Prayer Request 3/10 - 3/16

Tuesday
At the annual National Party Congress session, the premier of China offered a "modest olive branch" to Taiwan without a tone of hostility. It signaled the support of the leadership in China for a series of economic measures that negotiators from Beijing and Taipei are already discussing. Beijing will also implement a huge fiscal stimulus package to achieve an 8% growth in the GDP. The global economic crisis is affecting the church and giving for missions so that much of the mission and outreach efforts will most likely be scaled back this year. Let us pray for all those who are missionaries in China and depend on faithful giving from outside. May the Lord free us from anxiety and help all of us to fix our eyes on Him.

Wednesday
Many of the farmers who went to the cities to work are laid off now, but they have no more land to cultivate when they return home. Some of them have leased the land to factories, some have sold them to the local government. Living in a village without works or land and living off saving present a bleak prospect for many. Let us pray for rural churches so they will have wisdom in how to minister to these ever increasing number of unemployed congregation.

Thursday
Are today's Chinese children the loneliest people on earth? Their parents are the product of the "one-child policy." These children not only do not have siblings but they also do not have cousins. For 90% of the young generation, the cell phone is their best friend. China churches face a huge task in reaching out to the young people who know little about "sacrifice and sharing." The sole aim of many parents is to please their only child. Let us pray for wisdom for the Christian parents and for their resolve to raise their only child for God.

Friday
Over half of the population of China lives in the countryside and nearly ten percent of them are illiterate. Although there is a basic availability of schooling for nine years, there is a lack of both qualified teachers and resources so only 4.3 percent have a high school education and 86.2 percent have a grade school or junior high education. Poor education will continue to hurt the rural churches in China in many ways, particularly in the quality of the workers and their teaching of believers. Let us lift up all those who serve in the rural churches. May the Lord add to their strength, lift them from despair, and reward them with fruit for their faithful services.

Saturday
Although there are nine years of free education readily available in the countryside in China, its quality is shockingly poor. Many students drop out, especially girls, because their families are so poor and many farmers still feel that education is useless. Unfortunately many rural Christians and even preachers still play down the need for correct Biblical interpretation and application. Faith is often based on sentimentalism as well as "signs and wonders". Let us pray for a hunger for the Word of God and an ability to defend the faith from the savage attacks of cults.

Sunday
AIDS is now the number one killer infection in China with about one death per hour. Unsafe sex is now the leading cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS. Since millions of farm laborers left home to work in the cities, the attitude toward sex has changed remarkably and prostitution and premarital sex are very common. We all need to flee form sexual temptations. Let us pray for guarding of the hearts of all believers, especially those who are away from home working or on business trips.

Monday
China recently reported a huge surplus of foreign exchange which implies that she as a market is still attractive to foreign investors. This month China made world news by acquiring substantial natural resources abroad with huge investment and unprecedented terms of purchases. Many will ask if China still needs our prayers. The answer is obvious! The nation is strong but the people will perish without Jesus. Let us affirm the call to pray for China's churches and her millions of believers, many of whom are struggling spiritually and financially.


星期二
在今年的全國人民代表大會政府工作報告中，關於台灣和兩岸關係的內容是多年來最祥和的，沒有絲毫對抗的色彩。這顯示中國領導人支持兩岸正在商討的一連串經濟措施。北京將落實巨額刺激經濟方案以保持國內生產總値可達百分之八增長。全球金融危機正逐步影響教會及宣教工作。很多原定今年推行的宣教及外展項目估計也需縮減規模。讓我們爲差派到中國的宣教士和所有依靠國外援助的人士禱告，願主除掉憂慮，讓我們定睛仰望祂。

星期三
許多民工當初出售或出租了田地到城裏工作，最近紛紛失業返鄉，回到家裏，卻已無田可耕。很多人就這樣只靠微薄的積蓄，茫茫然無所事事地在農村裏生活。讓我們為農村教會禱告，在失業會友人數急劇增加的當兒，求主使牧者們有智慧來帶領牧養，並處理教會的需要。

星期四
今天的中國兒童是地球上最孤獨的一群？他們的父母是「一胎化政策」的產品。這些孩子們不僅沒有兄弟姐妹，也沒有表（堂）兄弟姐妹。對90 ％年輕一代的人來說，手機就是他們最好的朋友。中國的教會在關懷這些對「犧牲和分享」知之甚少的年輕人，任務十分艱鉅。許多家長教育孩子的唯一目的，就是讓他們的獨生子女高興。讓我們求神讓基督徒父母們有智慧和決心，為蒙上帝的賜福，願遵其誡命來教養他們唯一的孩子。

星期五
中國農村人口佔全國總人口的54.3 ％；在農村就業人口中，文盲佔9.5 ％ ，小學及初中文化程度人口佔86.20 ％ ，高中以上學歷人口僅佔4.3 ％ 。九年義務教育在中國農村已基本普及實行，但農村教育的質量急待提高，合資格的農村師資亦十分缺乏。教育落後將影響中國農村教會多方面發展，尤其是教會同工的質素和信徒培育。讓我們把所有在農村教會事奉的同エ交托主，求主加添他們力量不喪志，並悅納、賞賜他們的忠心。

星期六
九年義務教育在中國農村已基本普及，但教學水平低劣。農村學童輟學率較高，尤以女童爲甚。一方面因農村家庭貧窮，另一方面因部分農民仍抱有「知識無用」的觀念。許多農村的基督徒，甚至傳道人都不着重解經的嚴謹性及應用屬靈原則的必要性。信仰往往建基於感情和「神蹟奇事」上。讓我們一起為所有農村教會禱告，求主使它們渴慕聖經話語，懂得爲真理抗辯，有能力敵擋異端。

星期日
愛滋病已成為中國第一號傳染病殺手，平均每一小時就有一人死於愛滋病。感染的主因是透過不安全的性行為。中國社會對性的態度轉變非常大。大量農民工從家鄉遷徙到城市，娼妓也就應運而生，婚前性行為也甚爲普遍。讓我們爲所有信徒禱告，願神保守每個人的心，能遠離性方面的誘惑。特別是那些要離鄉別井到城市打工的或是要到各地出差的。

星期一
中國現有大量的外匯盈餘，意味著中國市場對外資仍有很大的吸引力。中國企業在本月更成爲國際新聞的重點，它們以巨額併構或投資海外頗具規模的天然資源企業。「中國還需要我們的禱告嗎？」答案是不容置疑的–『當然！』。縱然國家再強大，但人若沒有耶穌基督仍是死路一條。譲我們有決心繼續爲中國教會和千千萬萬中國的信衆禱告。與他們每日不斷地在經濟上和屬靈的爭戰裡並肩作戰。