Prayer Request 2/22 - 2/28

Tuesday
In China 1.96 million couples filed for divorce in 2010. The number of divorces has steadily increased by 7.65% in the past five years which may inidcate that the personal income of married men and women is growing and there is also a growing sense of independence among married couples. While there are more and more divorced believers in the churches now, there is usually no special group or fellowship for them and they are often seen as outcasts. We pray for comfort and healing for these "hurt" Christians, especially for those who are now looking for another mate but are seeking to know God's will and honor Him this time around.
Wednesday
Sichuan has the most divorces of any province in China and Tibet, the fewest. One reason is that Sichuan is the most populous and also has a high number of immigrants. After the economic reform and the"Westward Development", tens of millions of people left Sichuan to seek better lives elsewhere. This culture of looking some place else for work is very common among those born in Sichuan. As might be expected, the churches in Sichuan have historically been week. The young people do not stay around because they leave for the coastal cities to work. We come before the Lord with faith, praying for a revival of all of the churches in Sichuan, in its capitol, Chungdu, and in the huge city of Chongqing.
Thursday
Tens of millions of young people from Sichuan become migrant workers far from their homes but they cannot re-locate and settle their families in the new places. Usually the wife must stay at home to care for elderly parents, thus keeping the young couples separated for long periods of time and causing problems in the marriage. We pray for believers who are living apart because of their work and are unable to see each other regularly. May the Lord through His grace protect and guard their hearts and keep them away from temptation so that their relationship can endure and continue to grow. We also lift up their children who are often left with grandparents and get only phone calls from their parents from time to time.
Friday
Until 2003 Chinese couples filing for divorce had to get written approval of the official of the neighborhood. Many couples chose to live in a "dead marriage" to protect their privacy and avoid shame. The simplification of marriage registration now allows couples to get immediate divorce at the local department of civil affairs. We take this time to pray for believers whose marriages are less than healthy or in a poor condidtion. Even the families and marriages of many pastors are not in a healthy state. We pray for God's mercy on our marriages and families. Churches cannot be healthy when the families of believers are sick and dysfunctional.
Saturday
Two and a half years ago Taiwan allowed Chinese from Mainland China to visit which has led to a boom in tourism and generated a lot of earnings and business opportunities there. Since January of this year the number of tourists from China has increased from 3000 to 4000 a day. It is possible the number will be 5000 daily visitors by the middle of the year and in the near future escalate to 10,000 daily. With so many visitors from Mainland China arriving and the possibility of self-guided tourism, we see the probability of believers attending church in Taiwan or the opening for churches in Taiwan to share the gospel with these people. We pray that this will be a wide open opportunity for the spreading of the gospel and that believers from both sides of the Strait will be worshipping together.
Sunday
Officials recently dispelled the rumor that China had plans to introduce new higher denomination banknotes. At present 100 yuan (about $15. US) is the bank note of the highest value in China. Although 100 yuan is barely enough money to buy a decent dinner in a big city, it would be difficult to find 100 yuan notes in the offering plates of an average church in the city. We pray that Chinese believers will quickly learn to be cheerful givers and faithful stewards of that with which the Lord entrusts them.
Monday
Why do the people of China save so much and spend so little? One reason is the lack of a social security system so they must save for their retirement. They also save to send their child to a private school to get ahead academically. They must also save to have money for medical bills. Christians are not exempted from anxiety and worry. We simply pray that all of us will affirm our faith in the heavenly Father Who promised to take care of us. We do want to remember those who are old, or are ill and lack financial resources. May the Lord provide for them through the kindness and love of believers in their churches.

星期二
2010年中國有196萬餘對夫妻登記離婚。離婚人數逐年上升，近5年平均增幅為7.65%，說明中國已婚男女收入及個性越來越獨立，自我意識越來越強。教會中信徒離婚的現象亦越來越普遍，失婚者一般不易到合適的團契，也不被接納。我們為這些「受傷」的信徒能獲得安慰、醫治禱告，尤其是希望再婚，願意在新的婚姻關係中尊主為大、尋求祂旨意的人。
星期三
各省份離婚人數，以四川居首，西藏最後。原因之一是四川省乃中國最熱門的遷出地，改革開放和西部大開發後，數以千萬計的四川人離鄉，到全國各地尋求更好發展，這種現象非常普遍。四川教會靈性一向較為軟弱。年輕人成群結隊到沿海城市打工，很少留守家鄉。我們憑信心向主祈求，讓四川所有教會，包括首都成都市，並人口踞首的重慶市都能大得復興。
星期四
四川有上千萬年輕民工出外打工，他們既難在異地落戶，也無力安家樂業。夫妻一方必需外出掙錢，一方則留守家鄉耕田、照顧老幼。年輕夫妻長期分居兩地，易導致夫妻關係不穩定。不少信徒夫妻為生計，亦需長期分隔兩地，一年半載才可相聚。求主保守他們時刻遠離誘惑，關係歷久長新。也記念留在家鄉由祖父母托管的孩童們，長期不見父母親，只靠偶爾電話溝通，仍能蒙主保守，順利成長。
星期五
2003年以前，離婚還需要單位或居委會出具書面證明。許多夫妻為保護個人隱私，避免被人指指點點，不得不維持名存實亡的「死亡婚姻」。現今簡化婚姻登記手續，已不需「對簿公堂」，當場即可取得離婚證書，使人們更願意到民政部門申辦離婚。 讓我們禱告記念婚姻有難處的肢體，特別記念那些婚姻狀況不良的牧者，求主醫治、憐憫。因信徒婚姻關係欠佳或功能失調，教會也同樣深受其害。
星期六
自從台灣開放大陸民眾觀光兩年半以來，旅遊業收益和商機不斷增加。從今年一月份起，赴台每天名額已由3,000人次提高到4,000人次，第二季底將探討是否放寬至每日5,000人次，甚至未來還要提高至每日1萬人次。赴台遊客增多，為傳福音提供契機。我們求神廣開福音大門，有朝一日能讓兩岸弟兄姊妹能一同敬拜讚美主。
星期日
官方排除謠言，表示沒有計劃推出新的高面額人民幣鈔票。人民幣最大面額是100元（約合15美元）。在大城市裡，100元不一定能支付一餐像樣的晚餐，可是在一般城市教會的奉獻袋裡，百元鈔票卻仍屬罕見。求主幫助弟兄姊妹做神忠實的好管家，甘心樂意奉獻，歡喜樂意成為主祝福他人的的管道。
星期一
中國人為什麼存錢多而花錢少呢? 原因之一是缺乏社會安全福利體系，需要為退休後的生活而儲蓄。中國人存錢也因想送孩子上私立學校，可以在學業上領先一步。另外一個原因是公共醫療不完善，需存錢以應付生病。基督徒似乎也無法免除存錢養病養老和念私校的情況。聖經告訴我們天父上帝是我們的依靠，求主堅固肢體的信心。也在禱告中記念年老、帶病、無經濟基礎的信徒，求主感動弟兄姊妹在主裏相互幫補，一起見證經歷神的信實。