Prayer Request 9/14 - 9/20

Tuesday
Because of China’s crack-down of Islamic separatists and its tight-fist policy in the Muslim-dominated Xinjiang, sympathetic Muslims around the world have developed a suspicious view toward Chinese. Admittedly, Chinese as a whole fears the Muslims and our lives and theirs simply do not mix. May the Lord break down our pride and the walls we build in our hearts, so we are truly willing to pray for their salvation.
Wednesday
As China finds a bigger place in world affairs, its wealth breeds hostility. In the recent violence in Kyrgyzstan, Chinese merchants were singled out and robbed. Although China boasts "having friends everywhere", local people resenting Chinese merchants is quite evident in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. "Are Chinese better than the Western capitalists as missionaries of the Gospel?" Let us pray for our own sense of ethnic superiority, and Chinese churches seeing ourselves as the unwilling prophet Jonah in reaching out to the Muslims.
Thursday
In the 1980’s, trying to attend a house church in China required an introduction to get in. Now, most house churches are open and even publish their address online. Many meet openly in office buildings. Let us pray for all the churches meeting in these office buildings, for their relationship with the landlords and the local police. We pray for their ministries, their growth especially to families with young children.
Friday
A new kind of urban church is emerging in China which is often made up of young people with a college education (70-80%). These young believers want to learn more about faith and also to be involved in serving in the church and along with administration. Let us pray that these "new" churches will be able to meet the need of young people with relevant Biblical preaching as well as give the younger generation opportunities to serve and lead in the church.
Saturday
Many young urban believers are not content to simply attend a Sunday service. They also want to have a well-organized Sunday school and learn more about the Bible as well as learning how their church is run and who makes decisions there. We pray for all the young Chinese believers that churches will be able to meet their spiritual and relational needs. May the Lord give us all, whether young or old, the humility to serve together.
Sunday
Young urban believers in China are indeed very different from those in the older generation. They want to serve using their gifts and talents in music, literature, and evangelism. They also want their church to help them meet friends, find a partner for marriage, and teach them how to rear their family. The vast majority of churches are trying to meet these needs with the very limited resources and experience they have. We pray for both a sense of urgency for church leaders and for patience on the part of young believers.
Monday
Many Chinese believers in the cities are no longer content to have their church function on only Sunday. They want their church to be involved in the community so that believers can live out their faith for others to see. We praise the Lord for this transformation and lift up churches who do have involvement in their communities, such as visitation of the elderly, helping the handicapped, and even those who reach out to the poor.

星期二
由於當局對新疆回教分離份子實施鎮壓，並對回民佔多數的地區嚴加管制，世界各地的穆斯林對新疆多寄予同情，對華人抱持著懷疑的態度。一般而言，漢人群體對穆斯林人多少存有恐懼的心態，因為兩族的生活方式明顯不同，融合不易。願主打破我們在種族文化上自恃的優越感和心理上的圍籬，願意接納回民如手足同胞，真心為他們的得救迫切禱告。
星期三
當今富強的中國在國際上的份量舉足輕重，可是中國人的財富卻引來不少外族仇視。儘管中國一向在全球各角落「廣交朋友」，但在吉爾吉斯坦暴動時，中國店鋪屢遭襲擊；印尼等東南亞國家，華商也常成為當地居民宣洩不滿時掠奪的對象。 「中國人真的比來自西方資本主義國家的宣教士更適合做宣教工作？」 求主挪除我們民族的優越感，在拓展「回民」事工時，不應像先知約拿般輕看任何一種「尼尼微人」，不情願與他們分享褔音。
星期四
在上世紀80年代，想參加家庭教會，還需要先找「介紹人」。現在許多家庭聚會已相當公開，甚至可在網上找到地址。家庭教會的主要標誌已不再是「住家」，而是在寫字樓了。我們特別為在商業大樓中聚會的教會禱告，求主賜他們能力與智慧在社區作光作鹽，在房東和當地公安人員前蒙恩。也祝福他們的事工興旺，尤其是當中有許多有小小孩年輕夫婦為主的教會。
星期五
城市教會正在不斷轉變中，其中有百分之70至80以上的會友是受過高等教育的年輕一代，他們渴望更多深入瞭解自己的信仰，也願意有更多機會參與教會的服事與治理。求主幫助這些「新型中國教會」的領導同工能更有效牧養年輕一代，忠心按正意分解真理的道，並多予會眾鼓勵，以開放的心胸廣設溝通的管道，得著這些年輕人的心。
星期六
今日年輕一代信徒著意追求真理，參加主日敬拜，聽一篇講道並不能滿足他們的需要。他們除了要認識信仰的基要真理之餘，更盼望對聖經有更深的瞭解，並實際參與教會的管理及運作。求主引導教會領袖成為好管家，有主的智慧按時分糧，餵養年輕一代。也禱告老一代和年輕人能一起謙卑在神面前，在教會同心服事。求神幫助我們不論長幼，在言語、行為、愛心、信心、清潔上，都要作信徒的好榜樣。
星期日
年輕一代的基督徒對教會的期望與昔日的信徒大大不同，他們希望能參與教會服事，將神給自己在傳福音、音樂、文字等各方面的恩賜，在教會中發揮出來。同時他們亦渴望得到屬靈長者在交友、戀愛、婚姻及教養子女等方面的指導。大多數的中國教會缺少資源和經驗幫助年輕信徒，我們求主親自帶領和施恩，讓教會領袖有逼切的心培育年輕一代，也賜年輕信徒能謙卑受教，有忍耐的心來等候主的時刻。
星期一
中國城市教會在急速的改變中，會友期望教會不僅在主日敬拜神，更能在社區中作燈台，發揮光與鹽的功能，使信徒能一同學習把信仰落實在生活中，讓未信的人能有機會認識信仰。我們為城市教會的轉變及異象來讚美主，也為那些積極在社區中擴展事工，例如關心年長，幫助傷殘及接觸貧窮人等的教會祈求，願神祝福他們手中所作的工，以美好的見證使主的名大得榮耀。