Prayer Guide – Week 42 (June 19-25)

This week's prayer focus is for Miyagi Prefecture and also Akita Prefecture.

Miyagi prefecture was hit hard by the 2011 tsunami/earthquake disaster and some towns lost as many as half their population. There is a higher population in Miyagi then in most of the Tohoku region with Sendai being its largest city.

The people of Miyagi generally have weaker feelings towards religion compared to other parts of Tohoku as Buddhist and Shinto influence is not as strong. After the disaster however, many people have begun searching for life's answers and this has led some people to find new life in Christ.

Please pray for:

• Those who lost their loved ones and/or homes in the tsunami, that they would find hope in Christ through their suffering and God would draw them to Himself
• The missionaries working in Miyagi Prefecture, that the Lord would use them in mighty ways in the wake of tragedy
• Those who are seeking, that they would find the One they are looking for

"Even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You." Psalm 139:12

Akita Prefecture

The people of Akita show much loyalty to their prefecture (second only to Okinawans). This is a very conservative region as temples and shrines, along with old customs and traditions, have a deep influence. 0.001% of the population attend some sort of worship service and there is one church for every 19,562 people.

Please pray for:

• The town of Tenno that has a population of over 20,000 with no church at all
• The other 48 towns and villages with no church
• The missionaries who are serving in this prefecture would have strength from the Lord and would be used by Him to love these people
• The Gospel to reach every individual in Akita
• That God would draw many hurting people to Himself from this area

"Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" - John 8:12

This week JEMA (Japan Evangelical Mission Association) sent out their quarterly Magazine Japan Harvest. The focus was Japanese Church history. One writer wrote about Revival today. She explored three revivals in Japan- 1881 – 1889, 1930n and 1953.

After each report she writes, “If God can do it then He can do it now.” She then goes on to say 5 things to do as we prepare for revival in Japan.

• Pray – let us determine to seek more f Jesus and His Spirit. Each revival started when believers were gathering together to pray.
• Practise unity across the denominations – we need to see the unity of the Church. Pray that the Japanese Churches will be moved to seek unity with other churches
• Let us be intentionally creating structures so the Japanese Church is ready to disciple many and multiply when the Spirit brings revival
• Believe – I am ready and can’t wait.
• Be humble. Contrite hearts seems like God’s entryway to revival. Pray Christian’s will choose humility

Let us pray for children who are not attending school and their families.

• Pray for the physical health of the children who are not attending school.
• Pray that the hurt and pain in their hearts will be touched by the Lord's love and be restored.
• Many wonderful ministries are being developed. May the church learn from them and serve with the Lord's love. May we work together to reach those who are in need.
• Pray that families will receive appropriate encouragement and help, and that they will be a safe place and fellowship for their children.
• May appropriate laws be put in place to pave the way for children and families to live with hope.