29% of the world’s population are considered unreached, that’s over 2 billion people with little access to a church, a believer or a bible.

Currently, among East Asia’s peoples, over 667 million people are still unlikely to meet a follower of Jesus.

Billions of East Asians do not know Christ, and millions have little to no access to the gospel, a Christian church, or even a single believer. We believe God is calling us to focus prayer, people and resources to bring the hope of Christ to unreached peoples in East Asia and around the world.

Each month our aim is to start a focused prayer movement for a different unreached country or people group. We hope you will consider being part of this movement—and help bring the hope of Christ to those who have little to no access to the gospel.

Day One – On the Move

There are over 244 million migrants around the world today. This number is at an all-time high. Of the total migrant population, 85 million are from East Asia. People are often more open to the gospel when they are in a new land. Pray that these Asians on the move would hear the gospel and believe!

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Lord, may each international student studying overseas have the chance to hear the gospel and be invited into a life-giving relationship with Christ.

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Lord, many diaspora Asians come from communities without a single church. Bring them to faith while they are overseas and use them to spark a great movement among their people.

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Lord of the harvest, connect East Asian visitors with Chris­tians and the church. Give them an eagerness to explore the truth of your gospel.

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Lord, at least a quarter of the victims of human trafficking in the U.S. come from East Asia. We pray for freedom and healing.

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Lord, those transitioning to a new culture are often depressed, lonely or confused. Reveal yourself through scripture, dreams and the witness of your people.

Day Two – Welcoming the Stranger

Moving to a new land can be disorienting. The church has a great opportunity to show Christ’s love by welcoming internationals and helping them adjust to their new environment. Meeting newcomers at the airport, helping them settle and adjust to life here, inviting them over for a meal and helping out with English or career development skills are all ways the church can extend love.

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Lord, embolden the church for witness and keep us from indifference, busyness or an inward focus.

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Lord, use OMF’s cross-cultural training at churches and with student ministries to prepare your people for evangelism and discipleship with Asians.

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Lord, remove all barriers that shield East Asians from hearing the truth of the gospel. Help East Asians see that the cross can remove their shame and restore their relationship with God the Father.

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Lord, we pray for divine appointments for those arriving in new countries. May they meet missionaries, churches, cam­pus ministers and local Christians who are eager to share the good news of the gospel with them.

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Lord, use English teaching, career development services and other diverse outreaches to bring many newcomers to Christ.

Day Three – Evangelism and Witness

As the Father sent his Son into the world, so he sends us. We long to see the worldwide movement of East Asians discipled and sent out to their own people as well as to other groups in need of the gospel.

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Lord, raise up more workers to reach the hundreds of thou­sands of migrant workers from Southeast Asia serving in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore as domestic helpers and laborers.

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Lord, we praise you that Japanese often feel increased freedom to explore Christianity while overseas because of the lessened social pressures. Give new Japanese believers a vision to reach out to others, turning disciples into disciple makers.

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Lord, we pray for open hearts among the half a million Thai living outside of Thailand. May they understand who Jesus is.

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Lord, we lift up Christians in Africa who are being trained to share the gospel with the 2 million Chinese who live and work in Africa. Lord, help the OMF team in Kenya to equip local churches to reach these Chinese.

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Lord, many in the Asian diaspora want to prepare theologically before returning back to their homeland for ministry. May many more Asians be able to access theological training that will equip them for missions and ministry.

Day Four – The Challenges of Returning

East Asians tend to be open to the gospel while overseas and many make a commitment to Christ. Unfortunately, we find that over 80 percent of new Christians from East Asia who return to their home countries (“returnees”) do not continue in the church. Some causes include societal pressures, familial expectations, high work demands and a failure to connect with a local church.

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Lord, may churches and campus ministries encourage return­ees to receive training at OMF conferences and seminars to help them thrive as Christians back home.

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Lord, thank you for networks that assist new believers in finding and plugging into a church in their home countries.

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Lord, we pray against all efforts of the enemy to snatch away the word of God that has been sown in the hearts of interna­tional students as they return home.

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Lord, help churches in Asia connect in a unique way with returning students, and bless new church plants that are specifically focused on returnees.

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Lord, as returnee Christians go back to their home countries, burden their hearts to welcome the many foreigners in Asia’s cities, just as they were once welcomed by Christians here.

Day Five – Unity and Integration

Our world today is often unwelcoming to strangers; fear, suspicion, misunderstanding and prejudice often divide different groups. The church celebrates diversity, and the gospel proclaims that those who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Pray for the unity and integration that is taking place through the gospel.

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Lord, we pray against the fear, suspicion, misunderstanding and prejudice that divide cultures and even generations of immigrants from each other.

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Lord, may the church rejoice in cultural diversity and exhibit Christ-like unity to the world.

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Lord, we praise you for the growth of an African-Chinese bicultural fellowship in Nairobi and pray for the efforts of African and Chinese Christians to model the unity of the body of Christ.

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Lord, we pray for unity among diverse churches and campus ministries, strong partnerships for the gospel and a spirit of service to one another.

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Lord, may the opportunity to minister to diaspora popula­tions remain open. May the church shine the light of Christ in these uncertain times.

Next Steps

Is God drawing you to more focused prayer or involvement with diaspora people groups? Consider additional ways to nurture God’s love among these people.

PRAY. Partner with what God is doing among diaspora people groups through prayer. Visit https://omf.org/east-asia/diaspora/or follow OMF on Facebook for more prayer resources, news and stories.

GIVE. Is God prompting you to invest in diaspora returnee ministries? To learn more about supporting people or projects involved with East Asian returnees, contact drm.enquiry@omfmail.com.

PARTNER. Ministries to diaspora people groups are made possible by the critical work of mobilizing prayer and raising up workers.

VOLUNTEER. Is God stirring you to take a next step? Consider a Bridge Asia volunteer opportunity. You can help coordinate a returnee retreat, reach out to Asians on campuses, or help with cross-cultural training. Or, talk with your church about hosting a diaspora returnee ministries training day to help your congregation get involved. Contact your local OMF center for more information about becoming a volunteer.

▶ Continue your prayer journey and pray for Vietnam.