Partners in Prayer for Japan
February
, 2010
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 Payer’ each Tuesday – (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd)
Greater Tokyo Mega Center Teams
February 1st – Renae recently reunited with the very first friend she made after coming to Japan. As Renae shared the Gospel again, Mari was in the place where she knew she needed God and she gave her life to Jesus. It took 11 years and many folks praying but now Mari is a sister in Christ! She is reading her Bible daily and preparing for baptism. Please pray for Mari to grow in faith and to experience real change & victory in her life as she is going through a difficult time now. Also, pray that her husband and son will be saved as well. (Renae Oue, Central and Southern Tokyo Team)
February 2nd – Several needy/homeless men gather every Tuesday afternoon for an evangelistic Bible study in a park near Kawasaki Station. It is a mix of believers and nonbelievers. Mr. K, who hasnft trusted in Christ, has ironically been the one inviting others, mostly believers! Pray for him and a Mr. W to believe in Jesus as Savior. Pray that the believers will be encouraged to grow and share more in Kawasaki. Thank the Lord for the several national workers who are helping and being trained in this outreach. (Mark Hoshizaki, Central and Southern Tokyo Team)
February 3rd – Recently Elton began flute lessons as a means to meet more musicians. Mr. and Mrs. Shige are professional flute teachers and technicians who are also somewhat open to friendship. Ask the Father to give Marylou and Elton opportunities to build this relationship. (Bay Cities Team)
February 4th – Tokyo has many open lunchtime concerts that Elton and Chan Sik often attend. If possible, they meet the musicians and give them contact information, sharing some point of common interest. There has yet to be one musician who has taken the next step of contact. Ask the Father to give them courage and interest in making the contact with the foreigners. (Bay Cities Team)
February 5th – Mr. T has been studying the Bible for a long time, but still doesnft feel that he can make a decision to follow the Lord. It seems he is at a time now where he knows he must make a decision one way or the other. Please pray that he will choose Christ. (Jeff Burns, Global Partners Team)
February 6th – Ms. S was introduced to Amanda Smith through a volunteer last summer and has been studying with her for the past 6 months. Please pray that Ms. S will open her heart to Jesus, follow Him in baptism, and become a powerful witness to her family and friends. (Global Partners Team)
February 7th – Mie ministers through a community group called "Tomono Kai" translated, "Friendship Meeting". Ladies, ages early 30s to 60s, attend these meetings. They talk about practical issues that women face, especially mothers. Mie has found this to be a great platform to share her Christian faith and family. The leader of this community group is not a Christian but often starts the meeting with a hymn. Some of the ladies are believers. Mie was introduced to this meeting by two non-believers that she has been witnessing to. (UYAYA Team)
February 8th – Please pray for a team (five or more) of effective Japanese workers to go to the late teen/early twenties kids that hang out on the streets of Shibuya, the Mecca of Japanese youth culture. Pray that these workers will go, be effective in their witness and discipleship, and will establish a community of faith in the heart of Shibuya. (UYAYA Team)
February 9th – Lynn Fujino is meeting with a new Christian, Sa-san, who has made a profession of faith but has not been baptized. Please pray for obedience and regular discipleship times. Pray that times to meet would be a priority in Sa-san's life and that the Holy Spirit would guide her understanding as they open the Word.
February 10th – Perhaps youfve noticed that our prayer letter is now called Partners in Prayer for the Japanese. Thatfs because the Japanese are living in many countries all over the world and not just in Japan. This month, we would like to introduce you to Tim & Joy Mitchell who work with Japanese in Peru as well as David Lopez who will be reaching out to the Japanese in Brazil. Pray that as they meet Japanese in their countries that they will have open hearts and a hunger for knowing their Creator. We look forward to providing you with specific prayer requests for overseas Japanese from next month.
Japan's Central Mega Cities Teams
February 11th – A Deaf believer's uncle died and was buried. When the (hearing) family members decide the right time, she will go home for the Buddhist funeral. God is first in her life, but she wants to show respect for her uncle. She asked that you pray that the Holy Spirit will fill her and enable her to share with her family.
February 12th – Ms. K emailed to say that she was encouraged after a conversation about the Bible. She says she now has time to meet with Katherine weekly again and she will help Katherine with Scripture memorization. Pray that God's Word will convict her of sin and lead her to Jesus. (Katherine and Patrick Sanders)
February 13th – While participating in free Japanese language classes held at a high school, Liz and Barb ask that you pray for the teachers who have heard their testimonies and Gospel presentations. Pray for them to believe God's Word is the truth, accept Him as Savior & Lord, and then have a powerful testimony to the other large number of teachers in the program. (Liz Welsch and Barb Dunbar)
February 14th - A young Japanese couple attended a Christian university and they have "good memories" of the teachers. Pray that this experience in their past will give the Reynolds favor with the couple and an opportunity to present the Gospel to them. Pray they will come to faith as a couple so they can bring their daughter up knowing Christ, too. (Ron and Cindy Reynolds)
February 15th – Praise the Lord for hearing and answering your prayers for and through the homeless ministry of Wang and Rose Lee! Pray for Mr. Nishi and Mr. Saka, new fourth generation believers who were recently saved and baptized through Mr. Kawa and Mr. Shimi. Pray for them also as they mentor their new brothers. (Wang & Rose Lee, Nagoya Team)
February 16th - Pray for Akane's parents and aunt & uncle who questioned her, a believer, about what's the big deal about Christmas. She boldly told them all about Jesus and shared the Gospel with them for many hours. Pray for the Gospel seeds that have been sown to produce salvation in each of them. (Hank & Linda Lee, Nagoya Team)
February 17th – An answer to prayer! The Gellerstedts met an accountant who lives in the JR train linefs apartment complex. This man has invited them to his home to meet his family. Pray that this will give good opportunities to share with he and his family as well as the many other people living there.
February 18th – Since the Gellerstedts are the only IMB missionaries working in the whole prefecture of Kyoto, with 2 1/2 million people, please pray that God would send some co-workers to help with the work in this important city.
February 19th – Ms. Kane has been trying to reach out to several people through T4T (Training for Trainers). She has been developing a good relationship with the Tsuji family. Their daughter is studying Christianity at Tojisha University, but she is not a Christian yet. Please pray that God would open their hearts to the truth. (Kobe Team)
February 20th - God has used volunteers to bring the gospel to the Japanese. Pray that many more will be led to join this summer as teams reach out to the lost in Kobe. Pray also for summer interns to work alongside the team members as we seek to start Bible studies from contacts made through the volunteers. (Kobe Team)
Japan's Cities, Towns, and Villages Teams
February 21st – Sendai: Ichi-san, who lives in Sendai, has recently lost her husband and has been struggling with cancer. She has three daughters, one of which is a Christian. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will speak through her daughter during this time to draw her to Jesus.
February 22nd – Utsunomiya: What do you do when you have the responsibility to care for your father, mother, and brother who are ill and are burdened with guilt because you are the lone healthy one? Tsune poured out her heart to Gail. Gail shared with her that Jesus cares for her and she can cast all her cares on Him. Tsune told Gail that she had prayed and asked God to help her. Pray that Tsune will experience a revelation from God that will lead her to faith in Him and release her from her burdens.
February 23rd – Hiroshima: Please pray for Shin and Er, two contacts who are returning to Japan after an absence of many months, to be saved. Please pray for Nor, one of Mattfs office worker friends, that as Matt reaches out to him he will trust Christ to deliver him from his sins, and that Christ would use him to reach his coworkers and family.
February 24th – Hamamatsu: Pray for the Japanese in the Parsley's neighborhood as they build relationships with the neighbors and practice Japanese that the gospel can be shared. Also pray that God will lead the Parsleys to many who not only want to spend time with them but also want to hear the Good News.
February 25th – Shizuoka: The Rainers ask your prayers for the Na family. The daughter, Ha, had her first baby and lives with her parents. This is their first grandchild. The father of the child lives in France. Please pray that having a brand new son/grandson will point them to the Creator as the Giver of this blessing.
February 26th – Shizuoka: The Rainers request your prayers for Mi, Tak, Yama, and Taka who all had the chance to hear the Christmas story in Japanese at their home in December. Pray that what they heard about the Lamb of God coming to take their sin would become a reality to them.
February 27th – Chiba: Thank you for praying faithfully for the Yo family. God has answered your prayers and they are worshiping in their home. The grandmother who is not a Christian came to worship and shared how the junior high school grandsons share their faith with their friends who come to visit. Pray for this grandmother to be saved.
February 28th – Chiba: God led the Togane leaders to a new harvest worker the middle of January as they went prayer walking near the venue where the volunteer clown team performed in November. Pray for this lady who was saved while attending a Baptist university here. Pray for a church to start in this new area.
Is there a particular city in Japan 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 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!
For more info, contact: carltonw@mymailworld.com