Prayer Request 8/21 -- 8/27

Tuesday
This year marks the 200th anniversary of Robert Morrison’s arrival to China. He is attributed with the publishing of the first full Chinese translation of the Bible, an English-Chinese dictionary and a Christian periodical. We thank the Lord for the sacrifices and contribution of thousands of missionaries in the past. They have laid a beautiful foundation for China churches. We are also thankful for all those who are reaching and serving the Chinese today.

Wednesday
The image of “Made in China” has suffered greatly in recent months because of a string of poor product quality and contamination. Chinese government has moved swiftly to clean up a black list of 400 companies with substandard export products. Negative impressions of China have also extended to churches too, with increasing complaints of financial accountability and lack of transparency. Let us pray for a new revival of churches in China, true humility of the shepherd and guarding of heart from greed of all believers.

Thursday
This is the 80th anniversary of the founding of China’s armed forces, the People’s Liberation Army. 86% of youth surveyed expressed interest in becoming servicemen and 60% of girls are willing to be married to a soldier because soldiers are supposedly more responsible. Marrying a pastor, a soldier of God’s kingdom means a lot of sacrifice personally and for the family. The spouse (many are women pastors) will need to continue to work to supplement income too. We pray for the relationship of all the pastors and their spouses.

Friday
A large majority of house church leaders consider registering with the government as a compromise, submitting the authority of church to atheistic officials in the religious affair bureau. These churches commonly have gone through and suffered greatly during the anti-Christian movement of the ’50-’60s. We pray specifically for these kinds of churches, both in rural and urban settings. May the Lord add strength to them as they strive to remain true to the preaching and fervent in saving the lost.

Saturday
Yu dan, an amiable lady professor, became a household celebrity with her own fresh interpretation and application Confucius’s teachings. She is said to make the 2,500-year-old Chinese classics come alive and was even invited to teach 6,000 prisoners in Beijing. Do we need to present the Gospel in a way relevant to Chinese in China today? Let us pray that every believer lives out the Word of God as salt and light and that churches open their doors instead of closing them to neighbors in community.

Sunday
Since 1977, the CCP has held its party congress every five years. The 17th National Congress is scheduled to convene this autumn. More than half of the top leadership is expected to retire, making room for those who are in their 50s. Unable to mentor and cultivate new leaders is an unfortunate flaw of all leaders. Let us pray for many churches that are still firmly “in control” by those in their 70s or older. We pray for the need for new leadership and new vision for the church community.

Monday
Singapore is well-known for paying its public officials top salaries commensurate with private sectors as ways to retain talent and to prevent corruption. The Singaporean prime minister is said to earn 3 times what the US president makes. Compensations of Chinese church workers vary greatly throughout Southeast Asia. Let us thank the Lord for the zeal for mission and generosity of Singaporean churches shown in supporting church workers in Vietnam, Burma and even India.

星期二
今年是近代首位來華的宣教士–馬禮遜來華200週年紀念。為中國出版了首部全中譯《聖經》，編撰第一部漢英字典，並創辦第一份中文期刊，都是他的貢獻。讓我們為過去許許多多西國宣教士的犧牲和貢獻來感謝上帝。他們為中國教會奠定了美好穩固的根基，使救恩的種籽得以開花結果。 我們也為現今在中國服事的宣教士們來感恩代禱，求主記念、賜福他們。

星期三
近幾個月爆發了多起有關受污染食品和商品品質不合規格的事件，「中國製造」的商品受到了極大的打擊。政府為此迅速列出了出口貿易商的「黑名單」，一共400家之多。有些負面輿論也影響了中國教會的聲譽，對教會的財務狀況欠缺透明化的指責應聲而起。讓我們為教會復興並牧者的謙卑來禱告。求主保守信徒避免受到誘惑、試探。儆醒不起貪婪的心。

星期四
今年是中國人民解放軍成立80週年紀念。據統計，有86%的青年有志成為解放軍，60% 希望嫁給軍人，因為她們認為這些軍人應該比較有責任感。若結婚對象是教會牧師，神國度的軍兵，就必須為個人和家庭付出極大的犧牲。無論妻子或丈夫（國內有許多女牧師）都必須繼續工作幫補家用。我們為所有的牧師的夫妻關係和家庭需要來向神禱告、仰望。

星期五
國內多數家庭教會領袖多不贊同向政府登記，並視之為向「世俗世界」妥協，拱手讓宗教管理局的無神論官員操縱和掌控教會，擔心教會可能與耶穌基督–教會真正的根基相悖。這些教會通常經歷過五、六十年代各種政治運動和壓迫。讓我們特別為這些在農村及鄉鎮的教會禱告。當他們致力維護和傳揚真理、拯救失喪者時，求神大大加添他們智慧、能力。

星期六
大學女教授于丹，以一本「於丹《論語》心得」而家喻戶曉。她從獨特的個性視角出發來解讀《論語》，把這部數千年前的經典語錄，以白話生動地詮釋出來，她甚至受邀教導北京的6千多名囚犯。我們是否也需要按中國今日的民情來傳講福音？我們禱告每個信徒都能夠成爲光和鹽，活出神的話。讓教會大門向社區鄰舍大開，使人們能從信徒身上看到基督的樣式，而羨慕屬天的福樂。

星期日
中國共産黨自1977年始，每五年舉行一次大會。第17屆全國大會將訂在今秋。屆時有超過一半的領導人將退休，讓路給年屆五十的年輕幹部。領袖若無法栽培新的領導層，將事工的棒子傳繼下去，會是個令人遺憾的瑕疵。許多教會目前仍由70歲以上的老傳道全權掌控。讓我們為教會需要新一代教牧同工，以及更新的牧養觀念與模式來禱告。

星期一
新加坡政府以奉行「高薪養廉」制度聞名，其管理邏輯是比照私企，付給部長和高級公務員高薪，以防止貪汙腐敗。據悉新加坡總理目前的年薪為美國總統的3倍。東南亞各地傳道人或教會同工人之間的酬勞相距甚大。感謝神，新加坡教會對越南，緬甸，甚至印度的宣教工作以及同工都樂意熱心幫助和慷慨支援。求神記念、祝福他們的擺上，也保守所有有關聖工的果效。