A Global Week of Prayer for Peace
As I know you have seen in the news, the escalation of conflict in the Middle East continues to shake the world. We, along with leaders across the 24-7Prayer movement, have been asking: how do we respond as the church, free from political agendas, as the people of God?
Jesus is still the Prince of Peace.
This week, we officially launched 24-7Prayer Japan, and from March 16–22, we are joining a global Week of Prayer for Peace, inviting churches and faith communities across Japan to participate. We would love for you to join us as well, wherever you are in the world. You can participate however the Lord leads you, whether that is simply praying for a moment, for an hour, or as a watch in the night.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, we will host a 24-hour global prayer call on Zoom. Leaders from around the world will take turns guiding us in prayer. Kumi and I, along with our good friend Pastor Akira Mori, will be leading an hour from 11 AM Japan Standard Time (9 PM Tuesday, Central Standard Time). We would love for you to join us for whatever time you are available.
Prayer resources and registration for joining the call are here: 24-7prayer.com/peace
If your church or community would like to participate in the week, we would be deeply encouraged to stand together with you.
Meanwhile, here in Tokyo
These last few weeks have felt like the winter-spring transition: quiet on the outside, but a lot is happening beneath the surface, preparing to break out. A couple of other things have just launched:
We've started weekly gatherings in our home, centered around the table. We share a meal, then move into prayer together. The time is simple, unhurried, and intentional, and the presence of God has been real and tangible. We are keeping these invitation-only until we outgrow our living room and a larger space makes sense. Our monthly open gatherings are continuing. This past Saturday, we held a prayer walk through central Shibuya.
Last week, WILDBRANCH Radio went live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It found its way into some top-ten charts in its first week, which was a genuine and delightful surprise. WILDBRANCH Radio is in English, and we plan to launch a Japanese podcast in April. We would appreciate your prayers as we invite the Holy Spirit to guide the creative process.
Thank you for standing with us as we contend for what God has for Japan and for His Kingdom to expand across the globe.
-J