Prayer Request 5/11 - 5/17

Tuesday
High school graduates in China will participate in the National College Entrance Examinations June 7-8 this year. Only about one-fourth of them will go on to college and the rest will have to find a job. To these young people, this is the single most critical event in their lives and the hopes of their parents literally hang on it. It is hard for anyone to experience the pressure and stress high school seniors and their parents are now facing. Let us pray especially for believers whose children are preparing for this examination. May the Lord give them wisdom, strength, and His peace knowing that God has a great purpose for each of us.
Wednesday
Chinese tourists like to go to Hainan because it has world-class beaches, forests, and fresh air. However, much like one's daughter who is well-loved at home but unable to attract foreigners, Hainan does not stand out with any unique culture and few people speak English well there. Although there are about 400,000 believers and many house churches, Hainan is also famous for moral and financial corruption. Let us pray for the problem of division among church leaders and believers who must struggle to stay pure.
Thursday
In the past decade Chinese tourists have undergone a big change from being discriminated to becoming valued customers. They are spending more money than other tourists but a Chinese expert said, "The general quality of Chinese tourists has improved much but some bad habits like talking loudly in restaurants, and not observing dress codes remain." The image of Chinese believers has also changed greatly from that of poor peasants to that of younger and better educated people. Let us pray for these two very different segments of believers. They do not mix well and find it difficult to communicate. May the Lord give us humility so we can accept and value each other.
Friday
In China a wedding gift is expected to be in cash and from ten percent to half of a month's salary. In smaller cities anything less than 500 RMB would be considered "cheap". If one is invited by a relative, 2000 RMB is the minimum gift one should give. For young people with many friends and a small salary, attending weddings can be very costly. We pray for all the believing families who are having weddings this year. May the Lord bless them with joy, love, and patience toward each other. We pray especially for those whose are marrying unbelieving spouses that the Lord will give the believer persistence in attending church, staying in fellowship with the Lord, and continuing to be a godly influence in the home.
Saturday
The government estimates that there are 600,000 residents of Beijing over the age of eighteen who battle depression. Due to a lack of information, it is difficult to get medical treatment or receive counseling for this problem and every year 287,000 people in China die of suicide and two million more attempt to kill themselves. Let us pray for believers who suffer from depression or have a family member with this illness. We beseech the Lord to comfort and deliver those who are disappointed, desperate or even seeking to end their misery.
Sunday
Taiwan is expecting that there will be only 160,000 births there this year. Doctors think that couples will avoid having a child in the Year of the Tiger. They say that the mentality of young people has changed dramatically and they would rather own a house than have a child. In Taipei enrollment in elementary schools is seeing a steady decline. We take this time to pray for all the Sunday school children in all Chinese churches. Many churches do not have enough children to have an effective or meaningful program and those churches have difficulty attracting young families. We pray that church leaders will realize the need to emphasize and give resources to children's ministry.
Monday
Obstetricians in Taiwan say that some pregnant women choose to have an ultrasound early in pregnancy and will then opt for an abortion if they find a small but correctable heart defect. It is common for couples to have an abortion for even such a common problem as a cleft lip and palate. We pray for peace and joy for all believing couples who are planning to have a child, that they will know that God will give them the very best, whether it is a boy or a girl. We remember, too all the families with a handicapped (whether physical or mental or behavioral) child and ask the Lord to give them an extra measure of patience and tenderness with the child.

星期二
今年6月7、8日中國的高中畢業生將參加全國高考。其中只有大約四分之一可以進入大學，其他都必須另謀出路。高考的壓力加上父母所寄予的厚望，使此人生階段成為年輕學子最大的轉捩點。我們或許很難體會應考生及他們父母所承受的壓力。讓我們在禱告中特別記念在肢體中有正在準備高考的孩子們，願神賜他們智慧，力量和來自屬天的平安，深深體認，神在每一個人身上，都有祂美好的計劃與帶領。
星期三
中國人喜愛到海南旅遊，因當地擁有世界聞名的沙灘與海岸，森林和清新空氣。屬於重點旅遊區之一。它雖然頗負盛名，但欠缺獨特旅遊文化及英文不普及，難以吸引國外遊客。它在80年代開放成為經濟特區，很多人轉向神，且每年遞增。海南的家庭教會數目眾多，估計現有40萬信徒。色情與貪腐等負面的名聲往往與海南連結在一起。求主特別保守信徒聖潔，不被貪婪之風動搖；教會領袖能持守公義和合一。
星期四
中國遊客在海外的形象已有具大的轉變，他們的消費已超越歐美日遊客，從開始的被歧視到漸漸的獲得尊重和禮遇。專家說：今與昔比，中國遊客素質提升了很多，但一些陋習仍待改進，如在餐廳大聲喧嘩，出席正式場合不講究穿著等等。中國信徒的「形象」近年也改變很多，從年老、貧農變成年輕、高教育的新一代。可惜這兩信徒族群之間仍缺乏交流與互動。求主賜下謙卑的心，彼此接納、擔待與珍惜。
星期五
近年中國婚禮賀金越漲越高，往往花掉普通人月薪的一成甚至五成。在一、二線城巿，人民幣五百元是起價，若是親屬，基本數目是兩千元；賀金多少已變成感情的量化標準。年輕人積蓄少、社交圈子大、又愛面子，使得這「份子錢」由心意的表達，變成了沉重的負擔。我們為今年家中有嫁娶的信徒禱告，願神賜福給新人，在基督裡建立和諧、包容、恩愛的家庭。我們也記念配偶仍未信主的肢體，求主堅定他們虔誠的心志，對配偶有正面的影 響力。
星期六
據官方估計，北京18歲以上人當中，有60萬人曾經或正患有憂鬱症。因患者普遍欠缺對該症的認識，很難獲得適當的治療或輔導，每年有28.7萬人死於自殺，2百萬人自殺未遂。我們要為患抑鬰障礙的信徒，及家人患上抑鬰症的信徒禱告。祈求神在傷心絕望，企圖在痛苦中輕的人心中，賜下安慰和釋放，使他們看到生命的亮光與盼望。
星期日
台灣出生率持續下降，婦產科醫師擔心因傳統上對虎寶寶的忌諱，今年虎年的出生數預估將跌至十六萬。年輕人「寧要房子不要孩子」，受少子化影響，台北市國小新生入學人數，亦逐年下降。我們為華人教會的兒童事工禱告，因無足夠孩童來組織建全、有效的兒童主日學，教會在兒童事工上出現缺口，也較難牧養年輕家庭。我們禱告教會領袖能體貼主的心意，注重兒童事工並投入更多資 源。
星期一
台灣的婦產科醫生表示，部份孕婦在做超音波檢查時發現胎兒有一點小問題例如有唇顎裂(俗稱兔唇），即使出生後可以外科手術治療，最後還是選擇墮胎。我們為正準備生育的信徒夫婦禱告，求主給他們平安和喜樂，不論孩子的性別、狀況如何，堅信上帝所預備必定最好。也記念有身體或心理殘障孩子的家庭，求主賜家人額外的忍耐和溫柔來教養神所託負的兒女。