“Jesus spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” (Luke 18:1)
Please join us for our ‘Days of Prayer’ each Tuesday – (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th)
December 1st – This month is a month of celebrations! The birth of Christ and a new year is just around the corner! Join us in praising God for the new lives in Christ. A quote from a new Christian, “This year has been the best year of my life, because I met Jesus!”
December 2nd – Unconfessed sin among key leaders of a new church start has been devastating. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will move among this group of Japanese believers in West Tokyo resulting in true repentance and reconciliation; and that collateral damage be minimal.
December 3rd – Mark asks that you pray for Y-kun, a second year university student, who has prayed to accept Christ but is beginning to doubt his prayer of faith. Pray for Y-kun’s assurance of salvation and to be obedient in baptism.
December 4th – Pray for Sonya’s friend, Sao-san, who understands and desires the Gospel but is overwhelmingly influenced by her family’s Shinto religious beliefs. In the coming weeks, she is traveling to New Zealand to study English. Pray that during this time she will meet other Christians who will encourage her to make a commitment to follow Jesus.
December 5th – A follow-up email sent to a summer contact over three months ago has recently been answered. Yu-san extended an invitation for Julia to visit her home for lunch and conversation. Pray that from this home visit, there will be an interest and desire to hear more truths of the Gospel.
December 6th – Pray for relationships to continue to grow and strengthen with a north Tokyo Baptist church and that a ministry partnership can be established with volunteers coming from the United States in April 2011.
December 7th – DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING for Kanazawa City, meaning “marsh of gold”, is said to derive its name from the legend of a peasant who was digging for potatoes, but instead discovered flakes of gold. Facing the East China Sea, the city of 450,000 people is located west of the Japan Alps. Many of their customs evolved from the practices of the citizens to overcome the severity of long, cold winters. This hearty, resourceful people pray at temples and shrines, but have never heard the Gospel. Today, less than 0.5 percent profess Christ as Savior and Lord. Pray for the people of Kanazawa to hear the Gospel and be saved becoming citizens of heaven whose streets are made of gold that is eternal.
December 8th – Olive and Nan shared Jesus with Mrs. Fields for three years. At the Franklin Graham Festival this October she believed on Jesus. After working through the booklet they received and watching the JSL Bible Translation and The Hope DVDs together, Mrs. Fields asked, “Can I give this to my friend now?” Pray for her faith to grow and for her husband to believe on Jesus.
December 9th – Praise the Lord for bringing Emiko to her home church in Missouri to share about the work that God continues to do in Chiba. Ask God to call out laborers from the American church to help. Pray that both churches will have an even greater vision to take the Gospel to all the people in Togane and Chiba.
December 10th – Since May 15th, different moms with toddlers and babies have joined once a month for Sunbeams, an English class with a Bible story and craft. At the Christmas party today, pray for the story of Jesus’ birth to touch the moms’ hearts so each family will soon become part of God’s Kingdom.
December 11th – December 11th – 21st is an awesome time to have a team come to Kobe to share the Gospel with the Japanese! A team from Tyrannus Baptist Church will be Christmas caroling, doing special Christmas 5-Minute English, distributing tracts and various other forms of outreach.
December 12th – Trying to live out his faith in Christ, Mr. Ki is finding it not only brings conflict with the ways of the world, but also gives him new eternal perspective. Pray that he will resist temptations to go back to his former way of life before he trusted in Jesus.
December 13th – As Cornelia reaches out in their apartment complex this month, pray for the Christmas caroling and the Christmas tea times. Pray that those who come will have open hearts and minds and a new Bible study time would begin from these outreach activities.
December 14th – The volunteer team of bankers who came last month met with young Japanese businessmen and spoke at one university. Pray that the seeds that were sown would grow and that their words of encouragement would give boldness to those believers in the marketplace so other businessmen and women in Tokyo can be reached.
December 15th – Recently, a major Buddhist university in Kyoto held a fall festival and the Gellerstedts met a student there who is open to meeting again. Pray that Bob can meet this student and a Christian witness can be established on this campus for the glory of the Lord.
December 16th – Mrs. Fu’s husband has been bedridden for 2 and 1/2 years after a severe stroke. Her sister-in-law died of cancer two months ago and her mother-in-law committed suicide last month. Mrs. Fu came to a Christian asking why God has made all of this happen to her. Pray that Mrs. Fu will come to believe that God loves her deeply.
December 17th – A new believer in Osaka seems to be avoiding telling anyone that she has become a believer. Pray for wisdom for those who are discipling her. Is it fear that is holding her back, or does she not yet understand Christ’s sacrifice for her salvation? Pray that God gives her a burden to lead others to faith in Jesus.
December 18th – Volunteers from Washington State will be hosting a Christmas dinner at a cafe in Osaka today. Those eating dinner at the cafe will sing Christmas Carols and hear the story of why Jesus Christ was born. Pray for the seeds that are planted to bear fruit. Pray especially for the owner of the cafe to become a believer.
December 19th – The Gierharts in Utsunomiya have come into contact with 7 very friendly ladies from the “international office.” Pray that these ladies will be open to build a trusting relationship with the Gierharts that will open their hearts to the Gospel message.
December 20th – Kana-san is a lively man who enjoys getting to know foreigners. Recently, he has expressed interest in spending more time with Kevin. As they spend time together please pray for Kana-san’s heart to be open to Jesus and for Kevin to know how to minister to him.
December 21st – Pray for Ms. Sa, a young office worker, who has shown interest in Christianity. She has read every Christian book given to her recently. Pray that she will soon come to know Jesus as her personal Savior.
December 22nd – We rejoice in the baptism of N-san in November in Takasaki! Pray that God will continue to grow her in the faith. Pray that the Father continues to use the joy in her life to draw her friends and family to the truth.
December 23rd – Mai and 4 friends sometimes join the Sengmanys for dinner. They enjoy singing gospel songs. Pray that they will want to know the Savior who is being praised when they sing.
December 24th – Pray for missionaries Wendy & Sharon as they share the true story of Christmas with a group of mothers and children today. The party will be held at K-san’s home in Komae, a city in south Tokyo. K-san is a new Christian and is looking for ways to share Christ with her friends.
December 25th – The Parsleys in Hamamatsu are displaying a lighted nativity in front of their house with free Christmas CDs and literature. Pray that this would spark conversations about the true meaning of Christmas and that many would hear the Gospel, be drawn to Christ and surrender to the Savior this Christmas.
December 26th – Romu has a broken heart. Pray that through his brokenness he will turn to God and ask Him for healing, forgiveness and salvation.
December 27th – J.K. and Chika faithfully study the New Testament weekly. J.K. also joins for learning from the Old Testament on another day of the week. Pray she will have courage to confess with her mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
December 28th – The Rainers in Shizuoka ask for prayer for a family they have witnessed to for over a year. They are open to hearing about Christ and have attended a fellowship with Japanese believers. Pray that they would be willing to study the Bible, so they might understand the Gospel message.
December 29th – As Hank & Linda Lee retire to the States this month, pray that God would build upon the foundations laid and finish the work He started in the hearts of the many Japanese their lives have touched throughout their last seven years in Nagoya and their 25 years in Japan.
December 30th – Pray for Mr. and Mrs. Ni who accepted Christ several years ago. Then, they read their Bible and prayed together each day, but now their faith has grown cold. As Em reached out to their son and he was saved this year, the mother’s faith was revived. Pray for this family to have worship together and reach out to their neighbors with the Gospel.
December 31st – Please pray for the Nikkei (second generation Japanese) believers in Peru that they will be able to share with their family and friends about their salvation in Jesus Christ. Pray that the Nikkei people will understand that God created the world and that He loves them.
Sapporo, Okayama/Kurashiki, Niigata, Shizuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Matsuyama, Oita, Fukuyama, Kanazawa, Nagasaki, Yokosuka and Toyama… Do any of these cities ring a bell for you? Have you had or do you have a special connection with one or more of these unengaged cities? We are in desperate need of Priority Prayer Advocates for each of these important cities.
A Priority Prayer Advocate is someone who feels a sense of calling to the task of advocating for a priority focus city where the East Asia Peoples Affinity Group does not yet have workers and ongoing work. We are looking for those who will champion entire cities through prayer! Your commitment to pray regularly and fervently for the salvation of these cities and enlist others in the process will turn the tide in the battle to bring the Light of the World to Japan. Contact us if He has laid a city 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!
