Prayer Request 8/23 - 8/29

Tuesday
Amid soaring real estate prices, more divorcing couples have struggled to gain a share of property ownership, as houses have become an extremely lucrative and contested matter. Parents who buy their children houses used to worry that their children's divorces could result in the loss of family property. When the young couple's marriage is deteriorating, their parents often feel helpless or even become antagonistic. We pray for all the believers who face this situation, may the Lord comfort them, give them peace, and continue to be faithful in prayer for their children's spiritual health.

Wednesday
The Supreme Court in China issued a decision concerning disputes over real estate in the increasing number of divorce cases in the country. A house bought by parents and registered under the child's name remains the personal property of that child after marriage which means the divorcing spouse will not become co-owner of the house. It is truly painful to watch one's child struggle in marriage or resort to divorce. Let us pray for all believers who are in such a predicament. May the Lord give them extra patience, gentleness, and wisdom and above all may they not lose their faith in Him but continue to be a godly influence on their child and the in-laws.

Thursday
The Constructive type of Christians tend to get involved in charitable causes such as disaster relief, helping those in poverty, medical treatment, and education for the poor. In some cases these Christians get involved privately or through their companies because churches per se are not allowed to do this. Let us pray for all of these Christian efforts to share the compassion of Christ through various good deeds even when there may be little opportunity to share Jesus directly.

Friday
The Prophetic type of Christians in China have some that are more conservative and others who are aggressive because they believe very strongly that Christians should not shy away from the issue of injustice. We thank the Lord for believers who have strong convictions about right and wrong and we pray for wisdom and boldness for them. We know a nation must have justice and righteousness and we pray that Christians will be bright examples in this darkened world.

Saturday
The Submissive type of Chinese Christians do not engage in open debates about social issues since they prefer to identify with the stand taken by officials. Unfortunately Chinese believers are easily divided by their stand on non-religious issues. May the Lord remove our pride and self-righteousness and help us to see that others are better and more committed to Jesus than we are ourselves and thus, are worhy of our imitation.

Sunday
The Prophetic type of Chinese Christians will use foreign media to get their voices heard but they are patriotic and exemplary young people. They, on the other hand, often draw the attention of the media and the police and are prone to encounter setbacks. May the Lord give each of us wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in Him with maturity and a good reputation in the eyes of unbelievers.

Monday
In Guangzhou people with disabilities pay only half price on subways. In Wuhan and Shenzhen people with handicaps ride for free. Those who have disabilities are trying to get the Beijing government to offer free rides to all handicapped people rather than to just blind people. We remember all believers who have a handicap and are unable to attend worship and fellowship with other believers. Many house churches are in residential buildings without handicap accessibility. Let us pray for them, for joy and strong faith in the Lord. We pray, too, that churches will help these weaker members to be strong by visiting them and including them in church services.


星期二
房地產價格飛漲，鬧離婚的小夫妻更是為夫婦財產所有權大戰，而房屋必定是最有爭議及牽涉最大一筆錢的問題所在。過去家長最怕的就是，一旦孩子離婚了，他們老一輩出錢為孩子買的房子就被分割了，造成慘重損失。當小夫妻間的關系每況愈下，做父母的常感束手無策，甚至有如敵人般的對峙。讓我們為面臨此困境的信徒祈求，願主親自安慰，賜下平安、饒恕的心胸，也繼續不斷為孩子的靈命來禱告。

星期三
中國最高法院頒布，夫妻一方如在婚前簽訂不動產買賣合同，以個人財產支付首付款並在銀行貸款，婚後此不動產亦於其名下登記，離婚時可將該不動產認定為個人財產，而尚未歸還的部分貸款乃其個人之債務。看到自己子女婚姻不美滿，甚至鬧離婚，家長是多麼的痛心。我們為身在這困境中的信徒家長禱告，求主賜他們額外的溫柔、忍耐和智慧，並對神不失信心，繼續在子女及婿、媳前有敬虔的影響力。

星期四
泛稱「建設派」的信徒除了積極傳福音外，也積極貢獻社會。在「三自」群中，無論在賑災、扶貧、醫療或教學上都盡力參與，在「家庭」群中也是如此。由於政治的緣故，他們可能不用教會的名義，而以私人、公司或機構的名義參與公眾事務。即使種種善事，不能直接分享福音，我們仍為這些信徒因著主耶穌的憐憫所作的善工感恩，也都有為福音鬆土的果效，願主保守記念

星期五
「先知派」是中國基督徒的四條路線之一，其中亦分穩重派和急進派。他們看重聖經中提到不公義時，先知所扮演的角色：「惟願公平如大水滾滾，使公義如江河滔滔。」信徒有強烈的信念及對錯觀是可貴的，我們為他們感謝神。我們求神賜給他們大有智慧和勇氣。我們深信一個民族必須有公平和正義，基督徒也要在這黑暗世界中成為一盞閃耀的明燈，在大眾中見證主的真道。

星期六
所謂「順服派」的中國基督徒，一般不參與輿論上有關社會議題的討論，部分領袖在國家和社會路線上，亦會緊密認同國家的政策。很可惜中國信徒很容易在討論一般性的社會議題上，為一些不甚重要的細節爭得面紅耳赤。願主除去我們的驕傲及自以為是，幫助我們看別人比自己強，尊重別人也有不同的角度，也可能比我們更愛主，值得我們尊敬、效法。

星期日
屬於「先知派」的信徒們雖然連結海外輿論，但大多是一群熱血愛國、愛民族的青年。在路線上，他們必然是最受輿論和官方側目的一群。因此，在現實環境中，碰釘子、受挫的機會也必然最多。願神賜這些信徒有來自上頭的智慧，敬畏神掌權，萬事有其適當的時間表。存有更大的耐心，不搖動的信心及更深廣的成熟度，也在不信的同胞眼中建立好名聲。

星期一
廣州地鐵給予傷殘人士半價優惠，武漢地鐵讓盲人和下肢殘疾人免費乘搭，深圳地鐵則對殘疾人一律免費，而北京僅對盲人免費。殘障人盼望政府落實對殘疾人搭乘公共交通的優惠政策，並已提起公益訴訟。許多家庭教會的聚會場地均設在沒有升降機的樓房，我們特別紀念不能參加崇拜和團契聚會的殘障信徒。願主的喜樂常充滿每位主內弱肢，使他們的信心天天增長。也為教會能常探訪身體軟弱的弟兄姊妹禱告，並幫助他們學習如何參與教會的服事