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。