The Adairs
A Family In Missions
Words by Laurie Tuttle
Setting The Table: A Model For Ministry
On April 2025, five adventurous Marvinites, Adam Kovach, Alyssa and Joe Ulrich, daughter, Greta and myself, flew to Japan to visit Marvin missionaries, Robert and Roberta Adair and their four boys. Robert’s parents are long-time Marvin members, Butch and Joann Adair. The impromptu journey was orchestrated by a CALL from A3 Mission Organization. A3 is a missional leader development group equipping the capacity of servant leaders in mission fields around the world. Once a year, A3 meets at a German chalet-like retreat center in Okutama, Nishitama District, Tokyo, Japan, a beautiful mountain village, connected to Tokyo by train. Robert Adair is Missional Partners Director since 2019. Robert and Roberta work within A3 helping to establish missionaries partnering with existing Japanese churches ministering to unreached communities in Japan.
Our CALL was to provide support for the annual A3 conference by watching the missionary children–teaching Bible lessons, providing art projects, playing basketball, and taking walks to the river located next to the retreat center. Arriving at the retreat center, we all lugged luggage for a quarter of a mile to the entrance of the retreat center. Instantly, I noted all the A3 participants knew one another. Though the missionaries were stationed in different locations across Japan, most had served multiple years and the yearly retreat was a reprieve shared with long-term friends.
Many of the children had grown up coming to this retreat and all mingled together. A3 missionaries were comrades and family. Infectious friendliness welcomed tired Texas travelers and after settling in and resting, we began our duty of teaching and entertaining approximately 15 children and young people, aged 3-16.
Fellowship around a communal table was highlighted three times a day. The meals were shared by setting large, long tables in a family style presentation. All meals were integrated Japanese–German fare. Portions were smaller than how we eat in America. Children, teens and adults crowded tables and every table sported curious animated conversation. Laughter. For the five days, our Texan team served A3 participants.
Our time manifested as work and table, study and table, play and table, rest and table, worship and table. At the close of the A3 retreat, Robert Adair boarded a train with Marvin travelers. We journeyed to Tokyo. Robert’s expert tour guidance allowed us to experience Urban Japan. Then we headed north to Tagajo City, Miyagi, Japan. Robert and Roberta share ministry with a local Japanese pastor. Shiogamo Bible Baptist church sits sentinel overlooking Tagajo City.
Upon arrival, we were invited into the Adair’s home. Led by Robert, five Marvin pilgrims walked with luggage the quarter mile from the train station. The weather was cool. We were close to the ocean. Entryways to Japanese homes are all cluttered by abandoned shoes. Socks or provided house shoes rule the innards of homes and establishments. The house smelled of Roberta’s welcoming dinner. Chicken, rice, and vegetables were roasting and simmering. Roberta provided hospitality magic for the hungry group assembling. Adam, Joe, Alyssa, Greta, Robert, myself and four boys eventually settled at a large table receiving hot fresh food. Talk, impressions of Japan by strangers, stories of living in Japan, the great 2011 Earthquake/Tsunami, the mastering of language, the growth of the boys, and the church were spoken about. Dessert and Japanese hot tea invited us to linger a little longer. Adam points out to me frequently, “lingering” is the attribute of a hospitable table.
At the Table of hospitality, the story unfolded. Both Robert and Roberta grew up nurtured by faith and information about foreign missions. While studying Ocean Engineering at Texas A&M, Robert joined Asian Access ministering short-term to Japan. He discovered Japan’s population is less than 1% Christian. His short-term ministry expanded into a call to serve long-term in Japan. He became a career missionary in the fall of 2005.
Our CALL was to provide support for the annual A3 conference by watching the missionary children–teaching Bible lessons, providing art projects, playing basketball, and taking walks to the river located next to the retreat center. Arriving at the retreat center, we all lugged luggage for a quarter of a mile to the entrance of the retreat center. Instantly, I noted all the A3 participants knew one another. Though the missionaries were stationed in different locations across Japan, most had served multiple years and the yearly retreat was a reprieve shared with long-term friends.
Many of the children had grown up coming to this retreat and all mingled together. A3 missionaries were comrades and family. Infectious friendliness welcomed tired Texas travelers and after settling in and resting, we began our duty of teaching and entertaining approximately 15 children and young people, aged 3-16.
Fellowship around a communal table was highlighted three times a day. The meals were shared by setting large, long tables in a family style presentation. All meals were integrated Japanese–German fare. Portions were smaller than how we eat in America. Children, teens and adults crowded tables and every table sported curious animated conversation. Laughter. For the five days, our Texan team served A3 participants.
Our time manifested as work and table, study and table, play and table, rest and table, worship and table. At the close of the A3 retreat, Robert Adair boarded a train with Marvin travelers. We journeyed to Tokyo. Robert’s expert tour guidance allowed us to experience Urban Japan. Then we headed north to Tagajo City, Miyagi, Japan. Robert and Roberta share ministry with a local Japanese pastor. Shiogamo Bible Baptist church sits sentinel overlooking Tagajo City.
Upon arrival, we were invited into the Adair’s home. Led by Robert, five Marvin pilgrims walked with luggage the quarter mile from the train station. The weather was cool. We were close to the ocean. Entryways to Japanese homes are all cluttered by abandoned shoes. Socks or provided house shoes rule the innards of homes and establishments. The house smelled of Roberta’s welcoming dinner. Chicken, rice, and vegetables were roasting and simmering. Roberta provided hospitality magic for the hungry group assembling. Adam, Joe, Alyssa, Greta, Robert, myself and four boys eventually settled at a large table receiving hot fresh food. Talk, impressions of Japan by strangers, stories of living in Japan, the great 2011 Earthquake/Tsunami, the mastering of language, the growth of the boys, and the church were spoken about. Dessert and Japanese hot tea invited us to linger a little longer. Adam points out to me frequently, “lingering” is the attribute of a hospitable table.
At the Table of hospitality, the story unfolded. Both Robert and Roberta grew up nurtured by faith and information about foreign missions. While studying Ocean Engineering at Texas A&M, Robert joined Asian Access ministering short-term to Japan. He discovered Japan’s population is less than 1% Christian. His short-term ministry expanded into a call to serve long-term in Japan. He became a career missionary in the fall of 2005.
Robert and Roberta met at Wheaton College in Illinois. They were married. They committed to returning to Japan to serve with Asian Access in 2010. While visiting Robert and Roberta, it was easy to see Japan has been integrated into the family. Four boys, Joseph, Benjamin, Anderson, and Timothy were all born in a local Shiogama hospital. The fabulously animated boys are fluent in Japanese and mingle with Japanese friends easily. Roberta writes, “They are fairly rooted in this community.” The Adair’s rootedness is reflected by the family’s choice to build a brand new house located across the street from the home they have been renting for nine years. The home is two stories with an added rooftop room and outdoor patio. The family moved into the new home right before heading to Texas and Pennsylvania for a six month U.S. stay. The family is excited about opportunities provided by traveling the States, especially visiting families; however, going home will bring the joy of the new home waiting. Roberta shares she looks forward to hosting neighborhood kids with popsicles, video games, hide-and seek. Hosting meals for friendships that span 12 years and friends made in 2024-25. The Adairs are nurturing and nurtured by their chosen Japanese community.
Jesus, repetitively throughout His earth ministry, set the table for influence and relationship. Setting the table is more than hospitality. It is the deep rootedness of community. Setting the table is a theology. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Luke 7:34 was Jesus’s example was to open up the table to all. There are 14 times in the Gospel where Jesus is recorded eating with people. He attended numerous Passovers and several Jewish feasts. Early Christian fellowship is found in Acts: “So continuing daily in unity in the Temple, and breaking bread from House to House, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” Yes! The Marvinites and the Adairs ate our food with gladness and simplicity of heart.
Jesus, repetitively throughout His earth ministry, set the table for influence and relationship. Setting the table is more than hospitality. It is the deep rootedness of community. Setting the table is a theology. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Luke 7:34 was Jesus’s example was to open up the table to all. There are 14 times in the Gospel where Jesus is recorded eating with people. He attended numerous Passovers and several Jewish feasts. Early Christian fellowship is found in Acts: “So continuing daily in unity in the Temple, and breaking bread from House to House, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” Yes! The Marvinites and the Adairs ate our food with gladness and simplicity of heart.
The final act of dining is revealed in Revelation 19:9 “Then he said to me, ‘Write, Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The Adairs embrace the revelation of the supper and are skilled at creating a table to integrate Japanese and foreign travelers into their home.
In April, during our stay at Tagajo, we all participated in the practice of Onsen. An Onsen is a Japanese, traditional communal bath house. Enjoying this Japanese activity was a stretch for our Western sensibilities. Afterwards, our group ate exquisite fresh Sushi at a local restaurant. White plates circled on train tracks with miniature Japanese Bullet cars carrying the various orders of sushi. We all adjourned back to the Adair Home, settled into the living area and lingered more. The table setting and open conversation provided laughter, confessions, and story-telling that rivaled Tik-Tok for entertainment. All of us were full of family, lingering, and at ease.
In April, during our stay at Tagajo, we all participated in the practice of Onsen. An Onsen is a Japanese, traditional communal bath house. Enjoying this Japanese activity was a stretch for our Western sensibilities. Afterwards, our group ate exquisite fresh Sushi at a local restaurant. White plates circled on train tracks with miniature Japanese Bullet cars carrying the various orders of sushi. We all adjourned back to the Adair Home, settled into the living area and lingered more. The table setting and open conversation provided laughter, confessions, and story-telling that rivaled Tik-Tok for entertainment. All of us were full of family, lingering, and at ease.