Prayer Request 12/11--12/17

Tuesday
China bans exporting any cultural relics predating 1911; the prior regulation set the limits at 1795. 1911 saw the end of the Qing Dynasty, which serves as a convenient social marker for Chinese archeologists. Few Chinese believers know of the church’s heritage before 1949. We take this time to thank the Lord for all the missionaries who came to China and serve. May the Lord bless the descendants of all of China’s missionaries. We, too, pray that more will be inspired to serve because of their legacies.

Wednesday
Chinese ships and seamen make port calls around the world. In Vancouver, Canada, several churches minister to these lonely seamen and have led many, and even the entire ship’s crew, to Christ over the years. We thank the Lord and remember the many who are ministering to Chinese seamen. Their ministry involves giving out Christian literature, Bibles, music and DVDs, gaining the trust of the captain, and then sharing the Gospel with the crew.

Thursday
Durban is a typical South African city where Chinese are engaged in retail business of all kinds. Their stores are located in the worst areas of the city with mainly Black customers. Chinese work hard seven days a week, hoping to make it rich and return to their homeland. Such a hardworking ethic under great pressure and danger is typical of many Chinese in Africa and South America. Let us pray for the preparation of weary bodies and souls as local churches reach out to them.

Friday
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi was ranked as the second most powerful woman in the world. She is credited as a tough negotiator and an effective international diplomat. In the Chinese church leadership, there are many women pastors who often lead delegations abroad. We pray for all the women church workers in China. In many regions, more than half of the leaders are women. We remember their service, their love for the Lord, their sheep, and their own family needs.

Saturday
The average Chinese newlywed couple spends about four years’ worth of their combined salaries on their wedding. An average wedding banquet has 20 tables with about 250 guests. A honeymoon is also now a must and costs almost half as much as the banquet. In Chinese churches, young couples who are both believers are rare, since many Christians marry non-believers. Let us pray for all the newlywed couples. May the Lord prepare and soften the hearts of the unbelieving spouses and may the believing spouse be a strong Christian witness.

Sunday
Young Chinese couples today are spending eight times more on their weddings than they spent twenty years ago. An average couple will spend nearly a year preparing for their big day. In eighty percent of the cases, parents will pay for the wedding. Most Christian parents find themselves unable to say much when their children decide to marry an unbeliever. Let us pray that they will have a good relationship with the new addition to the family and have a very positive influence in sharing Jesus with the new daughter- or son-in-law.

Monday
In many churches in China, it is nearly impossible to speak about giving an offering because many believers have the false notion that church workers should live totally by faith. They feel that getting a salary from a church is unspiritual. It is common that a pastor of a large church will receive only a small offering. Let us pray that all believers will dedicate not only their hearts but also their wealth to the Lord.

星期二
中國政府將文物出口的禁令從1795年改至1911年。1911年清朝正式覆亡，這正好給考古學者一個方便的標記。很少信徒會知道1949年之前的教會遺產。我們此時要為到中國服事的宣教士來向主感恩。願主祝福他們的後代，我們盼望他們所遺留下來的榜樣感動更多人出來服事。

星期三
中國的航運遍佈世界。加拿大的溫哥華有好些教會特設了「海員事工」向常年離鄉背井的中國船員傳福音。這些年來幫助了不少人，甚至整船的人員都歸向主。他們的事工包括贈送基督教書刊、聖經、和影音光碟等等，藉著取得船長的信任，進而有機會向全體船員傳講福音。讓我們為這個事工感恩，求主繼續大大使用和祝福他們，並供應一切所需。

星期四
德班是南非一個典型的城市，許多中國商人在該城治安最差，犯罪率高的地區從事各類商品批發和零售。在高度壓力和危險的環境下，一周辛勤工作7日無休，只盼儘快致富回鄉，是許多非洲和南美洲華裔的典型寫照。我們為這些身心靈皆疲憊的同胞禱告，求主預備他們的心，藉著當地的教會來得著他們，使他們獲得永恆的生命和盼望。

星期五
中國副總理吳儀名列世界最強的女人之地二位。她素以強勁的協商能力及有效的外交手腕見稱。中國教會有許多女傳道常負責帶領教會代表團隊出國。在國內一些地區，半數以上教會領袖是女性。我們特別為所有的中國女傳道禱告，求神保守她們的服事，還有自己家庭的需要，增添對神及所牧養的羊群的愛心。

星期六
一般中國新婚夫婦結婚的費用相當於兩人四年薪金總和。普通一場婚宴就要20席，宴請大約250賓客。蜜月也少不了，這費用又將近婚宴開銷的一半。中國教會的年輕人很少是夫妻雙方都信主的，因爲很多基督徒與非信徒結婚。讓我們為所有新婚夫婦禱告。求神在未信的配偶心中鬆土，並使信主的一方能有強而有力的基督徒見證。

星期日
現在的年輕中國夫婦花在結婚的費用是20年前結婚花費的8倍。平均每對夫妻會用上一年來爲此大日子做足籌備。而其中8成，其結婚費用和買房是靠父母幫補支付。多數基督徒父母當孩子決定跟非信徒結婚時，都無法多說什麽。我們祈禱他們與新的家庭成員有美好的關係，同時在分享基督救恩的事上，能以美好的生命見證和溫柔良善的品格產生正面的影響力。

星期一
許多教會都不能接受牧者主動提及奉獻，因爲信徒們誤認爲傳道人應該完全憑信心生活，向教會領取薪金便是不屬靈。大型的教會其牧者只領取很少的薪俸，是極爲普遍的現象。讓我們為此禱告，求神感動衆信徒不單向主獻上自己的心，同時也願意獻上自己的“金”（財富），使神的工人日用無缺。