Prayer Guide – Week 44 (July 03-09)

Our two Prefectures this week are Toyama and Niigita.

Toyama Prefecture

The rough terrain of the Tateyama Mountains surrounds the highest concentration of Buddhist followers in Japan. While most of Japan performs Buddhist rituals in hopes of material gain, the residents of Toyama often use Buddhism in hope of escaping from the corruption of the world and finding deeper spiritual fulfillment.

Toyama's church attendance and membership statistics are among the lowest in the country.

Please pray for:

• The 18 towns and villages with no churches - that believers would be faithful to bring the Good News to those who have never heard.
• The cities of Osawano and Yatsuo, which have populations over 22,000 and no churches.
• This hard-to-reach area to be saturated with faithful Christ followers and to be freed from deep bondage.
• King Jesus would be enthroned in the hearts and minds of the people of Toyama.

"For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:10,11

Niigata Prefecture.

This area receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan and is also its second largest producer of rice. Spiritually, Niigata has deep roots in Buddhism, which has functioned as the main means of organized religious thought and practice. Despite some successful missionary work in the past, Niigata is today one of the least-churched areas of Japan.

Please pray for:

• The small number of Japanese in Niigata who follow Christ - that they would realize their responsibility to share the Gospel with their homeland
• Unity between the various churches in the prefecture
• Niigata to ultimately (and speedily) be lead to the feet of Jesus

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." - Psalm 62:8

A Japanese Christian writes out their prayer…

“Dear Father, thank You for blessing Japan with such abundance; a nation of rich culture, food, creativity, and all good things that come from You. I am grateful You have provided the Japanese people with so much for so long!

However, my heart grieves for the many who do not yet know Your Son, Jesus. Only a small handful of them have accepted him as the Savior from our sins. Yet, I trust you, Lord! You fed the multitude when You multiplied the five loaves and two fishes. Thus, I know You are more than able to use a mere few followers to multiply faith in You across all of Japan! As Luke 18:27 says, by our own strength, it is impossible, but with You, everything is possible.

Lord, I pray You will bless all current Japanese Christians with courage and wisdom.

Give every Christian in Japan the strength to boldly share the Gospel with their family, friends, and loved ones. May they preach Your great name both in and out of churches; let their lives be testimonies of Your holy greatness! I also pray for more Bible study groups to rise up, ushering in a new generation of Japanese worshippers who know, honor, and love Your name.

Dear God, may it be Your will to anoint more Japanese Christians to lift the spiritual veils from fellow citizens’ eyes. Help them make the nation see that believing in Christ is not just a ‘western faith’; it is Your way to eternal life! Lord, as You have shown us, I pray You will also reveal their sins to them. Not to condemn them, but to fill their hearts with the sincere desire to repent. As they draw closer to You, may You choose to also draw closer to them, in Your infinite mercy and love!

Thank You Father for hearing my prayers for Japan, and having mercy on those who do not yet know of Your goodness. In Jesus’ name I pray, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, amen.”