Prayer Requesr 9/11 -- 9/17

Tuesday
Robert Morrison led only 10 Chinese to Christ in his entire missionary career 200 years ago. One of them, Liang Fa became the first Chinese pastor and evangelist who went on to lead more people to Jesus. Even today many Chinese believers trace their Christian heritage to foreign missionaries. We remember and pray for God's blessing on all the descendants of those who have served faithfully in China, and especially for those who are still serving the Chinese.

Wednesday
Mrs. Liang Fa was the first female Protestant believer and also the first pastor's wife. Although we know her husband was converted and then ordained by Robert Morrison, we know little about her except that she was from the same village as her husband. We seldom think about the spouses of church workers. We take this time to pray for them and give thanks for their sacrifice, for supporting their spouses, and facilities by holding down a job, and for their own spiritual walk with Jesus.

Thursday
Micro-loan programs are an innovative way of helping residents in impoverished regions. Some mission agencies use the system to help people improve their lives or start small businesses but such programs require close supervision to succeed.We pray for poor believers who are enrolled in these programs, especially those in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan. May the Lord bless the good work of those who serve them and reward the faith of the believers in spite of their poverty.

Friday
Recently more and more signs saying "No Smoking Allowed" are appearing in public areas in China but as a matter of fact, most smokers simple ignore them. Being a second-hand smoker is a reality in the lives of Chinese believers. Let us pray for all the new believers who need divine strength to kick this habit.

Saturday
Despite the government's best efforts, illiteracy is actually increasing in China, especially in rural and impoverished areas. Many start school only to drop out later and remain functionally illiterate. The Union Version of the Bible is nearly a hundred years old and it is hard for these people to understand. Let us pray for both spiritual literacy and training in Bible reading for the people in rural Chinese churches.

Sunday
China has announced that the Beijing Olympics will be smoke-free. There are an estimated 350 million smokers in the country. It is the world's largest producer of tobacco and also manufactures a third of the world's cigarettes. Although there are smoking bans in public places, not all are enforced. Almost all the believers have some one in their family who smokes. Let us pray for believers as they convey the health hazards of smoking and most importantly as they share gently and graciously the salvation of Jesus with them.

Monday
The biggest resort-casino in Asia opened in Macau. In 2006, the former Portuguese colony overtook Las Vegas as the number one city for gambling. Since the beginning of the casino expansion in 2002, Macau has become the Chinese gambling Mecca, with 90% of their clients from the Mainland. We take this time to remember the churches in Macau, praying for a spiritual revival. And we, too, pray for all the believers whose loved ones gamble. Gambling goes hand-in-hand with many family problems: abuse, alcoholism and shame.

星期二
兩百年前馬禮遜一生的事奉只帶領了十個中國人歸向基督。其中, 梁發成為第一名中國牧師和宣教士, 繼續帶領更多人相信耶穌。即至今天，許多國內的信徒仍可從外國傳教士追溯出他們的基督教根源。 讓我們以記念所有在中國忠誠服事的外國宣教士及其後裔, 尤其目前還在國內工場服事的,求上帝特別保守祝福他們.

星期三
中國第一個新教女信徒並第一位師母是梁發牧師的妻子黎氏。 雖然我們知道馬禮遜按立梁發為中國第一個新教傳教士，但對於這位黎氏的認識卻不多，只知她和丈夫是來自同一個村莊。華人教會一向很少會紀念到教牧同工的配偶。我們特別感謝她們長期支持配偶事奉所做出的犧牲和在牧養上的全力搭配, 求主親自成為她們的力量和安慰，保守她們靈性的健壯。

星期四
中國的「小額貸款」目的在幫助貧窮地區居民可以有資金做小生意改善生活。也有宣教機構及基督徒在貧困地區參與此項目。但該項目成功的關鍵是要有足夠的監管，以防止一些當地人或當事人從中牟利。讓我們特別記念貧困的信徒，尤其是在廣西、貴州、雲南的教會。求主在人所認為不可能的情況下，堅定他們愛主的信心，及保守所有當地服事他們的機構。

星期五
近來「禁煙」的警告標幟在中國開始流行。但絕大多數公共場合如交通工具(火車、汽車)中，「禁止吸煙」似乎有名無實，人們對它視若無睹。基督徒們生活在一個到處及人人抽菸的社會環境中，真是飽嘗了「人間煙火」。我們在此懇切地禱告，求神賜下能力和毅力幫助許多新的信徒能時時以主為滿足喜樂，勝過不良癖好的引誘，戒除煙癮。

星期六
儘管中國政府不斷地盡力改善，文盲的人數仍不斷在增加，尤以農村和貧困地區為甚。許多孩子上學不久就綴學，仍舊不識字。中文和合本聖經是百年前的翻譯，文字語法對這些人而言很深晦難懂。讓我們為中國農村教會裏促進靈命成長的讀經及相關訓練禱告，求主幫助信徒在靈裏更深認識神。

星期日
中國當局已經宣佈2008北京奧運將全面禁煙。中國有大約3.5億煙客，是世界最大的煙草產國，生産全世界三分一的香煙。一般公共場所雖然禁煙，卻沒有強制執行。幾乎每個信徒家中都會有家人抽煙。讓我們為所有信徒禱告，求主賜他們智慧，能溫柔地向家人傳達抽煙的害處，更能真誠地與家人分享耶穌基督的救恩。

星期一
亞洲最大的綜合式賭場酒店及世界第二大建築物，日前在澳門開幕。澳門自2002年開放賭權以來，超大豪華賭場林立。2006年整體博采業收入已超過拉斯維加斯，成爲全球最大賭城。其客源超過9成是中國大陸客，成了國人的賭博聖地。讓我們特別記念澳門的教會，求主保守他們能在當地成為復興的金燈臺。嗜賭是華人的通病，殘害個人和家庭甚钜，讓我們為染上賭癮的信徒及其家人禱告。