Prayer Request 12/22 - 12/28

Tuesday
The hottest TV series in China right now is "Dwelling Narrowness" which speaks about life in the big city. It is not Prada shoes and gossip with girlfriends but it depicts working young people who are trying to make ends meet while living in extremely tiny quarters that make them feel like a snail in its shell. Working in cities means paying exorbitant rent. In the Chinese church it is difficult to find young couples and we ask the Lord to raise up more of them to serve in the churches. May He make them a revitalizing force through their friendship and fellowship in small groups as they become co-workers in their churches and may He protect their marriages. We take this time to pray for all the young urban believers.

Wednesday
People think that the consumers in large Chinese cities are more likely to spend money but people in the "second tiered" cities are even bigger buyers collectively. As the government shifts the investment program into the central six provinces, businessmen are directing their focus to meeting the appetite of the vast ?previously untapped consumer market. Churches in central China have not received so much attention recently as they did in the past. We remember particularly the Christians and churches in Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces. They all share a similar problem--they lack shepherds for the churches and have believers who have not really been discipled in depth. We pray, too, for the seminaries in these provinces that graduate a total of 2000 to 3000 students a year which is not enough to replace those who retire from ministry.

Thursday
A recent survey shows that seven out of ten men in China would not marry a female secretary. Back in 2003 the Sichuan governments forbid male leaders to have female secretaries. Unfortunately, the term "female secretary" has been understood to be the boss's mistress who caters to his every need. This is merely the tip of the iceberg concerning moral corruption in modern China, especially in the workplace. Let us pray for the guarding of the hearts of believers whether employer or employee. We also pray for divine wisdom for all Christians who face ethical dilemmas in their business and work.

Friday
In the past the favorite TV series in China were historical dramas but now shows? portraying problems in social and family relationships are grabbing huge audiences. Shows like "Dwelling Narrowness", "House", "Wedding Dress", "Living for a Face" probe deeply into facets of family ties in today's urban lives. They resonate and cause viewers to identify with them. ?Preaching? in church must be Biblical and applicable to real life. We pray for the powerful delivery of God's Word in all of the churches in China. We pray, too, that the pastors make applications that encourage believers to live out God's principles in a crooked world and show God's love even in times of very difficult family conflicts.

Saturday
Churches in China have generally taken one of two different paths in terms of evangelism. Churches that fervently preach the gospel have seen much fruit. Other churches are overly conscious about security, cautious in their ministry and will share Jesus with only the people they know well. It is clear that the latter group of churches is in decline. Many temples and folk religions have sprung up in China which is a testimony to the emptiness the men' s hearts and the great window of opportunity which the Christian churches have missed. May the Lord open our eyes to the hugely vast harvest field and the cry of lost souls.

Sunday
It is humorously said that an average Chinese needs to apply for eighty permits (cards) in his/her lifetime before the final death certificate. In comparison, an American need to apply for only one social security number for his/her whole life. It is hard to prove that one is a Christian other than by one's lifestyle and testimony. There are many who quietly care for the homeless, the poor, the orphans and show by their kind deeds the proof of their Christian identity. We praise God for them and may the Lord raise up even more people like them who become "a little Jesus" in this totally money-crazed society.

Monday
Domestic violence occurs in both urban and rural setting, but because of traditional mindset, spouse abuse is much more prevalent among the 800 million residents in the countryside. Violence causing severe injuries and even death are quite common. Churches are not deaf or blind to the plight and suffering of domestic violence, but churches often turn their back on the victims because the lack of training and resources. Let us pray that more believers will extend their hands to help those who badly need love of Jesus Christ.


星期二
當前中國最多人收看的電視連續劇是《蝸居》。故事圍繞著市井小民、都市白領因為入不敷支，被迫蝸居於窄小出租屋的社會現象。突顯出老百姓拼命賺錢卻仍難解決住屋的問題。年輕夫婦因工作關係，難以參與教會聚會。讓我們為城市年輕的信徒守望，求主呼召更多青年夫婦回到教會，也看顧他們的婚姻家庭，透過團契小組相交的凝聚力，能成為教會服事的主力。

星期三
一般認為中國大城市的消費者願意花錢，但事實上按比例，二線城市的消費潛力更高。當政府把投資計劃移向中部六省之際，商家亦把矛頭指向這群未被滿足的消費市場。中部教會近來受到的關注不如往昔。我們在此特別記念湖南湖北和江西的教會和信徒。他們共同面對的困難包括：信徒因缺乏牧者和弟兄姊妹在信仰上扎根不深的難處。當地神學院每年雖有兩三千名畢業生，仍不足以替代退休的牧人。讓我們迫切為他們的需要禱告。

星期四
據調查，10個男人7個不願娶女秘書。2003年，四川省甚至規定男性領導幹部不得配備女秘書。人們心照不宣地將「女秘書」一詞，賦予桃色蘊意，反映出一個很嚴重的社會問題。發生在職場上的傷風敗俗之事甚多，「女秘書」不過是冰山一角。讓我們為中國的弟兄姊妹代禱，求主保守他們的心懷意念，不偏離神的道路，無論是雇員或雇主，有屬神的智慧來應對在工作或商場上所面的挑戰。

星期五
繼歷史劇後，《蝸居》、《房子》、《嫁衣》、《人活一張臉》等一系列反映社會問題的電視劇成為當紅題材。他們呈現有血有肉普羅家庭生活，也深入到社會各個層面，很多劇情都讓觀?「感同身受」。讓我們求神教會能夠真實有力地傳授上帝的話語，講壇訊息既合乎聖經又能應用於實際生活；我們也為牧者禱告，透過他們的教導，能鼓勵信徒在彎曲悖謬的遵守神的戒命，並在家庭中各樣難處中彰顯神的愛。

星期六
中國教會對傳福音的方針，可籠統分為兩種。一直以來積極熱烈傳揚福音的，已經果實累累可見；而在安全少謹慎的教會，福音事工往往對外隱藏，只在熟悉的人中間進行，他們的人數明顯遞減。人們心靈饑渴找不到真光，在教會缺席的情況下，但見民間信仰和廟宇大大興起。求主打開我們的眼耳，攪動我們的熱情，看到廣大待收割的禾田，聽到靈魂失喪的哀聲，能心裏悸動，付諸行動。

星期日
有人說中國是世界第一「辦證大國」，中國人一生至少需要辦80個證件，可能還沒辦完就要辦「死亡證」了。相對之下，美國人一生只需辦一個社保號，即可解決大部分問題，堪稱「一號通」。?信徒沒有「基督徒證」，要證實是否真是個基督徒，只需查看他的生活方式和見證。在「向錢看」的功利社會裡，有不少基督徒默默的照顧流離失所，孤兒及弱勢群體等。求主興起更多活出基督生命的信徒，使用他們歸向基督。

星期一
家庭暴力在城市或鄉村都會出現，受傳統觀念影響，家庭暴力現象在擁有8億人口的鄉村較為普遍。因家庭暴力造成傷殘、甚至死亡的情況甚為平常。教會雖不漠視家庭暴力潛藏的危險及痛苦，由於培訓及資源不足，受害者往往也得不到教會具體的幫助。讓我們禱告有更多信徒能夠伸出援手，把耶穌基督的愛和醫治帶給這些在家暴傷害中迫切需要的人。