Prayer Guide – Week 23 (January 6-12)

This week's prayer focus is for Kanagawa and Shizuoka Prefectures.

Kanagawa has been a historical point of contact with the West when foreign ships showed up on its shores.
As a result, much cultural reform came out of Kanagawa when new ideas were brought ashore and into Japanese minds.
While many of the results of westernization in Japan are negative, some foreigners brought something different - the Gospel.
Because of this, the prefecture has harbored a few protestant gatherings of new believers; though, Church members still account for roughly 0.005% of the population of Kanagawa.

Please pray for:

• God to use Kanagawa to spark a new type of reform - not Westernization rather Gospel saturation and new Life in Jesus Christ
• Believers in Kanagawa, that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be God's light there and that the Living Water of Christ would flow from their hearts into the empty and hopeless
• Pray for the Kanagawa Sports Partnership as they together use sport to reach out to the community

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." - John 7:37b

Shizuoka is Japan's leading producer of tea and is home to a bustling fishing industry.
The strong economy in this area has helped materialism take root, causing the people of this prefecture to have less religious awareness than much of Japan.
They do not rely as strongly on Buddhism or Shinto.

Please pray for:

• The people of Shizuoka, that Christ will lift the veil from their eyes to see their need for Him
• God's Kingdom to come to this prefecture, breaking down any strongholds that the enemy has
• The four Christian schools in this prefecture, that their students would discover who their God is and be used to share His love with the people of Japan.

(1) There are approximately 42,000 children in Japan who are unable to live with their parents for various reasons. Such children are protected by prefectural governments and live in various places such as infant homes, foster homes, foster families, and family homes. More and more Japanese churches are also getting involved in the work of foster children. May God's love be communicated through churches and Christians.

(2) The number of cases of child abuse reported to Child Guidance Centers was 207,000 in FY2009. There were 49,238 cases of "physical abuse," in which children were kicked out of their homes or beaten, kicked, or otherwise assaulted. Psychological abuse," such as violence against a spouse or family member in front of the child, verbal threats, and discriminatory treatment between siblings, totaled 124,722 cases. Neglect," such as not giving food to children, totaled 31,452 cases. In reality, many more children are abused than this. In light of these facts, let us pray for the restoration of our families!

(3) Japan's divorce rate is 35%; according to a 2019 survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there were approximately 209,000 divorces. On the other hand, the number of marriages is about 599,000, so one out of every three couples is divorced. Let us pray for the couple's recovery!

Let us pray for the generation entering puberty, for the youth in this period of change and growth from children to adults!
This is a time of great physical change for both boys and girls. It also greatly affects their inner lives. Pray that they will be able to face their changing selves. Pray for them to be able to face their changing selves and for them to have secure and trustworthy relationships.
That they will find the meaning of life. That teenagers who do not know Christ will receive the gospel.
That they would be protected from the negative influence of the messages and values that flood social networking sites.
Pray that youth who have already been saved will share the gospel with confidence and pride.
For the church to reach young people who are sick or in pain.
That the work of youth in Japanese churches will burn hot. Pray that workers will be raised up for this purpose.