Prayer Request 7/26--8/1

Tuesday
China reevaluated its currency against the US dollar by two percent, following much pressure from Washington. Swelling exports and strong investments kept economic growth a higher-than-expected 9.5 percent. Currency exchange affects mission budget in many ways. Let us pray that there is more giving from the believers within China and from wealthy urban churches to rural churches

Wednesday
In May, the legislature passed legislation indicating zero tolerance for sexual harassment as well as forbidding the sex-selection technique. There are no official numbers for these problems in this nation which Mao proudly called "Women hold up half of the sky" Women pastors are common in the government churches and are the main force among the house churches. Let us remember all of them, their spiritual growth, and their families in our prayers .

Thursday
Jia Zhangke, a leading movie director, was chosen as one of the most influential men in China. A new generation of Chinese movies has swept the Western world with rave reviews. These new crops of movies have captured the emptiness of modern China and the longings of all humanity. The new China shows us a land where the heart is empty in the face of a world crazed for money. Let us pray for the mighty sweep of the Holy Spirit in the Middle Kingdom .

Friday
Chinese Internet users have now surpassed one hundred million as both young and old take to the net. The first case of internet porn has been sentenced as the crackdown continues. Microsoft also cooperated with the government in blocking off offensive content in Blog. To a large extent, Christian internet contents remain unblocked. Let us pray for more internet-based ministries and a special effort to reach young internet users .

Saturday
About one-fourth of Beijing residents are "white collar workers" who are college graduates working for private companies and making more than 2500 yuan (300 USD) a month. These people are admired by millions but face tremendous pressure in making ends meet in this expensive city. "White collar workers" make up a large number of the members of Beijing house churches. Their heavy work load and the many demands made on them cause most to be unable to serve in the churches. Let us pray that they will be dedicated and involve in church work .

Sunday
Currently China spends nearly three times the amount of the national education budget on official perks and entertainment expenses annually Education expenses are the number one worry and burden for the vast population of farmers. Many rural church workers abandon their posts because they are unable to afford educational expenses on their low salaries. Others also feel this influence and are unwilling to go to the countryside to work for the Lord. Let us remember several ministries whose goal is to subsidize educational costs in order to retain rural pastors .

Monday
Half of the companies in Taiwan accept college degrees from China, although Taiwan does not officially recognize them. Education in China is deemed an advantage since the graduates are familiar with Mainland culture and have a more expansive world-view. While many mission workers are devoting their efforts and resources to work in Mainland China, fewer than 2.5% of the Taiwan population is Christians. Let us pray for all the short term mission efforts in Taiwan this summer .

星期二
中國政府迫於美國的壓力，無預警宣布人民幣升值2％，市場預期對於亞洲貨幣看升。龐大的出口量和外資投資，預期會讓中國經濟成長率維持高於9.5%。但外幣兌換率的變更對宣教差傳經費有多方面的影響，讓我們禱告國內的弟兄姊妹願意親身經歷主耶穌施比受更為有福的教導，讓恩典從富庶的都會區流通到物資不足之處，成為神祝福流通的管道。

星期三
五月份中國通過「婦女權益保障法修正案草案」。第一次立法防止性騷擾，也禁止隨意鑒定胎兒性別或選擇性別的人工流產。在毛澤東曾高倡「女人撐起半邊天」的中國，官方並無實際侵害女權的統計數據公布。在政府公認的教會裡，女性牧師非常普遍；同時女性傳道人也是家庭教會的主力，讓我們在禱告中記念所有主的使女，求主保守她們靈命的成長和家庭和諧。

星期四
獨立電影導演-賈樟柯，被西方譽為「亞洲獨立電影耀眼的希望之光」。新一代中國電影製作以其創新手法和敏銳剖析力風行西方世界。這些新潮影片捕擷到現代中國的虛無和人類的慾求。電影讓我們看到這塊土地上人們心靈的空虛，身不由己陷溺於瘋狂追逐金錢的世界裡。求主大大潔淨復興中國，成為神賜福的國家。

星期五
老少上網人口在最近數年內將急遽上升，中國上網人數首次超過一億人。政府致力查封更多色情網站的同時，第一宗色情網站案件也進入司法程序。官方與美國微軟公司也合作聯手過濾部落格(Blog)上非法的內容。教會與機構建立的網站絕大多數仍未被列為”有害”的網站，國內的網民仍有可以自由的瀏覽這些宗教網站，讓我們求神興起更多優質的網路福音事工，特別是針對年輕網民為對象來仰望禱告。

星期六
有1/4的北京人口是「白領階級」。他們多是大學畢業生，就職於私人企業、月薪2500元以上(300美金)。這些萬人殷羨的白領人，面對首都的高物價生活也倍感壓力。「白領階級」群是北京家庭教會裡的主要成員，他們沈重的工作量和職場過多的要求，使他們無力分身在教會中服事。求主親自保守他們有智慧安排生活優先秩序，向主委身並樂意參與建造神的家。

星期日
據估中國每年用於公車和公款吃喝的支出超過6,000億人民幣，是將來延長12年免費義務教育，實際上需要增加經費的3倍。對全國廣大低收入的農民而言，每年子女的教育費用，是他們最大的困難和煩惱。許多農村教會的同工由於微薄的收入無法負擔教育經費而求去，也影響有志下鄉服事主的人裹足不前。讓我們為一些籌募津貼教育費用給同工以留住農村傳道人的事工禱告。

星期一
雖然台灣政府不承認大陸學歷，但跨海求學的臺生返台就業時，許多企業願意承認大陸學籍而錄用他們，主要原因是台生熟悉兩岸文化、具大陸資源、人脈以及具國際觀。當許多宣教工人在大陸擺上辛勞與資源領人歸主之際，請以禱告記念臺灣基督徒占總人口比例不及2.5%，許多至親手足的靈魂尚未得救。求主使用所有在臺灣的暑期福音短宣事工。