Ed Erny, Director, OMS International, Inc. -- "I appreciated your inquiry concerning working with Buddhist groups here in the United States. Of course OMS works in a number of Buddhist countries overseas, but at this time we do not have any structured ministry to Buddhists here in the Homeland. Whether this may develop in the future I cannot say. It would seem to me, however, that God has uniquely prepared you through your background to have a vital and effective ministry to just such people." August 13, 1988

John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher,  Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California -- "My heart is encouraged over your great desire to reach out to Buddhists with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are such a marvelous trophy of Grace. I thank God for His redeeming work in your life and the desire He has placed in your heart to be an ambassador in His name." November 11, 1988

Mrs. Earl Poysti, Russian Christian Radio -- "I have just read your article, 'Buddhism in the Pacific Rim'... It was clear and informative. In Irkutsk, Siberia, we met Russian missionaries working (with) Buddhists. They were asking us for any material, tracts or booklets, which are specifically written for Buddhists. Unfortunately, we did not know of any, but promised to look into the matter. Shortly, after...I came across your article...do you have any material that would be suitable for the evangelization of Buddhists in the Soviet Union?"  August 11, 1989

Cody Watson, Perspectives Coordinator -- "I want to personally thank you for contributing your time and expertise to the Perspectives course. It was a privilege for me to sit in on the course again as well. From the comments of those in the class, they won't be the same. Some were almost overwhelmed with all the new information they were receiving." August 23, 1989

Mrs. Billie Mann, Principal, San Gabriel Union Church and Christian School -- "I am sure you were aware that many of our students have a Buddhist heritage (our school population is 35% Asian). Our teachers do not always feel that they can answer the questions our Buddhist students ask about converting to Christianity, so it was a real blessing to us to have you present your true experience." November 17, 1989

Rev. J. D. Ollis, Dept. of Missiology Commonwealth Bible College, Australia -- "I read your article today in the December Global Prayer Digest and was really challenged by it." December  1, 1989

John E. Fletcher, General Director,  Pioneers -- "Thanks for blessing my heart with a fantastic newsletter... The newsletter was passed on to me by our Director of Church Relations, Mr. Richard Carl, who shared with me that he has met you and spent some time talking with you before." December 19, 1989

Carl Jackson, National Office Asst., Youth with a Mission YWAM-Japan -- "We are in the process of conducting research among certain unreached people groups within the Buddhist world... Could you also inform us on how we may obtain any research that has already been done that you might have in your library." March 30, 1990

Rev. Brian Newton, Coordinator Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) -- "Thank you so much for coming and sharing at the ACMI meeting...by way of stimulating our thinking regards (to) the unreached Buddhist peoples...you've opened some areas that need to be pursued further." October 11, 1990

Urbana Student Attendee (name with held, now in Asia) -- "Thank you for your seminars on Buddhism at Urbana '90. As I am seriously considering the possibility of tent-making in Thailand, I found your seminars very insightful." January 12, 1991

Andy Mo, Editor, Proclaim -- "I would like to thank you for granting us permission to translate into Chinese your article, 'Buddhist Kingdoms in a Shrinking world' which will appear in the November issue of our Chinese bimonthly Proclaim." September 23, 1991

Bob Emery, Overseas Director, Christian Aid Mission -- "It was great to talk with you. Thanks for your help with Tibetan materials. I hope that the Lord leads us to cross paths again." 1993

Tetsunao Yamamori, President of Food for the Hungry  International--writing to a Japanese evangelist -- "I want to introduce James C. Stephens to you. I would like for Jim to be invited to the prayer conference and, if possible, use him. He can share his testimony. Jim is the founding director of Sonrise Center for Buddhist Studies...very knowledgeable of the worldwide Buddhist movement."  February 15, 1993

David Hesselgrave, Professor, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School --  "For years I passed a school for training Buddhist missionaries to North America as I went back and forth from our home to our Kyoto Christian Center (Japan). Here at home I have wondered why we are able to engender so many efforts to understand and missionize Muslims, for example, while the same interest in Buddhists seems to be lacking... I would be happy to support SCBS in any way that I can." February 24, 1993

Alan B. MacDonald, Director for East Asia, Summer Institute of Linguistics -- "I came across the enclosed article... I realize there may not be anything you don't already know, but it was interesting to me to see how it  supports what you've been saying for some time now about the spread of Buddhism into western societies." July 29, 1993

Timothy Kung, translated by Martin Chow, in an article entitled, "Evangelizing Buddhists and How to Lead American Buddhists to Christ" -- "What follows are some recommendations for American church leaders to consider: As soon as possible, establish branch chapters of Sonrise Center for Buddhist Studies, founded by Mr. James Stephens. Mr. Stephens would be in charge of the presentation of the organization. I recommend that the financial obligations of this ministry be jointly underwriters by a group of American churches and mission organizations. 

The importance of this work demands promotion that is done by a team of many people, and not just done independently by one or two persons. If possible, this could be done through the organization of a committee of people representing various churches that have a burden to do evangelism among Buddhists. This committee would bear the primary responsibilities involved with ministry promotion. Mr. Stephens converted to Christianity from Buddhism. He is a devoted Christian who is very committed to evangelizing Buddhists for Christ. He is also very capable of promoting this work." July 1993

Mary Park, Director,  Korean Frontier Mission -- "We thank you for your great help; permitting us to translate and print your blessed work in our magazine. We believe that many of our readers will be powerfully touched when reading your article as the Holy Spirit moves their hearts." October 14, 1993

Louis L. King, Formerly the president of the Christian Missionary Alliance, comments on the International Journal of Frontier Missions edited by James C. Stephens -- "Seldom, if ever, will so much valuable and comprehensive information be found in one publication regarding Buddhism. In fact, to obtain solid, authentic data on Buddhism in America is exceedingly difficult, yet here are two articles that supply that lack." October 10, 1993

John Jefferson Davis, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary--writing to Overseas Ministry Study Center -- "I have known James (Stephens) for the last several years in connection with his work as founder and director of the Sonrise Center for Buddhist Studies...and my involvement in his summer seminar on Christian Witness to the Buddhist World. On these occasions I have had opportunity to observe his organizational skills, teaching ability, knowledge of various Buddhist traditions and extensive personal connections with academicians, missionaries, and church leaders who are involved in various ways in Christian witness to Buddhist peoples. I am very confident that James has the necessary skills, knowledge motivation and personal connections..." November 29, 1993

Alex G. Smith, Northwest Director OMF and Adjunct Faculty Multnomah Biblical Seminary--writing to Overseas Ministry Study Center -- "James Stephens is especially qualified...his intimate awareness of the inner workings of that particular Buddhist cult, and his deep burden to reach out to those ensnared in the Buddhist world, uniquely qualifies Jim. Furthermore, he is interacting with other Christian scholars who are experts on the Buddhist world in which they have been involved. I heartily commend James Stephens to you." November 29, 1993

Lynn Ellis, Urbana Coordinator -- "Thank you very much for serving as a seminar leader at Urbana 92. You have an incredible heart for the Buddhist world, and I appreciate your coming to Urbana and sharing this burden with the delegates." March 28, 1994

Chris Huber, Pastor, College Ministry, Victoria Community Church, Riverside, California -- "I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you once again for ministering to me in the last few weeks and for serving with me last Tuesday night. You have been unbelievably encouraging to me. Thank you so much for your servant heart and passion to advance the Kingdom of Christ."  May 5, 1994

Gertrud Storajo, Swedish Slavic Mission -- "I happened to get some of your material, "A Christian Primer," and "Doctrinal Perspectives."  They are of good use for me in my ministry as coordinator for missionary work to Buddhist peoples in Russia." October 20, 1994

J. Isamu Yamamoto, writer, Christianity Today  in an article entitled, "The arrival of Theravada: Southeast Asians Bring their School of Buddhism to America" -- "Two ministries are successfully bringing Christ to American Buddhists of Asian descent, but in different ways. One is the Sonrise Center for Buddhist Studies, Jim Stephens, dedicated to informing and training Christians who are working to evangelize Buddhist. The other is devoted to meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Southeast Asians."  Fall 1994

Patrick Howell, Associate Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California -- "It is important that you understand my genuine appreciation for your work, and my desire to benefit from you as a training resource-both for myself, and our people. I am grateful that you are making yourself available to us for that purpose. I do hope that over the next few years we will see Asia have a greater emphasis in our church's outreach."  December 16, 1994

Pastor Armando Osorio, Cooperacion Misionera de Hispanos de Norteamerica -- "In the name of COMINHA's California Regional Committee we want to formally invite you to participate as one of the speakers in our Regional Congress." July 23, 1995

Rev. Paul Mueller, Professor, Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota -- "I was interested in your ministry, especially since I teach a World Religions class... I was wondering if you know of any good materials for teaching Buddhism to the class in order that they understand the religion in a better way and are more effective at responding to the challenge." September 15, 1995

M. Calandrino, student at William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri -- "I became aware of your name after reading a paper compiled by English Language Institute/China on the religions of Vietnam.  Your name and Sonrise were listed as sources of the information concerning Buddhism with a note that you were formerly a Buddhist..." November 22, 1995

Hartmut Peters, TEAM Taiwan -- "Recently I got your address. We as missionaries in Taiwan with TEAM. We would like to get some more material how to reach our Buddhist friends here." May 8, 1996

Stan Jeter Senior Producer/Editor CBN News -- "Thanks so much for providing video and information about the Dalai Lama's visit to Pasadena. Our goal is to provide the church with a 'feedback loop' from the front lines of ministry, and for that we count on many friends, like you." August 16, 1996

Jan Johnson, Writer Moody Monthly -- "Thank you for letting me interview you for the enclosed article, 'Other Faiths in Your Neighborhood,' which appeared in the September/October, 1997 issue of Moody. Your input helped to make this practical. I wish I could have quoted more of what you said!"  September 1997

Wilbert Shenk, Professor, Fuller comments regarding a paper entitled, "The Blooming of the Lotus in the Postmodern World or How did Buddhism get into my Backyard?" -- "Lots of research, important work! I value your work. You see what most do not see in terms of Buddhist influence in Western culture and popular religion." Winter 1998

J. Dudley Woodberry, Dean of the School of World Mission, Fuller -- "Your survey course on Buddhism looks phenomenal. You certainly have a grasp of the field and the materials that are available." October 5, 1998

(Name withheld due to working in a Buddhist country) -- "After 3 years of seminary training in cross-cultural ministry and 10 years of ministry experience we thought we were ready to leave for the field. We soon realized that our training and experience had not adequately prepared us for the specialized ministry required in the Buddhist world. After a week of seminars and independent reading and research at the SCBC we left with both tools and vision. Spending a week at the SCBC made the difference between whether or not we will try to tackle an unreached Tibetan Buddhist people group." September 1998