Prayer Guide – Week 40 (June 05-11)

We have now prayed for all of the 47 Prefectures over the last 6 months. Thank you for praying for each of them. We now return to pray for Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island and also Japan’s largest prefecture in size.

Hokkaido is filled with volcanic plateaus, forests, open plains, and is also a major agricultural, mining, and fishing region.

In many ways, Hokkaido has been a relatively fertile receptor to the Gospel and there is a significant history of missionary involvement on the island. Thanks to these men and women, there is now a solid foundation for the Good News to spread.

Though this Christian presence is high for Japan, it's still extremely low on a global scale. There is one church for every 14,233 people and the average church attendance is 31 people.

Please pray for:

• The island of Hokkaido to be a forerunner in being transformed by the Gospel of Christ, and that this would overflow into the rest of Japan.
• The 2 cities (Akabira and Utashinai) and 113 villages with no church at all, that they would be reached by workers who wish to enter God's vast harvest.
• Churches with no pastors, and for those facing hardships because of the severe winters, the population decline, and economic difficulties.
• There are a number of OMF missionaries there as well as a language school they are at. Praise God for the faithfulness of many OMF missionaries over the years and pray for the new missionaries who are currently doing 2 years of language training.
• The several camping ministries in Hokkaido. Due to its vast wilderness, the island is a key place for these types of outreach efforts.
• The remaining Ainu people, who were indigenous inhabitants of Japan who have largely disappeared. Pray that their small remnant would be reached for Christ.
• Hokkaido's natural beauty to lead many to seek the God who created it.

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." - Psalm 90:2

Over the years many men’s programs and books focused on men have been used in Japan with a good response. However, many only last a few years - and the challenge facing the church to effectively reach and disciple men remains daunting.

Let's pray for:

• Healing and wholeness of Japanese Christian men, especially in the areas of the father-wound, and sexual sin.
• Open, vulnerable relationships and intentional mentoring to be nurtured amongst Japanese Christian men.
• Forerunners and trailblazers amongst Japanese Christian men to creatively reach their own nation right where men live and work – that it might become a men’s movement that grows and expands across Japan.

The rainy season has already started in many places and typhoons are already approaching, making this year's weather conditions difficult to predict.
Earthquakes have also been reported here and there. Let us pray for the protection of the Lord's hand and for people's salvation.

• Pray for the Lord's hand to control all situations and for people's safety.
• For those who have suffered in the past...May the Lord's love be shown more and more clearly to those who are still in pain in their lives and hearts, and may His name be praised.
• Pray that the church will pray enough and nurture good relationships with the community so that they can serve in times of need.
• Pray that we, as Christians, will always be a flock that humbly obeys the Word of God.