Prayer Request 5/26 - 6/1

Tuesday
The "May 4th Movement" celebrated its 90th anniversary recently. Although it was considered as mostly a student demonstration movement against the unfair treaty after WWI, it also ushered in the modern Chinese age. The young intellectuals protested against the old traditions, feudalism, and the Confucian ideology. They demanded modern science and democracy for China. Young intellectuals have historically led China in reform and social enlightenment. We pray for young educated believers to be powerful vessels God can use to serve His purpose and His church.

Wednesday
Tourists from Mainland China are flocking to Taiwan in large numbers, overwhelming the local hotels and tour buses. The unexpected surge of visitors is a welcoming boon after the leader of China said, "I want to visit Taiwan even if I need to crawl to get there." The influx of tourists from China presents a great opportunity for Taiwan churches to witness to them and to reach out to believers from Mainland China. We pray for many opportunities for believers on both sides to learn and share from each other.

Thursday
Christianity in China has taken on Chinese distinctive and flavor. While the rural house churches experienced a great revival during the 1970, much of the gain have been lost as people move to the cities, and churches are now mostly elderly and women. Another crisis rural churches face is the "old style" leadership style. Rural churches are in decline especially in Henan and Anhui provinces where the revival took place. We pray earnestly for God's mercy on the believers there. They need the revival fire of the Holy Spirit and fresh blood in church leadership.

Friday
Government is putting great emphasis on intensive training the leadership in the county level. One major reason is many of the so-called recent mass incidences, confrontations with police and riots took place in county level. Officials are told to maintain stability and manage grass root frustration well locally. In the county level, most of churches are Three-Self and ministry are under much closer scrutiny than cities or villages. We uplift all the open churches in the county seats, for the faithful labor of their pastors and their passion in sharing the Gospel into their communities.

Saturday
In a study done of residents of Hong Kong, seventy percent of those interviewed admitted to having gambled in the past year. Buying lottery tickets was the most common form and it was followed by card games, horse racing, casino, and sports. One third of those interviewed said they started gambling before they were eighteen years old. Gambling has destroyed many Chinese families. We pray that churches can have a positive influence on this social ill. We remember specifically those families whose a husband, father, or son gambles. May the Lord give them comfort and answer their prayer for healing from this evil addiction.

Sunday
The World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is being built on the old shipbuilding site on the Huangpu River. Massive construction is now underway and despite the economic downturn, officials expect seventy million guests, far more than those at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Authorities in Shanghai have begun to clear out those residents who do not have the proper documentation living there. This will inevitably interfere with evangelistic efforts and outreach to migrant workers in the churches. Let us pray for the believers in Shanghai that they will understand the Lord's purposes in placing this event in their city and what they should do during the event.

Monday
Most of the members of President Obama's cabinet are lawyers. In contrast President Hu is an hydraulic engineer. His predecessor, Jiang Zemin, was an electrical engineer. The Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, is a geological engineer. The vast majority of the senior members of China's Communist Party are engineers as well. All parents want their child to be outstanding and make a contribution to society. We pray for all Christian parents as they pray and plan for the education of their children. May the Lord give them wisdom and also the reminder that they should be willing to let God use their children in His kingdom.


星期二
今年是五四運動九十週年。五四運動是一次世界大戰後，反對封建舊傳統，對抗列强不平等待遇的學生運動，推動了近代中國的思想啟蒙；年輕一代的學子們誠然為中國社會文明的進展和改革寫下重要的歷史篇章。主內的識分子禱告，求主使他們能成為神手中大有能力的器皿，無論在教會或在社會，都能盡心盡力，為主所用。

星期三
近來大陸遊客蜂擁至臺灣，大大刺激旅館和遊覽車的需求量。突如其來的遊客激增或可歸功於中國總理溫家寶特別指著日月潭所說，爬也要爬去的一席話。大陸旅客的來訪，給臺灣教會一個向大陸同胞分享福音的絕佳機會。我們為兩地信徒能有更多來往交流以及彼此學習分享的機會來禱告。

星期四
當前中國基督教會應體認的危機感是：教會本色化要小心變質。1970年代的教會大復興主要是在農村，如今隨著年輕人往城市遷流，農村教會只剩老弱婦孺，復興的果效早已式微。加上許多教會的領導方式太過「古老」，與年輕人脫節，農村教會日漸沒落，曾經歷大復興的河南和安徽省的教會尤其如此。我們迫切地求神憐憫這些地區的信徒，求神賜下復興的靈火使信徒再次火熱起來，同時興起後起之秀來承接牧養教會的棒子。

星期五
由於近來各地群體性事件頻發，多縣發生警民衝突，政府特別積極安排縣委書記接受輪訓。縣政當局受促妥善處理矛盾，以維持地方社會的穩定。中國各縣的教會多屬三自教會，監管比城市和鄉村的更為嚴密。我們為各縣的公開教會禱告，求主賜給他們忠心服事的牧者，並且使信徒和牧者都同樣充滿傳揚福音的熱忱。

星期六
據調查顯示：七成受訪的香港人在過去一年曾參與賭博，其中最普遍的是六合彩賭博，其他依序為社交牌局，賽馬，賭場，及足球博彩。當中三分之一受訪者表示，首次賭博時未滿18歲。賭博摧毀了無數的中國家庭。讓我們特別在禱告中記念有嗜賭者的家庭，作用求主賜下安慰，把他們的家人從這邪惡的賭癮中解救出來。並盼望神興起教會能在社會中起正面的影響。

星期日
上海主辦的2010年世界博覽會園區建於城市邊緣，橫跨黃浦江兩岸。工程不受經濟低靡影響，大規模展開。當局預料，賓客人數將超過08年北京奧。另外，當局已展開行動驅逐上海地區的非法居民。上海教會對外來民工的福音工作，多少會因此受到影響。我們為上海的基督徒禱告，求主開他們的眼睛，看到神允許這樣的大會在上海舉行，有其特殊的目的和計劃；並讓他們看到自己在當中能夠如何與神同工。

星期一
美國總統奧巴馬的內閣以律師為主。國家主席胡景濤是水利工程師，前任主席江澤民是電機工程師，而溫家寶總理是地質工程師而，中國的幹部大多數為工程師。所有為人父母者都希望孩子出人頭地能夠貢獻社會。求主引領和教導所有基督徒父母，在為兒女禱告和做教育計劃時，能夠尋求神的心意，以神的國度為念；賜他們教育孩子的智慧，願意完全的把孩子交在神手中，讓神使用。