9/16 - 9/22

Tuesday
Millions of newly affluent Chinese are moving to vast "satellite cities" rising on the fringes of the country's megalopolises. These new suburbia are a trend that reshape China and rocking the global economy. A big problem confronting believers in China is how to build churches in these newly-formed communities. Let us pray for these growing harvest fields and for the fresh fellowships forming among the new homes.

Wednesday
Some 300 million to 400 million people from dirt-poor farming regions made their way to relative prosperity in cities. Today, there are 49 cities in China with one million population or more. House churches in these large cities play a greater role in evangelism and training than they did in the rural churches in the past. In many ways urban believers are harder to minister to since their work is farther from where they live and they must commute. We uplift those who are shepherding urban churches, especially those who are involved in the caring and visitation aspects.

Thursday
Currently there are ten satellite cities going up around Shanghai and it is estimated that by the year 2010 there will be some 2600 miles of new highway around the city that wasn't there in 2000. Millions of new cars will be coursing up and down those highways. Since Shanghai is the official seat of the Three-self Churches, it is still the "capital" of Christian churches. In terms of vitality and church growth, however, Shanghai has lagged behind other cities. Let us humbly seek God's blessing on the churches in the Greater Shanghai area, especially those churches led by foreigners, expats, and hai gui (people returned from overseas).

Friday
In China, among the newly-minted middle class, a car is almost as much of a badge of honor as a new apartment or house. In Shanghai it costs almost $6,000 to get a license plate for one's car. We are seeing more and more affluent believers these days due to the teaching of "prosperity theology"--God wants you to be rich--which has become very popular and has been embraced by many. Let us pray for hearts of contentment and thanksgiving among Christians. We pray, too, for humility for all wealthy believers that they will not discriminate against their less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Saturday
Experts predict that during the next decade five million people will move from Shanghai proper to the suburbs where the affluent middle class people chose to live and raise their families, but still commute into the city to work. Many of the urban churches face the dilemma of their more affluent members leaving for the suburbs with the "poorer" members left behind. Let us pray for some new strategies for church planting in satellite cities and a new approach in reaching out to the communities where the present church is located.

Sunday
Koreans make up the largest foreign community in China with as many as 700,000 who reside there long-term. Each week 830 flights connect Korea and China directly and link some thirty Chinese cities with six Korean cities--a figure higher than the number of flights between China and the USA each month. Many churches in China are supported either directly or indirectly by Korean churches. We thank the Lord for this godly neighbor and all the Korean pastors serving in China. May the Lord bless and strengthen the Chinese churches not only to be a receiver but to be a giver also.

Monday
Korean students make up the largest foreign student body in China with one in every three foreign students being Korean. However, according to a Korean official, "Despite all this, there are very few Koreans who understand China deeply." Many foreign students come to China with a desire to serve the Chinese people and are involved in teaching English or working in the community. We uplift all these foreign students for their mastering of the Chinese language, their influence on young believers, and challenging young people to follow God.


星期二
數以百萬計的中國新富紛紛遷進大都會周邊的衛星城市．新區的筍立形成了一股潮流，不單為中國帶來新的城市面貌，更撼動了全球經濟的走向．目前中國信徒的一大挑戰是如何於新形成的社區裡建立教會．讓我們為這不斷擴展的福音禾場和在新家庭成立的團契禱告．

星期三
中國目前約有3-4億人口為了謀求更好生活，從貧瘠的農村湧到城市居住,已有49個城市，人口達一百萬以上。相對於農村，在城市的家庭教會在傳福音和裝備方面可發揮更重要角色，但在牧養上則比較困難，因城市信徒往往要花許多時間在工作的往返上。讓我們記念所有在城市教會事奉的同工，尤其是負責關顧和探訪的，主的恩典與供應充沛。

星期四
目前上海周邊新崛起的衛星城市達到十個．據估計在2000年至2010年間，市區高速公路總長增加了2600英哩，車輛數目也以數以百萬計的速度快速增長著．上海一直是三自教會的中心和基督教會的大本營。然而其活力並增長速度已遜於其他城市。讓我們謙卑地祈求上帝賜福大上海地區教會，尤其是由外國、外籍中國人及「海歸」等成員為主幹的教會。

星期五
對中國新崛起的中產階級而言，一輛轎車所賦予的身分價值與尊貴,幾乎等同一所別墅。在上海，車主要付出高達6,000元的價錢以換取一個車牌．「富裕神學」的教導–"上帝想讓你富裕"之類的思想，非常受人歡迎及擁戴，教會也增加了越來越多「富裕」的信徒。讓我們祈求所有基督徒都能常知足感恩；也保守富裕的信徒，能存謙卑的心，不歧視不及他們富裕的弟兄姊妹，善用主在經濟上的祝福及託負。

星期六
專家估計未來十年間，會有五百萬人從上海市區遷移到郊區，雖然這些富裕家庭搬到郊區，但每天仍要返回市區工作。很多城市教會所面對的難題是如何同時兼顧遷離到郊區生活的較富裕會友，以及留守在舊區收入較低的一群。讓我們祈求教會能利用新策略推動衛星城市的植堂工作，同時亦能釐定新方案使教會更有效接觸及牧養舊社區的居民。

星期日
在中國長期居住的外國人口中，韓國人佔大多數，高達七十萬。每星期便有高達八百三十班航班直接往來中國及韓國，把三十個中國城市及六個韓國城市聯繫起來。這個數字遠比一個月內往返中國及美國所有航機班次的總和還要高。很多中國教會都直接或間接受助於韓國教會。我們為上帝預備這個敬虔的鄰舍感恩，也感謝服侍中國人的韓國牧師。祈求上帝賜福及堅固中國教會，不單只接受幫助亦能對外樂意施予，回應神的心意。

星期一
在中國的留學生中，以韓國學生的比例最高，佔全數的三分一。據一名韓國官員透露，真正能深入了解中國的韓國人卻寥寥無幾。 很多外國學生懷著滿腔熱誠來到中國，一心要服侍中國人，參與英語教學或其他社區服務工作。讓我們為這班留學生禱告，求主幫助他們能更有效掌握漢語文及文化，成為年輕一代的屬靈榜樣，激勵他們快跑跟隨主的腳蹤。