Prayer Request 9/26 --10/2

Tuesday
Wu yi, the vice premier of China, was voted by Forbes as the 3rd most powerful woman in the world. Known as the "iron lady of China," Wu Yi is a firm and direct negotiator, who unlike her colleagues refuses to dye her graying hair black. Miss Wu is single and devotes her whole day to work. Let us pray for wisdom for her as the leader of the nation. We too remember all the single church workers who give their best and their lives for the Master .

Wednesday
Jackie Chan is probably the best known Chinese philanthropist who makes the most of his high visibility and fundraising ability. In a recent interview, Chan said he has been cheated by people who took advantage of him many times. Chinese in general hold a cynical view of those who give to charitable causes and are suspicious of those who seek help. Such an attitude is also common among believers. Let us pray for wisdom as believers learn to live out the compassion of Jesus Christ .


Thursday
Wu yi, the vice premier of China, is 67 years old. The official retirement age in China is “Manager: male, 60, female 55. Worker, male 55, female 50.” Such limits ensure job openings for young people. Many are forced to retire and start a second career. There are many 50 years old and older church members who are retired and able to help out in ministries. Let us pray for this huge group who with trainings and Biblical equipping can be a great work force for God .

Friday
Mao and the President are not the “the most familiar faces in China.” Surprisingly, they are the faces of the hosts and hostesses of China Central TV (CCTV). Several of them host the highly anticipated annual events which command a viewing rate of 80-90%. Who are the most familiar names associated with China churches? The answer varies depending on who one asks. Let us prayerfully watch God raise a new generation of powerful believers who preach His Words, impacting the intellectuals and bridging closure to the past hurts .

Saturday
Why is TV programming produced by Hunan TV so popular? Each province in China has its own TV network. Hunan TV owes its success to being innovative and appealing to young people with such hits like the “Super Female Voice” talent contest. Christianity in China needs badly to reach the younger generation. The impression of churches is still of the peasants and uneducated. Let us pray for all the churches and house groups who outreach specifically to the students and young professionals .

Sunday
A private school operated by parents in Shanghai was shut down for unapproved curriculum. It teaches some well-known Chinese classics, Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” for English, and yoga and tai chi for physical education. Christian parents in China have very little resources to teach their children. Finding a copy of Bible stories with pictures is priceless and a dream for many parents. Let us pray for people with vision to provide this need with translation and copyrights .

Monday
Japanese are crazy about Chinese movies. In fact, Japan has become the most important foreign market. Big hits like “Hero” and “The House of Flying Daggers” brought in revenues 5 times more in Japan than the rest of Asia. Japanese appreciation of Chinese culture and media is not reciprocated in China because of the memory of war atrocities. But, with so many Chinese working and study in Japan, let us pray for the raising up of Chinese to share the Gospel in Japan .

星期二
中國副總理吳儀，在最近的《福布斯》雜誌推選的世界100女強人排行榜中名列第三。她頭髮白了也不染黑，談判風格鐡性十足，堪稱鐡娘子。吳儀單身，她把所有時間都投在工作上。讓我們禱告副總理能有智慧來領導中國，也記念單身，願意把最自己完全獻給主的肢體，求神祝福並在事奉的道路上與他們親密同行。

星期三
藝壇大哥成龍以高曝光率和籌善款力見稱，可説是華人知名度最高的慈善家。他在採訪裏表示，做慈善事業曾多次被人欺騙。中國人普遍懷疑善心人士的動機，對援助者的真偽也存疑。連基督徒在社區慈善服務時，也常會感到困惑，求神賜給信徒聰明智慧分辨和處理，發揚神的大慈愛，高舉基督耶穌的聖名。

星期四
爲保障年輕人的工作機會，官方的管理幹部退休標準是男60女55；職工男55女50。67歲的中國副總理吳儀雖已過退休年齡，但仍活躍政壇。目前有很多正值壯年卻被迫退休的人開始了第二個事業。尤其是許多50歲領了退休金後的信徒在教會積極參與各種服事，成為教會的主力軍。讓我們特別為這一大群黃金銀髮族禱告，求神在事奉的各項需要上裝備他們，成爲拓展神國事工的精兵。


星期五
在中國，人們最熟悉的面孔不再是毛澤東也非國家總理，答案竟是中央電視的節目主持人。他們的名字家喻戶曉，主持全國收視率高達80-90%的年度大型節目。論到中國教會，人們會聯想到誰呢？答案雖因回答者的立埸而異，但我們仍懇切禱告，求神興起滿有屬靈生命的新一代信徒，讓他們不但能有力傳講神的話，也能影響新一代的知識分子，並撫平人們過去所受的種種創傷。

星期六
爲什麽湖南電視臺製作的節目特別受歡迎？中國有中央電視臺，每個省也有自己的電視臺。但是湖南電視臺能夠在堅持「不做有害節目」的原則下，創新突破，貼近大衆喜好，吸引年輕觀眾群，比如製作「超級女聲」。中國的教會也必須更觸及年輕人的需要。目前教會整體上一向給人印象是偏向屬於農村、農民或低教育水平。讓我們特別為中國教會禱告，尤其針對學生和職青的事工，求神親手引領。

星期日
上海由家長創辦的一所私立學校—孟母堂，日前因被定為違法辦學而關閉。他們教學課程包括易經，道德經，等古典文學和莎士比亞的仲夏夜之夢等，體育課則教瑜伽或太極。中國的基督徒父母教導孩子的資源不多，一本圖畫聖經故事書，已是父母們夢寐以求的無價寶。我們求神感動更多有前瞻有異象的信徒，從事著作、翻譯適合兒童或年輕人的基督教書籍，在文字事工領域為主嬴得下一代。

星期一
日本人對中國電影的風靡使日本成爲中國電影工業最重要的海外市場。影片如「英雄」，「十面埋伏」，在日本的票房收入是其他亞洲地區的５倍。相對於日本人對中國文藝和電影的喜好，中國人卻因日本人在二戰時的暴行而厭惡日本。不過現在仍有許多中國人在日本求學或工作。我們禱告神醫治、釋放中國人的戰爭傷害，並且興起基督徒向這些僑居日本的中國人傳福音。

Prayer Request 9/19 -- 9/25

Tuesday
The Chinese language is ever evolving. Every few months new terminologies or abbreviated phrases become instant buzz words. Some are political terms while others are popular and memorable phrases and yet others are packed with emotion. The term "Super Girls" describes the near-frenzy in China about the yearly televised nationwide talent competition. Churches in China are changing just as quickly. Let us remember the many new churches that consist mostly of college students springing up in numerous cities .

Wednesday
Right now the number one prime time TV show in China, a drama with full ancient Chinese costumes, is "The Qiao's Mansion" which is the story of a business man who valued moral uprightness and trust above personal gain. Many would say that it is difficult to find a business man in China with good ethics. We pray for all believers who own businesses. May the Lord use them as great witnesses who even lead their clients and customers to Christ .

Thursday
Yung Wing was the first Chinese student to study abroad. After he studied English for three years, he then graduated from Yale in four years before going home and becoming a well-known educator there. Foreign-trained Chinese intellectuals have a profound effect on the direction of the course that China takes. Let us pray for all who have studied and accepted Jesus abroad. May the Lord continue to strengthen their faith as they live it out in an often hostile environment .

Friday
Thirty years after the founding of the People's Republic of China and 130 years after the first Chinese student studied in Yale, the first group of students (50) arrived in the United States in 1978. In the past thirty years more than 700,000 students from the PRC have studied abroad but only 140,000 have returned to their native country. This trend of studying abroad will continue. Let us pray for all the churches that are caring for new groups of students through various ministries and special meetings as they arrive in the US. We give thanks for all the new students who will become believers this Fall .

Saturday
The average pay for foreign-trained Chinese professionals who return to China has dropped steadily as more returnees (hai gui) compete for the available jobs. The pay was once highly lucrative but the amount has steadily decreased by 10,000 yuan a year. In 2003, it was 43,000 yuan a year ($5,200 US).Many returnees have started Bible study groups, Sunday schools, and worship services in their homes. Many have returned only for the purpose of sharing their faith and planting churches. We pray for all the churches under their unique leadership .

Sunday
Working and living in China as a "hai gui" (foreign-trained professional returnee) is not necessarily cheap. Food is cheap but housing and owning a car in Beijing and Shanghai is very expensive. Education of their children in private schools can take a third of their salaries. The main obstacle for all who desire to serve in China is to find a good school and then pay for that education. We pray for all the international schools that cater to foreigners and returnees who are there with the sole purpose of serving God in China .

Monday
In China, to have a housekeeper costs about 600-800 yuan (less than $100.US) a month. Many foreigners and Chinese expatriates (hai gui) employ them and treat these "A Yi" (aunties) just like members of their own families. Many of these aunties who work for families of believers have come to faith in the Lord because of the love and kindness shown them by their employers. Let us pray for the powerful witness these believing families can have in their homes and to their neighbors .

星期二
中國的語言和文字變化日新月異，每隔數月就有新詞彙、流行語或簡稱名詞產生。它們衍生於廣泛流行的政治術語、附帶情緒的語辭、紀念詞句，及大量新聞傳媒內容。如去年全國最瘋狂的歌唱比賽就產生了「超女」一詞。國內教會也同樣隨著社會形態和需要迅速變化。尤其興起了很多以大學生爲主的新生教會。求神幫助他們在屬靈上茁壯成長，在社會中作鹽發光，使更多大學生和知識分子得到救恩的福樂。

星期三
中國中央電視的黃金檔大劇「喬傢大院」自開播以來即迅速躥紅。此劇描述一名傳奇晉商結合義、信、利且把利排在最後，實現了救民富國的抱負。因有很正面的價值觀和處世態度，而大受歡迎。人說在中國難找到有道德良心的正直商人。讓我們為所有基督徒商人禱告，求神保守他們有正直的心，能在生意往來的客戶或主顧中爲主作見證，領人歸主。

星期四
中國首位海外留學生容閎于1847年抵美。他先念了三年英語，四年後畢業於耶魯大學，繼而歸國成了知名的教育家。歷來從海外回來的「海歸」能對中國發展的整個方向產生極大的影響力。讓我們為留學生禱告，求神讓他們有機會接受主，也求主在艱難的環境中堅固學生信徒的信心，透過聚會團契彼此扶持成長。

星期五
中共建國30年後，於1978年首次官派留學人員（50位）赴美，與首位留學先驅赴美相距130年。在過去這三十年來出國留學的中國學員總數約70萬，學成回國的只有14萬人。未來出國留學的趨勢仍會繼續。讓我們為海外的教會能為這些留學生準備各樣福音事工和聚會來禱告，使他們能聽到福音信主並且得到靈命上的造就，將來回國能繼續傳播、栽種、收割福音的禾場。

星期六
隨著中國職業市場競爭日劇。海外歸國者的年薪已從90年代幾十萬人民幣高薪，逐年降低至2003年的4萬三（5千美元）。很多城市裏都有「海歸」基督徒開辦的查經班、主日學、甚至有家庭聚會和崇拜，帶領了很多人信主。也有很多人回國並不是爲了賺錢，而是要向國人傳福音、建立教會。求神保守帶領這些海歸信徒，祝福他們手中一切的善工。

星期日
海歸在國內要維持與國外相當的生活水平並不容易。因爲除了食物外，其餘開銷包括房子和車子都非常昂貴。單單教育費就佔了許多人1/3的薪水，因爲回國的孩子需要上私立學校。這都是令有心返國者卻步的難題。感謝神，目前國內有十多間專為外國人或海歸子女設立的國際學校，其宗旨是提供在中國服事者的孩子適當的教育。求神繼續為有志服事主的人開路，能進一步解決他們孩子的教育及生活適應問題。

星期一
國內雇一個管家（阿姨）的費用約600-800元人民幣，很多外國人和海歸都會請管家。很多在基督徒家庭工作的阿姨也成了信徒，因為神透過這些僱主對她們流露出主耶穌的愛和恩慈。讓我們記念所有國外歸國的人，尤其是基督徒家庭，無論在家或在外，求神透過他們向周遭的人及鄰居、朋友都有美好的信仰見証帶出神的慈愛恩典，領人歸主。

Prayer Request 9/12 -- 9/18

Tuesday
Officials in Taiyuan, Shanxi recently prosecuted the biggest Chinese porn website. It had more than ten million hits daily with 619,000 registered users--mostly middle school students. The government has crack down on Internet porn but with only limited success. Christian youth and adults face the same temptations as others but churches have been slow to address this problem. Let us pray for the guarding of hearts for all of us and especially for Christian Chinese youth .

Wednesday
In the new casinos in Macau, Chinese are the biggest gamblers. In spite of the fact that the Communist Party has warned that any party members caught gambling will lose their membership, thirty to forty year-old young men from Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing donned in polo shirts and slacks wager staggering amounts of money. Chinese people love to gamble. Let us pray for this age-old sin of our people and that of the ten million Chinese visitors to Macau every year, that some will come to know the Lord through the churches in Macau .

Thursday
Talents wasted? A recent report claims 25 million college graduates are not working at the level of their education. The government has expanded the number of those who are allowed to enroll in college so a college diploma does not guarantee a job at all. Many, if not all Chinese believers, still consider serving God full time is a waste of their talents. The prevailing attitude is often that it is all right to give God one's second best. Let us pray that God will correct this mentality in the Chinese churches in general and in those who will be serving the Lord full-time after college this Fall .

Friday
A book was recently published in which a high-ranking Party official who claimed he had read the Bible three times and an American evangelist each gave his own view on creation, spiritual beliefs in China, and the relation between religion and science. We praise the Lord that in many concrete ways China is opening to a public discussion of faith. Chinese intellectuals have always been willing to talk about Christianity but let us pray for true acceptance of Christendom on a wider scale .

Saturday
Only a few zoos in the world have pandas. The exclusive, if not prestigious status, comes with a high price tag. Each host zoo must pay China $1,000.000 US per panda as the loan fee. The Chinese government also collects a $600,000 one-time fee for each baby panda born. Given her recent prosperity, many would question whether churches in China still need foreign assistance. Let us pray for more Chinese churches in the cities and overseas willing to give and assist the poorer rural churches.

Sunday
“The Dream of the Red Chamber” is a Chinese literary classic being re-released in film recently. The producer has great anxiety in staying true to the original story, managing a high- quality cast of 448 characters and meeting the expectation of critical viewers. Making a change in China churches just as difficult as the younger generation looks to invigorate worship and preaching. Let us pray for vitality of China churches and those who wish to breathe air of freshness in worship and outreach .

Monday
Experts say that 40% of Chinese divorces involve domestic violence. There is a long-standing history of violent beating of Chinese wives. These women, however, are generally too ashamed to reveal or report abuse at home. The divorce rate has been reaching new highs each year which shows us the underlying brokenness of the family structure in modern China. We need to uplift Chinese families with our prayers and pray for churches and believers who will speak not merely against violence but give a Biblical solution to it .

星期二
中國最大的色情網站起訴案，在山西太原開庭。該網站累計會員近62萬人，每天點擊率高達一千多萬次，會員絕大多數是未成年的中學生和青少年。雖然政府不斷在網路肅黃，總是道高一尺魔高一丈。其實成年或青少年基督徒們也同樣會面對這些誘惑，但很多教會對這類問題回應遲緩。讓我們求神保守弟兄姊妹的心，特別是年輕的信徒們，能靠著神勝過少年人的私慾。

星期三
澳門各類新穎賭場中，揮金如土的中國富豪已成為最大宗的顧客。雖然當局去年已對全國黨員和公務員發布了賭博禁令，「中國錢」仍源源不斷地湧入澳門。其中尤以上著馬球衫，下穿休閒褲30到40歲的年輕賭客最爲惹眼。中國人特別好賭，每年跨界赴澳的內地游客高達1千萬人次。讓我們爲同胞這長久以來的罪性禱告，求神憐憫這些遊客，興起澳門的教會在當地的福音事工，使他們有機會接觸福音，悔改接受基督而脫離罪的捆綁。

星期四
報告顯示中國大學畢業生低就者多達2千5百萬人，嚴重人才浪費歸因於高校的開放，畢業人數增加，卻造成了「讓猴子去游泳、讓鴨子去爬樹」的失調的情況。信徒中仍普遍有全職間事奉神是浪費的偏差觀念，「把次好的獻給神」來應付或搪塞便可。我們懇求神的憐憫來改變信徒種種不正確的心態。也爲秋季即將進入神學院裝備的神學生們代禱。求神在知識、品格、靈命上陶塑他們，立志以耶穌基督的服事為榜樣。

星期五
新書《一個無神論者和基督徒之間的友好對話》是由美國名佈道家，與宣稱曾讀過三遍聖經的政府官員合著的。感謝神，現在中國對宗教的態度已開放到能通過公開管道討論信仰。中國知識份子一向對基督教很感興趣，但往往僅當作一種知識而不願將耶穌與自己的生命相連。讓我們祈求神的憐憫與聖靈的工作，讓他們能看見除了神以外生命是別無出口，願意放下自我來相信和接受耶穌基督的救恩，認識獨一的真神。

星期六
全世界只有幾個特別的動物園有熊猫。其實這些熊猫每年每頭需付給中國政府1百萬美元爲「租借」費。而且每頭熊猫寶寶誕生，中國政府就可獲得60萬美元。近年中國經濟的蓬勃發展，開始有檢討中國教會是否仍需國外的資助的聲音。我們求神讓國內城市教會及海外教會能看貧窮農村教會在各方面的匱乏，願意繼續提供支援和急需的幫助。

星期日
曾拍成經典電視劇的中國古典名著《紅樓夢》，最近因重拍而引發各界疑慮：一怕演員不够水準，需要遴選要角多達108人；二怕「改編」變成「胡編」難於兼顧創新和忠於原著，更怕難以超逾前部。同樣的，在中國教會要求更新或改變也非常困難。年輕一代想帶動事工更活潑，保守者守著一些傳統不放。讓我們爲中國教會禱告，求神在敬拜和講台注入屬靈的活力和氣息，也賜有心突破的年輕人耐心，等候神的時間和作為。

星期一
在中國的離婚案中，40%涉及家庭暴力，男人打老婆的事件非常普遍，受害婦女基於「家醜不可外揚」，也多半默默忍受而不報警。現代中國的離婚率正逐年提高，家庭破裂情况加劇。我們禱告神托住中國的家庭，使教會和信徒不但願意關注家暴問題，也能提供符合聖經原則的教導，來防止家暴及協助解决家庭糾紛。

Prayer Request 9/5 --9/11

Tuesday
In 2005 the Chinese Communist Party which says it will continue to improve the education of its members expelled 44,738 members for corruption. The total party membership is about 70.8 million and they add about 2.3 million new members each year. Unfortunately there are Christian workers who fall and even abuse the sheep God has entrusted to them. We take this time to remember the congregations who suffer such hurt and those who need the deep love of Jesus and His forgiveness to recover .

Wednesday
In the name of promoting the local economy, Fujian Province allows the children of "big taxpayers" to get 20 points more in their senior high school entrance exam than other students. A "big taxpayer" is a businessman who turns over more than 3,000,000 yuan (US$375,000) to the local government annually. It is getting harder to find equality as the wealth gap widens. Let us pray for contentment among believers and their continuing trust in God since many Christians have become greedy and lost their fervent love for the Lord.

Thursday
In the USA, 68% of the people own their own homes, in England, 67% but in China 81% of the people own their homes. Beneath this seemingly rosy picture experts warn that 40% of people on high incomes own two or more houses and 60% of those on low incomes can barely afford their houses. Unregistered churches have chosen to buy apartments for meeting purposes but ownership is still a difficult issue because their churches are not recognized. Let us pray for the congregations who are looking for and buying their own meeting places. May the Lord add to the number of saved souls .

Friday
Two groups who are at risk of HIV infections are drug users and sex workers and often these two groups overlap. Xinjiang (30%), Yunnan (22.5%), and Guangxi (20%) lead the nation of China in terms of drug addicts who are HIV infected. Some Christian agencies are involved in the treatment of drug addiction and AIDS in Yunnan but not in other areas. We pray for more of these kinds of co-operative ventures as well as the eternal salvation of those who are freed from their addiction .

Saturday
Millions of young women work in factories that power the economy of China through exports. They work for fewer than 400 yuan ($50.US) a month. A new law guarantees fifteen days off before the birth of a child but has no provision for nursing the child longer than a month.It is very difficult for a working woman to be a mother. We pray for strength and joy for all believers who juggle the roles of motherhood and work, even those who shepherd a congregation .

Sunday
China has implemented a new ticketing system for her railways which allows online purchase of tickets and group discounts. Many people still prefer traveling by train since it avoids traffic congestion, is affordable, and there are many overnight sleeper trains. Church workers often travel by train for either business or ministry. We ask the Lord to protect them from the ever-present temptation to sexual sin on these trips .

Monday
In the three provinces in northeast China there was a massive layoff in many factories owned by the government about ten years ago. Some cities suffered unemployment of up to 30% and the lives of those who lost their jobs have been difficult. Many of the churches in these regions have also suffered when the believers lost their jobs. However, teams of missionaries from these regions continued to work and started many churches near the borders of Korea and in the West of China. We thank the Lord for their perseverance and faithfulness.

星期二
中國共產黨員已達到近7千萬，每年還有230萬新黨員加入。中共近年來嚴厲對付黨員腐敗案，黨中央表示，2005年被處理出黨的黨員有將近4萬5千名。很不幸，中國教會也有很多跌到的工人，這些牧者非但沒有盡忠牧養神所託管的羊群，反而還傷害他們。讓我們為牧者能忠心作合神心意的服事禱告，也求神特別醫治受傷的信徒，並賜他們有來自神的饒恕能力。

星期三
在包括福建省在内許多個地方，以提倡地方經濟為名，讓所謂「納稅大戶」的子女在高中入學考試上獲得加分（500分總分中獲加20分）。「納稅大戶」的資格為每年向政府納稅超過300万人民幣(US$375,000)的大亨。中國貧富差距越來越大，人民要得到平等待遇也越來越難。讓我們特別求主保守信徒們都能有知足之心繼續依靠神，別讓金錢分薄了我們對主單一的愛。

星期四
2005年中國的私宅擁有率高達81%，比起美國68%和英國67%，似乎中國人更有能力擁有自己的房子。但是專家提醒，事實上有40%擁有高薪的人擁有2棟以上的房子，另外60%低收入者仍負擔不起私宅。國內一些教會也有欠缺聚會場所的難題，因爲房子的擁有權取決於教會註冊與否。讓我們為正欲尋找購買自己聚會所的肢體禱告，求神帶領他們，並添加他們得救的人數。

星期五
中國感染艾滋病率最高的兩大群體，乃是嗜毒者和性工作者，這兩群人多是重疊的。吸毒者感染艾滋病率最高的地區分別是新疆（30%）雲南（22.5%）廣西（20%），按艾滋病累計報告病例則雲南列第一。有些基督教機構在雲南參與戒毒和協助艾滋病治療。我們禱告能有更多此類與政府合作的福音機構產生，也求神使吸毒者不僅能成功戒毒，更能得到永生福份。

星期六
中國有上百萬名年輕女性在工廠勞動，是中國經濟的原動力。她們的月薪少於400人民幣($50美元)。新的法律規定給予女工15天的產前假，卻沒有給超過一個月的產假。職業女性當上母親後常面對很多困難。有許多基督徒帶職母親，不僅身負母親和工作上的責任，更要負責照顧她們的教會，牧養會衆。讓我們為她們禱告，求主賜她們健康、能力與智慧。

星期日
中國鐵路局開始實施新的鐵路售票系統，提供網上購票和團體優惠票。由於火車既不堵車又實惠，加上有臥鋪車，坐夜車睡一覺就到達目的地，因此在中國仍是很受歡迎的交通工具。許多在中國從事培訓工作的教會同工常需要乘火車四處旅行。讓我們記念這些經常外出公幹遠行的信徒，求神加添他們體力、保護他們平安，更保守他們不會落入無所不在的色情誘惑和試探之中。

星期一
十年前中國東北三省有大量的國營工業工廠倒閉，導致成千上萬的人失業，城市失業率高達30%，許多人的生活陷入困境。這些區域裏，許多信徒“下崗”—失去工作，教會也受到影響。但是這裡許多教會和宣教團隊，卻更加活躍地工作，在韓國邊界和中國西部建立了許多教會。我們為10年來堅韌不拔忠心服事的東北教會和宣教士們來感謝神，求神繼續祝福、借重他們的手來拓展神的國。