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。