Prayer Request 6/29 - 7/5

Tuesday
Although there are laws against discrimination in China, "hidden discrimination" in hiring abounds there. It includes: people with hepatitis or HIV; girls taller than 1.6 meters or men taller than 1.7 meters; people aged 35 and above; handicapped people; restrictions on pregnant women; people with certain blood types, using zodiac signs or fortune telling in selecting an applicant. In China, Christians do not usually profess their faith at work. We pray for those who do let others know they are followers of Jesus. May they have a powerful testimony and may their lives touch people in ways that glorify God. We pray especially for believers who work for the government at various levels for integrity and a positive influence in their workplace.
Wednesday
A foreign magazine said that sixteen million Chinese women are married to homosexual men. They are trapped in loveless and often miserable marriages and many are victims of abuse and violence. They are known as tongqi combining the words tongzhi or comrade which is the Chinese slang for "gay" with qizi which means "wife" in Mandarin. Let us pray for these women and also all the women who have found no joy or happiness in their marriages. Christian women can have a powerful testimony and be a support to these women who have "unspeakable shame" or unfaithful husbands. We know God cares for and listens to the prayers of widows.
Thursday
Christian businessmen (and factory owners) have an important role in evangelism in China, especially in cities like Shenzhen and Donguan in the South. These men allow and encourage the sharing of the gospel in factories and workers' dormitories. Many businessmen who went to China to try their luck at starting a business have also come to know Jesus. Numerous overseas Chinese believers have gone back to China for business along with evangelistic opportunities. Let us pray for God's blessing for these kingdom-minded believers and their ministry in the factories.
Friday
Any generalization concerning the churches in China is flawed but the lack of quality church leadership is a common problem. It is true that God can use all kinds of people but those who lack leadership ability, genuine humility, and maturity inflict injury to God's churches. Many people seem to be fine and willing workers but once they are in a position of leadership they become full of pride and care more about personal gain than fulfilling their calling to serve. Let us remember the believers who are under such leadership. We look to God for His discipline for them and realize that pride can blind even the best of us.
Saturday
The government says that in 2009 there was a significant increase in both the number of students who went abroad to study and those who returned. Of the 230,000 people (a 27% increase) who studied abroad, 90% of them were not sponsored by the Chinese government. Last year 110,000 scholars (a 56% increase) returned and 80% of them were not sponsored by the government. Many Chinese students accepted Christ abroad and returned to involve themselves in campus ministries. We pray that God will use their profession of faith as a lamp in the dark and that they will be a great blessing to and mobilize the house churches in sharing the gospel in the cities.
Sunday
Since the implementation of the one-child policy in the 1970’s, population growth has been effectively controlled in China. However, this has created the so-called "4-2-1" families where one child must bear the burden of support for two parents and four grandparents. We pray for all the believers who have aging parents. May the Lord give them patience, tenderness, and respect knowing that God wants us to honor our parents and when we care for them God will bless us. We are thus a good testimony to non-believers also.
Monday
In many large cities in China the "one-child generation" finds it difficult to know how to support aging parents and grandparents. They feel they do not have enough time and resources to care for and raise their own child let alone caring for the older generations. We pray for believers who have both children and aging parents. May the Lord give them joy and wisdom in taking care of both the young and the old. May He give them strength, encouraging words, and blessings as they live out the love of God in their families.

星期二
雖然中國法律不允許歧視，但「隱性歧視」卻常發生在僱用員工時。其中包括：患有肝炎或艾滋病毒，女性身高1.6米的或男性1.7米的，及年紀超過35歲者。在工作場合中，中國信徒一般不會公開其信仰。讓我們再禱告中記念肯公開自己是基督徒的，求主保守他們能有美好的生命見證，在職場上，尤其在政府服務的肢體，能發揮積極的影響力，並將榮耀歸與主。
星期三
「同妻」是指同性戀者的妻子（同志的妻子）。據外國雜誌報導，中國同妻有1,600萬人之多。中國的同妻，不僅得不到性生活上的滿足，很多還遭受冷落、漠視和家庭暴力。讓我們為許多婚姻不幸福，沒有喜樂的妻子們禱告。求主激勵姐妹成為強有力的見證，將耶穌帶給許多有「不可告人的羞恥」或「丈夫不 忠」的婦女。因我們深知神是聽「寡婦」禱告的神。
星期四
南方大城深圳、東筦的許多工廠中，基督徒老闆們揖開福音之門。允許、鼓勵傳福音，許多工人因此認識神。許多嘗試到中國碰運氣的商人，在當地認識了耶穌。更有一批批海外華人基督徒企業家，以福音使命為己任，事業為輔體，在中國各地為神工作。讓我們在禱告中求神保守並賜福在工廠裏福音工作。
星期五
部分中國教會領袖缺乏成熟的屬靈素質和領導才能。神使用人各種人，但能力不足，卻缺乏謙卑和成熟度的領袖，往往會為教會帶來傷害。許多看起來優秀又願意服事的人，一旦領導大權在握，就驕傲自私起來。我們求主保守在這類肢體帶領下的教會信徒。我們相信神所愛的祂必管教，求神的杖臨到這些同工，領他們脫離這樣的光景。同時我們自己更需要在神面前時刻自我警惕，因驕傲能蒙蔽你我中任何人。
星期六
2009年度中國出國留學和回國人數均呈明顯增長。出國留學近23萬人，同比增長超過27％，其中九成為自費出國者；而留學回國總人數近11萬，同比增長超過56％，八 成以上為自費出國者。許多在海外信主的學人回國後，也持續參與學生事工。求主使用這些專業人士，讓他們的信心如黑暗中的明燈，成為教會日益重視和推動城市福音工作時的祝福。
星期日
七十年代起，中國實行計劃生育政策，迄今三十多年。雖有效控制人口增長，但也導致「獨子養老」的情況。新家庭結構是「421」模式（四個老人，夫妻二人，一個孩子），一名年輕人要負擔起兩位父母輩，四位祖輩的養老重任，難度極大。我們為需照顧年邁親人的信徒禱告，也求主在服侍時賜下更多的體貼、忍耐和溫柔。當按神的心意孝敬父母時，神必賜福，在未信的人中間也有美好的見證。
星期一
現今中國許多大城市裡，獨生子女正面對父母的養老問題。他們無暇也無力照顧好老人，不僅有「養不起小孩」的憂慮，還面對「養不起父母」的危機。 我們為家中既有年邁父母又有年幼子女的弟兄姊妹禱告，求神賜喜樂的心和智慧去照顧自己的至親。也願主賜他們力量，常有神的話為生活的動力，能在家中活出神的愛。