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。