Prayer Ruquest 12/2-12/8

Tuesday
This essay by of Mao has been memorized by millions of students since 1949: "Leighton Stuart has departed and the White Paper has arrived. Very good. Very good. Both events are worth celebrating." Stuart was the American ambassador to China, a missionary and the son of a missionary as well as the first president of Yenching University. The Chinese government finally allowed his remains to be buried in China fulfilling his wish. We thank the Lord for all the missionaries who loved China so much and gave sacrificially.

Wednesday
Leadership training is of paramount importance in churches in China. Generally the older leaders are a "one-man-show" with tight control and no plan to train a successor. Older pastors often feel the younger ones lack spiritual depth and know nothing of the sufferings they have passed through. Many of the promising young leaders get restless and want to implement changes. Let us pray for all of these emerging and God-appointed leaders--for their godliness, humility, equipping, and theological foundation.

Thursday
Many of the former house churches are now able to worship openly. They have very good pulpit teaching and leadership. However, because they still lack an official status, there are obvious technical difficulties when it comes to managing the offerings. One reason church members are hesitant to give is the lack of transparent accountability of church finances. Let us pray for the ministries of all of these open churches, especially for their finances. May the Lord use their wealth to further His Kingdom and bless their communities with their good works.

Friday
The huge gap and inequality between the rich and poor affect the young people deeply. Many feel they are helpless and worthless because their parents are poor and not able to afford the education they wanted. We pray for Christian teens who feel this way and even murmur against God, for understanding the will of God in their precious lives, willingness to honor God in their lives.

Saturday
A governmental agency reported that 80% of the "redwood furniture" sold is not truly redwood. It is also reported that 80% of the red wine sold in China is reprocessed from an inferior imported red wine. There is little consumer confidence and many buy with great suspicions. Regaining confidence is a long and difficult process. We pray for those sheep who were led astray by false teachers or badly hurt in the church because of "wolves in sheep's clothing". May the Lord have mercy on them and help them to return to faith in Jesus Christ.

Sunday
Millions of migrant workers are returning home early as waves of factory closures surge through Pearl and the Yangtze River Delta. Hunan, Henan, Jiangxi, and Sichuan are the provinces most affected by this problem. Rural churches have the unusual opportunity to minister to these believers who have returned home but are not busy with farming. We pray for the people in ministries concerned with this sudden shift in population and what it might mean for churches in these areas.

Monday
A few years ago Chinese were enamored with anything Korean, such as their soap operas, pop stars, music, and movies. Recently however, several unfortunate incidents have stirred up an anti-Korean sentiment in the public and there is a lot of strain between Chinese and Korean people. We acknowledge this upsurge of Chinese nationalistic pride but realize it can also dangerously affect the attitude of Christians toward foreign missionaries and churches including the Koreans. May the Lord give each of us a heart to serve others in humility along with a spirit of oneness in Jesus Christ.


星期二
「司徒雷登走了，白皮書來了，很好，很好。這兩件事都是值得慶祝的。」毛澤東的文章《别了，司徒雷登》是學生都背誦過。他自稱「是中國人更甚於是美國人」。曾任美國駐華大使，金陵神學院希臘文教授，第一任燕京大學校長。 他的遺骸終於被允許埋葬在出生地杭州，實現一生願望。 讓我們為所有熱愛中國及為神擺上的宣教士及傳道人感恩。

星期三
領袖訓練與栽培關乎中國教會未來發展的興衰。一般而言，年長領袖很多是「一腳踢」權力極度集中於一身，少有培育接班人的打算。年長牧者總認為年輕一代的同工屬靈程度較低，沒有他們那樣多的苦難經歷及體會。很多年輕有為的教會領袖不滿於這種現象，銳意推行改革。讓我們為正預備或已蒙召的新生代領袖禱告，求主使他們敬虔，謙卑，並獲得足夠的屬靈裝備及堅實的神學根基。

星期四
目前許多家庭教會可以公開聚會，也有很好的領導團隊及講壇教導。然而，由於得不到政府認可，教會在財政管理方面碰到很多技術上的問題。教會財務管理透明度低，也導致會友對奉獻持保留態度。讓我們為開放教會轄管的事工，特別是財務管理來祈求，願主使用地上的財富擴展天國事工，並讓教會大力投入社區服事，造福鄉里。

星期五
貧富間存在的巨大差距，深深影響著今天的年輕人。許多人因自己家貧、沒有能力獲得想要的教育，而自覺無助和卑微。我們為有同樣想法而向神抱怨的青少年信徒禱告，求主讓他們知道神在他們寶貴的生命中有美好的旨意及引領，願意以自己的生命來榮神益人。

星期六一
所政府機構的報告指出八成在市面出售的紅木傢俬並非真正紅木制造.另一報告指出,八成在中國出售的紅酒乃外國進口的劣等紅酒再組裝而成.這些事件導致消費者信心大跌,購買時對貨品真假存疑. 信心重建是個艱難又漫長的過程.讓我們為所有受假師傅迷惑遠離真道或遭教會「披羊皮的狼」嚴重傷害過的羊群祈求.願主憐憫他們,幫助他們重新信靠主耶穌基督.

星期日
隨著珠三角及長三角地區的工廠相繼倒閉,上百萬民工不得不提早返鄉過冬。嚴重受影響地區包括湖南,河南,江西和四川各省.理所當然，農村教會可以抓住這個機會,牧養這批返鄉後不需忙於務農的失業工人.讓我們為所有特別關心農村教會民工狀況的同工禱告,也祈求教會能對這個轉變作出適切的策劃與因應.

星期一
數年前「韓流」一度席捲中國，韓 劇、韓星、韓樂、韓影，國人無不為之瘋狂．近年數件不幸事件引發國人反韓情緒，造成中韓人民關係緊張。我們一方面樂見日漸高昂的愛國情緒，一方面擔憂這種情緒可能影響國內信徒對國外宣教士甚至教會的態度。求神賜我們在耶穌基督裡同有合一的靈，使我們心存謙卑彼此服侍。