Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Prayer Request 11/29--12/05

Tuesday
Explosions at a chemical plant in Harbin contaminated the water supply of Heilongjiang province and are threatening neighboring Russia. Water supply to more than 3 million-plus residents in the city was turned off, and panic ensued. Churches in the northeast region of China are not in the news often, but they have come under attack of poisonous cult teaching of the Eastern Lightning in the past 2 years. Let us remember their fervent love for the Lord even in the season of bitter cold .

Wednesday
Bird flu hit Heishan, Liaoning, the “chicken coop” of China, which exports a third of eggs consumed nationwide. This week, the government shut down a drug company which manufactured millions of fake doses of antiviral medicine intended for bird flu. Many well-meaning intellectuals see Christianity as the cure of social ills. Let us pray for a genuine repentance of believers and seekers alike, and not merely a panacea for moral decay .

Thursday
The Chinese government wants to improve the safety of food stuffs. The most common problems are deceptive labeling, illegal additives, and under-stated weights. Nearly 50% of the products weigh less than claimed but 40% of rural customers still buy cheaper rather than quality goods. Occult and heretical teachings abound. Many believers have been deceived until it is too late and the church is destroyed. Let us remember those who have fallen victims to the Eastern Lightning cult.

Friday
In order to see a doctor, people are paying up to thirty times the official fee for scalpers who stand in line for registration. Without connections, seeing a doctor means a long, long wait in most hospitals and clinics. In many churches, getting there early rewards one the privilege to worship in the main sanctuary while late-comers must sit patiently in packed rooms watching closed-circuit TV. Let us remember all who worship in spirit and in truth in the Open churches .

Saturday
In urban areas "halal" Muslim restaurants have replaced the mosque as the social center of the Hui minority. While most of the Hui are in the Northwest, 800,000 Hui live in Henan, the province which claims the most Christians.Very little evangelistic effort is directed at Hui people and the government policy also restricts it. Let us pray for the opportunity and for Chinese believers to be willing to share the gospel with the Hui .

Sunday
In China, it is illegal to employ children under sixteen and companies involved in foreign trade usually avoid such practices. However, in poor families where the typical monthly income is about US$80, every child must earn his keep even though it means being treated unfairly. If they do not continue in school, working is the only option for children. Let us pray for the faith and health of all young believers who must work to supplement their family incomes .

Monday
115,000 Chinese students went overseas in 2004. The USA, England, and Germany are the leading destinations for all foreign students. One in ten persons in Germany is a foreign student. As Christmas draws near, host families will be inviting students to spend time with them. There will be church celebrations and winter retreats for Chinese students. Let us pray that many will come to know Jesus through these activities .

星期二
日前黑龍江省的吉林雙苯化學工廠爆炸,污染了松花江水源,哈爾濱市政當局下令停水四天,引起三百萬市民紛紛搶著買水的大恐慌。含苯污水經松花江匯入黑龍江後將擴散入俄國,也引起俄國政府高度關切。東北地區的教會經常為人所忽略,在過去兩年,深受異端「東方閃電」的毒害與影響,讓我們在禱告中紀念當地的信徒,雖身在嚴峻的物質與精神條件下,仍能靈裡火熱,為真理大發熱心。

星期三
H5N1亞型禽流感襲擊遼寧省黑山縣,八道壕鎮養殖戶出现家禽病死现象。黑山縣為全國有名的蛋雞大縣,雞蛋的出口占全省的三分之一。經專家鑑定,疫區群眾曾使用過內蒙古生物藥品廠生產預防禽流感的假疫苗,政府已勒令該工廠停業。許多知識分子視基督信仰為拯救中國社會問題的萬靈丹,讓我們為中國的信徒與慕道者禱告,求主引導他們清楚認識與真實經歷神。

星期四
政府希望改善食物流通的安全品管措施,目前國內食品安全控制存在一些薄弱環節,主要是標籤不符、添加劑超過標準,有將近五成的產品與包裝不符且缺斤少兩。但超過四成的農村消費者購買食品仍以價格便宜為優先。在精神層面上,異端與邪教也大量存在於中國,許多信徒被矇騙、教會甚至因此關門。讓我們特別為「東方閃電」所迷惑的會友禱告,求主純全的救恩能及時淨化人心。

星期五
為了縮減看醫生的時間,許多民眾選擇付上將近三十倍的掛號費給黃牛,換取號碼牌,如果沒有管道,就必須花上漫長的時間在大醫院與診所排隊。在許多教會,唯有提早才能有機會在大會敬拜,晚來的信徒就只能在其他的房間看同步視訊。讓我們紀念所有在教會的信徒,用心靈與誠實來敬拜主。

星期六
回族的「清真餐館」逐漸取代了清真寺,成為回族文化社交的中心。回族是中國55個少數民族之一,散居全國、分布最廣。絕大部分居于中國西北,即使在基督徒最多的河南省,仍有八十多萬的回民。基督的福音很難打入回民之中,政府政策也有諸多限制。求主預備機會,讓信徒能在合適的機會向回族分享基督信仰的真理與救恩。

星期日
雖然明文規定禁止雇用未滿十六歲的童工,但除了外商貿易公司之外,非法雇用童工的情況在中國屢見不鮮。許多家庭貧困的兒童,為生計問題早早踏入社會,經常受老闆苛薄對待,每個月收入至多不過是600多元人民幣,他們無法繼續求學,人生唯一出路就是日以繼夜出賣勞力。讓我們為著肩負經濟重擔的廣大年輕勞工群基督徒禱告,求主親自看顧、扶持他們。

星期一
中國出國留學人數是270萬,已高居世界首位。於2004年度就多達11萬5千人,以美國、英國與德國為留學的首選。德國的外籍留學生已經占該國人口的十分之一,而其中8.9%為中國留學生。隨著聖誕節的到來,寄宿家庭將會邀請留學生共度佳節,各地教會也有慶祝或營會等活動,求主使用並祝福每一場聚會,順利播下福音種子,並能發芽滋長。

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Prayer Request 11/22--11/28

Tuesday
Bush bicycled in Beijing, his second time since 1975, when he was a college student. He also attended a service and listened to a lady pastor preach “Love is tolerance, trust and perseverance” from the Book of Corinthians. Bush urged Chinese leaders to allow freedom of worship and the printing of the Bible. May the Lord grant a spiritual revival that is greater than the economic miracle witnessed in the past 30 years .

Wednesday
A nation-wide population sampling of one percent of the people in China is underway to get answers for nearly a hundred questions on income, education, marriage, health, and work. The government reassures people of confidentiality in this project. The government does not plan to ask about religion so again, there is no way to know how many Christians there are in China. Let us lift up daily all the believers. God knows each one of them .

Thursday
The Jitong railway, a 567-mile line in Inner Mongolia, is the last steam-powered railroad in the world but it will be replaced by new diesel trains this month. Since the re-opening of Mongolia, Christian churches there have witnessed exciting growth. Mongolian believers do not have the opportunity to search the Scriptures at a deeper level because of a lack of translated Christian materials there. Let us pray for the project of translating commentaries and training materials .

Friday
A heavy truck killed 21 students and teachers jogging on the roadside in Qinyaun, Shanxi where Mao repeatedly praised the people for their heroic efforts in resisting the Japanese in 1944. Churches in Shanxi need much prayer because of the shortage of faithful workers and more training for those who are working. Let us also pray for the opportunity for believers to witness and comfort the grieving families .

Saturday
Is there a sexual revolution in China? There are a reported 20,000 sex shops opened since 1993 and an estimated two million sex workers as well as the common practice of college women of giving themselves as prostitutes. Where is China headed? Some experts have called for the legalization of prostitution. Let us pray for the guarding of eyes and hearts of all believers .

Sunday
Which city do foreigners favor--Shanghai or Hong Kong? Shanghai offers many important advantages for those doing business in China, especially for those who are maneuvering through government regulations. Let us remember the many vibrant and active fellowship groups in Shanghai formed by foreign, Taiwanese and Hong Kong businessmen as well as Christian entrepreneurs who have returned from abroad .

Monday
Qiongyao, a long time Taiwan romance novelist, is ranked as the most influential and popular by college students. In all her fairytale-like love stories, love always triumphs despite all adversities. While the young atheistic intellectuals embrace romantic love, they don't know the great love of God. Let us pray for the writing and publishing of literature aimed at college students .

星期二
布希20日訪問中國時,特意安排騎腳踏車遊北京,重溫30年前的舊夢,他也參加教會的崇拜,並聆聽女傳道主日信息–哥林多前書:「愛是恆久忍耐、凡是包容、凡是相信、愛是永不止息。」布希呼籲中方給人民更多的宗教自由,以及印製聖經的自由。願主親自挑旺中國屬靈復興的火炬,創造比過去三十年經濟改革影響力更大的奇蹟。

星期三
全國1%人口抽樣調查於十一月初正式啟動。調查員以家庭為單位,詢問關於收入、教育、婚姻、健康、職業等百餘項問題,政府也保證調查數據只作為參考資料,不會公開。因宗教信仰,未涵括在抽樣調查的問題項目中,現今中國信徒的人數究竟有多少仍無法確知。讓我們每天都以禱告托住所有的信徒,神認識他們也深知他們的需要。

星期四
奔馳於內蒙古,全長567英哩的「集通線」列車,是世界上唯一仍在運行的蒸氣火車。近日內將被新式的柴油內燃機火車頭所取代。自從內蒙重新開放後,值得感恩的是,不論內蒙或外蒙的教會,都有明顯的增長。但由於屬靈書籍母語翻譯本的不足,蒙古信徒無法更深入明白聖經真理。讓我們為著更多書籍與訓練材料的翻譯來禱告。

星期五
山西沁源縣一輛帶掛車的大貨車衝撞到公路上跑步的學生群中,造成20名學生和一名教師遇難。沁源軍民於1944年二次大戰中,奮勇抵抗日軍的英勇事蹟,也曾多次獲毛澤東讚許為抗日楷模。目前山西教會正面臨同工的短缺,服事同工也需要更多的裝備與訓練。讓我們以禱告記念當地教會的需要,也求神讓信徒有機會安慰罹難者家屬。

星期六
性革命是否已經在中國悄悄展開了?於1993年迄今,合法登記的情趣用品店已達二萬間,性工作者估計至少有2百萬,其中不乏女大學生從事「援助交際」。中國的未來該何去何從?也有學者提倡性產業的合法化。讓我們為這個曾是以道德貞潔為美的國家禱告,求主保守所有信徒的眼目和心懷意念不受誘惑,過聖潔得勝的生活。

星期日
上海與香港,哪一座城市是外國人的最愛?針對在中國投資的商人,上海尤其在相關方面提供了利多與優惠。上海有許多積極活躍的團契與聚會,是外國人、台商、港商與海歸企業家所成立的,讓我們在禱告中紀念這些聚會,不但彼此有美好的交通與團契生活,更能在社會中做光做鹽,成為為主發光的燈檯。

星期一
在台灣知名愛情小說家瓊瑤筆下,愛情是可以勝過一切的困難與挑戰,她的小說不僅深受當今大學生的喜愛與歡迎,更深深影響了一代人的價值觀。可惜當年輕無神論的知識分子張開雙臂擁抱浪漫愛情時,卻不認識愛的源頭–上帝及祂永恆之大愛。讓我們用禱告紀念以大學生為寫作對象的事工,不論是寫作、印刷或出版,願主透過文字讓他們認識並經歷最奇妙之愛。

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Prayer Request 11/15--11/21

Tuesday
English teaching is booming as a commercial enterprise. One Shanghai company has 800,000 students in 20 cities. English learning is not limited to students, but adults too. Teaching English can be a big money maker and a very effective way for personal evangelism. Let us remember all who are in China teaching English with the sole purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus .

Wednesday
Shenzhen, an economic miracle, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Among its population of twelve million people, eighty percent are laborers who have no legal residents and whose children have no educational privileges. Millions work long hours in factories with only one day off each week. Let us pray for the spiritual life of those who are believers but have not found fellowship and a place of worship .

Thursday
Leading Chinese thinkers assert that China today is at its worst state in all the years of its history. They recommend the revival of teachings of Confucius. More than five million children now study Confucian texts and recite ancient poetry. "Confucius for a confused China"? Let us pray for the opening of an opportunity to share the gospel and the preparation of believers for evangelism when that day comes .

Friday
People who are now in their forties in China had their lives hijacked by the Cultural Revolution. The studies of both high school and college students were aborted. Many of the residents of the cities were "sent down" to the countryside to work as peasants or were sent to reform camps. We take this time to remember those who suffered through the persecution, especially the tens of thousands who were forced to either denounce their faith publicly or face miserable persecution .

Saturday
Some Han Chinese have set up false residency in Qinghai Province to get into a good university and take advantage of the bonus points provides for educationally-disadvantaged provinces. Nearly a fourth of this sparsely populated providence (5.2 million) in Northeast China is Tibetan. Let us pray for the slow but steady work of building simple houses for the poor and distributing Tibetan Bibles here .

Sunday
Ten percent of the Chinese in China (130 million) are sixty years old or older. About 99.5% of these seniors do not engage in activities other than cooking, watching television, and caring for grandchildren. Seniors as a group are largely ignored in churches in China with few programs and little training specifically for them. We take this time to remember all those seniors who actively serve in every church .

Monday
Chinese merchants were the unintended victims of racial riots in a Paris suburb where there are thousands of Chinese stores and warehouses located near districts where radial tension is high. There are many Chinese churches in Paris serving hundreds of thousands of restaurant workers and merchants, many of whom are from Wenzhou. Let us pray for outreach work to Chinese students throughout France as well as to these restaurant workers and merchants.

星期二
英語教學是目前中國發展最紅火的商業。上海的一家連鎖英語中心分別在廿個城市共有80萬名學生。學英語並不限於學生,大人也熱衷參與。教英文不僅在金錢上的報酬豐厚,同時也是有效傳福音的途徑。讓我們為在國內從事英語教學的信徒禱告,求主親自引導他們,無論在教學或生活上都能見証主的榮耀。

星期三
深圳日前歡慶經濟特區成立25週年,為中國發展帶來輝煌耀眼的成績。總人口有1,200多萬的深圳市,戶籍居民只有171萬,農民工佔了人口的80%。這群外來的農民工大多長期超時工作,而且僅得本地人一半的薪資,子女就學還必須繳納借讀費。讓我們為農民工信徒禱告,特別紀念尚未找到適當團契與聚會地點的肢體,求主親自堅立他們的屬靈生活。

星期四
中國一些學者提出「儒教治國論」。他們認為傳統價值的淪喪,社會正處在150年來最危險的平衡狀態中。權貴精英相互勾結,剝削和壓迫老百姓,造成腐敗與社會不公,唯有儒家思想才能重建道德與社會標準。目前已有超過五百萬名學童背頌論語。中國社會究竟需要什麼?讓我們為中國能公開傳講福音禱告,也求主預備每一位信徒,當機會到來,就成為神福音的使者。

星期五
四十幾歲的這一代中國人,在年少求學時期經歷了文化大革命,全國所有學校停課,在「上山下鄉」運動中,許多知識青年被下放到鄉村務農或是進行勞改。讓我們紀念曾在文革中遭受迫害的數百萬中國人民,不論是公開遭受批鬥,或是被迫否認信仰者,願從神而來的恩典親自成為他們的安慰,幫助他們身心靈都得到醫治和重建。

星期六
青海省近年來成為「高考移民」流入的重點地區之一。由於該省高考錄取分數相對較低,且有加分保送等優惠,許多人為考取一流大學,選擇用假戶口等不法的方式,到教育不普及地區應考。青海省總人口數僅有520萬,其中四分之一為藏人。讓我們為著當地拓展不易的福音工作禱告,不論是為貧戶搭建簡單的房屋,或者是發送藏文版聖經,都求主保守堅立這些福音工作。

星期日
年滿六十歲以上的中國人約有一億三千萬名,占總人口數的百分之十。煮飯、看電視、照顧孫兒女,幾乎已成為99.5%年長者生活內容的全部。在教會中,年長者一直是長期被忽略的群體,甚少專為他們需要而設計的相關團契、資源和訓練。讓我們在禱告中紀念目前仍持續活躍於教會服事的長輩們,求主充份供應他們的需要。

星期一
連日來在巴黎郊區暴動中,中國商人也慘遭池魚之殃。在離暴動中心最近的歐拜赫維利耶(AUBERVILIER)街區,座落著上千家華人進出口批發商店面與工廠。近年來巴黎許多華人教會紛紛的建立,為了服事成千上萬餐飲從業人員與商人。讓我們在禱告中紀念當地教會的各類型福音事工,不論是針對中國留學生、餐飲從業者、或商人,願聖靈大能帶領更多人歸主。

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Prayer Request 11/8--11/14

Tuesday
"Virtual Cohabitation" has become very popular with the white-collared working class and college students in China. This allows them to share a home complete with a pet and a marriage certificate. Is this generation heading the way of the people at the time of the Cultural Revolution touting the "One cup of water" philosophy (guilt-free intimacy) which was popular then? We need to pray much for this generation of Chinese .

Wednesday
11 provinces will begin to allow rural labors to be residents in their city (hukou system). This will give nearly eighty-seven million migrant workers legal residence in the city. Such a move will resolve legal issues regarding housing, labor, insurance, medical care, and education for children. It will also hasten the exodus of the rural population and potentially further weaken rural house churches. Let us pray for rural believers in cities to find a place of fellowships and worship .

Thursday
The pressure forced on them to study by the schools is the main cause of unhappiness for Chinese students. Half of the fourth graders worry about entrance exams for middle school. By sixth grade the number has increased to sixty-four percent. Christian parents tend to limit their children's activities in the churches fearing they will not have enough time to study. Let us pray for faith and trust in God for all the parents whose children will be taking entrance exams next year .

Friday
The leading cause of deaths among college students is suicide. Nearly 700 students attempt suicide daily. Inability of coping with setbacks and academic disappointments of the “One-child generation” and poor parenting skill (70% of families) are the reasons. Campus ministries cannot possibly reach every student, but let us pray that even some students will hear the good news of Jesus in the time of despair .

Saturday
Nearly half of urban, middle-income married Chinese men have extra-marital affairs. Among the divorced (both male and female) nearly two-thirds have committed adultery. A recent scientific survey confirmed this long-recognized trend. Let us pray for a guarding of the heart among the believers. Traveling alone is the biggest temptation and trap for itinerant church workers .

Sunday
All over China, internet police cracked down on the wide-spread "naked video conversation" and online porn which targets youth. People are encouraged to report to www.cyberpolice.cn Online porn and gambling as well as Christian content are closely monitored by Public Security. Let us pray for wisdom and discernment for the hundreds of thousands of employees of the cyber police division.

Monday
More than a third of China's 573,000 orphans do not receive any financial help or even basic medical care and education. Eighty-six percent of orphans live in rural areas. The "luckiest" ones are the tens of thousands who are adopted out overseas. Jesus said that what we do for the smallest of these we do for Him. Let us remember those Christians who strive to be foster parents and all the orphanages administered by Christian agencies .


星期二
「網絡同居」在中國受到白領階層與大學生的歡迎,虛擬網路城市裡,只要情投意合就可以在虛擬世界裡登記結婚、裝修房子、飼養寵物,甚至生兒育女。這一代,正是中國社會的中間分子,比起成長於「一杯水主義」(意指男女之間發生親密行為如共用同一杯子喝水般)時期的上一代人更前衛,他們開放的性觀念,切切影響著整個中國社會未來的走向。讓我們特別在禱告中記念這個年齡層。

星期三
中國十一個省份將開放外來打工的農民工擁有當地居民的身分。這一改變將使八千七百萬的農民工獲得合法的市民身分,也解決了關於購屋、勞工雇用、保險、醫療照護、甚至子女教育等問題。這一政策也將加速農村人口的外移,衝擊農村教會日趨薄弱,讓我們在禱告中紀念所有的進入城市工作的農村信徒,願他們找尋到合適的教會與團契生活。

星期四
青少年調查顯示:中國學童不快樂的最主要原因,是來自龐大的升學壓力。五成的小學四年級生已經開始擔心往後的中學入學考試;在六年級學生當中,比率上升至百分之六十四。中國父母常會不自覺的限制孩子在教會的活動時間,擔心孩子因而沒時間唸書。讓我們為明年有孩子參加升學考試的父母禱告,求主堅立他們的信心, 並能夠完全的信靠神。

星期五
自殺高居中國大學生死亡原因排行榜的首位,每日約有700名大學生企圖自殺。由於這一代青年都是家中獨生子女,缺乏勇氣面對困難與學業上挫折,加上父母過於保護,有80%的教育方式近不合格,是造成的主要原因。讓我們在禱告中紀念這些有需要的大學生,或許校園學生事工未能接觸到每一位大學生,但求主在他們灰心失望時,就有福音的好消息及時臨到他們,看見生命中的盼望。

星期六
「婚外情」已成為中國社會中的嚴重問題。中國性醫學專家的調查報告中指出:在知識層次高、收入中上等、居住在大城市的已婚男性中,將近一半有過婚外情;在離婚人口中,無論男女,曾發生婚外情的比例更高達三分之二。讓我們在禱告中紀念所有的信徒,特別是為必須獨自商務旅行或出外從事福音工作者禱告,不叫他們遇見試探,保守他們的心甚過保守一切。

星期日
中國政府全面打擊利用聊天室、論壇、即時通信軟體、電子郵件等方式的「裸聊」與線上情色活動,鼓勵人民勇於在網路警察網站上舉報,一經証實將以傳播淫穢物品罪懲處。無論是氾濫的色情、賭博網站或者是正派的基督教網站,同樣地都被相關單位密切監控中。讓我們為數十萬網路警察來禱告。

星期一
中國的57萬3千名孤兒中,超過三分之一是沒有獲得任何政府的財政補助,甚至連最基本的醫療照顧與教育都沒有。百分之八十六以上的孤兒住在農村地區,而所謂最幸運的一群則是被國外人士領養的孩童。耶穌說我們做在最小的弟兄姊妹身上,就是做在祂身上了,讓我們紀念領養、監護小孩的基督徒父母,和由基督教機構所支持的育幼院事工。

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Prayer Request

Tuesday
Xingjiang has become the hotspot for AIDS in China since eighty percent of the drug users there are infected. Chinese health experts who gathered in Chongqing said that the worst case scenario would be to have ten million people HIV-infected by 2010. In this area drug abusers and Muslim militants are a headache for the officials. Let us pray for the safety of believers, an outreach to Muslims and the vibrant ministry to college students .

Wednesday
A hundred and fifty thousand contestants participated in Super Girls, a singing contest based on “American Idols”. A dream of instant stardom fanned the phenomenal popularity of this TV program. Church choirs are mostly found in the Three-self churches and in Wenzhou. Let us remember all the church choirs as they lead the congregations in worship .

Thursday
Is the Chinese TV audience too gullible? Beijing television stations and advertisers have been thrown into disarray by a new ban on celebrity advertising which applies to endorsing of health foods, medicines, and cosmetics. Several large house church groups have suffered splits over their leadership in the past two or three years. Let us pray specifically for believers whose leaders are charismatic.

Friday
The People's Liberation Army will trim 200,000 from its ranks in the final three months of 2005. This massive army of 2.3 million is now half the size it was in 1985. China's newest and most urgent security threats are from the militant Islamic movement and the minority separatist movement in Xingjian. Let us pray for salvation of this huge army and the millions of veterans. Years of military indoctrination make them hard soil for the gospel message but the common sense of disappointment prepares them for the Message of the Savior .

Saturday
The Saipan islands in the Pacific Ocean used to be bustling centers for manufacturing clothing. They employed up to thirty thousand Chinese female laborers. However, since China joined the WTO, factories have faced stiff competition from China accompanied by economic uncertainty. Hundreds of workers came to know Jesus and received Bible training in Saipan and returned to their home villages. Let us pray for the mission work in there and the workers who have returned home to serve the Lord .

Sunday
A small village of 2075 population in Taishi, Guangdong is making big news. What started as four hundred villagers petitioning to remove the village head for embezzlement has turned into an ongoing “fight for democracy” as villagers clash with riot police. Villages that have corrupt officials are difficult places to live. Let us pray for believers and churches located in areas where officials are unfriendly to the Lord Jesus Christ .

Monday
The Suicide Hotlines in Beijing get over twenty thousand calls monthly but are able to respond to only fifteen percent of them. Suicide is common among the elderly, some of whom don't want to burden their children with their financial or health problems. Loneliness is the most common complaint even in this society which respects old age. Let us pray for those who show the love of Christ through nursing homes and health clinics .

星期二
在新疆,有八成的毒品使用者感染愛滋病,在重慶開會的健康專家學者們表示,最嚴重的情況是到2010年,會有將近一千萬人感染HIV愛滋病毒。新疆地區的藥物濫用者與恐怖份子一直是官方最頭痛的兩群人物,讓我們為當地信徒的身心靈都得以平安康健禱告,也為著當地接觸回民和大學學生的事工禱告。

星期三
由湖南電視台推出的超級女聲歌唱比賽,成為少女們一圓明星夢的最好跳板,吸引了近15萬人報名參賽,也成為風靡全中國最受矚目、的娛樂節目。在中國,只有部分地區的教會有詩班,讓我們在禱告中紀念所有教會詩班的事奉,求主使用他們帶領會眾,用心靈和誠實來敬拜主。

星期四
中國觀眾很容易受騙嗎?由於名人代言的產品問題層出不窮,日前北京電視台與廣告廠商被告知,禁止名人為健康食品、藥品和化妝品等拍攝廣告代言。過去兩、三年來,部分大型教會因帶領者路線不同以致於有分裂的危機。讓我們特別為教會領袖走靈恩路線的信徒們來禱告,願聖靈和聖經中祂自己的話語成為風暴中的領路者。

星期五
人民解放軍的第十次裁軍行動—裁員20萬將進入最後衝刺階段,目前人民解放軍共有230萬名,已經是1985年總員額的一半。現階段中國政府所面臨最嚴重的安全威脅,是回教極端恐怖份子與疆獨運動。軍人雖然多年的軍事訓練,使得心裡剛硬難接受福音,然而軍旅生涯與現實富裕生活間的衝擊所帶來的失望,卻使他們更需要福音,讓我們為廣大的解放軍與上百萬的退伍軍人來禱告。

星期六
太平洋上的塞班島曾經是繁忙的成衣工業中心,至少有三萬名以上的中國女工在製衣廠裡工作。但是隨著中國加入世貿,將為成衣業帶來嚴重的競爭威脅。有上百名女工,因到塞班工作而認識主、接受聖經裝備,但因合約到期而必須返回家鄉,讓我們在禱告中紀念這群信主返家後的姊妹,願她們成為多人的祝福,也為著塞班當地的宣教事工代禱。

星期日
人口僅有2075名的廣東番禺太石村,日前由四百村民請願罷免貪污的村委會主任幹部,甚至爆發了嚴重的警民衝突,成為一件轟動全國為民主而戰的大新聞。由腐敗官員所治理的村落不易生存,這是請願最主要的原因。同樣的,許多地區的官員,對於基督信仰也是抱持不友善的態度,讓我們在禱告中紀念那些的信徒與教會。

星期一
北京「心理危機與干預中心」的免費諮詢專線,每月接到超過兩萬通的諮詢電話,但僅能對其中百分之十五的電話進行追蹤關懷。許多老人為了不讓財務與健康問題造成兒女的困擾,選擇以自殺的方式結束生命。即便在強調尊老尊賢的中國社會,寂寞仍然是年長者經常的抱怨,讓我們特別為從事護理與健康照護的信徒來禱告,盼望他們成為神的愛的分享者與見證者。

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Prayer Request 11/1--11/7

Tuesday
Xingjiang has become the hotspot for AIDS in China since eighty percent of the drug users there are infected. Chinese health experts who gathered in Chongqing said that the worst case scenario would be to have ten million people HIV-infected by 2010. In this area drug abusers and Muslim militants are a headache for the officials. Let us pray for the safety of believers, an outreach to Muslims and the vibrant ministry to college students .

Wednesday
Why are the Korean TV dramas so popular in China? One common answer is that they are culturally close using traditional Confucian values set in contemporary urban settings. They extol filial love and present simple love stories with great sacrifices and dedication.

Thursday
Is the Chinese TV audience too gullible? Beijing television stations and advertisers have been thrown into disarray by a new ban on celebrity advertising which applies to endorsing of health foods, medicines, and cosmetics. Several large house church groups have suffered splits over their leadership in the past two or three years. Let us pray specifically for believers whose leaders are charismatic.

Friday
The People's Liberation Army will trim 200,000 from its ranks in the final three months of 2005. This massive army of 2.3 million is now half the size it was in 1985. China's newest and most urgent security threats are from the militant Islamic movement and the minority separatist movement in Xingjian. Let us pray for salvation of this huge army and the millions of veterans. Years of military indoctrination make them hard soil for the gospel message but the common sense of disappointment prepares them for the Message of the Savior .

Saturday
The Saipan islands in the Pacific Ocean used to be bustling centers for manufacturing clothing. They employed up to thirty thousand Chinese female laborers. However, since China joined the WTO, factories have faced stiff competition from China accompanied by economic uncertainty. Hundreds of workers came to know Jesus and received Bible training in Saipan and returned to their home villages. Let us pray for the mission work in there and the workers who have returned home to serve the Lord .

Sunday
After paying forty thousand yuan for “document fees”, many Chinese flocked to Malaysia to find work, only later to discover that the claims were false and there was no work to be had. Although the government has not sentenced them to the mandatory punishment for illegal workers, Chinese are being expelled.Let us pray for those churches that have expanded their ministries to the increasing number of Mandarin-speaking Chinese and their testimonies to their Muslim neighbors .

Monday
The Suicide Hotlines in Beijing get over twenty thousand calls monthly but are able to respond to only fifteen percent of them. Suicide is common among the elderly, some of whom don't want to burden their children with their financial or health problems. Loneliness is the most common complaint even in this society which respects old age. Let us pray for those who show the love of Christ through nursing homes and health clinics .

星期二
在新疆,有八成的毒品使用者感染愛滋病,在重慶開會的健康專家學者們表示,最嚴重的情況是到2010年,會有將近一千萬人感染HIV愛滋病毒。新疆地區的藥物濫用者與恐怖份子一直是官方最頭痛的兩群人物,讓我們為當地信徒的身心靈都得以平安康健禱告,也為著當地接觸回民和大學學生的事工禱告。

星期三
為什麼韓劇在中國可以如此風靡?最普遍的答案是,因為韓劇的文化背景與中國儒家文化相近,在當代故事的背景下,以簡單卻甘願犧牲奉獻的愛情故事為包裝,並表現出對子女孝順長輩的推崇。相反的,中國電視劇卻充斥著婚外情與一夜情,所謂的傳統文化意涵只會在歷史劇中呈現。讓我們為著韓劇所帶來正面與積極的影響來禱告。

星期四
中國觀眾很容易受騙嗎?由於名人代言的產品問題層出不窮,日前北京電視台與廣告廠商被告知,禁止名人為健康食品、藥品和化妝品等拍攝廣告代言。過去兩、三年來,部分大型教會因帶領者路線不同以致有分裂的危機,讓我們特別為這些教會領袖走靈恩路線的信徒來禱告,願聖靈和聖經中祂自己的話語成為風暴中的領路者。

星期五
人民解放軍的第十次裁軍行動—裁員20萬將進入最後衝刺階段,目前人民解放軍共有230萬名,已經是1985年總員額的一半。現階段中國政府面臨最嚴重的安全威脅,是回教極端份子與疆獨運動。軍人雖受多年的軍事訓練,使得心裡剛硬難以接受福音,然而軍旅生涯與現實富裕生活間的衝擊所帶來的失望,卻使他們更需要福音,讓我們為廣大的解放軍與上百萬的退伍軍人來禱告。

星期六
太平洋上的塞班島曾經是繁忙的成衣工業中心,至少有三萬名以上的中國女工在製衣廠裡工作。但是隨著中國加入世貿,將為成衣業帶來嚴重的競爭威脅。有上百名女工到塞班工作因而認識主、接受聖經裝備,但因合約到期而必須返回家鄉,讓我們在禱告中紀念這群信主返家後的姊妹,願她們成為多人的祝福,也為著塞班當地的宣教事工代禱,。

星期日
儘管馬來西亞政府將引進中國勞工的大門封得很緊,但還是有一批又一批的中國勞工進入大馬打工,他們在支付四萬人民幣的介紹及手續費之後,到達當地才發現仲介的說明都是虛構的,也找不到工作。幸好警方並未按規定將他們處以鞭刑,只是直接遣返大陸。目前多數馬國教會為接觸更多來自中國的群眾,開闢了華語事工,讓我們以禱告來支持他們,也求主讓們並在穆斯林信徒中做美好的見證。

星期一
北京「心理危機與干預中心」的免費諮詢專線,每月接到超過兩萬通的諮詢電話,但僅能對其中百分之十五的電話進行追蹤關懷。義﹔許多老人為了不讓財務與健康問題造成兒女的困擾,選擇以自殺的方式結束生命。即便在強調尊老尊賢的中國社會,寂寞仍然是年長者經常的抱怨,讓我們特別為從事護理與健康照護的信徒來禱告,盼望他們成為神的愛的分享者與見證者。