Prayer Ruquest 10/7-10/13

Tuesday
A study during the Olympics shows that only 1% of the people of Taiwan supported China's team compared with nearly 20% of the residents of Hong Kong and Macao that supported them. A separate survey found that only 7% of Taiwanese people identify themselves as Chinese while 30-40% of the residents of Hong Kong and Macao do so. his may explain why in Taiwan it is difficult to raise awareness and funds to support churches in China. We pray for the spiritual health of Taiwanese-speaking churches and for a strong desire among them to share the gospel in their communities and abroad.

Wednesday
The chilly relationship between Taiwan and China has warmed since a new president took office in Taiwan and there has been an influx of tourists from the mainland. Merchants also see the Reminbi (China's currency) as a welcome lift to the island's sagging economy. The general attitude of Christians in Taiwan toward the churches in China is still ambivalent. We pray for new opportunities for closer ties between the churches on both sides of the Strait, and especially for the training of pastors by churches in Taiwan and branch seminaries in China.

Thursday
There is a big gap in the quality of high-end products and low-end products, which are usually used by farmers who have less money, less information, and less access to medical care. In terms of resource and quality of teaching, there is always a gap and probably will always be a gap between the rural and urban churches in China. We uplift all the faithful shepherds in supplying spiritual food. We, too, pray for more mature Christians having the desire to read the Word of God for themselves.

Friday
Mainland mothers used to breast-feed before the 1990s, but since then have been bombarded by glossy advertisements, which promise that infant formula gives better nutrition and gives their babies a head start in intellect and development. "God wants you to be rich" and "Name it and claim it" types of theology has swept through many churches. Let us pray for such an alarming trend and lack of true commitment among growing number of believers.

Saturday
Many Chinese students feel stressed because they feel they must get good grades to have a good relationship with their parents. They feel they will disappoint their parents, be worthless, or bring shame on their families if they do not do well in school. Let us pray for the young people who have grown up in Christian homes that they may find complete acceptance and love in God as well as in the eyes of their parents.

Sunday
Parents and national policy makers are at a loss as to what to do with the youth in China today. The one-child policy has greatly amplified the psychological problems of this younger generation. Along with non-Christians, Christian parents are desperately at a loss in knowing how to cope with the problems of teenagers in China. Let us pray for divine intervention and healing for a generation at great risk.

Monday
Many products and services have jumped in price as a result of the new labor laws. Many are shocked by the cost of beer. And, travel agencies must now pay base salary and retirement/unemployment/medical insurances premiums for tour guides, instead of making them live on tips. We pray especially for all believers who live on fixed income, for their faith in God, and that they will be free of anxiety and to be cheerful in giving to God continually.

星期二
在奧運期間的一份調查顯示：在奧運賽事中支持中國隊的香港人和澳門人近20%，臺灣人則僅有1%。另一項研究也顯出自稱中國人的臺灣人有7%，港澳人卻高達30-40%。這或能解釋爲何在臺灣不容易籌集援助中國教會的資金。讓我們特別為以閩南語為主的教會禱告，為他們靈命的健壯及有強烈火熱傳福音的心來禱告。

星期三
台海兩岸的緊張關係隨著臺灣新政府上台而放緩，使得更多大陸客湧到臺灣旅遊。商人更認爲人民幣能帶動寶島經濟。臺灣信徒對中國教會的態度矛盾。我們為兩岸教會之間能有更緊密接觸的機會來禱告，也特別為臺灣教會和神學院在中國大陸的培訓課程禱告。

星期四
中國產品品質高低差距甚巨。低品質產品通常都售予農人，因其貧窮，難獲得醫療照顧和資訊。一直以來中國的城市教會和農村教會在教導的資源和品質上，都存有很大的差距。我們為忠心為羊群供應靈糧的牧者們禱告，求主也讓更多信徒成長、成熟，有屬靈胃口渴慕研讀神的話。

星期五
在90年代以前，媽媽們大多授母乳，但之後卻被琳琅滿目的奶粉廣告洗腦，相信嬰兒奶粉有更多營養，能讓寶寶更聰明更健壯。目前「神要你富裕」，「說出來，向神支取」這類神學觀亦橫掃許許多多教會。讓我們為這危險的趨勢禱告，尤其為教會能注重真實的委身，致力於信徒質和量的增長來代求。

星期六
很多中國學生常靠爭取好成績討父母歡心。有學生在這方面承受了不少壓力，擔心如果自己成績不好，就等於在父母眼裡失去了價值，使家族蒙羞。讓我們祈求在基督教家庭成長的青少年可以在父母和上帝裡獲得真正完全的愛和接納。

星期日
從最高的國家領導，到平民父母，事實上都對今日中國青少年問題感到束手無策。「一胎化」的政策擴大了年輕一代所面對的種種心理問題。基督徒家長跟非基督徒一樣，也對如何針對現今青少年的教養問題苦無良策，讓我們祈求神親自來作工，醫治挽救這一新世代的危機。

星期一
過去的一年，一路飆升的物價令公眾心神不寧, 啤酒價格漲幅不小。 新《勞動合同法》的實施 ，也增加了服務業的成本。旅行社必須嚴格按合同支付導遊薪資，並繳納「三金」（養老保險金、失業保險金、醫療保險金）。許多信徒是靠固定但入不敷出的收入過日子，我們為他們有堅定不移的信心，有主同在的平安與喜樂，仍能繼續為教會奉獻來祈求。