Prayer Request 10/25--10/31

Tuesday
In a dramatic step, China lifts the personal income tax cutoff point from 800 to 1600 monthly. Many consider a monthly income of 1600 near-poverty, given the skyrocketing children’s education and health-care expenses. House churches face an acute shortage of workers because many abandoned their flocks or must keep a side-business to supplement income. Let us pray for the good stewardship of believers and those who continue their calling in faith.

Wednesday
Ba Jin, an influential writer, died at the age of 100. He was part of the young intelligentsia in the early 20th century that looked to Western philosophies — Marxism, anarchism, and liberalism — for solutions to China’s backwardness and social inequality. China churches desperately need a new generation of writers and thinkers who can address the unique needs in contemporary social and cultural context. Let us pray for all the younger generation involved in writing, theology, and church leadership.

Thursday
The little-known city of Zhaozhung boasts of an avenue which is twelve lanes wide--wider than Changan Boulevard in Beijing. Nearly a third of six hundred Chinese cities have planned to be world-class cities with airports, squares, subways, and convention centers. In the future it looks as if churches well be located in medium-sized cities. Let us pray for all the churches whether open or house churches and their training of their pastors.

Friday
Ninety-four percent of Beijing's outdoor medical advertisements are illegal. Exaggerated claims for the results of treatment and misrepresentation of hospital services are the most common violations. Chinese people love to take medicine and they never question a remedy which claims to cure all ailments. Let us pray for the alarming trend in many regions that the Gospel of Christ is preached to promise a better life without having to turn away from sins.

Saturday
In the past three years Korean television dramas have captured China. Youth idolize Korean stars and the media intensely follows each episode. The government is now considering controlling this Korean cultural invasion. Thousands of Koreans who are involved in church planting and community work are also making a great impact on Chinese churches. Let us give thanks for the fervent missionary spirit of the Korean churches and pray for the safety of every Korean worker inside China.

Sunday
A ring of criminals were sentenced to death for abducting nearly 61 children in Guizhou province. Children under 5 years were stolen and sold for huge profits. 36 children remained missing. As a whole, Guizhou remains economically disadvantaged and a very hard soil for the Gospel. Let us pray for the struggling churches and the training of pastors among the house churches here .

Monday
The venerable CCTV (China Central Television) is losing many of its highly visible program presenters, personalities recognized in ordinary households and adored by billions. They quote low pay, high pressure, and restrictive employment arrangement as the reasons. The Chinese church faces the same loss of its leaders. We ask your prayers for the guarding of hearts and protection from the evil one .

星期二
個人所得稅法將有重大變革，「人大」法律及財經委員會建議將減除費用標準(起征點)由800元調整為1600人民幣。將解決中低收入者的基本生活費用稅前扣除不足問題。國內教會財務吃緊，同工放棄牧養或打多份工的情況時有所聞，工人流失的問題嚴重。讓我們求神堅固祂樸人們持續走在自己的呼召當中，並信實的供應各樣的需要，為他們在沙漠開江河、曠野開道路。

星期三
原名李堯棠的巴金，日前於上海去世，享年一百歲。他被譽為是「五四」新文化運動以來最有影響力的作家之一，致力於西方哲學思想的研究，欲找出中國落後與社會不平等現象的解決之道。中國教會目前迫切需要新一代的青年作家與思想家參與寫作、神學研究與教牧管理，願神興起合用的器皿，使他們成為當代信徒在社會文化的領航者。

星期四
目前600多個城市中有183個提出要建成國際化大都市，即使名不見經傳的小城市也以此為目標，一味的追求大規模發展。例山東棗莊是個很窮的小城，卻建造了中國最寬的12 線道馬路「光明大道」，比北京長安街還寬。讓我們在禱告中紀念中國的各教會，能有因應城市規劃的智慧與策略，將福音傳揚給更多未得之民。

星期五
北京有將近百分之九十四的醫療廣告不合法，誇大不實的治療成效與醫療項目，是最常違規的兩項。中國人看病一定要拿藥，卻鮮少有人詢問處方內容，同樣的在傳講福音時，也常只傳更美好的人生，不講認罪悔改的真理。神的羔羊，除去世人的罪孽，是唯一的福音。祈求聖靈作責備並使肢體們願意悔改，真正認識祂的救恩，背起十字架來天天跟隨主，傳講神的福音。

星期六
韓劇已經成功的擄獲中國觀眾的心，年輕人模仿韓劇明星的穿著打扮，媒體更是爭相報導韓劇的內容。政府開始考慮要加以管制，避免韓國文化的大舉入侵。在中國，數千名韓國人積極地投入教會植堂與社區工作中，帶來廣大的影響，讓我們為著韓國教會在宣教事工上大發熱心獻上感恩，也求神保守這些韓籍同工們的出入平安。

星期日
日前貴州法院將拐賣兒童的多名犯罪份子判處死刑。過去一年多，貴州安順兩地先後有61名五歲以下的兒童神秘失蹤。這些歹徒將手中的幼童轉售以謀取巨額暴利，目前仍有36名兒童下落不明。與其他地方相比，貴州是處於經濟上的弱勢，當地人民的心也較少對福音敞開。讓我們在禱告中紀念當地教會的需要，求神保守師資的培訓與物資的供應。

星期一
中國中央電視台近來流失了許多家喻戶曉的王牌主持人，他們的個人風格深受億萬觀眾的愛戴。「薪資低、壓力高，還有嚴苛的任用規條」是他們離職的理由。華人教會也也因類似的情況面臨流失人才的困境，我們需要您切切為國度工人的忠心來守望禱告，求神的大能護衛他們不受那惡者的攪擾，且能隨著主得勝的旌旗勇往直前，嬴回手足同胞失喪的靈魂。