Prayer Guide – Week 21 (January 23-29)

This week's prayer focus on 2 Prefectures Ibaraki and Gunma.

Ibaraki Prefecture

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. According to Operation Japan prayer guide, church attendees account for 0.002% of the population.

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

Gunma Prefecture

Until recently, agriculture used to dominate Gunma, but now industrial development is spreading rapidly. This very mountainous region is quickly becoming a center for electronic and chemical industry. Population density is low and 56.9% of the towns and villages have no churches at all.

Please pray for:

• The Gospel to saturate this mostly rural area, so that even those in the most remote areas have a chance to hear about their only Savior.
• The various inns that are run by Christians, that they would be places of refuge for those who are seeking and hungry for true rest in Jesus.
• Missionaries to be sent into Gunma to preach the Good News.

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" - Romans 10:14

God wants blessings to flow to the world through our churches. Many churches in Japan are leaning on each other to answer the needs of society. There are ministries that cannot be handled by the government alone, but can only be done by the churches. May the churches that are doing these ministries - and those that are starting them - connect and encourage each other.

1. Pray for education (church schools, support for truancy, educational vouchers, establishment of Christian correspondence high schools).
2. Pray for welfare (support for children and families in need of advocacy and support (foster care system, children's cafeterias, school children, third places, food banks, etc.)
3. Pray for peace (end of the Russo-Ukrainian War, stability in the Asia-Pacific region)

Pray that those who are sent to the workplace as Christians will be able to witness the character of Christ through their work.
Pray that those who are sent to the workplace as Christians will be able to witness the character of Christ through their work.
That they may spread the gospel through the relationships they are given.
That the Lord would help those who are stuck and struggling.
That managers and those in charge will be protected from sins such as fraud and deceit, and will be able to make right decisions.
That people would be saved in their businesses and organizations, and that they would be able to worship the Lord there.