Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Prayer Request 3/29 -4/4



Tuesday
Millions of Chinese believers celebrated Easter, with special services and baptisms up to hundreds in many locations. More Christians attended Easter services in China than in all of Europe combined, according to one estimate. We thank the Lord for the miraculous growth of the churches in the past 50 years. Let us not stop praying for many churches falling into heresies, in particular the Eastern Lightening, which claims Jesus has returned in the form of a woman.

Wednesday
The United States Secretary of State, Condelessa Rice, worshipped at the Gangwashi Protestant church on Palm Sunday evening. She went to the church immediately after her meeting with President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People. Ms Rice, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, said she did not want to miss worship on Palm Sunday even though she was traveling. We pray that Ms Rice will be a great model for all the young believers, children of church workers, and will inspire millions of young women .

Thursday
Two days after hundreds of thousands of people marched in Taipei to protest against an anti-secession law passed by Beijing, a high-ranking delegation of Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party (KMT) visited Mainland for the first time since1949. The delegates paid tribute at the Martyr's Memorial in Guangzhou. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of church. Let us remember all the sons and daughters of those who gave their lives for Jesus (China and Taiwan alike) during the political turmoil past, and pray for their faith and courage to share Jesus.

Friday
It is very difficult to get a scientific answer to the question of how many Chinese believe in fortune telling. However, the practice not only has returned but it enjoys great popularity. People are eager to look for a divine solution and long for spiritual guidance. Fortune telling, once considered as superstition and banned from society, is everywhere now. In contrast, Christianity is still viewed by many as a foreign religion. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let us pray for vigorous testimony in the churches and in the lives of believers.

Saturday
In 2004 there were 53,096 students enrolled in doctoral studies programs, double the number in 2000. Currently there are 140,000 PhD students. Critics complain that China produces too many PhD’s and question the quality of an educational system which nearly guarantees a degree once a student is admitted. Overseas Chinese churches are packed with believers with advanced degrees. Let us pray for humility and stewardship of talents as they serve in their churches. May the Lord bless their churches with their knowledge and experience .

Sunday
The very first group of government-certified mental health counselors, a group of 277 people, has completed a 2-year training course. Experts estimate that ten percent of the population has psychological problems and needs special attention. The government estimates that twenty percent of Chinese youth suffer emotional and stress-related problems. There is a great need for Biblical counseling. Let us pray for this new avenue of service for Christians in counseling.

Monday
Last year, two separate sexual scandals involving well-known university professors led to disciplinary action which included stripping them of Party membership. It is no longer news that government officials have mistresses, but scandals among teachers, the most honorable profession in China, are becoming common. It is difficult to find believers who are capable to teach in the churches. Let us pray for the spiritual lives, humility and impact of all those who teach in various capacities.




星期二
成千上萬散佈在中國各地的信徒在復活節主日以特別聚會和受洗典禮慶祝耶穌的復活,許多人相信慶祝復活節的中國人總數已經超過歐洲。感謝讚美主!中國教會在過去50年以驚人的速度增長,讓我們不住的為中國教會不受異端矇騙代禱,求神保守信徒堅守純正的真道,尤其斥退宣稱女基督已經再來的東方閃電。

星期三
在棕櫚節(Palm Sunday)晚間,美國國務卿賴斯在北京與中國領導人胡錦濤會面過後,隨即參加在北京一所教會的晚間禮拜,她原可早上在韓國崇拜,但卻選擇在多數人認為無神的中國上教堂禮拜,強調信仰自由。父親是牧師的賴斯表示,她不願因旅行而錯失在棕櫚節的敬拜。賴斯女士對信仰的執著相信激勵了許多傳道人的子女,讓我們繼續為她和許多同工第二代來禱告。

星期四
3/26台灣舉行了抗議中共通過反分裂法的百萬人大遊行,兩天過後,國民黨高層率團抵達廣州黃花崗祭拜烈士,並展開「緬懷之旅、經貿之旅」,是1949年失去大陸政權後首次正式訪問。早年聖徒在神州大陸上灑下的鮮血,造就了今日教會的基石,讓我們為這些在動亂時期為主殉道者的後代禱告,求神他們堅固在主裏的信心,願意為主作見證。

星期五
到底有多少人相信算命呢?雖然現在尚未有正式的統計資料或科學調查,但從坊間的觀察來看,人們急迫的想知道自己的未來及冀求超能力的導引,使得原本被視為迷信且被當局禁止的算命又漸漸回到中國社會中。算命現象所以能夠存在,正反映出大多數人的精神空虛狀態。我們再一次為中國人靈魂的飢渴禱告,讓主耶穌無比的愛能真正滿足人心的需要。

星期六
2004年中國高校博士生招生數爲5,3096人,為2000年的兩倍,全國在校博士生的數量已達14萬人。博士生培養過程中近乎“零淘汰率”,但如何兼顧素質及量的平衡問題引起越來越多的關注。在海外的中國教會,信徒的平均學歷更是高得驚人。讓我們禱告會眾能以謙卑捨己的心學習作主門徒,將各項恩賜才幹奉獻為主使用。更求神祝福眾肢體更多更深的認識經歷主自己。

星期日
中國首批獲國家認証的心理諮詢師誕生了!這批為數277人的職業心理諮詢師經過兩年多的培訓,日前通過檢定取得國家職業二級資格。中國13億人口當中約有一成患有各種心理方面的疾病。估計有12%的青年飽受情緒和壓力的困擾。面對這片荒蠻的心靈範疇,急需有異象的基督徒心理諮詢工作者積極投入。讓我們為這新開的福音管道仰望神,求主賜下憐憫與醫治,也感動眾肢體回應這時代性的呼召。

星期一
去年兩位大學教授分別涉及轟動的性醜聞,遭到開除黨籍的處分。今天黨政官員作奸犯科雖已非罕聞,形象清高的大學教授竟也有辱斯文,發生醜聞,令人不勝感慨。在信徒當中,有教導恩賜的人是不可多得。讓我們為肩負靈命建造,謙虛和影響力的為人師者禱告,求神使用他們透過講臺,成為合神心意的領航者。

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