Prayer Request 6/19-- 6/25

Tuesday
Some provincial governments are bringing in large revenue collecting penalties from those who violate the one-child policy. Fines vary greatly and loopholes encourage outright bribery. It is said that rich people simply buy their way to have more children. Many Wenzhou believers are able to have more than one child. We take this time to pray for all the second-generation believers in Wenzhou church. May the Lord use their experience of Sunday School growing up to help many churches who never have seen children's ministry .

Wednesday
In an unusual move, China executed the chief man in charge of food and drugs for bribery. The sentence was imposed to punish two crimes: corruption and rampant unsafe food and drug problems. In the past year attacks by cults have lessened after police cracked down on them. However, congregations which were taken over by cultist groups are now in ruin. Many gave up church attendance or became spiritually lost. Let us remember all these injured sheep and pray that stronger believers will help them recover .

Thursday
More than half a million people have signed up as Olympic volunteers and in the Beijing area seventy percent of them are college students. Volunteerism is a relatively new concept but it is catching on fast in China, especially among the young people. Many college students participate in off-campus charitable causes but are still monitored by the student's Party chapter. Let us pray again for the spiritual vitality of Bible study groups and meeting places attended by college students

Friday
China has transitioned remarkably from a “One big rice bowel” Communist society to “Let a few be rich first” economy. In his last years, Deng Xiaoping had worried correctly about the inequality of wealth and polarization of the society. We praised the Lord as many churches have benefited from the economic boom too. Let us remember all the wealthy churches as they will see the need of poor churches and become a blessing to others, not just focusing on their own needs locally .

Saturday
During the Cultural Revolution, being equally poor was the unintended result. Later, Deng Xiaoping had envisioned a China with her people equally rich, but that has proven to be illusive goal. The disparity between the wealthy churches on the coastal provinces and the poor churches inland is dramatic. We pray for the smaller rural churches badly in need of training for their workers and pastors, and the larger churches who are supporting them .

Sunday
Chinese public toilets are infamous. But, government has decided to build 20,000 new ones and remodel 52% of all existing facilities before 2010. Many churches will be undergoing remodeling this year, but many more will have to do with what the antiquated facilities. As congregations raise funds for church remodeling and rebuilding, let us pray that strong sense of unity will arise and passion for mission rekindled .

Monday
According to survey, the new Chinese immigrants are coming to Australia not necessarily to make money but to enjoy a relaxed life style. Good weather and slower pace of life are big attractions especially for the retirement age Chinese. Retirees tend to give less because they are on fixed income. Let us pray for willingness in giving and healthy growing church in Australia. We remember especially the Chinese churches in Sydney and Brisbane as they have enjoyed a large influx of new immigrants .

星期二
對應一胎化政策，一些地方官員平時放鬆讓老百姓超額生育，一旦緊抓嚴打起來則對超生者大擧罰款收費. 超生罰款制度紕漏重重，亦成爲貪汙腐敗的源頭，只要有錢就可以多生的傳聞不絕。許多溫州信徒都能生育超過一個孩子。這些孩子們很多都能從小在主日學裏學習和成長，求主讓溫州信徒們有機會以自己的經歷幫助其他沒有兒童事工經驗的教會。

星期三
國家食品藥品監管局原局長的受賄及玩忽職守不尋常地兩罪合判死刑。顯示在少用和慎用死刑的共識下，對涉及食品藥物等危害社會的貪腐分子，仍會動用。危害信徒的異端邪教，經過公安一年來的掃蕩已經減少。然而受異端組織影響的許多會衆都不再上教會，遺失了信仰。讓我們為這些走失和受傷的羊群禱告，求神為他們預備信仰堅強的信徒幫助他們重新建立對神的信心。

星期四
全中國登記成爲2008奧運志工的人數已超過50萬人，來自北京地區的志工之中，7成是大學生。擔任志願工作在中國算是相當新的概念，卻迅速被年輕人接受。許多大學生都參與校外慈善工作，但仍需受到校規中的社團規定的監管。讓我們特別為大學生的查經小組以及聚會地點的平安來禱告，求主保守他們靈命活潑。

星期五
社會主義在鄧小平的推動下，從“大鍋飯”制度走向“先富起部分有條件的人”. 在鄧小平晚年時，市場經濟雖蓬勃發展，卻也出現他所擔心的經濟兩極化。國內許多教會在經濟發展下受惠，我們為這些豐裕的教會感謝神，也求主幫助他們放眼四周的需要，成爲其他貧困教會和信徒的幫助和祝福。

星期六
中國文革造成了全民共同貧窮的結果，爾後，鄧小平提出共同富裕的理想，但至今這目標顯然仍距離遙遠。在沿海的富裕教會與內陸貧窮的教會之間的資源也如有天淵之別。讓我們爲一些農村地區的小教會禱告，記念他們迫切需要傳道人以及同工的訓練，也為能夠支助供應他們的大教會禱告。

星期日
中國公厠惡名遠播，政府已設定於2010年之前新建城市公厠2萬座以上，以及改造全國舊厠達52%。今年許多教會也有計畫進行改建翻新，但更多教會仍然只能守著原有陳舊的設施。讓我們為正在籌募建堂或翻新經費的教會禱告，求主藉此使信徒們更加合一，同時也重燃對傳福音和宣教的熱忱。

星期一
調查顯示，新一代華人移民澳洲不全爲錢，更爲追求悠閒生活。爽朗的氣候和輕鬆愜意的生活步伐對退休華人尤具吸引力。一般信徒退休以後奉獻會減少，讓我們為所有澳洲的華人教會禱告，尤其在當地有大量新移民的悉尼和布里斯本，求神保守他們的靈命能在主裏健康成長，並且眾信徒能夠為神的國度甘心樂意擺上。