A Flower with Roots: The Story of Mary D. Jesse and Shokei Girls’ School
You are about to read a book with a double storyline with many intertwining segments. Mary D. Jesse, a woman from a family of means, abandons everything to follow her vision to help lift the burden of Japanese girls during a time when education was a privilege and not a right. She is a model of faith, perseverance, and leadership, who discovers God's guidance in difficult experiences. Already a school with history, Shokei Girls' School begins its walk with Jesse as she and other missionary colleagues share their Christian faith--the flower--their love for the students, and Christ's love as it is--rooted--in their daily living. Mission, culture, and character intersect here at Shokei, leading to changed lives. At the same time, the drama of misunderstanding, misery, and pain leads to forgiveness and rebuilding. The story of Shokei Girls' School is a compelling account of the resiliency of a mission school, where you will see the love and loyalty of the students for their school while the school leadership was experiencing endless drama in management and personal relations. A Flower with Roots will take you on a journey you won't forget.
“I had the privilege of visiting the Shokei School in early
2003—and then of helping host its wonderful choir as they came to
Seattle later that year. A Flower with
Roots helped me appreciate the development of the school
and one of its early leaders, each often taking ‘three steps
forward and two steps back,’ all the while depending on divine
guidance that came from both open doors and closed
ones.”
—Paul D. Aita, Special Assistant for Southeast Asia and Japan,
American Baptist International Ministries
“What a great book and what a fascinating story! Roberta
Stephens has told the journey of Mary D. Jesse in a way that brings
missionary work from the mid-twentieth century to life, along with
all of its challenges and victories. Roberta Stephens is the
perfect person to share this history, since so much of it parallels
her own story. I highly recommend A Flower with
Roots!”
—Glenn Gunderson, Lead Pastor, Purpose Church, Pomona,
California
“A Flower with Roots is a fascinating
contribution to cross-cultural studies as well as Baptist, mission,
and women’s studies. This well-researched story of Mary D. Jesse
and Shokei Girl’s School tells of educating Japanese girls in a
context of war, personality conflicts, financial strain, and ethnic
prejudice. It portrays the successful transition from mission to
indigenous leadership and from dependence to independence. Shokei’s
struggle to retain faith while facing rising nationalism is
especially instructive.”
—Reid S. Trulson, International Ministries Executive Director,
Retired
“I had the privilege of visiting the Shokei School in early
2003—and then of helping host its wonderful choir as they came to
Seattle later that year. A Flower with
Roots helped me appreciate the development of the school
and one of its early leaders, each often taking ‘three steps
forward and two steps back,’ all the while depending on divine
guidance that came from both open doors and closed
ones.”
—Paul D. Aita, Special Assistant for Southeast Asia and Japan,
American Baptist International Ministries
“What a great book and what a fascinating story! Roberta
Stephens has told the journey of Mary D. Jesse in a way that brings
missionary work from the mid-twentieth century to life, along with
all of its challenges and victories. Roberta Stephens is the
perfect person to share this history, since so much of it parallels
her own story. I highly recommend A Flower with
Roots!”
—Glenn Gunderson, Lead Pastor, Purpose Church, Pomona,
California
“A Flower with Roots is a fascinating
contribution to cross-cultural studies as well as Baptist, mission,
and women’s studies. This well-researched story of Mary D. Jesse
and Shokei Girl’s School tells of educating Japanese girls in a
context of war, personality conflicts, financial strain, and ethnic
prejudice. It portrays the successful transition from mission to
indigenous leadership and from dependence to independence. Shokei’s
struggle to retain faith while facing rising nationalism is
especially instructive.”
—Reid S. Trulson, International Ministries Executive Director,
Retired
Product Details
- Title : A Flower with Roots: The Story of Mary D. Jesse and Shokei Girls’ School
- Authors:
- Stephens, Roberta Lynn
- Sasaki, Komei
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2018
- ISBN: 9781532634314
Roberta Lynn Stephens is a retired American Baptist missionary
to Japan. She served at Shokei Gakuin, Sendai, Japan as a teacher
and board member for twenty-nine years. She is the author of
Nezuita Hana in Japanese (2003), and co-authored An
Invitation to Kokeshi Dolls (1981).