and truth in a life. Takeshi was “tadashii.”

Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish essayist wrote that, “…historyis the sum of the work of outstanding individuals rather than the effectof circumstances and events.” In 1830 he wrote, “Historyis the essence of innumerable biographies.” In his 1840 lectureshe said heroes were those who “knew truly what the time wanted, andled on the right road thither.”

Father and Son Matsuo remind one of the Sons of Issachar in I Chronicles12: 32. “…men that had understanding of the times, to knowwhat Israel ought to do.” A person who stands, and having doneall,” (Ephesians 6:13) continues to stand, is a great manand worthy to be praised!
I thought much of eternal life and the brevity of this life, while awaiting possible heart surgery. Daughter Susan came to be near us, and I learned that her pastor, my friend and fellow minister Setsu Matsuo, was praying for me. Hallelujah! God’s covenant promises hold true, for “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. …. the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (I Corinthians 15: 19, 26)

The elder Matsuo was an inspiration to this younger minister some fiftyyears ago, and now praise God, my daughter and granddaughters receive inspirationand blessing from the son! The physical doors may close, but neverthe heavenly gates! Shalom and Amen!