Prayer Request 8/22 - 8/28

Tuesday
Authorities in Shanghai shut down a privately operated Chinese style "private school" claiming the curriculum used was not approved by the government. The parents who started this school have insisted that since it is privately owned and operated, it needs no approval. Christian parents face the formidable uphill battle of raising their children to love the Lord and keep up good grades in the Chinese educational system. We pray for wisdom and commitment in teaching their children the Scriptures daily and that they will be a living example of a Christian to them .

Wednesday
"Crazy Stone", a simple, low-budget, dark social comedy recently became the hottest movie in China. It is about how people "go crazy" doing things to make money such as passing fake stones for real gems. Many of the lines in the movie have already become instant catchy phrases in everyday life. China has indeed become a society fixated on getting rich. We agree that the churches in China are in danger of being swallowed up by materialism and a loss of ethical standards. Let us pray for the safeguarding of the hearts of all believers and especially those of the leaders in the church .

Thursday
Unfortunately it takes a Chinese mega-star having a baby with a congenital deformity for the society as a whole to talk openly about birth defects like cleft palate. Christian Chinese doctors have been involved in the repair of such defects for years, even performing free surgeries in rural areas. Orphanages run by Christians have also taken in deformed children rejected by other orphanages. Let us pray for these unique ministries and that the children with scars would grow up knowing they are beautiful in God's eyes .

Friday
The prospect of having 1500 tourists from China visiting Taiwan daily is great news to all Taiwan businessmen. Everyone is expecting this to take place in time for the October 1st National holiday week. The anticipation of Chinese believers visiting churches and seminaries in Taiwan opens a new chapter too. Let us pray for even more churches in Taiwan that will become involved in training of workers and community care in China .

Saturday
The "Twelve Girls Band"--a charming dozen young ladies assembled on the basis of both musical talent and good looks was marketed as the ultimate girl band playing updated Chinese classics to Western music and using traditional Chinese instruments. Last year they made 14.5 million dollars. Hundreds of churches have their own choirs and a few have bands. Let us pray particularly for these churches that are so blessed. May the Lord use their gifts to reach out in their cities and assist those churches that have no musical resources at all .

Sunday
To take advantage of a loophole in the law, thousands of villagers near Chongqing are filing for divorce and re-marrying immediately. Newly married couples are able to get a double government housing reimbursement. Is there no sanctity in marriage in China today? Unfortunately this kind of thing is not uncommon. Let us pray for the guarding of the hearts of all believers who are contemplating divorce as a "way out of their unhappiness" or a "change of life style ".

Monday
China considers all private schools illegal if the curriculum is not approved by the Ministry of Education. High school entrance examinations are based on a standardized textbooks and curriculum. Technically and legally Sunday school for children is strictly forbidden. However many churches offer an improvised or "homemade" curriculum for Sunday school. In general the teachers lack even basic training. We pray for more resources and especially for those who tirelessly work to teach children about the life of Jesus .

星期二
上海當局關閉了一所私立學校“孟母堂”，原因之一是所使用的教材未經當局審核。創辦學校的家長們卻堅持私立學校不需要審核。在中國教育體制和環境下，基督徒父母面對的大挑戰就是，要培養孩子愛主，同時又要他們維持好成績。讓我們為信徒父母禱告，求神賜智慧，使他們立志用聖經的話教導孩子，並把信仰活出來成爲眾人的榜樣。

星期三
一齣簡單、低成本製作的中國新黑色幽默電影“瘋狂的石頭”，意外成爲最賣座的國片。該片描述人們 「發了瘋」似的掙錢，竟不擇手段、搶奪一塊真假難分翡翠的瘋狂景象。電影上映後，片中很多的對白更成了社會流行語。中國確實是個向錢看的社會，中國教會面對最大的問題就是物質主義和道德標準的淪喪。我們禱告神保守每個基督徒的心，特別是教會的領袖，免受屬世的價值觀侵害。

星期四
一位天后巨星不幸生下兔唇畸形兒，引起社會公開談論和關注先天性畸形的嬰孩。多年來很多基督徒醫生一直參與在農村偏遠、貧窮地區畸形兒童的免費整形手術。基督徒也開辦孤兒院收留普通孤兒院所不接受的嚴重畸形兒。我們為這些特別的事工禱告，也求神讓這些孩子能真正明白，在人的眼中或許奇異甚至遭人唾棄的，但在神眼中他們永遠是美麗的。

星期五
臺北當局將採取「自由行」模式開放大陸觀光客來臺觀光。預計每日會有1,500名遊客來台，觀光業盼望這好消息能在10月1日旅遊旺季之前開始實行。這機會也為兩岸信徒的交流展開新的契機，大陸信徒能借此機會來參觀台灣的神學院和教會。我們在此為有更多台灣教會願意參與大陸的福音和培訓工作及社區關懷服務來向神禱告。

星期六
「女子十二月坊」是 12名才貌雙全妙齡女子在包裝下組成非常時髦的樂團，她們以古典中國樂器演奏西洋音樂和流行樂，時下非常受歡迎，過去一年就有1千4百多萬美元的收入。現在有許多中國教會都有自己的詩班，有些也有敬拜讚美團。讓我們為有這些特別福氣的教會禱告，求神使用他們的恩賜來接觸當地城市裏的人，並且用他們的音樂資源來協助其他教會。

星期日
在重慶附近一村莊裏，有一千多對夫妻鑽法律漏洞，藉離婚後假結婚然後又再復婚來取得雙倍的套房配額。這類事件在中國並不少見，中國現今究竟還有沒有神聖的婚約？讓我們為信徒禱告，尤其正考慮以離婚“脫離不幸”或“給便生活方式”的夫妻，求神保守他們能看重在神面前所立的誓約，並賜給他們智慧和能力維持合神心意的婚姻。

星期一
中國教育局日前把課程未經該局審核的私塾（民辦學校）均列爲非法教育機構。高中入學試必須根據劃一的課本和課程。兒童主日學，無論是在法律或技術上都嚴格被禁。但是很多教會卻提供即興、自創的主日學課程，不過兒童主日學老師們普遍缺乏基本訓練。讓我們求神適時供應所需的資源，並為那些不辭勞苦教導孩子認識基督的老師們禱告，求神記念他們的勞苦並加添他們額外的能力來應付教導的事工。