Prayer Request 8/12 -- 8/18

Tuesday
The sports careers of many Chinese athletes will end at the close of the Beijing Olympics. Prior to 1980，athletes were treated as government employees until their deaths. Now about two to three thousand athletes retire each year but ten percent of them will be left with no financial support during the rest of their lives. Few young Chinese church workers think ahead to retirement. Churches expect their leaders to serve "by faith". Let us pray for Chinese churches to have a vision to effectively provide for the needs of their workers and shepherds.

Wednesday
Since sports are held in a very high position in China, national pride is hinged on whether athletes win or lose. The failure to win a gold medal is regarded as a great disappointment and even loss of face. For the athletes themselves, there is extreme psychological and physical pressure and hurt in losing.Let us pray for the many church workers who are serving faithfully in spite of disillusionment and disappointment. Often they feel they are not appreciated and are blamed for a lack of church growth. May the Lord lift up their spirits，giving them encouragement and spiritual refreshment.

Thursday
A historic state banquet was held for the heads of state of more than 80 countries who attended the Olympic Games. A total of nine round tables were arranged in a square; each table was named after a flower and seated almost 30 guests.Churches in China generally do not have denominational affiliations，but some identify themselves very strongly with specific denominations doctrinally. We thank the Lord for all the support from the denominational bodies and pray for the unity of all believers.

Friday
Today, playing piano is the most common extracurricular activity for the children of the prosperous, one-child young families. Students are told to put in 3-4 hours of serious practice. In many cities, there is shortage of piano teachers.Chinese parents spare no cost in providing the best education for their children. But, let us pray that Christian parents will also do their best helping their children growing up knowing God and serving the Lord.

Saturday
Decades ago, Chinese engineers and laborers build roads in Africa. Now, hundreds of thousands of Chinese arrive in Africa as merchants, shop owners and even doctors of Chinese medicine.We uplift small but growing numbers of fellowships and ministries aiming to share the Gospel with the Chinese in Africa. We too pray for all the Chinese missionaries serving in all parts of Africa.

Sunday
Before the national College Entrance Exam, temples were packed with parents who were praying for their sons and daughters. The one-child policy and lack of retirement benefits cause Chinese parents to equate their children’s academic success as their ticket to a comfortable retirement. Many Christian parents forbid their children to serve or become too involved in church. They worry that their children will not be able to support them later. Let us pray for faith in God, knowing that He will provide for us, for our children and when they grow old.

Monday
Many of the post-1980 couples are able to own their own homes with the help of their parents who make the down payment. However, they struggle with the basic knowledge of how to manage a house and it is not uncommon that parents must still teach them how to do the household chores. Many churches are seeing more young married couples coming and this is a great thing but they, too, need a lot of mentoring and coaching. We pray for older couples who can help them grow, challenge them to put God first, and help them understand the principles of Christian marriage.

星期二
對許多中國運動員而言，北京奧運將是其職業生涯的頂點。在比賽結束後，他們將開始人生的另一頁。每年中國的退役運動員約有兩千到三千人，其中約有三百多人是無法找到工作的。不像八十年代之前的運動員，退役後能以國家幹部身份進入政府部門，無後顧之憂。中國教會的傳道同工，甚少想到退休。教會則認定他們應該憑信心服事，亦不會予以其他福利。求神讓中國教會看到教會同工和牧者的需要，並給予足夠的供應。

星期三
中國的體育是舉國體制，且高度受重視。運動比賽的勝負關乎國家尊容，失掉金牌就等同丟失了國家的顔面，因此國家隊員面對的壓力不言而喻。許多教會的傳道人在失望和壓力中默默地忠心事奉。他們既背負教會成長的責任，付出的努力又不易得到認可，求主親自激勵他們，靈裏常常得到喜樂和更新，靠主所賜的力量勝過所有挑戰。

星期四
來自八十多個國家的元首政要出席北京奧運會，參加了盛大國宴，九張大圓桌排成正方形, 各以鮮花為名，堪稱新中國歷史之最。國內的教會雖然一般不會冠以宗派的名字，然而他們卻在神學觀點上各自堅持立場，儼然教派一般。讓我們衷心為來自各方所給的支援感恩，也為眾教會能同心建立基督的身體恆切祈求。

星期五
“中國正為鋼琴發燒”。新興城市中產階級家庭的獨生兒女最普遍的課外活動，便是彈鋼琴。學生必須每日認真練習三、四個小時。在城市，甚至鬧師（鋼琴老師）荒。現代的中國家長爲了栽培孩子，往往不惜代價。我們求神讓基督徒父母能夠以同等的態度，盡全力教養孩子認識神，敬畏神，以及服事神。

星期六
十幾年前，中國工程師和工人為非洲修路，如今數十萬中國移民在非洲從事工程師、工人、餐館老闆、食品雜貨店主、裁縫甚至是醫生。因中藥比西藥便宜，征服了許多非洲人。非洲已有一些爲中國人而設的團契聚會，目的是向他們傳福音。我們禱告求主祝福和使用他們，也記念所有在非洲各地服侍的華人宣教士。求主與這些屬靈的先鋒同在。

星期日
中國的高考日前夕，寺廟裏擠滿了前來為孩子們祈福的考生家長。一子政策外加缺乏退休利益，令許多家長不免指望子女養老，子女高考等於決定了他們未來的生活和社會地位。很多基督教父母禁止孩子們參與教會的侍奉，因為擔心孩子將來沒有能力奉養他們。讓我們為著信徒們對神的信心來禱告，相信神會豐富的供應自己和兒女們的一切需要。

星期一
出生于80年代以後的年輕夫婦由於得到父母協助，許多都有能力擁有自己的房屋，但是卻苦于不會理家，反而必須勞動父母前去教他們做家務。很多教會開始樂見有更多的年輕夫婦加入教會。但他們也一樣需要很多教導和帶領。我們禱告神藉年長的夫婦，幫助他們靈性的成長與成熟，使他們學習以神爲首，並了解基督徒的婚姻原則。