Partners in Prayer for the Japanese
July 2011
“Dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Please join us for our ‘Days of Prayer’ each Tuesday – (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th)
July 1st – Tak san, a Japanese businessman, works long hours often not returning home until after 11:00 PM. He and his wife are very proud of his business accomplishments, but sense there’s something missing in their lives. Pray that they will reach out to Jesus to fill that void.
July 2nd – Yo san, a non-believer, meets weekly with a ladies Bible study at Higashi Kurume in West Tokyo. She is very faithful in her attendance, and has said she feels an unexplainable peace when she meets with the group. Pray that she will come to understand that Jesus is the source of that peace, and follow Him.
July 3rd – Please pray for S san, a west Tokyo pastor. He has recently, in faith, stepped down as pastor of a local church to devote his ministry to full-time church planting.
July 4th – Today through July 15th, Sharon P., South Tokyo team and two interns will be leading and teaching VBS for a group of Japanese children. In addition to sharing God’s love with the children, pray they will also connect with some of the moms in order to begin a new Mom’s Ministry or Bible study.
July 5th – Pray that the Japanese in the northwest area of Tokyo will be drawn to the Bae family as they transition to their new home environment and begin ministries.
July 6th – SK had been coming to several small group homeless Bible studies and a park worship and bread distribution. Recently he responded to invitations to trust in Christ. Follow up with the homeless is always a challenge as they move around. Pray that contact can be made with him again.
July 7th – Pray for two new laborers who are coming to work in Niigata this month as tentmakers. Pray for God to open doors for them into their community. Pray their needs will be supplied and that new churches will be started as they share Christ.
July 8th – Reaching families through their sons’ soccer leagues, the Bennetts ask for prayer to find open hearts and ears to the truths of the Gospel. Pray that this month would provide new opportunities to get together with families in their neighborhood also.
July 9th – While in Shibuya, Tokyo, business consultant T.S. talked with summer intern Keri who was doing 5-Minute English. He contacted her to meet again, so she and Mark H. shared the Good News of Christ. T.S. trusted in Jesus and was born again June 21st! He was baptized the following Sunday. Pray for T.S.’s faith to grow.
July 10th – Thank you for praying for the Japanese volunteers who came to Kyoto. They had good opportunities to share how God has worked in their lives. The Kyoto folks also had fun and wanted to meet again with Gloria. Some have already met again to practice origami and to cook.
July 11th – Continue to pray for the people of Tohoku as they struggle to find meaning in life after the earthquake and tsunami. Pray they will hear the Good News and find hope and meaning in a relationship with Christ. Then, thank God for the Christians from Japan and the States who have given financially and have worked alongside the Japanese in this affected area.
July 12th – DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING for the East Asian Peoples and Japan’s city of Hiroshima. Founded in the late 1500′s, Hiroshima “wide island” is built on a delta formed by the six estuarial rivers originating from the Ota River. This city of 1.2 million people is most famous as the first city to suffer attack by an atomic weapon. This attack has seared itself into the consciousness of every citizen. As a result, peace is deeply valued in Hiroshima. In addition to the Peace Memorial Park, the city has the Promenade of Peace, the Peace Boulevard, concerts for peace and many other peace themed events. At least one local university has added a major in Peace Studies. Pray for the citizens of this city to know the One who will end all wars, and that they will become ambassadors for His glory to this nation and the world.
July 13th – The Jordans joined a Tono City disaster relief team to clean houses. The team leader has contacts in the prefecture and said he would introduce Ed and Nan to the people in charge of disaster relief for the Deaf. Praise God for this opportunity!
July 14th – Mr. and Mrs. Ki are living in temporary housing provided for victims of the March tsunami. The Ki family has been befriended by a missionary couple who have visited them every week. As many other things and groups are competing for their attention, pray that the Holy Spirit will help them focus their attention on the Gospel they have heard so that they will come to trust Jesus.
July 15th – Mr. "Owl" closed his Owl Restaurant when he became ill with cancer. Pray that through his surgery in late June he will experience God’s healing, and in the process will see his need to know Jesus, the giver of abundant and eternal life.
July 16th – Pray for the Tokyo Metro Community businessmen’s seminar today. Ask God to bring believers and friends to hear how the Bible relates to their work and lives daily. Ask the Father to strengthen their faith through this time.
July 17th – The Chos are praising God for the eight ladies that came to a cooking class at their home. Volunteers from the States taught American cooking and seeds of the Gospel were planted in the hearts of the ladies. Pray with Yumi for these ladies, that they would become a great harvest of hearts for Christ.
July 18th – Kokubunji Baptist Church, a west Tokyo church, will be sending a team of its members to the Tohoku area today. This will be a two-week mission with the children of the area as their ministry focus. Pray that these men and women will have His wisdom as they minister to hurting families.
July 19th – Starting Bible studies, meeting friends for fun and fellowship and sharing Christ, volunteers, interns and missionaries saw hearts touched in Kobe during the month of June. Pray that God continues to open doors and provides more divine appointments and follow-up with these Japanese.
July 20th – H-san attended Catholic school and understands the Bible. But as the eldest in his Buddhist family, the pressure to maintain the family altar and pray to deceased relatives has kept him from seriously considering Christianity. Join the Rainers in Shizuoka as they pray that H-san would turn to the Light.
July 21st – Join the Parsleys in praying for their friends, N-san and his family, with whom Matt meets for conversation practice. Pray that N-san’s heart would readily accept the Truth as Matt boldly shares the Gospel with him and for the salvation of N-san’s entire household!
July 22nd – The 4 Texan volunteers blew through Nagoya! They distributed 4,400 tracts, 80 personal testimony cards and had 2 people come to a friendship party. Pray that those who received the tracts would contact the Loomises for more information and for the salvation of the 2 who came to the party.
July 23rd – Taka met a summer intern and journeyman at a local campus in Fukuoka. Pray that Taka will desire to know the Lord Jesus Christ as he continues to meet with Anson.
July 24th – F.A. has studied the Bible for two years. She seems to have faith, but won’t move toward full commitment. Pray she will experience unrest until she rests fully in Christ.
July 25th – A depressed friend reads the Bible together with a missionary in Fukuoka twice a month. Pray that God will give peace and healing to this friend.
July 26th – A teacher team opened the door for a Fukuoka team member to become an English language assistant for 6th grade at the nearby elementary school. Thank God for this opportunity, and ask for wisdom in the new relationships it has brought.
July 27th – Pray for the 27 Japanese men Matt in Hiroshima has met by joining a casual baseball team. Ask God to open ongoing connections with many of these men, including conversations about spiritual matters.
July 28th – Lima, Peru, where Tim and Joy live, is located in a desert. They are now working with about 50 young Nikkei (second generation Japanese) students at La Victoria School that have recently returned from Japan. Pray that each will meet the Living Water and have spiritual birth through the Word of God.
July 29th – “Christians really care about people,” was the common comment heard from the exercise class as the missionaries spoke about doing relief work in the tsunami area. Pray that the explanation about the One who cares for each of them, Jesus Christ, will sink deep into their hearts and they will come to know Him as Savior and Lord.
July 30th – As volunteers and missionaries have prayed earnestly for residents in the condominium where missionaries Liz and Barb live, God has opened doors for witness to the residents. Recently summer missionaries have held English classes for children there. Pray for many families as they hear the Gospel to have faith to believe in Christ.
July 31st – In the past you have prayed for witnessing opportunities in shopping arcades in Osaka. Doors have opened for missionaries to volunteer in events for children. Pray for God to give these small shop owners faith to believe in Christ as their Savior. Pray especially for the tofu shop, bedding shop, and pickles shop.
Is there a particular city in Japan, especially the areas of greatest devastation that has captured your heart or a place with which you have a special connection? We are in desperate need of those who will champion entire cities, villages and towns through prayer! Your commitment to pray regularly and fervently for the salvation of these cities will turn the tide in the battle to bring the Light of the World to Japan. Contact us and we will provide you with a prayer profile for the cities He has laid on your heart.
Thank you for praying faithfully for the salvation of the Japanese!
We appreciate you, and are encouraged by your partnership with us!
Compiled by Carlton Walker, Japan Prayer Advocate
Christina Parsley
