Posts
Tuesday
Recently more than 1000 children in China were found to have lead poisoning from industrial pollution. The health of children is particularly volatile issue in China since most families are restricted to having just one child. Parents are edgy since the contaminated milk episode and the earthquake in Sichuan that killed thousands of children. Christian parents often feel helpless and worry about the pollution from the world they see happening in the lives of their children as they see them drift away from God. The vast majority of churches in China lack resources to minister to children. Let us pray with parents who plead with God to keep their one child in church and help him to grow up in the fear of the Lord.
Wednesday
Wenzhou is famous for family-based factories where they first secure orders and then produce accordingly. Among the well-known products made in Wenzhou are: cigarette lighters, shoes, clothing, and frames for eye glasses. Recently 20% of the businesses there have shut down due to the economic downturn. God has richly blessed the churches in Wenzhou and they in turn have been a great blessing to other churches. We commit them into God's hands, especially in this economically difficult climate.
Thursday
Skipping the college entrance examination and go study in college abroad instead is now the trend for many Chinese high school graduates. Many of them are not able to get into the top universities and parents are able to afford to the expense. Many overseas Chinese churches are learning to outreach to these young, affluent “post-90”,”one-child” generation. They are very different than the Chinese scholars or graduate students in the past. They often show little interest in activities hosted by churches. Let us pray that many of these young people can come to know Jesus while studying abroad.
Friday
How the Steel Was Tempered, a Stalin era revolutionary biography, is the fifth most- read book in China. It has greater impact there than even in Russia because it is used as mandatory reading for teens in schools. The main character was severely punished by the priest for doubting the existence of God and the Bible and he was unfairly kicked out of school. The most commonly read book in China at its core is anti-Christian and critical of the "darkness" of the church. We must pray for the youth in Christian homes who face tremendous pressure in school as they live out their faith. May the Lord add strength to their faith in the God their parents love and serve.
Saturday
Despite the global economic downturn, car sales in China made history when for five consecutive months more than a million cars were sold monthly. Buying a house and a car is the dream of middle-class Chinese today. The kind of car one drives literally defines one's social status. Many people feel that many of the churches give special attention to the rich and those who own cars because they are rich. The Bible teaches that having godliness and contentment is a great grain. We praise God for the prosperity of China as a whole and pray specifically that believers will not lose their trust in and love for the Lord.
Sunday
The government in China has put great emphasis on spurring on rural consumer spending with it massive and popular program promoting buying new home appliances in the villages. They encourage farmers who traditionally would rather save than spend their money to buy new appliances and even cars with discounted prices using government incentives. Rural China can still be described as spiritually impoverished. The reading level is generally low and patchy. We uplift the rural Chinese churches to God's hand asking Him to bring new revival and strength to those weak leaders.
Monday
Both spouses work in 44% of the families in Taiwan and more than 10% of the families have only one parent. For working parents, it is fashionable to hire a foreign maid/nanny to care for the children. In Taiwan there are at least three kinds of substitute "parents". First is a foreign maid, second is "after school classes", and third is the computer. Christian parents struggle with work, church, and raising a family. Many run around enrolling their children in all kinds of extracurricular classes but have no time for quality quite-time and time with children. Let us pray that believers will know what God desires of their children and will be willing to put God first in their lives. There is no substitute for the influence of parents in the spiritual lives of children.
星期二
超過1000名兒童因工業污染而集體「血鉛」中毒。獨子政策促使孩子健康問題成為最敏感、最迫切關注的大事。自毒奶粉和四川地震中數以千計孩童受害後，家長們經常要為孩子的健康及安全提心吊膽。絕大多數的中國教會缺乏資源牧養年輕一代。 信徒家長們面對世俗對自己孩子所造成的污染，引誘孩子遠離神，也經常感到徬偟無助，憂心忡忡。讓我們與家長們同心來到神的面前祈求，保守他們的獨子在教會中健康成長，常存敬畏神的心。
星期三
溫州素以家庭為單位的小型製造業聞名，他們先拿下外來的訂單，再進行生產、銷售。特別是打火機、皮鞋、服裝、眼鏡等溫州產品皆能行銷全國。最近的不景氣，已使溫州近 20% 的中小企業停工。近年來，神曾祝福溫州教會，使他們帶給其他許多教會極大的祝福。在這經濟低靡時刻，我們特別要為溫州教會禱告，求主的大能和供應的手，牽引他們渡過經濟難關。
星期四
許多高中畢業生，若是考不進中國的重點學校，父母也能有能力承擔留學費用。放棄高考直接出國已成為「 90後」留學的一種新趨勢。 海外的華人教會也正在調適，如何來接觸這批手頭闊綽的 「獨生子女」一代。他們與過去的訪問學者或研究生有極大的不同。讓我們切切禱告這些青年人在國外求學的這段期間，能以認識耶穌基督為至寶，得著救恩。
星期五
史大林時期劃時代的作品『鋼鐵是怎樣煉成的』，被譽為中國五大最暢銷讀物之一。由於它被政府當作提倡青年閱讀共產主義思想的教材，其在中國的影響力遠比在俄國還大。故事主角保爾因對『聖經』提出質疑而遭神父嚴厲懲罰，開除出校。在中國，很多受歡迎的讀物不是反對基督教，就是揭露教會黑暗面。讓我們為基督徒家庭成長的青年們禱告，在面對校內各種反基督壓力時，仍能堅定活出信仰。也求上帝增添他們信心，學效父母愛主並竭力事奉主。
星期六
雖然全球經濟下滑，中國汽車銷售仍打破紀錄，連續5個月，每月超過100萬輛汽車銷量。21世紀初的中國，買車和買房成為城市新興中產階級消費欲望的核心。而開什麼樣的車，更是塑造品味和區分階級的標準。 不少的信徒認為，教會對「有錢、有車的人」會給予特別關心。神在聖經裡教導我們：「敬虔加上知足的心就是大利」。我們為中國近年來經濟的繁榮感恩，更求主保守信徒有依靠神，愛主的心智，不因物質豐富而改變。
星期日
中國政府出台了一系列促進農村消費的政策。如「家電下鄉」–政府使用折扣獎勵一向節儉的農民購買新設備，甚至汽車。 中國農村至今仍可用「靈性貧困」來描述，信徒的教育及閱讀水平普遍低下。讓我們將中國的農村教會交託在神大能的手中，求神復興教會，更新心靈疲乏的傳道人，讓他們得著上頭來的能力。
星期一
台灣雙薪家庭（夫妻兩人皆工作）占總家庭戶數的44.2％， 還有超過一成的單親家庭，也可說有五成以上的家庭，極難全心照顧孩子。因此各色各樣的「代理父母」應運而生，如外籍幫傭，安親班，以及最便宜的代理父母-電腦。信徒的家長要有智慧在工作、教會服事及家庭生活中尋得平衡。讓親子間有充足優質的相處時間，求主幫助所有的信徒父母，更明白神在教養孩子愛主上的心意，首重父母願意把上帝放在首位，成為孩子愛主的榜樣與影響力的來源。
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Prayer Request 8/18 - 8/24
Tuesday
The recent typhoon brought the worst flooding in half a century to Southern Taiwan and ravaged many villages. Historically, the people in the villages in Taiwan are predominately Buddhist and they have been "hard soil" and very resistant to the gospel and church work. The people in the churches of Taiwan are not slow in going to help the needy but Christian efforts are easily dwarfed and overshadowed by Buddhist relief workers. Let us pray for the Christians in Taiwan that they will not be discouraged but will continue to be light and salt all over the island, especially in the rural regions.
Wednesday
To commemorate the 2008 Olympics, August 8th will also be delcared as a "National Fitness Day" and all public sports facilities will be free on that day. A year ago, Beijing mobilized 1.7 million young volunteers to staff five hundred information stations throughout the city for the Olympics. This year Beijing formally incorporated the spirit of volunteerism in the curriculum of all the schools from grade one through high school. Although historically the churches in China have been reluctant to be involved in social matters, since the Sichuan earthquake Christians have been more visible in social work and many churches have also had an attitude shift in community involvement. We thank the Lord for this change. May the Lord continue to cause believers to be more mature and churches to be more bold in showing the compassion of Christ.
Thursday
Many young people have graduated from seminary training in China but many of them are not clear about the true meaning of sacrificial service, or they are not so gifted or able to serve as those who worked in the churches in the past, and the drop-out rate is alarmingly high. There are those who say the quality of today's students is not so good as that of those in the years past. However, we know that God can use all who are humble and weak and so we keep praying for those who are being trained now. May the Lord give them wisdom, integrity, humility, and passion for His flock.
Friday
Ten million students took the college entrance examination competing for six million spots this year. Nearly all of them were born after 1990. Every year the Chinese essay portion of the exam draws lots of interest because it reflects the interests and experiences of the students. In Tianjin they were given the topic, "What Post-Ninety Means to Me". In Beijing the subject was, "I Have a Pair of Invisible Wings", a lyric from a pop song. We pray for campus ministries through out China this fall, as this new generation of young people enter colleges. May the Lord give us abundant harvest, a revival among young believers and more workers to reach out to the incoming college students.
Saturday
There are three hundred so-called clinics or centers in China offering Internet-addiction treatment which includes medications, confinement,or electro-shock as well as training with physical force. Recently a death at one of these clinics has exposed a great concern for the safety of the methods of treatment used there. The addiction of many teens to the Internet/computer game is a huge headache for many Chinese parents. Let us pray along with those Christian fathers and mothers who are struggling with their children' behavioral problems as well as the poor quality of their parent-child relationship, another common problem in China.
Sunday
Some urban churches try to rent adjoining units in commercial buildings as places for worship in China but this is deemed illegal in there so this has become a point of contention and confrontation between churches and local officials. Let us pray for churches struggling with the issue of obtaining a "legal location" and "legal identity" in order to expand their ministry. For many congregations, this is a long process and we pray for the building up of core team members as well as finding a consensus for the direction for each church.
Monday
In the churches of China it is very easy to find radical teachings, especially in rural areas. Some say that Jesus' coming is imminent and must stop doing everything now. Others place great emphasis on defeating the work of Satan or claim they have special supernatural powers. It is sad to see naive sheep led astray by the false prophets and teachers. When the government clamps down on these groups, they believe they have been singled out and persecuted. Let us pray that these lambs/sheep will come to rest in the true fold of Jesus.
星期二
莫拉克颱風重創南臺灣，帶來了50年來最嚴重的水災。嚴重災區大部分在鄉村地區，傳統上多篤信佛教，也是所謂臺灣「福音的硬土」。雖然教會一向在救難賑災上從不落人後，但一般臺灣百姓的印象裡，在災區穿梭的總是佛教的志工。讓我們為台灣的基督徒來祈求，求神激勵他們在各樣的善事上不氣餒，繼續成為島上的光和鹽，尤其在普遍是拜拜的鄉村地區。
星期三
中國國務院為紀念2008年奧運會，把八月八日定爲全民健身日，所有公共體育設施都免費向公眾開放。一年前，北京市動員了170萬名志願工作者，設立了500個志工支援的服務站。今年北京市更把志願服務精神教育正式納入中小學課程中。許多基督徒在四川地震後變得更積極關懷社會，一改過去對社會公益的不參與態度。我們為這種轉變感謝主，也求神繼續幫助祂的兒女能更成熟、勇敢地去回應社區的需要，彰顯基督的愛。
星期四
中國的信徒和傳道人雖讀過神學，許多卻不明白真正獻身的意義。其恩賜、能力與智慧大體上不及先輩，且中途離崗的人數之多令人堪憂。許多人認為神學生素質今非昔比。我們知道神能夠使用軟弱但謙卑的人，讓我們為所有神學生禱告，求主賜他們智慧，正直，良善和謙卑，及一顆熱愛主羊群的心。
星期五
今年有一千多萬考生參加高考，爭奪六百二十九萬個本、專科席位。每年高考作文題都花樣繁出，今年的天津作文題是《我說九零後》，北京作文題《我有一雙隱形的翅膀》引用了流行歌曲，讓人耳目一新。秋季將屆，又有新一代年輕人湧進大學，讓我們為每項校園事工祈求，願主祝福收穫豐盈，復興這一代的年輕信徒。又切求主打發工人收割莊稼，向這批新生們分享信仰。
星期六
全中國約有三百家治療網癮的診所或中心，大部分是採用強制性的打針吃藥、電擊、電療、禁閉、關押、打罵、恐嚇、暴力訓練等方法。最近因一個受「治療」的青少年暴斃被媒體曝光。許多家長為孩子沉溺網路而焦慮卻手足無措。信徒家庭也有面臨這種困境，不知該如何改善的；而許多質量低劣的親子關係也令家長們十分痛心。讓我們一起為這些父母親們來仰望神。
星期日
一些城市的家庭教會，聚會場地是租用寫字樓宇中相連的幾間辦公室。然而使用商用樓宇作宗教活動在中國是不合法的，因此不少這樣的教會與當地官員發生爭執和衝突。我們要爲所有爭取聚會點合法化和擴展事工正當化的教會來禱告，雖然這是個漫長的過程。我們也求神興起一批靈命成熟的教會棟樑，並在教會發展方向上，彼此同心取得共識。
星期一
中國有許多教會，尤其在農村地區，都有被極端教導滲入的跡象。或云耶穌即將再來，信徒要停止一切工作和活動，專心等待。另有些領袖宣稱自己有特殊預知能力，強調須致力打擊魔鬼的作為，或主張信徒必須向他承認自己是魔鬼，才能得救。現在政府對他們施加了一些壓力，但他們認為是為主受苦，益發火熱。眼見無知羊群被假教師、假先知導入歧途，著實令人痛心。讓我們迫切為中國教會禱告，讓真理能扎根，讓迷途的人都回到基督耶穌的恩典和真理中。
The recent typhoon brought the worst flooding in half a century to Southern Taiwan and ravaged many villages. Historically, the people in the villages in Taiwan are predominately Buddhist and they have been "hard soil" and very resistant to the gospel and church work. The people in the churches of Taiwan are not slow in going to help the needy but Christian efforts are easily dwarfed and overshadowed by Buddhist relief workers. Let us pray for the Christians in Taiwan that they will not be discouraged but will continue to be light and salt all over the island, especially in the rural regions.
Wednesday
To commemorate the 2008 Olympics, August 8th will also be delcared as a "National Fitness Day" and all public sports facilities will be free on that day. A year ago, Beijing mobilized 1.7 million young volunteers to staff five hundred information stations throughout the city for the Olympics. This year Beijing formally incorporated the spirit of volunteerism in the curriculum of all the schools from grade one through high school. Although historically the churches in China have been reluctant to be involved in social matters, since the Sichuan earthquake Christians have been more visible in social work and many churches have also had an attitude shift in community involvement. We thank the Lord for this change. May the Lord continue to cause believers to be more mature and churches to be more bold in showing the compassion of Christ.
Thursday
Many young people have graduated from seminary training in China but many of them are not clear about the true meaning of sacrificial service, or they are not so gifted or able to serve as those who worked in the churches in the past, and the drop-out rate is alarmingly high. There are those who say the quality of today's students is not so good as that of those in the years past. However, we know that God can use all who are humble and weak and so we keep praying for those who are being trained now. May the Lord give them wisdom, integrity, humility, and passion for His flock.
Friday
Ten million students took the college entrance examination competing for six million spots this year. Nearly all of them were born after 1990. Every year the Chinese essay portion of the exam draws lots of interest because it reflects the interests and experiences of the students. In Tianjin they were given the topic, "What Post-Ninety Means to Me". In Beijing the subject was, "I Have a Pair of Invisible Wings", a lyric from a pop song. We pray for campus ministries through out China this fall, as this new generation of young people enter colleges. May the Lord give us abundant harvest, a revival among young believers and more workers to reach out to the incoming college students.
Saturday
There are three hundred so-called clinics or centers in China offering Internet-addiction treatment which includes medications, confinement,or electro-shock as well as training with physical force. Recently a death at one of these clinics has exposed a great concern for the safety of the methods of treatment used there. The addiction of many teens to the Internet/computer game is a huge headache for many Chinese parents. Let us pray along with those Christian fathers and mothers who are struggling with their children' behavioral problems as well as the poor quality of their parent-child relationship, another common problem in China.
Sunday
Some urban churches try to rent adjoining units in commercial buildings as places for worship in China but this is deemed illegal in there so this has become a point of contention and confrontation between churches and local officials. Let us pray for churches struggling with the issue of obtaining a "legal location" and "legal identity" in order to expand their ministry. For many congregations, this is a long process and we pray for the building up of core team members as well as finding a consensus for the direction for each church.
Monday
In the churches of China it is very easy to find radical teachings, especially in rural areas. Some say that Jesus' coming is imminent and must stop doing everything now. Others place great emphasis on defeating the work of Satan or claim they have special supernatural powers. It is sad to see naive sheep led astray by the false prophets and teachers. When the government clamps down on these groups, they believe they have been singled out and persecuted. Let us pray that these lambs/sheep will come to rest in the true fold of Jesus.
星期二
莫拉克颱風重創南臺灣，帶來了50年來最嚴重的水災。嚴重災區大部分在鄉村地區，傳統上多篤信佛教，也是所謂臺灣「福音的硬土」。雖然教會一向在救難賑災上從不落人後，但一般臺灣百姓的印象裡，在災區穿梭的總是佛教的志工。讓我們為台灣的基督徒來祈求，求神激勵他們在各樣的善事上不氣餒，繼續成為島上的光和鹽，尤其在普遍是拜拜的鄉村地區。
星期三
中國國務院為紀念2008年奧運會，把八月八日定爲全民健身日，所有公共體育設施都免費向公眾開放。一年前，北京市動員了170萬名志願工作者，設立了500個志工支援的服務站。今年北京市更把志願服務精神教育正式納入中小學課程中。許多基督徒在四川地震後變得更積極關懷社會，一改過去對社會公益的不參與態度。我們為這種轉變感謝主，也求神繼續幫助祂的兒女能更成熟、勇敢地去回應社區的需要，彰顯基督的愛。
星期四
中國的信徒和傳道人雖讀過神學，許多卻不明白真正獻身的意義。其恩賜、能力與智慧大體上不及先輩，且中途離崗的人數之多令人堪憂。許多人認為神學生素質今非昔比。我們知道神能夠使用軟弱但謙卑的人，讓我們為所有神學生禱告，求主賜他們智慧，正直，良善和謙卑，及一顆熱愛主羊群的心。
星期五
今年有一千多萬考生參加高考，爭奪六百二十九萬個本、專科席位。每年高考作文題都花樣繁出，今年的天津作文題是《我說九零後》，北京作文題《我有一雙隱形的翅膀》引用了流行歌曲，讓人耳目一新。秋季將屆，又有新一代年輕人湧進大學，讓我們為每項校園事工祈求，願主祝福收穫豐盈，復興這一代的年輕信徒。又切求主打發工人收割莊稼，向這批新生們分享信仰。
星期六
全中國約有三百家治療網癮的診所或中心，大部分是採用強制性的打針吃藥、電擊、電療、禁閉、關押、打罵、恐嚇、暴力訓練等方法。最近因一個受「治療」的青少年暴斃被媒體曝光。許多家長為孩子沉溺網路而焦慮卻手足無措。信徒家庭也有面臨這種困境，不知該如何改善的；而許多質量低劣的親子關係也令家長們十分痛心。讓我們一起為這些父母親們來仰望神。
星期日
一些城市的家庭教會，聚會場地是租用寫字樓宇中相連的幾間辦公室。然而使用商用樓宇作宗教活動在中國是不合法的，因此不少這樣的教會與當地官員發生爭執和衝突。我們要爲所有爭取聚會點合法化和擴展事工正當化的教會來禱告，雖然這是個漫長的過程。我們也求神興起一批靈命成熟的教會棟樑，並在教會發展方向上，彼此同心取得共識。
星期一
中國有許多教會，尤其在農村地區，都有被極端教導滲入的跡象。或云耶穌即將再來，信徒要停止一切工作和活動，專心等待。另有些領袖宣稱自己有特殊預知能力，強調須致力打擊魔鬼的作為，或主張信徒必須向他承認自己是魔鬼，才能得救。現在政府對他們施加了一些壓力，但他們認為是為主受苦，益發火熱。眼見無知羊群被假教師、假先知導入歧途，著實令人痛心。讓我們迫切為中國教會禱告，讓真理能扎根，讓迷途的人都回到基督耶穌的恩典和真理中。
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Prayer Request 8/11 - 8/17
Tuesday
With 160,00 episodes in 500 TV series, in 2008 China produced more soap operas than any other country in the world. These were made for television and were shown around the world via satellites and local stations. A local Chinese website boasts of 40,000 legally downloadable TV shows. Without a doubt the quality of Chinese television programing is excellent and highly entertaining so that even believers have the problem of becoming addicted to the shows and preferring them to going to church. Midweek church attendance is steadily declining in China. Let us pray for this "lust of the eyes" spiritual distraction to be lessened.
Wednesday
A Communist Party-owned magazine released a report of "trustworthiness" - farmers and monks (Buddhists and other religions) are listed as two groups people can trust. Prostitutes are ranked third and ahead of government officials. Nearly 90% of surveyed said that "what officials said is always a lie, cannot be believed." Unfortunately, the average Chinese do not know anything about Christian leaders or pastors at all. Even among Christians, there is still a large degree of mistrust of how money is handled in church. Let us pray that believers can be a light to society and faith in God can be extended to trust in those who faithfully lead the sheep.
Thursday
In the past, rural churches in China have been particularly poor. Both pastors and believers lived austere lives. Now, however, with the improvement in the economy and with financial support coming from abroad many rural churches have more money at their disposal than they did formerly. Many residents in the villages flock to the churches hoping to find quick prosperity since the pastors have not taught against such an imbalanced belief. Let us pray that money will not corrupt the rural churches and that people do not seek God only so they will have material riches.
Friday
Rural churches in China have gone through a dramatic financial improvement recently. Money has literally flooded in for ministry, community welfare, training and equipping of pastors, assistance to the poor and needy, publishing printed materials, and even foreign mission work. Unfortunately, many believers have found that pastor a church is a "cushy job" and a quick way to economical comfort which has led to numerous financial scandals. We pray for the integrity of all church workers with a restoration of trust rather than cynicism among the believers.
Saturday
In recent years money intended for ministry has poured into the churches in China but a lack of accountability and transparency have invariably led to allegations of misused funds. since even the "best and strongest" of us are susceptible to greed and sexual temptation. Many churches also treat the wealthy with favor and despise the poor. We pray for a guarding of hearts, a renouncing of unholy ambition, and that churches will treat all people equally, not judging anyone by the amount of money he has.
Sunday
According to a recent national survey, the top six favorite books are: A Dream of Red Mansions, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh (all Chinese classics) and How the Steel Was Tempered (a Stalin era revolutionary biography). The top three authors are Jinyong, a kungfu novelist; Luxen, an essayist; and Quingyao, a female romance novelist. What people read influences how they think. We seriously pray that there will arise life-changing Chinese who will inspire believers to think of the love of God and how to impact society in their Christian walk.
Monday
Taking a close look, we can see that the churches in China are very fragmented. They divide over such things as political orientation, historical background, differences in their region of origin, speaking a different dialect, and even over being rich or poor. Right now a big split is found in evangelicals versus charismatic. These divisions lead to malicious criticism, forbidding members to attend other churches and even outright hostility. We need to pray for humility and a genuine love for Jesus Christ for our Chinese bothers and sisters. May the Lord have mercy on us and give grace to each one of us.
星期二
中國媒體進入龐大製作時代﹕2008年中國電視劇已達每年500多部、近16,000集，成為世界第一電視劇生產大國和播出大國。透過衛星和所在地電視台在世界各角落播放，其中一個國内網站更自喻可提供合法版權下載熱播的經典電視劇多達40,000部。無容置疑，中國製作的電視劇水平卓越且極具娛樂性。教會信徒們同樣也有沉迷電視劇目的問題，甚至影響到具會的出席率。讓我們為保守我們的心懷意念，勝過俗世「眼目慾望」的誘惑來禱告。
星期三
一份黨屬雜誌針對中國誠信的調查顯示，民眾寧可相信性工作者，也不信官員。調查顯示，農民、宗教職業者名列最講誠信的前兩名；而約有8%的網民認為，性工作者有誠信，居調查的第三位。民眾對政府官員的信任度遠遠落後，近90%的受訪者對官方的調查數據表示「絕對是假的，從來都不信」。 可惜報導中所謂的宗教職業者對中國人而言是佛教、道教的人物，並非基督教的領袖或牧師。仍有不少基督徒，對教會的奉獻處理也存相當程度的不信任。讓我們為基督徒能成為社會的明燈，及毫不保留地信任牧者來祈求。
星期四
中國教會，尤其是農村的家庭教會，一向都很貧窮。信徒與教會領袖也過著簡樸的生活。然而，近年因國內經濟起飛和海外資助等多種原因，教會掌握的錢財越來越多。許多村民認為有利可圖而信耶穌、加入教會，而教會又沒有及時糾正，使他們的信心建造在真理的根基上。當我們為農村教會人數增多而感恩之際，求主保守信徒能抵擋金錢的腐蝕，單純地尋求神！
星期五
近年來，大筆的財富湧入農村的教會，透過教會供應福音事工、慈善、培訓、供應牧者、幫補信徒、文化事工以及海外宣教等領域。然而，一些投機的信徒發現成為教會的領袖、牧養教會是一項不錯的「營生」和致富的捷徑，以致教會先後涉入數宗財務醜聞。求主保守每個信徒的心懷意念，尤其保守教會領袖與牧者能向公義的神存誠正和忠心，再次嬴回信徒的信任。
星期六
投入中國教會以用於福音事工的大量資金，在不透明的管理下不免遭濫用。畢竟財、色、權、勢都是極強的誘惑，些微不慎，再好再強的信徒亦會失守。在「利字當前」，許多教會亦有「抑貧愛富、以『貌』取人」之嫌，導致教會內也劃分等級。求主憐憫我們的軟弱，幫助信徒排除心中的貪婪、自私及不純淨的野心。也求主讓教會能以基督的愛，無論貧富，貴賤，皆一視同仁。
星期日
據一項全國調查顯示，中國最受歡迎的六本經典書依次為：《紅樓夢》、《三國演義》、《西遊記》、《水滸傳》 （中國經典小說）、《鋼鐵是怎樣煉成的》（史大林時期劃時代作品）。 讀者最喜愛的前三名作家是：武俠小説作家金庸、散文家魯迅、愛情小説作家瓊瑤。人們的思想很受他們的讀物影響。讓我們祈求中國能出現具生命力的基督徒作品，能激勵信徒思考上帝的愛及如何活出基督為社會帶來變革與更新。
星期一
當今中國教會由於政治、歷史、籍貫、文化甚至經濟狀況等因素影響，往往分門別類、各自為政，相當不合一。目前中國基督教最大的分離可見於福音派與靈恩派。分裂和派別導致彼此之間惡意中傷，甚至禁止會友到其他教會，彼此公然敵對。我們懇切求主使主內的弟兄姐妹們能夠因耶穌基督的緣故，找到中間的平衡點，彼此謙讓，彼此相愛。願神的憐憫 與恩慈臨到我們每一個人。
With 160,00 episodes in 500 TV series, in 2008 China produced more soap operas than any other country in the world. These were made for television and were shown around the world via satellites and local stations. A local Chinese website boasts of 40,000 legally downloadable TV shows. Without a doubt the quality of Chinese television programing is excellent and highly entertaining so that even believers have the problem of becoming addicted to the shows and preferring them to going to church. Midweek church attendance is steadily declining in China. Let us pray for this "lust of the eyes" spiritual distraction to be lessened.
Wednesday
A Communist Party-owned magazine released a report of "trustworthiness" - farmers and monks (Buddhists and other religions) are listed as two groups people can trust. Prostitutes are ranked third and ahead of government officials. Nearly 90% of surveyed said that "what officials said is always a lie, cannot be believed." Unfortunately, the average Chinese do not know anything about Christian leaders or pastors at all. Even among Christians, there is still a large degree of mistrust of how money is handled in church. Let us pray that believers can be a light to society and faith in God can be extended to trust in those who faithfully lead the sheep.
Thursday
In the past, rural churches in China have been particularly poor. Both pastors and believers lived austere lives. Now, however, with the improvement in the economy and with financial support coming from abroad many rural churches have more money at their disposal than they did formerly. Many residents in the villages flock to the churches hoping to find quick prosperity since the pastors have not taught against such an imbalanced belief. Let us pray that money will not corrupt the rural churches and that people do not seek God only so they will have material riches.
Friday
Rural churches in China have gone through a dramatic financial improvement recently. Money has literally flooded in for ministry, community welfare, training and equipping of pastors, assistance to the poor and needy, publishing printed materials, and even foreign mission work. Unfortunately, many believers have found that pastor a church is a "cushy job" and a quick way to economical comfort which has led to numerous financial scandals. We pray for the integrity of all church workers with a restoration of trust rather than cynicism among the believers.
Saturday
In recent years money intended for ministry has poured into the churches in China but a lack of accountability and transparency have invariably led to allegations of misused funds. since even the "best and strongest" of us are susceptible to greed and sexual temptation. Many churches also treat the wealthy with favor and despise the poor. We pray for a guarding of hearts, a renouncing of unholy ambition, and that churches will treat all people equally, not judging anyone by the amount of money he has.
Sunday
According to a recent national survey, the top six favorite books are: A Dream of Red Mansions, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh (all Chinese classics) and How the Steel Was Tempered (a Stalin era revolutionary biography). The top three authors are Jinyong, a kungfu novelist; Luxen, an essayist; and Quingyao, a female romance novelist. What people read influences how they think. We seriously pray that there will arise life-changing Chinese who will inspire believers to think of the love of God and how to impact society in their Christian walk.
Monday
Taking a close look, we can see that the churches in China are very fragmented. They divide over such things as political orientation, historical background, differences in their region of origin, speaking a different dialect, and even over being rich or poor. Right now a big split is found in evangelicals versus charismatic. These divisions lead to malicious criticism, forbidding members to attend other churches and even outright hostility. We need to pray for humility and a genuine love for Jesus Christ for our Chinese bothers and sisters. May the Lord have mercy on us and give grace to each one of us.
星期二
中國媒體進入龐大製作時代﹕2008年中國電視劇已達每年500多部、近16,000集，成為世界第一電視劇生產大國和播出大國。透過衛星和所在地電視台在世界各角落播放，其中一個國内網站更自喻可提供合法版權下載熱播的經典電視劇多達40,000部。無容置疑，中國製作的電視劇水平卓越且極具娛樂性。教會信徒們同樣也有沉迷電視劇目的問題，甚至影響到具會的出席率。讓我們為保守我們的心懷意念，勝過俗世「眼目慾望」的誘惑來禱告。
星期三
一份黨屬雜誌針對中國誠信的調查顯示，民眾寧可相信性工作者，也不信官員。調查顯示，農民、宗教職業者名列最講誠信的前兩名；而約有8%的網民認為，性工作者有誠信，居調查的第三位。民眾對政府官員的信任度遠遠落後，近90%的受訪者對官方的調查數據表示「絕對是假的，從來都不信」。 可惜報導中所謂的宗教職業者對中國人而言是佛教、道教的人物，並非基督教的領袖或牧師。仍有不少基督徒，對教會的奉獻處理也存相當程度的不信任。讓我們為基督徒能成為社會的明燈，及毫不保留地信任牧者來祈求。
星期四
中國教會，尤其是農村的家庭教會，一向都很貧窮。信徒與教會領袖也過著簡樸的生活。然而，近年因國內經濟起飛和海外資助等多種原因，教會掌握的錢財越來越多。許多村民認為有利可圖而信耶穌、加入教會，而教會又沒有及時糾正，使他們的信心建造在真理的根基上。當我們為農村教會人數增多而感恩之際，求主保守信徒能抵擋金錢的腐蝕，單純地尋求神！
星期五
近年來，大筆的財富湧入農村的教會，透過教會供應福音事工、慈善、培訓、供應牧者、幫補信徒、文化事工以及海外宣教等領域。然而，一些投機的信徒發現成為教會的領袖、牧養教會是一項不錯的「營生」和致富的捷徑，以致教會先後涉入數宗財務醜聞。求主保守每個信徒的心懷意念，尤其保守教會領袖與牧者能向公義的神存誠正和忠心，再次嬴回信徒的信任。
星期六
投入中國教會以用於福音事工的大量資金，在不透明的管理下不免遭濫用。畢竟財、色、權、勢都是極強的誘惑，些微不慎，再好再強的信徒亦會失守。在「利字當前」，許多教會亦有「抑貧愛富、以『貌』取人」之嫌，導致教會內也劃分等級。求主憐憫我們的軟弱，幫助信徒排除心中的貪婪、自私及不純淨的野心。也求主讓教會能以基督的愛，無論貧富，貴賤，皆一視同仁。
星期日
據一項全國調查顯示，中國最受歡迎的六本經典書依次為：《紅樓夢》、《三國演義》、《西遊記》、《水滸傳》 （中國經典小說）、《鋼鐵是怎樣煉成的》（史大林時期劃時代作品）。 讀者最喜愛的前三名作家是：武俠小説作家金庸、散文家魯迅、愛情小説作家瓊瑤。人們的思想很受他們的讀物影響。讓我們祈求中國能出現具生命力的基督徒作品，能激勵信徒思考上帝的愛及如何活出基督為社會帶來變革與更新。
星期一
當今中國教會由於政治、歷史、籍貫、文化甚至經濟狀況等因素影響，往往分門別類、各自為政，相當不合一。目前中國基督教最大的分離可見於福音派與靈恩派。分裂和派別導致彼此之間惡意中傷，甚至禁止會友到其他教會，彼此公然敵對。我們懇切求主使主內的弟兄姐妹們能夠因耶穌基督的緣故，找到中間的平衡點，彼此謙讓，彼此相愛。願神的憐憫 與恩慈臨到我們每一個人。
Monday, August 03, 2009
Prayer Request 8/4 - 8/10
Tuesday
In the past two decades, there are 360,000 foreign brides in Taiwan; 250,000 of them were from China. The laws have been discriminatory toward those from China, not allowing them to work until 2 years after marriage. Let us pray for Taiwan churches reaching out to these foreign wives with language courses, Bible studies and helping them to adjust.
Wednesday
A new book out in China calls the following "the ten hopeless defects" of Chinese women: Don't know how to love themselves, superstitious about romantic love, afraid of aging, pity themselves, lack style, are highly competitive, are over-sensitive, are vain, easily blame themselves, and love to gossip. Women constitute the majority in most churches in China. They are made up of not only the Martha's and Mary's of Jesus' time but tens of thousands are like Paul's co-workers Phoebe and Priscilla. We pray for all the women believers, especially those who serve behind the scenes. May they be wonderful mentors to younger women believers.
Thursday
Many of the Turkic-speaking Uighurs, with a population of 9 million in Xinjiang, accuse the dominant Han ethnic group of discriminating against them and saving all the best jobs for themselves. Many feel the Party is repressive and tries to snuff out their Islamic faith, language and culture. The government believes the Uighurs should be grateful for bringing rapid economic development, new schools, highways, airports, railways, natural gas fields and oil wells in this vast and once backward region. It is fair to say that most Han Chinese are unaware of the ethnic pride and issues the minority groups in China face daily. Recently, China churches are engaging world mission with a great sense of nationalist pride and ethnic superiority. We pray that all believers will first seek to empathize with their ethnic minority groups in their provinces. May the Lord open our eyes, not to overlook to the needs of our "invisible" neighbors- the Muslims in China.
Friday
Children do well scholastically is the dream of all Chinese parents. However, even though Taiwan has now implemented mandatory high school education, parents will still push their children to get into competitive universities. A recent survey of Christian parents revealed that scholastic achievement is their number one concern while faith issues rank only ninth. May the Lord open the eyes of Christian parents to see the spiritual needs of their children. We pray, too, that Chinese churches will sense the crisis of this loss of young people and children in their churches.
Saturday
Sharing Jesus Christ to family members, especially parents is not an easy task. The traditional Chinese obeying-the-parents mindset make it even more difficult to "change" the minds of the older parents. Majority of the older generation are atheists, they see Christianity as foreign religion and equate it with Western colonial power. Every summer, tens of thousand overseas Chinese return to China for the summer holidays. Many believers have earnestly prayed that their time at home would be a great time to share their faith in Jesus with their relatives. We pray for the seeds they have sown and may the Holy Spirit quicken their hearts seeing the lives changed in these Christian.
Sunday
The Chinese government faces the problem of the ever-increasing foreign trade reserve. Officials speak of caution in spending this huge sum of money, worrying about devaluation of the US dollar and investment return. Companies also are concerned about safety, liquidity and preservation of their trade revenue. Chinese churches shy away from talking about financial matters as if that is something that is totally unspiritual. Money matters, pastors' compensation and tithing are generally taboo subjects in the church. This all contributes to neglect of pastors so we pray that God will change the attitude of all believers that they will give thanks for what they have and be willing to gladly give all they can to God.
Monday
These are excerpts of "23 behaviors of illegal religious activity" implemented in Xinjiang in both Uighur and Mandarin: Forcing others to profess a religion and observe Ramadan. Opening private religious school; conduct marriage or interfering social life with traditional methods, encourage students to attend religious service; unauthorized pilgrimage, collecting religious taxes, offering; unauthorized religious building; unauthorized religious meeting. The same definitions apply to all religions. We pray that believers will have favor of those who have jurisdiction over them. We too pray that their good deeds will be a shinning testimony to people around them.
星期二
近二十年在臺灣的外籍新娘已達36萬人，其中來自中國大陸約有25萬。台灣已有計劃停止對大陸配偶的「歧視性」法律限制。按目前法規：與台灣人結婚的大陸人士要在兩年之後才能開始工作。讓我們為臺灣教會對外籍新娘所展開的事工禱告，求神祝福這些語言課程或讀經班等，幫助她們調適生活和語言上的差異，並得以認識基督。
星期三
最近一本新書羅列了中國女性不可救藥的的十大缺陷：「不懂愛自己，看待愛情過度理想化，怕老，過份敏感，不解風情，傾向自憐自責，熱衷攀比，貪慕虛榮，又喜歡論人是非。」 中國教會男女會友比例大幅度向女性傾斜。其中不但有耶穌時代的馬大、馬利亞型的，也包括有保羅的同工非比及百基拉一類的。讓我們記念神家中的所有姊妹，尤其那些在幕後默默服侍主的人，願她們能成為年輕女基督徒效法的屬靈良友。
星期四
新疆有900萬說突厥語的維吾爾人，其中有人反應遭漢人歧視，且將最佳工作機會留給漢人自己；也有人認為共產黨鎮壓他們，試圖扼殺他們 的伊斯蘭信仰，語言和文化。反之，政府認為維吾爾人應該感激新疆經濟的快速發展，有新的學校、公路、機場、鐵路，天然氣田和油井。持平而論，多數漢人確實常忽略少數族群的民族尊嚴及民生困境。近來，有不少中國教會參與世界宣教活動，亦夾帶極大的國家尊嚴和種族優越感。求主讓我們懂得先用同理心對待少數族裔，尤其是開我們的眼睛，更多關顧在西北的鄰舍--中國的回教徒--各方面需要。
星期五
華人父母都希望孩子好好唸書。臺灣雖然實施了十二年國民義務教育，然而家長仍不斷努力督促子女，能入讀具強競爭力的大學。最近一份調查發現：臺灣基督徒父母把子女的學業成績列為首要關注項目，而孩子的信仰卻只能排名第九。願神開啟基督徒父母的心眼，讓他們看見兒女有比升學更大的褔份。我們也祈求中國教會能先知先覺對流失年輕人及兒童的危機，有所因應。
星期六
向家人分享耶穌基督的救恩非常不易，向父母更難，中國人對父母必須唯命是從的傳統觀念，要令年長父母改變思想更是難上加難。老一輩的中國人無神論者佔大多數，他們仍然把基督教視為西方國家用以擴張殖民實力的洋教。每夏都有千千萬萬海外華人趁暑假回家鄉，其中許多信徒更是迫切祈禱，盼望趁此機會與家人分享福音。讓我們與他們同心禱告，求聖靈使他們所栽下的福音種子，在他們家人的心中萌芽成長。
星期日
中國的外匯儲備不斷創下歷史新高。政府官員小心翼翼的管理這些外匯，擔心著潛在美元貶值、投資回報率等等問題。使用外匯投資的機構，則要再三評估外匯儲備的安全性、流動性、保值及增值等問題。華人教會有一個普遍的現象，就是「談錢色變」 ，一談起錢就等於不屬靈。講壇很少提及如何運用金錢，很少教導會眾實行十一奉獻，也避談傳道人待遇問題。直接造成了許多教會同工經濟窘迫的局面。 讓我們禱告弟兄姊妹能存感恩的心，甘心樂意奉獻給主。
星期一
在新疆以維吾爾語和漢語發布的「關于非法宗教活動的二十三種表現」，節錄如下：強迫他人信教，強迫他人封齋，私辦經文學校，按傳統方式主持婚姻，縱容學生禮拜，在官方之外組織朝拜，收宗教稅、奉獻金，擅自興建宗教場所，沒官方證書主持宗教活動……所有宗教皆受制于同樣法規，沒有例外。我們求神讓信徒在執法者面前蒙恩，並且使信徒的好行為成為有力見證。
In the past two decades, there are 360,000 foreign brides in Taiwan; 250,000 of them were from China. The laws have been discriminatory toward those from China, not allowing them to work until 2 years after marriage. Let us pray for Taiwan churches reaching out to these foreign wives with language courses, Bible studies and helping them to adjust.
Wednesday
A new book out in China calls the following "the ten hopeless defects" of Chinese women: Don't know how to love themselves, superstitious about romantic love, afraid of aging, pity themselves, lack style, are highly competitive, are over-sensitive, are vain, easily blame themselves, and love to gossip. Women constitute the majority in most churches in China. They are made up of not only the Martha's and Mary's of Jesus' time but tens of thousands are like Paul's co-workers Phoebe and Priscilla. We pray for all the women believers, especially those who serve behind the scenes. May they be wonderful mentors to younger women believers.
Thursday
Many of the Turkic-speaking Uighurs, with a population of 9 million in Xinjiang, accuse the dominant Han ethnic group of discriminating against them and saving all the best jobs for themselves. Many feel the Party is repressive and tries to snuff out their Islamic faith, language and culture. The government believes the Uighurs should be grateful for bringing rapid economic development, new schools, highways, airports, railways, natural gas fields and oil wells in this vast and once backward region. It is fair to say that most Han Chinese are unaware of the ethnic pride and issues the minority groups in China face daily. Recently, China churches are engaging world mission with a great sense of nationalist pride and ethnic superiority. We pray that all believers will first seek to empathize with their ethnic minority groups in their provinces. May the Lord open our eyes, not to overlook to the needs of our "invisible" neighbors- the Muslims in China.
Friday
Children do well scholastically is the dream of all Chinese parents. However, even though Taiwan has now implemented mandatory high school education, parents will still push their children to get into competitive universities. A recent survey of Christian parents revealed that scholastic achievement is their number one concern while faith issues rank only ninth. May the Lord open the eyes of Christian parents to see the spiritual needs of their children. We pray, too, that Chinese churches will sense the crisis of this loss of young people and children in their churches.
Saturday
Sharing Jesus Christ to family members, especially parents is not an easy task. The traditional Chinese obeying-the-parents mindset make it even more difficult to "change" the minds of the older parents. Majority of the older generation are atheists, they see Christianity as foreign religion and equate it with Western colonial power. Every summer, tens of thousand overseas Chinese return to China for the summer holidays. Many believers have earnestly prayed that their time at home would be a great time to share their faith in Jesus with their relatives. We pray for the seeds they have sown and may the Holy Spirit quicken their hearts seeing the lives changed in these Christian.
Sunday
The Chinese government faces the problem of the ever-increasing foreign trade reserve. Officials speak of caution in spending this huge sum of money, worrying about devaluation of the US dollar and investment return. Companies also are concerned about safety, liquidity and preservation of their trade revenue. Chinese churches shy away from talking about financial matters as if that is something that is totally unspiritual. Money matters, pastors' compensation and tithing are generally taboo subjects in the church. This all contributes to neglect of pastors so we pray that God will change the attitude of all believers that they will give thanks for what they have and be willing to gladly give all they can to God.
Monday
These are excerpts of "23 behaviors of illegal religious activity" implemented in Xinjiang in both Uighur and Mandarin: Forcing others to profess a religion and observe Ramadan. Opening private religious school; conduct marriage or interfering social life with traditional methods, encourage students to attend religious service; unauthorized pilgrimage, collecting religious taxes, offering; unauthorized religious building; unauthorized religious meeting. The same definitions apply to all religions. We pray that believers will have favor of those who have jurisdiction over them. We too pray that their good deeds will be a shinning testimony to people around them.
星期二
近二十年在臺灣的外籍新娘已達36萬人，其中來自中國大陸約有25萬。台灣已有計劃停止對大陸配偶的「歧視性」法律限制。按目前法規：與台灣人結婚的大陸人士要在兩年之後才能開始工作。讓我們為臺灣教會對外籍新娘所展開的事工禱告，求神祝福這些語言課程或讀經班等，幫助她們調適生活和語言上的差異，並得以認識基督。
星期三
最近一本新書羅列了中國女性不可救藥的的十大缺陷：「不懂愛自己，看待愛情過度理想化，怕老，過份敏感，不解風情，傾向自憐自責，熱衷攀比，貪慕虛榮，又喜歡論人是非。」 中國教會男女會友比例大幅度向女性傾斜。其中不但有耶穌時代的馬大、馬利亞型的，也包括有保羅的同工非比及百基拉一類的。讓我們記念神家中的所有姊妹，尤其那些在幕後默默服侍主的人，願她們能成為年輕女基督徒效法的屬靈良友。
星期四
新疆有900萬說突厥語的維吾爾人，其中有人反應遭漢人歧視，且將最佳工作機會留給漢人自己；也有人認為共產黨鎮壓他們，試圖扼殺他們 的伊斯蘭信仰，語言和文化。反之，政府認為維吾爾人應該感激新疆經濟的快速發展，有新的學校、公路、機場、鐵路，天然氣田和油井。持平而論，多數漢人確實常忽略少數族群的民族尊嚴及民生困境。近來，有不少中國教會參與世界宣教活動，亦夾帶極大的國家尊嚴和種族優越感。求主讓我們懂得先用同理心對待少數族裔，尤其是開我們的眼睛，更多關顧在西北的鄰舍--中國的回教徒--各方面需要。
星期五
華人父母都希望孩子好好唸書。臺灣雖然實施了十二年國民義務教育，然而家長仍不斷努力督促子女，能入讀具強競爭力的大學。最近一份調查發現：臺灣基督徒父母把子女的學業成績列為首要關注項目，而孩子的信仰卻只能排名第九。願神開啟基督徒父母的心眼，讓他們看見兒女有比升學更大的褔份。我們也祈求中國教會能先知先覺對流失年輕人及兒童的危機，有所因應。
星期六
向家人分享耶穌基督的救恩非常不易，向父母更難，中國人對父母必須唯命是從的傳統觀念，要令年長父母改變思想更是難上加難。老一輩的中國人無神論者佔大多數，他們仍然把基督教視為西方國家用以擴張殖民實力的洋教。每夏都有千千萬萬海外華人趁暑假回家鄉，其中許多信徒更是迫切祈禱，盼望趁此機會與家人分享福音。讓我們與他們同心禱告，求聖靈使他們所栽下的福音種子，在他們家人的心中萌芽成長。
星期日
中國的外匯儲備不斷創下歷史新高。政府官員小心翼翼的管理這些外匯，擔心著潛在美元貶值、投資回報率等等問題。使用外匯投資的機構，則要再三評估外匯儲備的安全性、流動性、保值及增值等問題。華人教會有一個普遍的現象，就是「談錢色變」 ，一談起錢就等於不屬靈。講壇很少提及如何運用金錢，很少教導會眾實行十一奉獻，也避談傳道人待遇問題。直接造成了許多教會同工經濟窘迫的局面。 讓我們禱告弟兄姊妹能存感恩的心，甘心樂意奉獻給主。
星期一
在新疆以維吾爾語和漢語發布的「關于非法宗教活動的二十三種表現」，節錄如下：強迫他人信教，強迫他人封齋，私辦經文學校，按傳統方式主持婚姻，縱容學生禮拜，在官方之外組織朝拜，收宗教稅、奉獻金，擅自興建宗教場所，沒官方證書主持宗教活動……所有宗教皆受制于同樣法規，沒有例外。我們求神讓信徒在執法者面前蒙恩，並且使信徒的好行為成為有力見證。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)