Prayer Guide – Week 9 (November 20-26)

This week's prayer focus is for Oita and Kagoshima Prefecture

Being influenced by Kansai and Shikoku, the people of Oita are a bit more individualistic and relationalistic. Within the prefecture also lies a darker spiritual reality: there is divination and "magic" that are practiced, especially near the Usa shrine.

Historically, there are a number of people who became Christians with the preaching of Francis Xavier in the 16th century, but there is now little to show for it. Of the 47 towns and villages, 39 are without a church presence. The number of congregations has decreased in the last ten years.

Please pray for:

• The eyes of those in Oita to be opened to the one true Creator
• The believers in Oita, that they would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim the Gospel with humility
• God's Kingdom to come to OIta prefecture

"His radiance is like the sunlight;
He has rays flashing from His hand,
And there is the hiding of His power."
- Habakkuk 3:4

Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

In 1549, Francis Xavier landed in Kagoshima to bring knowledge of Jesus to the Japanese. Four and a half centuries later, after bloody persecutions, turmoil, and isolation, Kagoshima remains mostly unreached by the Gospel. What was perhaps the first part of Japan to hear the name of Jesus has yet to call on His name.

The recent earthquakes in Kumamoto (another prefecture on Kyushu Island) caused much destruction and loss. Please pray for those effected by this, as well as for those now asking deeper questions about life throughout the rest of Kyushu. Pray that what happened in Kumamoto will be used to bring life to all the prefectures of Kyushu.

Please also pray for:

- The Japanese believers in Kagoshima, that the Holy Spirit would empower them to have deeper and deeper intimacy with Him and also lead them to be bold in sharing the Gospel with others
- Workers to be sent into this harvest field, to gather God's lost sheep of Kagoshima
- The 63 towns and villages with no church presence at all, as well as Kaseda city, with no church presence at all

"O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy.
For the Lord Most High is to be feared,
A great King over all the earth."
- Psalm 47:1,2

Evangelism can seem intimidating for many Japanese people. They are unsure if they know enough to share the gospel, and fear saying the wrong thing. Social pressures encourage them to keep silent. However, showing and sharing the gospel is a lifestyle, not an event or task. It is a steady process of life-giving conversations, building relationships of trust, and invitations.

Pray that Christians in Japan will not look down or forsake small and steady efforts to share the gospel. Any step closer to Christ is a significant one!

Pray against doubt and discouragement, of Christians feeling like their small efforts won’t make a difference. Pray that they will faithfully plant gospel seeds in people’s lives and experience the joy of the Lord.

This is a generation with a wider range of activities and many freedoms and responsibilities. Pray for the revival of Christ to be given to this generation.

• Pray that as many young people as possible will encounter the Lord through their college life.
• Pray that Christian students and professors will be given opportunities to pray and witness on campus.
• That KGK, Campus Crusade, and Bible study groups at each university would be used for student evangelism and growth.
• Pray that students will be able to meet people of faith who can build each other up.
• That we would be able to choose our future in God's will.
• Pray that each person will be convinced of what is appropriate as a Christian, such as love and drinking, and that this will be a witness to others.
• Pray that churches will have good partnerships with local universities to advance missionary work.