Partners in Prayer for Japan
August, 2008
“I would be disobeying the Lord if I stopped praying for you!”
(I Samuel 12:23)
Please join us for our ‘Days of Payer’ each Tuesday – (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th)
Greater Tokyo Mega Center
Prayer Advocate – Melanie Brents
Website - http://imbtokyo.org/
August 1st - Trent & Lindsey had Chi & Hi over for dinner again this month. Chi & Hi seem very curious about Christianity, and Chi mentioned that she has studied the Bible a little bit before. Please pray that God would deepen their friendship and that he would make Chi & Hi's hearts open and hungry for the Truth. Ask God to give them faith to believe Him and courage to follow Him.
August 2nd – Summer interns have opened new doors for ministry among a group of senior golfers in Yokohama. Please pray for Miyoko Scoggins as she follows up on new contacts that have been made. Pray that God will raise up a “person of peace” from this group and God will provide many opportunities to share Christ with these seniors.
August 3rd – While doing park evangelism, Wendy Hoshizaki re-met F-san, a blind Japanese English teacher. She had not seen him for over a year since the times she had been helping him with his English classes. He was participating with a group of visually impaired runners (each with an accompanying helper runner) doing some long distance running around the park. Pray for further opportunities to witness to F-san and this unique group gathering.
August 4th – Kelly and Drew Dowden ask prayer for T-san. He is a philosophy of religion major at Keiyo University and lives in the Bay Area. Pray as they continue to meet with him to answer his questions. He is very open, but wants much more head knowledge before he believes. Pray that God will open his heart and he will understand what true faith means.
August 5th – Personnel met Mrs. Sasa, a calligraphy teacher, at an art gallery. She said there are 5-6 Christians in her class, but that she is a Buddhist. She received a gospel tract and invited them to her next exhibition. Pray that she will send for the story of the Bible on DVD that was offered on the tract, and that the Holy Spirit will speak to her heart leading her to seek the one true God.
August 6th – M.K.’s (missionary kids) are some of our best missionaries. M.K. Rickie Fujino has been sharing the gospel all year with his friend Tera. Now Tera and his family are preparing for a move to America. Please pray for Tera and his family to come to know Jesus. Pray that as they move to the States that God will put them in the path of Christians who can further share about the love of Christ.
August 7th – Chi-san said she accepted Christ into her heart, but the next day said she had “changed her mind”. Interns met with her again a few days later and she said she will never become a true Christian, while just a few weeks ago, she had said she wanted very badly to believe. Please pray God will continue to pursue Chi-san and that she will be truly saved!
August 8th – Approximately 40 people have prayed to receive Christ through the ministry of summer interns and volunteers in Tokyo. Please pray for the missionaries in Tokyo to be able to follow up on the amazing fruit of this summer! Pray that those who have come to know the Lord will become strong disciples and that new churches will be started as a result of these believers!
August 9th – The Tokyo team has witnessed firsthand this summer attacks from Satan against our witness here in Tokyo. It has been evident that the enemy is not happy about the lives that are being touched with the gospel in Tokyo. Please pray that God will keep the doors of ministry open here in Japan. Pray that Satan will have no authority to prevent every Japanese person from having the opportunity to hear about Jesus.
August 10th – Many have sensed that the Lord is bringing a new responsiveness to the gospel to Tokyo. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would move across this city in power and that Japanese people would be convicted of their need for a relationship with Jesus. Pray that the gospel can be proclaimed clearly and in such a way that they will be able to respond.
Japan’s Cities, Towns, and Villages
Prayer Advocate – Lana Oue
Websites - http://outreachjapan.org/ and www.jgpnetwork.org
August 11th - Chiba: We are thrilled to share an answered prayer. You prayed for Mrs. Sa, who visited her husband's hometown at New Years and who since that time had not been reading her Bible and praying, either alone or with her children. Well, now she is reading her Bible, praying and again walking with the Lord. Continue to pray for her and her two sons to be committed to Christ. jctv@outreachjapan.org
August 12th – Shizuoka: ISC Missionary, Kumiko Collins, asks prayer for her neighbor, Mako, that her heart would be open as she reads the Bible and that she will see the truth from God’s word. Also, pray for their church, Immanuel Kai, as they prepare to be on their own. Please pray that the discipleship with the believers at Immanuel Kai will go forward smoothly and they will bear much fruit. kumiko@outreachjapan.org
August 13th - Sendai: A year ago Mrs. Kana heard the testimony of a new Christian acquaintance. Since then Mrs. Kana has been watching the lady and constantly finds herself running into the lady around town. She says she wants to spend more time with this Christian. Pray that God will arrange it and that at His appointed time Mrs. Kana will see her personal need for Christ and be bold enough to trust Him. donna@outreachjapan.org
August 14th - Utsunomiya: Meg is an Utsunomiya University student. Her parents are believers and they attend the local Baptist church. Meg spent her younger years in the church, but never surrendered her life to Christ and eventually stopped going altogether during her teen years. Please join with Jarod and Meg’s family as they pray for her salvation. Pray she will become a vibrant witness at the university as well. jarod@outreachjapan.org
August 15th - Fukuoka: A.Y. has made a big personal decision regarding her life. This month we, the Norton’s, ask you to pray that we will have an opportunity to help her think about the implications of the decision. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give her wisdom and discernment. Nancy@outreachjapan.org
August 16th - Chiba: Around the neighborhood lake, Hakko, are two temples and a shrine. There is also an active Jehovah's Witness and Mormon presence. Pray for a couple who received literature from a missionary who was prayer walking there. Pray that their desire to worship would lead them to read the literature, contact Japanese Christians in the area, believe the gospel message and be saved. jctv@outreachjapan.org
August 17th - Sendai: Mr. Kamo likes helping people and is well-respected in his community. Retired, he spends his free time volunteering with children and the elderly. A Christian who lives around the corner from him is looking for ways to share Christ effectively with Mr. Kamo. Pray that God will grant the Christian man wisdom in sharing and that the gospel will spread rapidly through Mr. Kamo. Kevin@outreachjapan.org
August 18th - Chiba: A bread shop in Chiba is run by Mrs. To and her three daughters, Ri, Izu, and Toe. Two of the daughters write, play, and sing music. Pray for the salvation of this family. Pray for healing in the loss of their father who committed suicide. Pray that this family would one day sing praises to God and that there would be a church meeting at their shop. jctv@outreachjapan.org
August 19th - Fukuoka: A.Y. really wants her mother to accept Christ, but she still does not know how to talk about her faith at home. Pray that God will open the door for a conversation, and that her mother will freely ask questions about why A.Y. continues to serve Christ and have faith. Pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to the mother and that she will open her heart and accept Christ as Savior. nancy@outreachjapan.org
August 20th - Chiba: Last month you prayed for Kasu-san, a middle age lady, who read the Manga Life of Christ four times, and after reading it, she called E and went to see her. After hearing the gospel presented to her, she prayed to receive Christ. You prayed for her to grow and she did. She made a decision to be baptized in July and is growing the Lord. Pray for her continued growth. jctv@outreachjapan.org
Japan’s Central Mega Cities
Prayer Advocate – Cindy Reynolds
Website - http://westjapanmegacity.org/JUI/Welcome.html
August 21st – Mr. Raogu, a veterinarian, has heard the gospel a couple of times and watched the Hope DVD. He and his wife are interested in Christianity, but they have a lot of questions. Please pray that God would help them to understand the gospel clearly. Mr. Raogu has been diagnosed with cancer. Pray that God would heal him so that he will be able to experience the power of God. (Paul and Yumi Cho, Kobe, JCMC)
August 22nd – Mr. T.J., a Business Consultant who was attending the Bible study class at his company and Mr. I.S., a security man both professed faith in Jesus last month. The company president is leading this group. Both were baptized in July at the Suma Beach. Please pray for their spiritual growth and discipleship training as they reach out to others in their company. (John and Grace Kim, Osaka, JCMC)
August 23rd – Pray for the many unreached people that we are meeting daily in our neighborhood. Pray that as the Gospel seeds are sown their spiritual eyes will be opened. Pray that they will see our love for Christ and will develop a hunger to experience that same love. Pray they will want to know God and be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Jeff & Lori Loomis, Nagoya, JCMC)
August 24th – Through a shared baking experience, Sharon was able to tell the story of Jesus' resurrection to two girls. On a return visit with two additional friends, the junior high aged girls took children's Story of Jesus the Messiah for themselves and for other friends. They plan to visit again. Pray that they will have many questions about what they have seen and they will want to believe in Jesus. (Ed and Sharon Smith, Kyoto, JCMC)
August 25th – We rejoice that at the good-bye party for us by the Nagomi (Elderly) Club, we were able to share our testimony with the people who attended. We also shared various Bible portions with them, and they took almost all that we had brought. Pray that His Word will not return void and these elderly friends will someday meet to praise Jesus in this neighborhood. (Ed and Sharon Smith, JCMC)
August 26th – Pray for the Gospel to continue to spread in the Nagoya area through those who have opened their homes and those who are gathering in various places to encourage one another in their faith. Pray for them as they face adversity to be able to stand firm in their faith and to be emboldened in the sharing of the gospel with their families, friends and loved ones. (Hank & Linda Lee, Nagoya, JCMC)
August 27th – Pray for Mrs. Kise who was recently saved and baptized. Pray for her as she is mentored and begins to open her home to others to share her new found faith in Christ. (Wang & Rose Lee, Nagoya, JCMC)
August 28th – Pray for Mr. Muraiso as he continues to work in his new job. We praise God for your prayers that were answered on his behalf for this job that God has provided. Also pray that Mr. Muraiso, who is growing daily in his new life in Christ, would be able to start a house church. (Wang & Rose Lee, Nagoya, JCMC)
August 29th – During the summer festivals missionaries and Japanese nationals have intentionally mingled with the crowds to meet people and share Jesus with them. Some have listened and taken Bible portions and literature with testimonies home with them. Pray that their hearts will be open as they read His Word and the testimonies of Christian believers. Pray for new believers and new churches from these seeds that have been planted. (Osaka, JCMC)
August 30th – When Olive believed on Jesus in May, Wysteria said, "I am 'millimeters' from believing in Jesus." Since then, she has become less open to talk about Jesus. She said, "My husband is domineering at home. I'm afraid of him." Pray that she will listen to the Holy Spirit in her heart and that He will help her overcome her fear and believe on Jesus. (Ed and Nan Jordan,Osaka, JCMC)
August 31st – A Japanese store manager is searching for something to fill the void in her life. Tarot cards, blood typing, astrology, fortune tellers, and aura therapy are some of her interests. She heard the Gospel in July, and she "latched on" to God's Word, too. Pray that she will know the Truth and become a believer who will lead others to love and obey Jesus above all these other things. (Osaka, JCMC)
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 cwalker@mymailworld.com or carltonw@mymailworld.com