Hiro Mizushima’s first impression of the Rohwer Relocation Center in southeastern Arkansas was its sparseness: “The barrack itself was just tar paper on the outside. We had a pot belly stove; Arkansas did get pretty cold. The inside was just bare wood walls and there were cots. The floor was just bare. I remember bare air coming through the bottom.”[1] Internees faced difficult conditions just like in the other centers, except that about half of the camp sat under swampy bayou water. There was also only one physician at Rohwer, resulting in many outbreaks of measles, mumps, and food poisoning.
Rohwer Federated Christian Church
As in the other centers, the Rohwer Christians prioritized establishing a place of worship.
The public service hall, called shu kai jo, “gather group place,” was situated in one corner of the block, and was somewhat smaller than a residential barrack. It was designed as a block meeting place and to house block activities, although many of them were devoted permanently to center-wide institutions, as churches, nurseries, small libraries, and so on.[2]
Rev. K. Harper Sakaue was the only English-speaking pastor serving alongside six Japanese-speaking ministers. He performed an admirable job, however, of shepherding the Nisei church and serving on the ecumenical ministerial council.[3] According to Rev. Suzuki,
There was not a friendlier minister than Rev. Harper Sakaue. If anybody could make friends, he was one who always did with his genuine good soul and friendly disposition. [He also] remembered more people’s birthdays and more people’s anniversaries than most ministers or most other people. He had a personal love and concern for people, so when he made calls, which he did constantly, he was a real minister to the people.[4]
In June 1943, Sakaue submitted his account of the church:
“The Rohwer Federated Christian Church [RFCC]” was formally organized on December 2, 1942. All those who were members of the outside churches were urged to join our Federated Church as charter members. There were 347 members representing 162 families at that time of organization, and the seven ministers of the various groups were recognized as co-pastors of the church. We are now fortunate to have Rev. Sakae Hayakawa from Topaz making it eight co-pastors. The church is, for practical purposes, divided into two divisions: Japanese and English that have their respective officers. . . . The church is divided into seven departments. The pastors head the various committees; namely, Worship; Religious Education; Evangelism; Music; Publication; Social Service. Young people have chairmen to head the following committees: Devotional; Membership; Music; Publicity; Ushers.[5]
About 300 regularly attended the English worship service with slightly less in the Japanese service. Evangelism was prominent in the camp and the Japanese division even published their own evangelistic tracts, addressing such topics as “But One Thing is Needful,” “Overcoming Adversity,” and “To a Certain Sick Friend.”[6]
Sakaue also described the church’s weekly activities.[7] Sunday school began at 8:40 a.m. from cradle rolls to adult classes at six different locations in the camp. Both the Japanese and the English worship services began at 10:00 a.m. in different locations with the church singing many of the classic hymns still sung in the church today. The Friendship Circle met at 3:00 p.m., the Young People’s Christian Fellowship (later including a Christian Youth Fellowship for high schoolers) at 8:00 p.m., and evangelistic meetings at three different halls at 8:00 p.m. On weekdays, there was a minister’s meeting every Monday morning at 7:45 a.m. and the young people had choir practice on Tuesday evenings. Both Issei and Nisei conducted prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings, a Sunday school teacher’s meeting every other Thursday, and daily devotional services at 7:45 a.m. The church scheduled 8:00 a.m. prayer meetings on every morning except Sunday when they prayed for peace in the world, thankfulness in their hearts, and faith to make the most of the life that was given to them. Prayer allowed these weary believers to weather the storms of irritated nerves, anger, and unnecessary divisions that were a normal part of life in the camps. This highly active religious life at Rohwer was catalogued in the church bulletin:
The church published through most of its life a weekly church bulletin for the Japanese-language section of the church and one for the English section. These were artistically decorated and were creditable publications. For awhile the young people published “The Transmitter,” a literary issue monthly containing articles and poems by Nisei church members.
Two successful activities of the church should have special mention, Vacation Church School (Daily Vacation Bible School) and participation in the Methodist Young People’s Sub-District Fellowship. Each summer during school vacation RFCC conducted from two to four weeks of church school daily. In 1945 with the assistance of workers furnished by the Arkansas Baptist and Presbyterian, U.S.A., this school enrolled almost three hundred children from nursery to Junior or High School. The local fellowship of young people were regular members of the Monticello Sub-District Fellowship of Methodist Young People. This group was comprised of the Methodist youth from four nearby towns—McGehee, Dumas, Tillar, Dermott. The young people of the Center Church attended the regular monthly meetings, took part on programs, and acted as host to other groups. This proved one of the most satisfying experiences with the outside.[8]
Rohwer received many guest preachers due to its close proximity to the eastern and southern parts of America. Many, such as Arkansas Southern Baptist President T. L. Harris, were enthused by the evangelistic prospects: “Here in our state we have had literally thrust upon us the greatest opportunity for winning to Christ those of pagan faith we have ever witnessed.”[9]
Cooperation with the organizations and churches on the outside was very cordial in these Relocation Centers located in the Deep South [Rohwer and Jerome]. When Baptists requested baptism by immersion, the Baptist Church in McGehee, Arkansas, was made available until such time as a temporary facility was made available at Mess Hall 31. When hymnals were needed, the American Baptist Church donated most of the hymnals. When curtains and draperies were needed, Bishop C. F. Reifsnider of the Episcopal Church donated those items for the Easter season of 1943. The ministers in these southern centers did a remarkable job of inviting cooperation by the denominational bodies on the outside.[10]
Sakaue noted how the church benefitted from the assistance of these non-Japanese churches:
A primary problem of the federated church was the lack of continuity of leadership. The Christian young people found the outside communities congenial and tended to relocate rapidly. This matter of leadership was made more acute by the fact that there was only one Nisei minister at this center. It was somewhat alleviated by the fact that visiting ministers came frequently. For a time the Little Rock Council of Protestant Ministers sent a speaker once each month. The ministers at McGehee, Dumas, and Tillar were very friendly and cooperative. Dr. Maxfield Garrott, a former missionary in Japan, came for full time work in the summer of 1944. After September of that year he was privileged to live in the center; his wife was an employee of the WRA from September.
A great many national organizations and denominations helped in the work of the church. The Federal Council of Churches of Christ employed Dr. J. M. Bader to do special work with Japanese Americans. Through his work the Council sponsored a Christian Mission, May 16-21, 1943, in which speakers of national and international reputation spoke, including Dr. E. Stanley Jones. The Foreign Missionary Conference, the Congregation-Christian Board for Social Action, the Episcopalians of New York, and other church bodies gave material and leadership aid. The Protestant Commission for Japanese Service through its executive officers, Reverends Frank H. Smith and Gordon Chapman, gave supervision and help to the ministers. A number of denominations gave financial support to particular ministers; so that all ministers were paid as much or more than evacuee professionals employed by WRA. Particularly, were outside churches helpful in making the Christmas season meaningful to the children.[11]
That first Christmas in 1942, the church sang carols and distributed gifts which had been donated by friends around the country. According to the Rohwer Outpost, “The merry childish laughter and the strains of Christmas carols will flow through the Center more cheerfully than anticipated this Christmas because Santa Claus will come to distribute over 3500 gifts to children.”[12] The gifts were small, but they reminded the Nikkei that America had not forgotten them. As one internee said, “Just when I thought everybody out there hated us, I get this present and it restored my faith in mankind again.”[13] Some Christians also included their name and address, resulting in lifelong correspondence between pen pals. Many other churches and individuals sent love offerings at Christmastime.
During Easter of 1943, Mrs. George E. Scott, a former member of the Clearwater Japanese Baptist Church, sent a letter of greetings from Lynwood, California.
Easter greetings to each of you, for I haven’t forgotten one of you—no not one. I know now more about how Paul felt when he was separated from his beloved in the faith and wrote letters to them. I too, can say, “Thank God upon every remembrance of you.” Our church in Clearwater is being used by the Calvary Baptist Church group of North Long Beach and reports are good coming from there. Each Sunday morning a young man from the Bible Institute brings them a real gospel message. . . .
Many times I recall how we worked and planned together. How faithful you always were. Each one ever willing and eager to perform any task that would add to the welfare of the church and of all concerned and it was wonderful to watch you grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . Then prayers were answered and God sent us our beloved pastor [Rev. Sakaue]. In all my Christian experience I have never known a pastor who gives himself more devotedly to the precious charge with which God intrusted him. . . .
Trials are often testing times for the believer. These are days when faith means so much to us and just as the Lord comforted his disciples with such words as only he can give he is saying to you and to me, “Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid” [John 14:1]. No, we don’t fully understand now but someday he will make it plain to us. Paul says, “These light afflictions worketh for us [a far more exceeding and eternal weight of] glory” [2 Corinthians 4:17]. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of men the things which God hath prepare for those that love him” [1 Corinthians 2:9]. . . .
Friends, we do miss all of you very much but God was good to grant us those few precious years together and let us now seek to find His eternal purpose in the present trend of your lives for surely Bible history has been repeated in that, “They which were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” [Acts 8:4]. Your labors will be blessed.[14]
The next month, the church hosted a National Christian Mission from May 16-21, 1943, which featured special music and preaching by well-known missionary speakers.[15] Members of the church also had the privilege of attending outside conferences such as the Presbyterian Young People’s Conference in Ferndale, Arkansas and the Girl Reserve Conference in Gulf Port, Mississippi.[16]
Through the faithful ministry of both Nikkei pastors and outside churches, many Japanese American Christians grew in their faith. Ruby Hayashi recalled, “I attended the Christian [church] and got baptized with my brother Roy, . . . and my sister-in-law, Nellie Sakai. I even helped teach the kindergartners in Sunday school.”[17] Kumaji “Victor” Yoshimoto “served as a block manager in camp. Incarceration afforded him many opportunities to share his faith with other internees.”[18] Ren Kimura, who remembered Rev. Sakaue baptizing new converts all the time, was thankful for the Lord’s divine providence:
It was at Rohwer, Arkansas, that I experienced the joy of being part of the federated Christian church, where believers of nearly every denomination—liberal and conservative, mainline and independent, high church and informal—worshipped together and were inspired by the dynamic and personable Reverend K. Harper Sakaue, the only English-speaking nisei minister in the entire camp.[19]
Holiday services highlighted the church’s growth. That first Christmas, Henry Ikemoto became a baptized member of the Rohwer Federated Christian Church. He had taken three weeks to pluck up the courage to attend a church service at the Stockton Assembly Center, but once he started he never missed a Sunday.[20] Finally, he was baptized at the church in Rohwer and gave a public testimony of his faith.
On Easter Sunday 1943, Rev. Sakae Hayakawa led the sunrise worship service.
At early dawn, 600 gathered [on] the high school athletic field for the Sunrise Service. Shoji Tabuchi of Boy Scout Troop 90 sounded the reveille and the congregation joined in singing, “Christ Arose.” Harold Noguchi rendered a vocal solo. Dr. S. K. Hata and Rev. K. H. Sakauye brought messages to the issei and nisei congregation. With [the] background of a beautiful sunrise slowly rising behind a huge wooden Cross, the Senior Sunday School Girls presented an Easter pageant.[21]
Easter was a day of celebration for the church not only because of Christ’s resurrection, but also the celebration of new life in Christ for many of its members. Rev. Sakaue reported a few of the eighty-one church members who were baptized that Easter:
Miyoko Horikiri accepted Christ publicly on Palm Sunday, April 18. Satoshi Hayashida and Fred Suzukawa are also Clearwater Church candidates for baptism on Easter, Sunday. To date 30 nisei have accepted Christ publicly in our Rohwer Federated Christian Church. We have one church in our center with 8 co-pastors working cooperatively in evangelism.[22]
Hiroshi Uyehara, who had been baptized on Easter 1942 just before the internment, marveled at how much he had matured over the past year:
It is over a year since my baptism, and for the first time, I have come to know the joy of Christian living. This, perhaps, would not have occurred if I were still on the outside. It came about when I was to be the chairman of a morning worship and I felt the weight of responsibility and the need for spiritual guidance. I found myself kneeling and praying to God for guidance and deeper faith. This experience of spiritual preparation gave me a new source of strength; and from that day on I have felt like a new person.
All of us have had different reactions to life in these relocation centers. I can say that my stay in this center has really been a wonderful experience because it has given me new spiritual insight, and opened to me the possibilities of a full Christian life. This experience has helped me in my Sunday School work, in my teaching in high school, in all my relations with people, and in every phase of life. It has given me courage, ambition, and hope for the future.[23]
On Memorial Day weekend in 1943, Rev. Sakaue reminded the church that both soldiers and internees took their example of courage from Jesus Christ. Young Christians had to grow up quickly during wartime conditions:
On this occasion, Memorial Day, we are called upon to remember those courageous devoted soldiers who have given their lives for our country. Today, as in Flanders field of yesteryear, men are giving their all.
As we bow in a tribute of memory to our loved ones, let us never forget THE SUPREME SACRIFICE that our Lord Jesus Himself gave upon the Cross at Calvary. Remember that they mocked Him saying, “If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself” [Luke 23:37]. Shouting in voices of derision, again we hear, “Are not thou the Christ? Save thyself and us” [v. 39]. But Jesus never vowed vengeance. He never resisted. Instead, He prayed for His enemies. Finally they crucified our Master.
Jesus paid THE SUPREME SACRIFICE for your sins and mine. When He didn’t have to, He suffered agonizing death on that Cross. Why? you ask. It is because He loves and deeply cares for you. In the memory book of our heart, may Jesus have the central place.[24]
Due to the center’s close proximity to Camp Shelby, “the Rohwer Federated Christian Church maintained close contact with the Nisei Servicemen wherever they were serving. Ministering to the survivors of the Nisei men who died in the service was one of the ministries of comfort which the ministers of the Rohwer Christian Church performed in such times of great need.”[25] Much too frequently, when one of their own was killed in action on the battlefield, the church would hold a memorial service to honor the sacrifice of the soldier and his family.[26]
Then in June and July of 1943, Rev. Sakaue ventured out on a six-week preaching trip through Colorado and Wyoming with Dr. John A. Foote, ABHMS missionary to the Japanese. Sakaue wrote, “My trip had a two-fold purpose: (1) To contact relocated folks, also our people in other Relocation Centers and encouraging all to attend local church in their own community; (2) To contact local church groups, encouraging them to accept nisei into their congregation. Public relations work in behalf of the nisei.”[27] Sakaue was surprised by how little the outside church understood the plight of the interned Japanese Americans, but he was encouraged by their response to his account of the camps. He reported to the church at Rohwer about his travels and sent them word about their friends around the country.
On Thanksgiving 1943, Sakaue waxed poetic, before turning his pen to praise:
As the sun lowers toward the western horizon, its reflecting rays beam on the forest around us. The beautiful display of red, orange and brown has been painted on the leaves, and the accompaniment of the brisk wind, these golden-colored leaves sail through the air and will soon leave the trees bare. Outside of our center, cotton pickers wearing their red kerchiefs and dragging their white bags are seen no more. The continuous “chug-chug” sound from nearby Rohwer reminds us that the cotton-gin is at work. As we survey our 600-acre camp farm, we meet Jack Frost. . . . All of this makes us realize that autumn is here. The sharp tinge of the north wind has just struck us. At this season, wherever we are, it is a good thing to give thanks.
I am thankful this year for the courageous American Japanese who have relocated and have taken their proper places in normal American society. Yours have the adventure and struggle because you have been pioneers in your field. You went out with faith in God. . . . Yours has been the task of winning the respect of your community and fellow students or workers and bridging the gap of understanding. My friends, I say to you, “Keep up the good work and don’t forget that you are representing the rest of us wherever you are.”
Then, I am thankful to our many American friends on the outside. Your cheerful letters, your generous material contributions, your personal visits and your prayers have been a constant source of encouragement and an inspiration to us. You have leaped over the bounds of local community interest and have encompassed the broad and friendly vision of brotherhood. One of our powerful [ideas] that build morale is the realization that there are friends who care.
And above all, I am thankful to God for Jesus, our Saviour. There is not an iota of danger that wartime observance of Thanksgiving will become a mere formality when we preach and teach that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Christ is the anchor of our faith, hope and love for all ages. The redeeming message of Christ is not affected by the state of world affairs. Ours, instead, is the privilege and task of transforming the sick condition of the world by first changing the hearts of men.[28]
Christmas 1943 produced more memories for the church, including another message from Rev. Sakaue,
With the coming of cold mornings, comes the season in which we rejoice in song for the birth of Jesus. We are going to celebrate our second Christmas here in the delta land of the great Mississippi River. One mile-square Rohwer Camp is surrounded by trees. Beautiful it was, through the autumn as the foliage displayed colors of red, orange and brown before it went into winter sleep. Rows and rows of tar-papered barracks are the temporary homes of our California evacuees. From many a home, young people have gone outside to take their place in a new community. But many a younger brother and sister are here with their folks while the march of the calendar goes by.
Christmas in Rohwer will be made happier because of the thoughtful loving friends on the outside. They give to share because they believe that “it is better to give than to receive” [Acts 20:35]. And for us, Christmas shall be made happier, by proclaiming the love of God for all men though the world be at war. Whether you be in one of these relocation camps, or have relocated, ours together is the glorious privilege of telling our fellow men about the Gift that only God gave. We would always remember that “the gift without the giver is bare.”[29]
Easter Sunday 1944 was also eventful according to one report:
Last Sunday morning 300 Easter worshippers rose before dawn, rubbed sleepy eyes, trudged through the misty darkness to attend the sunrise service. But there was no sunrise, only rain. The service was held indoors, and the 300 faithfuls packjammed the church to capacity and heard Drs. Nat Griswold and Shokichi Hata deliver the Easter sermons. Outside the wind whistled by the windows, rain splattered against the panes, and twice the lights in the church went out momentarily. But all this failed to dampen the spirits of the assembled. . . . Consensus was that it was a glorious Easter, though a wet one.[30]
The Transmitter described many other changes which had taken place in just one year’s time.
We are observing the second Easter Season in Rohwer. Most of the Young people who were with us last year have relocated outside. Members of our former group are working, studying, or serving in the army. You will be celebrating Easter in a new environment. . . . We are facing depletion of leadership constantly in our Church. . . . We are handicapped in our work.
But we are reminded again this Easter that we serve a risen Savior. We work not alone. Though we can’t see Him, we constantly have by our side, our Master. He speaks to us. He asks us to speak to Him. Christ encourages, guides, and directs us.
We thank God for the nisei in the churches today who are conscious that Christ is working through him. [Herein] is power. Christ conquered fear and death. He has challenged and inspired us to proclaim the Good News everywhere. And we do not have to be preachers to do that. Whether you be one of the worshippers in our barrack church, cathedral, or an army chapel the call comes direct to our hearts to live for and serve a Risen Savior.[31]
As other centers began to close, Rohwer received internees who had yet to resettle outside. In August 1943, the church wrote a letter of welcome to incoming visitors from Tule Lake:
We of the Rohwer Relocation Center people wish to welcome any and all those who are planning to come to the Arkansas center. . . . We realize that moving and resettling is a job in itself but those of us who are already here will do our utmost to help. The members of the Rohwer Federated Christian Church wish to extend our hand of welcome to you and pray that you may have a safe journey to your destination. We the members of the church will do our best in helping you to get acquainted and start over again in this camp. God helping us we will do all we can to make things pleasant and happy for you.[32]
Then in June 1944, the church welcomed newcomers from Jerome:
It is with joy that we welcome friends of our neighbor center and members of the Jerome Community Christian Church. We are glad for the reinforcement of leadership. The Rev. Yonosuke Sasaki and the Rev. [Shinpachi] Kanow have been added to our ministerial staff. We want each one of you to feel that this is now your own church.[33]
Rev. Sakaue would faithfully labor in Rohwer for three years, then wed his wife Sophie in the center church before leaving for seminary in September 1945.[34] Even so, he continued to encourage the remnant church through letters which he would often end with words of exhortation: “Let us always strengthen our devotional life. Everyday we need to read our Bible and remember to pray. It is so easy to neglect it. Give thanks to God each day for his goodness!”[35]
[1] Cited in Gesenesway, Beyond Words, 49.
[2] Nat R. Griswold, “Final Report on Rohwer Relocation Center (1946),” Historical Statistical-Functional Report from Community Activities Section (Berkeley, CA: University of California Berkeley, The Bancroft Library), accessed at http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb6t1nb1rr&query=&brand=calisphere. Griswold was the Director of the Adult and Continuation Education at Rohwer and a committed follower of Jesus Christ.
[3] The Holiness and Free Methodist churches held their own separate services with a membership of 500 in total.
[4] Suzuki, Ministry, 292.
[5] Griswold, “Final Report on Rohwer.” At Rohwer, the Holiness and Free Methodist churches worshipped separately.
[6] “Three Tracts Published,” The Rohwer Transmitter 2.13 (18 April 1943), 2.
[7] Griswold, “Final Report on Rohwer.”
[8] Ibid.
[9] Howard, Concentration Camps on the Home Front, 168.
[10] Suzuki, Ministry, 294. The Little Rock Council of Protestant Ministers sent a pastor to preach at Rohwer and Jerome every month as Arkansas Christians viewed the internment as a tremendous opportunity for evangelism (Blankenship, Social Justice, 77-78). The Northern Baptist Convention supplemented the cost of hymnals (“New Hymnals Here!” The Rohwer Transmitter 2.12 [11 April 1943], 1) and Bishop Reifsnider arranged for the delivery of new curtains and draperies to make the church a more beautiful place to worship (“Thanks Expressed for Curtains,” The Rohwer Transmitter 2.14 [25 April 1943], 1). One Sunday school class of girls ages 9-11 in the Nashville Methodist Church also saved up contributions to purchase books for children in Rohwer (“Acknowledgements,” in Rohwer Federated Christian Church Bulletin [16 July 1944], 2).
[11] Griswold, “Final Report on Rohwer.”
[12] Rohwer Outpost (26 December 1942).
[13] Interview with Kalvin K. Hara (April 1982), Series 3/Box 5/Fld 16, Rosalie H. Wax Papers, BANC MSS 83/115c, UCB.
[14] Mrs. George E. Scott, personal letter to Clearwater Church members in Rohwer, Arkansas (25 April 1943), cited by Rev. Sakaue in the Clarion Call. During the internment at Rohwer, Rev. Sakaue preached through the book of Acts which details the origin and history of the first-century church.
[15] “The Rohwer Christian Mission,” The Rohwer Transmitter 2.16 (9 May 1943), 1.
[16] Y. N., “Glimpse from the Ferncliff Conference,” The Rohwer Transmitter 3.2 (27 June 1943), 3 and Kazue Yoshimoto, “Glimpse from the Girl Reserve Conference,” The Rohwer Transmitter 3.2 (27 June 1943), 4.
[17] Ruby Hayashi, “Memories of the Evacuation,” in Triumphs, 26. Due to limited space, the Sunday schools were spread throughout various barracks.
[18] OMS Holiness Church of North America, “Kumaji Victor Yoshimoto,” accessed at http://kuzuharalibrary.com/biographies/yoshimoto.html.
[19] Ren Kimura, “According to His Purpose,” in Triumphs, 64. See OMS Holiness Church of North America, “Ren Kimura” (30 June 1989), accessed at http://kuzuharalibrary.com/testimonies/kimura.html. Kimura credited Sakaue as influencing him to become a minister: “As a result of his personal encouragement, counseling, and prayers, I enrolled at Christian colleges and seminaries. He made contact with many colleges and seminaries in my behalf.” In 1954, Kimura was ordained and would serve in the San Fernando Holiness Church for eight years. Kimura, who also met his wife, May, in the camps, could declare with Paul, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
[20] Henry Ikemoto, “Christ is the Answer,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.4 (30 May 1943), 3.
[21] “Easter Sunrise,” The Rohwer Transmitter 2.15 (2 May 1943), 2.
[22] Kazuo Harper Sakaue, Clearwater Japanese Baptist Church Clarion Call 2.7 (20 April 1943), 1.
[23] Hiroshi Uyehara, “A Christian Experience,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.8 (31 October 1943), 3.
[24] K. Harper Sakaue, “The Supreme Sacrifice,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.4 (30 May 1943), 1.
[25] OMS Holiness Church of North America, “Christian Activities in the Camps,” accessed at http://kuzuharalibrary.com/history/activities_in_camps.html. Corporal Mike Hagiwara wrote back to Minidoka about the Easter services at Camp Shelby in 1944. He and his brothers in Christ were overwhelmed that “fifteen minutes before the start of the service, the chapel was jammed packed with hundreds standing outside. As soon as this service was over we had another. Again the chapel was full, to overflowing, and it was certainly heartening to see so many men in church.” That Easter, thirty-six men were baptized (“In the Mailbag,” The Minidoka Churchman 3.3 [22 April 1944], 3).
[26] See “In Memoriam,” Rohwer Federated Christian Church Bulletin (13 May 1945), 2.
[27] Kazuo Harper Sakaue, Clearwater Japanese Baptist Church Clarion Call 2.9 (25 August 1943), 1.
[28] K. Harper Sakaue, “Thanksgiving Day Thoughts,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.9 (28 November 1943), 3.
[29] K. Harper Sakaue, “Christmas in Rohwer,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.10 (25 December 1943), 2.
[30] “Easter Sunrise,” Federated Christian Church Bulletin (16 April 1944).
[31] Rohwer Federated Christian Church (RFCC), “The Glorious Victory,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 2.1 (9 April 1944), 1.
[32] “Newcomers from Tulelake,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.7 (29 August 1943), 2.
[33] “Welcome,” in Rohwer Federated Christian Church Bulletin (18 June 1944), 1.
[34] Harper and Sophie Sakaue, “Farewell to Rohwer,” Rohwer Federated Christian Church Bulletin (9 September 1945), 1.
[35] K. Harper and Sophie Sakaue, “Dear Members and Friends,” in Rohwer Federated Christian Church Bulletin (30 September 1945), 2. Rev. Sakaue had similarly encouraged those who resettled outside the camp, while he was still in captivity: “Never permit your busy daily schedule to crowd out your time for proper reading of the Bible or devotional booklet. Before you leave home in the morning, offer a prayer for His guidance” (K. Harper Sakaue, “The Priorities of Life,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 2.3 [22 October 1944], 1). “Be strong in the Lord! Keep up your daily devotional life. When you come home from your work or study, open the Precious Book and read from His Word. Be strengthened and fortified for daily victorious living” (K. Harper Sakaue, “Be Strong in the Lord,” The Rohwer Transmitter Literary Edition 1.7 [29 August 1943], 3).
