Prayer Guide – Week 43 (June 26-July 02)

This week's prayer focus is for Yamagata and Fukushima Prefectures.

Yamagata

Because Yamagata is so mountainous, development of adequate roads and train lines is difficult. Because of this, the culture remains deeply rooted in village mentality and there is a strong emphasis on personal relationships. This can be very difficult for Christians in Yamagata due to the intense pressure that this type of village culture creates.

This very conservative area is a major challenge for Japan's evangelization. Buddhism and Shinto play an important role in people's lives and folk religious practices, such as the use of spiritual mediums, are common. Church members account for we of the population.

Please pray for:

• The city of Obanazawa, which has a population of 21,534 with no church at all.
• The perseverance of believers in this prefecture who face intense social pressure to abandon their faith in Christ.
• The few missionaries in this area - that they would stand strong and abide in Jesus.
• The Good News of salvation, that all in Yamagata would have a chance to hear and understand.
• Many in Yamagata to come to know their Creator.

Fukushima

This mostly rural and agricultural region is home to a variety of geographic diversity such as mountains, valleys, volcanoes, marshes, lakes, and the ocean while 70% of Fukushima is covered in forest. Buddhism and Shinto have a deeply rooted presence in the prefecture.

Fukushima has appeared on the world stage due to its nuclear disaster that occurred as a result of the 2011 earthquake. The prefecture was also devastated by the ensuing tsunami and many lost their lives or were displaced. Today, a large number of Japanese in Fukushima live in temporary housing projects funded by the government.

Please pray for:

• Those who lost loved ones in the tsunami tragedy, that Jesus would pour out His love on them so that they would find true life in Him
• Those who lost their homes and are living in temporary housing or are homeless, that God would show them His love by bringing workers to minister to these suffering people
• Christ to heal the many wounds caused by the 2011 tragedy and to do it in a way that brings Him the most glory

"Weeping may last for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
...
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing..."
- Psalm 30:5b,11a

How can Christians grow so that across Japan are disciples that make disciples?

Pray for different discipleship courses that are taking place across Japan. It may be run through missionary agencies or Churches or individuals.
Pray for all those Christians in Japan who are being mentored. It is an effective way to make disciples.

Pray specifically for

• Youth with a Mission who run Discipleship training schools across Japan
• for Hi B A – a teenage outreach across Japan
• KGK discipling university students.

Pray for Japanese Christians to grow as disciples

• Pray that prayer meetings will be held in each church.
• Pray that brothers and sisters will be filled with the joy of praying for each other.
• Pray that Christian homes will experience the power of prayer, and that prayer will be passed on to the next generation.
• Pray that the church will become a flock that prays more and more for the community.
• Through prayer, may God's great power be imparted and the glory of His name be exalted.