Prayer Guide – Week 45 (July 10-16)

This week's prayer focus is for Ibaraki Prefecture and Tochigi.

Ibaraki has a strong agricultural industry in the north and a more populated south that serves as a commuter area to Tokyo. It also has the least amount of people claiming any religious belief and fewer believe in Buddhism than in any other prefecture. Very tight community ties serve as a prevention of individual faith of any sort.

Please pray for:

• The people of Ibaraki, that their longings would be met by the true and loving God
• That as the rapid population growth to the south increases, a foundation for the Gospel would be laid
• The town of Ami, which has a population of 46,873 and no church
• The Gospel to reach the people of Ibaraki in a relevant, family and community-centered way

"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." - John 5:25

Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

This region contains many famous hot springs and beautiful scenic spots while it is a mostly agricultural economy. The people are known to be conservative and adhere to a strict code of ethics. After the Toshogu Shrine was transferred to Nikko, Tochigi, the whole area became a sacred religious site. Because of this, the people of this prefecture possess strong religious convictions which are often related to material blessing.

Please pray for:

• The people of Tochigi, that they would hear the Lord's voice and find life
• The Missionary Training Center, which has up to 40 Japanese believers preparing for cross-cultural ministries around the world
• The Asia Gakuin, which trains missionaries to reach rural areas. There is often up to 35 people being trained at a time
• The Hiki Christian Hospital, which has workers who share the Gospel and provides a chapel service
• The towns of Tanuma (29,413) and Ishibashi (20,380) with no churches

"...Your Kingdom come." - Luke 11:2b

Recently the Evangelical Alliance in the UK did a survey that found that 53% of non-Christians said they know a practicing Christian, which is down from 68% in 2015. Also, it found that 54% of Christians say they don’t know any non-Christians well enough to share faith with them.

It is true that were never designed to go through life alone. God calls us to befriend others, and when we are presented with the opportunity, to share life and faith with them.

Can you pray today that Japanese Christians would be actively seeking to make friends with not-yet-believers across Japan? Pray that Christians here will develop a heart for the lost. Perhaps you could (wherever you are) go to a shopping centre/walking the streets/being on a train and praying over the crowds of people that are before you.

Pray that this coming week God would give you an opportunity to share your faith with someone not yet in the Kingdom. Pray for Japanese believers to be bold in faith sharing. Pray they will make friends for Jesus. Thank you.

• Pray for emotional care for those who have been disabled by accident or illness.
• May the Lord's love be with those who are helping those who are close to them.
• Pray that self-help groups will be used.
• Please pray that the Lord's love will be extended to those who have lost a close relative.
• Pray that the Lord will give them help to face their loss without fear.
• That the Lord's presence will be communicated.
• May Christians serve Him with humility.
• We sometimes misuse the Word of God and end up hurting others.
• Pray that we will pray enough and be humble.
• Pray that the church will grow and mature as a flock that attends to those who are in pain, and that it will be a place overflowing with the Lord's love.