Prayer Request 5/31--6/6

Tuesday
Government gives a big push for the wider use of personal check writing. Much of the private Chinese economy depends on cash, with the largest denomination of 100 yuans (about 12 USD). However, it has imposed heavy fines to discourage abuses. The use of check requires faith and trust in the system, which the common folks are not accustomed to. Recently, many house churches have been invited and promised to register as opened-church. Let us pray also for the dilemma and the decision they are struggling with .

Wednesday
Vietnamese is the daily language in Dongkang, southern Taiwan, a fishing town. So many fishermen here married Vietnamese, who know little Chinese. Vietnamese is widely spoken by children and women while the men go away fishing. Like Dongkang, many Taiwanese cities have very elaborated temples and idols worship rituals. Many have no believers at all. Let us pray for those who faithfully sew the seeds in these “hardened” soils and for the new opportunities to reach those Vietnamese wives .

Thursday
9 million children under age 14 (about 3% of Chinese children) are handicapped. Polio, blindness or mute are the leading causes. Few schools can accommodate such children. Discrimination leaves families with handicapped children with little education options. Churches are equally ill-equipped to minister families with handicapped children. A few believers have adopted the homeless handicapped children in Guangzhou and Xian. Jesus reached out repeatedly to those who had suffering children. Let us pray for this great need .

Friday
A reporter for the Southern City News (Guangzhou) was savagely beaten and had 2 fingers chopped off. The violent act sparked outcries for this progressive newspaper which often features exposés on corruptions and social injustices. Chinese insurance companies rank miners, policemen and reporters, respectively as the most hazardous professions. Let us also remember all believers who are still suffering persecution for their conviction to be faithful to the Lord .

Saturday
Juvenile delinquency is rising alarmingly in all cities. Two obvious trends: more violent, rape and robbery. Ever younger in age. Typically, 75% are youth are from rural regions, “having nothing to do, and with nothing to lose.” There are non-Chinese Christians who run shelters for these homeless and delinquent youth in several cities. Let us pray for their ministries and the especially many youth who have attended church with their parents but no longer attend .

Sunday
Bribery by sex has become a rampant problem, though vehemently denounced by the Party Chairman repeatedly, yet, it seems the problems worsened daily. With 60% of officials having “er nai”—mistress, it is now a symbol of success rather than a scorn. The problem of the society reflects in churches too. While we need to pray for those who rule, we too, pray for guarding of heart of all believers and even all the pastors and church leaders .

Monday
College cost has skyrocketed recently, pricing out mostly potential rural students. In Jilin province, average farmer earns 3000 yuans, while the yearly college cost is 12,000. 1 in 3 students give up further education because of the financial concern. Few rural church workers have education beyond high schools. Let us pray for the education of all workers, especially those who need assistance to enter into seminaries and Bible schools .

星期二
政府大力推廣個體工商戶和個人支票，人民銀行也公布嚴厲的罰款來遏止空頭支票。目前國內大部份私人企業仍以現金交易爲主，紙鈔面值最高是100元人民幣(約12美元)。票據制度能否成功，取決於大眾對整個徵信制度的信任。現在許多教會需要面對政府要求公開登記並接受管理，求主賜下智慧給眾弟兄姊妹，在登記與不登記的抉擇間做出屬神心意的決定。

星期三
越南話成了南臺灣東港的主要的語言之一，該村有極高比例另一半是越南新娘。當父親出海捕魚，不會國語的母親只好對小孩子說越南話。臺灣各地有許多類似東港的城鎮，這些地方也是寺廟和偶像崇拜最嚴重的。讓我們為那些在「硬土」上忠心撒種的工人禱告，求主大能的恩雨鬆軟人心重見真光，興起特別事工回應這群外籍新娘的需要。

星期四
在中國0至14歲兒童中，殘疾兒童約900多萬人，占全國同齡兒童總數的2.66％。其中以小兒痳痺症、失明、失聰者居多 ，能提供殘障兒童所需的特殊教育屈指可數。這些家庭除了要承受照顧殘障兒的辛苦與歧視外，還要面對學習環境的不公。教會往往也無力支援輔導這些家庭。有少數信徒效法耶穌憐恤殘疾兒的榜樣，在廣東和西安收容街頭流浪殘疾兒童，讓我們為這廣大的需要禱告仰望主。

星期五
位於廣東的中國南方都市報記者遭毒打並被砍掉兩根手指。此暴力事件可能與該報一貫以激進作風批判揭發社會上許多貪汙腐敗、不法不公現象有關。由於近來攻擊記者事件急遽增加，中國保險公司已把記者業列爲警察和礦工之後的第三危險行業。神是恩慈公義的源頭，祂的眼目周察全地，讓我們為所有的弱勢群體禱告，也求主堅固為義受苦的肢體的信心。

星期六
近年國內各都市的未成年犯罪案持續增加，暴力、強暴、搶劫案件明顯增多，低齡化共犯多，重犯率高和外來者的比例高。75%的未成年犯是來自農村地區，過早進入了勞動力市場，處於所謂無書可讀、無業可就、無組織去管的“三無”狀態，最易誤觸法網。針對未成年的社會邊緣人，有些城市已有外國基督徒主持的青少年收容站，讓我們為這些事工和許多信徒所流失的年輕子弟禱告。

星期日
接受性賄賂已成為嚴重的社會問題，根據統計，有60%以上的領導幹部「包二奶」，包二奶不但不會被歧視，反而被視為成功的象徵。教會內的肢體也同樣面臨「包二奶」的誘惑。讓我們一起禱告，求主保守不叫人遇見試探，保守人的心甚過保守一切。

星期一
大學學費近年來大幅上漲，讓許多的農村子弟大喊吃不消。在吉林省，農民年平均收入是三千元，大學學費卻將近一萬兩千元，有1/3的農村子弟就因為學費問題而放棄學業。農村中許多肢體願意將自己獻上，至神學院或聖經學校受裝備，但是往往因為缺乏學位證明而困難重重，讓我們在禱告中記念這樣的情況，求神在乎召出自己的工人時，以喜樂與豐富的預備一步步的帶領。