Prayer Request 7/6 - 7/12

Tuesday
A string of suicides of employees in a well-known mega company grabbed headlines in China. This company is no "sweat shop" operation but boasts of one of the best employee-benefit programs. However, hundreds of thousands of young workers live in an isolated urban "factory island" and work overtime, spending their few hours of free time in internet cafe, basketball courts, living a totally monotonous daily routine. We praise the Lord that people are expending much effort to reach the workers in these large urban factories. Some are from Christian families but have not attended church for a long time. We pray that more Christians and churches will reach out to this unique group of young laborers. We pray, too, that the Holy Spirit will turn the hearts of these straying sheep back to the Chief Shepherd.
Wednesday
There is a shortage of factory workers in China, especially in the coastal provinces. Many factories must raise their salaries in order to compete for the dwindling pool of young workers. Large factories offer bigger salaries. They also afford regular payment of the salaries, good benefits, overtime bonuses, and free housing which all provide an obviously distinct advantage in attracting workers. For the same reasons younger church workers desire to serve in urban churches where there are more people who are also better educated and more affluent. The smaller and rural churches have great difficulty attracting shepherds. We know that serving God's people is a calling rather than mere employment and we pray that the need for workers among the smaller and less affluent churches will be met.
Thursday
As society has changed and the churches in China are much more diverse than in the past, many pastors fail to grasp the changes and still preach in ways that are not in sync with the real world. Many of the college-educated believers feel these sermons are not applicable or irrelevant, especially those on issues related to sex (divorce, co-habitation) morals, and work ethics. Many pastors feel inadequate when it comes to discussing issues they themselves do not understand so preaching becomes more or less the same every time and is detached from the daily lives of the people. We pray for powerful, fearless, and life-transforming preaching in every church which is not only Biblical but also applicable to the lives of the people.
Friday
Historically, the Chinese People's Liberation Army attracted many intellectuals to join its ranks back in its early days, at the beginning of the Republic, and in 1980. College graduates joining the military was, however, unheard of before. Today the minimal education for Chinese soldiers is a high school diploma.There are many faithful young people who have given their lives to God's work with a mere junior high education. Today we pray that more college graduates would answer God's call to serve as well as for wisdom for those who feel intimidated or inferior in sharing their faith because they have little education besides Bible training.
Saturday
In 2009 more than 100,000 college graduates joined the Chinese army whereas back in 2001 the number of college grads who joined the army was 2000. This is a 60-fold change in the past decade and it gives the Chinese military a substantial transformation in the quality of its recruits and the command chain.We earnestly pray that the Spirit of God will move mightily in calling college graduates to be trained as preachers for the Chinese churches. Parents in China are unwilling to let their only child become "poor" church workers and "waste" their investment on the child. May the Lord change the hearts of Christian parents who have a son or daughter who wants to serve the Lord in His harvest field.
Sunday
With the improving economy, 2010 college graduates in China can expect an average starting salary equal to that of 2008 (2036 yuan monthly). The beginning salary is much higher in Beijing and one with a PhD degree makes it twice as much as that of a college graduate.Let us pray especially for the young believers who are graduating from colleges this year that they will continue to walk closely with God and stay connected with local churches. Many Christian graduates are lost to follow-up and become so busy with their work, social life, and payments on an apartment that they feel they don't have time to go to church.
Monday
The term "city floaters" refers to college graduates who do not have office jobs and live in low-rent housing with no respect or possibility of advancement. They are often asked, "Why does a college grad do this kind of work?" followed by, "What a waste!" They also feel guilty that they are not able to support their parents financially after their parents spent so much on their college education. Being able to financially support parents is universally expected of Chinese children. We pray for parents who are believers and have children who have not turned out as they expected. May the Lord grant us the unconditional love of the Father and help us continue to pray for our children knowing God has a wonderful purpose for each one of them.

星期二
一家知名企業近日發生一連串員工墮樓悲劇，引起中國社會廣泛關注。該公司擁有近百萬員工，廠房猶如一個小巿鎮。員工在這「城市孤島」每天要工作十多小時，幾無休息時間，工餘只能到網吧、籃球場調劑一下，生活單調枯燥。感謝讚美主，有不 少信徒與教會正回應此族群的福音需要。求主感動更多信徒願意接觸這群 廣大的年輕勞工，也求聖靈把一些原為基督教家庭的迷失小羊們引回。
星期三
近來中國的企業面臨工人荒，沿海省份的情況尤其嚴重，許多工廠必須提高薪金來吸引第二代的民工。大型公司能提供穩定且優厚的薪酬，更有福利和加班獎金，；工人也尋找更好待遇的工作。年輕的教會同工也期望到城市服事，因會友多，教育程度高，教會的經濟條件亦好；事奉神是一個呼召，並非一份職業，讓我們為小型和資源缺乏的教會禱告，求主引領忠心又謙卑的僕人來牧養祂的羊群。
星期四
社會急速變化，中國信徒的背景也越來越多元化，許多牧者趕不上時代變遷，也避免討論自己所不理解或不能接納的課題，講道容易與現實脫節。很多高學歷信徒認為講臺信息不切實際亦不適用，特別是涉及性（如離婚，同居）、倫理和工作道德。我們禱告主，讓每一所教會都能勇敢忠心地傳講出神要這世代聽見的真理，使人心受警誡，更能將聖經原則在生活中實際應用操練，改變生命。
星期五
回顧歷史，早期中華人民共和國啟始時和1980年代，人民解放軍曾吸引許多知識分子参與，但當時尚無大學畢業生加入。今天軍人的最低教育資格是高中畢業，然許多忠心委身做主工的年輕信徒，僅有國中畢業而已。我們禱告有更多大學畢業生願意回應神的呼召出來服事，也求神賜智慧與膽量給擔心自己除聖經外沒受過多少教育，羞怯於與人分享信仰的肢體。
星期六
在2009年，超過10萬名的中國大學生畢業生攜筆從戎、入伍當兵，而2001年大學生入伍的只有2000人，9年來大學生入伍總量擴大了近60倍。大學生入伍為部隊建設帶來根本性變化。為未來大學生獻身運動代禱，使更多知識分子傳道人產生，來幫助教會。在中國許多父母不願意讓他們的孩子去當窮傳道，也不想"浪費"他們的錢投資在孩子身上。願神改變這些中國基督徒父母的心，使他們的也願意讓孩子為主使用，成為主的禾場的工人。
星期日
調查顯示中國經濟開始穩定回升，今年各企業已將起薪點回升至2008年的水平。預計博士應屆畢業生平均月起薪為4325元，大學畢業生每月為2036元，北京的將達到2815元。我們為即將大學畢業的年輕信徒禱告，許多人畢業後，忙於事業、社交，煩惱房屋貸款，犧牲教會聚會。求主保守他們無論往何處去，都能緊緊跟隨主，不停止聚會，且點燃他們追求成長的心。
星期一
「城漂」大學生，畢業後滯留城市，無固定工作，居無定所，像無根的「浮萍」在城市中「漂」著。他們常被問道：「大學畢業怎麼做這個……這不是浪費嗎？」 其實他們亦因無法報答父母而內疚痛苦。華人子女常被期待長大後要奉養父母。當孩子達不到預期，父母除擔心晚年無依外，更憂心孩子的未來。求主記念這些信徒父母們，能以天父對我們無條件的愛，不住為孩子禱告，使每個孩子能明白神在他們一生的美好旨意。