Prayer Request 4/28 - 5/4

Tuesday
In a prominent forum, mega action star Jackie Chan said he's not sure if a free society is a good thing for China. He also stated that he's starting to think "We Chinese need to be controlled." referring to Hong Kong and Taiwan both of which are chaotic. Furthermore, he said that Japanese-made electronics are of a better quality than those made in China. Such statements drew criticism but also resonate with many people. Some will debate whether the present monitoring of religions by the Chinese government is "actually good". Let us pray for the churches in China again that they will have a vision to be light and salt in their communities and there will be a genuine unity among them as the Body of Christ.

Wednesday
The Chinese navy celebrated the 60th anniversary of her founding recently. It started as a unit of the Kuomintang's coastal defense fleet which defected in the civil war after WWII and took with it a small flotilla of boats. During the celebration the much-touted secret nuclear submarine were showcased since the naval power is a great source of national pride to China. Many Chinese believers feel excited about the way God is going to use them to reach the world. We pray for genuine compassion for the lost souls of all races, the removal of nationalistic pride, and the serious training of workers needed for long-lasting results in the kingdom.

Thursday
Traditionally, church workers put great emphasis on ministry over their own families. When asked about their families, they often simply answer, "It is not easy!" Whether one or both spouses serve in church, many preacher's families are having difficulties balancing family life and ministry and are unable to share with others. When the church demands so much of their time and energy, the church workers need prayer. Let us pray for divine wisdom for all church workers. Churches need to help their pastors, especially those whose marriages are under great strain, and show care and love for their families, too.

Friday
Many are beginning to wonder how to improve the educational system in China. One area in question is that of dividing science and the liberal arts too soon. Many students who study engineering or science have but little idea of the Chinese classics and on the other hand, liberal arts students lack a scientific mindset. The same can be said about theological training and Sunday school in China. Much emphasis has been placed on Biblical knowledge and much less on application of what was learned and living it out in everyday life. Let us pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer and not merely intellectual knowledge or talk only.

Saturday
Since 1989 there has been a trend of Chinese intellectuals turning to Christianity. They have become the new face of Chinese urban churches and contribute to the growth of many house churches in the cities. Yet as the nationalistic sentiment rises and there is a renaissance of Confucianism, the new generation of Chinese intellectuals are not so interested in Christianity as those before them. We thank the Lord for the many churches whose membership includes professionals and college graduates. May the Lord use them mightily as they humbly serve in their churches with a servant's heart and a love for lost souls.

Sunday
The Chinese government says that one out of six mingong, a total of 20 million people, will be without a job in the coming months. With rising unemployment and the disparity of income between rural and urban residents, the government's policy is to increase their efforts to make sure there are no uprisings. It is harder for a man without a job to play the role of a good husband and father. Let us pray especially for Christian men who are now unemployed. May the Lord grant them the patience, tenderness and faith in God to lead their families through this tough time.

Monday
The number of Christians in 25 of the twenty-eight provinces and centrally-administered cities in China is considered to be very insignificant. Even when one combines both the Catholic and Protestant groups, there is only a small religious minority. There are many indications that Buddhism and Taoism are gaining in popularity partly because Chinese people identify Christianity as a Western religion. We pray that more churches will have a passion for evangelism and that believers will share Jesus with their friends and family members.


星期二
在博鰲論壇上，影視巨星成龍表示他不大肯定自由社會對中國是否有益，針對香港和台灣目前的混亂狀況，他表示自己開始思想“中國人需否受管制”的問題。此外，他又指出，日本生產的電器在質量上要比中國的優勝，這些講話引起各界人士的譴責。對於目前北京政府對宗教採行監控的利弊得失，亦引來不少爭議。讓我們再次為中國教會禱告，願他們能在自己社區作鹽作光，在基督裡真正契合如一。

星期三
中國海軍慶祝成立60周年，其前身為國民黨時期的海岸防衛隊，二次大戰後，這支隊伍連同少數船艇變節。中國一直以龐大海上軍力引以為傲，這次海上閱兵活動，中國核子潛艇首度公開亮相。很多中國信徒同享這份民族自豪感，希望藉此褔音能廣傳世界。求神使我們對各族各國人靈魂得救存真正的憐憫，除去民族傲氣，讓主的工人能受到全面的裝備，使神的國度能長足深遠的拓展。

星期四
傳統以來，內地教會的同工大多專注於發展教會事工，較少提及自己家裡的情況；就算被問及，也只輕描淡寫地說一句「每個人的家庭都不容易！」無論夫妻是 一人還是二人全職服事，許多同工都有無法兼顧的難處。求主賜予「羊多牧人少」的同工們屬天的智慧，平衡家庭與事奉。同時，教會也需要更關心同工家庭的情況，為有困難的同工提供幫助，以愛心體諒他們的處境。

星期五
很多人開始思考中國教育制度該如何改革。不少人認為文理分科過早，很多理工科學生對中國古典文學一竅不通，文科生則又缺乏科學常識。神學培訓及主日學也出現同似情況，往往偏重聖經知識裝備，較少著重如何在日常生活活出信仰。讓我們祈求每位信徒生命都能確實經歷聖靈的大能，不徒具屬靈知識或空談道理而已。

星期六
自1989年不少中國知識份子心靈的門向福音大大敞開。他們不但成為中國城市教會的新興力量，且使很多城市的家庭教會不斷增長。但隨著國家和民族意識日漸高漲，傳統儒家文化又在一次受人重視。新一代中國知識分子已不如上一代人那麼對基督教感興趣。感謝主！很多教會都有一些不同的專業人才和大學生，求神大大使用他們，譲他們有一顆作僕人和憐憫失喪靈魂的心，謙卑地在教會事奉。

星期日
中國政府估計，未來數月每六個民工當中就有一個面臨失業，人數將達到二千多萬。失業情況不斷惡化，農村和城市居民收入差距擴大，政府持續設法防止因失業產生更大的問題發生。一般來說，要做好丈夫和父親的角色，有一份穩定的工作是相當重要的。我們特別爲那些失業的弟兄們禱告，求神賜他們忍耐、溫柔和對神的信心去帶領全家度過艱難的時期。

星期一
全中國28省份及4個直轄市中，有25個省份／直轄市，基督徒所佔的人口比例微乎其微。即使把新教徒和天主教徒都計算在內，基督徒也只是為數極少的宗教群體。種種跡象顯示，佛教和道教日漸受歡迎，相反，基督教卻被中國人視為洋教。讓我們祈求更多教會能為褔音事工大發熱心，信徒能跟家人、朋友更多分享耶穌。