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。