Pray for Japan
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken- that is, created things- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” Hebrews 12.26-27
Population: 126,o995,411
Capital: Tokyo-Yokohama
People: Japanese 98.5%
Per capita GDP: $38,457
Official Language: Japanese
Religion: Buddhist 69.7%, Other 23.7%, Christian 1.5%
Pray:
- A 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by tsunami waves devastated Japan on Friday, March 11th. It is currently estimated that around 12,000 people are either dead or missing. Thousands of others have been misplaced from their homes, while temperatures will soon be dropping to freezing. Pray for comfort for those who have lost family, friends, and homes. Pray for protection against exposure to radiation leaks from nuclear power plants. Pray for strength and wisdom for Christian aid workers flying in from all over the world that they would have opportunities to share the gospel and the mercy of God boldly.
- Japan’s own leaders call their country “a superpower without a moral compass.” Most Japanese view Christianity as Western and ‘un-Japanese.’ Only 10% of Japanese believe in the existence of a personal God and only 50% have ever even desired help from God or gods. Praise God that many are spiritually searching during this time of crisis. Pray that they would find Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Ask that they would understand that Christ died for them and loves them with an everlasting love.
-Pray for renewal to sweep across the Japanese Church. Though the Church is already only around 1% of the population, it is split into over 120 different denominations and lacks unity. Japanese believers continue to be influenced by Buddhist/Shinto beliefs that have no regular attendance expectations or requirements- and less than half of Christian church members attend church regularly. Pray that Japanese believers would be revived in love for Christ, in unity with each other, and in urgency to reach their country with the gospel.
Information provided by Operation World and Joshua Project. For more information, go to http://www.operationworld.org/japa.
Standing in the gap for the people of Japan, for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon them. His arm is not too short, His voice is louder than the tsunami.
Father God, we pray that your mercy be upon the Japanese people and that your Spirit open their hearts to your Gospel. Be with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are journeying there that they would find hearts crying out for your precious Son…..