Prayer Request 8/7 -- 8/13

Tuesday
Comic books of all kinds, especially those from Japan and Korea, are very popular among school-age children in China. However, most of them contain sexual fantasies and adult material. It is safe to say that there are few Christian titles able to hold the interest of Chinese Christian children. Let us pray for parents who are believers as they strive to teach Biblical virtue and morality to their children with very limited resources.

Wednesday
Advertising such as "Painless artificial abortion for 200 yuan" adorns the streets near college campuses in China. There is no official number of how many college girls choose abortion as a method of unprotected sex but such affordable service thrives in private clinics. Abortion is practically an accepted reasonable alternative to contraception in China. Let us pray for even believers who must make such a decision because of the "one-child" policy.

Thursday
The government in China has finally called a halt to building luxurious public buildings. People are amazed by the government buildings that rival 5-star hotels with Greco-Roman facades. The decree is designed to return buildings to more practical models as well as to eliminate waste and regional rivalry. A full spectrum of church facilities exists in China from new cathedral-like styles in the costal provinces to shacks in the interior. God desires true worship and we pray specifically for those congregations whose church buildings are being torn down for new development and must relocate this year.

Friday
Everywhere in China one sees huge banners and propaganda about "Building A Harmonious Society". To do so, the government has called for adopting the wisdom of ancient Taoism, both a philosophy and a religion. Tao Te Ching, the bible of Taoism and a book of ethics has deeply influenced the Chinese people for generations. Let us pray for Christians as they struggle to live out Biblical ethics in a society that demands making "under the table" deals and has a philosophy that "despises the poor rather than the prostitutes.”

Saturday
While a majority of Chinese in the United States congregate on the east and west coasts, there are more than a hundred Chinese churches and Bible study groups in the Midwest. There are an estimated 200,000 Chinese in the US with about 25,000 mainland Chinese graduate students. Church work is difficult because a majority of the students move away from the schools to get employment. Let us pray for campus ministries and the need for shepherds in the Midwest.

Sunday
In China people feel that for a woman to have a good career is hard, to marry well is harder, and to marry and have a good career is nearly impossible. Millions of Christian women also add serving in the church to their busy schedules. To find time to do all of this means much personal sacrifice. Let us pray for all who do visitation, lead singing, clean churches, teach Sunday school, and prepare communion.

Monday
Fujian produces a disproportionate number of China 's overseas migrants. Those who left have helped those who stay behind; today, Fujian 's annual per-capita income of $1,300 makes it the highest in China, a result of its thriving private enterprise and also of remittances from overseas. Churches in Fujian, both the TSPM and house churches are thriving. But, unlike Wenzhou churches, they have less influence other provinces. Let us pray for their sharing of resources and passion for mission.

星期二
中國學齡兒童流行看漫畫書。各式各樣的漫畫多數來自日本和韓國，其中有許多用的雖是小孩子的語言，卻充斥著兒童不宜的色情暴力成份或成人內容。很保守的說，市場上只有極少數的基督教書籍能吸引華人基督徒孩子。許多基督徒父母都在努力地以有限的資源來教導孩子合乎聖經的道德和價值觀。讓我們為他們的努力和所有基督徒孩童的教育來禱告。

星期三
中國大專院校附近的大街上滿是「200元無痛人流」的廣告。沒有官方數據顯示選擇墮胎的學生人數，但知許多私人診所都提供這類「服務」，而且收費低廉。墮胎在中國是普遍被接受的另類避孕方式。讓我們禱告記念那些在「一胎化政策」下必須人工流產的信徒。

星期四
中國政府終於對建築豪華公共大廈的計劃喊停。一些政府大樓的氣派媲美希臘羅馬宮廷式的五星級酒店，令百姓們咂舌。新的指令規定建築設計必須回歸實用，減少浪費和無謂的競爭。中國的教堂形形色色，有在沿海省份中設備齊全的大教堂，也有內陸帳篷式的聚會場所。無論教堂裝潢如何，神所喜悅的是心靈誠實的敬拜。我們特別要記念那些教堂因都市新發展而被徵收，必須搬遷的教會禱告。

星期五
在中國到處可見巨型的宣傳布條，寫著「建立和諧社會」。政府亦爲此而採納並推廣道家學説。世代以來，老子所著的道德經對中國百姓有著深遠的影響。思想能影響生活方式，但在這篤信「桌面下的交易」以及「笑貧不笑娼」的社會中，信徒要按聖經的教導生活，會面對許多挑戰和掙紮。讓我們為信徒都能夠活出基督的樣式來切切禱告。

星期六
雖然大部分華人都聚居在美國的東西兩岸，在中西地區也有超過百家的華人教會和查經班。據估計，美國的華裔人口，包括2萬5千名中國大陸的留學生在內，有20萬之多。在中西部地區，由於留學生，訪問學者，和探親者多，華人教會面對的難處之一就是同工和留學生的流動率很高。讓我們將這地區的校園事工仰望主的帶領，也為許多需要牧者牧養的教會禱告。

星期日
在中國社會裡「做人難，做女人更難，做名女人則是難上加難」，現在這句話已經被改成「幹得好難，嫁得好更難，要想既嫁得好又幹得好，則是難上加難」。成千上萬的基督徒婦女在百忙中仍然加入教會的事奉行列，她們個人也必須作出許多犧牲。讓我們為所有負責探訪、領詩、清理教會、教主日學、預備聖餐等等的服事者禱告，求主更多施恩賜福。

星期一
福建省的移民人數遠超中國平均的移民比例。而離開的人卻為留守家園者帶來許多幫助。福建目前的個人年平均收入（$1,300美元）為全國之冠，這除了是其私人企業興旺的成果，也有賴於海外的經濟回流。目前福建的三自教會和家庭教會都在蓬勃的發展，但是他們對其他省份的影響力仍不及溫州教會。讓我們為福建的教會在資源分享和宣教工作上能有多一份熱忱和多奉獻一份力。