Prayer Guide – Week 5 (October 23-29)

Hiroshima Prefecture

Famed globally for the widespread destruction caused by the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this city now stands as a symbol of peace worldwide. Though there is current peace in Hiroshima City and its surrounding prefecture, this area does not possess the deeper peace of knowing Jesus Christ.

For church planters, it is a struggle to keep up with the population increase of the city, while there is a significantly lower number of churches per population in the rural communities. Hiroshima prefecture has the highest percentage of Buddhist believers in the Chigoku district.

Please pray for:

• Hiroshima to find true peace and eternal healing through knowing Jesus
• More workers to enter the harvest field of Hiroshima prefecture, in both the urban and rural areas
• Akitakata City, which has over 34,000 people and no church presence at all
• the 39 towns and villages with no churches

"For He Himself is our peace.."

- Ephesians 2:14a

Yamaguchi Prefecture

In early Japanese history, Yamaguchi was within a sphere of heavy Chinese influence, making it a place of high culture at the time. This is reflected today by the majority of the population placing a high value on old customs and traditions.

This emphasis on tradition makes personal professions of faith a great challenge for Japanese, as it is seen as breaking away from their communal identity. The Holy Spirit can enable believers to overcome their fear of people and rejoice in the riches of a new identity in Christ.

Please pray for:

• The 30 towns and villages with no churches at all, that they would be sought out by fresh new workers entering God's harvest
• The 24 missionaries serving in Yamaguchi, that they would be refreshed, encouraged, and re-energized to reach the lost with the hope of Christ
• The Japanese believers in Yamaguchi, that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach out to their own countrymen and share God's love

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Many struggling churches in Japan have a common feature: the pastor leads and members attend or participate minimally. One reason is cultural. Another reason is the busyness of church members. Some are simply too tired to attend church, let alone serve or engage with others.

Churches can start to lack joy, fellowship, and ownership. This can lead to a lack of outreach and few new believers. Churches face a very real spiritual battle and it is easy to get discouraged.

• Pray for believers to be willing and able to use their gifts to build up the church and reach out to their communities.
• Pray for God to strengthen members and leaders through worship, the Word, and fellowship.

We hear news that the situation facing young children, little lives in need of adult shelter, is very severe. Let us intercede and pray for them.
Pray that each child will be loved and nurtured.
Pray that the environment will be prepared for this.
Pray that parents will be able to raise their children with peace of mind and receive the help they need.
Protect them from abuse and neglect. That such situations will be detected early and appropriate action will be taken.
If there are infants in our community who are suffering from such problems, may the Lord bring them to our attention and help them promptly.