Category: Prayer Update

Now we start praying for the prefectures in Kanto area. Kanto area includes the whole Tokyo metropolitan area, and it has 31% of the population.

<Kanto Area>

• Towns & villages with no churches: 152
• Churches/person: 1:15,648
• Average attendance per church: 45

 

May 10: There are now 2,600 churches in the seven prefectures of Kanto. This is 23 less than 6 years ago. Adding the growing population, this means that there was on church per 15,139 in 1999, but now there is only one church for every 15,648. The number of baptisms and children in Sunday School continues to all in the Kanto area. Pray that each church will be revived and filled with His Spirit.

May 11: Pray for the ten cities which have only one church each. Pray for the 152 towns and villages which presently have no churches, and especially for the 19 with populations of over 20,000. There are millions of Japanese in the Kanto area who are living in utter darkness, facing eternal death. Pray that His Word will become a lamp unto millions of feet and a light unto their paths.

<Birth Rates>

Japan’s birthrate has fallen to a new record low of 1,29 during 2004. “The falling birth rate threatens to leave Japan with a labor shortage in decades to come as well as eat away at the country’s tax base. The national pension system, which relies on current workers to support the elderly, will also be strained as the birthrate declines.” (Associated Press, 2004-6-11) Pray that churches in Japan will see this problem as a an opportunity to show God’s love and salvation.

*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.

May 2: Church websites have become one of the primary ways that pre-Christian Japanese find their way to local churches. Over 2,300 churches have their own websites. Some Japanese are going on the internet to find ways to commit suicide. Others are finding life and salvation.

May 3: Pray that through the radio and TV broadcasts, Christians will be strengthened and people will be led to local churches. The Japan New Media Missions Association is actively preparing for a satellite broadcasting ministry.

May 4: Pray for the work of Life Line. It was started by evangelical Christians, and has expanded to become a broader tool for helping people with various needs even suicide prevention. Many of the volunteer staff are Christian.

<A story from Life Line ministry>

“It seemed that I had a good marriage, but it failed. Then as the Japanese economy got worse, so did my life. The man I was living with went bankrupt. He tried to work hard to start his business up again, but instead he died. I lost the home I was living in, and his son disappeared with all the money that was left.

Feeling alone and helpless, I headed for the famous suicide cliffs. I knew that if I jumped into the ocean, my miserable life would end immediately. But I was afraid. As I approached the cliffs, I saw a sign, ‘If you need help, call Life Line‘. I called the number, and soon a Christian pastor arrived and took me to a nearby church. Indeed it was a Life Line. I not only found help for continuing my life here, but I also found eternal life.”

Pray for the many Japanese who contemplate suicide. Pray that churches and progras like Life Line will be used to bring eternal life to those in despair.

May 5: Pray for the work of Friendship Radio, with nationwide 24-hour programming through a cable radio system. Pray that many will be touched by this ministry.

<A story from radio ministry>

“When I was in my twenties, I listened to cable radio all the time. One day I happened to tune into Friendship Radio, and heard a Christian program. Through that program I became interested in Christianity. I wrote in to the station and they introduced me to a church in my city. It was there that I found Christ as my Savior.”

*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.

Fukushima prefecture is home to various climate and forests cover 70% of the area. Shintoism (Japanese indigenous religion) and Buddhism are deeply rooted in the culture with folk religion ad traditional local customs also playing a major role. A seminary was started in this area in 1880 and the first church in 1885.

• Population: 2,116,210
• Towns/villages with no church: 51
• Churches/person: 1:15,225
• Churches: 139
• Average church attendance: 19

 

 April 17: Pray that the Lord will give the 139 churches a great vision to reach the whole prefecture with the gospel. The average attendance for the churches here is the lowest in Japan, only 19. Pray for encouragement.

April 18: Pray for Christian camps and retreat centers, and three Christian bookstores in Fukushima. Pray that believers will be strengthened by literature ministries.

April 19: Pray for Christian TV program Life Line (Sat. 6am) and radio broadcast True Salvation (Sat. 5:30am). Gideons have 4 branches in the prefecture and distributed over 14,000 Bibles in 1998. Pray that these “seeds” will grow bring people to Christ.

April 20: Seiko Gakuen High School has daily chapels for their 790 students. Pray for the chapel time today that hearts will respond to His love.

April 21: “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat (Isaiah 25:4)”. Pray that the people of Fukushima experience the reality of a loving and caring God.

April 22: Pray for the 51 towns and villages that have no churches. Higashi Shirakawa village has only one church for over 40,000, and Kawanuma village close to 40,000. Pray for the city churches that border thse areas, that God will gie them a vision for this great need.

*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.

This week we are praying for Yamagata prefecture!

Yamagata is a mountainous prefecture with cold winter and hot summer. And they are famous for cherries and pears! mmm…  People are conservative and possess deep compassion and a firm sense of obligation, which make for strong faith when a person becomes a Christian. However, deep-rooted village culture makes a strong pressure against the Christians.

• Population: 1,225,990
• City with no church: 1
• Towns/villages with no church: 26
• Churches/person: 1:16,794

 

March 28: Pray that the 4,503 believers in Yamagata will lead their families to Jesus.

March 29: With no access to Christian TV or bookstores, pray that the 75 churches will creatiely evangelize the prefecture. There are two weekly radio broadcasts.

March 30: House of Prayer Toriumi Chapel, built by the Sakata Christ Church; Conservative Baptist Miko Memorial at Yonezawa; Ohira Hotel and Narisawa Pension, both at Zao Hot Springs.

March 31: There are two Christian schools in the prefecture with a total of about 1,000 students. The large majority of the students are pre-Christians. Pray for a spiritual movement that would touch each student.

April 1: There are several ministries for the mentally disabled, and one 50-bed facility for the elderly. Pray that the family members will be impressed by the love of Christ shown in these ministries.

April 2: Obanazawa is the only city in Tohoku area that still lacks a church. Shion Christ Church in nearby Murayama city has had an outreach in Obanazawa, but a church has not yet been established here.

April 3: Higashi Tagawa-gun, Nishi Tagawa-gun, and Akumi-gun have 12 towns and villages and 130,000 people with no churches. Mogami-gun with seven towns and villages and over 50,000 people has only one church. 

*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.

This week we are praying for Akita prefecture.

People of Akita are known to be loyal to their prefecture, and are deeply influenced by temples and shrines. Traditions and customes are also important and these often keep people from becoming a Christian. Protestant evangelism started in this area in 1888, by two missionary couples from the American Disciples.

<Akita prefecture>

• Population: 1,173,722
• City with only 1 church: 1
• Towns/villages with no church: 49
• Churches/person: 1:19,562

 

March 22: Pray for the development and growth of the 60 Protestant churches in the prefecture. As you read the statistics for Akita, allow the Lord to give you a prayer burden for the many people represented by these numbers.

March 23: Pray that people will respond to the two weekly radio programs in areas where there are no churches.

March 24: Pray that today someone seeking God will find help at the CLC Akita Book Store. The store provides encouragement for Christians and a witness to non-Christians.

March 25: There are several Catholic schools in the prefecture. Pray that Protestant schools would also be started and be used to spread the gospel. There are eight Protestant kindergartens and five day-care centers with 1,148 children.

March 26: Tenno town with a populatio nof over 20,000 and no church, Kazuno city with 38,000 and only one church should be special prayer targets. Seboku-gun, with its four towns and villages, has only one church for oer 56,000. Yuri-gun with 29,000 has no church, and Yamamoto-gun has only one church for 50,000.

*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.

This week we start praying for Miyagi prefecture! (Pronunciation is as “Mr. Miyagi” in a certain karate movie)

Miyagi has a milder weather than other Tohoku prefectures and aguriculture and marine industries are very productive. It has the largest Zen temple in the country but the influence of Buddhism and Shintoism is not quite as strong. There are many mission schools, which helped people be more open to the gospel.

<Miyagi>

• Population: 2,30,026
• City with only 1 church: 1
• Towns/villages with no church: 36
• Churches/person: 1: 17,280

 

 

March 15: A Bible Correspondence school began in 1953 by the Conservative Baptists and is teaching 100 students around Japan. There are three ministry training institutions, and each struggle with low enrollment. Pray that many church leaders will emerge from these schools.

March 16: Sendai Student Center and Morisato Camp. Sendai Life Center and Sendai Christian bookstore provide Christian literature and serve churches in more remote areas.

March 17: Tohoku Broadcasting airs two radio programs, Light of the World(Sat. 5:10am) and True Salvation(Sun 5:20am). Pray that seeking hearts will hear these programs.

March 18: Tohoku Gakuin has 15,200 students and one third of the students attend daily chapels. May the Holy Spirit ope the hearts of many today. Two other schools have an additional enrollment of over 7,000.

March 19: There are vital ministries being carried on in hopitals and welfare facilities. As you pray for the Christina staff, ask that the family members of those in residence will see Jesus.

March 20: There are 36 towns and villages with no churches. Kogata town with over 20,000, and also the whole Oshika-gun have no churches.

*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.

Now we move on to… Iwate!! (pronounced Ee-wah-tay)

Iwate is the second largest prefecture, and also the second least densely populated prefecture. It suffers severe cold weather and poor economy (average income is 11th from the bottom in the nation) but it also been producing many renowned figures including scholars, politicians, novelists and artists. Christian Evangelism started in this area in the late 1800s.

<Iwate>

• Population: 1,405,060
• Cities with only 1 church: 5
• Towns/villages with no church: 36
• Churches/person: 1/25,090

 

March 9: Pray that the churches located in declining population areas would be encouraged and maintain their ministries. Pray for the faith of church members who have moved to larger cities for education or work.

March 10: Pray for the one missionary serving in Iwate, that she will be encouraged and be effective in her ministry. The Seisen Theological School i a two-year program which began in 1969.

March 11: Zenrin Kan, a Christian center and book store in Morioka, and the Light of the World (daily 5:15am) are two important resources for 56 churches.

March 12: Pray that the 2,830 students at Morioka University and the 600 at Sukore will become interested in reading the Bible.

March 13: Pray that God’s love will be seen through the ministries to the handicapped at Oku Nakayama Gakuen (40 people), Chiisaki Mori no Sato (40 people) and Sanai gakusha High School (51 students).

March 14: Pray for new church starts in the five cities with only one church. Takizawa and Yamada towns have populations of over 20,000 with no church. Shimohei-gun has a ratio of only one church for over 50,000 people.

*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.

This week we’re praying for Aomori! (pronounced Ow-mori)

Aomori is the northmost prefecture in Tohoku area. It’s famous for apples and they experience heavy snow during the winter especially on the western side. Traditions and customs have a powerful hold in this prefecture. It is home to Nebuta Festival, one of the three major festivals of the Tohoku area, and mountains that are important site for worship and many spiritual mediums.

<Aomori>

• Population: 1,479,358
• Towns/villages with no church: 47
• Church/person: 1:19,725

March 3: Pray for God’s blessing on each of the 75 churches, that they will overcome the religious obstacles and severe climate, and that Christians will daily experience His power.

March 4: Pray for good cooperation among the churches throughout the prefecture, especially through Misawa Christian Cooperative Evangelistic Fellowship and the Aomori Evangelisitic Broadcasting Fellowship.

March 5: Camping ministry at Aomori Christian Center. Life Line on Aomori TV. May God touch may through the camping program and the TV ministry.

March 6: A total of 2,688 students are attending Protestant educational institutions, along with 913 children attending 12 Protestant kindergartens and five day-care centers.

March 7: There are few Christian health and social ministry services. Pray that many in the midst of failing health will look to the Creator for help.

March 8: Pray for Hiraka town with over 20,000 people and for Nakatsugaru-gun and Shimokita-gun with no churches. Sannohei-gun has only one church for over 83,000 people.

*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.

We are in Tohoku area! Tohoku is one of the seven major areas in Japan. It’s the northmost area on mainland. Tohoku area is twice the size of the Kanto district (which includes Tokyo) but the population is less than 1/3 of Kanto. Except for larger cities, local industries cannot fully support the economy, and people in their prime of life leave home to work elsewhere. Fukushima is the only prefecture whose church-per-population ratio is better than the national average.

<Tohoku Area>

• Population: 9,750,366
• City with no church: 1
• Towns/villages with no church: 245
• Churches per person: 1:18,090

 

Feb 27: Pray for the people of the Tohoku region that they come to know the Living God. Pray for the 539 Protestant churches in the six prefectures. The number of churches has increased by 27 in the last en years. Praise the Lod for this advance and pray for more! Each year, Gideon ministries distribute thousands of Bibles throughout the area. Pray that many will be attracted to Jesus through His Word.

Feb 28: Seven of the unchurched towns have populations over 20,000. Pray that a special strategy will be developed to reach the remote mountain villages. Pray for the missionaries in this region. With a declining number of missionaries, declining population, and slow response to the gospel, the ministry can be discouraging.

*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.

Here are prayer requests for the youth in Japan. Pray for the churches to find effective ways to reach for the youth and for their cooperation with youth-targeting ministries to be smooth and effective!

Feb 23: Hi-b.a. (High School Born-Againers) began in Japan in 1951 and focuses on evangelism and discipleship among Japanese high school students. Kirisutosha Gakusei Kai (KGK, similar to InterVarsity) was begun by Japanese Christian students in 1947, and is active on about 250 college campuses, ministering through Bible studies, prayer meetings, summer camps, etc.

Feb 24: Japan Campus Crusade for Christ (JCCC). There are 88 missionaries and 47 Japanese staff active in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sendai, Fukuoka and Okinawa. They target major universities and also have a ministry for young working adults, and a developing Family Life ministry. Summer teams from other Asian countries and the US distribute evangelistic material in cooperation with local churches to reach unchurched areas of Japan.

Feb 25: Navigators is a discipleship-centered group with 39 Japanese and 26 foreign staff working in ten different cities throughout Japan. The ministry includes working with students, business people and families. Summer programs bring in university students from other countries to assist in campus evangelism.

Feb 26: Youth with a Mission (YWAM) , an international missionary organization, is active in the Tokyo and Osaka areas with various programs including youth ministry, discipleship training, and church-planting. YWAM had 82 career and short-term missionaries in Japan in 2005.

*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.