Prayer request 10/16--10/22

Tuesday
Drinking freshly squeezed juice is fashionable. In Wuhan, a reporter found that canned juices are sold as fresh and fresh juices are diluted with concentrate. Such practices occur even in high-end establishments. Cheating on labor or materials is considered normal or even expected. It is very difficult as Chinese believers struggle with Biblical ethics and profit-making daily. Let us pray for the courage of not compromising and honoring God in everything we do.

Wednesday
“Pay back the debt on the New Year” is a story in Mao’s memoir. Chairman Mao paid back a debt of 20,000 silver dollars he borrowed in 1920 for the revolution nearly 50 years later (in 10 yearly installments on every Chinese New Year.) Many Chinese believers speak of “Paying back the debt of Gospel” to Western missionaries. Let us pray for true fervor and missionary efforts among Chinese churches. We too remember all those who are serving abroad and are supported by churches in China.

Thursday
37 million Chinese will travel and spend more abroad this year. China will become the fourth largest source of outbound tourists in the world by the mid-2010s according to the United Nation. Many Chinese church leaders and pastors have visited churches abroad. We pray that what they have visited and learn will give them new vision and direction for their churches and ministries.

Friday
A bright spot in ministry work in China is on college campus. There are many student fellowships, large and small, and new students are always attending. Many students accept Jesus, but then graduate without real discipleship and follow-up. The universal problem is a lack of mature leadership. Let us pray for equipping and training leaders who are willing to help train new believers.

Saturday
Traffic congestion in Beijing is expected to get worse before the Olympics, with 90% of roads operating at full capacity and little room for expansion. There are now 3 million automobiles in the capital. Traffic delay and congestion play a role in discouraging many believers attending weekday services and meetings. Weekday meeting attendances are down among urban churches. Let us pray as churches make adjustments and seek ways to care and strengthen their sheep.

Sunday
More than 10 million Chinese are regular users of drinking water machines or bottled water. Yet, more than half of the bottled water in Beijing is “counterfeit.” Such practice is said to be widespread because the authentic bottled water costs twice as much. Cults and Mormonism presenting themselves as Christian are making significant advance in China recently, even drawing away unsuspecting believers. Let us pray for this alarming trend and for believers’ discernment.

Monday
It has been a boom year in the Chinese stock and real estate market. It seems that everyone believes that the government will not pop the present bubble of euphoria before the 2008 Olympic Games. Churches in China have endured persecution and survived attacks by occult forces but they are doing poorly combating the present torrent of materialism. May the Lord's mercy protect all of us against materialism and the Chinese churches from becoming merely lukewarm groups of people.

星期二
近幾年，鮮榨果汁成為武漢市民去酒樓就餐的首選飲料。但有記者目睹大酒樓製作果汁是果葡糖漿和水，非以鮮果來榨果汁。偷工減料在中國被視爲平常，更有人甚至自詡精明。基督徒在商場上常會在提高盈利及謹守聖經道德原則之間掙扎。求神幫助我們在聖經的教導上不妥協，在一切事上都能有好見證來榮耀神。

星期三
毛澤東「春節還債」的事蹟見於一篇紀念他的回憶文章中。1920年，毛澤東為革命運動而借了兩萬銀元，將近50年後，他每年春節還債，共用十年還清。許多華裔信徒都在談論要償還西教士福音的債。讓我們為中國教會宣教的熱忱和努力來禱告。我們也用禱告紀念許多中國教會所支持的在海外服事的宣教士們。

星期四
今年估計有3千7百萬中國人會在海外旅遊消費。聯合國預測：中國在2010年將成爲世界第四大旅客來源。許多中國教會的領袖和牧者都曾有造訪外國教會的經驗。我們禱告，海外的訪問和學習之旅能為他們帶來嶄新的異象和方向，能帶領教會及事工有新的突破。

星期五
大學校園是中國一個非常耀眼的福音聚點，有許多學生參與當中的小組聚會，也有在當中接受了耶穌。然而當他們畢業後，屬靈生命缺乏跟進與栽培，乃因缺乏成熟的屬靈領袖有策略地帶領。求主在校園裡興起更多忠心的同工，為裝備和訓練新一代的信徒來努力。

星期六
北京的交通擁塞情形，預計在奧運來臨前將會更惡化。目前首都的汽車數目高達3百萬，公路的使用率已達到90%，而且已沒有太多可供開發的空間。交通阻塞是許多信徒不願意在週間參加聚會的主要原因，教會的週間聚會人數不斷下降。讓我們禱告教會能夠尋得更好的方式，做出調整，以便能更好的照顧和牧養他們的羊群。

星期日
超過千萬的中國人經常飲用瓶裝水，或使用飲水機。而在北京，超過半數的瓶裝水是「冒牌」貨，據其原因是正牌瓶裝水價格較貴一倍。摩門教和其他異端以基督徒的身份在中國傳教，虜走了許多根基未深的信徒。讓我們爲此趨勢儆醒禱告，求神讓他自己的兒女能辨識真理，遠離歪曲的異端邪說。

星期一
過去一年房地產及股市大漲，每個中國人似乎都瘋迷炒地產、股票。百姓們都相信政府在2008奧運之前不會讓經濟下降。經歷過風雨、異端和逼迫仍堅立不倒的中國教會，目前面臨的更大挑戰和衝擊是富足和物質的誘惑。求主憐憫，保守每位信徒有正確的屬靈價值觀，抗拒世俗的潮流，能依靠主通過這一關，不讓教會陷入不冷不熱的景況。