Prayer Request 12/27/05--1/2/06

Tuesday
The Harry Potter books and movie reached the bestseller list in theaters throughout China. Among the total of twenty foreign films distributed in 2005, sixteen were American movies. Let us remember all the Christmas programs, concerts, and dramas put on by Christian actors and church groups in several cities. May their performances with or without preaching touch many who do not know the “Greatest Story Ever Told ”.

Wednesday
Teenage girls in Shanghai want to be a CEO, a manager, or a teacher while Japanese girls want to be a housewife, a flight attendant or a child-care worker. In China, women earn an estimated sixty-six percent of what men earn. Let us remember all the Chinese women pastors and church leaders. We pray, too, for all the young women God has called to serve Him and are in training now.

Thursday
All kinds of English-speaking contests are organized across China. Many parks have English corners. A good command of English is often the advantage and a key in a high competitive job market for college graduates. Teaching English is still the best way for most Westerners to share the gospel with the youth in China. Let us remember those who share Jesus in this way in schools, offices, or even in government agencies.

Friday
In his personal defense for the plight of coal miners dying daily, millions of poor and rampant corruption, one prominent social scientist said, “Who told you to be unfortunately born in China at this time?” We believe God has placed us in this time for a special purpose. Let us continue to uplift Chinese churches as they raise up tens of thousands of missionaries from their nation with the greatest population in the world .

Saturday
The wedding industry flourishes in China where ten million people marry annually. A rising standard of living combined with a craze for extravagant weddings from white gowns to a church wedding to a retro-Chinese style wedding brings the cost of a wedding, including the banquet to a possible $4,000 USD. Let us pray for all the believers who have married this year. May the Lord reign in their homes and in their commitment to serve the Lord and their fellowship with other young families.

Sunday
Urban Chinese women from 31-40 years old are the biggest consumers. One in five of married women unilaterally makes the decision on the purchase of a house, an automobile, and other expensive items. Women also make up the majority of the urban churches. Let us remember all the women who attend church alone (husbands are not believers or not involved). May their faith remain strong and may they continue to be a blessing to their family.

Monday
This is the busy month for job hunting for those graduating from college. Traditionally women still have a tougher time landing a good job than men do. On many campuses college women are posting ads seeking friendship with male students who likely already have a job. Let us remember the thousands of seminary students (official or underground, male or female) graduating next year as they begin to contemplate which church or congregation to serve.

星期二
哈利波特在全中國造成風靡，不論是小說或電影，都榮登銷售排行榜前幾名。2005年，一共有三十部外國影片上映，其中十六部為美國電影。讓我們在禱告中紀念於聖誕佳節在各城市中由基督徒演出的節目、晚會與戲劇，無論見證、講道、分享，願神使用每一場節目，讓更多未得之民認識主降生的恩典與意義。

星期三
中日年輕女孩的理想大不同，日本女孩期待成為家庭主婦、空姐或幼童照顧工作者，而上海女孩卻一心想當老闆、總經理或老師。中國女性的薪水只佔男性薪水的66%。讓我們在禱告中紀念中國的女傳道人，也為受呼召服事神、正在接受裝備的年輕姊妹禱告，願主使他們無論學習或服事都恩上加恩、力上加力。

星期四
舉辦各樣英文演講比賽，在中國正蔚為風潮，在公園中也有專門規劃的地點供民眾練習說英文。對於大專畢業生而言，優異的英語能力更成為找工作的一項利器。對西方人而言，英文教學仍是與年輕人分享福音最好的管道，讓我們在禱告中紀念英文教學來分享福音的各樣事工，願更多人被主得著。

星期五
一位知名的中國科學院院士接受南方人物週刊採訪，在論及礦工屢屢被活埋、貧窮問題社會腐敗等議題時，他反問記者，「誰叫你不幸生在了中國？」我們相信，神把我們放在這個時代中有特別的目的，讓我們持續為中國教會禱告，願他們興起成千萬能為神使用的宣教士，將福音傳揚直到地極。

星期六
中國每年都有千萬對新人結婚，婚紗業是炙手可熱的新興工業。隨著生活水準的提升，新人也願意投入更多費用籌備婚禮，從穿白紗在教堂走紅毯，到復古的傳統中國婚禮，一場婚禮筵席花費四千美元也不足為奇。讓我們為所有於今年完婚的信徒禱告，願神在家中掌權，堅立他們服事神的心志，更多委身於神。

星期日
三十一至四十歲的城市女性是最具購買力的消費群，更是家庭購物上的「決策者」，五分之一的已婚女性在家庭買房、買車、購買貴重物品等大額支出時「自己做主」。女性也是中國教會中的大多數，讓我們紀念教會中的姊妹，不論他們的配偶未信主或較不熱衷參與教會服事，願神堅立她們的信心，成為家中的祝福。

星期一
十二月是應屆畢業生忙於找工作高峰期，傳統上，與男性相比，女性較不容易找到好工作，許多女大學生在網路上刊登徵友廣告，希望以已經找到工作的男學生為對象。讓我們特別在禱告中紀念，明年即將畢業的神學生，不論男女，求神指示他們前面的道路，差遣他們往各處去服事人、榮耀神。

Prayer Request 12/20--12/26

Tuesday
International protestors demonstrated and rioted in Hong Kong’s WTO meeting. More than 900 people, mainly South Koreans, were arrested in the largest riot since the 1995 riots in the Vietnamese refugee camps. Let us remember Hong Kong churches and their unique role in mission, with nearly 300 missionaries worldwide and much work with the open churches in interior China .

Wednesday
Fire at a hospital in Liaoyuan, Jilin killed 39, as many patients escaped by jumping off the building. There were 222,000 accidental fires with 2,000 deaths last year. During Christmas, many open churches have decorations or special programs which attract people to come in and attend service. Let us pray for healing and the finding of salvation in Christ in every church – a hospital for sinners .

Thursday
In January 2005, over five thousand Chinese Muslims chartered fifteen Boeing 777's to be a part of the pilgrimage to Mecca. This is the largest group that has gone since 1955 but next year they plan to take an even larger group mostly from Lanzhou, Beijing, and Urumqi. Muslims migrate to cities that seem to be more open to the gospel but even there, most have become more devoted to their own religion. Let us pray for those who are trying to reach Chinese Muslims for Christ .

Friday
An HIV-infected blood donor sold blood and infected twenty-five recipients in Jilin province. Despite regulations, some hospitals still fail to test blood. We praise the Lord that several churches in China have been sharing the gospel in AIDS-infected villages in Henan and there are now believers who have AIDS sharing Jesus with other victims .

Saturday
From the late 1970's to 1985 millions of young intellectuals returned to cities and divorced the wives whom they had married during the "exile" which came in the Cultural Revolution. The "left behind" women are now in their fifties and many have grown children. Many of them have become believers. Let us remember them as they age and pray for their spiritual walk with Jesus .

Sunday
"Too busy working and no time for dating" is creating many older single women (30 and over). When choosing a prospective son-in-law, sixty percent of parents expect to find a person with a similar or higher degree of education then their daughter has. Young professionals make up a large number of urban churches in China. Let us remember all the single believers and pray for patience, guidance, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit in their times of loneliness and family pressure .

Monday
The bird flu scare reduced the consumption of chicken in China by nearly fifty percent. Officials had a "chicken banquet" to educate people and show that eating cooked chicken was safe. During the SARS epidemic, church attendance suffered a big drop. Let us pray for all the special meetings and training sessions planned for this winter -- the season for training in rural churches ).

星期二
示威者聚集在香港WTO會議會場外，爆發嚴重警民衝突，超過900人被香港警方逮捕，他們多為南韓農民。這是香港自從1995越南難民營暴動以來，最嚴重的暴力事件。讓我們在禱告中紀念香港教會以及他們在宣教上的特殊角色，不但差派了將近300位宣教士至世界各地，也對內地的教會多有扶持，求主親自堅立他們手中多樣的聖工。

星期三
吉林遼源中心醫院發生大火，死亡人數增至39人，許多病患為逃生被迫直接由大樓跳下。過去一年中國境內共發生22萬2千起火災，至少造成2000人死亡。聖誕佳節臨近，各地教會以各樣彩飾裝點教會，並準備許多精采的節目吸引人前來參加崇拜。願在神為所有罪人預備的醫院–教會中，每一位尋求者都能即時認識耶穌，得到全然的醫治與永生的福份。

星期四
超過五千名中國穆斯林在2005年一月，包下了十五架波音777客機，前往麥加朝聖。這是1955年以來最大規模的朝聖團，他們計畫明年度召集更大朝聖團，成員將以來自蘭州、北京、烏魯木齊為主。人們期待遷到城市的穆斯林對福音的態度會較開放，但實際上他們反而更固守於原本的信仰，讓我們在禱告中紀念所有接觸中國穆斯林的福音事工。

星期五
吉林省內一名不知情的愛滋病毒患者，於一年多內15次到正規醫療機構賣血，致使25人感染愛滋。儘管政府相繼頒布了管制愛滋病及血液的法律，但許多醫院卻未落實血液的檢測。值得向神感恩的是，已有一中國教會進入河南愛滋病感染區關心病患，目前已經有人信主，並樂意與其他病友分享基督的愛與救恩，讓我們以禱告托住此事工。

星期六
從1970年至1985年間，曾因「上山下鄉」政策下放到農村的知識青年，導致一批單身大齡女性。許多男知青在鄉村結婚生子，隨著文革結束回到城市也與髮妻離異。這一大群失婚的婦女目前年屆五十，子女多已長大成人，許多人也成為信徒。讓我們特別紀念經過歷史動盪時期的這一代，求主保守他們的靈命隨年歲一同增長。

星期日
「工作太忙，沒有時間約會」造成中國第一代獨生女高齡未婚的比例竄升。60%父母對未來女婿的期望是教育學歷程度要比自己女兒高，至少也要相當。城市教會中也有許多單身的年輕職業女性，讓我們為所有單身基督徒禱告，紀念她們能忍耐、等候神的引導，和聖靈的安慰，特別在感覺孤單與面對家人壓力之時。

星期一
禽流感造成中國人民「聞禽色變」，自國家公佈禽流感疫情以來，大眾「恐鶏病」使雞隻消費跌落了50%以上。廣東高官設「百雞宴」倡導吃煮熟的雞隻是安全的，以教育民眾正確認識禽流感的傳染途徑。過去於SARS流行期間，教會的聚會人數銳減，冬天為農村教會培訓的季節，讓我們在禱告紀念所有於今年冬天舉辦的各項聚會與門徒訓練，求神親自引領開路。

Prayer Request 12/13--12/19

Tuesday
Shockingly, college campuses are the biggest brothels in China! In Wuhan, nearly 10% of the university female students are involved in sex for money. Chinese educators struggled to rebuild morality with learning and knowledge. Let us remember again all the Bible studies groups in every campus. May the Lord guard all the hearts of young believers and seekers too .

Wednesday
Sichuan plans to develop itself as a major economic zone, combining both Chengdu, the capital and Chongqing, the largest metropolis in China. Christianity came to Sichuan early as missionaries traveled up the Yangtze River, but churches have historically been very weak. Let us pray for revival of churches in Sichuan and the role believers here can play with mission effort to neighboring Tibet .

Thursday
Are Chinese poor givers to charity? According to data from Anhui, wealthy individuals and companies give nearly nothing to charity. Most of the donations are from the common people as well as retired people. Giving in Chinese churches has historically been low. Let us pray for the spirit of generosity and thanksgiving for all believers .

Friday
The average Chinese tourist spends $987 US daily when abroad. Tourists usually live frugally but spend largely on name brands and jewelry. Experts say that Chinese spend on luxury items in order to show off to friends back home. Many Christians are able to go abroad now. Let us pray for their impact on the local church, that they may become a model of serving and giving .

Saturday
In 1950, China started the family revolution by enacting the first "Marriage Laws" which permitted divorce for any reason. In 1953, the divorce rate peaked at 53%, the highest ever. During the Cultural Revolution, marriage was often arranged by Party officials. Let us remember all the believers who are divorced, and pray for healing and ability to counsel others who have marital difficulties .

Sunday
There is a severe shortage of workers (nearly a million) for all the factories in the Pearl River Delta. Employers are forced to raise salaries by about 5% to attract workers from other provinces.Casual sex is rampant among the factory dormitories, leading to the high demand for abortion. Let us pray for the guarding of hearts for all believers, the Christian managers and workers alike .

Monday
Nearly 100,000 elderly Chinese come to the United States to visit their children and care for their grandchildren yearly. Most are from Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, but many are also from various regions of China. Many of these seniors attend fellowships for senior citizens offered by Chinese churches and have come to know Jesus Christ. Some have even returned to China to start their own house churches. Let us pray for the ministries targeting these seniors .

星期二
一項令人震驚的事實：中國女大學生賣淫、色情陪侍的情形嚴重！在武漢地區，至少10%的女大學生從事相關勾當。有教授指稱，再不整治，校園將成為全中國最大的妓院；許多教育專家呼籲強化學習是非判斷力和羞耻感來重建道德。求主興起並紀念各地校園福音事工，保守年輕信徒與慕道友的心，能依靠純全的救恩與真理勝過各樣的試探，在風雨如晦中成為儆醒發光的燈塔。

星期三
四川正計畫擴展為「成渝經濟特區」，成為未來經濟增長第五級之規模。結合成都與重慶周邊35個城市的經濟共同體，將為四川和重慶帶來新的歷史發展契機。隨著早年宣教士溯長江而上旅行佈道將基督教傳入四川，但是該區的教會一向積弱不振，讓我們為當地教會與信徒的靈命復興來禱告，求主將異象和信心賜給各人，能看重自己的位份，成為鄰近藏族地區福音的橋樑。

星期四
中國人是否窮到無法捐款行善？根據安徽省各慈善機構的信息顯示：掌握巨大社會財富的富豪們慈善捐款幾乎為零，而捐款的主力竟然是普通小市民、大中專學生及退休老人等工薪階層。中國教會接受的奉獻金額一向不多，讓我們禱告信徒能以神家中的需要為念，操練奉獻、甘心樂意擺上的心，經歷神要傾倒的滿溢祝福。

星期五
中國旅客境外旅行的平均購物花費高達987美元，居全球之冠。他們一次走多國吃住行相當節省，但卻捨得花錢購買頂級設計師的名牌與珠寶。專家指出，中國遊客認為購買名牌能在同事親友間炫耀贏得面子，證明自己不虛此行。現今中國信徒出國的機會也很多，求主幫助他們能將海外的教會經驗帶回家鄉，願意更多委身與參與服事，成為眾人的榜樣。

星期六
50年代開始，中國面臨三次「單身危機」。第一次肇因於1950年頒布第一部婚姻法打破傳統思想，允許夫妻自由離婚，解除父母之命的形式婚姻，創下1953年迄今最高的全國離婚率53%！文革時期，婚姻都經由黨幹部安排，姻緣受家庭出身、政治背景影響很大，造成很多青年單身至今。讓我們特別為曾經歷離婚、喪偶或仍獨身的年長一輩信徒，願主親自安慰醫治他們的傷痛，並能勸慰幫助有婚姻難處的人。

星期日
珠江三角洲工廠面臨嚴重的民工短缺困境。尤其是對年齡較輕、身體健康、反應靈活的普通工人需求數量預計超過100萬人。多數企業將考慮增加工資以吸引外來民工，漲幅不超過5%。此外，工廠宿舍中的性開放、同居、性濫交的現象頻繁，導致墮胎的問題相當嚴重。讓我們求主保守所有信徒，不論是工廠管理階層或是工人，都能遵主誡命分別為聖，持守聖潔生活。

星期一
據估約有10萬名以上中國老人前往美國探視子女、照顧孫輩，享受含飴弄孫之樂。他們以來自上海、北京、廣東居多，也有從其他各地來的。這些長者因參加華人教會的長青團契信主，回國後更有人建立了教會。讓我們為所有針對長者的福音事工禱告，同時也讚美、感謝神，因祂的福音與救恩是為萬國萬民預備的。

Prayer Request 12/6--12/12

Tuesday
More bad news for Heilongjiang after the chemical contamination of city's water supply, an explosion claimed more than 170 victims in a government's "star" coal mine. Feverish demand for energy and unsafe condition has turned coal mining into the deadliest work. Let us remember all the believers who are miners, their spiritual role in their families and the churches they belong to .

Wednesday
Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li (both are non-Christians) will star in the "Memoirs of a Geisha". Chinese movies as well as Chinese actors/actresses are taking over Hollywood in unprecedented ways, both in box offices and in cultural influence. There are a handful of well-known entertainment celebrities who make their Christian faith public. Let us pray that they will have powerful testimonies and uncompromising moral standards as they impact viewers and especially Christian youth .

Thursday
In China, a growing group of extremely nationalistic and patriotic youth called Fengqing (angry youth) is using the internet as a platform to lambaste Japan. As China considers buying the Japanese Bullet Trains to improve its transportation system, a resurgence of anti-Japanese sentiment is brewing there. We pray for all Chinese believes to have a spirit of forgiveness and a burden to take the gospel to Japan.

Friday
Eighty percent of Chinese families have at least one son and those families who have more than two girls are most likely to give away girls or adopt them out. Recent population research confirms the Chinese preference to have a son as "retirement insurance". A preference for boys means parents will discourage a son from going into the ministry. Let us pray for faith and blessing for all parents whose children are involved in Christian ministry .

Saturday
What was once a bad memory for a whole generation of Chinese has now been made into collectibles. The bright propaganda invariably depicting soldiers, farmers, and laborers praising Chairman Mao has enjoyed resurgence as an art form. During the Cultural Revolution, possession of a Bible was an offense punishable even by death. Let us remember all those dear believers who secretly hand-transcribed the Word of God .

Sunday
Who are the most desirable men for millions of Chinese white-collared women? Zhang I Mo, film director, Yao ming and other actors and athletes top the list. Waiting for the man God has in mind is the lesson many Christian sisters face. Let us remember all the women believers who are of a marriageable age or remain celibate for the Lord .

Monday
In the Xinjiang grassland occupied by Muslim minorities, foxes have been released to control the mouse problem. This special breed of fox is more resistant to hunger and disease than ordinary foxes. Radio programming in local dialects is the only Christian medium which can penetrate these deeply Muslim communities. Let us pray for the faith of believers there and the often difficult community work done by Christians .

星期二
繼雙苯化工廠爆炸污染水源後，連續三年被黑龍江省評為安全質量「明星礦」的七台河東風煤礦，日前發生礦難，至少造成一百七十人死亡慘劇。由於能源需求迫切與工作環境不安全，使得採礦成為高危險的行業。求主保守從事採礦的信徒出入平安，並在家中與教會的服事滿有能力和果效。

星期三
章子怡與鞏俐(非基督徒)在史蒂芬史匹柏執導的新片「藝妓回憶錄」中擔綱演出。華人電影與影星正風靡好萊塢，不僅票房賣座，也深切影響當地的文化。許多華人藝人願意在公開場合宣告自己是基督徒，讓我們為他們禱告，願主使他們能有不與世俗標準妥協的勇氣，也使用他們的位份，特別是年輕信徒前作美好的見證。

星期四
「憤青(憤怒青年)」專指中國民族主義和愛國情緒高漲，態度偏激言行走極端化的年輕人。他們透過網路撻閥日本於二次大戰對中國的傷害。當政府正考慮向日本購買子彈列車以改進交通運輸之際，年輕人的反日情緒卻也在醞釀復甦中。讓我們禱告所有中國信徒願意學主樣式，放下仇恨學會饒恕，也有負擔將福音種子播到日本的土地上。

星期五
人口研究結果顯示：性別偏好及人為選擇生育性別是男女人口比率失常的關鍵性內因。80%中國家庭至少有一名兒子，有兩個以上女兒的家庭往往將女兒轉由他人收養。而且傳統的「養兒防老」觀念仍根深蒂固。通常具有「男孩偏好」心態的父母較不鼓勵兒子投入宣教事工，讓我們為這些父母禱告，願他們能完全的信靠神，經歷神奇妙而全備的祝福。

星期六
紅衛兵時期的宣傳品，曾經是一整世代中國人揮之不去的夢魘，現在卻成為新興的蒐集品。這一系列描繪工、農、兵的木刻、漫畫及油畫的宣傳品，過去傳達了對毛澤東的讚美，現在則成為另類現代美術形式的表徵。在文革期間，擁有聖經是會遭受生命威脅的。讓我們在禱告中紀念，曾以手抄保存主話語的信徒，求主的恩典仍源源不絕供應。

星期日
誰是數百萬白領中國女性心目中的白馬王子？在一項中國女性最想嫁的男人調查中，以事業成就與人品魅力為導向的「十大最想嫁的男人」裡，名導演張藝謀、籃球選手姚明並陳道明、王石、劉翔等演員或運動員都榜上有名。「耐心等候神所預備的弟兄」是許多單身基督徒姊妹面對的功課。讓我們為這群主所鍾愛的適婚姊妹禱告，求主舖直她們前面的道路。

星期一
在新疆木壘哈薩克回族自治區內廣大的草原區，最近釋放了許多狐狸以解決鼠患。該品種的狐狸比一般的狐狸更能抗拒飢餓與疾病。在新疆，要想進入穆斯林社群傳播福音的唯一媒介是透過以當地語發音的廣播節目。讓我們為當地基督徒有堅定信心來禱告，紀念眾肢在服務回族社區事工的艱難與擺上，願他們靠主剛強喜樂，飽嚐主恩的豐盛。