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。