Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Prayer Request 6/28--7/4


Tuesday

Those government officials who take advantage of the time before their mandatory retirement at 60 years of age to embezzle funds are called “The Corrupted 59”. Many think this is the best opportunity they will have to fatten their purses before they lose power and influence. The inability to keep one’s integrity in old age is a problem both in secular and church circles. Let us pray for tens of thousands of church workers who have risen to leadership and are handling large amounts of money .

Wednesday
Chinese companies have made several high-profile bids for American companies such as Maytag (appliance maker) and Unocal (an energy company). Unlike the Japanese and Korean companies that are flushed with cash, Chinese companies are buying foreign brands instead of developing their own brands. Chinese church leaders who have not had a denominational influence for half a century, prefer to have their own worship styles and even indigenous theologies. Let us pray for the vision of mission and adherence to Biblical principles for all Chinese churches .

Thursday
The two trains on which smuggled babies are taken to Beijing are K168 and K22. The baby-selling trade continues to thrive because of “Buy a baby for 200 yuan in poor Guangxi and sell it for 10,000 yuan in Beijing.” Poor parents sell their babies to make ends meet. In Guangxi, the few churches are usually weak. Many people have ever heard about how God gave His Son for us. Let us pray for special evangelistic efforts to being the gospel to these impoverished regions.

Friday
The first non-profit hospital in China is facing a financial crisis. Many of the patients think it is a free service and abuse the system, even refusing to pay any fee in the Shanghai Charity Hospital. Abuse of charity is an age-old Chinese problem. Many believers are accustomed to gifts and outside subsidies. Let us pray for more Chinese believers who will be generous and charitable with what God has entrusted to them .

Saturday
There were 1.5 million documented cases of induced abortions in 2002, according to officials. Nearly one quarter of them was performed on teenagers. In May, the first teen pregnancy center opened in Henan, and provided services to 30 teenagers. With teenagers experiencing sex and a lack of sex education, teen pregnancy is no longer uncommon, despite the availability of over-the-counter abortion pills. Let us pray for this alarming trend and what churches can offer .

Sunday
Government cracked down a Gonzi scam involving 500,000 people from 30 provinces. News labels it as an “Financial cult”. The scheme featured both charitable causes purportedly to help the poor villagers and promised huge return for promoting nutritional supplements. There are so many get-rich schemes in China now a day. Let us pray for the guarding of hearts of believers, from greed and temptations .

Monday
Despite the national policy of mandatory cremation, many continue the burial practice, by simply paying a “penalty” of 3000 yuans. Many also chose to pay for a much larger fine to have a “secret” second or third child, despite of one-child policy. Paying fines to circumvent the law is the way of life in China. Let us pray for believers who must deal with these ethical decisions on a daily basis .

星期二
「59歲現象」指臨近60歲的有權勢政商人物在退休之前利用權力狠撈一把的現象,被媒體喻為新世紀腐敗之最。「有權不用過期作廢」的觀念引誘人心,貪污瀆職「晚節不保」的情形不僅年輕化,也遍及各階層各行業。讓我們為眾教會的領袖同工們守望禱告,求主保守他們手潔心清,堅持抗拒瑪門的試探,在經管錢財時活出生命的見証來榮耀神。

星期三
近來中國財團頻出高價收購美國的大公司如美泰家電(Maytag),加州聯合石油(Unocal Corp)等,作風令人矚目。有別於日、韓財團的經營策略,中國人不自創品牌,反而通過收來打入市場。半世紀以來國內環境的關係,教會的領袖們能幸免涉入教派之爭,且發展出本土特色的宗教體系。讓我們為所有中國教會的異象和堅守聖經原則來禱告。

星期四
非法販賣嬰孩的交易持續火紅,在廣西可花200人民幣買個嬰孩,到北京可以10,000元高價賣出。168和 22號列車成了兩條從廣西走私嬰孩到北京的專送列車,許多家貧的父母在此與他們的親骨肉揮淚永別。廣西少數的教會多為屬靈的嬰兒,許多人甚至未聽過神賜愛子的基本福音。讓我們為該地的事工同心代禱,求主大大憐憫施恩在這片貧瘠的區域。

星期五
上海慈愛醫院是國內首家私人經營的慈善醫院,許多民眾以「貧困」之名要求減免費用,開業四個月來一直虧損。中國現行法規,限制民營醫院不能接受善款的捐助,致使醫院不堪重負。濫用慈善資源一直是許多國人的老毛病,許多信徒習慣了接受饋贈和外來補貼,再給的操練便顯得極度缺乏。讓我們求主幫助神兒女能服膺主「施比受有福」的教導,不負神要我們作光作鹽的使命。

星期六
據官方統計2002年國內人工流産總數爲149.3萬例,由於缺乏正確性教育,青少年人工流産約占四分之一。現在青少年性成熟期提前,婚前行爲導至懷孕劇增,並有低齡化趨勢。河南首家青少年意外妊娠援助中心,五月新開張以來,已接診30多個女孩。讓我們為此社會警訊代禱,也求主預備教會有能力援助青少年來防堵危害他們身心靈的時代破口。

星期日
傳銷被喻為「經濟邪教」,政府近日破獲廣西瑪雅詐騙集團,再次引起社會高度關注。打著「扶貧支農」招牌和誘人紅利來傳銷瑪雅生物霖(靈)營養液,該案有50多萬人被捲入,席捲全國30個省市區。現今國內充斥著各式誘人的致富捷徑,讓我們求主保守信徒的心能以主為滿足,遠離名利的試探,享受聖潔敬虔的得勝生活。

星期一
縱使國家嚴禁土葬政策不變,在有些地方交3,000元人民幣就可以土葬,成了不成文的“變通對策”。關於「一胎化」的生育政策,許多人也採取繳付巨額罰款來秘密養育第二或第三胎的對策。用金錢來徊避法規已成中國式生活的一部份,讓我們為國內眾信徒禱告,在每日面對各種不合神教導的試探時,能分別為聖、堅心仰望神,一一勝過。

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Prayer Request 6/21--6/27


Tuesday
More than 100 pupils, age 6-14, perished in a mud slid in Heilongjiang, after a torrential rain which was believed to be the worst in 200 years. Chinese say “Children are the future of the nation”, the same is true for the Chinese churches. But, it is nearly impossible to reach children for Christ in China. Let us pray for all the children ministries going on and the training of Sunday School teachers .

Wednesday
Tens of thousands of reporters who do not work for the official media must attend week-long courses to quality for a reporter’s license. The course will cover subjects of teaching of Marxism, Leninism, Party doctrines in addition to ethics and regulations. Compare to reporters, many pastors received much less mandatory training and have little to feed themselves spiritually. Let us continue to pray for the training and “revival” of a generation of new church workers .

Thursday
In order to deter police torture, China will use videotaping during the interrogation of criminal suspects. A top prosecutor said it is common for the accused to recant his confession during the trial so any confession obtained through torture will be considered legally invalid. We remember all those who have suffered for the Lord’s sake. We pray, too, for their families, that their children may also possess the same unwavering faith their parents have.

Friday
Every Sunday afternoon several thousands of eligible men and women fill Beijing’s Sun Yat-Sen Park in a giant ad hoc matchmaking meeting. Parents come with photos of their children to look for the “Mr. and Mrs. Right” for them. Finding a future mate God has prepared for one is not an easy thing in the church especially when girls outnumber boys. Let us remember to pray for these young people as they make this crucial decision .

Saturday
China has 120,000 ethnic minority students enrolled in thirteen special universities. This is in addition to the favored-admission quota given to ethnic minorities in regular colleges. The educational level of ethnic minorities is still far below the national average. Many believers are basically functionally illiterate which makes training of church workers very challenging. We remember again the church work as well as translation of the Bible and spiritual books for Christian .

Sunday
Since the average Chinese university student spends more than three thousand hours studying English during the four years of college, the government, hoping to improve the speaking ability of students, has introduced a new method of teaching English. English conversation classes have always been an avenue to share the gospel with young Chinese. Let us pray for a powerful witness by all who engage in English Bible study with college students .

Monday
Beijing has the largest shopping mall in the world and by 2010 it will be home to at least seven of the world’s ten largest malls. “Shop ‘til you drop” is a Chinese pastime now. Young and old all loiter in the mall to buy things and enjoy the air conditioning. With shopping vying for more of the people’s leisure time, churches are finding it difficult to attract people on Sundays. Let us pray for the guarding of the hearts of believers and especially those involved in ministries in urban centers .

星期二
黑龍江200年來罕見的豪雨釀成 117人死亡的慘劇。死者多為6-14歲的青少年,在課堂上走避洪流不及慘遭滅頂。雖然目前國內推展青少年事工的客觀條件不佳,但兒童是國家的新希望,我們除了哀悼這批不幸罹難幼苗外,也禱告神永生的盼望能臨及中國未來主人翁,並為國內兒童主日學與師資訓練守望。

星期三
在非國營媒體任職的記者們必需參加為期一週的思想課程並通過測驗以獲取記者執照。內容涵蓋馬列主義,毛鄧江等領導思想的理論等。相對於記者資格的從嚴考核,國內許多牧者在正統神學上的裝備十分薄弱,自我靈命建造也非常有限。讓我們恆切禱告,求主繼續引領所有的訓練課程和新一代同工靈命的更新、成長。

星期四
目前地方警察濫用酷刑逼供現象還是很常見,最高法院的檢察官將要求在審訊嫌犯時要現場錄像存証以遏止刑求。往後如採不當刑求手段而取得的認罪將視為無效。讓我們特別記念許多為主的緣故受苦被囚的肢體,求主親自安慰、堅固他們,也支撐他們的家庭,在生活上和靈裡都靠主剛強喜樂,讓他們的兒女薪承父母屹立不搖的信心,見証主的信實榮美。

星期五
每週日下午,在北京中山公園都有上千人出現在特别的巨型相親大會中。包括各種年齡層及知識水平的有心人,有的還是父母輩手持照片為其子女尋覓最佳配偶。國內教會裡普遍女眾男寡的情況下,要找到另一半看起來不太容易。讓我們常為這些年輕肢體代禱,願意將自己婚姻的主權完完全全地仰望神。

星期六
國內少數民族到一般高校學習,可以享受特別保留的優惠名額。目前約有120,000個少數民族學生,在13所大學裡就讀。在保護政策下,少數民族同胞的教育水平仍遠低於全國的平均值。許多少數民族信徒不識字,是培訓同工時很大的挑戰。讓我們記念少數民族教會與聖經翻譯事工,求主親賜悟性,釋放真光並引領人心歸回。

星期日
一個大學生在四年裡平均用3,000小時來學英語,教育當局希望引用一套新的教學法取代往昔重背讀應付考試的方式,以增進學生的英語會話能力。英語班向來是與青年學子分享福音的好管道。讓我們為所有參與校園英語查經班的師生禱告,求神賜下美好肢體生活見証,並以自己的話來光照尚未認識祂自己的學生。

星期一
北京現今擁有全球最大的超級商城。到2010年,估計全球前十大超商中至少會有7家以此地為家。逛到「掛了」是今日中國人休憩的寫照,老老少少到商城裡購物或吹冷氣是假日的填滿空虛人心的好選擇。求主保守眾肢體的心,能堅定地過分別為聖的生活。也以禱告與都會區的教會同工,求神得勝的旌旗領著他們來爭戰。

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Prayer Request 6/14--6/20

Tuesday
Taiwan successfully tested-fired its first cruise missile with a range of 1,000 km, which would allow much of the southeast mainland. Saber-rattling is not new in the cross-strait relation. Beijing has 700 ballistic missiles aimed at the island. There are many leadership, evangelism, music trainings and community work from Taiwan in China, especially in the coastal provinces this summer. Let us pray for their effectiveness and lasting blessing to the local churches.

Wednesday
Wal-Mart just opened its 46th store in China and plans 15 new stores this year. If the company were a country, it would be China's sixth-largest export market. It’s chief competitor is Carrefour of France which has 68 stores. Being big has important advantages. Hangzhou has the largest Chinese church in the world. seats 7,000. Let us pray for all the urban mega-churches (more than 1,000), for their effective ministry, fellowship and their witness in their cities .

Thursday
“What kind of books Chinese children love?” Harry Potters, Japanese and Korean comic and a few Chinese original. Publishers have rushed to fill and fuel the appetite for the mind and imagination of billion of youngsters. Unfortunately, Christian content for children is nearly non-existent. Many of the Western ones are either culturally inappropriate or would not meet censorship. Let us pray for Chinese Biblical content fit and designed to reach children .

Friday
Shengzhen, the special industrial zone established 20 years ago, now has the highest minimum wage for its workers, 690 yuan per month, an 80 yuan increase. This is nearly 3.5 times of national average set by the government. The constant loss of rural church workers because of extremely low wage is understandable. Let us remember all those who chose to stay and serve the poor village churches and their needs .

Saturday
More Beijing pre-school children may ride buses and get into parks for free, as the city raise the height restriction from 110 to 120 cm. The 110 cm policy has been in effect for 50 years. Chinese children are growing taller and healthier. When will we see any children in Chinese churches? Let us not give up praying for change in the government policy .

Sunday
Cankao Xiaoxi (Reference News) is the largest Chinese newspaper (2.6 million daily circulation, 8th in the world), ahead of People’s Daily (9th). Japanese newspaper led the top seven. Cankao started as a paper for Mao in the revolutionary days, and its wide coverage is read mostly by businessmen and officials. Newspapers shape the worldview of the entire China, from top to bottom. Let us pray for divine intervention in favorable coverage of churches and believers .

Monday
Government says that only 53% of population speaks Mandarin, or Putonghua and many of them who can are not frequent Mandarin users. People do not speak Mandarin, because they can get by with their own local dialect. “Chinese was invented by the Devil to prevent the spread of the Gospel” was once a joke among the early Western missionaries. Not able to communicate presents great frustration in presenting the Gospel. Let us pray for wisdom for many who are learning these often hard-to-learn dialects and the believers who use them .

星期二
台灣試射巡弋飛彈成功,有效射程高達1,000公里,涵蓋大陸東南大部份的區域。中國解放軍也有700枚導彈瞄準台灣。海峽兩岸看似寧靜,但兵戎相見的危機一觸即發。暑期許多台灣教會在沿海省份有許多領袖、宣教、音樂事工和社區關懷等陪訓,讓我們求神保守祝福他們的工作,帶給各地教會深遠的影響。

星期三
美商「沃爾瑪」第46家分店開張了,成為名符其實的「超級」連鎖店。除了販賣商品給中國人外,也自中國採購許多產品,如果沃爾瑪是一個國家,將是中國第六大出口對象。競爭對手法國的「家樂福」各地有68家大型超市。杭州擁有全球最大的華人教會,可容7,000人。讓我們為所有都會區的大型教會(千人以上) 禱告,求主賜福、使用他們的諸多資源和恩賜,落實團契生活,活出見証,嬴得人心。

星期四
中國兒童愛看什麼書?《哈利·波特》和日、韓的《冒險小虎隊》、《淘氣包馬小跳》、《窗邊的小豆豆》及古典《隋唐英雄傳》等動畫卡通高居暢銷書榜首。由於傳媒的強勢炒作,孩童們狂熱的追隨流行,毫無獨立選擇能力。目前有關基督為內容的兒童讀物亦是付闕,西方譯本不是文化背景隔閡就是難以通過審核。讓我們迫切為能充份供應兒童靈糧的編著與設計需要禱告。

星期五
七月一日起深圳最低工資調漲爲690元/月,比現行標準提高80元。這個廿年前開發的工業特區內,調整後的最低工資是法定小康標準2,400元人民幣/年的3.5倍,居全國第一。無怪乎農村教會中因過低的薪資而流失同工,讓我們時常記念許多為主忠心留在赤貧農村牧養教會的神僕們,求主豐富的供應他們的需要。

星期六
北京市日前將施行了50年的兒童票身高標準從110 公分升高為 120 cm,估計有眾多小學生在搭乘巴士和進入公園時仍將享用兒童的優待。由於國人經濟能力與營養知識的提升,當今兒童發育普遍良好。在慶幸兒童體格日益健美高大的同時,神家裡小羊羔靈性的培植和茁長誰來關注?讓我們持續為福音能公開地向下紮根來禱告。

星期日
「参考消息」最近躍升為中國第一大報。它以每日發行量260萬份,在全球排行第八,超越第九的人民日報。日本報業囊括了世界前五大。原供毛主席等領導幹部閱讀的「参考消息」創刊於1931年江西,其廣汎內容為大眾了解外部世界的管道,深受政商人士歡迎。讓我們禱告神能透過大眾傳媒預備更多淨化人心,有益教會和信徒成長的內涵。

星期一
官方的報告顯示中國人僅有53%常說國語,也是所謂的普通話.中國各區域各民族存在各種不同的方言,也是普通話普及率不高的原因之一.早年西國宣教士在學習中文時有一句玩笑話:“Chinese was invented by the Devil to prevent the spread of the Gospel” (暫譯為”中文是撒旦發明來阻擋福音的”.讓我們為了投入特定民族工場而學習當地語言的宣教士來禱告,求神格外恩膏賜下智慧,毅力及耐心來學習.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Prayer Request 6/7--6/13

Tuesday
Nestle encountered massive public relation fiasco with one of it milk powder product contained iodine which exceeds safety level. This is the first case of product safety involving a foreign brand, after strings of bogus baby formula caused severe retardation. Bible says new believers are like babes requiring milk. Let us pray for unadulterated teaching to hundreds of thousands of new believers yearly and protection from false teaching of cults .

Wednesday
“Appeal Village” is a euphemism for a slum in south Beijing, where tens of thousands come to the capital to seek justice. Residents here come from all over the country, most are victims of local corruption, sufferer of past political injustice and neglect of welfare. Police have attempted to contain the gathering without avails and locals repeatedly complain as eye sore. Let us pray for the effort of Beijing believers in providing necessities and providing counseling here .

Thursday
29,000 cases of abused women reported in Taiwan every year. Of the men who abuse their wives, 2 in 3 have been witness of physical violence on their mothers. Few churches have championed the cause for helping women who are victims of abuse. Several Christian ministries are also involved in providing shelters and counseling. Let us remember all those who demonstrate love to those who know not the love of the Heavenly Father

Friday
City of Nanjing requires all party members to report any “changes in marital relationship” or subject to disciplines. It aims to stem bribery and the rampant “mistress-harboring” phenomenon. The issue of privacy vs. the frustration to stem corruption has sparked much public debate. Let us pray for all “private lives” of believers and protection from temptations. May we all stand blameless before God .

Saturday
Government says 8% population, 104 millions are Buddhists. There are 16 thousands Buddhist temples and monasteries, and 200 thousands monks and nuns. New super-sized and elaborate temples are cropping up everywhere. Young, well-educated and wealthy, now represent the new faces of Buddhism in China. We need to pray for this development and for the badly-needed urban evangelism .

Sunday
As in the previous year, only about 50% of the 2 million college grads will find suitable jobs. 35% of grads want to work for the government or the Party, but only 3% fulfills such dream. 33% wants to work for government-owned industries, 18% wants academic-related work, only 1.3% chooses private business. Let us pray specifically the nearly 1000 who have chosen to enter seminaries to prepare for full-time ministry, especially those who have decided to honor God more than their parents .

Monday
Chinese language class is becoming popular in USA. 24,000 high school students are enrolled, plus an estimated 140,000 who are in private lessons. As more schools prepare to offer Mandarin education, they need more certified teachers. Many learn Mandarin to advance their careers. We pray for wisdom for all those who are learning with the intention to share the Gospel later and plan to live in China.

星期二
湖南長沙「雀巢金牌成長3+奶粉」超國家碘量標準約40微克。該問題奶粉已下櫃,中國「雀巢」公司承諾可退貨。這是繼假奶粉導至嬰兒成長障礙後,第一宗外國產牌涉及食品安全問題。初信肢體在靈性上也像嬰孩需要真理的哺育,讓我們禱告神源源不絕供應「純正靈奶」來餵養許多「未成年」的信徒,也保守他們有分辨的智慧,不受假教師的誤導。

星期三
北京市南區靠近「權力核心」附近有個「上訪村」。來自全國各地的上訪者就滯留在這片生活條件差,治安惡劣的違建群裡,冀望平反自己的冤屈。他們大都是地方領導濫用公權力或司法不公的受害者。公安近日驅散幾處上訪聚點,鄰近市民亦頻頻抱怨「有礙市容」。求主記念北京信徒愛心提供上訪同胞物資和關懷,也親自以慈愛救恩醫治傷痛的心靈。

星期四
據統計臺灣每年約有29,000婦女遭受婚姻暴力危害。其中92.7%即2,6803位是母親, 2/3的施暴男性表示曾在幼年時目睹自己的母親受家暴,顯示影響其性別權力意識並複製暴力模式。協助一個受暴媽媽,等於協助三個家庭新生。目前有數個基督徒設立的婚暴收容所和協談服務,求主記念他們的擺上與勞苦,並供應他們的需要,使更多不幸的婦女能信靠、享受天父的慈愛。

星期五
南京市政府為推行廉政工作,嚴禁黨員幹部和公職人員違規收賄,還要求所有幹部如婚姻狀況改變要向組織報告,以遏阻社會盛行的包“小蜜”現象。這項規定引發大眾對維護個人隱私和反腐反貪間合法性的爭議。在萎靡的世風下,讓我們仰望全然聖潔的神,保守祂眾兒女以聖潔生活為祭,遠離引誘試探、毫無瑕疵地站立主前。

星期六
中國政府報告13億人口中,佛教徒約占8% (1億400百萬人),佛教廟宇和寺院1萬6千座,20萬多名僧尼。 各處新建的超大型精雕細琢寺廟林立,中國的佛教徒正以年輕多金、受過良好教育的形象出現。我們要特別為這種趨勢禱告,求主真光照亮都會區人心的需要,也奮興眾兒女的信心,發揮光、鹽效用,為主嬴得城市。

星期日
由於結構性失業和傳統就業管道的改變,據調查今年有45%的企業招不到合適的人,50%的人找不到合適的工作。35%的應屆大學畢業生視爲首選的黨政機關工作,只有3%的人如願。33%選擇國有企業單位,18%選擇學術機構,只有1.3%選擇去私營企業。讓我們特別為1,000位選擇進入神學院,裝備全職事奉的神學生禱告,求主親自帶領他們的學習,也堅定他們選擇尊主為大的信心。

星期一
學習中文在全美已漸蔚為風尚。有24,000高中生註冊學中文,有約140,000人在民間中文班學習。中文教育需求益增,相對的也需要更多合格的師資。許多人學中文以增強職場就業實力,我們求主賜智慧和耐心給有心學中文,計畫將來要到中國宣揚福音的肢體,願主大大祝福並預備他們成為神國度合用的器皿。