Prayer Request 4/12 - 4/18

Tuesday
Beijing asked local governments not to abuse the Reform of Rural Land Use by forcibly occupy the farm land, by demolishing homes of farmers against their will. Government said measures must be taken to correct the wrongs done to many farmers whose land were taken away in the name of development and less-than-fair compensation. Without land, a farmer has no livelihood. Rural Chinese church workers usually must supplement their income by growing crops on their own plot. Let us remember all those shepherds who are also farmers. May the Lord give them strength, wisdom in discerning and preaching God's Word. We pray that they will have good harvest, both in their own cultivation and in the spiritual seed they planted.
Wednesday
Many local governments have engaged in the land grab by putting excessive land for urban and property development. This had led to forced eviction of farmers and much grievances. Local governments then sell these land to developers and encourage much speculation and fraud. Government again stresses the aim of the Land Reform should be increasing grain output and improving the livelihood of farmers. As people lose their land or forced to seek work in the cities, their departure further accelerates the decline of rural churches. It is disappointing to see the numbers of worshipers dwindle. Again, we lift up all those who serve among the rural churches, we pray for sense of importance, vigor and yes, joyful spirit as they serve the Lord faithfully.
Thursday
Although the minimum wage in Beijing was raised from 960 yuan per month to 1,160 yuan monthly. But in the latest survey, it was found 47% of the migrant workers in the city are making less than 2,000 yuan a month. These workers tend to have little education, 52% with junior high school or lower. 75.4% of them are without any skill, 3% of them have driver's license, 1.5% have electrical work permit. A Beijing house church has received much attention because they could not secure lease of meeting place and must again worship outdoor. Any church work receives close scrutiny from the officials in the Capital. We lift up all the Christians in Beijing, the intellectuals, the student ministries and those who quietly serving the lowly migrant workers.
Friday
Among the low-wage migrant workers in Beijing area, 43% of them work 8 to 10 hours daily, 60% of them are working without a labor contract. They are often owed or received no pay by their employers. For these people, 45.7% of them spend their free time watching TV, 12.6% of them occasionally go watch a movie in the theater. Many of the migrant workers have actually attended churches back home, but they do not feel welcomed in the open churches in the cities, or are not able to find a house church to join. Let us pray for those rural Christians who are now working in the cities and stopped attending church, may the Lord have mercy and protect their faith in Him.
Saturday
We might ask the question, "Are people who live in China's big cities happier than those who live elsewhere?" Metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have terrible traffic congestion, pollution, and a high cost for housing. Some have gouped these modern urban problems together and labeled them "urban disease". A big problem facing China's city churches is that believers complain they are so busy. We want to pray earnestly for revival in the urban church in China. May the Lord stir up their love for Him and give them a desire to make God's way their priority.
Sunday
The high-speed railway between Beijing and Shanghai was originally slated to be completed in 2012 but it is now expected to be in service later this year. Once in operation it will take only four hours to travel 1318 kilometers, starting in Beijing's South Station and going to Shanghai's Hongqiao Station. They are expecting that 160,000,000 passengers will travel annually on this line. We look forward to the "shortening" of distances between all major cities which will definitely bring the churches in differnt parts of China closer together. We pray that regional churches will no long have any excuse to broaden their ministry from city to city and will also be willing to help needy churches that once were "very far away".
Monday
In an effort to increase sports exchanges and improve relationship, the Cross-Straits Softball Cup was launched in 2010. The match is alternatively hosted by the mainland and Taiwan. Taiwan excels in softball and plays at a world-class level while China has been catching up. This year, both Taiwan teams lost badly to the China teams. Across the Taiwan Strait, everything can quickly turn competitive and divisive. Many Taiwan churches are questioning whether they need to support China churches, given the improvement of China's economy and strong currency. We pray that there will be unity of believers on both sides, sharing with each other the Lord's blessings and blessing each other graciously.

星期二
中央指示地方政府不可濫用農村「土地使用改革」名義，強行佔用耕地，違反農民意願拆遷房屋。政府也表示，必須採取措施來糾正過去不少錯誤，包括以發展爲名不合法侵佔土地，和不公平補償。許多中國農村教會的同工，僅靠耕種來維持生計。讓我們記念牧會的農夫傳道人，願神加添他們力量與智慧來傳講神的話語。也要禱告他們不單莊稼有好收成，所栽培的屬靈田園也結實豐碩。
星期三
許多地方政府盲目從事土地改革，濫用專權擅自更改農耕地為城市用地或發展用途，強行驅逐農家，引起不少民怨。接著將土地轉售給開發商，從中炒賣取利。中央政府再次強調土改目的應是增產糧食改善農民生活。農民失去土地，為生存到城市打工，也加速農村教會衰落，聚會人數迅速減少，情況堪憂。我們再次為農村教會禱告，求主添加同工身心靈的力量去事奉尊貴的主，再次得著屬天的喜樂。
星期四
今年北京最低工資標準從每月960元上調到1,160元人民幣。最新調查發現47%打工者月入不足兩千元。初中或以下學歷者佔52%。75.4%的人沒有甚麼職業技能，頂多有駕駛證佔3%，或電工證佔1.5%。最近北京一家庭教會因失去聚會場所，迫不得已再次在戶外崇拜。首都教會的事工常受當局特別的關注。我們為北京的信徒禱告，特別是知識分子，學生事工，還有默默服事農民工的弟兄姊妹。
星期五
在北京市區的低工資民工，43%每天工作8至10小時。60%沒有勞動合同，所以欠薪是一大問題。45.7%的民工餘時看電視，12.6%偶爾會看一場電影。不少農民工在家鄉時都會上教會，但在城市的公開教會，他們會覺得格格不入；要找家庭教會參加崇拜也不是易事。我們特別為那些在城裡打工但沒有上教會聚會的農村信徒禱告，求主憐憫並保守他們的信心，供應他們一切的需要。
星期六
「生活在大城市還有多少幸福感？」已經成了北京、上海, 廣州等大城市的熱門話題，大都會生活中的種種不便造成了城市居民欲罷不能的心結。都市信徒似乎有太多的理由無法參與教會的各樣聚會。「忙」是最常見的藉口 。我們為城市教會的復興禱告，求主興旺信徒愛主的心，在時間金錢等資源的分配上及一切決策、行事，都能讓主居首位，遵主的教導為最優先準則。
星期日
原計劃於2012年建成的京滬高鐵，工期將大大縮短，目前全線將於2011年通車。全長1,318公里的京滬高速鐵路，從北京南站出發、終止於上海虹橋站。全程預計運行時間4小時，年客運輸送將達到1.6億人次。縮短各大城市間往返的時間意味著中國各地區的教會將能有更密切的連繋。我們祈盼屆時各地區的教會不僅致力於拓展自己教會的事工，亦願意向「遙遠無助」的教會伸出援手。
星期一
為了提高體育交流和兩岸關係，海峽盃壘球賽第一屆在2010年開始，輪流在兩岸舉行。原本棒壘球是強項的台灣已經不再佔優勢，中國的球技已明顯迎頭趕上。有鑑於中國經濟的日漸強大，有些台灣教會開始在有是否還需財務上支持中國教會的聲音。我們祈求神將合一的靈賜給兩岸的弟兄姊妹，能夠有更多得機會彼此認識、分享、支持與祝福。