Prayer Request 10/5 - 10/11

Tuesday
Young Chinese people grow up with the image of beautiful women with Western features so it is little wonder that the young women flock to cosmetic salons to get double eye lids, a nasal bridge, and breast augmentation in the hope of improving their job and marriage prospects. There are many young female believers in the churches in China. It is good that we pray for their spiritual growth, their concern about finding a Christian mate, and the pressure they get from their parents to marry quickly before they get "too old".
Wednesday
The largest Barbie store in the world opened in Shanghai to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the popular doll. They say, "We don't offer a lot of Asian Barbies since they never sell well because customers like to buy the authentic Barbie which they think is beautiful and she is known to have blond hair and blue eyes." 　It is very unfortunate that many children in Chinese Christian families grow up without any role models. Either their parents do not know any or else they do not want them to "suffer" for Jesus. We pray that young Chinese believers will aspire to do great things for God.
Thursday
The latest fad for pet owners in China is to dye their dogs to look like other animals, such as pandas, tigers, or even turtles or fish. There are more and more people in China who own pets. They are wealthy and willing to spend big money on their furry pets. We see people everywhere who have more and more disposable income and are willing to spend it. We pray that all believers will see how much God has blessed them and then be willing to give back to God accordingly, not only financially but also of their time.
Friday
According to a sample study done by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, about 1.8% of the population (about 23.05 million people) is Protestant in belief. Females constitute a greater proportion of these believers than males do. More than half of them have an education below the primary school level and 68.8% give the reason for their belief in God as coming from having had a personal illness or a sick family member. We know one thing for sure and that is that God has a great deal more work for the church in China to do in evangelism and raising up strong belivers who are not merely "mild drinkers". For this we pray and commit to pray even more.
Saturday
The current theological training provided in China or seminary training outside of China is both considered "foreign" in the indigenous Chinese churches and their own traditions. To the majority of pastors in China, all their training needs to be acculturated to fit the unique need of their churches. It is true indeed that many well-intentioned people have tried to teach churches in China how to do ministry. It is our prayer that these churches will be grounded solidly on God's word and not necessarily on any certain denomination or tradition. Lord, the churches in China belong to You!
Sunday
While many churches in China are trying to draft their own bylaws and statements of faith, they run into some common problems which lead to long debates. One of these is the issue of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Another such problem is that of divorce and re-marriage. We are thankful that the churches are trying to get their beliefs in writing but we pray they will know not just the truth of God but also His grace in their lives. We pray that churches will not suffer division as they work through writing down their beliefs.
Monday
Many churches who want to formulate their procedures for church administration run into a real theological debate which involves whether there should be ordination of elders or deacons. Another divisive issue is that of whether the marriage covenant can ever be broken. Many churches consider themselves as Reformed but with a Chinese distinctive. We know we are all the body of Christ and one in Him. May the Lord give us wisdom, discernment, and above all humility not to consider ourselves better than others.

星期二
中國年輕的一代是看著西方美女廣告長大的，因此也難怪不少年輕中國女性想擁有雙眼皮、高鼻樑和豐滿的胸部，她們期望透過整容，能獲得較優厚的工作和伴侶。中國教會有許多年輕的姐妹，我們特別為她們的需要禱告，求主幫助她們靈命成長，尤其在面對父母担心錯過婚齡的催嫁壓力時，仍然堅持等候神的帶領與預備。
星期三
為慶祝芭比娃娃50周年，上海開設了全球最大的芭比旗艦店。據稱在中國，芭比娃娃的東方造型並不好賣，中國顧客仍較喜歡買正宗的金髮、藍眼睛的芭比娃娃。在教會長大的新一代，許多都沒有好的屬靈榜樣，其父母未受教導亦不希望自己唯一的孩子為耶穌「受苦」。我們求神給年輕的肢體徒樂意裝備自己讓神使用，更願意奉獻一生為主作工。
星期四
最新一輪的寵物時尚是將寵物染成其他動物。從熊貓到老虎、從烏龜到海寶，不一而足。中國人收入也越來越高，養寵物的人數也迅速增長，願意花更多的錢在他們的長毛朋友身上。無論何處我們都看到人們賺得多，可供自由支配的收入多了，也捨得花用。求主幫助每一個信徒看見自己是多麼蒙福，理當把從神而得的獻給神，干心樂意的奉獻，不單單是金錢，更是寶貴的時間。
星期五
社科院抽樣調查顯示：中國現有基督教新教徒佔全國人口總數的千分之十八，估計為 2305萬人，女性明顯多於男性，半數以上的新教徒學歷在小學水平以下，信教主要原因為自己或家人生病佔68.8％。中國教會有許多未完成的使命，我們為教會願意傳福音、幫助信徒禱告，不要停留在「吃奶」階段，更能長大「吃乾糧」。我們要為此更加恆切不斷地為中國教會向主祈求。
星期六
目前，無論是中國本土提供的神學教育，還是海外的神學教育，其神學的理念及體系，基本上是外來的神學傳統，仍需要在本土的教會中實踐、整全後，才能成為神學建造的資源。過去不少外地的神僕和事工都帶著教導中國教會的心態而來。我們禱告：中國教會能堅穩紮根在神的話語及真理上，不是跟隨某個教派的格式或是某些傳統，乃是跟隨主基督的腳蹤。親愛的主！教會是屬於你的！
星期日
當許多中國教會在制訂教會的信約時，原本在教會中已經存在了一段時間的靈恩問題，立即成為討論的焦點。其次，在修訂教會紀律時，信徒的離婚與再婚，也在同工中引起很長時間的爭論。我們為教會成熟，開始制定信約，慎重思考他們的信仰立場來感恩。但是也為他們在真理與恩典上都能領受同樣的豐富來禱告。我們更為在制訂過程中，有神親自的引導和保守禱告，沒有紛爭或分裂，每個人都願意虛己謙卑、同心尋求神的旨意。
星期一
不少教會在教會章程的修訂中，因涉及治理的理念，如職分的劃分及同工會的責任等，都曾爆發過激烈的爭論。這些爭論還涉及對婚姻盟約的理解及教會與社會的關係等。許多中國教會在神學上，認定他們是帶有中國特色的改革宗。我們深信每一個教會都是基督的身體，也都以祂為首，屬於祂的。願神給我們屬靈的智慧和判斷力，常尋求神的旨意，心存謙卑，看別人比自己強。也尊重神有主權給不同教會不同的啟示及特別的看見，為要肢體操練相顧相愛，預備成就各樣善工。