Prayer Request 1/26 - 2/1

Tuesday
The government of China is planning to put into effect a law forbidding people who buy things for the government to be related by blood or marriage to the suppliers of such things. China is trying to combat the perception of corruption at all levels of the government because of the news that there have been officials arrested for accepting bribery or kickbacks。 Corruption will definitely not go away with more rules or laws. We pray for that people's hearts will be changed by turning to Christ. Many Chinese house churches give the impression that they are "family-run" or controlled by a few people and hence lack transparency and true accountability. We pray specifically for this kind of congregation, too.

Wednesday
Beginning in the summer of 2010, Chinese laborers who have medical insurance can use that coverage when they are working in other provinces. There is a large "floating" population of rural residents who have left home to work in cities. This policy will certainly encourage more shifting in the population but it will provide much-needed benefits to the laborers. Will more people go to cities to get more money and easier lives? How will this affect the already shrinking rural church ministries? Let us pray for strength, a powerful sharing of God's Word, and a joyful spirit for every one who serves in a rural church despite the fact that their members are older, poorer, and "helpless".

Thursday
A recent online survey of 360,000 people revealed that eighty percent believe that "happiness is owning a home". For young couples, buying an apartment is a "six-people effort" which involves not only the couple working full time but includes the savings of their parents on both sides. Parents must save not only for their own retirement but are expected to contribute to their child's down payment on his apartment. We pray for all believers whose children are still at the age that they are buying a home. We pray for enormous faith in God, not only in using their savings but also that their children will find a spiritual home and attend church as their parents do.

Friday
Recently China has been flexing her muscles and playing the role of the "tough guy" in the international arena from internet censorship to human rights issues. Some have said that this began at the time of the Beijing Olympics. Then the global financial crisis which left China relatively unscathed further bolstered her confidence. In churches we often find pride and rivalry. May we all imitate the humility of our Master and practice, not merely preach servant hood. We pray that Chinese believers will have boldness and courage in sharing Jesus with their kinsmen.

Saturday
The news frequently carries articles about the arrest of super-rich people in China and the average citizen there often wonders whether rich businessmen are always linked with corrupted officials. It is interesting that such cynical speculations abound in internet postings but are never filtered out by the highly scrutinized Chinese internet policies. Chinese churches have long had the mentality that to be spiritual one must be poor. They feel church workers? should be impoverished in order to depend on God and be effective in their ministry. Let us pray against this incorrect attitude and their using it as an excuse not to take care of God's servants. We pray for more correct and Biblical teaching about stewardship and offerings.

Sunday
College students who are couples and live off campus are no longer considered unusual. Many are "cohabiting" and sharing intimately online, living in a virtual home, not bound by any moral rules, and even having multiple partners at the same time. A sense of loneliness is very prevalent among today's young people. Many have left home to live and study elsewhere during high school. Once in college, they feel free to do whatever they want to do. Let us pray for every one who is involved in campus ministries. May their fruit be abundant and their discipleship of students effective.

Monday
Guangzhou is a city 2210 years old and it has always been a key city in Southern China. It ranks behind only Shanghai and Beijing (surpassed Tianjin) in terms of domestic production. Historically many have gone abroad to work from Guangzhou which has made it a port for both trading and cultural exchange. Although Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) is now the predominant language among overseas Chinese churches, Cantonese (dialect of Guangzhou) is still widely used there as well as in Hong Kong. An interesting fact is that these Cantonese churches tend to send out more missionaries than their Mandarin-speaking counterparts. Let us pray for all the Cantonese-speaking churches and their ministries.


星期二
中國政府擬規定政府採購者與供應商之間不得有三代血親或姻親關係。每天媒體都有貪官涉嫌接受賄賂或回扣的新聞報導，使得人民對各級官員毫無信心，這也是政府積極努力打擊貪腐的原因。再多的法規絕不能杜絕腐敗，我們禱告人心能因著轉向耶穌基督而有改變。不少的家庭教會給人「家族式」包辦的印象，整體上缺乏透明度和良好的問責制。我們也為這樣的教會禱告，求神賜給領導團隊有更健全的管理智慧及策略。

星期三
從今年7月起，流動就業人員醫療保險可跨省轉移接續。中國有很大的「流動」人口，由農村離家到城市就業。此政策實施必將鼓勵更多的人口轉移，但也為更多農民工提供急需的福利保障。離鄉赴城市打工是必然的趨勢，將會如何影響原已萎縮的農村教會事工呢？讓我們為所有在農村教會服事的牧者來禱告，求主加添他們力量，更加有力分享神的話語，也有喜樂的心，服侍那些老邁、貧困，與「無助」的羊群。

星期四
最近中國一項網上調查訪問了36萬人，其中百分之八十的人認為「幸福」就是擁有自已的房屋。對年輕夫婦而言，購買房屋不僅涉及夫妻二人，更要雙方的父母參與，可說是兩代、六個人的共同計劃。父母的儲蓄不單為了退休之用，更為了協助孩子建立家庭，繳付住屋的首期。我們為這些家庭祈禱，求神賜他們信心，不僅是在金錢運用上有智慧，更在協助子女建立屬靈生命和參與教會生活上積極努力。

星期五
近來，從網絡安全到人權，中國在各方面均擺出強硬姿態，與國際社會的對立日趨明顯。部分人士認為這種轉變在北京奧運期間即展露苗頭，全球金融危機進一步鞏固了中國的自信心。這種自豪和敵對的心態也浮現在中國教會當中。求主讓我們能效法主耶穌，以謙卑和僕人心態來服侍眾人，不僅流於口頭宣講而已。求主賜眾信徒有膽量和勇氣，樂意與親朋戚友分享耶穌基督的救恩。

星期六
中國的富豪一個個接連被逮捕，讓人懷疑，富人是否必然與犯罪、腐敗連在一起？ 網路上不少人斷言，富豪榜大部份的人都沒事，是因為他們已經買通了官員。值得注意的是，即使網路言論被中共嚴格管制，這些意見仍常見於網路，未被過濾掉。長久以來，中國教會一直有「窮才是屬靈」的心態。教會同工也認為他們應該要窮才能以信心單單依靠神，服事教會才能有效。讓我們禱告這種錯謬的觀念和態度，不會成?不照顧神僕人的「藉口」；也求神讓信徒有更多合乎聖經的正確教導，明白如何成為好管家和為主奉獻。

星期日
大學生在校外租房同居,現在已不再是新鮮事了。隨著網絡的普及，高校學生也熱衷于另類新的同居方式「心靈同居」。在虛擬社區裡可完全不受任何社會道德的約束，同時擁有幾個同居密友。當今年輕人普遍有孤獨感，許多人高中就離家住校團體學習和生活，一旦進入大學，就自認有自由做任何想做的事。讓我們為校園福音事工禱告，求神賜給同工們豐盛的果實，在栽培新葡時大有果效。

星期一
廣州建城已有2210年，長期以來是中國的南大門，對外經濟貿易往來和文化交流的主要港口之一，也是華南地區最大的經濟中心。改革開放後，廣州的國民生產總值超過天津，在全國十大城市中居第三位，僅次於上海和北京。雖然現在海外華人教會的主要語言是普通話（北京話），但粵語（廣東話）在海外一如在香港，亦相當通用。事實上，廣東話教會派出的宣教士人數還超越了講華語的。我們為粵語教會和他們的事工禱告感恩，也求主繼續使用和祝福。