Prayer Request 4/4--4/10

Tuesday
Government televised the largest ever annual worship of Huangdi in Zhengzhou, Henan. He is considered as the common ancestor of all Chinese, and also the founder of Taoism. Ancestral worship is back in full swing in China and enjoys official support. Let us pray for courage of many believers who refuse to compromise in joining their families in this act of piety .

Wednesday
Seventy-four percent of Chinese mothers want to improve communication with their teenagers or at least get advice about it. Of all the mothers surveyed 70% say they have peeked into the diaries their children keep. Secular parenting books are bestsellers and a few Christian titles are also available. Let us pray for desperately-needed parenting instruction in churches .

Thursday
In an attempt to polish their image before the Olympics, Beijing has been enforcing a fine of 20 yuan for spitting on the streets by using cameras to capture violators in the commercial districts. What really changes old habits? Let us pray for all believers who should change their "mind your own business" mentality by caring for the disadvantaged and that they would be the salt and light of their community .

Friday
According to a recent survey the leading bad habits of Beijing residents are: spitting, littering (81%), pet litter (64%), cursing and heckling (60%), traffic violations (57%), traffic violations (57%), pushing/not yielding seats on busses (57%), and illegal posting of advertisements (54%). Chinese are lovely people but they have many "uncivilized" bad habits. Let us thank God for all the foreign workers who overlook these annoying things and give their lives to China because they love God and the Chinese .

Saturday
People from Henan province are often considered con men and thus suffer discrimination which contributes to their poor self-image. Although Henan is the largest province in China with a population of nearly 100 millions, it also has the most people in poverty in all China. Henan is the home of the Chinese house church movement with many, many believers who are poor, illiterate, and old. Let us pray for unity, vitality, and protection from vicious attacks of cults and in-fighting for the Henan churches .

Sunday
As 4.13 million college graduates enter the job market in 2006 (750,000 more than in 2005) many will have to settle for positions offering less than 1000 yuan monthly and still the government estimates there will be a surplus of fourteen million laborers for the positions available. Let us pray for those who are considering entering seminaries or preparing for ministry. May the Lord help them to communicate to their parents their calling and their faith that God will supply their needs.

Monday
A recent report says that one in four Chinese is learning English either as a student or in self-study. Teaching English now begins in first to third grade in many elementary schools so there is a great need for English-speaking teachers. Twenty-three million Chinese college students make up the largest block of those learning English. Let us pray for effectiveness and the Christian witness of all those who are teaching English in China with the goal of sharing Jesus Christ .

星期二
中國政府今年將實況轉播於河南鄭州舉行之「黃帝故鄉拜祖大典」。黃帝被視為炎黃子孫的祖先，同時也是道教的始祖。祭祖在中國內越來越普遍，也受廣官方支持。讓我們為著許多信徒能有勇氣及智慧拒絕祭拜偶像來禱告。

星期三
百分之七十四的母親希望能改善自己和孩子的溝通，或是出現問題時能有專家可諮詢協助。在調查中，70%受訪者表示，為了解孩子，曾偷看過孩子的日記。坊間教導如何教養孩子的書籍非常暢銷，但以基督信仰為基礎的相關書籍相當缺乏，讓我們為著有更多以聖經為根基的教養書籍，與教會中對親子教育的教導來迫切禱告。

星期四
為了迎接北京奧運到來，當局使用具有紅外線攝影功能及衛星傳輸設備的高科技指揮車，以整治民眾隨地吐痰的陋習，違法者必須以紙巾將痰擦去，並罰款二十元。讓我們為著基督徒能改變「自掃門前雪」的心態，關心弱勢者需要，能成為社區裡的光和鹽，影響民眾能卸下老我，成為新造的人來禱告。

星期五
一項「北京人存在六大陋習」調查顯示：隨地吐痰、亂扔垃圾為六大陋習之首（81.59%）；養寵物影響公共衛生（63.67%）；在公共場合起哄、鼓倒掌、說髒話、罵人等（59.4%）；不遵守交通規則，（57.4%）；乘公共汽車擁擠，不讓座（57.38%）；亂貼、散發小廣告和宣傳材料（54.41%）。中國民眾熱情可愛，但是仍存著這些不文明的陋習，讓我們為許多的國外同工不因這些陋習而攔阻，因著愛神、仍願意將生命獻上給中國來讚美主。

星期六
在中國提到河南人，很多人腦裡會浮現「騙子」兩個字，很多人也不願聘用河南來人，河南將近有一億的人口，為全國最大的省份，70%人口為農民。河南也是家庭教會的發源地，信徒生活普遍窮困、年紀長、甚至是文盲。讓我們為著河南教會的合一、有生氣活力、與神保守不受各樣異端的攻擊來禱告。

星期日
2006年將有413萬人進入職場，比去年增加75萬人。政府估計勞動力供大於求將達到1400萬人，比2005年增加100萬人，並且不少企業對應屆大學畢業生的起薪不到1000元。讓我們特別在禱告中記有心想進入神學院準備服事的年輕信徒，求神保守他們與家人溝通，也供應他們各方面的需要‧

星期一
中國約有3億多人在學英語（專業與非專業），占全國的四分之一。英文教學從從小學一至三年級開始，英文教師的需求量大增。在校大學生有2300多萬人，已成為全世界最大的一個學習外語的群體。讓我們特別為著以傳福音為目的英文教師的工作能帶出果效，並成為基督美好的見證禱告。