Prayer Request 4/12 -- 4/18

Tuesday
Japan’s bid to be a permanent U.N Security Council member and the recent revision of Japanese school textbooks that “whitewashed” her WWII military campaigns. China is Japan’s largest trading partner. But, China has a love-hate relationship with Japan, enjoying Japanese electronics but deeply suspicious of its onetime aggressor. The same is true for Korea. In order for the Chinese churches to engage in cross-cultural mission, it has to come to terms with this deep-rooted resentment of its neighbor. Let us pray for divine healing .

Wednesday
In a campaign to promote a more “civilized” society, several coastal cities have promoted cremation and have achieved nearly a 80% rate. The government now forbids the formation of funeral processions and caravans. Only simple funeral arrangements are encouraged. Only the memorial services of the pastors are held in church. Usually, believers gather at homes for funeral service for their loved ones. Let us pray that even in these settings, the Gospel maybe shared and witnessed to their unbelieving families .

Thursday
Chinese Catholics held services for Pope John Paul II while the official media ignored the death entirely, except for its protest of Taiwan’s President attending the funeral in Rome. China’s Catholics were ordered to severe ties with the Vatican in 1951. Official count of Chinese Catholics is 4 millions, but 12 million more are believed to worship underground. In China, the same officials rule over all religions. Let us pray for favor and sympathy for all the churches that are not registered .

Friday
The government says that 4000 couples divorce daily which is an increase of 282,000 over 2003. In the past two years the divorce rate has increased by 20% a year. Experts say that the changing social dynamic, lowering of moral standard and a severe lack of marriage counseling are some of the reasons for this problem. Divorce among believers has seen an equally rapid increase as well. Let us remember the four thousand families that are newly broken up as well as the single parents who are in the churches .

Saturday
In the Forbes Magazine, two Chinese made the list of new billionaires. The media is abuzz and fascinated with their rise to this astronomical wealth. Beijing alone boasts of forty-three Bentley super-luxury cars and Armani expects to open thirty stores in China to cater to the estimate 10-13 million high-end customers. The Chinese economy is expected to grow at 8% a year in the next five years. In general, Chinese believers have been behind in charitable giving. Let us pray for the raising up of Christian volunteerism and philanthropy .

Sunday
China has banned a sexy satire on Mao Zedong. The Novel “Serve the People” was Mao’s most famous slogan. During the Cultural Revolution, defacing Mao’s image was punishable by death. Even today, Mao’s image is used as a lucky charm for many Beijing taxicabs. The public display of the cross and of Jesus’ image means very little spiritually to the common Chinese. But, many believers mistakenly see the crucifix as a source of magical power. Let us pray for the true meaning of Jesus Christ to be made known among these believers.

Monday
According to the Vatican, China has 12 million Catholics. There are a total of 5200 nuns (1700 in underground churches) and 120 aging bishops (average 74 years old). The average age of pastors in China is probably about the same. They have experienced the trying time during the Cultural Revolution. We praise the Lord for their dedication and faithfulness. But let us pray for a smooth transition of leadership and the raising up of a new generation of Joshuas .

星期二
反日情緒繼續在中國和韓國白熱化。示威者反對日本成為聯合國安理會常任理事國，也抗議新編教科書篡改二次世戰日本侵略歷史。中國雖是日本最大的貿易伙伴，但對日本是既愛又恨，愛的是日本電器產品，又對這昔日的侵略者深具戒心，韓國人也持類似的態度。我們懇求主在裝備中國教會跨文化宣教時，能先拔除仇恨鄰舍的毒根，學主的樣式「免了別人的債」讓創傷得到神全然的醫治。

星期三
在一項名為「打造文明社會」的殯葬改革運動中，有些沿海城市提倡火葬率已高達 80%，政府現禁止奢豪的喪禮和出殯儀式，只允許舉辦簡單的葬禮。在教會中通常只有牧師主持的追悼會，信徒為所愛的亡者在家中聚會並行喪禮。讓我們禱告即使是在簡單葬儀中，神仍幫助信徒透過追思和感恩見證將福音分享給未信的親屬。

星期四
中國天主教徒們低調的為教宗若望保祿二世舉行了追思彌撒。官方媒體對教宗逝世消息並沒著墨，但顯著的報導抗議教廷同意臺灣總統出席追思彌撒的新聞，自1951年起，天主教徒被要求切斷和教廷的聯繫，據官方統計中國有4百萬的天主教徒，但實際上未公開的教徒高達有一千兩百萬以上。在新實施的宗教管理辦法，適行於所有其他的宗教。讓我們為所有未登記的教會禱告，求主施恩憐憫他們。

星期五
民政部統計每天平均有4,000對夫妻離異，比2003年增加2.8萬對。過去兩年來，離婚率以20%的增幅攀升。專家表示 - 社交結構的改變、道德輿論力量式微和缺乏婚姻諮詢輔導是關係破裂的主要原因。信徒間的離婚率也迅速的提升，讓我們為肢體們能堅守盟約，尊重神設聖潔祭壇來禱告，也記念婚姻失敗的家庭，願教會能有愛心和策略來關懷幫助。

星期六
有兩名中國人躋身富比士雜誌億萬首富排行榜，媒體競相報導他們的迅速崛起與傲人的財富。預計未來五年中國經濟將以每年8%速度持續成長。看準國人超強的購買力，北京車商推出43輛勞司萊斯豪華車，著名的亞曼尼精品店也打算在中國開第30家分店。與財富能力相較而言，中國信徒在愛心施予方面落後許，讓我們為基督徒在生活中能有好施憫人的好見証禱告。

星期日
政府查禁了一部以嘲諷毛澤東的風流性史小說。小說題為「為人民服務」乃毛最出名的政治口號。在文革期間，不尊敬毛的肖像甚至會被處死，如今毛主席像仍是許多北京出租汽車最愛的幸運符。十字架和耶穌像在公眾場合也常見，但對一般人來說少有屬靈的義意。對很多信徒而言又誤認十字架含有神奇法力。讓我們禱告信徒能正確體認耶穌基督救恩的真理，注重靈命的進深和生活的操練。

星期一
根據梵蒂岡的資料，中國目前有1千200萬天主教徒，5,200個修女，(其中1,700人屬地下教會)和120位平均74高齡的老主教。基督教牧師平均年齡也與天主教神父相若，他們共通之處都曾在文革命中遭嚴峻試煉，我們為老傳道人們的堅忍委身和屹立不搖的信心讚美主。求主呼召更多如約書亞般新一代的傳道人出來，承續福音的大使命。