Prayer Request 7/13 - 7/19

Tuesday
Why are Chinese not given the Nobel Prize in Literature? An expert said, "Modern Chinese authors not considered for the Nobel Laureate have some geopolitical reasons, most importantly there is the issue of translation, which presents an obstacle in linguistics and communication." There are few contemporary Chinese Christian authors known outside of China. We pray for the day that insights shared by Chinese theologians and authors will be appreciated by more believers n China and abroad as well as more people who can articulate God's truth and make the Scripture relevant in a Chinese cultural context.

Wednesday
During the Cultural Revolution from 1960-1970, these slogans were popular: "If you do not read Chairman Mao's writings for one day, you will have problems. If you do not read for two days, you will begin going downhill and for three days, you will die." "Submit to Chairman Mao and follow him blindly, believe in Chairman Mao to the point of being suuperstitious." Many people observe that the church grows during periods of persecution but becomes stagnant when prosperity prevails. We sincerely pray that the fire of revival comes again for all believers in China. May the Spirit of the Lord test our hearts and refine us to serve Him with utmost devotion as we treasure His word every day.

Thursday
Recently there have been several high-profile enterprises trying to eradicate prostitiution as well as sweeping efforrts to get rid of organized crime. A Chinese poem states, "The grass cannot be burned out by a prarie fire but grows again with the spring breeze." Many are cynical about whether all the recent police efforts will be effective because they are tired to corruption in high places. Can an average Chinese believer or even a church do anything about social ills? Let us pray that the Lord will guard the hearts and minds of all believers as they walk by businesses and stores that openly feature and promote sexual temptation.

Friday
Parents who send their daughters abroad to study often worry about marriage issues. One such mother said, "She cannot marry a foreigner because there is too big a cultural difference. She cannot marry those rich (playboy) fellow students because they are not reliable. She must look for only those who had a scholarship or a fine local Chinese boy." We pray in particular for Christian parents who have daughters. We know it is very important that they date Christians but we also know that as parents we can only remind them of this. May the Lord help us to do what we should do and pray earnestly for the future mates of our children accepting their choices and never give up praying for them.

Saturday
Some of the cults ravaging the churches in China resort to dirty tricks such as threatening leaders with physical harm, kidnapping, sexual temptation, and coming in as wolves in sheep's clothing to physically hijack the entire church body(members). Every week churches are destroyed by cults and the group that is left is feeble and unable to function. Let us pray for those churches that are under attack, specifically for their safety and wisdom. We pray too, for those who are trying to regroup their ministry after the loss of their shepherd.

Sunday
There is a growing trend among the house churches to attack each other, solely on the basis of one's theology. Recently, the intensity of such attacks have escalated. What is merely difference in denominational beliefs outside of China are now causing Chinese believers to calling each other "heretic". It is sad to quickly label anyone who hold a slightly different Biblical interpretation as false teachers. May the Lord grant us humility and genuine acceptance. We pray that believers will not attack one another as enemies because they hold slightly different view in Biblical interpretation, but they can encourage us because they love the Lord.

Monday
The practice of borrowing money from friends, relatives, or neighbors is very common in China. Culturally, one is obligated to help the person in need but often unpaid or long-running debts strain relationships. Sometimes it is very difficult to decide whether the church as a body should or should not financially help a brother or sister in need. Often when the church does not help, people get hurt. Let us pray for wisdom and discernment when money for believers is involved in the churches.


星期二
為什麼諾貝爾文學獎不頒給中國人呢？一個專家說：「中國當代作家與諾貝爾獎無緣是有政治地缘上的考量，更大的是翻譯問題。語言和溝通的障礙影響甚大。」當代中國基督教作家在中國之外極少為人認識。我們禱告早一天讓更多國內外信徒可分享華人神學家和作家的見解。求主賜更多僕人，一方面忠心於上帝真理，另一方面又能把聖經融入中國文化裏。

星期三
1960-70年代文化大革命期間流行一些口號：「毛主席的著作，一天不讀問題多，兩天不讀走下坡，三天不讀沒法活。服從毛主席要服從到盲從的地步，相信毛主席要相信到迷信的地步。」現在不少人看到：「教會是在受迫害中增長，但是在富裕中萎縮。」我們誠心為中國信徒的靈命再次復興來祈求，願主的靈察驗、煉凈我們的心，好叫我們每日珍惜神的話語，以敬虔來服侍祂。

星期四
近來中國有不少大規模的掃黃與打黑的行動，黄與黑兩者是密不可分的。色情產業的興隆，其中參雜了涉黑勢力、腐敗權利。不少人帶著悲觀的態度說黃毒是「野火燒不盡，春風吹又生」。面對社會上普遍的貪腐和色情、暴力，一個普通的信徒，甚至一間社區中的教會能改變敗壞風氣嗎？讓我們彼此儆醒守望，祈求主保守所有信徒的心，尤其是經常路過一些黃色店鋪和充滿了性誘惑的地區時。

星期五
送女兒出國讀書的家長總是擔心孩子的終身大事。一位母親有這樣的提醒：一、不許找外國人，文化背景差異太大；二、不許找紈絝子弟留學生，因他們不可靠；三、要考慮優秀的公費留學生或是當地優秀華裔青年。我們特別為有女兒的基督徒父母禱告。雖然家長希望女兒們找基督徒的男朋友，但也只能提醒。願主感動父母能懇切爲兒女將來的配偶祈求，也接納孩子的選擇，絕不放棄為他們守望代禱。

星期六
中國的異端邪教極手段極為可恨。「東方閃電」用坑矇拐騙等下流手段，專以教會同工、領袖為首要擄掠對象，與披著羊皮的狐狸無異，使許多教會領袖受虧損，事工受到很大傷害。求神用大能護衛教會，賜下屬靈的洞察力給正受威脅的教會，並堅固弟兄姊妹的信心，使仇敵得不著任何擾亂的機會。也額外施恩憐憫正在療傷的教會。

星期日
近來家庭教會間出現彼此攻詰的情況，所爭的其實只是一些神學觀點，但情況卻不斷升級，甚至充滿了文革時代那種批鬥的火藥味。少數正統信仰的宗派，竟因信徒間的堅持而互指對方為異端。連不少信仰純正的傳道人也因不同的解經方法而被標籤為「假教師」。求主賜下謙卑和真誠接納的心，挪去信徒間的批判和攻擊，不要因某些非關信仰核心的分歧而視對方為仇敵，學習在主裡互相尊重，為對方也是愛主的肢體而歡喜。

星期一
在華人的觀念裡，當要金錢應急時，向親屬、朋友、鄰里借貸是理所當然的事，而身為當事人的親友，亦有所謂「道義」要借給對方，不好意思拒絕。然而當欠債不還，借錢過後卻隻字不提或逃避的情形發生時，在彼此關係上就朦上陰影。在教會裡，當弟兄姊妹經濟上有困難時，我們不易決定是否該施予援手，求神賜我們彼此相顧的心，同時亦有智慧管理好神所託管的錢財。