Prayer Request 3/31 - 4/6

Tuesday
Historically Tibetan Buddhism has had both a religious and a political influence. The temples own land and have their own bonded farmer-servants. Since the liberation the temples must be financially self-sufficient and depend on the offerings and the work of the monks to support their operation. We pray for all of the believers in Tibetan Buddhism whether in Tibet, Quinghai, or Sichuan. Many would consider them to be "hard soil" and even inferior ethnically. We pray for removal of their ethnic pride and genuine compassion for lost souls in this vast region where spiritual darkness prevails.

Wednesday
In general the life of the average Tibetan has improved in recent years and giving to the temples has greatly increased as well. With an increase in tourism and more interest in their religion, Tibetan Buddhism has experienced a financial resurgence and a greater exposure to people of the world. There is a long-standing feeling of strain between Han Chinese and Tibetans which is compounded by the Han Chinese people's sense of cultural and ethnic superiority over the Tibetans. Let us pray for all Chinese believers since we all need to be humble and thankful before God and cultural pride has no place in our outreach to ethnic minorities and people of other cultures.

Thursday
Officially, 100 million Chinese have various mental illnesses, most commonly anxiety and depression. Less than half of the afflicted know about their illness and even fewer receive help for it. From those with severe mental illnesses, only one in four have received any formal treatment. China churches are really not equipped to handle the myriad of mental and psychiatric problems of their believers. Churches have little resources; few pastors have any training to cope or counsel their afflicted. Let us pray for those who are suffering psychologically and their families and churches who must cope and deal with them.

Friday
Juvenile delinquency has been on the rise in China. In Guangdong, minors account for 10% of criminal cases, mostly robberies and thefts. A new law went into effect in 2009, imposing that minors must go home to sleep. Breaking the law, internet and game addiction, smoking, drinking and loitering are problems facing China youth today. Many Christian parents are at a loss of how to discipline their only child. Let us pray for wisdom, love, patience and divine guidance in raising up children for God.

Saturday
Taoism does not have as many followers as other major religions in China, but its influence is pervasive in the Chinese society. Much of the superstitious practices and worship of spirits are tied to Taoism. Once strictly forbidden, today these superstitious practices have roared back to life. We pray for many believers who have relatives who practices these superstitions and mixed-Taoism practices, warding off evils, fortune-telling. May the Lord give them good witness and courage to share the Good News and Peace of God with them.

Sunday
Gambling is a rampant problem for both the city residents and farmers alike. There are plenty of gambling avenues from legal lotteries to illegal gambling houses. Not only the rich are gambling, the poor are in it too. Chinese work hard and they gamble hard too. We pray for believers who have family members who are addicted to gambling, especially those wives who could no longer trust their husbands and must protect themselves from the debts and debt collectors.

Monday
It is estimated that China has about 83 millions handicapped people. Government provides little medical subsidies, their communities often have no facilities for handicapped persons. Being a handicap in China is a literally a "burden" on the family, there is no employment and must depend on family members to survive. We pray for believers who are crippled or bedridden, may the Lord comfort them and bring them joy. We too pray for those who care for their handicapped parents or children, may the Lord grant them patience and strength, knowing He is pleased by their sacrificial love.

星期二
歷來藏傳佛教是採用「政教合一」制度，上層僧侶在宗教及政治上都具有很大的影響力。經濟上，寺廟擁有大量土地和農奴。自從解放後，西藏寺廟實行以寺養寺，依靠外來的捐獻和僧人的生產來營運。 很多人視藏族為福音硬土，讓我們爲西藏、青海及四川各地的藏傳佛教徒禱告，求神除去各人的種族優越感，以仁愛和憐憫爲着這班被黑暗勢力所籠罩、失喪的靈魂代求。

星期三
近年來，一般藏民的生活已有所改善，捐贈寺廟的佈施也與日俱增。由於旅遊業的增長及世人對藏傳佛教興趣的提昇，藏傳佛教不單在財政收入上大幅飆升，且更廣泛為外界所認識。長久以來，漢族和藏族之間都存在着張力。再者，漢人常認爲自己的文化和民族較藏人優越。譲我們爲身為漢人的弟兄姐妹禱告，譲我們都懂得在神面前謙卑感恩。不要譲民族自豪感成爲向少數民族和其他不同文化族群傳福音時的絆腳石。

星期四
據官方統計，大約一億中國人患有各式各樣的精神疾病，其中最常見的是焦慮症和抑鬱症。然而，只有不到一半的患者了解自己的病情，而能得到幫助的患者則更少。在那些有嚴重精神疾病的患者中，只有四分之一的人正式接受過某種形式的治療。目前教會實際上沒有什麼資源，也幾乎沒有牧師受過任何應付和輔導精神疾病患者的正式培訓。不具備處理其所牧養會眾在精神和心理方面問題的專業知識及能力。讓我們為那些正在承受精神和心理痛苦的基督徒以及需要面對和照顧他們的家庭和教會禱告。

星期五
青少年犯罪率一直在上升之中。在廣東，未成年人犯罪，主要是搶劫和盜竊，占到了刑事案件的10 ％。最近有一項2009年正式生效的新法律，規定未成年人必須要回家睡覺。今日的中國青少年，正面臨著違法、上網、玩遊戲成癮、吸煙、酗酒和遊蕩等諸多問題。許多基督徒父母在如何教育約束自己的獨生子女上已不知所措。讓我們禱告求神賜給基督徒父母們智慧，愛心，耐心和從神而來的引導，為榮耀上帝的緣故來用心養育子女。

星期六
道教雖沒有像其他各大宗教那樣在中國有眾多的追隨者，但其在中國社會中的影響力卻十分深廣。許多的迷信活動和鬼神崇拜都和道教有關。這些活動在過去被嚴格禁止，但今天這些迷信做法又迅速發展起來，重新回到中國人的日常生活中。讓我們為有親戚在進行與道教相關的迷信活動的基督徒們禱告，求神使他們能抵擋邪惡和算命等行為，並賜給他們有好的見證和勇氣向親人分享福音及從上帝而來的平安喜樂。

星期日
對中國城市居民和農民而言，賭博都是一個十分嚴重的問題。現在賭博有從合法彩票到非法的地下博彩在內五花八門的渠道。不僅富人在賭博，連窮人也參賭，中國人努力工作，同時也努力地賭博。讓我們為那些有家庭成員染上賭癮的基督徒，特別是那些不能再繼續信任自己丈夫而必須保護自己免受債務和債主纏累的妻子們禱告。

星期一
據估計，中國大約有八千三百萬殘疾人。政府向殘疾人所能提供的醫療補貼，非常缺乏。社區中也往往沒有方便殘疾人的設施。殘疾人實際上被視為家庭的「負擔」，就業的機會幾近於無，必須仰賴其他家庭成員來存活。讓我們為那些殘疾或臥床不起的基督徒禱告，求主親自安慰他們，帶給他們喜樂。我們也為那些正在照顧有殘疾的父母或孩子的基督徒禱告，求神賜給他們耐心和力量，知道神喜悅看重他們這份「如同做在主身上」的犧牲的愛。