Prayer Request 12/26/06 -- 1/1/07

Tuesday
According to a government expert, China has 20 million homosexuals, Beijing has 300,000 gays and three percent of them are HIV-positive. Such a revelation is shocking in a society that does not speak openly about sexual preference. Officially the number of Christians in China is 16 million. Traditionally and historically Chinese churches say little about social issues. We cannot ignore the fact that we need to pray for what the churches in China should and could do about the issue of homosexuality .

Wednesday
In an effort to improve rural education, the Chinese government plans to stop charging tuition and fees for elementary and junior high students. All kinds of illegal fees have plagued China's educational system and prevented many from attending. Although the rate of illiteracy is only 1% now compared to 80% fifty years ago, rural churches still have a difficult time retaining children. They lack resources and even worse, they do not have a passion for reaching children for God. Let us pray for this great need for a children's ministry in rural churches .

Thursday
180 couples wearing wedding gowns attended a special ceremony to pledge “never divorce” in front of the picture of Confucius in Beijing. This is part of a movement to promote “family ethic and character”. Even though some complained that Confucius discriminate against women, but Chinese have no one to pledge to keep their marital vows. We pray for all believers who are tempted to give up, especially those marriages are rocky and contentious .

Friday
When one attends a Chinese wedding banquet, it is customary to give a "red envelope". Although one is invited to a nice banquet, one is expected to give a minimum of 1000 Yuan ($125. US) to a close friend or relative and 200 Yuan ($45. US) to a common friend. As part of their social etiquette Chinese give money as a gift. However, we note that there is a large percentage of believers in the churches whose giving tends to be low. We pray that more believers will practice generous giving to God and understand that God does reward those who give cheerfully .

Saturday
How do Chinese people express their "never failing" love? These are common expressions they use: "I will love you ten thousand years!" or "My heart will not change even when the sea dries up and boulders rot." When people's marriage is failing, the advice they often get is "Get divorced!" Believers often receive the same advice from other church members. Let us pray for all those who strive to use the Word of God and pray with those sisters who are contemplating divorces .

Sunday
Many in China are disgusted by the rise of thefts and believe the law is too easy on the criminals so they will take the law into their own hands. Thus, if a petty thief is caught red-handed in China, he should be prepared to be beaten up by a mob. We all feel righteous about the wrongs others do to us and demand punishment and reparation. We take this time to pray for all believers who struggle with forgiving other believers who have wronged them, especially if they have borrowed money and not returned it .

Monday
Wuhan, Hebei will soon be auctioning off the naming rights for new roads, bridges, squares, and residential complexes recently built within the city. Each name is retained for a period of fifteen to twenty years. Many of the old Chinese churches are still known by their original English names. Each name has its own rich history. Many were named and dedicated for their donors. Many Chinese churches have been built by anonymous donors or churches outside of China. We pray for and give thanks for the nearly one thousand congregations who will be moving into their new church buildings this year .

星期二
中國官方發表國內有2千萬同性戀者，而北京市的30萬名男同性戀者中，愛滋病感染率超過3%。這項公佈對中國這個性保守的社會，可説是個震撼。根據官方統計，全中國有1600萬基督徒。傳統上，中國教會一向都不討論社會議題。但這些問題又確實需要大量的代禱和關切，讓我們為中國教會能夠尋求神的旨意，明確地知道應該及能夠如何處理同性戀課題來禱告。

星期三
爲提升農村教育水平，中國政府計劃由明年開始，全國農村中小學生全部免收學雜費。許多教育體系中的各種不合理、不合法的收費，常讓很多孩子沒錢接受教育。中國的文盲已從50年前的80%降到現今的1%，但農村教會仍然無法吸引小孩子。除了缺少資源外，很多教會根本沒有帶領孩童歸主的異象和使命。求主讓教會看到兒童事工的重要性，也繼續供應這事工的一切需要。

星期四
中國舉辦的「家庭倫理與人格教育講習會」為推廣真愛婚姻和頌揚和睦家庭，有一百八十對夫妻穿著禮服，面對孔子像宣誓「永不離婚」。雖有謂孔子歧視女性，但中國人在宣讀婚約誓言時，並沒有超然權威者來監誓。因此當婚姻觸礁時，就很容易放棄。讓我們為所有信徒的婚姻禱告，求主幫助他們堅守婚約。尤其賜給瀕臨離婚邊緣者，從神而來的恩慈和寬容，共同來經營婚姻，承受生命的美福。

星期五
參加中國人的婚宴，彼此關係好的至少要送1000人民幣「紅包」（125美金），關係普通的也至少要送200元（45美金）。送禮金是中國的社交禮儀，無人能免俗。比起社交費用，基督徒的奉獻相對來説是很少，大部分信徒給朋友的多，給神的反而少。讓我們為信徒在奉獻上的操練來禱告，求主幫助神的兒女能夠看重奉獻是蒙福的管道，更甘心樂意的擺上。

星期六
中國人常用「海枯石爛」、「愛你一萬年」和「生死相隨」等誓言來表達他們對愛情的忠誠。可是一旦婚姻發生狀況，往往卻是「離了算了」。基督徒也常從其他信徒處得到同樣的勸告。讓我們舉起手為家庭守望，在信徒婚姻上遇到困難時，能學習用聖經的原則來解決，求神也讓教會有能力提供相關的輔導和人力資源，幫助正在考慮離婚的信徒，特別是姐妹，陪她們禱告，渡過婚姻的風暴。

星期日
中國的小偷之多，讓人氣憤。人們認爲法律太鬆，所以一旦捉到小偷，往往不立即報警，而是把他綁起來讓人打。面對犯錯的人，我們常自覺是在伸張正義替天行道，壞人必須受到應有的懲罰，和做出賠償。求主特別記念有些遭受過其他信徒傷害的人，或欠債不還，或爭執未解而不能饒恕。求神讓信徒們都學會寬恕和交託，相信一切公義和審判都在於神。

星期一
中國武漢市政府宣佈，將透過公開拍賣方式，出售市內新建道路、橋梁、廣場等設施以及住宅區的命名權。冠名權期限15-20年。許多老教堂仍採用原來的英文名字，每個名字背後都有深厚的歷史淵源。或以當初捐錢者來命名，或是由海外的匿名人士捐款而建成的。據估今年國內將會有一千多個教會啟用新堂，我們為新的教會場地來向神感恩。