Gumma is a mountainous prefecture in north-west Kanto area. It is the nation’s highest producer of silk thread, and many towns in the southern section of the prefecture are becoming centers for electronic and chemical industries. In 1874, Jo Niijima, the founder of Doshisha University, returned from the USA and began teaching Christianity in his hometown, Annaka, in Gumma. The Annaka Church was established in 1878. Kanzo Uchimura, another Christian leader at the time, was born in Gumma as well.
<Gumma>
Towns/villages with no churches: 33
Churches/person: 1: 16,998
Average church attendance: 28
Sep 13: Both Life Line and Harvest Time TV programs are available here. Pray that whole families will become Christian through these ministries.
Sep 14: More than five camping and retreat centers are ministering here. Many churches from the surrounding prefectures and Tokyo benefit from these facilites. May the Holy Spirit refresh and fill each Christian who comes to these facilities.
Sep 15: Over 5000 children and young people are attending Christian schools and kindergartens. For most of them this is their first and primary contact with Christianity. Pray for open hearts.
Sep 16: “The Son is the radiance of God’s gloy and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). Pray for the people of Gumma to recognize that Jesus is the Son of the living God.
Sep 17: Orphanages: Jomo Airin-sha Chigyo Home and Komochi Yama School with 56 children. Maebashi Home for Mothers & Children with 20 families. Pray for the several welfare facilities ministering to the elderly.
Sep 18: There are 33 towns and villages with no churches. Niita-gun has no churches and includes Kasakake with 27,461 people. What a needy area!
*All information and prayer requests taken from “Operation Japan -Prayer Guide- Third Edition” -Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, 2005. To purchase a copy of “Operation Japan” book or the Interactive CD version, go to: http://www.jema.org/joomla15/index.php?option=com_banners&task=click&bid=10.
Wow, where do you find all this info?
These are all from Operation Japan. I think we gave you guys a copy of it. You can get it from JEMS.