Full Prayer letter below↓
We are using our prayer letter to highlight one recent episode, but there are a lot of other things going on as well so we sat down and talked about them (family/life/ministry) in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqoC-gHAmhk
Praises:
- James’ mom safely moved to Nagoya
- 8 participants on Spring Recon
Prayer Requests:
- Downtown location for church
- Recon Participants as they work through next steps
- Online outreach
“So… what should I say?”
He showed up to our Sunday afternoon prayer meeting as an unbeliever. Several years ago, he came to one church service. He joined our church group chat. Then he watched from a distance. That was it.
This month, he replied to a reminder about our Sunday afternoon prayer time with a question. “What exactly do you do at a prayer meeting?” We explained: prayer is talking to God. We share requests. We take turns praying for each other. His reply: “I see… I’d like to come. Is that okay?”
As we sat around our dining room table and shared prayer requests, he said he was looking for a new job. We encouraged him to pray specifically so he could know for sure that this Creator God had answered. One by one, we prayed. Then his turn came.
He froze. “So… what should I say?”
Prayers at shrines and temples in Japan are usually generalized wishes not spoken out loud to a personal God. They are good luck wishes to boost your own effort, because after all the outcome ultimately depends on you.
I guided him through a short, simple prayer. He asked God to provide the job he needed, naming some of the specifics. That was it. Nothing dramatic. No flash of light. But in that moment, a man in his forties spoke to the living God for the first time in his life.
Moments like these are a sharp reminder of why we are in Japan to spread the Gospel.
God continues to answer your prayers for us. My mother is moved in and getting settled at her apartment up the street from us. We hosted 8 people for the Spring Recon trip. The cherry blossoms have begun to bloom, reminding us that spring is here. Our boys are on spring break and preparing for the new school year (which begins in April each year; Silas is moving to the 2nd grade and Amos is starting 1st).
We have much more that we would like to share with you. Since we are running out of space here, please be sure to take a minute to watch the update video as well. 🙂
Yours for Japan,
The Miyashita Family
Click here for a printable version of this prayer letter.
Amos Graduated from Kindergarten
(Silas had school that day)
Spring Recon 2026