Prayer Request 10/30 -- 11/05

Tuesday
The diary (1918-1931) of Chang Kai-Sheik was published formally. It is deeply personal, in which he repents daily for his own personality flaws, sexual temptations, and sins. When he was younger, Chang was a womanizer and later converted to Christianity. Such a document has tremendous historical impact. We pray that it would also be a rare opportunity for many to see the life of a struggling Christian with his flaws and shortcomings.

Wednesday
It is an open secret that Christian fellowships - a new kind of "house church" run by Chinese professionals and students - are active in most Chinese universities. Many are hosted and led by teachers themselves. We praise the Lord for this new revival. However, many have noted that many believers are "cultural Christians," interested in Christianity as a solution to China's social woes, rather than in a personal relationship with Christ. Let us pray for the true commitment of these "Cultural Christians”.

Thursday
There are so many private colleges in China with varying degrees in terms of quality and facilities. Many unsuspecting students pay handsomely for the so-called "education", only to find out that the diplomas they received are not accepted and worthless. Rural churches in China come in all different spiritual shapes, too. Many are weakened by the exodus of young people and, worse, many have fallen to become extreme or cultish. Let us pray for divine protection and intervention in this heartbreaking trend.

Friday
The average Chinese watches 3 hours of television a day. TV programming must cater to the education of the audience because 60% of the audience has only the education level of junior high and below. Only 12% of the audience has a college degree. China's churches desperate lack ready-made teaching materials. What is adequate for urban churches would be almost incomprehensible for rural believers. Let us pray for those involved in writing such materials and the distribution of all teaching materials.

Saturday
By 2015, China will be the world's 2nd largest market. At present, China consumes 32% of rice, 1/2 of cement, and 1/3 of the cigarettes produced in the world. At the same time, low-cost Chinese products and machineries are flooding the world. Bible and Christian books in Simplified and Traditional fonts are now exported from China because they are low-cost. We pray for the early arrival of the day when the Mainland will produce not only the Christian books she needs but also the supply for many other countries.

Sunday
Among the 114,000 Chinese lawyers, there are a handful of "human rights" lawyers. They are greatly respected for their daring effort to defend the Constitutional right of those who suffered persecution, politically or religiously, and forced abortion. Chinese parents want their children to be lawyers and doctors, to make a lot of money. We pray that many young believers will be inspired to be become an advocate for the poor, sick, and oppressed.

Monday
For the 37,600 Chinese in Brunei, they must live under a combination of a Malay, Islamic, and monarchic system. Chinese are the most educated there and enjoy a good deal of freedom in religious practice and social respect. Let us pray for the Chinese churches there. Churches play an important role in teaching Chinese language, culture and care for the poor and elderly. Again, we remember all the believers in Islamic countries, uplifting every one of them.

星期二
蔣介石1918年至1931年的日記正式對外公開。日記中能讀出他個人的思想性格，同時也看到他每日生活的掙扎與自我反省。蔣介石年輕時浮誇，好色，爾後信仰基督教。這類歷史文件對世人有極大震撼，讓許多人看到基督徒不斷對抗自己弱點的一面。求主以此幫助更多掙扎在人性軟弱中的信徒，能夠有信心靠主得勝。

星期三
由專業人士及學生組成的團契—新型的「家庭教會」活躍於中國各大學校園裡，當中也有許多老師參與。我們為這新的復興讚美神。然而很多人留意到許多信徒其實是所謂「文化基督徒」，其對基督教信仰的興趣，僅止於以它作爲解決中國社會弊端的方法，而非與基督建立個人的關係。讓我們為這類的同胞禱告，求主光照他們真正成爲蒙恩得救的基督徒。

星期四
在中國有許多素質和設施參差不齊的民辦高校（私立學院）。許多學生為「受教育」付出一大筆錢後，才發現所獲文憑不受承認，一文不值。農村教會屬靈狀況同樣參差不齊，許多因年輕人的流失而教會日趨沒落，更堪憂的是，一些教會已偏離正道，演變成極端甚至異端。讓我們在禱告中記念，求神保護祂的教會和子民。

星期五
中國觀衆每天平均收看電視的時間為3個小時。節目的製作必須迎合大眾的知識水準和口味。因爲60%觀衆在初中文化以下，大學以上學歷觀衆僅佔12%。中國教會的主日學教材仍然缺乏，若有適合城市教會的教材，對農村信徒而言則深奧難解。求神賜智慧和能力給參與這項文字事工者，也為教材的發行來禱告。

星期六
預計中國將在2015年成為世界第二大消費市場。目前中國消耗全世界32%的大米、47%的水泥和1/3的香煙。同時廉價的中國產品和機械也銷至世界各地。由於印刷成本低廉，現在中國也輸出簡體和繁體字的聖經和屬靈書籍。我們祈求中國早日脫離只供應自己需要的屬靈書籍，同時也提供給其他有需要的國家。

星期日
雖然中國的執業律師逾11.4萬人，但「維權律師」卻寥寥可數。他們為受政治或宗教壓迫，以及被迫墮胎的百姓爭取權益、討公道，因而在社會中極受尊敬。中國父母望子成龍，都鼓勵孩子成爲律師、醫生，爲的是這些職業的「錢」景。我們求神興起更多年輕信徒將自己的專業為神所用，立志服事那些貧、病、和其他社會的邊緣份子。

星期一
在文萊的37,600華裔必須生活在馬來，伊斯蘭教，和君主制度的夾縫中。當地華人的公民權仍受限制，但因為教育程度較高，享有較高的社會地位以及宗教信仰自由。當地華人教會扮演著教導華文、華語，以及照顧貧病和老弱者的重要角色。讓我們為這些教會禱告，同時也以禱告記念所有回教國家裏的教會和信徒，求神親手扶持、引領他們。