Prayer Request 5/13 -- 5/19

Tuesday
《Special prayer》 As you are aware, the horrendous casualty from the earthquake in Sichuan province Monday continues to rise, and the fear for worse continues.
China hoped 2008 would be a yearlong celebration, a time to bask in the spotlight of the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Instead, the Year of the Rat has been a string of troubles — both natural and man-made — that are diverting the attention from the Olympic.
Remember the paralyzing snow storm in the Chinese New Year, the problem in Tibet, the recent terrible train accidents in Shandong and the viral infection that killed scores of children , all these have poured cold water to the festive mood Chinese are hoping to enjoy toward the August 8, the auspicious opening day of the 2008 Games.
We would like to invite you to pray along with all the Chinese believers in the following:

1. For the rescuing effort and divine comfort for all the victim's families.
2. A window of opportunity for Chinese Christian to demonstrate the love and compassion of God in this time of great suffering.
3. May the Lord soft the heart of all Chinese, not to depend on our strength and might, not to take glory in our own achievement, but to turn to God and give glory to Him alone.
4. Let us pray for all the Chinese churches, Mainland and overseas, as we all unite in prayer to uplift the country in God's hand.

The recent cyclone devastation in Myanmar has affected nearly half of its population. Many victims have yet to receive any relief. The two million Chinese there have largely been spared. The Chinese own rice shops and some have to quickly distribute rice for fear of whole-scale looting. Let us pray for the relief effort there, especially what the local Christian and Chinese churches can do to be a testimony of compassion in this deeply devout Buddhist country.

Wednesday
For many of the young Chinese, graduating from college means unemployment. There is stiff competition for any job for college graduates. In the Xinjiang province, 30% of them are unemployed. There is a sense of desperation among many college students. We are thankful for many students who have come to know Jesus in college, but let us pray that they will remain faithful and walk closely with Him after graduation.

Thursday
For millions of college students, graduation means bleak future. Among the large cities, like Beijing, Changsha, Shanghai, and Wuhan, 1 in 3 graduates will not be able to find a job. Many have even ridiculed the economic benefit of college education, since parents usually have to support them with savings. Among these cities, there are very active college ministries. They all try to focus on discipleship to prepare them once they graduate. Yet, a high percentage young Christians are lost due to lack of follow up. Let us keep praying for all who are disciplining the college students.

Friday
The “fifth year college student” is a phenomenon of unemployed college graduates. They usually claim they are studying to get into graduate schools, living near campus, enjoying the campus facilities but are not enrolled as students. Unemployed college graduates experience stress, depression, and impaired self-esteem because parents expect them to start making money. Let us pray for all the believers who are not able to find work or are unemployed. May they not lose trust and faith in God who promises that He will always provide for us.

Saturday
The government estimates that varying degrees of violence occur in 1/3 of all Chinese households. In 90% of cases, wives are the victims and 100,000 homes are destroyed every year because of violence in the home. Very few battered women report to police because of shame. Christian women who are abused have no outlets for advice or consolation in the church either. Let us pray along with all the believers who live with abusive husbands as they struggle with decision of separation and beyond.

Sunday
In Taiwan, there are almost 300,000 “foreign brides”- wives who came from Mainland China, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. These families are frequently ostracized because of their lack of language ability, education, and family support. The incidences of marital violence are very high among them. Many Taiwan churches are involved in helping the foreign brides, through teaching Chinese, assistance, and Bible study groups. Let us pray for these ministries and all those who show compassion, who are doing the cross-cultural mission at home.

Monday
This year, a total of 5.59 millions college students will graduate, which is 640,000 more than 2007. In the past, only 2 in 3 will find job and this year will be even harder for all the college graduates. There is an alarming trend of these unemployed, highly educated people to turn to criminal activities. Many observe that college students lack appreciation for ethics and traditional values.We continue to pray for many who work with college students, through teaching English and Bible studies. May the Lord give them wisdom in disciplining these new converts.

星期二
《緊急代禱》四川省在週一傳出7.9級地震的巨大災變，各界雖然奮力的搶救，傷亡人數仍然持續上升中。在全球的眼光聚焦即將到來的北京奧運會， 2008年原本是中國人期待能歡慶的一年，然而「鼠」年已被一連串的災禍轉移了對奧運的注意力。猶記在中國新年裡癱瘓春運的暴風雪，西藏抗爭，最近在山東的火車意外，及兒童感染腸病毒等事件，讓2008年奧運會能在8月8日以吉祥節慶的氣氛開幕增添了變數。

我們邀請您與中國信徒一起祈禱：

一. 求主憐憫保守仍陷險境的居民和遊客能堅持待救。也幫助各方援救工作能順利展開，及時搶救傷亡。

二. 求主幫助中國教會在驚惶悲痛的災後時刻，把握這個流通神的愛和憐憫的窗口，積極安慰、援助許多失去親人、財產的同胞。

三.求主柔軟所有中國人的心，能謙卑下來，不自恃力氣和才幹，矜誇自己的成就，而把神當得的榮耀歸給他。

四、讓我們為所有中國教會祈禱，不分國內外的，都能同心合一祈求，將這個國家交託在神的恩手中蒙潔淨、保守和賜福。

近日緬甸慘遭強力熱帶氣旋肆虐，半數人口受到蹂躪。風災後，許多地區的災民仍未獲派民生物資援助。當地二百萬華僑中，有不少人從事糧食買賣，在災民圍搶糧倉時，只好主動開倉派發大米。讓我們為救災工作能迅速展開禱告，在這個信奉佛教的國家中，尤其記念當地的基督徒和教會盡力救援鄰舍，努力見證主憐憫人的心腸。

星期三
許多中國大學生，一旦畢業就等於失業。應屆畢業生的求職競爭激烈非常。在新疆，每年約3成的畢業生處於失業狀態。很多大學生都有巨大的就業壓力。我們為著許多在校園中認識基督的學生感恩，並且祈求神的保守，直至他們畢業後仍然能忠心地與神同行。

星期四
中國數百萬的大學畢業生，前途迷茫。在北京，長沙，上海和武漢這些大城市，有三分之一的應屆畢業生找不到工作。許多人甚至譏諷大學教育的經濟效益太低，畢竟升學靠的都是父母儲蓄的血汗錢。這些城市的大學事工非常活躍，也嘗試加強門徒訓練，為學生們畢業後做好裝備，但是由於缺乏跟進，年輕信徒的流失率高。讓我們為所有的栽培員禱告。求主加倍賜下信心和毅力，使同工能幫助年輕信徒在信仰上紮深根。

星期五
大學「五年級生」，指尚未找到工作的畢業生，他們常以“考研究所”為由，住在校園附近，並使用學校設施。失業待職的畢業生往往經歷許多壓力和憂鬱，又因父母寄望他們開始掙錢不果而自信心受損。讓我們為所有待業已久或失業的信徒們禱告，希望他們不失去對神的信靠，相信祂的應許：因為神必定供應。

星期六
據調查顯示，三分之一中國家庭中，存在家庭暴力；施暴者九成是男性;發生在夫妻間的家庭暴力，受害者有85 ％以上是婦女;每年有10萬個家庭因此解體。礙於家暴是不宜外揚的「家醜」，很少受害婦女會報警。基督徒姐妹也一樣，因此無從獲得有效的諮商及輔導協助。讓我們為有家暴問題的信徒禱告，特別是一些掙紮於分居與否矛盾中的姐妹，求主親自安慰、保護並差派合適援手幫助她們。

星期日
在臺灣有將近三十萬來自中國大陸，越南，菲律賓，印尼，和泰國的外籍新娘。因爲語言障礙、教育文化差異、和缺乏親人的支持，他們倍感孤立，婚姻暴力發生率也很高。許多教會透過教華語、提供生活協助、以及聖經班，來幫助外籍配偶，讓我們為這些事工禱告，求主記念所有付出愛心，在家中進行跨文化福音事工的信徒。

星期一
今年中國大學畢業生達到559萬人，比去年多了64萬人。過去大學畢業生中，只有三分之二求職成功，今年預料將更艱難。這群受過高等教育的人，因無業而涉足犯罪活動的趨勢令人堪憂。現在的大學生普遍欠缺道德感和傳統價值觀薄弱。許多從事大學生工作的同工，正通過教英語和帶領研讀聖經，把聖經中的聖潔生活觀帶給大學生，讓我們禱告求主加添他們智慧來栽培和訓練初信徒。