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。