Prayer Request 1/23 -- 1/28

Tuesday
An American magazine declared that this is the "China Century." Chinese now play a pivotal role in peace in the Korean peninsula and East Asia. In terms of energy consumption, China is only second to the USA. What will China churches be like in this China Century? Will Chinese believers carry the torch of mission? Will they be of any influence in China at all? Let us redouble our efforts in praying for China and her churches .

Wednesday
In China, both picking out and getting married on a “lucky day” is considered important. Recently, because at these times there is a long vacation period and guests are better able to attend, the favored times have been October 1st (National Day), May 1st , Teachers’ Day, and Chinese New Year’s Day. This year, Chinese New Year’s Day will fall on February 18. We pray especially for those who are getting married and whose parents and future in-laws are not yet believers. May the Lord give them a burden to share their faith and use them as powerful witnesses to their parents .

Thursday
Two-thirds of Chinese are farmers and great numbers of them have abandoned farming to seek an easier life and better pay in the cities. They leave their children with relatives or grandparents, many for years on end, thus creating an unprecedented serious problem as far as family and society go. Many rural believers have done the same and have left their children without parental presence and spiritual guidance. Their children grow up without experiencing parental love and thus have difficulty connecting with the Heavenly Father. Let us pray for this crisis.

Friday
According to a survey, 82% of those who work more than 15 hours a day say they are do so for “bonuses.” Such an attitude is most common among the 20 to 40 year olds. Lacking young people is a common phenomenon among China churches. Many young people do not have jobs that give them Sundays as days off. Many young believers simply stop attend churches once they start working. Let us pray for all the young believers who have drifted away from churches and what churches could do to attract them .

Saturday
The familiar sight of conductors who sell tickets in Beijing buses is giving way to electronic cards. Nearly 70% of Beijing bus riders or about 2 million people use these rechargeable cards now. The majority of Beijing residents still depend on buses and subways to get around the city. Many churches are relocating away from the city center which means more commuting. Let us pray again for the revival of every church and several seminaries (unofficial) here in the capital .

Sunday
It has become illegal to sell alcohol to minors since December in Beijing. Although the fine is steep at 2000 yuan (250 USD), reporters found stores continue to sell to children who claim they are getting liquor for their parents. Drinking hard liquor is so pervasive and even children start drinking at very young age. Most young people drink excessively. Let us remember in prayer those believers whose spouse are alcoholic and are often abusive when drunk .

Monday
Church meetings specifically for foreigners can be found in many cities. Often, they meet at hotels and even provide programs for children. All nationalities are represented and the families often form deep friendships and support groups.Let us pray for all these churches for foreigners as they outreach to other foreigners in China through family gatherings. We too pray for the children programs conducted in these churches. May the Lord use these children in ministries in China where they grew up .

星期二
最近美國一份著名雜誌把本世紀稱爲“中國世紀”。中國目前在維繫朝鮮半島以及東亞的和平問題上扮演者極關鍵性的角色。中國也是能源消耗大國。如今她的能源消耗量僅次於美國。中國教會在這個「中國世紀」的風潮裏將會如何呢？中國信徒會接過宣教的火炬嗎？在國內各階層能掀起多大的影響力？讓我們加倍為中國和中國教會的未來禱告。

星期三
在中國，要結婚向來需擇良辰吉日，近年來年輕一代卻選擇「節日結婚」，既得長假，賓客也較易出席慶賀。其中最受歡迎的是十.一（國慶），五.一(勞工節)，教師節以及農曆新年。今年農曆年是二月十八日，讓我們為所有準備結婚的信徒們禱告。求主預備他們心志，建立一個榮耀神的家庭。特別是有仍未信主家長和姻親的，求主讓他們有向家人分享福音的負擔，並且在家人面前有美好的見證。

星期四
中國有三分之二的人口是農民，農村勞動人口大量流入城市時，往往將年幼子女留給祖父母撫養。這些「留守孩子」長期遠離父母，缺少完整的親子關係，情感需求得不到滿足，容易造成偏差的性格。許多信徒也缺乏基於聖經原則的育兒方法和技巧，以致這一代年輕人很難回應 「天父的愛」，與神建立親密的關係。讓我們為中國社會及福音普及的大隱憂守望代禱。

星期五
根據一項社會調查顯示：有82%的中國人會為「獎金夠高」而選擇每天工作超過15個小時。尤其在介於20到40歲的人之中，情況最為普遍。中國教會目前面對的一大挑戰也是年輕會友人人忙於工作。很多年輕人主日仍需開工，一旦開始這種作息形態，就自然而然停止了教會聚會。讓我們爲這群畢了業忙碌於職場的年輕信徒禱告，也為教會有相應策略突破此困難，吸引他們來代求。

星期六
北京公車開始採用電子刷卡制，漸漸取代人們熟悉的售票制。在北京乘搭公車或地鐵的人非常多，2006年下半年，重復使用加錢式的刷卡乘客，已突破總客運量的7成，估計大約200萬人。北京許多教會已經從市中心搬遷到路程更遠的3、4環，甚至6環之外的郊區（一環即一條公路）。讓我們為北京的眾教會及當地好幾所神學院的復興禱告。

星期日
自去年12月起，北京立法不得向未成年人售酒，並規定在經營場所，設置顯著中英文雙語標示，違者最高罰款2000元人民幣（250美元）。但許多商家仍以各式藉口繼續賣酒給未成年人。在中國喝烈酒的風氣很盛，很多人年紀很小就開始喝酒。年輕人多半酒量很大，一些甚至酗酒成癖。讓我們為有家人或配偶有酗酒問題，以及遭受酒後暴力的信徒來禱告。

星期一
有些中國城市裏有國際教會的查經聚會，有時是在酒店裏面崇拜，他們也設有兒童節目。來自世界各國的信徒和家庭在這裡建立了深厚的友誼，彼此扶持、建造，當中也不乏有傳福音負擔的信徒。我們特別為在中國的外國信徒和教會禱告。求神帶領他們的聚會和福音工作能得着其他的外國人；也求神祝福和使用他們的兒童聚會，使這些在中國長大的孩子們，將來對中國福音事工會有強烈的負擔。