Prayer Request 3/17 - 3/23

Tuesday
The government says that more than 20,000,000 "ming gong" or about fifteen percent of China's 130,000,000 migrant workers have returned to their homes because of the economic downturn. These rural jobless people are of special concern socially to the government, especially those migrant workers who have lost their farmland to development. It is hard to pray for millions of unemployed people while we also face financial pressure. Let us pray for His kingdom and His righteousness first as Jesus taught us. May we all grow stronger in our faith and dependence on Him, and pray especially for the unwavering faith of the millions of rural believers in China.

Wednesday
Gambling was re-introduced in China in the form of a Sports Lottery in 1984 with about a third of the proceeds going toward the building of sports arenas in various cities. Today it is the most popular lottery and even acts as a large charity. The concept of non-governmental organizations (NGO) and charity has gained attention since the Sichuan earthquake. Although the government does not recognize Christian charities, let us pray for those Christians who remained in Sichuan doing counseling and community building.

Thursday
College students in China shape the direction of society. In the famed Tiananmen Square, they were anti-government. Recently, they were leading the nationalistic and patriotic movement, from protecting the Olympic torch relay to volunteering en mass in the rescue effort in the recent Sichuan earthquake. College student ministry is a huge part of the missions effort in China. Connecting college students who accepted Jesus on campus with a local church once they graduate is a big problem. Let us pray specifically for those who were baptized in college but are no longer attending churches.

Friday
Why does the youth of China still harbor so much hatred toward Japan? On the Internet, the anti-Japanese sentiment is readily palpable and is being stoked periodically. In 2001, an actress's career was devastated because her clothing resembled the Japanese flag. "Angry youth" (fen qing) is the term coined for anti-Japanese Chinese youth.　The rise of nationalism is also easily felt among the churches and some even speak of the end of the Western missionaries to China. We thank the Lord for his abundant blessing in the past 30 years; yet we must pray for true humility and unity of spirit for all believers.

Saturday
In 1972 - 1974 Mao sent millions of students to the countryside to "reform" them. Farmers taught these young people how to plant and cultivate crops. Now the government wants to lure 100,000 college grads to the countryside to help the villagers with health care, new farming methods,and forest fire prevention. Many will choose to go to work in rural areas because of the government incentives and a lack of jobs in the cities at this time. We pray for those who are involved with rural churches, for their personal and family needs (education of their child, loneliness). May the Lord richly reward their sacrifices.

Sunday
In China Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Beijing, Dongguan, Tianjin, Sengzhen, Suzhou, Jinhua, and Ningbo are considered the ten most desirable cities in which to live. Beijing, however, tops all of them in terms of "quality of life".We should pray for the people who live in these cities because prosperity and comfort often make people in the churches lose their fervency and burden for mission. Churches in most of thse cities need much prayer for revival and that they will return to their first love for Christ.

Monday
"Shan zhai" , literally bandits in the mountains, is a new phrase popularized to euphemistically describe whatever is an imitation, pirated copy, or fake. Anything "shan zhai" is a cheaper, without-innovation version of a product， an idea，a movie, a novel, a song, or even a celebrity. Many are proud of owning something that is "shan zhai".　Chinese believers are also drawn to the "name it and claim it" type of preaching. Many seek God merely for the blessing of wealth and health they think it will bring. We pray for a return to lives that are more deeply rooted in the Word of God and the practice of holiness for all believers.


星期二
政府表示，中國1.3億民工人口中的百分之十五，相等於2000萬人，因金融危機失業返鄉。失業農民工引發許多社會問題，尤其是那些農地被征用作發展用途而失去耕種用地者。當我們自身也面對金融危機的同時，要為數以百萬計的失業人口獻上禱告實不容易。讓我們遵守耶穌的教訓，先求祂的國和祂的義，對祂有更深的信賴，更大的倚靠，尤其要為數以百萬計的農村信徒信心不動搖代禱。

星期三
博彩在1984年以體育彩票之名在中國重現。「體彩」是當前最受歡迎的博彩項目，甚至成了大規模的慈善事業。目前有三分之一體彩的收益，已作各城市體育場館發展建設之用。四川地震以來，非政府組織及慈善團體這種概念日漸受到注目。雖然政府不承認基督教所舉辦的慈善團體，但我們仍要為留守在四川進行輔導工作及社區建設的基督徒志願者禱告。

星期四
大學生們對社會的發展方向具有巨大的影響力。從過去著名的天安門事件，到最近從保護奧運火炬接力的順利進行，還有大規模志願到四川地震災區進行救援工作，大學生們一直領導著民族主義愛國運動。大學生事工在中國宣教事工中占一個十分重要的部分。大學生們在校園裡接受耶穌基督後，如何使他們畢業工作後與工作所在地教會掛鉤是個大挑戰。讓我們特別為這群信徒禱告。

星期五
在互聯網上反日的情緒是顯而易見的，並且還定期地被引發。為什麼今天許多中國青年仍對日本懷有那麼深的仇恨？在2001年，一位女演員的職業生涯被毀，就因為她穿的衣服很像日本的國旗。「憤青」一詞就是為反日的中國青年所量身訂造的。崛起的民族主義情緒也很容易在教會中感受到，甚至有人主張禁止西方宣教士到中國宣教。我們感謝神在過去30年來對神州大地豐富的賜福，同時我們也求神讓中國的基督徒有從上帝而來的謙卑，能與信徒互為肢體、彼此聯合的精神。

星期六
1972-1974年，毛澤東派出數百萬的學生「上山下鄉」幫助農村公社。現在政府推出各種優惠措施，希望吸引十萬大學生到農村提升農民健康醫療、農耕方法、和防林火的知識。在嚴峻的就業情勢下，這個計劃吸引了很多年輕人。讓我們禱告記念所有到農村幫助教會和福音工作的基督徒，為他們個人和家庭的需要，包括孩子的教育以及家人可能面對的孤單，向神求恩。求主大大的獎賞他們在主裏的忠心擺上。

星期日
中國前十大理想居住的城市依次是上海、杭州、無錫、北京、東莞、天津、深圳、蘇州、金華及寧波。若單論生活水平的品質，則北京人高居榜首。大城市的繁華絢麗和舒適的生活容易叫人迷失生命的方向，信徒也容易變得不冷不熱，忘卻福音使命。讓我們多多為城市人禱告，特別祈求神的靈火復興這些城市的教會，讓基督徒們能向主重燃起初的愛心。

星期一
「山寨」，就是賊寇強盜據山為王，現在它卻成了抄襲、仿造、假冒或盜版產品的代名詞。山寨產品包括概念、電影、小說、歌曲、甚至名人明星。許多年輕人還以擁有山寨產品為傲。很多信徒被「成功神學」的教導所吸引–「明確告訴神：你要甚麼，就能夠得到甚麼。」因此很多人尋求神的動機，只為得到健康和財富的祝福。讓我們禱告這群人能回歸耶穌基督救贖的根本，與天父建立更深、更密切的關係，靠著聖靈過著以神為中心的聖潔生活。