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The Mission Society mourns the loss of Mari Hicks, a missionary to Japan, who passed away on March 21, 2012 after a battle with cancer.

Neal and Mari Hicks have ministered with The Mission Society in Japan since 1992. They have been involved in pastoral ministry, homeless outreach, evangelism, prayer summits, and the International VIP Club ministry to unreached Japanese business men and women.

Neal and Mari met in 1971 while Neal was stationed with the U.S. Air Force on the island of Okino in the East China Sea. After one week of knowing one another, Neal proposed and Mari accepted. They were married later that year in Michigan.

Mari’s father was a Methodist pastor in Japan and shared the gospel with his son-in-law while visiting his daughter in 1974. Neal came to know Christ as Lord and later felt called into ministry.

Neal attended Asbury College and then Fuller Theological Seminary, earning a Master’s in cross-cultural studies. He then attended William Carey University and received a degree in TESOL and studied Japanese for two years in Tokyo before being ordained a pastor in the Japanese Methodist Church. Neal pastored for five years before joining The Mission Society in 1990.

Before meeting Neal, Mari attended college in Tokyo and danced professionally as a ballerina. She danced with the Tokyo Ballet Company, the Royal Academy of Ballet in British Columbia, and the San Francisco Ballet Company. She also worked as an assistant at Fuller Seminary and at the Christian Academy in Japan.

Mari is survived by her husband, Neal, and two sons, Neal Hideo and Phillip.

Mari's funeral was held at First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, Michigan on March 28, 2012. If you would like to give a personal gift, you can send it to Neal Hicks, c/o First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Main Street, Eaton Rapids, Michigan 48827.

Please be in prayer for the Hicks family in the coming days.