“May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
PRAYING FOR JAPAN
According to the Joshua Project, the Japanese are the second largest unreached people group in the world. Less than one percent of the population are followers of Christ. Most Japanese have never been inside a church, never met a Christian, and are unfamiliar with the Gospel. Please join us this month in praying for Japan.
SUNDAYS • Spiritual Awakening
Despite 150 years of Protestant missions, spiritual breakthroughs are still needed throughout Japan. Major population centers such as the greater Tokyo metropolitan area with a population of 38 million people are among the largest concentrations of unreached people in the world. Rural Japan also has vast spiritual needs. There are still 1,500 communities with populations of 3,000-50,000 without any churches. We long to see vibrant churches impacting every community. Pray for a spiritual awakening in Japan. Ask the Lord to show the Japanese His love for them and their need for Him.
MONDAYS • Pray for Japanese Churches
One out of eight Protestant churches in Japan does not have a pastor. Church growth since the 1960s has been slow, with the number of new believers being only slightly higher than those leaving the faith. According to Operation World, half of those who are baptized in Japan leave the church within two to three years. Pray for Japanese churches. Pray for new believers to grow strong in Christ, to be established in the faith, and become faithful disciples.
TUESDAYS • Pray for Japanese Pastors
Approximately 89% of Japan’s pastors are over fifty years old, and many of those are over seventy years old. In the next two decades, Japan could lose up to 50% of its current pastors. Ask the Lord to strengthen, encourage, and empower Japanese pastors; also, ask that He would anoint their preaching and teaching. Pray that God would raise up a new generation of church leaders.
WEDNESDAYS • Pray for Missionaries
Japan has been a historically difficult place for missionaries. There are many obstacles including difficulties in language and complexities of culture; however, God continues to raise up many able and willing workers devoted to Japan. Pray for the missionaries in Japan to be encouraged, refreshed, led by the Spirit, and anointed for the work the Lord has called them to.
THURSDAYS • Pray for OMF Workers in Japan
OMF currently has 134 workers in Japan, with many new ones on the way, who are co-laboring with locals in evangelism, church planting, and church revitalization. Ask the Lord to lead them to the communities where He desires to work and to bless their relationships with local pastors and Christians. Pray that they’ll find community and adapt well to the many changes.
FRIDAYS • Pray for Japanese with Busy Lives
Many Japanese people work 12 to 14 hours a day, and children can be in school seven days a week. Pray for those who are living fast-paced lives, that in the midst of busyness they will have a heart to seek God. Pray that they can find true rest in Him.
SATURDAYS • Pray for those who are Hurting
A Gallup poll found that 11 percent of the Japanese wish they had never even been born. The suicide rate is twice as high as in the U.S. Last year saw a record number of children in elementary school, junior high, and high school take their own lives.
Pray that the God of hope fills them with all joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13). Pray that the Church in Japan would be effective in bringing the light of the Good News to those who are hurting.
Hi! I am collecting prayer requests about 19 countries in Asia where there is a Southern Baptist Women’s Missionary Union. Will translate these into Filipino for our World Day of Prayer in November. Thank you for these prayer items. Blessings!