Prayer Request 7/25 -- 7/31

Tuesday
Nearly 80% of the one million cases of AIDS in China are in rural areas. In the late 1990's the selling of contaminated blood led to the first outbreak of the disease. In some villages in Henan and Anhui the infection rate reaches up to 20% of the population. Unfortunately, churches in those villages (due to fear of the disease and discrimination) have generally discouraged people with AIDS from being part of their fellowship. Let us pray for the thousands of believers who have contracted AIDS and their relationship with their shepherds and other members of their churches .

Wednesday
More than 200,000 professionals involved in China's marriage broking business will soon be required to take training and pass exams to continue. All newly-opened marriage broking companies must have at least four qualified marriage professionals. In China it is hard for women to find a mate who is a believer since there are few Christian men. We remember all the older and godly women who have a burden to match young believers who are dating with other who are seeking God's will in their lives .

Thursday
In China it is not unusual to see someone outdoors in pajamas in the daytime. Likewise it is interesting to see laborers clad in formal suits with sneakers with labels on the clothing. A new crop of image consultants are trying to improve the image and change the inappropriate dress code in China. Worship in China's house churches varies greatly from that in Western churches. Many insist that only their style of worship is Biblical and attack others who worship in a different way. Let us pray for unity, humility, and Kingdom-mindedness especially among the house churches.

Friday
It is predicted that in twenty years China's population will peak at 1.5 billion and then begin to decline. Already the world's largest country, China grew last year by 7.68 million to a population of 1.307 billion. The need for the gospel in China is greater than ever before. The responsibility of Chinese churches is also greater both in evangelism and the training of badly needed church workers. Again we pray for the mighty working of the Holy Spirit among Chinese believers and the soon arrival of the day that China itself becomes a great missionary-sending country .

Saturday
A survey in Asia asked “Where would you like to be born, if you have a choice?” Chinese chose Singapore (1st), Hong Kong (2nd) and Korea (3rd). Singapore was the top choice for Japanese and Koreans as well. Singapore was preferred because of her beauty, stability and peacefulness. We take this time to give thanks for the Singaporean churches, for her strong emphasis on mission, support for churches in China and training of young Chinese pastors, both Three-self and house churches .

Sunday
The view and status of women among China’s many ethnic minority groups are generally low. Women in general are considered to be of a lower social strata which includes no education for girls and early marriages to lessen the financial burdens for the family. hanging the view of men toward women is very difficult. Let us pray for the work of the church in these regions, that they will teach Biblically, for education for young girls, and for spiritual growth among all women believers .

Monday
Until the early 1980's a Mao suit consisting of a simple buttoned-down jacket usually in a dark color and a pair of shapeless cotton trousers was the standard attire for most Chinese. Now only older people and peasants wear such outfits which are hard to find. Modern China is fashion-conscious and unfortunately churches tend to judge what one wears also. Let us pray against the danger of favoritism in all believers, especially those in the city churches that they won't look down on those who are not so well-dressed.

星期二
中國100萬名愛滋病患中，有80%是在農村，他們因賣血受到感染及無防範性行爲等而使愛滋病迅速蔓延。河南安徽許多村莊受感染的村民高達20%。當地教信徒往往因爲害怕被傳染，而不歡迎愛滋病患一同聚會團契。讓我們為這些患愛滋病的基督徒禱告，求神賜他們平安喜樂的心和堅定不移的信心，也幫助教會學習如何接納這些病患，好讓他們仍然能在教會有美好的事奉和團契。

星期三
中國新規定近20萬專業婚姻介紹所業者必須接受訓練並通過考試才能繼續經營。新成立的的婚姻介紹所每間必須至少有4位合格的專業人員才能開業。中國的女信徒遠遠多過男信徒，適婚姐妹要覓得合適對象並不容易。一些年長敬虔的姐妹常有負擔為年輕信徒做媒，求神祝福她們手中的工，也藉著她們幫助年輕信徒建立屬神的家庭。

星期四
在中國，穿著睡衣白晝外出是常見的事，工人身穿綉有名字和公司名號的西裝、腳著跑步鞋工作勞動，也相當普遍。近來許多年輕新貴開始講究衣著品味，款式或顔色搭配都請教所謂「形象顧問」，中國人的裝束也漸新穎多姿起來。同樣中西方教會的敬拜方式和習慣也相距千里。其中有信徒堅持只有自己的方式纔符合聖經教導，甚至攻擊與其不同的教會。求神使眾教會都能以神的國度為念謙卑、合一，同心合意興旺福音。

星期五
曾有人估計中國人口在20年内將達到15億的高峰，繼而開始下降。中國已是當今世上最大的國家，去年就為13億人口再添上768萬。中國對福音的需要明顯加劇，華人教會所肩負的傳福音和培訓工人的責任更為重大。讓我們為中國教會和信徒禱告，懇求聖靈動工使信徒們爲主大發熱心，讓中國早日成爲宣教大國。

星期六
如果可以選擇，你希望在那裏誕生？在一項亞洲調查結果顯示，中國人的首選是新加坡，其次是香港，韓國排第三。而日本人和韓國人的第一選擇也都是新加坡。原因是新加坡美麗、安全和政治穩定。讓我們記念新加坡教會對宣教工作的擺上，不但支持中國的眾教會，也持續為華人教會培訓年輕牧者。求神記念並祝福他們有源源不絕的能力和愛心，並在中國各地結出美好的福音果子。

星期日
中國少數民族婦女的社會地位相當低落，女孩常被視爲家庭的經濟負擔。因此一般都沒有機會受教育，又常爲減輕家計而被迫早婚。要想改變這種重男輕女的傳統觀念非常困難，我們求神使用當地的教會，能從聖經真理的基礎上教導平衡的性別觀，也把握機會教導女孩們讀書識字，幫助所有女信徒在自我價值和靈命上都能健全成長。

星期一
直到80年代，中國的標準服裝，還是“毛裝”，即簡單前扣式的深色夾克，搭配寬鬆直落的棉織長褲。現在只能在老年人和貧窮的農民身上才看得到。今日的中國講究時尚品味，就連教會也開始有「先敬羅衣後敬人」的現象，尤其城市教會的信徒，崇尚時髦之餘，往往看不起衣著平凡或貧窮的人。求主保守眾信徒能有單純謙卑的心，脫離眼目情欲和屬世的誘惑和捆綁。以渴慕真理及善工的心取代時尚的追求。

Prayer Request 7/18--7/24

Tuesday
China faces a critical shortage of teachers for grades 5-6. To attract qualified new teachers to serve in the remote villages, Hubei will give 5000 annual bonus to those who stay for 3 years of service. Many teachers have left for better jobs in the cities. No one is offering incentives to go to rural churches. The exodus of rural pastors happens daily. Let us pray for all the believers who have taken up the leadership and teaching role in their congregation. We pray for their walk with God and their studies of the Word .

Wednesday
In Guangxi, about 830,000 children are born every year, mostly from rural, remote and mountainous regions. Many rural families violate the nation's one-child policy and often turn down hospital care for fear of repercussion. Hospital birth rate is below 40%.In these regions, 1 out of 100 births involves a dead mother, with many orphans left behind. We remember all Christians involved in orphanage ministry, for what they do unto the smallest, they have done for Christ Himself .

Thursday
The government announced successful eradication of iodine deficiency after 10 years of adding iodine to table salt. In remote provinces like Gansu, Christian agencies are helping with large-scale education and supplying iodized salt in the predominantly Muslim regions. Believers are to be the light and salt of the earth. Balancing church works with community relief is often difficult in China. Let us pray for powerful witness through the demonstration of the compassion of Christ .

Friday
China scraps plans to make sex-selective abortion a crime. China has 119 boys born for every 100 girls, an imbalance that has grown since it introduced a one-child policy more than 25 years ago. Female believers outnumber male believers in China churches and this trend will most likely continue. We pray for all the young women today who are deciding whether to answer God’s call to serve churches in various capacities and for those who are already serving in leadership positions .

Saturday
The first divorce company opened to brisk business in Haina, helping 3 couples getting divorced in one week, by offering legal consultant and property distribution. It also provides investigation and obtaining evidences for filing divorce. In 2005, China reports more divorces than marriages. Let us pray for guarding of all believers family and those who are considering leaving their spouses. We too pray for all Christians involving in providing family conflict resolution in several cities .

Sunday
4.13 million college graduates will be looking for work this summer. According to a survey, more and more qualified graduate students feel they have no other choice than to accept the zero-salary policy if they want to work. Working for no pay just to land a position in a company seems very desperate, but many church workers do serve the Lord with little pay. Let us remember all who preach and serve faithfully in church without salary .

Monday
A survey of 1,200 enterprises shows that 34% of China’s college graduates demand a salary of 1,000 RMB per month (US$125). However, the trend of lower starting wages for college graduates continues.Experts say people have begun questioning the necessity of college education. Nearly 3,000 students will be entering seminary every year. We pray for those who are in prayer and contemplating equipping themselves to serve full time this fall semester

星期二
中國農村目前六年級學生正逢人數高峰，因此師資短缺問題嚴重，很多老師爲了賺更多錢，都到城裏去發展。湖北省爲此頒給執教達三年的農村老師每年5千人民幣獎金。 在農村教會服事的人沒有什麼獎勵，每天都有傳道人離去。讓我們特別為許多信徒們代理離職牧者在教會負責帶領和教導工作來禱告。求神賜他們智慧研讀神的話，並且保守他們常在神的真理中與神同行。

星期三
廣西每年約有83萬個孩子出生，大多是來自鄉村、偏遠山區和和少數民族。他們因爲超生，不理會政府的一子政策，婦女一般都不願到醫院檢查和生産，免得被罰款或被迫節育，也因此在醫院的出生率低於40%，且每百名產婦中，會有1人死于生産，留下許多孤兒。在此地有基督徒開辦的孤兒院和相關事工，求神親自祝福這群為彰顯神愛而做在最小的人身上的基督徒，也使孤兒們在得到幫助時也能得到救恩。

星期四
中國政府宣稱十年來在食鹽中加碘措施，已成功達成消除人民缺碘病變的目標。而在偏遠地區如甘肅省穆斯林族群，基督教機構也不斷在幫助教育人們對碘的認識和協助供應碘鹽。基督徒應在世上作光作鹽，但在中國，要平衡兼顧教會、傳福音，和社區服務以解決社會問題非常不容易。求神激勵每一位信徒，都能積極為神作見證，用實際行動來詮釋出神的憐憫和慈愛。

星期五
中國取消了把性別選擇性墮胎訂為非法的計劃。中國目前出生的孩童男女比例是119比100。因爲重男輕女的觀念驅使人們墮女胎保男胎，使得這種不平衡自25年前實行一子政策以來不斷加劇。 在中國教會，女信徒人數也遠超過男信徒，而此差距仍逐年增加，未來年輕女信徒可能必須在教會各個崗位上擔當重要的領導角色，讓我們為這些女信徒有信心，並知道如何回應神的呼召來禱告，求神也在愛心信心和知識上操練她們，預備將來成爲教會主幹。

星期六
最近海南島開設了第一家專門辦理離婚的公司，一周内就有3對夫婦辦離婚。該公司除了提供法律諮詢，協助產業分配，還提供私家調查以搜尋離婚證據。據報導，2005年中國的離婚數遠超過結婚者，求神保守眾信徒的家庭和婚姻。尤其是起念想離開配偶的，求神親自改變他們，能有智慧解決問題。中國一些城市裏設有基督徒參與的家庭婚姻輔導中心，求神感動所有基督徒願意投入相關事工以化解當今社會嚴重的家庭危機。

星期日
目前國內413萬大學畢業生覓職正值降薪寒潮，許多高素質畢業生感到十分無奈也別無選擇，爲謀一職位，甚至必須先以「無薪試用」來吸引雇主。很多教會的同工，爲了主的緣故，即使薪水低甚至因教會貧窮無法支付薪水，仍甘心義務服事。讓我們為所有這些忠心的神僕禱告，求神按時供應他們一切所需，加添信心和力量來作主工，並感動其他信徒樂意分擔重擔，使事工能繼續不至受阻。

星期一
一項針對1200家公司的調查顯示，34% 的中國大學畢業生要求1,000人民幣（120元美金）月薪，但是近年來畢業生的起薪已越來越低，人們開始質疑接受大學教育的必要性。神學院每年約有3,000名新生入學，讓我們為這群準備在秋季進入神學院的新生禱告，求神讓他們除了清楚呼召，更給他們堅定心智，認真接受裝備，成為主忠心良善的工人，等候主差遣。

prayer Request 7/11 -- 7/17

Tuesday
Chinese Bible have been available mostly in the Three-self churches, but that is about to change. Hopefully by the end of this year, Bible will be available in secular bookstore nationwide because the newly printed Chinese Bible will have an ISBN number.With the Bible soon become openly available. Let us pray that many more will be drawn to the Word of God and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We also remember all who have made sacrifice in the past making Bible available .

Wednesday
Many people who are from the very poor ethnic minority in Guizhou feel it is necessary to sell their blood to add to their finances. If they sell blood twice a month (85 yuan each time), they double their income and the plasma collected goes to make various medicines to fight Hepatitis B. Selling one's blood carries a social stigma similar to that of being a prostitute. We take this time to remember all the poor, despised, and homeless people whom Jesus loves .

Thursday
There were about 260,000 foreigners holding stable jobs in China in 2005. To qualify for a Chinese green card, to stay without a visa, one must have made “outstanding contributions” or be “of special importance to China.” Obtaining a visa to stay is a headache for nearly all missionaries in China. Many have to exit and reenter China 1-2 times a year. We pray for all foreigners involved in church work and those who have been rejected and must leave China .

Friday
The popularity of the "10 yuan" store is much greater than that of the old "1 yuan", "6 yuan", or "8 yuan" stores in nearly every city. People feel they have more choices this way. Low cost and a high volume gives the owner a good profit. In churches, the larger churches always offer stronger preaching and more programs which make it difficult for smaller churches to compete with them. We pray for divine encouragement for churches that are losing members and their discouraged leaders .

Saturday
According to a survey done in Hebai of 1021 companies, 42% of them did not pay their workers the minimum wage and 76% of the workers did not receive the overtime pay which the law mandated. Serving the Lord as a church worker is never for the money one gets yet low compensation has deterred many who wanted to serve God. It has also contributed to the lack of workers. We pray for those who continue to serve and live by faith. We pray, too for strength and passion for those who serve in a church and also work a full-time job .

Sunday
Three hundred recent master's degree graduates in law from the respectable Wuhan University could not find jobs and only five of them landed a position as a civil servant. A college degree is no guarantee one will get a job these days in China. We take this time to pray for all those who have received Bible training in the past but are not for some reason serving in a church now. There is a great need for workers in churches but the attrition rate is very high .

Monday
A mere 56 people work in various departments for Olympic planning this summer after having completed the Beijing Olympic Volunteer Training Program in June.Volunteering to work without compensation is still a very foreign concept for most Chinese. In most churches the work is generally done by elderly or retired people. There is still a great lack of young people involved in volunteering. Let us pray for this selfish tendency in all of us and for more giving among the young believers in churches in China .


星期二
多年來只有在三自教會可以買到中文聖經的事實就快成爲歷史了。最快在今年底，印上國際標準書號(ISBN)的聖經將公開在中國各地的一般書局出售。感謝神！中國境內聖經將能夠隨處可得。求神使更多人被祂的話語吸引而得著耶穌基督的救恩。同時也在禱告中記念過去爲了使聖經普及而付出極大代價的同工。

星期三
貴州少數民族中，許多人因爲窮困而被迫賣血來維持生計。一個月賣兩次血就能使他們收入比平日增加一倍。而那些血或血漿可制成各種抗B型肝炎的藥物和抗體。在中國社會裡，賣血是件不光彩的事，常和賣身賣淫一樣被人輕視。讓我們為這些貧窮，被看低，和無家可歸的人禱告，因為他們也是主耶穌所鍾愛的，求神憐憫眷顧這些社會邊緣的人。

星期四
2005年在約有超過26萬的外籍人士在中國有長期穩定的工作。要獲得無須簽證的永久居留權，必須對國家有非常重大的貢獻。大多數宣教士為了在國內居留，都需要每年多次離境再重新入境。不僅耗費大量金錢、時間，也增添許多不便。讓我們爲這些因服事需要辦理簽證的外籍人士禱告，也記念許多被拒簽必須離開的，求主為他們開路。

星期五
中國幾乎每個城市中都有「10元店」。由於規模大數量多，可以減低商品成本，給消費者更多價廉物美的選擇，因此也遠比往昔的1元店、6元店和8元店更受歡迎。同樣的，大型教會的設施、信息和各型節目林立，是小型教會所不能及的，因此常常將小規模教會的信徒吸走。讓我們為那些流失會友的小教會及牧者禱告，求神親自安慰和鼓勵，能持守崗位，繼續忠心服事。

星期六
調查顯示，河北1021家公司中有42%未遵照法定最低工資標準，76%的員工未獲法定的加班費。教會同工服事主雖決非爲了金錢，然而超低薪金也讓許多有志服事神的人退卻，此乃目前工人短缺的一大因素。求神不斷加給他選召的工人們信心和能力，來面對事奉和生活上各樣的難處。也記念賜福許多帶職事奉的信徒，以堅定的信心和熱情回應神的呼召，與神同工。

星期日
最近有300名武漢大學法律碩士班畢業生找不到工作，僅有5人覓得普通公務員之職。看來在中國擁有文憑不再是工作保障。 反觀教會卻是工人短缺，一些受過神學訓練的人因種種原因不在教會服事，也有些人服事不能持久。讓我們為這些現象禱告，求神興起更多能負主軛的工人，並給教會領袖有栽培和訓練新血輪的智慧和恩賜。

星期一
北京奧林匹克组委每年都有招募志願者，今年有500個電話諮詢，630人報名，最後鄰選56位接受訓練，他們將參與3個月的全職或兼職服務。志願義工的概念在中國還很新，而且風氣不盛。在許多教會裏面，也只有年長或退休的人才參與服事。年輕人卻很少參與服事，而且也不常持久。求主打碎我們每個人自我的本性，願意爲主背起榮耀的十字架，以實際行動操練愛主愛人的信心。

Prayer Request 7/4 -- 7/10

Tuesday
From gift money (which should be an even number) to avoiding four (which is similar in sound to the word for death) unflinching faith in "lucky" numbers can be found everywhere in China. Every year Hong Kong and Guangdong get millions of dollars from auctioning license plate with lucky numbers. Ten years of the Cultural Revolution once denounced, condemned, and banned such practices but they have come back. May the Lord grant all believers liberty from the bondage of such deeply ingrained practices .

Wednesday
The city of Shenzhen boasts more than 43% of city bureaus have a woman chief or vice-chief. “Women hold up half of the sky”says a famous Mao’s saying. In fact, Shenzhen also has a huge number of women who owns their business or shops.During the Communist period, the status of women was advanced tremendously. China probably has the highest ration of women serving as pastor too. We take this time to pray for all the women who preach, lead and teach in every congregation. May the Lord give them strength and insight to lead .

Thursday
A few years ago, when K-Gold jewelry became available, consumer's acceptance was low and was regarded as low-grade products. Older Chinese buys only pure gold. However, it has gained popularity among the younger buyers for its lower price and novelty style. Some would say, the faith of younger Chinese today have not been tested as pure gold.We pray for genuine faith of all believers, may it be intellectuals who embrace Christianity as a solution for modern China, or farmers who seek immediate improvement of their poverty .

Friday
The question on the minds of everyone in all of the cities in China is, "Is the price of houses going up or down?" In Shanghai the price near the city center continues to rise but everywhere else near Shanghai it is dropping. In Hangzhou which is considered the best city to live in, the trend is the same. Buying a house near one's church is a luxury in China. An affordable house usually requires a long commute to one's church. Let us pray for all who move to new locations and must find (literally seek out) a church in which they feel comfortable .

Saturday
Chinese Constitution says, all workers should work no more than 8 hours a day and 44 hours weekly. There is also 1 day off a week and employer must provide paid holidays. However, this law is practically ignored especially for the mingong, farmers who work in the cities. Few Chinese church workers actually take a day off during the week. Let us remember all who labor for Christ serving in churches, may they find physical and spiritual renewal, and most importantly quality time with their family and their children .

Sunday
Building a new and big house in the village is what many farmers do after working in the cities for several years. Such new houses create a tremendous pressure for others do abandon farmer and seek work elsewhere.Majority of young people in rural area consider leaving farming inevitable. Many have the opportunity to be hear the Gospel in the cities. We pray for churches that overcome their sense of superiority and specifically outreach to the laborers from the countryside .

Monday
The AIDS epidemic in Henan was fueled by poor peasants who sold blood plasma in the 1990's. Blood is no longer collected in Henan but the system is now carried out in the even poorer province of Guizhou in the Southwest. Each "donor" now receives 85 yuan ($10.US) compared with 50 yuan in Henan fifteen years ago. Church work in Guizhou has been slow and the soil is hard. Let us pray for all who labor and risk their lives in sharing the gospel and the power of Jesus' blood in this region .

星期二
中國人送禮一定要成雙，且避免有“4”（諧音同“死”）。在生活中到處可見人們企求吉祥數字，每年香港和廣東公開拍賣吉祥車牌，竟能要價上百萬。這究竟是中國文化習俗還是迷信？十年的文化大革命掃除許多古舊流俗，也攻擊迷信，但這些迷信在二三十年內又死灰復燃。求神讓祂的兒女能夠掙脫根深蒂固惡習與迷信的捆綁，享受主應許的自由生命與平安之道。

星期三
深圳市政府中有高達43% (3千多個)「 巾幗文明崗」——意即婦女擔任市府正副主任（領導）高職，印証了毛澤東的名言：婦女撐起半邊天。該地自己擁有事業的婦女比例亦高居全國之冠。在共產制度下，中國女人的地位提高了許多，中國目前也是全世界女牧師比例最高的國家。求神賜智慧和能力給所有在教會中作領導、講道、和教導的姐妹們，按真道牧養主羊，用成熟靈命和生活見証榮神益人，成爲教會和信徒的好領袖。

星期四
中國人崇尚純金首飾， K金常被視爲次品，不太為消費者接納。但由於K金價格較低且款式新穎多變，已日漸受年輕人歡迎。有人說現在年輕基督徒的信仰未曾經過考驗，信心如未經火煉的金子般不純淨。基督徒知識分子把基督教信仰看作解決現代中國問題的管道；農民則希望耶穌使他們賺錢擺脫窮困。我們求神煉淨每位基督徒，使祂兒女都有純正信仰和單純的信心，像精金經得起考驗，不做華而不實的「K金」基督徒。

星期五
很多人都在關心房價的走勢。在上海，除了市中心的房價還在上漲，其他已在跌價。連公認最適合居住的杭州市房價也在下跌。在中國，買得到靠近自己教會的房子幾近奢求。能負擔的新房往往很遠，要尋合適的新教會非常不容易。讓我們爲尋找教會的信徒禱告，求神按祂的智慧和心意帶領他們能很快找到教會並得到充份造就和牧養。

星期六
中國憲法規定勞動者一天工作不能超過8小時，一星期不能超過44小時，且每週需至少有一天假期，單位必須保證勞動者每週至少有一天有薪假期。但實際上許多從農村到城裏的民工卻被剝削了這些權益。教會的牧者，也鮮有週休日，讓我們記念所有為基督勞苦的教會同工，求神常常復興他們的身心靈，更能有陪伴家人和孩子的寶貴時間。

星期日
許多農民從城裏打了幾年工回來，都想在家鄉蓋一間像樣的大房子。這些房子卻帶給留在本地工作的人極大的壓力。大多數鄉鎮地區的年輕人也認爲有必要離開農田出外找工作。很多人因爲到城裏工作，才有機會接觸福音。我們禱告神為教會和城裏的基督徒開啓傳福音的新方向和視野；能排除本身的優越感和偏見，配合神的計劃接觸這些民工，將救恩真理分享給他們。

星期一
河南因爲90年代貧困農民賣血漿引發艾滋病的消息廣泛傳開，現在血漿採集已經轉移到更貧窮的貴州。每位“捐血者”之「回報」也從15年前的每次50圓人民幣，升到85圓（美金10元）。兩百多年來，貴州的福音和教會事工拓展都非常緩慢，是塊荒蕪的硬土。讓我們記念在當地所有為神流過血汗的人，並為甘冒生命危險在此宣揚耶穌基督寳血大能的人禱告，求神護庇他們，藉他們把福音傳開。