Prayer Request 9/8 - 9/14

Tuesday
Most of the aboriginal villages ravaged by the typhoon in Taiwan have many Protestant and Catholic churches. Major Taiwanese denominations also have ministries among designated aboriginal churches. Despite the seemingly large number of these churches, many of the young people go to the cities for school and work and the villages suffer a high rate of alcoholism and general poverty. Whether in China or Taiwan, missionaries in the past have planted many good seeds among the minority tribes. We praise God and may the Lord send forth even more workers to strengthen the churches among these tribes.

Wednesday
Officials announced that the city of Beijing is considered technically to be in the same league in terms of wealth as cities in other developed countries. On the average, residents of Beijing spend a quarter of their disposable income on food, implying that they not only are wealthy but they also live well. We thank the Lord for the vibrant churches in Beijing, most of which have professionals attending, own their own church building, and many speakers coming in with good training opportunities. May the Lord continue to bless believers there and use them to bless many many poorer churches in other provinces and even those closer to the city.

Thursday
The modern Shanghai Railway is one of the many new train stations springing up in China as part of the latest grid of high-speed trains. Unlike most Chinese railway stations which are overcrowded and regarded as unsanitary and unpleasant by many, South Station is more like an airport and is clean and airy and it serves all the key cities in the Yangtze Delta. The stereotype of Chinese churches as old and run down has also given way to modern and huge church buildings which can be found in every city. In spite of this, although there are some churches that share their resources, there is a need for more fellowship and sharing of assets between the prosperous and poor churches.

Friday
For many Chinese preachers, to be "spiritual" means to love Jesus and literally ignore the needs of his family. Many famous old preachers often do not spend much time at home, considering marriage only as a duty. This unbalanced view of family and ministry still plagues today's church and contributes to many marital failures among church workers. We pray for the marriage and family lives of all believers in China. Unfortunately, Satan does attack our weakest spot: our home. May the Lord have mercy on those who are spending so much time on ministry but are failing at home with their spouse and their children. Lord, turn the heart of the father to the children.For many Chinese preachers, to be "spiritual" means to love Jesus and literally ignore the needs of his family. Many famous old preachers often do not spend much time at home, considering marriage only as a duty. This unbalanced view of family and ministry still plagues today's church and contributes to many marital failures among church workers. We pray for the marriage and family lives of all believers in China. Unfortunately, Satan does attack our weakest spot: our home. May the Lord have mercy on those who are spending so much time on ministry but are failing at home with their spouse and their children. Lord, turn the heart of the father to the children.

Saturday
The Mid-autumn Festival is a big Chinese holiday. Although many people feel they are paying more for the decorative boxes than the little cakes themselves,the tradition of giving and receiving moon cakes is hard to break. Eating moon cakes is not exactly healthy since they are high in sugar, fats, and have a limited time of freshness. Many churches use this holiday for outreach or hosting evangelistic meetings. More house churches are reaching out to their neighbors more boldly and not fearing the possible restrictions. Let us pray for all of the churches as they seek to find innovative ways to reach people for the Lord.

Sunday
Schools in Guangzhou have started again and a young student told a reporter that his goal in life is to be a "corrupt official" because this have such a good life and get away with everything. It is sad that these little ones see nothing wrong with such corruption. Children from Christian homes are equally observant and they badly need adults to model a godly life style and show them what it means to live sacrificially. We pray for the youth in the churches in China--for their minds and souls and for worthy examples to guide them to love Jesus.

Monday
There are many Africans in Guangzhou and a majority of them live in one area. Most of their Chinese neighbors would rather not have black people there and show it. They blame them for the deterioration of law and order in the area. Even among Christians, Chinese people still have a strong feeling of discrimination toward people of the black race which makes it impossible to have a true spirit of mission toward them. Let us pray for sincere humility, love, and compassion for all people.


星期二
臺灣這次的風災，受災慘重的原住民村莊有很多是有天主教或基督教會。 臺灣各個宗派，都有所謂的原住民的特別事工。原住民的教會在數字上似乎不少，但都面臨年輕人外流，住民酗酒及貧窮同樣的問題。不論在中國或是臺灣，少數民族接受福音的比例都比較高，感謝神，這些都是過去宣教士撒下的好種， 求主繼續差派工人到這些地方堅固當地的教會和信徒。

星期三
根據官方報告，北京市的經濟達到已發展國家或地區的富裕水平。北京市民的食品消費佔可動用總收入的25%，意味著北京居民已邁進高收入高生活質素階段。我們感謝神使北京教會能蓬勃發展。參加聚會的人當中不乏專業人士，也有不少教會擁有自己物業，駐堂牧者也擁有良好神學裝備。願上帝繼續祝福這些教會的信徒，使他們能成為鄰近或較偏遠貧窮地區教會的祝福。

星期四
現代化的上海鐵路是中國眾多最新開發的快鐵之一。上海鐵路南站擺脫了中國鐵路站擁擠，不衛生，不舒適的形象。這個聯繫長江、珠江三角洲及中國南方各大城市的交通樞紐，其環境和空氣的干凈及寬敞程度，足可媲美機場。 同樣的，我們對中國教會「老舊破損」的舊印象也該改變了。現在各個城市都能看到高大現代化的禮拜堂。但即便一些教會已經對外分享資源，貧富教會之間還需要更多的團契交流和資源分享。讓我們為中國教會的合一以及能夠更好的互助互惠來禱告。

星期五
中國的傳道人常常視「寧放棄家庭，多為主工作」為屬靈。 不少同工效法老一輩的傳道人，長時間離家在外服事，與妻兒聚少離多。事工和家庭不能協調至今仍是許多同工婚姻破裂的導火線。我們要為中國所有信徒的家庭禱告。因為撒旦喜歡攻擊信徒的弱點，包括我們的家庭。求主憐憫因為服事而忽略家中妻小的同工們，求主以神的愛來凝聚他們家人的心。

星期六
中秋節是中國人的傳統大節，雖然很多人認為他們所花費在月餅盒的要比月餅本身的價值要高，但這個傳統習俗仍難被打破。吃月餅既不利於健康，高糖份，高脂肪，又欠「新意」。很多教會趁著假期向外佈道或舉辦福音大會。很多家庭教會也放膽向鄰舍傳福音無懼可能出現的各種限制。讓我們禱告教會能尋求新方法接觸人群，為主贏回更多靈魂。

星期日
一名廣州市的小學生向採訪的記者表示：長大後要當「貪官」，因為「貪官」不但有「好東西」，而且還有「好下場」。在無知的小孩心裡，竟然把「貪官」當成理想的「職業」，何其悲哀！孩子眼睛是雪亮的，信徒的孩子需要成人為他們竪立聖潔、願意為神擺上的榜樣。我們求主保守教會年輕一代的心思意念，不要效法這個世界的邪風惡俗，要學習將心給神。又求主幫助信徒有美好的見證，引領第二代愛主、效法主。

星期一
廣州有許多非洲人，他們大多聚在一起。然而，許多中國人不喜歡與有色人種為鄰，並歸咎他們乃造成地方治安每況愈下的罪魁禍首。基督徒對有色人種也存有這種強烈偏見，以致很難致力推动福音事工。求神讓我們全然謙卑，能一視同仁，滿有基督的愛与憐憫。