Prayer Request 10/24 -- 10/30

Tuesday
In a newly released multi-city survey of urban working women only 46% of Chinese women describe their marriages as happy. Only 38% of those 51-60 years old say their marriages are happy. Traditionally Chinese family values stress harmony rather than happiness in marriage. The husband-wife relationship is hardly mentioned. Churches have also been shy about speaking about the Biblical teaching on family. Let us pray for healing and renewal of family relationships among believers in China .

Wednesday
Nine out of ten Chinese women complain of stress at work. Those in their 30's and 40's and those with higher education experience far more pressure in the work place. The stay-at-home mother is nearly unheard of and nearly all mothers must balance work with raising a child. Traditionally, typical Chinese men play a minimal role in raising children. Let us pray for believing fathers, as they fulfill the Biblical role and responsibility of godly fathers. We too pray for many examples of godly fathers in local churches .

Thursday
Which line of work is most stressful in China? The media (communication) is the most stressful, followed by medically related jobs, education, and the insurance business. The most frequently given reasons are "Being too busy" and "too much competition." Interviews with Chinese church workers reveal that many of them have symptoms of being "burned out". They preach often but lack spiritual nourishment themselves. Shouldering a heavy task alone is not necessarily a healthy thing. Let us pray especially for those who are struggling with thoughts of leaving the ministry .

Friday
Nearly all the women in China have great concern about consumer product safety. A whopping 38% worry about the safety of food products. Chinese women make the decision for what her family eats in nearly 80% of the cases. Who is worrying about the spiritual health of the children in China? In the churches there are many "spiritual single parents"--families where only the wife is a believer. Let us pray along with all the Christian mothers who are concerned about how their children will grow up loving God .

Saturday
Seventy percent of the women in China are optimistic about the quality of life they will have in the next three years. These are mostly working women considered to be middle class and above. Younger women are more optimistic than older ones. Women aged 40-50 years old are the core of Chinese churches. They serve in all positions including preaching sermons. Let us pray for wisdom and strength for all the women serving in leadership positions .

Sunday
A full 20% of Chinese women describe their marriage relationship as "xiangjing rubin" (respecting each other as a guest). This Confucian term describes the ideal relationship of husband and wife but the modern usage refers to a tie that is merely cordial, icy, and without pleasure. How many Christian Chinese families are together merely for the sake of the children? We do not know but the high divorce rate among believers is alarming. Let us pray again for all wives who struggle with an "unhappy marriage" and submission to husband and God .

Monday
In a recent nationwide survey of working women, wives in one out of three marriages in China describe their marriages as "bland". Chinese men are not generally known for their romanticism and they grew up without a role model for being considerate to their wives. Western values presented in movies are helping to change this but the idea is still foreign to most Chinese men. Let us take time to pray for all Chinese male believers as they try to live out the Biblical mandate for men and the call to love their spouses as Christ loved the church .

星期二
最近一項調查對中國女性對婚姻的感覺作出統計：46%形容自己的婚姻幸福，而年齡介於51-60歲的女性，只有38%認爲自己婚姻幸福。傳統的華人家庭觀念看重婚姻的和諧多過於幸福，而且人們很少提起夫妻關係，連教會也因拘謹而很少教導基督教的家庭觀。讓我們爲中國的基督徒家庭禱告，特別求神醫治和重建那些受損的家人關係。

星期三
根據一份中國女性生活狀況的調查報告： 9成女性回應有工作壓力。尤其30-40歲年齡層並高學歷的女性更覺壓力重大。國內留在家中不用出去工作的母親幾乎聞所未聞，母親們必須在工作和教養孩子的責任上作出平衡。而傳統的中國男人在教養孩子方面扮演很小的角色。我們特別為基督徒父親們禱告，求神幫助他們擔起敬虔的父親當有的責任。也求神在所有教會裏陶造更多敬虔父親的好榜樣。

星期四
在中國哪一個行業的工作壓力最大？答案是傳媒；其次是醫療衛生行業、教育工作和金融保險業。根據調查，工作壓力的首要來源是「工作太忙」和「競爭太激烈」。同樣的教會事奉的同工也表示常有被「燃盡」的倦怠感。他們長期忙於講道，卻缺少屬靈的補給，獨自肩負沈重的服事擔子並不健康。讓我們爲中國教會的工人，尤其爲那些覺得困乏，需要重新得力的人禱告。

星期五
幾乎所有中國女性都會憂心消費産品的安全，尤其針對食品安全，占38%。而近80%中國家庭的生活消費決策和購買，是掌控在婦女手中。然而，中國孩子的靈命健康又有誰來關切呢？教會裏有很多「屬靈單親」—只有媽媽是信徒。讓我們記念所有關注教導孩子敬虔、愛人的基督徒母親們，求神保守引導屬靈下一代的健全成長。

星期六
問卷調查顯示：收入中等以上、有較強消費能力的中國女性當中，70%對未來三年的個人生活素質感到樂觀。其中教育水準較高和較年輕的女性占大多數，而年齡越大，則對爲來則越不樂觀。中國教會普遍以40-50歲的婦女爲核心，她們在各個崗位上服事神，有的也負責講臺信息。讓我們求神賜信心、智慧和力量，給這些在教會裏領導的姐妹們。

星期日
將近20%的中國婦女以「相敬如賓」來形容她們的夫妻關係；這句過去儒家觀念中夫妻相處和睦之道，現代人卻用以容彼此平淡甚至冷漠的關係。雖然不知基督徒家庭中有多少夫妻是爲了子女才繼續在一起？但信徒的高離婚率已然敲響了警鐘。讓我們再次爲基督徒夫妻禱告，尤其是很多妻子掙扎於「不快樂婚姻」之中，為無法順服神及丈夫所苦。求神幫助她們，更教導丈夫們曉得敬重、顧惜妻子。

星期一
近期一份全國性的調查反應：有三分一的婦女以「平淡」來形容對婚姻的感覺。中國男人一般而言都不太浪漫，在成長過程中也沒有好榜樣學習如何體貼妻子。西方電影裏的浪漫觀讓一些人有了改變，但許多人仍然對這「外國觀念」感到陌生。讓我們特別爲中國的男信徒禱告，求神幫助他們能按聖經的教導，學習像基督愛教會一樣來愛他們的妻子，共同承受神應許的生命恩福。

Prayer Request 10/17 -- 10/23

Tuesday
In a large independent survey 37% of men aged 18-54 admitted they have sex with prostitutes and only 30% of the men surveyed ever discussed AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases with their spouse or partner. The common saying that "Once men become rich, they become bad." has much truth in modern China. Money and sex are corrupting the believers too. Let us pray especially for the guarding of hearts of Chinese male believers and all the male church workers alike .

Wednesday
In Taiwan, one in four brides is a non-Taiwanese. Half of them are from mainland China and the rest are non-Chinese Asians. Nearly a quarter of the children in Taiwan have mothers who are not Taiwanese so for them Chinese is not their mother tongue. Such demographical change is rocking Taiwan. Let us pray for new strategies for churches in Taiwan in reaching out to their neighbors and the "mixed" young generation .

Thursday
According to a recent survey, 68% of the residents of Taiwan who are older than 15 do not read any book in a week. Reading books as a leisure enjoyment has been steadily decreasing. Christian books sale has suffered. Taiwan is the largest market for Chinese Christian books which are mostly translated American books. Let us pray for all of the literature ministries that often struggle to stay in business. We pray, too that there will be a new generation of Chinese Christian writers and thinkers .

Friday
On an average 473 couples are married each day in Taiwan but the divorce rate is approaching 35% and each Taiwanese couple usually has an average of only 1.3 children.Churches in Taiwan must adjust their ministry to reach out to divorced people as well as single parents. Let us pray for all who are involved in family counseling and children's ministry, especially to children from divorced homes .

Saturday
The oldest copy of the Koran in China (which is about 700 years old and bound with rhinoceros leather) will be restored and displayed in Xining, Qinghai, the city that is the beginning point for the new railway to Tibet. The influence of Islam in China is very deep. The government grants special favor to Islam because it is the religion of several large ethnic minorities. They also strongly discourage conversion of Muslims to Christianity. We lift up all who are involved in work among Muslim .

Sunday
The kung fu movie by Jet Li, "Fearless", became a hit. Some had predicted that Chinese fighting movies are losing their attraction. This realistic fighting Chinese-speaking movie was released with English subtitles. Kung fu style movies of the old days have become main stream in Hollywood In many ways, China churches are no longer merely the rural churches of peasants and uneducated. Yet, there are still many, many souls rural churches can reach effectively. We pray earnestly for another revival of rural churches like those during the years of 1980-90 .

Monday
Urban churches in China have been going through a phenomenal change in the past three years. Churches of six to eight hundred people are common now. House churches of forty to two hundred can be found in nearly every city. It is estimated that by 2020, half of the Chinese population will be in the cities. Many former believers from rural churches have not been plugged into city churches. Let us pray for this tremendous loss of God's sheep .

星期二
據一項國際網路調查顯示，年介18-54歲的成年中國男子中，37%承認有嫖妓經驗，而曾與性伴侶討論艾滋病或性病危險的卻不到30%。所謂「飽暖思淫欲」，這話在現代中國更爲真實。金錢和性的誘惑也敗壞了許多信徒。讓我們特別爲中國的男信徒以及教會的同工禱告，求神切切保守他們的心懷意念，時常儆醒躲避試探，以聖潔自守來與主同行。

星期三
臺灣2002年結婚的佳偶中，外籍新娘占了26%，其中半數來自中國大陸，其餘還有約占1/8的非華人的亞裔籍新娘，普通話非其母語。可預見四分之一下一代臺灣人是由外籍媽媽所生，這樣的人口變化激蕩著臺灣。讓我們爲教會能有效地把福音觸角伸到社區鄰里，以及多元化的年輕世代來代禱。

星期四
根據最新統計，臺灣十五歲以上的人，有68%在一週內沒有閱讀任何書籍，喜好閱讀的人數正逐步減少中。臺灣是中文基督教書籍最大的市場，但書架上銷售的大都是美國書的譯本。中文基督教書籍的銷售一直沒有起色，讓我們爲所有掙紮求存的文字事工禱告，求神興起素質優良的新一代華人基督徒作家和思想家，藉文字來拓展神的國度。也求神讓信徒看重文字和閱讀的重要性及其廣大深遠的影響力。

星期五
臺灣每天平均有473對新人結婚，但離婚率也升至35%。另外，平均每對夫婦只生1.3個小孩。面對社會型態變遷，教會須調整事工方向以顧及失婚和單親家庭。讓我們爲從事家庭輔導和兒童工作的肢體禱告，求神與他們同工，以神的愛和救恩幫助這些人，尤其厚賜智慧與能力更有效地幫助破碎或單親家庭的孩子。

星期六
國家文物局將撥出經費，修復中國最古老的「古蘭經」手抄本（約有700年之齡，函封為犀牛皮），並將展於青海的西寧市，即通往西藏的青藏鐵路的起站。伊斯蘭信仰對中國的影響非常深，是中國好幾個大的少數民族信奉的宗教，因此得到政府特別的關照。為了宗教和諧的緣故，政府不鼓勵穆斯林改信基督教的態度強勢。讓我們切切為回宣事工禱告，求神保守看顧參與回區宣教的同工們。

星期日
當一些人認爲中國武打電影已失去市場吸引力時，李連杰主演的「霍元甲」卻成功掀起熱潮。這部功夫片即使全片都用華語僅附加英文字幕，卻仍在美國十分賣座，並把過去的武打電影推入好萊塢主流。今天多數的中國教會已走出了鄉村，農民，和基層的舊框框，跨入城市主流社會，但在農村仍有眾多急待救恩的靈魂。讓我們爲農村教會另一波大復興來禱告。

星期一
過去三年來中國城市教會經歴了重重變化。隨著農村人口向城市湧流，40-200人的教會比比皆是，六百到八百人的教會亦不斷湧現。預計到2020年，中國人口半數將集中城市，然而很多從農村來到城市的信徒，卻遲遲未能加入城市教會，我們爲這群流失的信徒禱告，求主使城市教會有此負擔，積極為主尋回迷羊。

Prayer Request 10/10 -- 10/16

Tuesday
The first week of October is the “Golden Week” for travel (following October 1st , the National Day). Tourism travel in general is up 17% from last year and more Chinese are taking trips abroad too. This week, a bus carrying tourists from China crashed in Taiwan. It is the first time travel from China to Taiwan is officially sanctioned. Many believers are able to visit churches and attend conferences abroad for the first time. We pray for the mutual sharing, encouragement that will benefit their churches and ministries when they return .
Wednesday
The official definition of poverty is an annual income of 680 yuan (US$85). At the end of last year, China had 23.65 million people living below the poverty line. But, using the internationally accepted guideline of US$1 per day, China's poor totaled up to 130 million. A high percentage of China’s rural church would be considered poor. We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who appreciate so much more the grace of God and living for God whether they are rich or poor .
Thursday
China is encouraging communities to provide services for the elderly, as pressure grows on retirement homes and individual families. There are now more than 143 million Chinese seniors aged over 60, which is about 11 percent of the total population. Approximately, more than half of the attendees in open churches are seniors. Let us lift up all the aging saints who have witnessed the tumultuous half century, yet have remained faithful to the Lord and tirelessly served their churches .
Friday
There are only 8 beds for every 1,000 elderly Chinese. The typical cost is 1,300 yuan to 1,600 yuan (165-200 U.S. dollars) per month, which the great majority cannot afford. Living alone or with their children are the only options. There is a huge need, unfilled in most churches for elderly ministry. Visitation by church members, large-print Bibles and audio sermons are mostly unheard of in China. Let us pray for the availability of such materials and vision of churches to serve the elderly .
Saturday
Extreme poverty is still very common among the ethnic minorities in Yunnan province where many live on less than $100 USD a year. In 1910, the gospel entered this region through the extraordinary work of many missionaries who translated the Bible into local languages and even gave their lives to do it. There are still many small churches and preaching stations there. We thank the Lord for the example of faithfulness and love for God these impoverished believers model for us .
Sunday
Celebrating the Harvest Festival in October is a huge event among the ethnic minority people. Believers in the Lisu tribe in the most northwest corner of Yunnan where Christianity is the official religion, offer their harvest to God in fancy costumes and with dancing in every village. The gospel came to the Lisu in 1908 with miraculous results (60,000 baptized in 2 years). We pray for all the Lisu preachers who are among the most fervent Chinese missionaries in Western China .
Monday
A nationwide survey of the way urban Chinese youths 12-17 years old spent their money revealed that they spend equal amounts eating out in restaurants and on entertainment (buying music or videos). Nearly 14% of them feel wearing name brand clothing is part of their identity. Christianity is totally foreign to millions of Chinese teenagers and they are the hardest group in all of China to reach for the Lord. We pray for a burden and a strategy to effectively reach out to this consumerism-minded young generation .

星期二
十一黃金週是旅遊高峰，據中國旅遊局報導：今年的遊客量比去年同期增加了17%。其中特別是北京政府開放至台灣考察旅遊。但很不幸地，上週在台灣中部南投便發生大陸團重大車禍。隨著旅遊開放，將有更多中國旅客到世界各地旅遊，許多信徒也第一次有機會到國外參訪各型研習營會及參與當地教會的聚會。求神藉這些交流和分享，激勵信徒，幫助教會事工更有效地的發展。

星期三
中國政府對極度貧窮的界定是年收入低於680人民幣（85美元）。據此標準，去年底有236萬人生活在貧窮水平以下。若按國際「一天少於一美元」的底綫指標，則中國的貧窮人口總數達1.3億，即有更多的農村教會屬於赤貧行列。讓我們爲處在貧窮中的主內肢體禱告，求神讓他們更經歷神的豐盛恩典，也讓信徒或貧或富，都能因神豐盛的慈愛凡事謝恩。

星期四
中國政府正積極地推動社區對老年人的關懷和服務。因爲隨著人口老化，除了養老院供不應求，社會與個別家庭都開始需要面對這與日俱增的壓力。現在中國有超過1.4億人口的年齡在60歲以上，佔總人口的11%。在教會裏聚會的信徒就有一半以上是年長的。讓我們爲這些年紀漸老的肢體禱告，求神記念他們雖經歷過半個世紀的動蕩，也仍能繼續存著信心忠心不怠地服事神。

星期五
中國的養老院床位供不應求。每千名老人，分得8個床位。養老院的費用一般介於每月1,300到1,600人民幣（165-200美金），絕大部分的年長者都負擔不起，只能選擇獨居或與孩子同住。照顧老年人的需要極大，然而多數教會尚未有老年人事工，甚至不知有專為長者預備的大字聖經，有聲聖經，有聲講章，並實行關懷探訪。求神感動眾教會能正視長者的實際需要，也求神藉各種管道使相關的資源能在中國普及。

星期六
在中國雲南的少數民族當中，極度貧窮尤為普遍，一些家庭僅以年收入不及100美元來維生。福音自1910年傳至此地區，全賴許多宣教士前仆後繼甚至犧牲生命的擺上，在當地此宣教並翻譯方言聖經。至今還留存許多小教會和福音小站。這些拓荒先輩以對神的信心和忠堅來愛這些貧苦的少數民族，是我們的榜樣。讓我們求恩慈的神供應赤貧家庭的生活所需，更求神感動中國信徒願意承接傳福音的棒子成爲拓展國度的精兵。

星期日
十月份慶秋收的收獲節，是中國少數民族一個重要的傳統節日。以基督教爲公認信仰傈僳族，會穿上美麗的民族服裝，全村人跳舞歡慶並把收成帶來教會奉獻給神，這是極美的事。1908年福音傳到雲南最西北角的傈僳族，兩年之內就有60,000人受洗。他們常常熱心傳福音走訪其他民族。讓我們特別爲傈僳族感恩、禱告，求神不斷堅固他們，紮實他們信仰的根基。大大使用他們把福音廣傳在全國的少數民族當中。

星期一
一著名跨國諮詢公司針對國內12-17歲都會青少年消費習慣調查顯示，他們在餐飲上的花費幾乎和花在休閒（音樂CD和磁帶）一樣多；另份調查也指出14%年輕人認爲身上的名牌是自我表達的一部分。中國上千萬的青少年至今對基督教仍全然陌生，是教會最難接觸的對象。讓我們爲這走向消費主義的年輕一代禱告，求聖靈開啓他們對真理的渴慕。也讓信徒有負擔，能有策略地接觸他們。

Prayer Request 10/3-10/9

Tuesday
Many famous Chinese brands have their original store in Shanghai. The city has been the commercial and religious center of China for the past two centuries. In the past two years, 60% of those who received baptism in Shanghai had college education, and among them, 1 in 4 were people who returned after studying abroad (hai guai). We thank the Lord for this exciting change in the makeup of new Chinese believers. May the Lord use them to be the light and salt of the commercialized modern Chinese society .
Wednesday
According to a recent survey of Chinese high school students, the “most influential authors to young people” are not the traditional big names but authors who are only 20-30 years old who write about the struggle of youth in school and friendships. “What do the young Chinese believers read?” and “Who inspires the young Chinese believers?” are much harder questions. Let us pray for the emergence of good role models of sacrificial serving and devotion to God for the next generation of believers .
Thursday
Living in a school dorm is a reality and trend for many Chinese elementary school children. Parents are told that this promotes better study habits and students go home only on weekends. Separation from parents at even the tender age of 6-10 years old is common, and churches and parents are losing opportunities to share faith with this new generation. Let us remember all these children whose parents are believers but live away from home .
Friday
The month-long mass demonstration demanding the resignation of Taiwan’s President continues to divide people on the island. Churches have been drawn into this high political drama. In many heated speeches, speakers invoke both the names of God and Chinese gods. Politics and churches have been intertwined in the past decades. Let us pray for the healing of all the Taiwanese and especially the unity and harmony of believers in Taiwan .
Saturday
The legal marriage age for Chinese men is 22 and for women 20. Officially, young people are encouraged to marry at an even later age. For ethnic minorities the law is changed to 20 for men and 18 for women. When marrying someone from the ethnic minority groups Han Chinese must follow the stricter age guideline. There are many believers among the ethnic minorities, especially in southwest China. We pray for spiritual maturity in the young families and for their continuing to serve in the church .
Sunday
In 2005, there were 470 new Christian book titles published in Chinese. More than 3/5 are translations of North American bestsellers. The number of Christian book titles printed in Chinese is increasing by 50 books a year, but the number of Christians has not changed at all. Let us pray for more Chinese authors and books that will challenge Chinese believers to live more godly and serve the Lord more effectively, rather than imitate fads and what is culturally foreign.
Monday
“Chinese students studying abroad,” a T.V. documentary, will be shown in October. Studying abroad is the dream for every Chinese student and will dramatically alter one’s life and even family fortune. Being exposed to Christianity and becoming a believer is also the “byproduct” of studying abroad. We pray for the spiritual vitality and faithful serving of all who have become believers as students. May the Lord use them to reach many other fellow students .

星期二
中國許多著名的 老字號，是從上海起家。兩個世紀以來，上海一直都是商業和宗教的中心。過去兩年，在上海接受洗禮的基督徒當中，60%有大學程度，其中海外歸國學人占 1/4。在中國，一般人對基督徒的印象為沒有文化水平的迷信者，讓我們特別為這個變化與新的肢體感恩，求神使用他們，在這日趨商業化的都市裏做光做鹽。
星期三
最近一個文學網 站所發起的“影響青少年的作家排行榜”結果出爐，在這排行榜上的不是傳統名作家，而是20-30歲的當紅新人，他們寫作主題多半圍繞著青少年的校園生活、 感情及成長事跡。“中國年輕信徒在讀什麽呢？”，“是誰在影響中國年輕一代的信徒呢？”這些都是值得深思的問題。我們求神興起更多能毫不自私地服事，而且 願意爲主完全擺上的人，來成爲能夠讓中國年輕信徒學習效法的榜樣。
星期四
讓孩子從小學就 開始住校在中國已經日趨普遍，學童只能在周末回家。許多父母親相信這樣能更能的培育孩子的讀書習慣。但是，孩子自小（6-10歲之間）與父母分開，父母和 教會都失去了影響下一代屬靈生命的機會。讓我們為著因不得已而與孩子分開的父母，仍能在信仰上成爲孩子的榜樣來禱告，也求主保守這些孩子，在周末與家人團 聚時有美好的教會生活，沐浴在天父永遠無比的愛中。
星期五
近月來台灣一連 串罷免總統運動，無論是支持或是反對方都舉辦多場大型活動。政治人物在演説中以神明，上蒼，或上帝之名為自己的政治理念背書的情形明顯的加增，也有教會因 會友或牧師個人言論而被貼上政治標籤，社會中彼此對立的情況不斷升高。讓我們特別為台灣與特別同為神國子民的弟兄姊妹們禱告，求親自神縫補這個裂痕，也藉 著教會帶來醫治與和諧。
星期六
中國政府鼓勵人 民晚婚，法定的結婚年齡：男的不得早於22歲，女的為20歲。但是，少數民族的結婚年齡通常都很低，他們的法定可婚年齡被降低為：男20，女18。然而， 與少數民族結婚的漢人仍必須嚴格遵照較高的年齡規定。西南部的少數民族中有許多基督徒。讓我們特別為這些少數民族的年輕信徒家庭禱告，求神賜他們成熟的屬 靈生命，幫助建立基督化家庭，也在教會忠心的服事。
星期日
在2005年， 新出版的基督教中文書籍有470冊，其中超過半數（3/5）為北美暢銷書的譯本。中文基督教書籍出版量年增約50本（從370本，420本，到470 本），反觀基督徒人口總人數卻沒有顯著的改變，因為”市場”狹小，經營基督教出版社實在是個很大的挑戰。讓我們為基督教中文出版社及基督徒作家來禱告，求 神藉著他們帶出更多具挑戰和啟發性的出版品來激勵中國信徒，而僅僅只是一味的追隨和仿效外國異文化的時尚觀念。
星期一
一部名稱為“留 學生”的電視系列紀實片，將於十月份播出。到海外留學是許多中國學生的夢想，因爲這將能夠改變一個人的一生，甚至全家人的幸福。留學生在海外很自然地有許 多機會接觸基督教，成爲基督徒則是可能的“副產品”。讓我們特別記念已經成爲基督徒的留學生，為他們生命的更新和靈命的成長代禱，求主復興他們並能忠心的 為主做見證，帶領更多學生歸主。