Prayer Request 6/15 - 6/21

Tuesday
In 2009 Beijing boasted a personal GDP exceeding $10,000 US and had four million personally owned autos to be the biggest car market in China. However, now the traffic congestion there is the worse than that of any other place in China with an average drive of fifty-two minutes to get to work--far more than Guangzhou or Shenzhen. More and more people drive to church these days so finding a parking spot is a big issue for both the believers and the churches that want to grow and accommodate those who live far away. Let us pray for the ministry and growth of those churches that have little parking space, especially the house churches that meet in residential buildings.
Wednesday
The average starting wage for Chinese factory workers skyrocketed in June, following some well-publicized companies have increased their base salaries twenty percent to $300. US. In other provinces, including Beijing, a similar increase has raised minimal wages to 140.US (960 RMB) Asking for a raise is always a touchy issue for thsoe who serve in the church. We pray that believers will be fair and care for those who serve God. We also pray that church workers will not be swayed and distracted by the new that salaries in the factories and that they will know that God and their church will take good care of them and their families.
Thursday
In China, many of the marriages in the villages are arranged. Couples get married and then hurriedly rush to work in different cities with little nurturing of the relationship. This arrangement leaves much room for misunderstandings and unfortunately a high percentage of these marriages end in divorce. Even among believers there is often a lack of taking time to build a good relationship before marriage followed by bickering after the event. There is virtually no premarital or family counseling in the vast majority of churches. Let us pray for God's grace and mercy for all of the "incompatible" couples. It is only the Spirit of God Who can make the husband and wife compatible and truly become one flesh.
Friday
Many say that Chinese young people today lack a spirit of acceptance and patience. After they get married the "honeymoon" is often short and conflicts quickly flare up because of the difference in their personalities. Minor household matters often lead to arguments and even fist fights. This problem often causes couples to drift apart and the frequent arguments seem to doom the marriage. Young Christian couples can benefit greatly from older and more mature couples in the churches. We pray there are some couples who can reach out and mentor these young people and model the Biblical role of both husband and wife. Often even the pastor's marriage is strained because of the demands of ministry so we remember the marital relationship of the shepherds, too.
Saturday
It is commonly thought that most Chinese men once they reach middle age and are enjoying a successful career will succumb to extra-marital affairs and wreck their marriages, especially those businessmen or officials who often entertain for business reasons. In terms of morality or good example, there is little to help men stay true to their marriage. May the Lord help each of us, especially Christian brothers, to know how to "avoid the temptation of the affair". We pray for guarding of hearts for all male believers. May the Holy Spirit remind us that our bodies are His holy vessels and help us to guard our heart and minds with thanksgiving, contentment, and godliness.
Sunday
It is estimated that twenty-six million Chinese suffer from depression and that ten to fifteen percent of them have attempted suicide. Officially, 287,000 Chinese die of suicide yearly and two million more attempt suicide. It is still a taboo and embarrassment for one to admit that he or she has depression. As Christians we believe that God answers our prayers for healing but most churches lack the expertise to help those who are suffering from symptoms of depression. Let us remember all who suffer from this problem as well as their family members. May the Lord give us each a tender and compassionate heart.
Monday
In China the majority of the high officials on the provincial level are people who were born after 1950 and many of them have advanced or even doctorate degrees. It can be said that the leadership of the Communist Party's core members are now those who are in their mid-fifties. Although there are still some older pastors in the churches in China, we do see more younger ones now (those in their 50's and 60's). We lift them up in our prayers and ask the Lord to give them physical strength, insights into His word and a desire to live a godly life, as well as boldness and a vision for their church.

星期二
2009年北京人均總收入(GDP) 突破一萬美元，汽車也超過四百萬輛，是中國最大的汽車消費市場。在北京繁忙時間開車上下班，平均單程要五十二分鐘，遠遠超過廣州、上海和深圳，是中國交通最堵塞的城市。越來越多弟兄姊妹開車上教會，卻不易找到車位，對於偏遠的肢體更是一大難題。我們為有停車問題的教會其事工與拓展代禱，特別是那些大樓內的聚會場所。
星期三
中國各地企業六月掀起加薪風潮，數家位於深圳的知名企業調薪超過20%，可達月薪三百美元的水平，其他省份如北京亦上調最低月薪達960人 民幣（折合140美 元。） 教會同工對於薪水調整總是難以啟齒，求主賜教會和信徒有一顆加倍敬重和關愛神僕人的心。也禱告教會牧者同工不因外面工資提高而動搖及分心，深信神必充足供應祂的僕人及其家人的需要。
星期四
許多農村青年經「媒妁之言」搓合的婚姻，往往雙方見過幾次面就步入婚姻，然後匆匆回到各自工作的城市。夫妻間缺乏溝通了解，也缺乏細心經營的婚姻生活，常醞釀出許多誤解和沖突，離婚率非常高。許多信徒的家庭也是婚前缺乏了解，感情基礎薄弱，婚後導致夫妻不合。中國教會鮮有能提供信徒婚前和家庭輔導。求主憐憫所有婚姻有難處的家庭，求聖靈動工使夫妻能真心相愛，竭力追求合一。
星期五
這一代中國青年被認為缺乏寬容和耐心。婚後蜜月期結束很快，因性格差異而產生的衝突隨之而來，家庭瑣事也能引發劇烈爭執，甚至大打出手，爭吵次數增多，夫妻感情也趨向破滅。教會裡年輕夫婦多能受益於年長較成熟的夫婦的家庭見證和分享，求主感動更多敬虔夫婦願意出來輔導幫助年輕夫妻。今天連傳道人的婚姻也常因大量的事工忙碌而緊張告急，我們也要在禱中為牧者的婚姻守望。
星期六
中國人一般認為，男人到了中年，事業有成容易禁不住誘惑而使婚姻陷入危機。尤其是做生意、有地位的，或常需要出門處理業務、交際應酬的。當今社會風氣，實在缺乏道德的提醒，及好榜樣幫助丈夫們在婚姻上持守忠誠。求主憐憫我們不忘自己是聖潔屬神的，常存感恩，知足與敬畏的心。尤其保守弟兄們在面對外遇試探時，都能倚靠上帝，謹慎、有智慧地預防及化解危機，歸正生活。
星期日
全中國患抑鬱症者超過2,600萬人，其中 10%-15%選擇自殺。據官方資料，每年有28.7萬人死自殺，有200萬人自殺未遂。 在中國，個人是不會公開承認自己患有抑鬱症，且是個尷尬話題。 雖然目前絕大多數的教會仍缺乏實際幫助預防或治療抑鬱症的專業知識和支援，但神垂聽每一個求醫治的禱告。 讓我們在禱告中記念患抑鬱症者及照顧他們的家人。也賜弟兄姊妹溫柔、敏銳和同情的心，關懷周遭肢體的需要。
星期一
中國新官有三個特色︰年輕化、高學歷、經歷豐富。「50後」已成省級高官中堅，不少官員都有專業，甚至擁有博士學位。在各階層，年齡50多歲的黨書記也正是在他們的輝煌時期。中國教會雖仍有一些年老牧師服事，但更多較年輕一代（出生于50年代和60年代）正在服事。求主賜他們充沛體力，時時從神的話語中得著亮光，追求聖潔生活，也為教會帶來勇氣和天國的異象與使命。