Prayer Request 1/19 - 1/25

Tuesday
Chinese troops have been part of the United Nations team in Haiti and when the earthquake devastated the island nation, China quickly sent a crew to help. Recently, Haiti has been a key stopover point for Chinese who are illegally entering America and hundreds of them are still among all of the missing victims of the earthquake. Chinese people know the pain a massive earthquake brings. They are proud of themselves and how quickly they rebuilt after the Sichuan earthquake. They also tend to look down on those who they refer to as "lazy and poor". May the Lord give us and them humility and take away the pride of superiority. Let us pray for the relief and rebuilding efforts in this poor nation of Haiti.

Wednesday
The Chinese government has an ambitious plan to bring many of the villages into the digital age by providing digital television broadcasts and making television, computers, and cell phones available in all rural areas. Currently almost all of the farmers have televisions and cell phones. Rural ministry is undergoing lots of challenges and church attendance has dropped as people have many options for entertainment as well as staying home to watch their favorite shows or stay connected to the internet. We pray for hunger for Truth and a desire to be fed spiritually in the churches of China. May the Lord grant us another revival.

Thursday
The lack of a sense of belonging is particularly common among people in big cities in China. The huge movement of people from villages to cities to seek jobs has created a whole segment of the population unable to afford the high living standard they find in the cities so they become marginalized and feel lonely, depressed and rootless. Although the gospel of Jesus is good news for all, especially the lowly and downcast, unfortunately, urban churches are generally hesitant to reach out to the lowly and marginalized people. Let us pray for a heart of mercy and compassion for the believers and churches and that they will be willing to share the gospel with everyone.

Friday
In 2009 China's real estate market was in a frenzy. With so many people buying houses in fear of skyrocketing prices and buying automobiles because of the government stimulus program, parking spaces have become precious and are the hottest commodities to be found. As more people own cars, churches need to find places for people to park on Sundays. It also means that believers can attend other churches, even those one thought to be distant. Churches must have a vision for growth and outreach to their communities. Let us pray for them as they tackle the issue of parking and how to minister to members who live far away.

Saturday
As the youth from rural areas leave home for work in the cities, those who are married inevitably experience problems in spousal and parent-child relationships. Divorce is not uncommon for those who go to work in the city. For millions, the precious two-week period during the Chinese New Year when they can be together does little to patch up the cacks in their marriage. Let us pray earnestly for all believers whose marriages are suffering. Stress from family, money issues and poor communication simply cause the fragile relationship to break. We believe God can do the impossible fo those who seek Him and we pray for every couple that is seeking divine help in their marriage.

Sunday
Beijing police canceled the first gay pageant scheduled in China. Their opposition to homosexuality is not due to religion, and attitudes are slowly shifting among city dwellers from one of intolerance to indifference. Gays in China say their biggest challenge is dealing with parents and deeply ingrained expectations for them to get married and have children. Sexual morality has changed greatly in China for gays and straights alike. All sexual sins are wrong in God's eyes. Let us pray for the guarding of the hearts of all believers. We pray especially for Christian businessmen who must entertain as part of their business dealings.

Monday
A foreign magazine claims that the 21st century is China's century--all eyes will be on China and wealth and power will converge on the East. In the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger so it is little wonder that many Chinese are confident and excited in their outlook for this century. We pray for the many churches who are planning their evangelistic meetings for the coming Chinese New Year season. This is indeed the best time for outreach and during this time many come to accept Jesus. As people feel proud and upbeat, we humbly pray for the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and lives.


星期二
海地發生地震之後，中國救援隊很快抵達災區，參與聯合國在當地的維和步隊駐守。海地近年成為中國偷渡客前往美國的重要中繼站，大地震後，數以百計的華人偷渡客生死不明。中國人明白大地震的痛苦，常以四川重建迅速而自豪，也存有鄙視被認為「因懶惰而貧窮」自義心態。求主?助我們學會謙卑，挪去華人的民族優越感及驕傲。讓我們一起為貧苦的海地的救災和重建工作祈求神的恩典和憐憫。

星期三
中國政府積極走向「數位化」和「三網融合」，在全國包括所有農村設立廣播電視網路、電信網路和互聯網路。現今的農民幾乎個個有手機，家家有電視機。娛樂選擇增加，足不出戶即可觀賞心愛的電視節目，又可上網瀏覽，這也為農村福音事工帶來更多的挑戰，教會聚會人數隨之下降。我們禱告神再次賜下大復興，挑旺中國農村饑渴慕義 的心，並且得到充足的屬靈餵養。

星期四
因著農村人口流入城市，尤其是在發展較快的城市，存有很多被高就業門檻和高生活成本邊緣化的「社會疏離」群體，或稱心理「無根」族群，人數正不斷擴大中，他們不斷流動，缺乏歸屬感，心裡充滿孤獨感與無助感。雖然耶穌基督的福音是給每個人的好消息，尤其是給那些基層和貧困的人群。可惜一般的城市教會都不主動去接觸那些卑微和社會邊緣化的人們。讓我們祈求慈悲與憐憫的主，親自激勵教會信徒們效法主，更願意與所有人分享福音的好消息。

星期五
2009年中國房產市場十分熾熱。政府的經濟刺激方案促使很多人怕房價繼續暴漲搶購房屋，連帶買汽車的也不少，停車位因此更見珍貴，成了最熱門的投資選項。 隨著更多人擁有汽車，教會也需要找空間讓人在星期日停車。汽車的便利，使得信徒也能選擇到距離較遠的教會聚會。教會必須有增長和進入社區的異象。我們為教會發展的需要禱告，求神賜智慧解決停車問題及牧養住得較遠的會友的挑戰。

星期六
很多鄉村年輕人離家到城市工作。已婚的無可避免要面對夫妻間和父母子女疏離的考驗，離婚是不少到城市打工者常見的問題。對千千萬萬民工來說，春節兩週假期雖可與家人聚首一堂，但仍無法彌補婚姻上的裂痕。 無論是家庭壓力，財政問題或溝通不善，都能使脆弱的婚姻雪上加霜。神能在尋求祂的人身上大行奇事，願每對在婚姻上有難處的夫妻都能尋求神的幫助。讓我們也迫切為他們禱告。

星期日
北京警方取消了第一屆男同性戀者的選美活動。政府反對同性戀的原因並非以宗教立埸來考量，在態度上也有所轉變，從「完全不能容忍」到「不予重視」。中國同性戀者最大的挑戰是面對父母和根深蒂固的男人結婚生子的期望。社會上性道德標準確實已大大改變，但無論是同性間或異性間的淫亂性關係，在神的眼裡都是罪。我們為弟兄姊妹能保守清潔的心懷意念來代禱，尤其是經商的信徒，往往因業務上的需要常常要面臨極大的試探。

星期一
一份外國刊物宣稱「21世紀是『中國的世紀』世界的焦點、權力和財富都將繼續向東方聚攏。」進入21世紀的第二個十年，中國的一切都將成為全球焦點。2010年是中國的「虎」年，中國人更是虎虎生風，充滿著自信和活力迎新年。這也是許多教會每年一度開佈道會傳福音的好機會，許多人在這段時間接受了主的故救恩。讓我們紀念各地教會春節特別聚會傳福音活動的籌備，也求聖靈大大的在人心動工。