Prayer Guide – Week 47 (July 24-30)

Kanagawa has been a historical point of contact with the West when foreign ships showed up on its shores. As a result, much cultural reform came out of Kanagawa when new ideas were brought ashore and into Japanese minds. While many of the results of westernization in Japan are negative, some foreigners brought something different - the Gospel. Because of this, the prefecture has harbored a few protestant gatherings of new believers; though, Church members still account for roughly 0.005% of the population of Kanagawa.

Please pray for:

• God to use Kanagawa to spark a new type of reform - not Westernization or foreign influence, but rather Gospel saturation and new Life in Jesus Christ
• Believers in Kanagawa, that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be God's light there and that the Living Water of Christ would flow from their hearts into the empty and hopeless

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." - John 7:37b

Recently a friend told me he was presented with an opportunity to share a little of his testimony as he spoke to 2000 students in a Japanese High School.

This week let’s pray for opportunities like this for Christians to share with not-yet-believers. Pray that Christians may be bold here in Japan to share the Good News with their friends. Pray that when the opportunity is there, they will step up and do it.

• Pray for opportunities for Christians to meet others at onsens, sporting activities, work, weddings, etc.
• Pray that Churches across Japan can welcome visitors. May they be friendly places.
• Pray that Christians can see their friends come to faith.

The heat wave and extreme weather conditions are continuing.

• Let us pray for the protection and blessing of summer church-related events.
• Summer is the season of retreats and camps. Pray that many Christians will win time to participate in these places where they can experience rich fellowship with the Lord, receive new blessings, and receive visions.
• There is a camp planned and prepared for children, junior high and high school students. It is a great treasure to be filled with the Lord's grace and challenged at a young age. Please pray that children in Christian homes, their friends, and even children who do not usually attend church will take advantage of this opportunity to encounter God. May many children be raised to make a decision to live with Christ.
• Pray for the sponsoring church, organization, or church. Pray that they will receive the Lord's wisdom, that their financial needs will be met, and that they will be able to prepare and support what God wills. Pray that the lecturers will be filled with the Spirit and used. Pray for protection from infectious diseases such as corona and all other obstacles.
• Pray that the areas that are suffering from the torrential rains and other pains will especially receive the Lord's help during this summer.
• May each of us be renewed in the Lord this summer, and may we love the Lord, love our neighbors, and love and serve Japan with even greater fervor.