Prayer Request 3/27 -- 4/2

Tuesday
There are 1.5 million single professionals in China, mostly between the ages of 25 to 35. They are considered to be the elite with lots of disposable income, but it makes finding a compatible mate much harder. In every church, one can find unmarried believers, especially women. Pressure from their families to marry any eligible man is great, even to marry a non-believer. We pray for them specifically, for their love for the Lord, for comfort from Him and that God would honor their desire .

Wednesday
To get around the “one child policy,” wealthy people in the Guangzhou and Shenzhen areas simply pay the fine of 100,000 yuan (12,500 USD) for each child born. Such a phenomenon is common with business owners and is now the ultimate status symbol. Some believers have more than one child by simply not registering their residency- “hukou.” Let us pray again for the need of Sunday School training and materials, as the number of children in church is often alarmingly and disappointedly few .

Thursday
To get around the “one child policy,” the poor hide their kids (by not registering their residency) and the rich simply pay the penalty. Many poor people complain that the ability to have more than one child is the ultimate injustice, widening the perception of the wealth gap. For most, struggling to pay for education expenses for one child is already overwhelming. Let us pray that the earnest desire of Christian parents is the salvation of their only child, especially as many find church boring, have no friends there, or think it is out-of-context for their young .

Friday
Nearly 1 in 3 Chinese families have problems with domestic violence, according to the Women’s Federation. “All husbands beat their wives” is the common misconception.Very few will reveal their plight at home for fear of shame. We remember all the ladies in church whose husbands oppose their church involvement and even threaten physical harm. May the Lord grant them mercy, comfort and support in the fellowship of other godly women .

Saturday
In Chinese fortune telling, “Blissful marriage and give birth to a son in three years” is considered one of the best fortunes a person can get. With the “one child policy,” such a fortune is even more “precious.” Many believers are not able to conceive and have chosen to pour their energy into serving in church. May the Lord bless them and reward them with many spiritual children and their marriage, a model of caring and love .

Sunday
Is this the slippery slope of Chinese morality? Having a concubine is in vogue, especially among the businessmen, officials and celebrities. What was once a stigma is now deemed as a measure of success? We need to pray even more diligently for the believers’ families. More resources and, most importantly, positive role models are needed badly. We lift up all the Christian husbands for being such godly role models and being considerate .

Monday
Legally, having a mistress or concubine in China is not prosecuted; although the Party tries to police a few bad apples. The Communist Party has tried hard to reform by cleaning up corruption, moral degeneration and nepotism recently. Let us pray for all the sisters who struggle with the infidelity of their spouses and try to forgive. We sympathize with their pain and pray the Lord will bring healing and blessing to their families .

星期二
在中國有一百五十萬年齡介於25至35歲的單身專業人士。他們都是高收入的社會菁英，但卻很難找到相匹配的伴侶。在教會有很多單身的信徒，尤其是女性。有些家人會給他們很大的壓力，要他們嫁給條件好的男人，甚至是非信徒。讓我們為她們禱告，求神給予慈愛和安慰，也求神為她們預備合神心意的配偶。

星期三
在中國廣州和深圳等經濟發達地區，超生一個孩子至少需繳人民幣10多萬元罰款，但這種經濟處罰對高收入的私營企業業主和名人們卻毫無約束力，多生育反而成了富人的身份象徵。有些信徒爲了超生，可能選擇不登記戶口。很多的信徒都有孩子，可是到教會的兒童人數卻十分的少。讓我們會教會主日學的教材和師資訓練的提升、以至能夠吸引孩子來禱告。

星期四
爲了不受制於政府計畫生育，「窮人躲著生；富人罰著生」。這項生育限制無形中加大了貧富差距的社會矛盾。一般人面對一個孩子的教育費已足以讓他們頭痛；基督徒父母還需擔憂孩子的救恩。有些孩子們覺得教會落伍，節目枯燥無趣，也沒有朋友，都不願隨父母到教會。讓我們為這些孩子的靈命禱告，求神也幫助教會在日新月異的時代中找到更能幫助孩子信仰的方法。

星期五
根據中國婦聯會的統計，有將近三分一的家庭有家暴問題。許多婦女甚至以爲「那有老公不打老婆的？」，這種普遍的想法加上「家醜不外揚」的觀念，使多數受害者選擇繼續沈默。教會裏也有信徒因爲信仰而遭到丈夫的反對甚至暴力的威脅。求主施恩憐憫她們，藉其他愛主的姐妹來安慰並幫助她們，也求主藉她們的美好見證來感動她們的丈夫。

星期六
在命理相術中，在房星日嫁娶「婚姻美滿，三年得貴子」被視爲最好的福氣。在一胎化政策中，『得貴子』更顯得珍貴無比。有許多信徒因爲不育而選擇把精力投注於教會事奉。求神祝福他們，不僅擁有美好的婚姻和許許多多屬靈的子女，並且以愛心和關懷成爲衆人的榜樣。

星期日
在中國，「妻妾成群」反而讓經商、為官、當主持、當明星者增添榮耀和魅力。瘡疤變成了獎章，醜惡變成了光榮。難道這不是道德滑坡的悲哀？我們更應該為信徒的家庭禱告。教會除了需要更多維繫美滿婚姻及家庭方面的資源外，更需要有正面的榜樣。讓我們為身為丈夫的基督徒們禱告，成爲敬虔齊家的好榜樣.

星期一
在中國，重婚罪一直都是「民不告官不究」的「自訴案件」。許多名流、富豪或官員都是「妻妾成群」。最近共產黨內正努力掃除貪腐、道德敗壞和朋黨勾結，而揪出幾宗重婚案，令人心忡忡。不過這也僅限於黨員。我們要記念丈夫出軌的姐妹們。她們在受到配偶不忠的傷害下，需要設法饒恕。讓我們體諒她們的苦痛，以禱告拖住她們，求主醫治並賜福她們的家庭。

Prayer Request 3/13-- 3/19

Tuesday
170,000 young couples tied the knot in Beijing last year, which is nearly double the number in 2005. Several contributing reasons for the increase were that the “post-1980 generation” was readied for family, the influx of young professionals, and 2006 being an auspicious year for marriage. Young professionals are the core of many house churches in Beijing. Let us pray for their vibrant ministry, commitment to the Word of God, and the need for marriage counseling .

Wednesday
Housewives in Shenzhen think of themselves as having the lowest quality of life in China, while their counterparts in Changsha, Shanghai, and Chengdu have a much better lifestyle. The three biggest worries of urban women are their own careers, the education of their children, and the mortgage on their houses. Let us pray for all the sisters who must balance themselves among the demands of a career, being a mother, and helping in the church. We remember especially the divorcees who must do these things by themselves.

Thursday
A trend among the churches in China is called the “Migration Missionaries,” where several families sell what they have and move together to the western provinces to work among the target group. Their sending church will support them with 300 yuan monthly for a year. Such a team approach with mutual support produces higher success and fruits. Let us pray for many of these teams, especially those working among ethnic minorities who still harbor resentment toward the Han Chinese .

Friday
Churches often select couples who have been married for a long time to be their Migration Missionaries: to find a job and be self-sufficient where they will serve. A new area for such mission efforts is in the Russian Far East, where churches in the northeast are sending teams. Let us pray for the mission effort of many churches and their missionaries who they sent out and are not expected back at all. We pray for their labor and sowing and harvesting .

Saturday
The Guangzhou train station is a literally a sea of humanity. The half-kilometer radius area is the special window to the modern China. All kinds of social vices are found there as millions of mingong transit through this key rail station in south China. Let us pray for churches in Guangzhou which have inspired the churches in China in the last century. Many house churches in this cosmopolitan city enjoy vibrant ministry but need to expand to reach out to the poorer believers from the rural regions .

Sunday
In the past 20 years, 1/3 of the 600,000 population of Changle, Fujian in the southern coast of China have immigrated to the New York City area. It is estimated that for every one resident emigrated, 20 or more family members could later apply for immigration. Most of the Changle immigrants are young and work in the restaurants and shops. They favor their own dialects. Let us pray for need of salvation and ministry among this large subgroup of immigrants in America .

Monday
What to buy as gift when returning to China is a headache for many because everything is “Made in China.” Name brands are lot more expensive in China. Cosmetics, chocolate, American jing seng, jeans and Italian shoes are popular.
Many believers will also take back Bibles, recordings of sermons, and Bible study materials. Let us pray that these materials will be great spiritual gifts, for the recipients and their churches .

星期二
去年在北京登記結婚的新人超過17萬對，是前年（2005年）結婚人數的兩倍。原因之一是80後（即1980年代生育高峰時期出生者），已到適婚年齡；其二，外地來京的年輕大學生和專才大量增加；同時「擇吉」心理也使許多人趕在2006年結婚。這些職青們是北京許多教會的主幹。我們為他們的服事能夠活潑有動力、堅守神的真理來禱告，也求主幫助教會能為他們提供婚姻輔導。

星期三
據調查，深圳的家庭主婦對自己家庭生活質量的評價較低。長沙、上海和成都的評價最高。在城市的婦女們最擔心的三件事是：自己的事業，孩子的教育和房子的貸款。在教會裏作母親的姊妹們，需要平衡事業、母親的角色、和在教會的服事，尤其那些單親媽媽們，更要自己擔起所有的事。求主賜她們能力和體力和智慧，也求主親自保守她們的孩子身心靈的健康。

星期四
現在有很多「移民宣教士」，他們變賣自己的房產，舉家遷到西部的少數民族當中傳福音。他們的教會會支持他們每月人民幣300圓，爲期一年，往後的生活費則需要自行承擔。這樣舉家一起出去宣教，能夠彼此扶持、勉勵，也能結更多果子。讓我們為這些同心傳福音的團隊禱告。尤其一些少數民族對漢族懷有怨恨，求主特別開路並保守。

星期五
教會常常選擇那些結婚已久的夫婦，成爲移民宣教士。他們能夠一起出去服事，在所服事的地方找工作，自供自給。東北教會常派宣教隊伍進入蘇聯的遠東地區，現在也是移民宣教士的新目標。他們一旦出去，都沒有再回來的計劃。求神記念他們為福音所擺上的犧牲與奉獻，保守他們的勞苦和付出能夠得到豐收。

星期六
廣州火車站可説是人山人海。在方圓半公里周邊範圍之內的流花地區，被認爲是這個現代化城市的陰暗窗口，種種社會陋象可見於此。這裡也是主要轉站，每逢春節或假日，都有數百萬的民工坐在廣場裡等候回家。廣州的教會在20世紀末時，曾大大的鼓舞和影響中國教會。讓我們為這大都會裡的眾教會禱告，求主讓他們不僅向到此工作的人傳福音，更能幫助他們融入教會生活。

星期日
過去二十年來，福建長樂縣的60萬人口中，有三分一已經移民到美國的紐約市。估計每一個到美國來的中國人，都會陸續有超過20名的家庭成員跟著移民。長樂移民大多很年輕，在餐館打工或做小生意。。在美國移民大群體當中，長樂移民自成一個小族群，他們習慣說自己的福州話。讓我們為他們的救恩及針對性的福音事工禱告。

星期一
回中國要帶些什麽禮物呢？這是叫許多旅居國外的人頭痛的問題，因爲商場上的貨物都是中國製造。但是，外國的特產和名牌，比如花旗參、化妝品、巧克力、牛仔褲、意大利皮鞋等等，雖在中國也買得到，卻昂貴得多。很多信徒回國時選擇帶聖經、講道錄音和查經材料，讓我們禱告透過這些上好的禮物，使收到的人和他們的教會都得到屬天的祝福。

Prayer Request 3/20-- 3/26

Tuesday
Since tobacco is a state monopoly, and cigarette sales contributed 80 billion yuan ($10.33 billion US) per day in taxes last year, a senior official said China is not ready for a government curb on smoking. Preaching against smoking is difficult when nearly everyone else smokes. Let us remember the many believers who struggle to stop smoking but are unable to do so .

Wednesday
There were 16,000 graduating students vying for the 4000 positions offered by two top university campuses--highly desired positions at major state-run companies. This is the time graduating students are scrambling for jobs and many face the grim prospect of not having a job. Let us pray for the spiritual growth and follow-up work many campus ministries are trying to do as their students graduate in two or three months .

Thursday
Although he was denounced as a counter-revolutionary during the Cultural Revolution for his pragmatism, he is famous for saying, "A cat that catches mice is a good cat, no matter whether it is black or white." At this tenth anniversary of Deng's death, we wonder how the ensuing economic boom has influenced China's churches. Let us pray Chinese churches will no longer be marginalized culturally or socially, especially during this 200th anniversary of the arrival of Protestant Christianity in China .

Friday
China has announced a 17.8% boost in defense budget spending for 2007, the largest in a decade. She also said she will build her first aircraft carrier by 2010. The People's Liberation Army has been downsized but their equipment has been updated. Very few of China's churches have such a thing as budget planning and the purchase of equipment is usually a personal decision. Let us pray for vision, good stewardship, and faithfulness as churches struggle with spending and conserving their resource .

Saturday
Shanxi province produces eighty percent of China's coal. Nearly a third of its area is coal mines and millions are employed in this highly dangerous work of mining. In the next thirty years Shanxi will be the key to China's energy consumption and future. Historically the churches in Shanxi have been weak and few of them can afford to target the coal miners and their families specifically. Let us lift up all the churches there and all the miners who are believers .

Sunday
Operator/owners of coal mines from Shanxi are the newly super rich of China. News accounts of their buying sprees often mesmerize the public. They are also known as big gamblers and people who buy entire buildings in Beijing. God has blessed many believers with great wealth but the fear of unwanted attention often prevents them from serving the church effectively. Let us pray for all the believers who can invest in the Kingdom and do many good works with what the Lord has entrusted to them .

Monday
In the top tier of universities in China, many of the departments are known for the majority of their graduates settling abroad. It is estimated that 300,000 of China's best have chosen not to return to China. While the government worries about the "brain drain" China's churches also face a similar trend as many leaders choose to minister in North America. Since God is sovereign and has His own plan, let us pray for the many congregations going through transition in leadership .

星期二
國家煙草專賣局由於壟斷市場，擁有的資金和稅收每年可達8億人民幣(1.33億美元)。這天文數字稅收目前對中國政府仍然非常重要，因此有官員透露，政府短期內都不會反煙。在國內教會中教導信徒爲維護自己的身體 - 聖靈的殿的潔淨,而不抽煙是件困難的事。讓我們為許多想戒煙卻無法成功的信徒禱告。

星期三
最近，北大和清華兩所大學相繼為畢業生召開大型校園招聘會。預計將有16，000畢業生爭奪4000個職位。畢業在即，許多大學生開始面對畢業等於失業的窘境。許多在校園裏信主的學生在畢業後，往往因工作影響了他們靈性的繼續成長。 讓我們為這些即將畢業的信徒們禱告，也求主保守帶領團契在這段時間裏的事工和跟進工作。

星期四
十年前逝世的鄧小平曾引用四川諺語：「不管黃貓黑貓，只要捉住老鼠就是好貓。」因此在文革時被冠以「貓論」的罪名而遭批判。但如今此話卻成了一句實用且影響深遠的世界名言。隨著政策開放而來經濟起飛衝擊著國內教會的發展。今年正值基督教來華200周年紀念，求神讓中國教會不再成爲文化和社會的邊緣，反而能在這經濟繁榮的社會產生具大的影響力。

星期五
中國公佈2007年的軍事預算將增加17.8%。這是十年來最大幅度的增加。此外也將在2010年之前建成第一艘航空母艦。雖然人民解放軍近年來人數銳減，但軍事配備卻大幅地提升。中國教會僅有極少數的有財政預算。有關器材或物品的購買等通常全憑個人的取決。讓我們爲中國教會能有異象以及好的財務管理，能夠忠心且有智慧善用資源來禱告。

星期六
山西省累計調出原煤產量45億噸，佔全國的8成。其煤田總面積5.5萬平方公里，佔全省面積的三分一；數百萬的工人在極度危險的礦場裏工作。估計未來30年內，山西省仍將是中國重要的能源之地。多年來，山西的教會都很貧弱，很少能夠有效服事礦工和其家人。讓我們特別為這裡的教會禱告，也求神特別保守信主的礦工和他們的家庭。

星期日
山西的煤老闆是中國新一代的暴發戶。他們在北京買房一出手就是一棟樓，而且喜歡豪賭。報上不時出現他們揮金如土、醉生夢死的傳聞。神祝福許多基督徒能擁有財富。讓我們禱告信徒能看重在神國裏的投資，尤其是富裕的基督徒，願意以神所賜的豐富來多做善工，成為神忠心良善的好管家。

星期一
大部分從中國一流大學最好科系畢業的菁英都到國外深造。估計在海外的中國專業人超過了30萬人。教會也和國家一樣面臨人才流失問題，許多教會領袖也選擇到北美去了。我們相信神全權的引領下有祂美好的計劃，讓我們也為這些教會禱告，求神親自帶領他們渡過教牧、長執變遷的時期。

Prayer Request 3/5-- 3/12

Tuesday
Public debate continues on whether the 600-year-old Forbidden City should keep the Starbucks café, the symbol of American and Western culture. The café has been operating for more than a year without it signs and logo. Many believe that foreign money has actually hurt Chinese churches too, causing division and “leading many astray”. Let us pray for China’s churches as she finds her own identity, her mission, and regains her passionate love for Him .

Wednesday
This year the most popular greeting in Tianjin is, "Have you bought a car?" The higher living standard and the abundance of money made in the booming stock market have caused private car ownership to increase forty percent yearly. Tianjin, about an hour away from Beijing, and with a much lower cost of living is a favorite place for foreigners as well as Chinese. Let us pray for the work of the churches there. We also remember the work of training church workers for Northern China that is carried on in this city .

Thursday
Sixty percent of Chinese consumers lack faith in the food they purchase in the markets of China. They worry most about the purity of children's foods as well as meat and bean products.Adulteration of food and adding of water to meat are common in market place. Spiritually, cults and extreme groups are thriving and robbing many churches of their young people. We need to pray especially for churches battling the heresies .

Friday
Chinese gamblers are very different than the so-called Westerner recreational gamblers. Chinese people bet extremely large sums and expect to win. Chinese gamblers do not know when to quit and usually end up losing big. How could the hardworking and thrifty Chinese be willing to gamble away their money? Let us pray that churches will have a positive influence in the changing of society. We, too, remember every church that must counsel and assist the families of gamblers .

Saturday
What kind of people gamble in Macau? Many are business owners from Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Other groups are the coal-mine owners from Shanxi and Jiangxi. Many hope to use their gambling winning to start new business ventures. Churches in Zhejiang and Jiangsu are also considered the most affluent and enjoy the most liberty in outreach. Let us pray for their roles in financially supporting many poor churches and workers in other provinces .

Sunday
Lang Lang is a piano prodigy and now the hottest young performer. He received the top prize at age 5. Just about every Chinese parent will push their child to learn piano, hoping that their own would also be a prodigy. “A good son needs physical discipline; a smart kid takes hours of studying.” Every parent fears their own child will lag behind in line. Let us pray for the wisdom of all believers in raising godly children and trusting that God will have a great plan for them .

Monday
In Russia, 100,000 Chinese merchants are looking for new ways to make a living since the government formally prohibits foreign merchants from carrying on their trades there. However, the high profit margin on Chinese-made goods will continue to attract black-marketers. We pray for some Christians who use “retail business” as a way to gain entry into restricted countries. Their goal is to start churches wherever they set up business or stores. Let us pray for all these tent-maker “missionaries ”.

星期二
象徵西方茶飲文化的美國星巴克咖啡館是否該繼續駐留在具有600年歷史、代表中國傳統文化的故宮，近來又引起廣泛的爭議。星巴克在一年前已將被評爲與故宮文化不協調的招牌拿掉了。很多人都認爲中國教會也受外來資金所累，造成分裂和諸多分歧。讓我們為國內的眾教會禱告，求神幫助教會找到自己的特色與使命，並重拾對基督熱切的愛。

星期三
中國天津的居民消費支出升級，「買車了嗎？」成了今年拜年時興的問候語。由於生活素質的提升和收入水準的提高，再加上股市狂飆，天津私家車數量的年增長率高達40%。天津離北京大約一小時的車程，生活費卻比北京低得多，因此中外人士都喜歡在此居住。讓我們為天津教會的事工禱告，也求神記念保守當地支援中國北部教會同工培訓的擺上和果效。

星期四
中國的消費者對食品市場總體放心率雖有提高，但六成以上的人對國內的食品市場仍缺乏信心。最不放心的是兒童食品及肉類和豆製品。市場上販賣摻假、冒假材料的食品以及灌水的肉品，是很普遍的現象。在靈性方面，國內基督教的異端和邪教組織不斷蔓延，並從許多教會奪走年輕信徒。我們需要迫切為眾教會面對異端邪説的爭戰禱告。

星期五
中國賭客有別於西方人所謂怡情尋樂型的賭客，乃是喜歡拚力一搏式的豪賭，希望藉賭發財，不會適時收手，以至常輸個精光甚至傾家蕩產。令人不解何以一向克勤克儉的華人，竟然捨得把錢撒在賭桌上？讓我們為教會能在社群當中產生積極正面的影響力，改變人心來禱告。也求主記念每一個提供輔導、協助嗜賭者及其家庭的教會。

星期六
那一類的人喜歡到澳門豪賭呢？據説豪賭場上不乏富人和官員，最多的是來自浙江和江蘇一代的商賈，也有山西和江西的「煤老闆」。他們大多希望靠賭博贏得創業資金，而掉進了賭博的漩渦。浙江和江蘇兩地的教會可説是國內最富足，也享有最大的福音自由度。讓我們求神感動他們，能夠善用神在錢財上的賜福，成爲其他物質缺乏地區的教會和同工的經濟支柱。

星期日
中國的鋼琴奇才郎朗， 5歲就奪得瀋陽鋼琴比賽第一名，如今已是獲獎無數、家喻戶曉世界馳名的少年鋼琴家。他的傲人成就使得中國父母們紛紛把孩子逼上鋼琴凳上，盼望也能造就出自家的天才。所謂「棍棒下出孝子，板凳上出才子」，家長們都深恐自己的孩子會落人後。讓我們求神賜智慧予所有信徒父母，讓他們堅信神在每個孩子身上都有美好的計劃，按照神的心意培育敬虔愛主的下一代。

星期一
自俄國政府禁止外商在當地從事市場零售，10萬中國商人需另尋出路。而中國商品的高利潤卻將繼續吸引黑市商販。一些基督徒以經商爲管道，進入那些不開放的國家，然後在所到之處組織團契，甚至開辦教會。讓我們為所有這些織帳篷的宣教士（帶職宣教士）禱告。