Prayer Guide – Week 33 (April 17-23)

This week's prayer focus is Okayama and Hiroshima Prefectures.

Okayama:

Curiously, the people of Okayama claim to be more mentally and spiritually fulfilled than any other prefecture in the nation. This region has given rise to various religious leaders throughout Japan's history, both Buddhist and Christian.

Please pray for:

• A knowledge of the deep for Christ to spread through the hearts of Okayama
• The 46 towns and villages without a church presence, that they would be reached by the Gospel
• The 17 missionaries serving in this area, that they would persevere and bring many people to know Jesus
• Japanese believers in Okayama, that they would be bold and filled with faith

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

- Acts 4:12

Hiroshima:

Famed globally for the widespread destruction caused by the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this city now stands as a symbol of peace worldwide. Though there is current peace in Hiroshima City and its surrounding prefecture, this area does not possess the deeper peace of knowing Jesus Christ.

For church planters, it is a struggle to keep up with the population increase of the city, while there is a significantly lower number of churches per population in the rural communities. Hiroshima prefecture has the highest percentage of Buddhist believers in the Chigoku district.

Please pray for:

• Hiroshima to find true peace and eternal healing through knowing Jesus
• More workers to enter the harvest field of Hiroshima prefecture, in both the urban and rural areas
• Akitakata City, which has over 34,000 people and no church presence at all
• he 39 towns and villages with no churches

"For He Himself is our peace.."
- Ephesians 2:14a

Increasingly Japanese Christians are seeing the importance of networking together towards the goal of reaching Japan

The Japan Sports movement is seeking to build sporting ministry in every Prefecture by the end of next year. The Action Sports  network- skating, surfing, snowboarding and mountain climbing is bringing Christians to work together in mission.

Various approaches to discipleship are working together to share strategies across Japan

The Christian schools movement work together to support Christian schools across Japan.

A new network begun 18 months ago called Love Japan is seeking to get Christians and Churches to more intentionally work together.

Pray for Alpha as it brings Christians together to reach out to their friends.

Pray that Japanese Christians would leave the divisions of the past and want to cooperate with other believers in the reaching of Japan.

Pray for Christian politicians like Pastor Michi Kaneko  as they seek to bring Christians together to change society.

Pray for the work of church schools (church-run schools, free schools, etc.).

• Pray that churches and brothers and sisters who are involved in the work of church schools throughout Japan will be supported.
• Pray that the students who are enrolled in these schools will be blessed and grow in the Lord's love and Word.
• Pray that we will be able to reach children and families in need.
• May God open legal doors and allow us to choose a church school education without financial restraints.
• Pray that church school graduates will be able to witness to the Lord and serve as a light to the world.