Prayer Request 4/24 -- 4/30

Tuesday
Beijing institutes a mandatory one-hour-a-day physical exercise for all students up to the high school level. Every school must comply and can not shorten the exercise with any excuses or substitutions. Spiritual exercise for the majority of Chinese Sunday Schools is still song singing and story-telling. Let us pray for an in-depth curriculum, emphasis on relationship with Jesus and parental involvement in the program .

Wednesday
One may wonder how a Chinese kid learns to use chopsticks, which involves 30 joints and 50 muscles. Most children have mastered chopsticks long before they can write. Many believers bring their children to church, but, because there are no trained teachers, the children simply play outside of the church, not learning anything and not having a meaningful worship experience. Let us pray especially for such churches and their desire to minister to the young ones .

Thursday
“The building of ethical thinking among the juveniles” is a big project the Party is pushing at all levels in the attempt to stem the corrupting influences on the youth--from media--rapidly changing social values and loss of moral values. Materialism and social corruption have undermined the education of a whole generation of young people. Many churches realize this but lack concrete ways to do anything about it. Let us pray for the prevalent absence of youth and young people in so many inland churches .

Friday
The governmental regulation is that burial sites not exceed four square meters for one person or six square meters for two people. The government is cracking down on elaborate and outlandish graves, a flagrant violation of these rules. The passing of old saints, especially those who endured the tumultuous time of the last century means there is a new generation who grew us with little memory of the suffering of the churches. We thank the Lord for every one of those saints and the legacy they have left behind .

Saturday
A first time offender of the law, aged 16 to 18, will not face prison sentences, according to the new rule by the Public Security Bureau. Imprisonment leads to the overcrowding of limited facilities and often makes the offenders worse. Not all parents have well-behaved children; some are literally “black sheep.” Let us remember all the aching parents and their prodigal sons in our prayers .

Sunday
Many families come from the Mainland to Hong Kong for better jobs. The entire family crams into a one-room apartment and their children become the so-called “street children.” Some Hong Kong churches tried to minister to these children and their families, but the churches have limited success because of the immigrants’ inability to fit in with the local children and the parental immigrants’ objection to church. We pray for these unique ministries reaching out to the Mainland immigrants .

Monday
“Lady Guest” is the term for those who married into the village (or family). Chinese courts recently decided in several cases that they must be included in receiving benefits, enjoying the equal rights with the men. Girls who are married off are still seen as “water poured out on the ground” in most of the rural regions. Let us pray for the church workers, especially in these villages where the old mindset runs deep and women are still seen as a liability or property, rather than an asset .

星期二
北京市實施《學生體質健康標準》。各中小學校至高校，必須保證學生每天有一小時的體能鍛煉，不得任意擠占或削減。相對下，多數兒童主日學所能供應的屬靈操練仍停留在唱歌和說故事的階段。我們為需要更多教師及更深的教材和師資培訓來禱告，求神使他們更注重個人與主耶穌的關係，也讓家長更多參與和推動兒童主日學。

星期三
中國孩子到底是怎麽學會用筷子的？拿筷子需運用30個關節和50塊肌肉以及相關的神經中樞。許多孩童甚至在學會寫字前就能熟練使用筷子了！兒童時期是智力開發和學習的最關鍵時期。但各教會的兒童主日學發展情況不一，許多教會因沒有師資，只能讓隨父母來教會的孩童呆坐或在教會外面玩耍，得不到有系統的靈性教導和崇拜經歷。我們求神特別記念這些教會和發展兒童事工的意願，帶領供應他們的需要。

星期四
中央大力推動「全國加強和改進未成年人思想道德建設工作」，以抗衡從網絡和傳媒迅速散播的敗壞和歪曲的道德倫理和價值觀。泛濫的物質主義和敗壞的社會風氣已嚴重腐蝕新青少年的思想。教會對於嚴重流失的年輕一代，苦無良策，許多內地教會都缺少年輕人的參與。讓我們求主在年輕人身上動工，也幫助教會有能力和資源及早把神的話語植根在年輕一代心裏。

星期五
民政部明確規定，埋葬骨灰的單人、雙人合葬墓占地面積不得超過1平方米，埋葬遺體的單人墓不得超過4平方米，雙人合葬墓不得超過6平方米。對於違規擅自加大的豪華墓地，政府將強制改正。隨著挺過教會動蕩時期的老信徒逐漸逝去，年輕一代對教會曾經歷的苦難記憶也日益模糊。但我們感謝神，這些對主忠心的老聖徒卻在每個信徒心中留下美好永恒的見證和榜樣。

星期六
根據中國治安管理處罰法新規定，16歲至18歲初違治安管理者不拘留。監禁處份往往不僅讓原本設備已呈不足的監獄更加擁擠，也常使被囚者變得更壞。並不是每個信徒的孩子都是好孩子。教會的孩子當中也有害群之馬。讓我們禱告記念安慰所有傷心的父母，也求神感動浪子能夠回頭。

星期日
許多家庭爲了更好的工作而從內陸移居到香港，一家人擠在一個租來的小房間。父母出外工作，孩子就成了在街上流連的「街童」。許多教會試圖協助這些家庭和孩子，卻面對很多難題：主要是這些移民孩子無法融入教會的「中產家庭」孩子的群中，來到教會的「街童」沒多久就離開。讓我們為這項特殊又有意義的事工禱告。

星期一
從外地嫁到男家村莊但戶籍未能更改的女性村民稱「女客」，和外嫁他鄉的「出嫁女」常常無權享受村裏的財產的分配，應得的權益也常常被剝奪。最近好些個案，通過法院為自己討囘了公道。多數農村中國人還保留著「嫁出去的女兒，潑出去的水」的封建思想，女人的地位非常卑微。讓我們特別為在農村裏服事的女性教會同工禱告，求不偏待人的主同樣記念她們的忠心和勞苦。

Prayer Request 4/17 -- 4/23

Tuesday
"The peacocks fly southward" is used to describe the phenomenon of the tens of millions of skilled and unskilled workers flocking to southern Guangdong seeking jobs. Dongguan is one city with factories where the population has swelled to five times its normal size by the five million workers flooding in. Church work is hard where people have little free time. Let us pray for every ministry focusing on reaching out to the factory workers both inside the plants of Christian owners and to those workers who live near the factories .

Wednesday
China is implementing a sweeping reform regarding organ transplants. Now all organ donations must be voluntary and with consent. However, family members can consent for the removal of the organs of a deceased relative. Sacrificial giving or voluntary work is still not commonly practiced even among believers who are, like society in general, cynical and suspicious of acts of sacrifice. Let us pray for understanding of the true compassion of Christ and the ability to live it out in all of us.

Thursday
China aired its very first homosexual-themed TV program which portrays homosexuals as regular citizens who face a lot of pressure and need acceptance and tolerance. Christian churches do not get much media exposure so society as a whole sees Christianity negatively. Let us pray for divine intervention and that believers will learn what they can do to give churches and Christians a positive image in the media .

Friday
Until 2001 homosexuality in China was regarded as a psychological disorder. The very first prime time TV program about homosexuals "Connected with the Same Sex" signals a change. In the vast rural regions however, homosexuality is still taboo. Churches in China have not been an audible voice on most social or ethical issues. Let us pray for a compassionate heart and strong Biblical stand in a society that accepts that "prostitution is better than poverty ".

Saturday
In China elaborate funeral services are considered important, a matter of "face". Speculation on real estate has caused the price of burial plots to skyrocket and in Beijing and Shanghai, the average cost of a funeral is about three months' salary (10,000 to 20,000 yuan). Funeral services are one way Christians can share the faith of their loved ones publicly. Let us pray that Christian funerals will be occasions where God receives glory, the godly life is honored, and seeds of the gospel are planted .

Sunday
A government survey shows that 28% of urban Chinese parents actually ignore their only child. Lack of communication and poor relations are the biggest culprit. Churches’ emphasis on children’s ministry varies from region to region. Many realize the great importance of children’s ministry but do not know how to be effective. Some are attempting to host English camps to bring in parents and their children. Let us remember their effort and family ministries .

Monday
Experts predict that by 2010 China will produce more cars than Japan. In China prices of cars have dropped dramatically and having a car is now deemed a necessity by many people. In most of the urban churches there are no parking facilities. However, in rural areas it can be very useful to have a car. Let us pray for many church workers who are considering buying a car but trying to balance the ministry needs with the operating cost .

星期二
「孔雀東南飛」是中國古典名詩，現今卻用來描述成千上萬的技術和非技術人員湧向廣東南部打工掙錢的現象。 在該省打工大鎮東莞市工廠林立，引來500多萬外來人口，是本地人口的五倍。當大家都忙碌得非常疲累沒閒暇時間時,教會工作和福音事工難以進行。讓我們為針對工廠勞工、企業業主的福音事工禱告。求主興起基督徒在工廠內外向工人們傳福音。

星期三
最近中國通過了"人體器官移植條例"，規定人體器官捐獻應當遵循自願、無償的原則。然而，家人也有權同意捐獻逝世者的器官。自願、無償的付出或義務工作，即使在基督徒當中也不普遍，一般而言，社會對自願犧牲的人也抱持懷疑和嘲笑的態度。讓我們為弟兄姊妹能真正明白基督無私的愛並且願意緊緊追隨祂禱告。

星期四
中國開播首個同性戀主題節目「同性相連」，讓社會看到同性戀者也是面對許多壓力和煩惱的普通人，希望透過節目能提高社會對同性戀者的寬容和接納度。在公共媒體上，基督教會反而得不到曝光的機會，因為整體而言，社會對基督教仍然帶著非常負面的觀感。求主改變人心，並使信徒們有智慧和好見証讓教會和基督徒在媒體中展現正面的形象。

星期五
同性戀一直是中國傳統社會的禁忌，直到2001年，官方仍視同性戀爲精神疾病。近日在黃金時段播出的首個同性戀節目「同性相連」反映出社會對此議題的態度正在轉變。然而在農村地區同性戀仍受到很大的抗拒。在輿論界聽不到教會針對社會和道德議題的發聲。處在「笑貧不笑娼」社會裡，我們求主讓信徒心懷憐憫，同時能夠堅守聖經的原則和立場。

星期六
在中國，爲了面子，家人的葬禮不能隨便。在北京和上海，普通的葬禮就要1萬到2萬元人民幣，相當于北京一般市民三個月的工資。加上近年的墓地炒賣使墓地、喪葬禮的價格高到讓人感嘆「死不起」。基督教的喪禮也可以成爲基督徒表明信仰的機會。讓我們禱告，所有基督徒的喪禮能讓他們敬虔的生活被記念，榮耀神，也藉以傳播福音的種子。

星期日
一項官方調查指出, 28%的城市父母忽視他們的孩子。家長經常不與子女交流、遊戲而造成的情感忽視是發生率最高的一種忽視形式。中國各個地區的兒童事工都不同。很多教會雖明瞭兒童事工的重要性，卻不知如何有效施行。也有些嘗試舉辦英語營來吸引家長和孩子踏進教會。讓我們為所有相關的努力及家庭事工禱告。

星期一
據專家預計,中國的汽車產量，到2010年將超越日本。車價劇降,汽車已是人民的必需品。在城市裡,多數的教會都沒有停車處，停車子並不方便.反觀在農村裡，擁有車子倒是很便利於行，因此許多傳道人開始考慮購買汽車。求神給他們有智慧，從事工需要和維修花費上做出合乎經濟能力的正確評估。

Prayer Request 4/10--4/16

Tuesday
Health officials say it is no longer legal for hospitals to turn away emergency patients who are unable to pay. In Chinese hospitals the policy has always been "pay first, care later" and the poor face the predicament of "no money, no care". We lift up all believers who do not have financial means to get proper medical care and entrust their health needs to the Great Physician Himself. We know there are many such heartbreaking situations .

Wednesday
In 2006 the average annual wage in Beijing was 36,097 yuan ($4510.US) including all of the benefits and bonuses. Restaurant workers, however, made less than 20,000 yuan and security guards (mostly young men from the countryside) made only 9,000 yuan. Rural churches have lost many of their young people and church workers alike as millions have left for higher paying jobs in the cities. Let us pray for the spiritual needs of those believers who have left their home churches but have been unable to find a church home in the city .

Thursday
"Kongjiangbing" (parachute manager) is the name for a new manager brought into a business to solve a problem situation. However, they are often ineffective. Many are beginning to question whether short term training by well-meaning overseas believers is really effective in helping rural church workers. Let us pray for more indigenous teachers who can train leaders and truly understand the needs of local churches .

Friday
"The 80's generation" (those born after 1980) is considered to be a self-centered group of people but they are willing to try new things and are heavily influenced by the internet and more open to foreign cultures. China's churches need some new worship styles and means of delivering the message of God to reach out to this new generation. We pray for those whose ministries target specifically the students and young intellectuals .

Saturday
People in the "80's generation" commonly switch jobs since they feel they have the right to quit to get higher pay and are not willing to work hard for career advancement. Will young church workers have this same attitude? Many feel they are less likely to wait for long-term results or endure hardship than the previous generation was. Let us pray earnestly for those Christian workers who are younger than thirty years old .

Sunday
Thanks to the Internet many young strangers (pin ke) share apartments--rooms, rides, and even opposite gender people living together. They consider it an adventurous way to socialize and save money. Churches and urban youth (non-college students) have little in common. We pray that more churches will have a vision to reach out to the working young people in their neighborhoods through innovative methods of Bible study and community evangelism .

Monday
"Sharing is the winning way" is the motto of many urban youth. They share rooms, meals, and outings with strangers to save money. This is becoming the life style of young people in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, and Chengdu. Finding Christian friends of the same age is difficult in China. Let us pray for those who are counselors to young people. May the Lord use them as godly examples to the youth and young married couples .

星期二
最近中國衛生部宣佈，醫院因病人無法繳付醫藥費而見死不救，是違反法律的行為。國內醫院一直以來的規定都是「先繳費，後救人」，因此許多貧窮的病人沒錢就沒得醫了。我們知道有許多貧寒的信徒沒有能力得到所需要的醫治，只能將一切交托給神。讓我們為這樣處境的肢體禱告，求神，我們的大醫師大能醫治他們，也感動富足有餘的信徒們能及時對他們伸出援手。

星期三
2006年北京的年平均工資為人民幣36,097元 (美金 $4510)，包括工資,獎金, 各項津貼和補貼。但是餐飲業工人平均工資是20,000元，保安人員(多數來自郊外的年輕人)的工資僅9,000元。為了賺取更高的工資，許多農村教會的年輕信徒也紛紛離鄉背井到城市打工，卻未參與任何教會。讓我們為這些信徒的靈命需要，以及能夠儘快順利地找到合適的教會來禱告。

星期四
有些公司愛聘請「空降兵」– 希望這些來自其他公司的主管能有新方法來管理和解決問題。然而往往都沒有收到顯著的果效。在教會界也有人開始懷疑，海外信徒前來給本地教會提供短期培訓，是否真能有效協助教會成長呢？求神提升更多本土教師的能力，來訓練當地教會的領袖。畢竟他們的優勢是能深入瞭解當地教會的需要，能供給更長期有效的訓練和教導。

星期五
「80後」 (1980年出生的世代) 是一群被視為以自我為中心的族群。他們樂於嘗試新事物, 熱衷於網際網絡和外來的文化。教會需要針對新一代的崇拜以及講道方式，來傳遞神的話語給這批「80後」。讓我們為學生及年輕知識分子的事工禱告。面對新世紀的宣教挑戰，求神在觀念和策略上，都親自更新教會領導和同工的心意，能靈巧回應時代的需要。

星期六
「80後」一族跳槽的頻率很高，心態上比較浮躁，顯得有點「眼高手低」。他們只看重眼前的薪酬待遇而不願意為未來的事業苦幹。年輕的教會工作者也有同樣的觀念嗎？有人認為他們不願做長遠計畫、沒有耐心等候長期的結果，也沒有上一代人刻苦耐勞的精神。讓我們懇切為那些在教會裏的「80後」—30歲以下的年輕人代禱。求主在雕琢靈命的深度和廣度上，裝備他們成為合用器皿。

星期日
拜便捷的互聯網之賜，許多年輕人通過網路都成了「拼客」––合租房子、搭順風車等，甚至無論男女都能「拼」在一起。他們認爲這是省錢、交友、開闊眼界的有趣方式。中國教會和城市青年（非大學生）很少有交集之處。求神使更多教會看到周圍社區中職青們的需要，傳福音給他們並設立合適的查經班，為主得人如魚。

星期一
「愛『拼』就會贏」似乎已成當今不少都市青年的生活理念—與陌生人一同分擔食、住、行的花費。尤其在上海、北京、廣東、和成都等大都會區更是如此。相對的，想找同齡的基督徒朋友並不容易。讓我們為服事年輕人和年輕夫婦的輔導同工禱告，求主讓使用他們敬虔愛主的榜樣來影響年輕一輩的生命。

Prayer Request 4/3 -- 4/9

Tuesday
Business entertaining in China is notoriously lavish and expensive. Nearly everyone uses the excuse of, "No problem. The company pays for it." or "It is essential to take good care of guests." Practicing hospitality and giving their very best to visiting church workers is a virtue of Chinese believers. Let us thank the Lord for the many who give not because they have a lot of money but because of their joy in serving the Lord .

Wednesday
Recently the media has turned national attention toward the debate of whether a terminally ill cancer patient should be given euthanasia. Many condone it because of the high medical expenses involved in prolonging life. In the Chinese tradition there are no religious reasons opposing euthanasia but filial piety does not allow one to kill oneself or one's parents in illness. Chinese believers are generally ill-prepared to provide Biblical reasoning in almost any ethical debate. Let us pray for compassion and patience for all believers who must care for terminally ill loved one .

Thursday
The city of Beijing calls the eleventh day of every month, "wait in line day" since the number 11 is the image of a waiting lane. Chinese people like to cut into lines and are very poor in obeying order in lines for buses, cashier windows and such like. Old habits die hard, especially when we see others get ahead of us and break the rules. Let us pray for all believers as they try to live out Biblical principles in a very self-centered society .

Friday
In China every year 2.5 million people are afflicted with stroke, the leading killer disease. Of these 1.5 million die and the rest find themselves with varying degrees of handicaps or paralysis. Since many churches do not have handicap-friendly facilities, scores of believers who suffer from strokes cannot attend church. Let us remember all those believers who cannot attend church because of illness. May the Lord strengthen them with joy through the comfort of His Word .

Saturday
In the past caring for elderly parents could be rotated among one's children. However, the one-child policy essentially means that one couple must care for two sets of parents. Many young couples refuse to have much to do with their parents and flat out avoid them if they need medical attention. Even many young believers neglect their own parents. Let us pray for them as they struggle to make "honoring your parents" part of their faith and become powerful witnesses to their unbelieving parents .

Sunday
Businessmen fellowships are a relatively new thing in China. Some are smaller and some are larger even into the hundreds of participants and they are found in the costal provinces. Some meet in homes and other inside the companies of Christian owners. We thank the Lord for raising up godly businessmen who also provide assistance to poor students from other provinces. May the Lord use their service to impact churches and further the work of evangelism .

Monday
The city of Beijing has one million handicapped people (about 1 in 15 residents) yet one rarely sees these handicapped people on the streets. The infrastructures to accommodate the handicapped are still spotty in big cities and practically nonexistent in smaller ones. By and large churches are poor in meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the handicapped. Let us pray for this great deficit and the great need to serve the blind, the deaf, and stroke victims .

星期二
生意應酬的揮霍奢華在中國已是舉世瞠目．幾乎人人都有藉口說「沒有問題，報公賬」或「招待客人是應該且必要的」。聖經教導信徒要接待神的僕人，而盡其所能熱情款待來探訪教會的工作者是信徒的美德。讓我們為此感謝神，因為許多人願意付出，不是因為有錢，而是基於服侍神而產生的喜悅。求主記念他們憑信心做在神僕人身上的美事。

星期三
最近引起輿論關注的辯論議題是：是否應給患絕症的病人安樂死？許多人同意這做法是基於治療所需付的高昂醫療費用。在傳統上，並沒有反對安樂死的宗教因素，但中國的孝道卻不允許自殺或殺死病重的父母。對社會上所有有關道德的爭議，一般信徒對相關的聖經原則的裝備，都不夠紥實。讓我們為所有必須照顧患絕症家人的信徒來禱告，求主厚賜他們愛心和耐心。

星期四
北京市訂每月11日為「排隊日」，因為11像排隊的圖像。中國人不愛尊守公共秩序，無論搭公車或在出納櫃檯等都愛插隊舊習難改。尤其是看到周圍的人都搶著在我們前面插隊，更是難以心服。讓我們為所有信徒禱告，讓他們能在這個標榜「自我中心」，一切為己的社會裡，倚靠主過符合聖經原則的敬虔生活．

星期五
腦卒中（中風）是中國第一號殺手，每年有250 萬人患此病，其中150萬人會因腦卒中去世，幸存者也會有不同程度的殘缺，甚至癱瘓。由於許多教會沒有殘障人士使用的設施，有些行動不便的信徒因而不能到教會去。讓我們時常以禱告記念這些不能上教會的信徒，願神以祂的話語親自安慰、激勵他們。

星期六
在過去，子女們可以輪流照料年長的父母，但是長久需要照顧久病父母，仍會引起一些情緒問題。在「一胎化政策」的制度下，一對夫婦就必須照顧雙方的父母，而許多年輕的夫婦不願意負起這份責任而避開他們。甚至許多信徒也忽略對的父母照料．讓我們為他們能在身心疲勞的環境裡能堅持孝敬父母，成爲實踐信仰的一部分，同時在不信的父母親面前為神做美好的見證．

星期日
近年來基督徒商人陸續在中國沿海地區組織起基督徒商人團契。小的有幾十人，大的有上百人。有些在家裡，有的工作場所聚會。我們要感謝神興起這些願意侍奉神，接待貧窮的外省學生的基督徒商人。盼望神借此激勵教會，推展福音工作。

星期一
北京市有一百萬名殘疾人士(比例大約為1比15)，但是因為城市的無障礙設施還不足，所以很少能在街上看到殘疾人。而小鄉鎮就根本完全沒有這些設施。教會對殘疾人士的幫助，無論在硬體設施、生理或屬靈上，都非常不足。讓我們為這些虧欠向神禱告，求神幫助我們能重視和提供身患殘疾的不幸人士實質的支援和照顧。