Prayer Request 7/29 -- 8/4

Tuesday
The government of China will pass out 10,000 copies of the Chinese-English Bible in the Athletes Village and another 30,000 copies of the New Testament to tourists during the Olympics. Beijing house churches have been under tight surveillance recently as part of the tightening security throughout the capital. Let us pray earnestly for all the believers in Beijing, for their passion to share the Gospel, good opportunities to present their faith and the relationship of churches with the government during this exciting time.

Wednesday
China is rapidly graying. It is estimated that by 2025 nearly twenty percent of the population will be sixty years old or older (twice as much as today). The one-child policy has slowed the population growth, but increased longevity means there are a lot more older people than before. China lacks a nationwide retirement plan and a majority of retirees there live with their children. Chinese churches need to redouble their efforts to minister to the elderly. We pray especially for those who are no longer able to attend church because of physical limitations as well as those older believers who try to share their faith with their families.

Thursday
About 8% of the population of Guangzhou is sixty-five years old or older. Many of them come from other provinces to stay with their children who are working in the city. They are called "snowbirds" because they usually come for the mild winter season to care for their grandchildren and to get better medical care themselves. Ministry to the elderly focuses on visitation and is usually done by retired believers. Let us pray for all the churches, especially those in the costal provinces that spend a great deal of effort on reaching out and ministering to the elderly in their neighborhoods.

Friday
Chinese parents in the cities invariably push their children into as many extracurricular activities as possible. A survey shows that the mothers are usually the ones who decide what kind of class or musical instrument the child will study. Many children do not have even a half a day free a week for themselves. This is true for Christian families, too, so many of their children simply skip Sunday worship. Let us pray for all parents who are believers that they will teach their children to honor God above all else.

Saturday
Chinese parents have a fear their children are not doing well enough academically to get into a good high school or a well-known university so they enroll them in all kinds of remedial classes which they feel is necessary for them to get ahead. Some Christian parents even advise their children not to go to church so they can have more time to study. Let us pray they will have an unwavering faith in God and be steadfast as Joshua was when he said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Sunday
Many house churches have debated for years whether to register with the government or not. They insist that churches must not be under the regulation of the government because they have suffered persecution and are still apprehensive. Many of these churches are fundamental and charismatic and find it hard to interact with the community. We thank the Lord for their dedication to the Word of God and fervent prayer and pray especially for them to have unified hearts[j6] .

Monday
Hai gui (Chinese student who studied abroad and have now returned to China) have started more than 5000 companies which means two in a hundred have become their own bosses. They are popular because they have connections with Western companies but they often lack the connections they need to do business in China. There are also pastors and believers who have been trained and served in churches abroad but have returned home. We pray for the ministries of all who have been abroad. May the Lord use their experience to help the Chinese churches.

星期二
中國政府將在奧運村發放一萬本中英版聖經，另三萬本新約聖經將在奧運期間發給旅客。近日來北京全面加強保安，家庭教會也受到嚴密的監督。讓我們為北京的信徒禱告：在這特別的時期，使信徒們都燃起傳福音的熱心，把握良機與人分享基督，也讓教會和政府的關係得到改善。

星期三
中國人口迅速老化。估計到了2025年，六十歲以上的人將佔總人口的20%，為現在的兩倍。一胎化政策舒緩了人口膨脹，人們壽命得到延長卻也使得年老人口要比過去多了許多。而中國至今仍未有全國性的退休計劃，多數退休老人得與兒女同住，靠他們養老。中國教會需要加強其年長者事工，我們特別為所有因爲行動不便而停止上教會的信徒禱告，求主用自己的話托住他們的信心，讓他們在禱告中也經歷神，另外，也求主記念嘗試帶領家人歸主的年長信徒，求聖靈做鬆土灌溉的工作，讓這些信徒和他們一家都能得救。

星期四
廣州市65歲及以上老年人口達占常住人口的8%，其中一個老年群體：來自別省，往返于自己的原居住地和城市兒女家中，他們多是來探望子女，照顧孫子的，也有的是特在冬天來比寒，或爲了醫療費，因此被稱爲“候鳥式老人”。一般教會的老人事工注重探訪，而且一般上都由退休信徒負責。讓我們為中國教會，尤其是在邊界地帶、致力向鄰里的老年人傳福音的教會禱告，求主記念祝福他們的年長者事工。

星期五
中國的城市父母，都會積極鼓勵孩子多多參加課外活動。調查顯示，孩子課外活動或樂器的選擇，一般都由母親決定。有的孩子課外活動排得滿滿的，甚至一個星期連半天休息的時間都沒有。許多基督徒也是如此，孩子們得“翹”主日崇拜。求主教導所有信徒父母懂得教孩子把敬畏神擺在第一位。

星期六
中國父母都深恐孩子學業成績不好，考不上好的中學或大學，因此竭盡所能地讓他們參加各種課程作爲補助。有些基督徒父母甚至叫孩子別上教會，好多讀點書。求主讓他們建立對神堅定不移的信心，如約書亞：“至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。”

星期日
家庭教會針對是否註冊登記辯論了許多年。有些因爲曾經受過的逼迫而心有餘悸，而且認爲教會不應該受政府的條例管制。這些教會大多屬於基要/敬虔派或靈恩派，常常很難與社會社區互動交流。但我們也為他們對神話語的熱心和貢獻，以及積極熱切的禱告而讚美神，同時祈求所有家庭教會能夠有合一的心。

星期一
由海歸（出國留學畢業後回國的中國學生）創立的公司超過五千家，這表示百分之二的海歸自己當老闆。他們因爲與西方公司有很好的聯係而具優勢，但是缺少在中國經商少不了的聯絡。也有傳道人和信徒曾經在外國受訓服事，今已回國。我們為海歸事工禱告，也求主使用海歸信徒，以他們在國外的經歷和經驗，來幫助中國教會。