Missionaries get some attention - they go back to their sending church and show photos, they make web pages about their ministry, they may even be admired by people back home who would like to do more for Jesus but feel they don't have the courage, or the talent, or the... you name it.  But the most important soldier in the spiritual battle for the souls of those who don't know Jesus is not the missionary, but the prayer warrier.  By all means, if you are called to go, then go!  But whether you go or stay, the most important thing any of us can do is to fight the spiritual battle on our knees.

Japan is a place where currently people come to Christ very slowly if at all. Those of us who are here can study the issues, try new methods, and consider how we can present the Gospel in a way that is more relevent for the Japanese than how we have done it before.  But methods are not the complete answer, because they are not the biggest problem.  The biggest problem is that the enemy has blinded the eyes of the Japanese people and is fighting to keep them in the dark.  If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you already possess the greatest power that can fight against him and free the Japanese people to be able to see and accept God's love for them: the name of Jesus!

Although in many ways the Japanese culture is unique, the closest "sister" culture is that of the Koreans.  And 60 years ago, Korea was just as difficult a mission field as Japan - many were sharing the Gospel there but no one seemed to be listening.  But something happened soon after WW2, and people began to come to Christ in droves.  Today South Korea may be sending more missionaries per capita than any other nation on earth!  Would you like to see that kind of transformation happen in Japan? Then please pray for this nation, for these people.

Operation Japan

If you would like a book to guide you through praying for one prefecture per week (47 prefectures plus a few special topics = one year), there is such a book available, called Operation Japan, inspired by the more well-known prayer almanac Operation World. It gives lots of good information about each prefecture and Japan in general, as it guides you in your prayer for this spiritually needy nation.  If you would like a copy, you can either just ask us (we will be happy to give you one, knowing that you will be praying), or you can order it yourself.  It is published by the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA), and although it is not mentioned on their web site, I know it can be ordered directly from them, and if ordering from Japan, this is definitely the best way:
   JEMA website

Here are a couple other sources for ordering Operation Japan that I found searching the Internet:
   Ethnic Harvest (U.S. based)
   Japan Christian Link (U.K. based)