Prayer Guide – Week 41 (June 12-18)

The two Prefectures to pray for this week are Aomori and Iwate

Located at the northern tip of Honshu Island, Aomori is one of Japan's least-reached regions. Traditions and customs still have a powerful hold in this prefecture, while traditional forms of animistic Shinto are prevalent.

Divination is rampant in Aomori as there are many sites which hold spiritual significance for adherents to Shinto. For example, Mount Osore, which according to popular mythology marks the entrance to Hell, is famous for its many spiritual mediums.

Church attendees is low, there is one church for every 19,725 people, with the average church attendance at 26.

Please pray for:

• The deep spiritual strongholds to be shattered by Christ's authority
• The few churches in Aomori, that they would display God's unity
• The 47 towns and villages with no churches at all, that they would be reached by those willing to be the feet of Jesus, bringing His Good News
• God's Kingdom to come fully to Aomori

"...He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives..." - Luke 4:18b
The other focus is Iwate Prefecture.

Iwate is Japan's 2nd largest prefecture in land area and is sparsely populated. Severe weather conditions and terrain make it an area where the population is steadily declining. Church attendees account for very few of the total population. There are 36 towns and villages with no church at all.

Please pray for:

• More missionaries to enter Iwate
• The 2,830 students at Morioka University, that they would desire to read the Bible and know their Creator
• The various ministries in Iwate that aim to reach the handicapped community
• Those impacted by the horrific earthquake and tsunami of 2011, that they would seek out God through their hardships and that our Lord would use that tragedy to lead many from Iwate to Himself

"And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?" - Romans 10:14b

Recently in Japan the head of a major Japanese boys-group talent agency apologized for the sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by her predecessor His name was Johnny Kitagawa and he was a powerful figure in Japanese entertainment. He was never charged with crimes. He died in 2019. It has raised questions of sexual abuse that is covered up here in Japan. The media was largely silent about the abuse until it all has come out.

Japanese society is changing – people are more willing to speak up about something like this taking place. Can you pray that the light will uncover more of the darkness that happens under cover.

The Church in Japan can only grow when we are living in the light. Pray that God will not let people get away with evil and all will be uncovered. Pray that Jesus will return for a pure bride. Pray for purity amongst believers in Japan. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Pray for both things to happen. Christians will more readily be open to confess their sins to each other and not live in the dark. Secondly pray for more righteous people whose prayers will be powerful and effective.

• Pray that comfort will be brought to those who have suddenly lost someone close to them in a disaster or accident.
• Pray that the Lord's grace will sustain the people and the work that is being done for them.
• May the Lord increase the number of people who stand by them in love.
• May we, who have received the Lord's love, be close to those in need and bring the Lord's love to them.
• Pray that those who have lost loved ones due to illness and other reasons will be able to open their hearts and lay down their burdens. Pray that churches and Christians will be used for this purpose.
• Even if you are a Christian, the pain and sorrow of losing someone close to you is great. Please pray that the church will be filled with the love that accompanies them, and that they will be given the understanding they need.
• May those who work in grief care always stand with the Lord's help.