Prayer Request 6/14 - 6/20

Tuesday
About 9.33 million students took the "gao kao", the national college entrance exam in China, which is a fifteen percent decrease over last year. This is the third year there has been such a decrease and it reflects the lower number of high school students in China, the result of the one-child policy which was instituted twenty years ago. As it becomes easier to get into college and wages for workers with only a high school education increase substantially, the number of students who enroll in Bible training has also decreased. We pray that young Chinese believers will see full-time ministry not as an alternative, or a stable job to do if all else fails as has been so often in the past especially in rural churches. May they sense God's calling to His work.

Wednesday
According to a recent survey, about 70% of Internet users believe that legitimacy, transparency, and honesty are essential for anyone who works for charity, and that donations should not be used as a tool for individuals or enterprises to make money or improve their image. In recent years the enthusiasm of the public for charitable donations has been adversely affected by a number of scandals. Unfortunately, believers in China have this same kind of pessimism about how their offerings are used because few churches have a transparent accounting system in place. We know church leaders want their members to trust them so we pray for integrity and openness of all church leaders in their handling of church finances, their leadership style, and their personal lives.

Thursday
The greatest injury the churches in China will suffer in the coming years will probably not be from external circumstances but rather from the divisive trend of forming denominations from within. The "fight" of claiming which churches belong to which denomination is heating up and getting rather ugly. May the Lord have mercy on all of us and help us not to see ourselves as better than others, even theologically, but rather to have the humility of Jesus. May He grant us teachable hearts that bear gentleness, the fruit of the Spirit.

Friday
The big issue facing churches in China is being accepted by society and becoming legalized. Chinese believers come from all walks of life, represent all professions, and even have notable Christians or "celebrities" among them. This is a good and healthy trend for churches because it shows that Christianity is having a positive influence on Chinese society now. We praise God for believers who are from diverse backgrounds. May the Spirit of the Lord move on not only the farm laborers but also on the highly educated. Churches in China need to learn to accept one another whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, and not be critical of one another.

Saturday
Chinese churches in the past have been marginalized culturally and considered as a place for only poor people even though the majority of Chinese people were peasants themselves. However, as China continues to be urbanized, city culture will become the dominant culture and urban churches will be the mainstream of China churches. Rural churches greatly need our supplications and prayers that God will add to their faith to trust Him that He is able to do great things for them and bring revival to the pastors, leaders, and every believer.

Sunday
Throughout the countryside in China there is a virtual absence of farmers under the age of forty which speaks to the urbanization of China. Youngsters escape as soon as possible to go to work in towns far and near leaving their aging parents to till the soil. With the rural labor pool shrinking, wages are rising.Rural churches continue to suffer from the exodus of young people which is not likely to improve. Many churches are without shepherds so they easily and quickly become the prey of cults. We pray earnestly for the need of new and younger workers in churches.

Monday
Once their only child leaves home, many couples suddenly realize they have lost their anchor or focus in life. These middle-aged "empty-nesters" often have stable jobs and incomes but very few outside interests or recreational activity. Many Chinese believers have little involvement in the church outside of Sunday attendance. They are busy with their only child. We pray that middle-aged believers will become the key workers in churches and be strong in giving of both their money and their time.


星期二
中國今年有930萬人參加高考，比去年減少15%， 考生數減少已連續第三年。此趨勢還會持續數年。高考人數減少主因是因高中生人數下降，乃二十年前政府推行一胎化政策，使出生人口持續下降。因人口減少，競爭率變低，能進大學的人越來越多。一般高校程度薪資普遍增高，也間接減少願意接受神學裝備的人選。讓我們禱告，願年輕一代的信徒獻身服事神，不是因為糊口，而是真看重神的聖潔呼召

星期三
據報導，70%網民認為慈善事業必須合法、透明和誠信；慈善捐款不應被視為用以改造個人或企業形象的工具及手段或藉此穫利。近年民眾對慈善機構的熱情已因一連串醜聞而不予信任。因著一般中國教會在金錢管理上不公開，使信徒對奉獻也有負面的看法。我們深信教會領導同工都希望獲得信徒信任，我們禱告教會領袖在金錢管理，教會財政處理上公開透明，也在決策和個人生活上正直純全。

星期四
中國教會面臨的難處，不一定是外在的逼迫，更可能是教會內部惟我獨尊的宗派主義及因搶佔「地盤」而產生的衝突。求主憐憫、教導我們不要因著神學觀點上的差異而看自己過於所當看的，而是滿有主基督的謙卑，看別人比自己強。求主賜給我們每個人都有受教的心，使聖靈在我們中間能結出溫柔良善的果子。

星期五
中國教會正面對走進社會及身份合法化的議題。基督信仰的普及性並不限於某個社會階層，乃在各行各業中均有其代表性；這是可喜的現象，表示中國教會正健康成長，並日漸為中國社會帶來積極影響。我們為教會能深入社會感恩，願主的靈在人心動工，不單單是農民、工人，更是受過高等教育的人都能悔改歸主。也禱告教會信徒能彼此接納、合一，同心合意興旺福音，建立神的家。

星期六
農村家庭教會相對於城市文化而言，屬邊緣團體。雖然過去中國大部份人口以務農維生，然而這情況已因都市化而改變，預計往後城市文化仍會主導中國社會。我們為農村教會廣大的需求禱告，求主堅固他們的信心，深知神能為他們成就大事。賜下復興的火更新農村牧者、教會領袖及眾信徒的靈命，幫助他們奔跑不困倦，行走不疲乏，為主發光發熱。

星期日
因著中國的城市化，農村中幾乎見不到一個四十歲以下的農民。年輕人巴不得早點進城打工，也不願留在家裏種田。不過，隨著農村勞工劇減，農村工資也有明顯的改善。農村教會年輕一代外流的趨勢仍沒有改變的跡象，許多教會已因沒有牧者而被異端邪教所吞噬。我們懇求神保護祂的教會，並興起年輕教會領袖願意為神的國委身，使羊群得著餵養。

星期一
許多中年夫婦在獨生子女「離巢」後，才發現過去並沒有真正好好營建自己的人生。這類人的工作通常相當穩定，不需要為生活打拼，也對時下的娛樂不能投入，所以一下子失了生活的重心。很多信徒只是「主日上教堂」一族，其他的時間都為唯一的孩子忙碌。反而中年以上的信徒有時間參與教會的活動，成為教會的活躍份子。我們為中年信徒在時間和金錢的奉獻禱告，求神大大使用和祝福。