Prayer Request 6/22 - 6/28

Tuesday
The game of soccer in China is in a state of shambles. Professional soccer is rife with corruption at all levels. To rebuild from scratch, the government has decided to send five hundred promising young players to Europe to receive rigorous training during the next five years. Chinese people tend to do well in individual events but poorly in team events. May the Lord give us humility as believers to serve together in teams in the church. We pray, too, for God's comfort for those who have left churches because they were hurt and unable to serve there.
Wednesday
The number of people over sixty in China has now reached 167.14 million which is an increase of almost 5% over last year. As people are growing older, the need for care centers and welfare agencies for the elderly is quickly growing. At present there are 40,250 social welfare companies and 38,060 elder-care agencies.　Although there are more young people in church now than before, most churches still have a large number of elderly believers. We pray for them that the Lord will give them good health, a close walk with the Lord and a powerful witness to their family members. We remember those who depend on others to care for their daily needs. We trust God to be with them at all times as we know He is.
Thursday
In recent months the most popular TV programs in China have been those about dating which feature good-looking young men and women who have heated arguments on social issues. The government, however, has banned "fake participants, morally provoking hosts and hostesses, and sex-implied comments" in these reality shows. It is difficult for parents who are believers to teach their child about marrying a believer when there are few young Christians in their churches. We pray for all Christian parents as they are concerned about the marriage partner of their only child. May the Lord grant them great faith as they pray for their future son- or daughter-in-law.
Friday
In recent years in China there has been a steady increase in divorces at about 7.65% a year and in 2009, 2.468 million couples filed for divorce. In that same year 12.122 million couples got married, an increase of 10.4% over 2008 so we see that for every five couples who got married, one couple filed for divorce. In the churches we also see a growing trend toward divorce. Chinese people put great emphasis on family values and often churches feel awkward or do not know how to minister to those who are divorced. We pray that more believers will feel called to care for those who have experienced failure in marriage and help them know the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.
Saturday
According to a national report, those who are older than forty accounted for more than twelve percent of the total newlyweds in China in 2009. This figure is up nearly two percent from 2008. Most of these people had been married previously so experts say it shows that the Chinese people are becoming more open about re-marriage. Most pastors in China find it more difficult now to preach on divorce and re-marriage than in the past. Most churches have few resources to help those who are divorced or single parents or to provide premarital counseling to those who wish to re-marry. Let us remember all those who are divorced. We pray that they will walk closely with Jesus, know God's will and find comfort and support from God and His people.
Sunday
The Chinese government cracked down on popular TV dating programs because, although many people watch them, they have a negative influence on marriages. They ruled that the comment of one contestant, "I would rather cry in a BMW than smile on a bike" be deleted from the program. Let us pray for all young believers who are waiting for the person God has chosen for them. May the Lord give them patience, faith in God and the desire to stay pure knowing that He will not fail them. We also lift up their Christian parents who worry that their children will marry someone poor and not be able to enjoy life.
Monday
In China they say, "Those who have a license practice medicine and those who don't have a license sell health care products". A lack of supervision and enforcement of the law allows many charlatans to profit greatly from selling "secret and special health-promoting products." Unfortunately it is also common to find false teachers who preach a "different gospel" which promises material wealth and health to anyone who will believe in Jesus. We pray that the Lord will bring these lost sheep back to the true faith and blessing of Jesus Christ.

星期二
中國計劃未來5年將派500名青少年往歐洲頂級足球俱樂部培訓，望能與其他足球強國看齊。過去中國足球在職業聯賽上急功近利、惡炒教練，吹黑哨、打假球等問題屢見不鮮。中國在運動比賽上，常是個人項目得牌，少有在團隊上獲獎。求主幫助我們在教會中也能學習謙卑，看別人比自己強，在團隊中放下自己來彼此配搭服事。也求主安慰並剛強因意見不合受傷，甚至離開教會的肢體。
星期三
今年中國六十歲以上人口達 1億6,714萬人，比去年增加約百分之五，而全國僅有38,060間老人護理中心，40,250間社會福利機構。隨著人口老化，這些機構的需求日益增加。近年中國教會年輕信徒雖增長不少，但很多教會仍以年長信徒為主。願主賜他們健康身體，與主有親密的關係，並在家人面前有美好的見證。我們也記念仰賴別人照顧生活起居的肢體，求主賜他們恒久忍耐的心，主一路眷顧。
星期四
婚戀交友類節目近來成了中國最受歡迎的電視節目。以年輕俊男美女為主角，並讓觀眾對相關社會議題展開激烈辯論。政府已採取措施，禁止節目中採用假觀眾、或參與者對人進行羞辱或人身攻擊，甚至討論低俗涉性內容。當教會中缺乏適婚的年輕肢體，家長也難於要求子女堅持只與基督徒結婚。當基督徒父母為獨生子女終身大事憂心時，求主賜他們巨大信心，等候主所預備的愛主的女婿或媳婦。
星期五
去年中國有246.8萬對夫妻離婚。全國辦理結婚登記有1212.2萬對，增長10.4%。近五年離婚人數逐年上升，平均增幅為7.65%。在中國約每5對新人結婚，就有1對離婚。雖然中國人重視家庭，但在教會裡離婚的人數也在上升。教會往往不知該如何幫助那些失婚的信徒。讓我們求神裝備更多信徒來關顧那些經歷婚姻失敗的人，幫助他們經歷耶穌基督那無條件的愛。
星期六
根據統計數字，2009 年40歲以上結婚者佔國民結婚總數12%，比去年增加2%，當中絕大多數是「再婚」。 這顯示中國人的婚姻觀念已有重大轉變。中國傳道人很難在講臺談論離婚、再婚等題目，大多數教會也缺乏資源去幫助那些離婚或單親父母，及提供欲再婚人士婚前輔導。讓我們以禱告記念失婚的弟兄姐妹，願他們能與主親密同行並明白神的旨意，從神和祂的子民中獲得安慰與扶持。
星期日
中國相親的電視節目，遭政府下令管制。最近一位參賽者的言論：「寧可在BMW車上哭，也不要在自行車後笑」，明顯的拜金主義橫行，引發社會的撻伐。這也反映出現世代個人內心價值的混亂。我們為年輕待婚的信徒禱告，求神賜他們純全的心智等待主為他們預備最美好的伴侶。也幫助他們的信主父母們卸下擔心孩子娶嫁窮人會一生不幸福的憂慮，全然信賴神最美好的帶領。
星期一
「有照行醫，無照養生」。讓中國許多沒受過醫療專業訓練的「養生專家」有機可乘之。養生健保等領域成為沒人監管、無牌照者最好賺錢的真空地帶。近年來教會也出現不少假教師，散播「另類的福音」，叫人以為信耶穌必能富裕成功，病得醫治。求主憐憫這些迷羊，帶領他們回歸到基督耶穌十字架的真理上。