Tuesday, April 10, 2007

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。

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