Prayer Request 12/12 -- 12/18

Tuesday
When the government surveyed Christians in Beijing, they found that nearly seventy percent of them attended church at least once a week. In their response to this, some officials openly question why believers need to be so faithful in going to church. Going to a church in Beijing is not easy. In order to find a seat, one must get there early. To attend a house church one must have a referral and invitation. Let us pray for spiritual growth among the pastors and church workers and that all of those who minister in all of the meeting points in Beijing will have the ability to challenge their flocks to grow, too .

Wednesday
The government estimates that 3 - 20 % of college students in China may be Christians. Christianity is the fastest growing faith of any among college students. In 1998, 5.2% of Beijing College students claimed to be Christians. The government cautions that such rapid growth is dangerous. Many of the fellowships near campus are led by local or foreign students. Let us pray for the safety of all the groups and their meeting places. May the Lord raise even more who will join such efforts .

Thursday
A recent survey of 22,712 college students in Zhejiang showed that over 13 % had had sexual experiences (18% male and 9% female). These students were also more likely to smoke and drink as well as participate in dances and karaoke. Many ministries have targeted college students as the most receptive to the gospel and see them as the future of the church in China. Let us pray for a great harvest from all of the Bible study groups on campuses and for purity and the courage to share their faith for all the believers in college .

Friday
Big taxpayers, heavy investors, families where both parents hold doctorates and returned overseas scholars in Guangzhou, are allowed to have a second child, along with other special groups of people such as the remarried. Special treatments, such as exemptions from one-child policy are available to the rich. Bible teaches that there should be no favoritism in church. Let us pray for acceptance of poor, less educated and rural believers by the urban believers.

Saturday
Official Chinese radio broadcasts include programs in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uighur, Kazakh, and Korean. Officially the government does not force ethnic minorities to learn Mandarin but most young people can speak both Mandarin and their own language. Christian programming is available in these languages, too and this is often the only way to reach these ethnic groups for Jesus. Let us pray diligently for these groups and the often difficult effort to build a church among them .

Sunday
Calling someone "bu xio zhi" (a son who is not filial) is the greatest insult one can give a Chinese, for to them "Retirement is having a son." For centuries Chinese parents have expected their children, especially sons, to support them when they get old. This generation of young believers is the first one to enjoy the freedom of living independently from their parents. Many have even forgotten the Biblical command to care for one's parents. Let us pray for them, especially those whose parents are still not believers .

Monday
More than half a million people applied for government jobs for 2007. The ratio now approaches 50:1, with increase of applicants by 50% yearly. In the past, most college graduates would preferentially seek employment in foreign-owned or private business. We praise the Lord for many college students have come to know Jesus. Many have also dedicated their lives to serve full time, but face family opposition. We pray specifically for them, for continuing faith and their study in various training centers .

星期二
中國政府對北京基督徒做出的一項調查顯示，近7成的基督徒每個星期上教堂一次以上。有人公開質疑：爲什麽當代基督徒每週要到教堂做禮拜以表敬虔？在北京，上大教會聚會必須特別早到才有位子，如果要上其他教會沒人介紹或邀請是很困難的。讓我們為在北京的教會或聚會點服事的牧者和同工禱告，求主幫助他們的信仰和靈命不斷進深成熟，有能力帶領群羊茁壯地成長。

星期三
政府估計當代大學生中宗教信徒比例在3-20%之間，其中基督教爲信徒最多、影響最大的宗教。1998年，信仰基督教的北京市大學生佔了5.2%。政府對此快速發展所產生的影響力極爲重視，認爲未來將帶來許多挑戰。許多校園附近的團契或聚會點有當地或外國學生參與負責。讓我們為這些聚會和信徒的安全禱告；也求神繼續興起更多工人在學生事工中配搭。

星期四
一項對22,712名浙江大學學生取樣調查顯示：超過13%（18% 男生，和9%的女生）有過性行爲，而跳舞、唱卡拉OK、抽煙、喝酒等行爲頻率與性行爲發生有關。許多宣教事工把大學生列爲最能夠接納福音的群體，視他們為中國教會的未來。求神大大使用校園查經班，成爲傳揚福音和堅立信徒的地方。並保守大學生基督徒能彼此提醒和扶持，竭力追求聖潔純全，以信德見証福音。

星期五
在廣州一些特別的群體能和再婚者一樣，生育第二個孩子。這些人包括重量級納稅者、巨額投資家、父母皆有博士學位的家庭、以及海歸學者。在社會上富人常享有特權，豁免於「一子政策」乃其一。然而聖經教導我們在教會裏必須一視同仁，不能厚此薄彼。讓我們禱告城市教會的信徒能夠接納經濟能力較差，文化、教育水平較低，以及來自農村等不同社會背景的信徒。

星期六
國營的中文廣播電臺也播出蒙古語、藏語、維吾爾語、哈薩克語、和朝鮮語的節目。政府並不強迫少數民族學習漢語，但許多年輕一代的少數民族除學習本族語文的同時，也兼習漢語。基督教福音廣播也設有這些語文節目，往往這是爲主得着他們的唯一管道。讓我們為這些少數族群的救恩恆切禱告，也記念在他們當中建立教會面對的許多困難，求神幫助挪去一切的攔阻，並從他們本族中興起更多的工人。

星期日
「不孝子」對中國人而言是極爲羞辱的貶稱。「養兒防老」的觀念使世世代代的中國父母對子女，尤其是兒子，都寄予奉養自己終老的厚望。這代的年輕信徒第一次享受到離開父母獨立生活的自由，但很多人也因此忽略聖經裡要照顧父母的教導。求主提醒信徒對父母的責任，尤其父母仍未信主的，求神賜特別的愛心和耐心，在盡孝道之餘也向尊親做見證，傳福音。

星期一
中國2007年公務員公考報名人數又再創新高，超過55萬人，錄取比例將低過50：1。過去大學生偏愛外資或私營公司，近兩年「公務員熱」快速升溫，每年人數約增加50%。近年許多大學生有機會認識主，我們為此讚美神。有許多甚至在家人反對下，決定全職服事。讓我們特別為這些大學生的信心和學習禱告，求主大大堅立並裝備他們成為國度的精兵。