Prayer Request 7/10 -- 7/16

Tuesday
People Liberation Army revealed their new uniforms for all branches of service, standardizing every piece of clothing down to underwear and socks. Mao once said, “People’s Army must be fed and clothed before they can fight with their weapons”. We pray for all the believers who are veterans or still serving in the military because they must keep their faith to themselves. We thank the Lord for their bold faith while wearing their military uniforms. May the Lord give them the joy of serving the King of kings and be powerful witnesses.

Wednesday
China has made great strides in banking system; ATM machines are now available in many cities. However, many employees' salaries are paid in fat envelopes of cash. And, many life's major purchases, such as cars or even houses, are paid for in cash. Giving offering is done in cash and the largest denomination of currency is 100 yuan (12 usd). Many believers still distrust how their church handles its offering. And, let us pray for the generous and cheerful spirit of giving to God for all believers.

Thursday
The Chinese Premier Wen is quoted as saying, "A bad system allows good people to do bad things and a good system prevents bad people from doing bad things." Observers are expecting some changes to take place ahead of the 17th People’s Congress this year. Chinese churches are still basically run by the pastor who makes all of the decisions in the church. We pray for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for churches in making their decisions. We pray, too, for more involvement of believers in the administration of their churches.

Friday
Although China is known as the paradise of copyright infringements, the popular government-run theme park in Beijing (an imitation of Hong Kong's Disneyland) was forced to close in the pre-Olympic shakedown. By a vast majority Christian books and media used in China are technically in violation of copyright laws. We pray for all who are involved in the duplication and distribution of these materials and for the opening of a door to legal publishing of Christian resources.

Saturday
As land development in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai has come under close governmental restriction, developers have moved on to the "second tier" inland cities like Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shenyang and Tianjin. House churches in these cities are weak in comparison with those in Beijing. We pray that God will perform miracles by sending the fire of revival in the churches and believers in these cities.

Sunday
The Chinese stock market has been riding high recently, nearly doubling its value over 2006. Stock speculation has become a national sensation and those who do not speculate on the stock market are thought of as stupid people. Many believers are also caught up in the stock market craze. We pray for a heart of contentment among believers and a desire to give more financially to the church and the servants of God.

Monday
Macau has become the Mecca for Chinese gamblers, especially the well-heeled high rollers. In 2006 Macau overtook Las Vegas as the number one gambling city in the world. Many Chinese are addicted to gambling. We pray for all believers who have relatives given to gambling. May the Lord bring healing to the pain and injuries caused by their loved ones through this vice.

星期二
解放軍日前舉行新軍服發放儀式，官兵内外上下都有一系列更加完整、配套的制服。毛澤東曾說：「人民軍隊總得先有飯吃，又有衣穿，才能打仗。否則，雖有槍砲，無所用之。」基督徒軍人不論在職或退伍，都要將信仰保密。我們感謝神讓他們在解放軍制服下仍有無畏的信心，也為他們禱告，求神賜他們勇氣和喜樂成為萬王之王的有力見證。

星期三
中國大力改進銀行系統，許多城市開始有提款機，然而很多公司仍舊以厚厚的一曡鈔票發放員工薪金。人民幣最高的幣值是100元（12美元），許多大買賣，如購買汽車，甚至房屋，仍是現金交易。信徒也是以現金奉獻。很多信徒仍對教會的財務管理沒有信心。求神保守教會能忠心理財，也讓信徒們更加樂意和慷慨奉獻。

星期四
總理溫家寶最近表示，「壞的制度可以讓好人做壞事，好的制度可以避免壞人做壞事。」或許意味在政治制度第17屆人大前，會有些實體的轉變。國內教會的決策，基本上由傳道人全權作主。求聖靈親自引導教會大小事務的決定，賜傳道人忠心和智慧，也讓信徒能更多參與教會的行政事務，同心協力照管好神的家。

星期五
中國一向被形容為「盜版天堂」。在奧運之前，為提昇國際形象，也開始整頓行動，就連在北京的國營遊樂園(翻版香港的迪士尼樂園)也遭拆除。在中國，教會所需要的書籍，尤其是神學書，仍以翻版為主。我們為所有參與書籍印刷、發行的弟兄們禱告，也求主憐憫能早日打開更多合法的出版管道，回應屬靈文字的廣大需求。

星期六
因為土地開發在北京、上海等大城已受到嚴格控制。房地產開發商只好轉向所謂「二線城市」即武漢、重慶、成都、瀋陽及天津等內陸城市發展。這些城市的家庭教會與北京教會相較之下頗為嬴弱。我們求神在這些城市中，興起祂奇妙的作為，激勵衆信徒重新點燃復興的靈火，將福音傳遍每個角落。

星期日
中國股市大熱，上升超過二倍，同時也出現全民炒股的現象。雖然經濟學家視之為「股瘋」，但現在「不炒股的人，才是瘋」，許多信徒也沈浮在炒股熱潮中。我們求神賜下知足、敬虔的心給衆教會，能為神的家和祂的僕人，更熱心獻上金錢和心力。

星期一
靠著中國內地旅客源源不絕進貢，澳門去年博彩收入已超過拉斯維加斯，成為世界第一賭城。如今高端客戶更成為澳門賭場的新特色。「人無橫財不富」，有錢就賭是中國人的惡習之一，我們為有嗜賭家人的信徒來禱告，求主賜下愛心與智慧來幫助有賭癖者掙脫其綑綁，也求神醫治因賭博造成的個人與家庭的傷害與破裂。