Prayer Request 2/24 - 3/2

Tuesday
When an urban church attracts or reaches out to the "ming gong" laborers from the villages, the dynamic of the church changes. There is much discrimination and people are suspicious of the intentions of others. Ministering to laborers is challenging since they have a different background, priorities, and problems. We pray that the urban believers will compassionately accept the "country folks". May the Lord raise up people who are willing to minister to the poor brothers in the church.

Wednesday
Since the message must be relevant and applicable to both the rich and the poor, the intellectuals and those less-educated, effective preaching in urban churches has become more difficult in recent years. Many attend the Sunday worship services but few churches have weekday programs or an adequate visitation ministry. Let us pray for the solid spiritual growth of believers in all of the urban churches, especially for those who serve and have positions as lay co-workers.

Thursday
More and more urban churches have their own websites designed to help newcomers find them and some even post their sermons on-line. However, most of the house churches are still known only by word of mouth and have few resources to offer. We thank the Lord for all of the Christian resources available on-line in Chinese and that they are mostly uncensored. However, quality and theological orthodoxy are impossible to screen so we pray especially for those churches that have few resources for their pulpits that they will find good solid spiritual food to eat in the Word.

Friday
Tension between Han Chinese and Hui (Muslim) Chinese is always under the surface. A recent incident in Hebei required a thousand armed police to quash. Local officials insisted that this was only a fight among young people and was unrelated to ethnic or religious tensions. Most Christian believers seldom interact with their Muslim neighbors since they feel they will not be receptive to the gospel. We pray for the salvation of millions of urban Muslim Chinese who have a very different lifestyle from that of the Han Chinese. We pray, too, for God's removal of the silent discrimination among Han Chinese toward minorities.

Saturday
Hunan cuisine is one of the eight most famous Chinese cuisines, known best for its spicy and fat-filled dishes. A new official standard has been set to determine the minimum amount of hot pepper and fat required to qualified as an authentic Hunan dish. Styles of worship maybe similar among Chinese churches, but there are distinct emphasis and carries heavy traditions. We praise the Lord as we all worship the same God. In particularly, let us pray for revival in Sichuan and Hunan provinces, both are known for their "hot" dishes but not-so-hot churches.

Sunday
Of the 5.6 million students who graduated from college in 2008, but only one in four will be able to find employment. Next year there will be half a million more college students so experts are encouraging them to be willing to move to other cities to find work. Parents have high hopes that their children will find good jobs after they graduate from college but such a dream may be harder to fulfill this year. Let us pray for Christian parents who will be able to encourage their children. We also remember those who came to know Jesus during college and face uncertainty in finding a job; and the Lord will add His faith and grace in their lives.

Monday
Thousands flocked to Kuan Yin temples yesterday hoping the Goddess of Mercy will give them a lucky break and ease their financial and family problems during the downturn. According to legend, Kuan Yin opened her treasure chest of fortune for people burdened with home and money problems. Will the poor economy open a door of evangelism for China churches? Let us pray that believers will always be thankful and continue to trust God will provide. We also pray as people long for peace and assurance, Christians will be willing to share Jesus Christ with them.


星期二
城市教會一旦接觸或邀請來自農村的「民工」加入，教會必定產生一些變化：譬如歧視、質疑別人動機等等。因勞動工人的背景，所關注問題，及所面對的困難有別於城市的信徒，因此民工牧養的工作挑戰重重。神的福音是無關乎貧賤富貴的，讓我們禱告城市信徒對「鄉民」有負擔，求神興起同工，樂意服侍教會裡較貧寒的弟兄姊妹，就像是作在主身上。

星期三
城市教會近年在講道方面有多重壓力，講台訊息不單需要適切回應有錢人及窮人的需要，且要兼顧知識水平較高及較低兩類不同的受眾。許多信徒選擇僅在主日至教會崇拜，很少參加在周間的聚會，同時探訪工作也＋分不足。讓我們祈求所有城市的信徒，尤其是在教會事奉的平信徒領袖，靈命都能有紮實的增長。

星期四
越來越多的城市教會設立自己的網頁，讓追求信仰的人可以認識教會，甚至講壇訊息也刊在網頁上。不過很多家庭教會只能靠人傳人來宣傳自己，資源很少能與人共享。我們為網上有豐富中文資源感謝主，並為所發放的訊息多不受限制而感恩。然而，好質素及正統神學的資源仍有待充實。讓我們為那些講壇訊息較弱的教會祈求，願神也供應他們更多高質素的屬靈糧食。

星期五
回、漢兩族之間的關係一直都很微妙。最近河北省漢族與回族村民的聚眾打鬥事件，出動了1000名武警才得平息。不過，當地官員強調，這次打鬥事件是青年之間鬥毆，與民族矛盾或宗教分歧無關。大多數中國國內的基督徒極少和回教徒鄰居交往，覺得回教徒不願意接受福音。這些居住在城市的千萬回民，雖生活方式和漢族很不同，但我們要常爲他們的得救禱告。我們亦求神消除漢族對其他少數民族潛在的歧視。

星期六
湘菜以其「肥」、「辣」聞名，是中國八大菜系之一。官方標準將明列湘菜的配方以及材料如辣椒和肥瘦肉的比例等。盡管中國教會的敬拜形式一般大同小異，教導重心則循各自的傳統而大不相同。感謝贊美主，我們敬拜的是同一位神。讓我們在此特別為四川和湖南省的教會禱告，求主讓一些不冷不熱的教會，能像他們熱辣辣的菜肴一樣，火熱起來。

星期日
中國今年大學畢業的560萬人中，估計每四個只有一個能找到工作。明年大學畢業生將比今年多出五十萬人，專家已鼓勵這批畢業生嘗試轉移到其他城市找工作．很多家長對子女寄予厚望，盼望他們畢業後能找到一份好工作，今年這個盼望恐怕難以實現．讓我們為基督徒家長禱告，希望他們在這時期給子女更多的支持鼓勵．讓我們也為在校園認識基督、對工作前途感到茫然的畢業生禱告。願神加添他們的信心，讓平安喜樂的恩典加倍降臨到他們．

星期一
金融海嘯衝擊下，銀行關水喉，惟有「觀音娘娘最疏爽」。每年觀音開庫時，香火尤其鼎盛，今年更吸引萬人排隊，冀以誠心打動菩薩「借錢」。經濟肅條是否能成為中國教會傳福音的大好機會？讓我們為此禱告，當眾人都感到前途暗淡，渴求安穩時，願基督徒能把握時機，把耶穌基督的好消息與他們分享。又為神的兒女常存感恩的心禱告，堅定相信神必會供應我們一切的需用。