Prayer Request 8/26-9/2

Tuesday
It is impossible to understand what the Olympic Games mean to the Chinese people without understanding their history of humiliation. In order to promote their nationalistic pride they are constantly stirred up to remember the foreign invasion during the Boxer Revolution and the Rape of Nanking. We pray for the churches in China in the afterglow of the Olympics for not only a long-lasting sense of pride and achievement but also a renewed calling to a spirit of unity and less dependence on support from outside their group.

Wednesday
A famous Chinese track athlete who is synonymous with the "Bird's Nest" bowed out of the competition due to injury. His last-second abandonment shocked the nation and grieved billions. Chinese people tend to put great hope in a few "stars" or even in their own children to achieve the "impossible" for the masses or their family. Let us pray for a very healthy spiritual growth in many churches and as well as in church leadership across China, not merely a few mega-churches or a handful of prominent church leaders.

Thursday
China churches and believers have received much news coverage and many interviews from foreign media during the Olympics. However, the granting of visas for many missionaries were affected, and nearly all of the Bible training in China was suspended as well.Chinese Christians have been greatly encouraged and emboldened by the media's attention. We pray that this newfound pride and excitement translate into long-lasting passion for spiritual growth and evangelism.

Friday
Northeastern China has historically been the center for heavy industry and an area of serious pollution. However, in the past decades, the region has improved and recovered from its economic slump.Churches in Northeast China are well-organized and have been active in planting churches throughout China. We praise God for them and pray the Lord will use their emphasis on training to be a mighty force in spreading the gospel.

Saturday
Agricultural experts warn that eighty percent of the farmers in China are working in cities instead of cultivating the land, leaving mostly old folks and children on the farms. Young people prefer to work in factories because they get better income there. Attendance at rural Chinese churches has declined greatly in the last two decades causing many church workers to be disappointed and leave their ministries. We lift up all the rural believers into God's hand, especially those who have no shepherds and are being ravaged by cults .

Sunday
After the phenomenal success of the movie "Kung Fu Panda" many filmmakers and ordinary Chinese are wondering why this hit movie wasn't made in China. Some blame a lack of imagination on the part of the government in its tight control and its hypersensitivity over how China is portrayed to the world. We praise God for the growth of churches in China but they still have little impact on society as a whole. We pray for a true revival of the believers and a passion for God's Word that they might not pursue only prosperity.

Monday
The most famous foreigner in China is known as "Da Shan (big mountain). This 43 year-old Canadian is well known for his ability to speak Mandarin Chinese better than many Chinese people themselves. To learn enough Chinese for conversation is essential and difficult for many foreigners who wish to share the gospel in China. We remember all those who are engaged in learning Chinese and their evangelistic efforts. We pray, too, for the seeds they are sowing in the hearts of their contacts.



星期二
若不瞭解中國人所曾蒙受的羞辱，便無法瞭解奧運對他們的意義。義和團和南京大屠殺等事件的記憶，激發他們為提升國家尊嚴而努力。我們祈願奧運的餘輝為中國留下的不僅只是成就和自豪感，更是讓中國教會相輔相成，從而減少對外的依靠，同以合一的靈獲得更新。

星期三
一位與“鳥巢”一樣舉世聞名的田徑健將，在賽前突然宣佈因傷不得不退出比賽。此舉震撼了整個中國，也成為億萬人民最大的傷痛。華人常會將極大的希望寄託於某幾個人物抑或自己的孩子身上，寄予揚眉吐氣的厚望。中國教會的發展和福音傳揚不能單靠幾個超大型教會或數個著名的牧者和領袖，而是主耶穌吩咐每個信徒的大使命。讓我們為中國所有教會和教會領袖在屬靈上的健康成長來禱告。

星期四
北京奧運期間，中國教會和信徒獲得外國新聞媒體的大幅度採訪，但由於外籍人士的簽證，宣教士在中國不得常居，國內的培訓也受到極大的影響而停頓。國際媒 體的關注為中國的基督徒注入許多勇氣和鼓勵。我們祈求讓這一時的激勵轉變成信徒們追求靈命成長和傳揚基督，恒久不滅的熱忱。

星期五
東北地區將成為中國第四大經濟圈。在過去東北重工業區被視為「髒、黑、臭」工業所在。近幾年來，東北的經濟也開始回轉，東北的教會團隊，在全國各地，也開始植堂跟宣教。我們特別為東北的教會靈命復興，與他們積極栽培肢體來感恩，也求主讓他們的宣教事工能落實並擴展更寬廣的地界。

星期六
農業專家警告, 現在農村青壯年勞動力百分之八十外出打工, 留下耕作的只是老人和小孩. 由於工廠給的薪金比較高, 青壯年都往外地的工廠打工.過去20年來, 農村教會的出席人數日漸下降, 許多教會傳道人失望的離開。求神保守這一群缺乏牧者帶領的信徒, 特別是那些受異端所影響的教會，求主做潔淨與更新的工作.

星期日
動畫電影「功夫貓熊」的成功，令中國許多電影製作人和老百姓感慨，爲何這部熱門影片不是中國製造。有些人歸咎於政府的管制太嚴苛，對中國展現在國際的形象太過敏，以至於缺乏想像力。我們為中國教會的成長向神獻上讚美。但見教會至今對社會沒有什麽衝擊力。求神讓信徒們真正經歷屬靈的復興，使他們愛慕神的話、熱心為神做見證，追求永恆的榮耀勝於今生的榮華。

星期一
中國最當紅的外國人，藝名叫大山。這位43嵗的加拿大人，操得一口流利普通話，許多中國人本身都望塵莫及。在中國傳福音必須學會一定程度的普通話，這是許多想到中國傳福音的外國人所面對的難事。我們記念所有為福音的緣故，正積極學習華文華語的人，也求主讓他們能夠成功的在所接觸的人心中播下福音的種子。