Prayer Request 10/23 -- 10/29

Tuesday
2000 delegates representing the 73 million-strong Communist Party attended the 17th Party Congress which is held every 5 years. Party members are supposed to be stronger in these three areas (The 3 More): more sensitive, more capable, and more productive than the common people. Since the church is rapidly expanding in many regions, leaders must work in teams to be truly effective and productive. Let us pray specifically for team building in the churches in China so the gifts of each worker may be used well and each will complement the other.

Wednesday
The youngest attendee of the 17th Party Congress was a 25 year-old female table tennis star, Zhang Yining. She is favored to win another gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. Her selection and presence carry much implication for the Party as a whole. Young intellectuals will play an ever increasing and important role in China's urban churches. We pray for many, many young and godly believers who will be faithful like Daniel.

Thursday
A well-known foreign media pointed out that the root problem of rampant corruption in China is the "triangle" of corrupt officials, scholars without conscience, and businessmen taking bribes. We see a new trend of young professionals and office workers forming "office fellowships", where they hold Bible study and Sunday worship services. We pray that they will be a positive influence in the polluted society that is often devoid of business ethics.

Friday
Shanxi province is known as the "coal country" and also the infamous "polluter of China". In its new "Blue sky, green water" project, Shanxi will build 108 new urban garbage disposal facilities to help clean up urban pollution. Urban intellectual believers are prone to materialistic excess. There is a need for new ways of shepherding and teaching Bible knowledge to them. Let us pray for the new practical teaching methods of teaching and discipleship that will connect with urban believers.

Saturday
Han Chinese comprises the majority of Chinese, but China is multi-cultural with many ethnic groups. Some churches have started to see the importance of reaching ethnic minorities. Many ethnic groups still worship spirits, idols or various deities and are spiritually blinded by the dark forces. They are very resistant to the gospel. Let us pray for all these challenges and difficulties of cross-cultural ministry and those who serve among the ethnic minorities.

Sunday
Ever since the economic reform, churches in the coastal provinces have played an important role in training and supporting Christian leaders from the inland provinces (including the Northwest). Many have attended the two-year training courses offered by the coastal churches and returned to serve. We pray for more training by the Chinese churches themselves and that more churches will see the need of helping other churches, both financially and in leadership training.

Monday
In a unique approach to business with missions, some Christian businessmen from coastal provinces have opened shops in ethnic minority regions as a base of evangelism. Many have reported good fruits with such approach. Let us pray for all these business ventures, shops and factories of all sizes, where part of the business is sharing the Gospel with the locals. We uplift these businessmen and their employees.

星期二
二千多名黨員，代表全國七千三百多萬黨員出席每五年一次的「中國共產黨第十七次全國代表大會」。黨員有“三個一點”的自我要求，即：覺悟比普通群眾高一點，能力比普通群眾強一點，工作比普通群眾好一點。因著中國教會在內地各省迅速增長，教會領袖需要以團隊合作運作，好使事工發展得更有效率、更見成效。我們特別為同工隊伍禱告，求主幫助他們發揮恩賜，各盡其職，一同建造基督的身體。

星期三
在十七大會議中，最年輕的黨代表是只有廿五歲的張怡寧，她目前是最受矚目的女子乒乓球選手，在2008年奧運會，她可望為中國再摘取另一面金牌。她被選作黨代表及出席「十七大」，為外間對黨的政策帶來很大的聯想空間。展望中國教會的未來，年輕知識分子將在城巿教會擔任很重要的角色。求主興起更多像但以理一樣年輕又敬虔的信徒，忠心事主。

星期四
著名外國媒體指出：貪腐「鐵三角」乃是由中國的腐敗官員、無良學者和行賄商人共同組成。在職場上，一些青年專業人員開始組成「辦公室團契」，他們一同查考聖經，並在主日舉行崇拜聚會。這群城市知識分子信徒的興起，成為主內的新群體，讓我們為這些青年專業人員禱告，求主幫助他們能對貪污風氣、缺少商德的社會帶來更多正面的影響。

星期五
號稱「煤老大」的山西省被戴上全國污染最嚴重的「黑帽」。在「藍天碧水工程」計劃裏，山西將建設108個廢物處理設施，期盼藉以解決城巿污染的問題。生活在城市中的知識分子信徒也容易被世俗同化和物質所試探。教會需要以適切他們實際情況的形式，去牧養及教導他們聖經的原則。求主賜智慧給牧者，更新他們靈命及教導栽培信徒的模式，幫助信徒將真理活用於生活中。

星期六
中國除了包含漢人這一大族外，還兼有許多不同文化背景的族裔。有好些少數民族現今仍敬拜邪靈，並參與各種鬼神的祭祀與膜拜，黑暗勢力綑綁著他們，使他們對福音非常抗拒。近年中國教會開始注重向少數民族傳福音。讓我們為那些在少數民族中服侍的同工禱告，求主賜他們智慧、溫柔與忍耐的心去克服跨文化宣教的挑戰與困難。

星期日
自經濟改革後，沿海省份的教會在訓練內陸省份教會(包括西北部)的基督徒領袖上，扮演非常重要的角色。許多信徒在沿海省份教會參與為期兩年的培訓課程後，便回到自己的家鄉開始服侍。讓我們為中國教會有更多的領袖訓練事工禱告，也求神興起更多的教會，能對有缺乏的教會給予經濟及工人訓練上更多的幫助。

星期一
因著神賦予獨特的使命，一些沿海省份的基督徒商人，特意在少數民族中間開設商店作為傳福音的管道。他們所做的善工，目前已產生良好的果效。讓我們舉起禱告的手，特別為這些向少數民族傳福音的商人、員工來禱告，求神幫助他們作美好的生活見證，並能與工人和鄰舍分享福音真理。