Prayer Request 1/29 -- 2/4

Tuesday
Xintiandi, a huge development just south of People's Square in Shanghai is the first example of the city's reclaiming its history rather than tearing it down. In many cities, old neighborhoods are developed as tourist attractions to preserve a bit of history. Many congregations face the same dilemma--to rebuild or tear down. Some of the church buildings have great historical value and heritage. Let us pray for all of the churches planning to expand, remodel, or rebuild this year. May the expansion bring even greater excitement for ministry and a renewed love for God.

Wednesday
It is exceedingly easy to find films featuring explicit sex and violence anywhere in China but such films for public showing are ruthlessly censored. At present, films deemed unsuitable for children to see may not be shown to adults either. Many Christians struggle with pornography and temptation to see these readily available movies. Let us pray that the hearts of all believers will be guarded and that we all may have victory over sexual sins.

Thursday
The landscape of the Chinese cinema is rapidly changing. In the past several years, quite a number of Chinese film directors have achieved international fame, just as Chinese actors/actresses have become famous. Sexually explicit movies by notable stars are now mainstreamed. Sex in any of its forms has been a tabooed subject in the Chinese church but sex-related enterprises are everywhere, even next to churches. Let us pray for an openness, a positive, and Biblically correct teaching of sex in the churches.

Friday
China is said to have the most annual executions of any country in the world. A human rights group counted 2,790 people sentenced to death and 1010 executions in 2006. The government is now considering using lethal injections instead of the long-standingpractice of firing a bullet into the back of the head of the criminal. Most Chinese favor execution as a punishment and deterrent to the rampant crimes there. We thank the Lord for dying for our sins on the cross. We ask the Holy Spirit to remindus as believers that we, too, were sinners and are still in need of Christ's mercy every day.

Saturday
Communist Party officials, in a futile attempt to combat high-level corruption,especially among members of the party, commonly pass death sentences for bribery,embezzlement and even tax evasion. Ordinary citizens invariably support this punishment. In the church, it is common for funds to be misused or diverted to a use other than that for which they were given. Let us pray for protection from financial temptation for all church leaders whether rural or urban, whether house churches or open churches.

Sunday
Chinese Christians are said not to be sympathetic to the spiritual struggles of others. Often they say that their own faith is in God and then tend to ask others to live the same way. Being transparent is definitely not a Chinese Christian's "virtue" since many stress only their own success and then neglect to mention any weakness or failure they might have. We thank the Lord for many great Chinese cultural virtues and values but let us pray for a genuine dependency on God and a sense of constant need of God's mercy and grace in the hearts of Chinese Christians.

Monday
It is difficult for divorced Chinese women with children to find a new husband. Most prospective parents-in-law discourage such ready-made families. And, the step-grandchild is deemed very awkward in the traditional Chinese family ethic. Many single mothers are believers or have become believers. Their number one concern is whether or not their children will be accepted and loved. Let us pray for them as they manage their parenting duty, discrimination at work, loneliness and their close walk with Jesus.

星期二
「上海新天地」坐落在上海市中心，人民廣場以南，是中國都市呈現歷史文化風貌而非拆除的首例。 現在許多城市的古老鄰里都發展成爲旅遊景點，得以保留一點歷史痕跡。許多教會同樣面對重建或拆除的抉擇，尤其一些教會建築物深具歷史意義和價值。讓我們為今年計劃擴建，整修，或重建的教會禱告，願無論任何方式的擴充，大大激發會衆對神的愛及事工的熱心。

星期三
在中國到處都極容易找到充斥著色情和暴力的影片，唯公映的影片中，不適宜的片斷都已經過的刪剪，只是不適合兒童觀看的影片亦未必會放映給成年觀衆看。許多基督徒往往在這些隨手可得的色情影音媒體的誘惑之中難以自拔。我們求神保守每一位信徒能夠竭力追求聖潔，在性的試探中不陷於罪中，靠主得勝。

星期四
中國電影模式正在迅速改變中。近年來，許多中國導演和演員陸續獲得國際知名度。有出名影星擔綱主演的激情片已成了主流電影。教會內仍然避諱任何形式有關「性」的課題，但在教會以外，與情色掛鉤的行業卻無所不在。讓我們為教會能夠在面對「性」方面的議題，有更開明、正面且符合聖經的教導來禱告。

星期五
中國每年施行的死刑，高居世界之冠。據人權組織的計算，中國於2006年執行死刑1010次，處決了2790人。目前政府正考慮以注射方式取代採用已久的槍決。多數中國人仍然贊同以死刑來懲戒當地猖獗的犯罪活動。我們感謝主為贖我們的罪愆而死在十架上，求聖靈提醒作爲信徒的我們，曾是該死的罪人，每一天都需要基督的憐憫。

星期六
政府打擊嚴重貪汙（特別是黨員涉貪）的努力一度受挫，有關當局通常將賄賂、盜公款、以及重大逃稅者判處死刑。此舉受到廣大老百姓的支持。國內教會也常發生基金款項遭濫用，或轉作其他用途。讓我們求神保守所有中國教會，無論城市或農村、公開或家庭教會，所有傳道人和領袖們都能免受金錢的試探。

星期日
中國信徒常給人一種印象：對他人在屬靈上的掙紮缺乏同情心與同理心。往往強調自己對神的信心，總叫別人學習像他們一樣。中國信徒也欠缺坦誠開放的「美德」，多數只會宣揚成功，隱藏軟弱和失敗。當我們為中華文化中的許多優良美德和價值觀感謝神時，也為中國信徒能有一顆真誠依靠神恩惠與憐憫的心來禱告。

星期一
帶著孩子的離婚媽媽在中國很難再婚。多數準公婆都不能接受帶著所謂「拖油瓶」嫁過來的媳婦和前次婚姻所出的兒女，且在傳統家庭倫理中 ，繼兒繼孫的身份、地位頗爲尷尬。很多是單親媽媽的信徒，考慮再婚時，最關切的問題是孩子能否被接納和疼愛。我們為她們身兼父母之責，還要忍受來自社會上、職場上的歧視，以及心靈的孤單向神禱告，求主加添她們夠用的信心和能力，讓她們能夠與神親密同行。