Prayer Request 8/30--9/5

Tuesday
Delinquent youth aged 14 - 25 now account for seventy percent of all violent crimes committed in China. Recently there has been a dramatic increase in theft, robbery, and gang activities by youth. Historically Chinese churches have been unable to attract or reach youth. Youth workers and advisors are sadly lacking or unheard of. Let us remember the small minority of churches that have youth fellowships or Bible studies for their young people.

Wednesday
The very first group of Chinese who left Shanghai in 1872 and went abroad to study was a group of thirty teenagers sent by the Qing Dynasty to Yale University. That formally opened the door for every Chinese student to study abroad. This year a record number of Chinese students will arrive in North America, Europe, England, and Russia. Let us pray for the harvesting of this new crop as churches gear up to receive them .

Thursday
Recently a national debate focused on the affordability of medical care. Medical doctors are accepting "red packets" (red envelopes packed with money) from the families of patients. It is customary to give 3000-5000 yuan ($500. US) in order to ensure "special care". The Bible assures us that God is not partial. Let us remember all the believers who require medical care, especially all the church workers, because they are unable to afford medical insurance .

Friday
In the interior of China only four percent of the women consider themselves pretty. Chinese women desire these plastic surgery procedures the most: removing wrinkles (29%) whitening of skin (25%) facial (18%) and breast augmentaton (8%). How do the Chinese women believers see themselves, their role, and their contribution to the church? Let us pray for more women's Bible study groups and support groups for single mothers .

Saturday
How do Chinese couples say, "Till death do us part"? The current favorite wedding vows are literally "You are my heart, my liver, 75% of my life" or "You are my gut, my stomach, and the rose of my heart". During the Cultural Revolution, the newly weds sang patriotic or anti-American songs.Government says divorce rate increased by 21% last year. Let us remember all the Christians who pledge their lives together to live for Jesus .

Sunday
Shenyang's food festival featuring the "Mang Han Banquet" drew criticism for its great excess. The 196-course dinner was originally served for the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. While the living standard has greatly improved, many believers in minority groups in the Western provinces still live far below the poverty level. Let us remember the vast economic gap between the Han Chinese and believers in minority groups .

Monday
No one knows the exact number of babies that are "thrown away" every day. All these abandoned infants are either girls or have congenital deformities. Poor parents justify their actions because of high medical costs. The "one-child" policy adds to the pressure of having a healthy boy. Let us pray for all believers who have "not-so-perfect" children. For them we pray for the patience and mercy of God as they rear these children .

星期二
中國國內14至25歲的青少年犯罪率劇增，佔總犯罪數的四成四。其中有七成屬於盜竊、搶劫和傷害等暴力犯罪。許多涉罪的少年或因父母離異，或因失學、輟學流落社會或受網上暴力、色情影響，利用互聯網敲詐勒索、組織幫派。歷來中國教會未能吸引年輕人，尤缺乏針對青少年事工的牧者和同工。讓我們禱告主興起教會中的青年人團契或查經小組，餵養建造這些承接大使命的新血輪。

星期三
梁郭彥、詹天佑等３０人是1872年清廷派遣中國第一批前往美國耶魯大學的留學生，正式開啓海外留學的大門。今年又有相當數量的中國留學生湧向北美、歐洲各國和蘇聯等地深造。讓我們為這些莘莘學子在異國的生活和學業上的適應禱告。也為眾教會展開的新生接待事工仰望神，願主保守這片廣大的新禾，扎深根且結實纍纍。

星期四
當國內輿論爭議著人們是否付得起高收費的醫療保健之際，醫生收取病人家屬的紅包費漲價了是不爭的事實。一般行情是包3,000－5,000元($500美金)換得特別的關照，在大醫院裡包10,000元也不稀奇。聖經教導我們對人不可存成見，行事不可按外貌待人，讓我們為需要醫療的信徒不停代禱，尤其求神保守教會的所有同工健康，因他們的薄薪，付不起昂貴的醫療保費。

星期五
七成以上的亞洲女性仰賴他人(丈夫／伴侶)的觀點定義美麗與否，內地女性這一比例只占到15%，內地女性缺乏自信？僅4%認爲自己美麗。中國七成的女性認爲30歲前最美，45%的女性自認體重過重，八成會使用化妝品修飾自己。最熱衷的美容手術是拉皮(29%)，美白 (25%)、臉(18%)和隆胸(8%)。中國女性信徒如何看待自己、自我定位和對教會的貢獻？求主親自看顧、供應更多的婦女查經小組和單親支援小組。

星期六
據說現在大陸上最新潮的結婚誓詞是：「你是我的心，你是我的肝，你是我生命的四分之三；你是我的腸，你是我的胃，你是我心中的玫瑰。」傳統的「白頭偕老、至死不渝」早就落伍了，文革時代，結婚時都要唱一些大躍進或抗美援朝的歌。官方資料顯示去年全國離婚率又上升了21%。讓我們為信徒願意在婚姻中彼此委身，活出聖潔生活代禱。

星期日
瀋陽美食節展演「天下第一宴」的清宮御膳滿漢全席，共有冷熱葷素196道菜品， 耗資二十餘萬元人民幣。當人們生活水平大幅提昇時，西北省份許多的民眾仍處在貧窮線以下。讓我們記念存在於漢族與少數民族信徒間的貧富差距，求主感動兄弟姊妹有愛心彼此肢體相顧。

星期一
無人得知國內每天有多少棄嬰，但人數正逐年上升。他們不是女嬰就是身帶缺陷，因貧困父母無力支付醫療費用而被丟棄。在一胎化政策加上家族需健康男孩承傳的壓力下，正不停製造“棄嬰”。瀋陽市兒童福利院，僅去年收養的棄嬰就達131名。讓我們為家有「不完美」孩子的信徒來禱告，求主厚賜耐心和恩慈在撫育孩子時，能充沛將天父的大愛彰顯出來。