Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Prayer Request 1/31--2/6

Tuesday
To promote safety and reduce the pollution they cause many cities in China have banned firecrackers. However, after ten years of no firecrackers, Jinan, Shandong will now allow them in spite of the 300 injuries reported the from illegal uses in the New Year of 2005. Firecrackers are used to purportedly to scare off evil spirits. In the Year of the Dog, let us commit the churches in China into His hands for safety, unity, and protection from the insidious materialism and vicious attacks of cults .

Wednesday
It was the biggest news in Taiwan–a wedding banquet which included guests at two thousand tables. The couple was only sixteen years old and the groom was the son of a prominent politician. The bride was widely known to be six months pregnant. Out-of-wedlock pregnancy has lost the stigma it once had. Let us remember all the young believers who have purposed in their hearts to stay chaste until marriage .

Thursday
According to a recent survey, the average Chinese family saves about 25% of its income. Nearly half save for medical emergencies and 43% save for retirement. A majority of believers have grown more affluent recently but giving to the church has lagged and seriously affected the expansion of ministries. Let us pray for church members to trust God and give to their churches and even consider helping other churches .

Friday
From clothes to hairstyle, from music to TV dramas, South Korea has been defining the tastes of many Chinese in the last five years. Evangelical Christianity coupled with large financial offerings and nearly 10,000 Korean missionaries helps shape Chinese churches in an unprecedented way. Praise the Lord! During this time for celebrating the Chinese New Year, let us remember all the Korean missionaries who have devoted thier lives and taken their families to minister in China .

Saturday
Shanghai with a population approaching 60,000 and 3,200 newly-registered companies is the favorite city of hai guai, the students returning from abroad. Let us pray for the faith and testimony of many who found Jesus while they were out of the country and have now returned with the intention of starting new churches .

Sunday
From time immemorial the advice has been to beware of pick-pockets during the Spring Festival. Young drifters who go around in groups have become a headache for urban police. These delinquents are not afraid of being arrested since police facilities are inadequate to house them.Youth ministry is almost unheard of in most house churches. There are no programs, no leaders, and no role models for youth. Let us remember this missing link in China’s church ministry .

Monday
China supports language training in dozens of countries around the world and reportedly wants to raise the number of non-Chinese studying Mandarin to one hundred million by 2010. Currently more than thirty million people are studying Mandarin worldwide. Several ministries are planning to equip Chinese missionaries as Chinese language teachers. Let us remember all those who study Chinese with the desire to be missionaries to China and those who plan to teach Chinese as an innovative tent-making approach .

星期二
因考量安全並減少空氣及噪音污染,許多城市規定禁放煙花炮燭已長達十年之久。儘管2005年春節期間濟南市因燃放炮燭被炸傷的近300位,但「炮燭聲中辭舊歲」,沒有炮燭響聲便缺少「年味」的缺憾,也促使濟南市宣布解禁。燃放炮燭的目的是為了嚇走鬼怪,在迎接狗年到來的同時,讓我們將所有中國教會交托在神手中,願神保守教會堅立與合一,不受物質主義的影響與異端的攻擊。

星期三
一場婚禮宴請多少賓客才算多?日前台灣的一場婚宴,宴請了兩千多桌的嘉賓,新郎新娘年僅十六歲,新郎的父親是台灣知名的政治人物,新娘已懷有六個月的身孕。未婚懷孕不再被指指點點,反而已經見怪不怪,讓我們為所有年輕信徒的禱告,願神堅立他們的心,願意在婚前持守貞潔,不隨世俗搖動。

星期四
根據近日的調查報告指出,中國家庭的儲蓄比例占家庭收入的25%,將近一半表示是用於醫療應急之用,43%存款是為了退休後的生活。隨著經濟起飛,絕大多數信徒的收入也逐漸優渥,但卻沒有反應在奉獻金額上。讓我們為弟兄姊妹能完全信靠賞賜豐富的神,將財務投資於神的國度,教會領袖亦能看到外面的需要,成為神忠心好管家。

星期五
不論衣服、髮型、音樂、戲劇,南韓在過去五年已全面地影響中國人的品味,在福音廣傳上,韓國教會不僅在金錢上擺上,並差派近一萬名宣教士在中國各地以全新的方式建造教會。感謝讚美主!在歡慶新年的農曆春節期間,讓我們紀念所有為著福音的緣故,願意帶著家人在中國內地服事的韓國宣教士。

星期六
上海正成為留學人才回國創業工作的首選地之一,迄今已經有近六萬「海歸」到上海工作,「海歸」註冊的企業以日增一家的速度增長,現已達3200餘家。讓我們為著福音的使命的「海歸」禱告,願神堅固他們的信心,也盼望他們的見證成為多人的祝福。

星期日
每個中國人都熟稔春節期間要特別提防小偷行竊的觀念。無家可歸的年輕孩童成群結黨行竊,總讓警察傷透腦筋,由於年紀小無法拘留,只能教育後釋放,更讓這些少年扒手無法無天。青少年事工在教會中幾乎是一片空白,沒有節目、沒有帶領者、更沒有可以效法的模範。讓我們在禱告中記念中國教會中這群失落的青少年。

星期一
為推廣中文,中國政府支持全球數十個國家中文教學(包過提供教材、差派中文教師等等),目前學習中文的外國人已有三千萬人,盼望能在2010年達到一億人。許多差會也計畫裝備華人宣教士成為中文教師,讓我們在禱告中記念正在學習中文,盼望將福音傳進中國的肢體,也願神建立藉由教中文成為將福音出中國的管道。

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Prayer Request 1/24--1/30

Tuesday
For the second year, special direct New Year flights from Taiwan to China resumed to accommodate Taiwanese businessmen working there. This year, Xiamen is added to Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou where these charter flights were offered before. In these four cities large Taiwanese communities can be found. Let us remember the house churches and evangelistic efforts in the Taiwanese-owned factories and ministries supported by the churches in Taiwan .

Wednesday
Chinese tradition equates beauty with white and fine skin. Drinking powder made of ground pearls supposedly gives a good complexion. When they purchase face cream, Chinese ask for an even whiter shade than their neighboring Japanese women. Let us remember all the believers who struggle with their self-image and ask God to show them how they can find strength in His Word and be used by the Master in their churches.

Thursday
Seventy-eight percent of the residents of cities feel that buying a house is the most important financial investment one can make. More than forty percent dream of owning a car but because of a lack of financial confidence, only 8.5 percent plan to purchase a home or 2.4 percent a car this year. House churches in the cities usually rent or meet at the home of a believer. Let us pray for all congregations who will be raising funds this coming year to purchase their own church building .

Friday
The Chinese government encourages college students even before they graduate to join the military with a reduction in tuition, a guarantee of free education after they leave the service, and also benefits for their families. Few students who are preparing for service in churches have such a guarantee of benefits. There are hundreds of young Chinese studying theology in North America, Europe, and Asia. We pray for each of them for a deeper relationship with God, and a passion to return home to serve .

Saturday
The Women’s Prison in Beijing will allow conjugal visits for the first time during the Chinese New Year. However, only inmates with good behavior are eligible for this privilege and then they must consent not to become pregnant. Let us remember all those believers and workers who are not able to be reunited with their loved one for His Name sake. May the Lord comfort and strengthen their faith in Him through their sufferings .

Sunday
Chinese consumers have the attitude that if a Japanese-made TV fails, it is the fault of the power lines. However, if a Korean-made TV fails, they say it is that the TV was poorly-made. Things are changing because Hyundai will be supplying all the new taxis for the Beijing Olympics. Korean churches have given generously and sacrificially for Chinese churches and have supplied many seminaries throughout China. Let us pray that Chinese churches will increase their mission efforts and giving .

Monday
The first wave of migrant workers (those who came to seek work in cities in the late ‘80’s) have gone back to their hometowns and retired. The second generation who are younger than twenty-five have arrived. Most of them do not send money home but spend all they make. Such patterns threaten all of the rural churches of China. Young believers are not sending money back home nor do they support their home churches. Let us keep this in our prayers .


星期二
為了方便台商返台過年,兩岸春節包機直航邁入第二年,延續去年的上海、北京、廣東航線之外,今年新增了廈門航線。在這四大城市中有許多台商家眷居住,讓我們為這些城市中的教會禱告,也紀念在工廠中的福音工作,也求主親自保守、祝福台灣教會所支持的各項宣教事工。

星期三
中國人認為一白遮三醜,人們認為珍珠粉能帶來好氣色,是相當受歡迎的養顏美容聖品。購買化粧保養品時,中國女性會選擇比日人常購之美白效果更好的產品。讓我們為掙扎於自我形象不足的信徒禱告,求神的醫治與釋放,幫助他們在神的話語中建立自信、自尊,並能在各樣事工中被神大大使用。

星期四
中國目前正蘊育出一個全球增長速度最快、規模最大的新消費階層。國內78%的城市居民都認為擁有房產可保障財務安全,是明智的投資方式。超過40%認同「最大的夢想就是買車」。但由於對未來財務缺乏信心,僅8.5%的人計畫一年內購屋,2.4%計畫買車。城市信徒經常面臨聚會場所不足的困難,讓我們一起仰望神預備置堂的地點與款項的需要。

星期五
中國政府鼓勵在校大學生入伍,將可減免部分學費,服役期間,其家屬享受軍屬待遇,退役復學者,也將享有不同等級的學費補助。在北美、歐亞等地,至少有數百名學生正修讀神學課程,接受信仰裝備。他們雖無優渥的物質保證,卻有為主獻身的心志。讓我們以禱告托住他們,與神建立更親密的關係,順服主耶穌的帶領。

星期六
農曆春節期間,北京女子監獄將開放服刑人員與配偶同居會見,唯有各方面表現良好的服刑人才有資格申請,且須簽訂協定保證於同居期間內避免懷孕。讓我們在禱告中紀念為了神國的緣故,今年春節無法與家人團聚的信徒與服事同工,求神親自安慰與堅定他們在苦難及試煉中對神的信心。

星期日
日本電器產品在國人心中的地位相當崇高,消費者普遍認為「如果日本製的電視壞了,一定是電線的問題;如果是韓國製電視壞了,那就是電視本身的問題。」不過這種情勢將有所改觀:為了迎接北京奧運,新式計程車將全面採用韓國製的「現代」汽車。韓國教會一向慷慨供應中國人福音的需要,並支持國內近十多所神學院。盼望神也興起更多中國教會,願意在本土宣教事工上更多委身與擺上。

星期一
第一波民工,是指80年代末期到城市找尋工作機會的農民,目前多已退休返回鄉下養老。另一批年紀小於二十五歲進入城市的農村人口,是為第二代民工。多數的第二代民工往往將工資花掉而不寄回老家,家中年長者生活費無著落,農村教會的事工也缺少經濟支持,這對教會發展造成深遠的影響,讓我們迫切為第二代民工的靈命禱告。

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Prayer Request 1/17--1/23

Tuesday
The largest human migration on earth begins as millions of Chinese return home for the 2 weeks of New Year’s celebration. Travel by trains is most economical and reliable, but waiting for tickets means waiting in lines for days. Nearly all the training and church work stop during the Spring Festival. Let us pray for good rest for all church workers and powerful witness of believers to their unbelieving family members .

Wednesday
China reaffirmed her one-child policy, dispelling any rumors saying people would be allowed to a have second child. Many parents, especially the non-believing ones, refuse to let their only child serve the Lord for fear of poverty and losing their financial support in their retirement. Let us pray for those contemplating God’s call who have yet to tell their parents .

Thursday
CCTV has featured a 20-episode prime time series "Little Chinese Students" which gives real life stories of Chinese teenagers sent to Canada for high school. It is fashionable for wealthy families to send children abroad to avoid failing the college entrance examinations at home. Let us pray for believers who wrestle with this decision and the many overseas churches that struggle to help with the myriads of problems of these parentless teenagers .

Friday
“Battle for the face of China” The leading cosmetics companies of the world are vying for the biggest market where ninety million women spend ten percent of their income on face creams and lipstick. Amway and Avon expect the Chinese government to lift their 1998 edicts prohibiting door-to-door sales soon. Let us pray for the day when door-to-door evangelism and community-based women’s Bible study groups will be legal again.

Saturday
In 2005, Inner Mongolia has had the highest increase in the collection of tax revenue of any place in China. The economy there is booming and it has also become the province where the largest amount of electricity has been generated and exported in all of China. Money and good-paying jobs are hurting the church and its ministries there. Churches have split. A large number of workers have left and are no longer serving in churches. Let us pray urgently for the churches in Inner Mongolia .

Sunday
Mostly because of traffic congestion, Beijing has dropped from the third to the fifteenth most livable city in China. Other large cities like Tianjing, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Nanjing also have dropped in their ranking. Traffic-related issues have seriously affected attendance and ministry involvement in many Beijing churches. Let us remember all the urban churches that face similar problems where believers must travel across districts and even city to attend services.

Monday
The second generation of migrant workers looks very much like their urban counterparts but are still not integrated into the city. Among the 150 million who come from rural areas and seek menial jobs in the cities after junior high school, 120 million are considered second-generation migrant workers. Urban churches have few strategies or resources to reach young migrant workers. Let us remember his massive forgotten harvest field.

星期二
隨著春節接近,異鄉遊子回家團圓將帶動十幾億人次的人口大流動。鐵路運輸為中國最經濟實惠並可靠的交通方式,各地火車站將出現綿延數里的人龍,車票呈現供不應求的局面。春節期間,幾乎所有的培訓與教會工作都暫停。讓我們為同工們能獲得充分的休息,並在未信主家人親友中作美好的見證禱告。

星期三
中國政府再次確定「一胎化」政策,一掃將開放生育第二胎的不實傳言。許多父母特別是非信徒父母,因對貧窮的疑慮與退休後失去經濟依靠的恐懼,不願獨生子女全職服事神,讓我們為正在思考回應神的呼召,尚未告知父母的肢體禱告,求神堅固他們的信心,除去一切的攔阻。

星期四
中央電視台在黃金時段播出二十集的電視劇「小留學生」,劇中呈現就讀高中的加國小留學生的真實寫照。為避免在國內高考名落孫山,將小孩送出國讀書已成為富裕家庭的普遍做法。讓我們為面臨同樣掙扎的信徒禱告,也紀念海外華人教會積極幫助沒有父母陪伴的小留學生的愛心擺上,願孩子們在留學經歷中,能夠認識耶穌基督。

星期五
「中國女人臉龐的美麗戰爭!」全中國九千萬名女性,平均花費百分之十的薪水購買面霜脣膏等化妝品。世界級各大龍頭化妝品公司,正競逐此全球最大的化妝品消費市場。安利與雅芳等化妝品直銷公司也引頸期盼,政府能儘速鬆綁98年頒布的不得逐門兜售商品的禁令。在屬靈禾場的爭戰上,求神也修直傳福音的道路,逐戶探訪佈道與社區婦女查經班等事工均能再度恢復。

星期六
內蒙古為2005年全國國稅收入增長最多的省份,緣於經濟快速、持續穩定的發展,內蒙也成為全國電力生產與輸出量最大的省份。經濟繁榮帶來的財富與高薪工作,卻重挫當地教會與宣教事工,使服事同工嚴重流失。讓我們迫切為內蒙教會與福音機構同工的短缺禱告,求主充份預備、供應。

星期日
「2005宜居城市排行榜」顯示,北京市因為交通擁塞,由2004年的第3位跌至第15位。同樣下跌窘境的還有天津、廣州、鄭州、南京等十幾個城市。交通問題也嚴重影響信徒參與教會的意願,許多信徒必須花費大量時間、精力舟車往返聚會。讓我們紀念所有深受交通問題所苦的大城市教會。

星期一
將近1億5千萬人口在初中畢業後,由農村進入城市找尋低收入的工作,其中1億2萬為第二代民工。他們即使在外表、衣著上均與城市年輕人相似,卻仍無法被大城市的人所接納。面對這片廣大的屬靈禾場,城市教會尚無全面的策略或資源來接觸新一代的民工。讓我們在禱告中紀念這群被遺忘的莊稼,求神差派灌溉、收取莊稼的工人。

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Prayer Request 1/10--1/16

Tuesday
Over 65% of Chinese do not have any kind of medical insurance. Nearly a quarter of them say they cannot pay the premiums. Common people cannot afford to go to a hospital and only half of them seek medical attention even when they have a severe illness. Church workers have no medical coverage at all. There are no insurance systems for the clergy or church staff. Let us remember all who have chronic illness but choose to continue to serve in faith. We pray for special provisions and the mercy of God.

Wednesday
The credos for many modern day career-driven professionals are: “Before age forty, one exchanges life for money; after forty, it’s money for life.” and “Not making the first million before age thirty is a life of failure.” Urban Christians feel the pressure to achieve and gain wealth. Let us pray for all who are balancing career with family but above all wish to serve God and fellow believers.

Thursday
Japan wants to discontinue by 2008 its huge economic aid to China which it considers as reparation for war. In terms of disaster relief, China wants to play the role of a donor nation now, as demonstrated in the Indonesian tsunami and the Pakistani earthquake. We pray that churches in China will soon become giving churches and China will become a missionary-sending nation as well .

Friday
China craves for all kinds of books on management styles and advice. “Learn From the People Liberation Army – Manage organization efficiently” is a book published recently to answer this huge demand. Since 1950 the church hierarchy is either the “tiered” Three-Self Church leadership system or the “leaders” of house churches. Let us pray for godly living and faithfulness of all who are in management positions for all of the churches .

Saturday
In 2001 marriage laws in Guangdong defined cohabitation as living with a person steadily for at least three months. This legal definition provided grounds for divorce, illegitimate child rights, and child support."Er ni" (having a mistress openly) has become a status symbol of success. Let us pray for a loud voice in the churches denouncing this serious and damaging influence on traditional family values. We pray for the guarding of hearts of all church workers and missionaries who must travel alone.

Sunday
Tsinghua University ranks as one of the top ten schools for studying electrical engineering in the world. A famous statue of a sun dial on its campus has these words engraved on it, “Actions speak louder than words.” Let us pray for all believers who are engineers that they will serve the Lord with wisdom in their employment, in their service in the churches, and have a vision for evangelism and mission.

Monday
The first student to join the military from Beijing University received a gift of 3000 yuan ($375.USD) from the University’s party official. Historically, Ban Chao (73 A.D.) has served as a model for intellectual who sacrifice their academic study to defend the country militarily. Ban Chao’s entire family, father and sons served the emperor in Western China. We pray for special blessing for the families of all church workers who have served the King of Kings generation after generation.

星期二
超過65%的中國人沒有醫療保險,其中四分之一為無法負擔保險費用。到醫院看診所費不貲,多數民眾負擔不起,因此即使已身染重病,也僅有二分之一願意就醫。國內教會同工多數無醫療保險,亦缺乏專屬神職人員的保險體系,讓我們紀念雖帶痼疾但仍憑著信心事奉主的人,求神的恩典與憐憫與他們同在。

星期三
現代白領精英奉為圭臬的兩項座右銘:「40歲以前用命換錢,40歲以後用錢換命。」和「不在30歲錢賺到第一個100萬就是失敗的人生。」因此,城市基督徒亦承受著必須功成名就與賺得財富的壓力。讓我們為著忙於平衡工作、家庭的挑戰,仍願意委身服事神、契友的信徒禱告。

星期四
日本有意於2008年終止對中國支付援助款,此項捐資一直被中國視為日對華過去戰爭的補償。在國際賑災上,不論是印尼海嘯或巴基斯坦地震,中國皆積極扮演大國慷慨履行國際義務的責任。讓我們為著中國教會禱告,求主幫助成為施比受更多的教會,全中國更成為差遣宣教士的國度。

星期五
與經營管理相關的書籍一直是中國最感興趣的。「向解放軍學習—最有效率組織的管理之道」一書問世,正是因應這龐大的需求而生。自從50年代之後,三自教會的管理一直是採明確的層級節制,其他則多為一人中心領導模式,讓我們紀念所有於教會中擔任管理角色的同工,能夠敬虔有信德,成為忠心良善的好管家。

星期六
2001年廣州新頒布的婚姻法規定:有配偶者與他人需持續、稳定地共同生活3個月以上才能構成『同居』的認定。全面影響對於離婚、非婚生子女權、孩子贍養費的保障。在中國,「包二奶」嚴然成為另類炫耀成功與地位的表徵。讓我們為教會能夠成為社會的中流砥柱,捍衛傳統道德與家庭價值來禱告,也紀念教會同工與單獨旅行佈道的宣教士,願主保守他們的心勝過引誘試探。

星期日
合作媒體CMP集團旗下的EE Times評選全球10大頂尖電子工程院校排名揭曉,清華大學赫然上榜。在校園中有一日晷刻有「行勝於言」,提醒所有清華學子行健務實。讓我們為著所有擔任工程師的信徒禱告,願神大大的使用他們,不論是在工作崗位上,或教會服事中,都滿有屬天的智慧、能力,也有傳福音與宣教的異象。

星期一
北大首位參軍入伍的在校生高明,接受黨委贈送的獎金3,000元人民幣。追溯歷史,東漢的班超父子為捍衛國家,投筆從戎,早在近2000年前已立下了榜樣。讓我們為著所有中國信徒家庭禱告,特別是第一代在教會中擔任同工牧者的,願意效法約書亞事奉神的心志,一家世世代代都敬虔服事主。

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Prayer Request 1/3--1/9

Tuesday
According to the yearly government survey, 74.4 % of Chinese are happy with the international prestige of China. But nearly 40% are dissatisfied with “ traditional morality,” a 24% jump in disapproval. Let us pray for the testimony of all the believers and their churches in the New Year. May the Lord empower each one of them as the light and salt to their community .

Wednesday
The government reports that 90% of urban Chinese celebrated Christmas Eve in some way, as more people gave gifts and merchants enjoyed a strong Christmas sale. Open churches throughout China report packed worshippers and spectators. The popularity of Christmas brings mixed blessings for churches in a more tolerant and commercialized but spiritually empty society. Let us pray for renewed zeal for evangelism by all churches .

Thursday
In the government examination to recruit workers this year, there was an increase of nearly 50% (365,000) over a year ago. A whopping 38% of college graduates want to work for the government while only 7% want to have their own businesses. Let us pray for all the college students who are considering the calling to go into full-time ministry at this time. Churches in China desperately need a new generation of workers with a college education and advanced theological training .

Friday
“A cigarette, a cup of tea and a newspaper until time to go home” is the common image of the civil servant in China. While the image lingers, there are some changes in many places now staffed with young MBAs trained abroad.There is also a new crop of pastors with newer styles of preaching and ministering in urban churches. Let us pray for all these young (under 40) pastors and church workers .

Saturday
What do factory workers do when they aren’t working? Fifty-eight percent say there is little time or really nothing to do. Twenty-eight percent chose karaoke among preferred recreations. Some Hong Kong churches are helping the open churches in Guangdong by offering fellowship and Bible study groups in the factories complete with karaoke. Let us remember these unique outreaches in the factories .

Sunday
Most of the marital counseling in Guangdong involves extra-marital affairs. Career women and housewives account for nearly 40% of the cases. Experts attribute this to the good incomes and busy lifestyles of these groups.The divorce rate in Guangzhou has doubled in 2005 compared with last year. Very few churches offer marriage counseling and generally lack teaching on sexual purity. Let us remember the need for teaching and examples of a Christ-centered family .

Monday
China has 17 million college students. Nearly a fourth of them are “adult” students working toward a two-year certificate but still they are considered as “second-class citizens” by employers. A great majority of church workers have little schooling beyond the ninth grade. Let us pray for excellent training and spiritual formation for all of them. We remember, too, all of the correspondence courses, radio classrooms, and short-term training sessions for lay leaders in the churches .

星期二
根據一項中國2005年常規民意的調查顯示:民眾的總體幸福感較2004年有所提高,但對家庭生活的綜合滿意度降低。其中對國家國際地位的滿意度最高,為74.4%;對「傳統道德」指數的不滿意度為38.2%,比去年上升了24個百分點,升幅最大。讓我們為所有教會與信徒禱告,在新的一年為主作美好的見證,在社區中作光作鹽。

星期三
根據政府報告,90%的城市居民會以各種方式歡慶聖誕夜,朋友互相交換禮物及聖誕節打折活動也使商人的荷包進帳不少。全國各地的教會也湧進大量人群,有的前來敬拜神,有的則是來看熱鬧。聖誕節在中國的流行,顯示出社會對教會更加接納,但夾雜濃厚的商業氣氛反而模糊了聖誕節的屬靈意涵。讓我們為所有教會屬靈更新、滿有傳福音的熱忱禱告。

星期四
全國有36.5萬人報考2006年中央國家公務員考試,比上期增加了近50%。據統計有近38%畢業生選擇到政府機關工作,平均每個崗位有35人競爭,某些職位還超過2,000人角逐;僅7%的人想自己創業當老闆。中國教會迫切需要新一代服事同工,求神親自帶領祂所撿選的門徒,尤其是受過高等教育並神學裝備的生力軍。

星期五
「一支煙、一杯茶、一張報紙到下班」,是過去人們對公務員的刻版印象。但現在一些具碩、博士背景、出過國留學的菁英進入政府部門,改變了工作環境並提高了競爭力。同樣的,在教會中也有一批具新興風格的年輕牧者,讓我們為所有這些年輕的(40歲以下)牧者與同工來禱告,不叫人小看他們年輕,求主保守他們在言語愛心信心和行為上都作信徒的榜樣。

星期六
「民工業餘閒暇之時在做什麼?」58%回答「極少有業餘時間」、「無所事事」。28%選擇唱卡拉OK為消遣。一些香港教會持續以行動支持廣東教會的事工,許多工廠查經班成立的團契,均附設卡拉OK。讓我們在禱告中紀念這些事工,「我栽種了,亞波羅澆灌了,唯有神叫他生長」。

星期日
廣東省的婚姻輔導案例中,大多數與婚外情有關。女方有外遇的情況約40%,由於收入優渥與生活忙碌,使得職業婦女與家庭主婦成為高危險人群。2005年廣州的離婚率也比去年增加一倍。國內教會普遍缺少婚姻諮詢的輔導與持守聖潔的教導,讓我們在禱告中紀念現實的迫切需求,願信徒家庭能尊基督為首並在教會中作美好的榜樣。

星期一
中國的高校生(不包括研究生)已達1,700萬,居世界第一。其中近四分之一是接受成人教育,經過兩年的學習後獲得一張國家認可的大學畢業文憑,但是他們仍被視為勞動力市場上的二等公民。許多的教會同工都只是初中畢業,讓我們為他們的培訓與屬靈塑造來禱告,同時也紀念專為平信徒提供的信仰函授課程、廣播空中教室、短期訓練等等聖工。