Prayer Guide – Week 34 (April 24-30)

This week's prayer focus is Yamaguchi Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture.

Yamaguchi
In early Japanese history, Yamaguchi was within a sphere of heavy Chinese influence, making it a place of high culture at the time. This is reflected today by the majority of the population placing a high value on old customs and traditions.
This emphasis on tradition makes personal professions of faith a great challenge for Japanese, as it is seen as breaking away from their communal identity. The Holy Spirit can enable believers to overcome their fear of people and rejoice in the riches of a new identity in Christ.

Please pray for:

• The 30 towns and villages with no churches at all, that they would be sought out by fresh new workers entering God's harvest
• The 24 missionaries serving in Yamaguchi, that they would be refreshed, encouraged, and re-energized to reach the lost with the hope of Christ
• The Japanese believers in Yamaguchi, that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach out to their own countrymen and share God's love

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tokushima
The inhabitants of Tokushima place more value on their family names and status than any other area of Japan. They also perceive a stronger spiritual connection to their ancestors. Although this region is a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims to visit the 88 temples on the island of Shikoku, there are few followers of Buddhism in this prefecture. This is partly due to the strong presence of Sokka Gakkai, a Japanese "new religion" that places much emphasis on material blessing.

Please pray for:

• The Buddhist pilgrims who visit the many temples in Tokushima, that they would find that what they are looking for so earnestly is only found in Jesus
• Followers of Sokka Gokkai, that they would see the emptiness of this works-based cult and would have an opportunity to hear the Good News of Christ's saving work
• The 31 towns and villages with no church presence at all, that they would have faithful followers of the One True God come and bring them His love
• Tokushima to be brought to the feet of Christ Jesus and find new life in Him

"...Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you..."
- Acts 17:23b

The “new normal” post-Covid has accelerated the use of media & technology in every aspect of life. As Christians we can positively shape the digital future for the Kingdom of God. In Japan this brings more ways to connect with people online & share the great hope of the Gospel.

Carey Nieuwhof says that the front door of the Church has changed- it’s now online!” Those working on on-line ministries believe it’s going to be a time of change that no one could imagine.

7MEDIA is one group seeking to make the most of opportunities to develop resources on line. They’re building new platforms and more creative content in Japanese for seekers. They desire for young people to encounter Gods love & purpose through regular films with “influencers" to share their faith stories.

Please pray for online ministries developing materials. Pray they will find creative ways to reach out to those outside the Church

Give thanks for miraculous stories of Japanese seekers searching for faith on line, finding it and now baptized.

The Lord makes His dwelling in praise. Let us pray together that praise may abound through many people.

• Pray for the blessing of praise in each church service.
• Pray that music of all genres will be used for praise.
• That all generations, from children to the elderly, will be filled with praise to the Lord.
• That praise would overflow into the streets, campgrounds, and schools.
• That the music people hear in their cars and earphones will be filled with praise.