Prayer Request 10/26 - 11/1

Tuesday
It is said that, while doing business in Shanghai, there is no need for socializing, no need for drinking, only to let it be known that there is money to be made and that would be enough. Shanghai is a good place to make a deal, legally. Beijing people like to say, "Shanghai people are businessmen; they do everything by the book." Conducting business with integrity is very challenging in China. We pray for all believers as they strive to live according to God's high standard. May the Lord give us all conviction to refuse to compromise and He will not fail us.
Wednesday
Shanghai people are pragmatic in every way. If you told a Shanghai person that you are an author, he would ask you, "Is your book selling well?" If you told him that you are a professor, he will certainly ask you, "Do they pay teachers well?" Certainly, believers have little idea how much their pastors are paid (this is not usually made known to the congregation in China). However, few parents would encourage their children to go into ministry because of its meager salary. We pray that Chinese believers will be good stewards of God's money and that they will take good care of God's servants, financially.
Thursday
To be the most livable city in China it is required to have the following qualities: fast and convenient transportation, be clean and orderly with no pollution, have good air quality. A recent survey listed Shanghai as the first on the list with Dalian following as the second one. Both cities have many foreign companies, many expats, and many Chinese who have been abroad and returned there to live. Many of them are Christians who have formed fellowship groups for Bible study. May the Lord use them to lead others to Christ and become a great resource for the local churches.
Friday
In China, religious beliefs have gone beyond the place where the government is able to control them any more. Two-thirds of those who described themselves as religious in a 2006 survey said they were Buddhists, Taoists, or worshippers of a folk god such as the Dragon King or the God of Fortune. Many Christians have observed that preaching Jesus is now meeting opposition in China. It can be discouraging to see many temples popping up everywhere. We pray that the desire to evangelize there will not fade and that many more of us will see the urgency to do so also.
Saturday
In the Taoist and Buddhist religions Mazu is a goddess who protects sailors. Recently the worship of Mazu was reclassified as "cultural heritage" rather than a religion, thus making it acceptable for Communist Party members to practice it. Communist Party members are still prohibited from believing in Jesus but we know God still loves every one of them. We pray for those who have the seed of the gospel but are afraid to profess the name of Jesus. May the Lord show Himself real to them.
Sunday
In 2009 the Chinese government reversed its decades-long prohibition of ancestor worship and made the traditional Grave Sweeping Day a national holiday. This made worshipping ancestors legal and encouraged officials to participate. For centuries the question of whether believers are allowed to worship their deceased parents or not has divided the church in China. We pray for those who are afraid of accepting Jesus because they feel they would longer be able to honor their parents after they are gone.
Monday
The Chinese government has given special favor to Buddhism and its activities saying it is a Chinese cultural heritage and must be promoted. Some scholars believe that this move is made to counterbalance the rapid growth of Christianity in China. The resurgence of temple worship in China is very striking and it even includes little children. However, it is illegal to share the gospel with children or anyone under eighteen years old. We pray for new strategies, urgency, and a burning passion to take Jesus Christ to the new generation of Chinese.

星期二
跟上海人談生意，無需談文化，無需喝大酒，也無需稱兄道弟，甚至無需假裝做朋友。只要告訴上海人，這筆買賣有什麼好處就夠了。上海是個可以按規矩做生意的地方，用句北京話形容：上海人做生意「靠譜」。正直不阿的人在中國做生意很困難，事實上在世界上要持守神的原則過活亦是一個大挑戰。讓我們為所有基督徒禱告，求主保守我們的心，堅信祂的公義信實，拒絕向不義妥協。
星期三
一般上海人的思維乃事事講求實惠，從物質角度出發。如果你告訴上海人，你是作家，他會問：出書能賺大錢嗎？如果你告訴上海人，你是教授，他又會問：做老師待遇挺好的吧？做傳道人不是一個能賺大錢的「行業」，沒幾個父母樂意讓自己的孩子奉獻作傳道，因知作傳道的待遇微薄。求主教導中國信徒對金錢有正確的態度和觀念，能成為金錢的好管家，同時要更多記念神的僕人經濟上的需要。
星期四
最適宜居住的中國城市需具備以下素質：快捷方便的交通、乾淨、有序、沒污染，空氣質量良好等。最近一個評估，上海被列為中國最適宜居住城市，其次是大連。這兩個城市均有許多外資公司、外籍人士和海歸，其中許多人是基督徒，他們成立了查經團契，願主大大使用他們成為流通神祝福的管道，領人歸向基督，並且成為當地教會的屬靈資源。
星期五
宗教信仰的傳播之快，遠遠超出政府預期，多種中國傳統宗教也日漸復興。官方說，自認有信仰的人中，有三分之二是信奉佛教、道教、龍王或財神爺。 許多中國基督徒都能感受到，現在傳講主耶穌，越來越被人抗拒；，然而寺廟卻幾乎無處不在。求主幫助我們，無論得時不得時，務要積極傳道，在這末世人心厭煩真道的時候，有更多信徒仍然信心堅定，興起發光為主盡力搶救靈魂。
星期六
媽祖被奉為保護航海者的神明，最近媽祖崇拜被中國官方列為“文化遺產”而非宗教活動。如此，即使是共產黨員也更容易接受這種披著文化色彩的宗教。這種方式在其他中國傳統宗教信仰崇拜問題的處理上也找得到。雖然共產黨員是禁止信耶穌的，但我們深信神仍然愛每一位黨員。我們為那些心中已擁有福音種子，但恐懼信耶穌要面對逼迫的人禱告，願主向他們顯明祂才是真神。
星期日
2009年，政府認可中國傳統掃墓祭祖日「清明節」為公眾假期，這一新例鼓勵中國人在清明節祭祀已故的親人。數百年來，信徒在面對是否能祭祖這問題時，承受極大壓力，也造成中國教會的分裂。的確有許多華人疑慮接受了基督信仰，他們不能在父母死後以傳统禮節表達孝思，成為信主的障礙，讓我們為這些人能真正明瞭聖經教導孝順的真意來禱告。
星期一
政府對佛教活動常給予特別的優待， 認為是中國傳統文化。有學者認為，此舉意在使佛教與眼下在中國傳播發展迅速的基督教信仰相抗衡。 近來中國的廟宇煙火興盛十分驚人，甚至孩童也參與其中。但是現時向18歲以下的人傳福音仍屬違法。求主賜給我們智慧、使命和火熱的心，將主耶穌的救恩傳遞給中國的新一代。