There’s lots going on in Japan right now… On 7th September Japan will drop the requirement for a pre-arrival PCR test for those who are triple-vaccinated, raise the daily arrivals cap to 50,000 and tourists on package tours will no longer be required to be accompanied by a guide. However, alongside that, COVID-19 cases remain high and a further vaccine rollout is planned, possibly this month. This month also sees the state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, assassinated in July. In these changing and challenging times, please pray as new missionaries enter Japan, some avenues of ministry open-up, while others remain closed.
Ichikawa & Sapporo Guest Homes
Changes are afoot in both OMF Japan’s guest homes this month. The Ichikawa Guest Home welcomes a short-term worker, and the Sapporo Guest Home welcomes a new manager. Pray for good teamwork and understanding for the Ichikawa Guest Home, and for good rest days, particularly as guest numbers increase. The Sapporo Guest Home will be busy hosting individual guests, participants and leaders of the OMF Orientation Course for new missionaries. Pray for good management, good health and a blessed stay for everybody.
Finance & Administration Sector Leader
Please pray for OMF missionaries as they set their 2023 budgets in September, and for the finance team as they review them. Pray for good communication, clear thinking, energy, insight, and trust in the Lord to provide all that is needed.
Orientation Course for new missionaries
OMF’s Singapore-based Orientation Course has been not been held since March 2020. Shorter online replacements have taken place, with the aim for participants to complete the course in Singapore eventually. However, this is no longer viable, so OMF Japan is now running their own course from 18th-23rd September. Please pray for the nine facilitators, and for 28 adults and 14 children who will take part. Pray for good preparation, health, safety, helpful learning, deep fellowship and fun.
Japanese Language and Culture Center (JLCC)
Due to pandemic delays, JLCC has welcomed an unprecedented 18 new missionaries since March 2022! Please pray for good transitions to full-time language and culture learning, and life in Sapporo. Pray also for missionaries’ children to adapt as they start kindergartens and schools. Please pray for the New Worker Supervisors and the Language Advisor as they manage the school, care for students and their families and help them in their living and learning. Pray too for leadership as they consider how to increase capacity, to accommodate many more new missionaries who want to come to Japan.
Missionary Candidates
Pray for God’s direction of the team as they consider new missionary applications for Japan this month. Pray for good follow-up with candidates and OMF in their home country. Pray also for wisdom and discernment in considering how to navigate the flow of candidates well.
OMF Hokkaido
Pray for the Nayoro Church Plant Committee, meeting with Japanese pastors on 15th September, where they will have further discussions about the vision for northern Hokkaido.
The Sorachi Project (Hokkaido)
Pray for the Sorachi Project, as the team seeks to build relationships with pastors and Christians in the Sorachi region of Hokkaido.
COEN Life (Sapporo)
Give thanks for a renovated room to expand the café. The café holds “Café New Start” on 1st September with a new menu and raised prices. Pray that the Lord brings the right people at the right time for great connections.
OMF Tohoku
Please pray for health, strength and wisdom for the area leader as he resumes his role this month. Please also pray for new members who have arrived, and will arrive, as they settle into language learning and ministry work.
Sports Ministry
From 24th-25th September, one missionary will be taking part in an ultimate Frisbee tournament for the first time in a while. Please pray for good conversations with teammates. Please pray also for Japan International Sports Partnership as they seek to expand the sports ministry network.
Training Designations
Two missionary couples are beginning training designations this month, having completed formal language and culture study at JLCC. Please pray for them as they move and settle in, and for God’s help and direction as they begin life and ministry in new places.
