Prayer Request 8/28 -- 9/3

Tuesday
Liang Fa (1789-1855) was the second Chinese Protestant believer and was ordained by Robert Morrison as the first Chinese pastor. In 1820, knowing his wife was about to give birth, he went home to lead her to Christ and baptized her. Ten days later, he also baptized his son. We give praise for the 200th anniversary of Robert Morrison’s arrival in China. We too thank Him for all the babies born into believers’ families. May the Lord give these parents wisdom in raising up a godly second generation for Him.

Wednesday
Robert Morrison arrived in the Pearl River Delta 200 years ago. Today, although this region is truly the richest and most developed in all of China, many would agree that churches in Guangzhou and Macau are relatively weak and that most of the Christians there are factory workers from other provinces. We take this time to pray for all of the churches in Guangzhou. Most of the eight open churches there are relatively empty. We pray for the softening of the hard soil and for a revival among believers.

Thursday
In China, it is not only the Christians are doing the proselytizing. Mormons, Bahai, the Unification Church, and even Islam are actively gaining many converts among the Han Chinese. Many unsuspecting believers are lured into other religion and cults. We pray for these lost sheep and pray even more diligently for the great need of follow up and apologetic ministry, because so many believers do not even read the Bible and know little about doctrines.

Friday
The best word to describe the mentality of China today is "speculative." Everyone, whether young or old, wants to strike it rich with little regard for the cost or consequence. It seems that the whole nation has gone mad about making big money. Most believers still demand that their pastor live by faith and are not willing to give to the church. Such an attitude has contributed to a great loss of workers. Let us pray for both the awakening of believers to be faithful stewards and for the workers to be devoted in serving.

Saturday
The official policy of the new leaders in the government is to rebuild public trust in the government and the Communist Party. It is a pity that many believers in the house churches have lost faith in their leaders and even toward God after hearing about the scandals involving their leaders. Churches in China are still very much wrapped around personalities. We pray for these lost sheep that the Lord will bring them back and restore their faith in Him and in the church.

Sunday
Many influential people are promoting a "New Confucianism" (a blend of the teachings of the West and those of Confucius) to replace the void Communism left behind in Chinese society. Some non-Christians are even clamoring that they should apply Christian values in spite of their not even having a faith in Jesus.A number of intellectuals are interested in Christianity only for what it can do for China. Let us pray for a genuine conversion of these well-meaning individuals. May all who come to Jesus know that Christ demands our faith in Him and a personal relationship with Him.

Monday
Many children of Chinese immigrants are not able to carry on a simple conversation in Chinese. Despite the complaints and insistence of their parents, few find motivation to study deeply about Chinese culture. Still, every summer overseas Chinese youth, particularly those from North America, go on short-term mission trips to China and perform community service or teach English. We pray that God will call some of them for missionary work in China.

星期二
梁發牧師（1789-1855）是第二位中國信徒，後來獲馬禮遜按立成為中國教會史上第一位華人牧師。1820年，得悉一年前所娶之妻黎氏即將臨盆，便再回鄉，勸妻子信主成功，以飯碗盛水為妻施洗，十日後又替頭生兒子梁進德施洗。 我們為馬禮遜來華200週年感恩，更為所有今年教會中新一代感謝神，求主賜智慧給信徒父母親來教養愛主的第二代。

星期三
200年前馬禮遜最先抵達的是珠江三角洲。雖然今天這裡是中國最富庶和發達的區域，然而廣州和澳門的教會卻普遍微弱，多數的基督徒也是從其他省份來的工廠勞工。讓我們為廣州市所有教會祈禱。 那裡雖有八間公開的教會, 但聚會時會堂卻不能坐滿。求神軟化福音的硬土, 使教會和信徒的靈命能再度復興來禱告.

星期四
在中國積極活動的不再只是基督徒了。很多宗教包括摩門教、布哈伊教、統一教以及其他新興宗教教派，甚至連伊斯蘭教都正努力向漢人傳教。許多裝備不足、根基不深的基督徒也被誤導而加入了異端。讓們為這些迷羊禱告，許多信徒甚至不研讀聖經，對教義所知不多，懇求神施憐憫在中國教會能加強信徒栽培和門徒訓練工作。

星期五
「投機」最能描述當今中國社會的心態。男女老少見人發財眼紅，不計後果都想狠撈一筆。整個社會都為財瘋狂。至於教會財務，許多信徒卻仍吝於奉獻，卻要求傳道人不計代價的憑信心服事，造成教會同工大量流失。求主使信徒能夠醒悟，爲神做個金錢的好管家，也賜教會同工有信心，能夠忠心的服事。

星期六
「重塑信任」是中國新一代黨領導人的政策，重新建造社會公眾對黨和政府的信任。很可惜一些教會領袖的軟弱和醜聞，造成不少信徒對領袖甚至對神失去信心，失望冷漠之餘不再聚會。至今教會仍常以人或教會領袖爲信仰指標，我們為因著人的軟弱而被絆倒，或對教會迷茫、失去信心的信徒禱告，求主尋回這些迷羊，幫助他們能夠定睛仰望神，也恢復對教會的信任。

星期日
現代許多具影響力的學者正開始推動「新儒學」，即對儒釋道各家哲理做出新譯，融入西方哲學思想，甚至一些非信徒也喧嚷著要推廣基督教的價值觀。一些學者對基督教的興趣僅止於認爲可為中國帶來好處。求神讓他們有機會和基督教學者深入的對話，好讓更多人瞭解，基督教思想必須建基於我們與基督的個人關係以及對祂的信心上。

星期一
在海外，有許多中國移民的第二代連基本的中文句子都不會講。無論家長如何堅持或強迫，都難以推動他們學習中文或中華文化。感謝神，每年暑假，仍有許多海外（特別是北美）華裔基督徒青年，會到中國短宣，為當地提供社區服務或教英語。求神在他們當中興起和呼召全職的中國宣教士。