Prayer Guide – Week 51 (August 21-27)

This week's prayer focus is for Fukui Prefecture and Gifu

Fukui

Though a small prefecture, Fukui has an extremely high concentration of Buddhist temples, keeping out even the most aggressive of Japan's religious groups. With heavy rain and snowfall it's a geographically unique area. Despite their natural beauty, the Tojinbo sea cliffs attract many hopeless people who aim to commit suicide. Upwards of 25 people per year take their lives by jumping from these cliffs.

Please pray for:

• The hopeless, that they would come to know that the steadfast love of their Creator is more than a reason to live.
• The lack of church growth, that Jesus would move mightily through the prefecture; there was only one baptism in all of 2004.
• The many practicing Buddhists, that they would find true escape from suffering under the wings of the Almighty.

"You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." - Psalm 16:11

Gifu Prefecture

A home to vast forest and mountains, Gifu is one of the most sparsely populated areas of the country. There are low numbers of adherents to Buddhism and religion in general while the hardworking and independent attitudes lead people to be conservative and content with their way of life. According to the Operation Japan prayer guide, there are only 11 missionaries ministering in Gifu and church membership accounts for only 0.002% of the population. How with the Gospel reach the 2,106,917 inhabitants who are facing eternal separation from their God?

Please pray for:

• Workers to tell the people of Gifu about the hope that is in Christ for a relationship with the One True God.
• Satan's strongholds to be completely destroyed.

"'Is not My word like fire?' declares the LORD, 'and like a hammer which shatters a rock?'" - Jeremiah 23:29

This week 3 general prayer pointers for Japan

• Pray for the Gospel to take root in Japanese culture and no longer be perceived as a western religion.
• Pray for drifting, over-worked, and anxious youth to find freedom in Christ.
• Pray for the unity of God's Spirit to demolish barriers dividing the 120 different denominations.

2 more detailed prayers

(1) Pray for signs, wonders and miracles. Japanese people are very intelligent and logic oriented. We need to present the Gospel to them in such a way that it will open their minds, but also they are in dire need of seeing a demonstration of the power of God. Japan needs miracles. There is no social reason for a Japanese to come to the Lord. In their mind there is no economic, educational, or social benefit in changing from nominal Buddhism to Christianity. But when they see the power of God and the supernatural revelation of the reality of Jesus Christ comes to them, they become some of the most disciplined and motivated believers on Earth. Pray that God would grant more supernatural signs and wonders to the church here, so that the eyes of their family, friends, and co-workers would be opened up.

(2) Pray for growth. The standard church in Japan is very small. Fewer than 30 people is the average and many churches have less than 10 members. The average age of the traditional pastor is well over 60 years and the traditional church is in decline. But there are more and more non-traditional churches starting and some are growing to over 100 members. Pray for believers here not to fall back into the religious・tradition that has kept churches from growing. Japanese love form and tradition, so many times, more than the Life of the Spirit they choose the form of religion. Pray that life would triumph over form.

Pray for the future growth of those who were saved through camps and other summer events and those who responded to challenges from the Lord.

• Pray for those who are connected to the fellowship of the local church and continue to grow as children of God.
• Pray for those who responded to the Lord's challenge to continue to grow as God's children by connecting with the fellowship of the local church.
• Pray that they will not be deceived and unbelieving, but that they will continue to stand on the promises of the Word of God.
• That the Lord's glory would be displayed through them and that they would influence the Christians around them and those who are not yet saved.
• Pray that the teachers and brothers and sisters who have continued to serve will not burn out, but will be strong in the service they have been entrusted with.