AFWIS Joins Operation World In Prayer for Japan - Nihon - Asia

Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)

Home > Jul 26: Japan

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Jul 26: Japan

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Japan

Nihon

Asia

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 377,801 sq km
A 3,000 km arc of four large islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu) and 3,000 small islands in NW Pacific. Mountainous; only 13% can be cultivated.
Population: 126,995,411    Annual Growth: -0.07%
Capital: Tokyo
Urbanites: 66.8%
HDI Rank: 10 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 34 (68% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Japanese    Languages: 16 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Buddhist

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	1,955,729	1.54	-0.2
Evangelicals	596,498	0.5	-0.4
Buddhist	88,376,107	69.59

Prayercast

Challenges for Prayer

Bible training for Christian workers is vitally needed and provided by 125 denominational and interdenominational seminaries and Bible schools. Pray for a new generation of pastors; 70% are over age 50. Leadership transition can be difficult and sensitive in a society that so reveres the elderly. Particularly notable are Asian Access’s Japan Growth Institute (where 1% of Japan’s pastors have been trained – but that 1% accounts for 90% of church growth in the country) and JEMA’s Church Planting Institute. A number of theological institutions are also doing admirable work. Financial constraints are one of the biggest challenges facing students/pastors; pray for provision.
The missions vision of Japanese Christians is noteworthy. There are up to 300 Japanese serving in 34 lands around the world. However, churches generally have little vision for missions and little understanding of the challenges facing cross-cultural missionaries. Mission training programmes for prospective Japanese missionaries are increasing, both in Japanese and in English. The Japanese Overseas Missions Association has a membership of over 20 Japanese agencies.
     For an additional 12 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Japan.