Prayer Request 11/27 --12/3

Tuesday
The cost of living in China jumped nearly six and a half percent in October and the price of pork increased by fifty percent so the impression that everything is more expensive in everywhere. One thing is for sure and that is that salaries have not kept up with the cost of living and as a result many believers feel less generous in their giving. Let us pray for all who are living on a fixed income, especially the families of church workers, as we look to the Lord for peace in these economically troubled times.

Wednesday
Most house churches are small and in some regions several congregations fellowship together under a "small", "medium" or "large" umbrella. Then, at each level leaders are elected to be in charge of administration, teaching, fellowship, finances, or youth ministry. Let us pray for the leadership at each of these levels that they will be faithful stewards of their spiritual gifts, will have humble hearts and be protected from temptation to greed or sexual sin.

Thursday
According to media reporters, it is very difficult to tell whether the beggars in Chinese cities are "professionals" or truly needy. There are many stories of gangs of beggars from the villages and of their abusing handicapped people. Even Christians can become numb to the presence of the poor and needy so there are few churches reaching out to the homeless and poor with food and clothing. We thank the Lord for those who live out the compassion of Christ and mobilize their churches to reach out to the poverty-stricken.

Friday
Lei Fong is a legendary hero every school student is taught to imitate. “To learn from comrade Lei Fong” has been the most popular slogan for 44 years. Yet, in a survey, 30% of school kids failed to identify who Lei Fong was. Unfortunately, much of the children's ministry in Chinese churches is still in the stage of telling Bible stories. Teachers often fail to make a connection with Jesus and practical living. Let us pray that more children will come to know and accept Jesus in a very real way.

Saturday
There are about 40 million Muslims in China and the work of evangelism is very difficult. Workers must first build friendships and show love and care. Converts always face great pressure from their families and communities.The government strongly discourages any evangelistic work among Muslims. This ministry needs more workers as well as our fervent prayer support, especially for the converts.

Sunday
Churches in China's Northeast region have become a new force in the missionary effort. They have sent teams of workers to China's "Great Northwest" where few have heard of the gospel. These workers must make huge cultural adjustments and overcome difficulties. We uplift this missionary effort by the Chinese churches who are reaching out to ethnic minorities and to the far corners of China. They need our prayers to overcome hardship and loneliness in serving in these remote regions.

Monday
China is fast becoming a nation of cities. Within ten years population in cities will surpass that in the rural regions. The consequences of this urbanization are pollution, skyrocketing real estate prices, and a rise in the cost of education and living. Rural churches face a severe drop in membership and urban churches encounter huge hurdles in building up their congregations. Let us pray especially for churches in the so-called small and medium-sized cities where churches are few and weak.

星期二
10月份中國居民消費價格指數上漲6.5%，豬肉價格再次上漲54.9% ，予人到處都有通膨的印象。無論如何，人民的收入趕不上節節攀升的生活費，許多信徒因此在奉獻顯得軟弱。在經濟不景氣的時節，讓我們為所有依賴一份定薪生活的信徒禱告，特別是傳道人的家庭能仰望主賜下的平靜安穩。

星期三
傳統家庭教會大多數屬於小型教會，有些地區的教會開始彼此有連絡聚集，組成小、中、或大的管理層次，並按層次推選同工領袖分別負責治理、教導、聯絡、財務、青少年聚會等事工。我們為每一個部門的同工來禱告，願他們都能善用 神所託付的恩賜，建造神的家。也求主保守他們勝過驕傲、貪財和性引誘等試探。

星期四
根據媒體記者實地瞭解，中國城市裏大小乞丐真假難分。有的確實貧苦有需要，另一些卻是所謂「專業」乞討人。記者也記下許多從農村來的人成群結黨，利用殘疾者乞討的劣行。今天願意為窮困無家者供應衣食、向他們伸展福音觸角的教會少之又少。我們為一些信徒能夠活出基督慈愛和憐憫，又推動他們的教會去關懷貧病者感恩，求神激動更多信徒有同樣的心懷。

星期五
毛澤東「向雷鋒同志學習」題詞發表44週年，記者在「學雷鋒日」前夕，隨機調查發現三成的學童不知雷鋒是何人。中國教會的兒童事工目前大多仍滯留在講聖經故事的階段，缺乏把聖經生活化，或把耶穌與實際生活作出聯繫的教導。讓我們為教會裏所有的孩童們禱告，讓他們能透過紮實的主日學教導，認識並且接受耶穌基督。

星期六
向中國約四千萬的回教徒傳福音是件非常困難的事。建立友誼、表達關懷及愛心是傳福音的第一步。回教徒歸主者往往因家人及族群的敵視而面對龐大的壓力。此外，政府極不鼓勵任何向回教徒傳福音的工作。因此回族福音事工確實需要更多的工人投入，及恆切的代禱與支持。讓我們特別記念那些回族慕道者，願神親自向他們顯現真理明光。

星期日
東北地區的教會近年成為差傳的新力軍，他們差派宣教隊伍前往有如福音沙漠的「大西北」傳揚主道。這些神的工人需要克服路途偏遙及適應文化及民族習性、信仰上的差異，讓我們時時以禱告托住他們，求主保守他們在偏遠的工場服事時，憑信心靠主賜下的智慧克服文化、生活及靈性上種種的艱難和挑戰。

星期一
中國是快速都市化的國家，預計在未來十年之內，城市的人口將超越農村的。都市化帶來生活環境的污染，房地產、教育費和生活費等的飆漲。在城市教會面對會眾大幅增加的同時，農村教會也要面對會友人數嚴重下降的現實景象。讓我們特別為在中小型城市中的弱小教會來禱告，求主保守他們突破都市化的影響，能在主裡依舊興旺。

Tuesday
Nearly 90% of the households in Hangzhou have broadband Internet, the highest in China. In the nearby townships, almost every household have access to digital television. Many cities now enjoy the convenience and benefits of the information age. The availability of Christian websites and bookstores make up much of what was lacking in the past. Let us pray for all these resources and how they may benefit both believers and seekers.

Wednesday
Nearly 2.8 millions college freshmen enrolled this fall. The enrollment in private colleges was 1.34 millions and public colleges/universities was 1.47 millions. Getting into college is no longer considered difficult in China. More college students mean more opportunities and urgency for campus ministries. Let us pray for all the campus ministries, more churches catching the vision and more workers joining this great harvest.

Thursday
Many expecting parents will be giving birth to the so-called “golden piglet” babies this fall, because Chinese consider babies born in the year of the pig are auspicious. With such high expectation, the little ones will certainly be spoiled by their parents and grandparents. Let us pray particularly for all the babies born into Christian families this year, may the parents have the desire to raise their child to fear God.

Friday
Nearly 76.5% of Chinese grandparents live with their grandchildren and 88.9% of grandparents are involved in raising their grandchildren. Overall, almost half of the elderly Chinese are helping raising their grandchildren. Grandparents are an important part of early childhood education in China. There are many older believers in Chinese churches. We pray as they use their natural advantage to share their faith with their grandchildren and serving with younger generation in church.

Saturday
Traditional house churches are usually smaller in size than the Three-self churches. They meet in homes and few of them have full-time pastors. So they lack the formal instruction and organizational management we are accustomed to having in our churches. Let us pray for solid and abundant teaching of God’s Word among all the house churches. We remember, too, all the lay leaders in them. May the Lord grant them wisdom and integrity in leading and serving their churches.

Sunday
In the past 2 years, there have been more reported cases of mass confrontation with police. Angry residents have taken to the streets to protest injustices, illegal confiscation of private land or corruptions. Government has pressured the local officials to clean up their act and appealed for calm. We pray for all the congregations who are entangled in the process of saving their church property from demolition by developers and colluding officials.

Monday
Churches in China are leery of new comers because many have experienced the attack of cults. These false sheep appear to be pious, eager to serve in church but quickly steal sheep. They compromise church leaders with money and sexual temptation. We continue to pray for these fallen and wounded shepherds, may they find forgiveness and rediscover their callings. We pray for God’s protection on all the weak and susceptible flocks.

星期二
目前，杭州市的家庭寬頻普及率接近90%，為全國之冠。杭州市及周邊主要城鎮的數位電視普及率也達到100%。都市化的影響，讓中國許多城市得享資訊時代的便利，基督教網站和書局也空前的普及。我們求主使信徒都能善用資源，建立基督教資源網站、開辦基督教書室等，來幫助慕道友和信徒們學習真道、裝備生命，也樂於將福音傳給人。

星期三
中國今年註冊的大學新生超過280萬名。根據統計，私立大學約佔134萬名，公立大學佔147萬名，在中國上大學已不再是難事。愈來愈多的青年人進入大學，因此全力支援大學裡的福音事工，刻不容緩。讓我們為校園的福音事工禱告，求主使更多的教會、同工領受此異象，同心投入興旺校園的事工。

星期四
中國去年入秋以來，不少夫婦為抱「金豬寶寶」而懷孕，因為他們堅信「屬豬的寶寶最有福氣」。在這種期待下出生的孩子，難免會受到父母、祖父母的溺愛。讓我們特別為今年信徒家庭所生子女的屬靈前途來禱告，求神讓父母們立志教導孩子敬畏神。

星期五
調查顯示，中國祖父母與孫子同住者佔76.5%，參與撫育孫子者則高達88.9%。超過半數的中國老人負責帶養他們的孫子，隔代撫育成為孩童們早期教養的一大特點。目前老齡信徒是教會中非常重要的成員。求主使用所有年長的信徒，保守他們有健壯的身體和靈命，能與年輕信徒彼此配搭服侍，讓神家的事工更完備。

星期六
傳統家庭教會大多數屬於小型的教會，聚會地點與內容多半由弟兄姐妹安排與帶領，少數有全職傳道人牧養，內部更缺乏完善的組織架構和管理。讓我們來為所有的傳統家庭教會禱告，讓他們在神 的話語上都能得著供應，也為所有的教會領袖禱告，使他們心靈正直並且都有從天而來的智慧帶領教會。

星期日
近兩年來警民衝突事件不斷增加。公義得不到伸張，罪犯被包庇，民眾利益或私有財產被剝奪，個別執法機關濫用權力或貪腐等等，導致民衆憤起抗議。政府當局已向地方官員施壓，重申去貪除黑決心，以安撫民心。許多教會產業因官商合謀而遭摧毀，讓我們為所有捲入挽救教會產業行動的信徒們代禱。

星期一
許多中國教會因曾遭異端入侵，對新來者格外戒備。這些「假羊」外表敬虔、熱心事奉，爾後卻迅速奪走羊群，又以金錢及色誘令教會領袖妥協。讓我們持續為跌倒受傷的牧者禱告，願他們尋求主的赦免，重拾神對他們的呼召，勇於堵住破口。我們也求主親自保護所有軟弱容易落入迷惑的羊群，有分辨真道的智慧。

Prayer Request 11/13 -- 11/19

Tuesday
Parents in the cities are enrolling their children in all kinds of extracurricular activities. It is common that a child is learning more than one kind of musical instruments. Many parents wishfully think their only child is a child prodigy. Education experts say 90% of these children are merely normal kids. Many churches in the interior China are seeing the importance of children Sunday School but lack the know how, space and materials. Let us pray for those who see the need of children ministry but unable to offer such programs.

Wednesday
“Forcing” a child to learn at least one musical instrument has become the norm of many city parents. Buying a piano for the baby (the only child) is very common. Experts say that such excess leads to neglect of exploring the interest of individual children. On the contrary, there are still many church leaders who feel children program is unnecessary, unimportant or not high priority. Let us pray for the families of those churches that still do not have “formal” children Sunday School.

Thursday
Most house churches lack leaders who can teach and preach well because they have not had the opportunity to get formal education. Many preachers preach well but are not deeply rooted in Bible teaching. Others focus only on the spiritual gifts without preaching a balanced theology. We pray God will raises up more workers who are not only deeply rooted in His Word but are also able to teach others.

Friday
Eighty percent of Chinese parents consider their children “ungrateful”. Majority of these parents believe their kids are “spoiled rotten”. Many believer parents “spoiled” their children, letting them rest on Sunday because they believe the kids had a busy week and need rest at home. We pray for all these families who parents knowingly doing so, may they realize that this is actually leading to “spiritual ruin”.

Saturday
“Spend all you got for the kid” is a commercial which captures the mentality of Chinese parents. They would buy whatever the best food, clothing and education for their only child. Average parents spend up to 2 months salary for children’s art and music class yearly. Many churches are still not willing to invest in their children ministry, considering the unnecessary or too expensive. We pray for the changing of such near-sight and ignorance.We too pray for persistence for those who are trying to get children ministry started but meeting resistance in their church.

Sunday
One in four Chinese smokes and 3000 die daily of smoking-related illness. In the city of Shanghai, 60% of male adults and 3% of female adults smokes. Ironically, 70% of male smoker will not let their wives or girlfriend smokes. There is a stereotype that “Bad women smoke” Many believers smoke before and after entering church building. While preaching against smoking seen “useless and hopeless”, we pray for all those who need divine strength in kicking the bad habit.

Monday
Majority of married women would delay the pregnancy till after age 29. The most common reason for delaying are: lack the financial ability of raising a child, not mentally ready to be parent and also not ready materially. Balancing career demand or getting pregnant is a decision most Chinese women believers struggle with. We pray for wisdom and assurance for all who are planning start a family and desire to raise a godly child.

星期二
國內城市裏的父母多盼望自家的孩子成爲神童，不惜重金讓孩子又學各樣才藝又補習，一個孩子學上好幾種樂器是常見的事。專家指出，事實上90%的孩子都是普通的孩子，學再多的特長也成不了「神童」。許多教會都意識到兒童主日學的重要性，卻因缺乏方法、場所和教材等而無法施展。讓我們為他們的這些需要禱告。

星期三
中國許多城裏的家長都會「強迫」孩子至少學習一種樂器，一般家長也會為自己的家裏的寶貝獨子購買一台鋼琴。教育專家卻指出，這樣做不但忽略了孩子們的興趣發展，也抹殺了他們的主動性。另一方面，許多教會領袖仍忽略兒童事工的重要和必要性，正規的兒童主日學並不普及。讓我們為這些教會裏的家庭，特別是他們的孩子在屬靈上的需要來禱告。

星期四
傳統家庭教會多數缺乏善於講道、解經和教導的領袖。由於缺少接受正式神學教育的機會，即便有講道好的傳道，他們多數在基要真理上劄根不深，又有些只重視靈恩，在神學的教導上不平衡也不全面，使得教會處於危險邊緣。我們以禱告求主興起更多健全的傳道人，能在神的話語上深耕，也能忠實用神的話語餵飽群羊。

星期五
八成的家長認為孩子不懂感恩，溺愛被認爲是「禍首」。很多基督徒家長也「溺愛」他們的孩子，心疼孩子們忙了一個星期，讓他們星期天在家裏休息，不必上教會。不少主日學老師表示，當孩子升到初中後，很快便在主日學中絕跡。求主讓這些家長們及早覺醒，重新安排生活的優先順序，拯救下一代靈命的成長。

星期六
「一切爲了孩子」這句廣告詞緊扣著許多中國家長的心。他們會給孩子買最好食物、最貴的衣服、受最好的教育。平均每年花在各種特長班的費用是家長2個月的薪金。內地教會資源有限，許多教會認爲兒童事工耗費巨大而且次要，因而拒絕在經濟上支援。我們求神開拓他們的視野，改變他們的想法。同時也保守在推動兒童事工上受到阻撓的信徒們，能夠堅持異象，讓神親自開路。

星期日
中國四分一的人是煙客，每天近3,000人死於煙草相關的疾病。在上海，60%成年男性和3%成年女性吸煙，而諷刺的是，七成的男性煙客不接受女友或妻子吸煙，很多人仍持有「吸煙的女人不是好女人」的觀念。戒煙和禁煙的資訊對很多信徒起不了作用，他們在進入教堂前和踏出教堂後吸煙。讓我們為煙癮難戒的信徒禱告，讓他們能夠依靠聖靈的力量戒除這惡習。

星期一
多數已婚婦女打算29歲以後才考慮生育。最普遍的原因是：沒有足夠的經濟能力、沒做好思想準備，以及沒做好物質上的準備。事業和生育之間的抉擇，也是許多基督徒婦女的難題。我們求神賜下智慧和信心給計劃建立家庭的信徒，讓他們願意尊主為大，教育孩子敬虔愛主。

Prayer Request 11/6 -- 11/12

Tuesday
Within the past year, most restaurants have started charging additional fees for providing “sterilized chopsticks and utensils.” Many consumers welcome such upgraded services but many see it as a basic amenity and attack it as sheer profit-making. Few churches in China use disposable cups for communion. We pray that each time they observe the Lord's death; they will be reminded of His command to remember Him in unity and humility.

Wednesday
Why are parents deeply involved in the proceedings and settlement of the divorces of their children? In China young couples get hefty down payments for their apartments from their parents, and parents hate to see their investment lost. Divorce in China deeply involves the parents of the couple because their traditional ideal "harmonious retirement" hinges on the children's marriage. Let us pray for all believers whose children are facing a marital crisis--for their faith in God and for wisdom in counseling their children.

Thursday
Many of the leaders and members of house churches started in the 90's have little memory of the painful past Christian churches faced in the period from 1950-1960. These newer churches are mostly urban, are comprised of younger intellectuals, and many favor registering with the government and becoming public churches. We pray for all of these churches as they debate what to do. May the Lord honor their desire to reach out to their communities without fear. We pray, too, for their need to be more highly committed in giving as they wish to purchase property in the rising real estate market.

Friday
In Shenyang, couples younger than thirty years old make up about thirty percent of those filing for divorce. Their parents accompany them to court in an attempt to protect the financial interest and custody rights of their one and only child. “Children are always bone and flesh.” Many believer parents carry the heartache of seeing their children away from the Lord and having marital problem. Let us pray for comfort and wisdom as they help their adult children.

Saturday
House churches in China struggle with the issue of whether to register and become open churches or not. The benefits include the elimination of harassment and protection of property rights. Yet many vehemently oppose such a move. Whether to register or not is deeply dividing the house churches. Let us pray for those who have registered or are planning to register that the churches will have unity and with the new status will be able to share even more boldly for God.

Sunday
While most Tibetans are in Tibet, there is also a large group of them in the neighboring Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. Tibet is a spiritually dark region so much evangelistic effort is being focused on reaching Tibetans who live outside of their mother country. Let us remember the people engaged in child evangelism in the Tibetan villages in Sichuan and Qinghai. This is very difficult work and deserves our prayer support.

Monday
The number of students studying in Chinese universities has reached 25 million, a whopping five-fold increase in only nine years. 5.4 millions new students enter college every year. Some urban churches have targeted the intellectuals and college students, and even sending staff to work on campus fulltime with great results. Let us pray for their work and guarding of the heart of these new convert from temptations and secularism.

星期二
中國許多飯店從去年開始採用一次性消毒餐具，而且向消費者收取所謂「茶位」費用。飯店重視衛生，許多消費者都樂於配合，但提供消毒合格的餐具原是飯店的基本義務，消毒餐具一元一位的收費方式，無疑是牟取暴利的招數。中國教會在守聖餐時，使用一次性聖餐杯的不多。我們禱告每當守聖餐時，信徒都能謹記主的命令，潔淨自己，以謙卑合一的心，等候祂再來。

星期三
子女辦理離婚手續，何以父母也都來陪同參與？中國年輕人購買婚房多由雙方父母付全部或部分房款，離婚時，父母難免擔心自己吃虧、損失慘重。再者傳統上理想的退休生活是含飴弄孫與子女的婚姻息息相關，兒女離婚，父母也必然深受影響。讓我們為所有基督徒父母有子女面臨婚姻危機的來禱告，求神堅定他們對神的信心，並賜下智慧來面對。

星期四
在90年代興起的家庭教會領袖以及成員，對於50-60年代教會的慘痛經歷印象不深。多數新興的城市教會，由年輕知識分子構成，許多都贊同向政府註冊成爲公開教會。讓我們在禱告中記念弟兄姐妹在面對註冊與否的情況，無論在討論或辯論中能看到神的旨意，並使他們能向社區鄰裏傳揚神的救恩。也為信徒在樓價高漲的時代有更大的信心在建堂的擺上。

星期五
瀋陽今年離婚的夫妻，有三成左右年齡在30歲以下。雙方父母們為保護自己獨生子女的財產和利益，都陪孩子前往辦理離婚手續。孩子是自己的骨肉。許多信徒因爲孩子遠離神，以及婚姻出了狀況而傷神。我們求神安慰他們，並給與他們智慧妥當的幫助已經成年的孩子，渡過人生重大的危機。

星期六
許多弟兄姐妹正為是否登記為註冊的教會而進退兩難。登記的好處在於免常受執法者的干擾，且會堂可獲得產業權，然而許多人仍強烈反對此擧。這問題為家庭教會帶來很大的分歧。我們求神保守已經登記或準備登記的教會在主內同心合一，無論在哪一種的身份下都能夠更勇敢無懼的為神做見證，將真光傳揚出去。

星期日
多數藏族人都住在西藏，但也有部分居住在鄰近的青海和四川。西藏地區被屬靈的黑暗勢力包圍著，許多事工都轉而專注於住在西藏地區以外的藏族人的福音工作。在四川和青海縣的藏族村從事兒童事工非常艱難，需要我們的禱告支持，我們為那裏的同工們禱告，求神預備人心，並賜下大能予祂的僕人，為主行奇妙的大事。

星期一
中國在籍大學生人數在僅僅9年內躍升了5倍，達2千5百萬。每年入學新生就有540萬人。城市教會以知識分子和大學生為主要傳福音對象，甚至派專職人員進入校園發展事工，並取得良好成果。但初信主的青年難免於世俗主義的衝擊，讓我們為這項事工禱告，亦求主保守所有初信者的心，能夠勝過種種試探，建造根基穩固的靈命。