Prayer Request 2/7--2/13

Tuesday
Giving elaborate gifts is a part of Chinese culture, but it is often abused. The favorite gift used to bribe officials this Chinese New Year is an ornate book or scroll made of pure gold with an engraving of Mao or a classical Chinese saying and the cost is about $2000. US.The prophet Malachi warned his people who gave better gifts to officials than to God. Let us pray for a year in which believers give their very best to support their church and workers.

Wednesday
According to statistics five years ago, the top ten brands of merchandise in China were American. This year the only American brand in the top five was Coke. Five years ago "flaunting your status" was the number-one priority in choosing a brand. This year, the number-one priority is design.Churches in China are searching to define their own cultural identity in worship style and music. Let us remember all the younger church leaders as they lead their flock with new vision in this coming new Year.

Thursday
During the annual Spring Festival Eve TV party, the names "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan" were given to the pair of pandas China donated to Taiwan. The names combined literally mean "Reunion". Taiwan churches have long been partners with Chinese house churches. Let us pray for all those who will be going to China this year to do student leadership training on college campuses or short-term missions.

Friday
It is estimated that during the Spring Festival, a white-collared urban family in China will spend about 10,000 yuan ($1250. US) which includes a visit with relatives back home. Children will receive a sizable amount of money gifts in "red envelopes" during the New Year season. Let us pray that all Christian parents will teach their children how to tithe and the meaning of giving offerings to God.

Saturday
In 2004 poverty forced an estimated 2.3 million students in China, junior high or lower to give up schooling. The average cost of a college education is about 7,000 yuan ($900.US) yearly or about four years worth of the savings of a rural family. Trying to support education for their children is one of the biggest reasons pastors of rural churches are leaving their flocks. Let us pray for faith for thousands who struggle with this dilemma and are planning to leave their posts this year.

Sunday
Not everyone will be able to enjoy the tradition of family reunions during the New Year. The three top reasons are that one must spend time visiting relatives; some feel they have inadequate ability to earn money, and some are still single without any prospects for marriage. Most church workers do manage to return home to visit their parents. Many are not able to openly talk about their ministries and their dedication to the Lord. Let us remember their time with families and the opportunities they have to share Jesus with their relatives .

Monday
Contrary to the Western concept that a dog is a faithful creature, in Chinese culture one thinks of a dog with traditionally negative connotations. The saying, "No ivory is found in the mouth of a dog" implies a lack of education.Preaching the Word of God powerfully has little to do with one’s education. Let us pray for all the Christian workers as they prepare their sermons for this Year of the Dog .

星期二
送禮是中國春節文化的一部分，但是卻常常被濫用。今年以99純金製作的黃金書，成為最受歡迎的送禮新流行，內容包括記述領袖生平事蹟、傳統經典名著等等，售價由一萬元人民幣起跳。先知瑪拉基曾警誡當時以色列民獻重禮給省長，卻非獻給神的謬行。讓我們為信徒禱告，能夠將最好的獻上來支持教會與服事的同工。

星期三
根據一項市場調查顯示，過去五年，中國前十名受歡迎廠牌均來自美國，但是今年卻只有美國的可口可樂仍在榜上，過去，一個人買名牌是為了炫燿自己的地位，現在以強調設計為第一優先。中國教會也正在尋找適合自己文化特質的敬拜方式、風格與音樂，讓我們特別以禱告記念年輕的教會牧長與領導者，盼望他們能夠在新的一年，從神領受新的異象帶領群羊。

星期四
中央電視台新春特別晚會中，以「團團」「圓圓」為即將送給台灣的一對貓熊命名。台灣教會長期以來一直支持中國教會的建造，讓我們為今年所有參與的肢體獻上感恩與代禱，特別是從事校園領袖栽培及短宣事工，願神保守並豐富供應一切的需要。

星期五
過一個春節要花上多少錢？保守估計，都市白領階級平均要花上1,250美元，包括交通費及與親朋好友應酬的花費。每年春節期間孩子都會拿到不少紅包，讓我們為基督徒父母能親自實行並教導孩子十一奉獻來禱告，讓孩子從小就明白神的教導，樂意將最好的獻給神。

星期六
在2004年，家境貧困是造成近230萬初中以下的學生輟學的主因。平均每年唸大學的費用要七千元人民幣，這等同一個農村家庭三年半的純收入。為了讓子女接受良好的教育，迫使許多牧者與同工離開事奉的崗位，讓我們在禱告中記念掙扎在兩難困境的上千名同工，願神親自堅固他們的信心並供應所需。

星期日
並非每一個人都享受新年與家人團聚的時光，形成「恐歸族」主要原因有三：第一是訪親探友浪費許多時間。再者是認為自己官不夠大、錢賺不夠多，沒面子；還有至今仍打光棍沒結婚。許多在教會中服事的同工，在春節期間都能夠與家人團聚，但很難公開地與家人分享他們的事工與在神面前的委身，讓我們禱告他們能夠有機會與家人親戚分享福音。

星期一
在西方文化中，狗被視為效忠的動物，但在中國文化中，許多關於狗的成語卻帶有貶損人的意涵。譬如：「狗嘴裡吐不出象牙」，形容一個粗人講話不得體。事實上，在靈命建造上傳講神的話語是否滿有能力，並不因個人教育程度的高低而受影響。讓我們為著所有準備新年講章內容的牧者同工禱告，願神膏抹他們的口，使說者與聽眾都同得造就。