Prayer Request 4/1 -- 4/7

Tuesday
Taiwan elected a new president who is a proponent for better relationships with Beijing. Many have great expectations for direct airline flights between the two countries, more foreign investments to Taiwan and more Mainland tourists visiting the Island. We pray for the unity of Taiwan churches and healing from the political divisions after the election. May the change in the political leadership open the door wider for ministry works in China by Taiwan churches and seminaries.

Wednesday
The city of Xiamen hosts an annual Buddha Fair which is growing phenomenally. The increasing popularity of Buddhism among younger professionals is fueling the demand for all kinds of Buddhist paraphernalia including a meditation DVD and incense. Chinese people are seeking to fill their spiritual void by turning to the practice of religion. Let us pray for an urgency and sense of mission in all Chinese churches so they will reach out to unbelievers. May the Spirit of the Lord quicken all the churches.

Thursday
The graying population presents an especially acute problem in Zhejiang Province. In many counties nearly 74% of elderly people live alone. Many of the senior pastors who have retired end up living alone as well. Let us remember all the older church workers who have no family support and have remained single, that God will supply all their needs and care for them in their waning years.

Friday
The third item in the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China specifically forbids a married person from living with someone else as well as the use of violence in the family. This is the most common legal ground for divorce. We take this time to pray for the Christian families who are facing marital infidelity and/or spousal abuse. Many families are hurting but have no one in the church to whom they can turn for help. May the Lord intervene and teach them repentance and forgiveness.

Saturday
As Chinese movies are gaining international recognition and accolades, more young people are applying to the prestigious Beijing Film Academy which is considered to be the cradle of all Chinese cinema talents. The biggest challenge the hundreds of pastors in Beijing churches face is not of leading people to Christ but training new believers. Many of the pastors lack practical church experience. Let us pray they each will have wisdom and the heart of a shepherd.

Sunday
Women are in the majority in Chinese churches and many of them are not married. For them, "Do I truly have the gift of celibacy?" is a hard and painful question. They experience tremendous pressure from parents to marry any "available man" but the church teaches them not to be yoked with unbelievers. There are usually few available single Christian men in any given Chinese church. Let us pray for strength and comfort for all those who are waiting to know God's will in their lives regarding marriage.

Monday
Only 1.2% of elderly Chinese live in a nursing home compared with 8% in Western countries. Putting parents into a nursing home still carries great stigma and is considered a lack of filial duty in China but the most significant impact of the one-child policy is there are more children who refuse to take in and take care of their aging parents. The Bible says, we are “worse than non-believers” when we neglect our family. Let us pray for joy for believers as they take on extra responsibility in caring for their parents.

星期二
台灣最近選出了新總統，倡議與中國政府改善關係，因此不久的將來，很多人期望有兩岸的直航班機、有更多外商資金流入，以及更多遊客前往台灣。讓我們為台灣教會在選舉過後，能從政治立場分歧中再次團結起來禱告。又願藉著次政權的更替，兩岸關係趨於緩和之際，台灣教會及神學院能把握機會參與更多的福音事工。

星期三
廈門正如火如荼地籌備第三屆的國際佛事用品商展。佛教思想越來越為中國專業青年所接受，各類佛事用品，包括經文音碟和香燭，需求大增。越來越多中國人借宗教信仰來填補心靈的空虛。讓我們為中國教會都看到宣教的迫切性，以至能夠致力向非信徒傳福音。也祈求聖靈大大激勵衆教會，用諸般智慧搶救失喪靈魂。

星期四
隨著人口老齡化的加快，浙江省城鄉獨居和空巢老人家庭大量增加，老人家庭實際空巢率已高達74％。很多退休的年老傳道人，年輕時致力於傳道、牧會擺上所有，忠心事奉。讓我們特別為眾教會能體恤照顧這些獨身無家人可依靠的老傳道人來禱告，使他們老有所歸，安享晚年。也求主親自記念、供應他們所有的需要。

星期五
中國婚姻法令之第三條，特別明列禁止有配偶者與他人同居，禁止家庭暴力。這些都是最常構成離婚的合法原因。讓我們為所有面對婚姻的背叛或暴力虐待的信徒家庭禱告，尤其有許多家暴的受害者在教會裏沒有可以求助的對象，我們求主親自幫助，教導他們悔改和赦免，也記念教會在家庭婚姻輔導事工上人力和資源的廹切需要。

星期六
中國電影近年屢獲國際認同和獎項表揚，因此刺激更多年輕男女欲躋身入有「中國電影人才的搖籃」之稱的北京電影學院。北京教會的牧者最大的挑戰，不在於領人歸主，而是如何跟進栽培牧養初信者。許多傳道人欠缺實際的牧養經驗，讓我們為每一位傳道牧師都有神所賜的智慧以及牧人的心懷來禱告。

星期日
中國教會中姐妹是佔多數，許多處於未婚單身的狀態。「神真的有給我獨身的恩賜嗎？」「是不是至今沒有結婚就代表神要我獨身一輩子呢？」種種沉重的問題不斷盤旋在她們心中，也有許多來自父母的壓力。在大多數教會中，適婚年齡的弟兄少之又少。求神幫助這些未婚單身的姐妹能夠得著從神而來的力量，相信神的意念高過我們的意念，凡事都有祂最好的帶領。

星期一
相對於西方國家近８％的老人住養老院，在中國只有1.2％的比例。由於深受中國傳統儒家文化影響，把父母親交由養老院照顧，子女會被人視為不孝及不負責任。提前5:8 人若不看顧親屬，就是背了真道，比不信的人還不好，不看顧自己家裡的人，更是如此。我們要為這些願意盡心努力奉養父母的基督徒禱告，求神將喜樂及平安充滿他們，也在家庭中享受神所賜的福樂。