Prayer Ruquest 11/18-11/24

Tuesday
China said it planned to spend $586. billion in a bid to spur economic growth and that the government would also lower the forecast for next year's GDP. In the meantime the cost of living continues to climb with rural consumers paying more than those in the cities. Rural believers face the rising cost of living and many have lost their jobs in the cities and returned home. We commit them into God's hand that they will trust Him in this time of crisis and shaken confidence as we all must do.

Wednesday
Lin biao was once Chairman Mao's closest comrade, but in 1971 his plane crashed in Mongolia fleeing from China. His status and label as the "counter-revolutionary" and reviled traitor has quietly been removed recently.Cultural Revolution was indeed a tumultuous time for China, but the deep scars on the China churches still healing slowly. We pray for the continuing healing of these wounds, forgiveness and grace of God for all of us.

Thursday
"Do anything to make money" mentality permeates the whole society. There is a serious lacking of morality which is seen in the rampant corruption of officials and greedy unethical merchants. Such myopic and tunneled vision also affects the churches. Let us pray for purity of hearts, protection from greed and integrity for all the leaders and shepherds, and that include all of us.

Friday
The once old factory district has transformed into China's most vibrant enclave of artists. It is nicked named "798" because it was once a Russian, East Germany supported factories back in 1950. There are some old church buildings that are preserved, but most face demolitions. Many congregations whose buildings are old and inadequate for their needs and need rebuilding, let us pray for their financial need and renewed sense of purpose.

Saturday
Many well-meaning pastors from abroad go to China to train pastors and leaders. Overall, majority of content must be contextualized and adapted. Many China pastors are interested to learn about the church growth methods of megachurches abroad. There are plenty of churches who are frustrated by lack of growth despite of different methods and techniques. We thank God for their desire to grow, and pray for health of their church, their leadership style and unity of believers.

Sunday
At any given week, the list of "top 10 most popular songs" as reported by the local radio station will be totally different in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. It goes to say that what is consider popular in one region may not be true in other parts of China. A person is always cautious not to generalize about China churches. But, we pray for the near-universal need for youth ministries for all churches, for vision and burden of church leaders of its importance and people who are willing to work with teenagers.

Monday
"Watch Television with Me" is a huge Broadway-style production which shows how television has been a vital part in all areas of Chinese society from the rich to the poor, from city to village, and from great dreams to shattered dreams. What made it special is that the casts are from the China mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Believers in Taiwan and Hong Kong usually do not have much in common because of the difference in their spoken language but in China both groups work together well. We thank the Lord for what believers from these two islands have done for the churches in China helping them to grow and supporting them and their pastors.


星期二
中國政府表示它計劃花費五千八百六十億美元來刺激經濟增長，並且還降低了對明年國內生產總值總值（ GDP ）的預期。與此同時，民眾生活費用持續不斷攀升，農村消費者所支付的生活費用相對地多於城市消費者。 農村基督徒面臨著不斷上升的生活費用，許多民工失去城市的工作而需要回到農村。讓我們以禱告將他們交托在神手中，在這一經濟危機和信心容易動搖的時刻，我們都需要更加地信靠神。

星期三
林彪曾是毛主席的親密戰友，但在1971年逃離中國的過程中他的座機墜毀於蒙古。最近他的「反革命」和被唾罵的叛徒標籤已悄悄地被挪去。中國的文革確實是一段悲慘動盪的時期，其帶給中國教會深深的傷痕仍在緩慢癒合中。讓我們求神繼續醫治這些創傷，賜給所有人都有從神而來的寬恕和恩典。

星期四
「不擇手段賺錢」的思想已經滲透到整個社會。中國從官員的腐敗猖獗和商人貪婪不道德的行為中，反映了一種嚴重的良知泯滅與道德淪喪。短視、走捷徑的不良風氣也帶進了教會。讓我們一起為所有的教會領袖和牧者禱告，求神幫助他們也保守所有的人包括我們自己在內，能持守心靈的純潔，堅持誠信，免受貪婪的影響。

星期五
原是人去樓空的北京老廠區，如今已變為全國最具活力的藝術家聚集區。這一暱稱「798 」的老廠區，因為早在1950年它曾是俄羅斯和東德所支持工廠的所在地。現在該區仍有一些老教堂建築物被保存下來，但大多數將面臨被拆毀的命運。許多教會的建築物目前已老舊不堪需用，需要重建。讓我們為這些教會在財政上的需要和在使命感上的更新向神祈求禱告。

星期六
目前許多牧師從國外到中國去協助訓練牧師和教會領袖。總體而言，大部分培訓教材的內容必須針對中國背景作出調整。許多中國的牧師很有興趣去學習、了解國外大型教會促使教會增長的良方。但不少教會使用了各種方法和技巧後，對仍然看不到教會增長的狀況深感挫折。我們為這些教會有增長的意願而感謝神，也為這些教會的靈命健康成長，教會領導風格和信徒合一的心志禱告。

星期日
中國「十大最受歡迎歌曲」排行榜上的流行曲目，北京、上海、廣州和成都等地廣播電台所公佈的，在任何一周都完全不一樣。這說明流行在一個地區的，在中國其他地區可能並不盡然。我們總是小心地不一概而論中國各地的教會。但我們要為幾乎所有教會對青少年事工的普遍性需求來禱告，求神使教會領袖們對這一事工的重要性有異象和負擔，並感動更多弟兄姊妹願意為青少年事工擺上。

星期一
「陪我看電視」是一部百老匯式的舞台劇鉅作，它充分顯示出電視已成為從富人到窮人，從城市到農村，從具有偉大理想者到希望破滅者的中國社會所有領域中不可缺少的重要一環。讓這部劇作與眾不同的是其導演和演員來自中國大陸，台灣和香港三地。台灣和香港的信徒通常不會有多少共通之處，因其所講的方言各異。但在大陸這兩個群體一起合作得很好。讓我們為這兩個島少的信徒在幫助中國教會成長，支持中國教會及其牧師的事工上所作的一切感謝神。