PRayer Request 12/18 -- 12/24

Tuesday
33,000 people made decisions to follow Christ after a series of large evangelistic meetings held in Hong Kong. Since the island returned to China's administration in 1997, there have been large gatherings by people of all faiths, including Buddhism and Taoism. Let us pray for churches in Hong Kong as they continue to be a powerful witness in their communities and to the neighboring Guangdong province. Hong Kong is a vital link for church work in China and we pray for their missionary efforts.

Wednesday
Foreign-born Chinese whose mother tongue is English face discrimination in China. Parents in China prefer and even demand Caucasians to teach English to their children, even though some of them are not native English speakers. Many foreign-born Chinese have returned to their native land to work. We pray for those who are there with a goal of winning other young Chinese to Christ as they actively work among college students who wish to learn English.

Thursday
Insisting on the truth and speaking out against abuse is not something for the faint-hearted, especially in China where money and power converge. A few influential lawyers and writers have spoken out and defended those who were wrongly treated. Many of these people are Christians or are sympathetic to the plight of Chinese churches. Let us remember all who can not enjoy freedom and normalcy of life because of their faith for God and conviction that the Bible is true.

Friday
Without a doubt, television is the number one medium in China. What keeps the Chinese glued to their tubes? News and a whopping 489 new soap operas per year, with an average of 21 episodes per soap opera. Perhaps this is one big reason churches are discontinuing, formerly full-attended, evening services. Let us remember all the churches that still have mid-week services and, especially, prayer meetings. May the Lord use these faithful to be powerful watchmen for their flocks.

Saturday
Working for the government is an attractive and appealing option. Last year half a million people took the "hottest examination in China" to become a government employee hoping to get a plump position with job security and good pay. Very few seminary students know where they will serve after graduation--in government or house churches. Let us remember their studying and involvement in churches as well as their spiritual walk with God, that they will not lose their passion to do God's work.

Sunday
China will soon become the country with the world's third highest economy. As recently as 1999 she ranked only seventh. Now she has passed Italy, France, and England. We look with great anticipation to see what God will do to use China's churches in His kingdom purposes. As Chinese gain in national pride, we pray that the believers will also see their role in world evangelism and no longer be just receivers but become generous givers.

Monday
Amid the huge tide of Chinese workers moving from country to city, as many as a million children have become separated from their parents. The state looks after perhaps 150,000 and the rest are presumable fending for themselves. Rural churches find themselves in the midst of this problem but are totally unable to help because of their limited recourses and dwindling membership. We lift up all the rural believers whose own families are separated because of their work situation. May the Lord give them wisdom in parenting and showing love to their children.

星期二
最近在香港舉行的六場基督教佈道大會，據統計共有三萬三千多人決志信主。香港自九七回歸後，多了許多公開性的佛教誦經會、道教弘道會等大型宗教聚會。讓我們為香港眾教會在社區和鄰近的廣東省繼續為主作強而有力的見證來禱告。目前香港已成為中國教會事工的重要樞紐，我們更為他們在宣教上的努力獻上感恩與代禱。

星期三
母語為英語的外籍華人在中國教授英語經常遭遇歧視。中國父母寧選「白人」教孩子英語，即使他們的主要母語並非英語。近年來，許多海外出生的華人回到故鄉找工作。當中有一些透過教導英語積極地接觸大學生，目的是爲主得人，讓我們特別為他們的工作和使命禱告，求主大大使用他們，將福音的種籽更深、更廣植入人心。

星期四
「堅持真理、維護正義、為受辱者出頭」這並非等閒軟弱之人膽敢為之，尤其在權與利掛帥的中國更是如此。近來一些有影響力的律師和作家不畏迫害，依法維權。當中有許多是基督徒，也有一些是基於同情中國教會的苦境，仗義挺身。讓我們也以禱告記念所有因著對基督的信仰以及堅信聖經是真理而失去自由和不能正常生活的信徒們。求神親自以厚恩和能力覆庇他們。

星期五
中國電視無疑是當今國內的「第一媒體」。是什麽能把人們牢牢的抓在螢光幕前？答案是新聞以及年產489部，平均每部21集的電視連續劇。這或許是導致國內教會紛紛取消一些過去晚間常滿的聚會的一大因素。讓我們為仍然繼續的週日聚會，特別是禱告會守望代求，願神幫助教會領袖成爲忠心又有能力的管家，有智慧和謀略來看守好神的羊群。

星期六
公務員的職位在中國炙手可熱，是最吸引畢業生的就業選擇。去年有多達50萬人報考全國公務員考試，盼能得著一隻金飯碗，使該項考試成了「中國第一考」。國內神學生很少知道自己畢業後的服事去向：是要在政府認可的教會服事還是其他類型的教會事奉。讓我們為他們的學習和教會生活禱告，求神保守他們常與神同行，服事神、做主工的熱忱和心志歷久常新。

星期日
1999年中國只是世界第7大經濟國，現已經超越了意大利，法國和英國。很快便能晉級為第三大。在慶幸領受神在經濟發展上的豐富賜福之際，深信神會大大使用中國人參與祂的國度計劃。當國人自信、自尊獲得急驟提昇時，我們祈禱中國信徒也能同時看到自己在世界宣教和佈道上應扮演的角色，學習敏銳神心意，操練施比受蒙福的慷慨付出。

星期一
中國民工從鄉下蜂擁至省市謀生，造成數以百萬的兒童與父母分開。政府能照顧到的兒童約15萬，其餘的只能靠自己自求多福了。農村教會置身這些問題之中卻苦無對策，畢竟他們資源有限，而且會友不斷流失。讓我們以禱告來托住所有因工作必須與家人分開的信徒和家庭。求神憐憫他們的景況，加添他們養育孩子的智慧，懂得如何向孩子表達他們的愛。