Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Prayer Request 8/13 - 8/19


Tuesday
China issued a directive banning the construction of government buildings for the next five years which is the newest tactic which the government is using to attempt to discourage corruption and foster frugality at a time of broad popular resentment against high-living bureaucrats. As citizens become skeptical and even doubtful about any big building projects, we need to pray for churches that are embarking on building projects. We ask the Lord to guard the hearts of both leaders and members of the churches. May the fundraising efforts bring about unity and glorify God.
Wednesday
Beijing has tried to rein in the widely-mocked penchant for grandiosity among local officials. Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province attracted critical attention across China last fall after they began construction on what was initially planned to be the largest government building in Asia. Many cities now boast huge and elegant church buildings. We thank the Lord and pray that these big churches will become beacons and testimonies of God's love. We pray, too, for the smaller house churches near the big churches, for their continuing growth in ministry.
Thursday
Competency in English is a hurdle for rural students who want to qualify for anything but the worst universities in China. Many villages have no steady English teacher and the students are supposed to learn English early. Most parents cannot find nor can they afford an English tutor. Teaching English is undoubtedly a great way to do evangelism in China. It is also alarming that many Western cults are using this same approach to gather followers. Today we pray for good fruit for the English teachers who are trying to lead people to Christ.
Friday
Many high schools in China are boarding schools, an arrangement that allows the local government to impose hefty fees on parents. In these schools tuition is about $200 (USD) a semester. Food is $10 a week. Books, tutorials, and exam fees are all extra and often increase in price. Education is a huge expense for working parents in China and they lose their influence on their children once they go to boarding school. We pray along with Christian parents who are concerned about their child who is away from home continuing in his Faith in Jesus.
Saturday
Life in a high school boarding school in China is rigorous. Wake-up is at 5:30 followed by a study time until breakfast at 7:30. Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and run until 10:30 p.m. except for two hours off for lunch and dinner. Occasionally they get to see a patriotic movie for entertainment. Even on Saturday and Sunday they must spent time studying.It is hard for a Christian to hold on to his/her faith at such a young age in these boarding schools whose only purpose is to get these students into a university. We pray for everyone in a boarding school who had a Christian upbringing that they will study well but most importantly that they will hold on to their faith in Christ and their testimony for Him.
Sunday
There are many hurdles stacked against students from rural areas who want to go to college in China. One is the looming heavy cost for their parents. Also, few children from poor families earn top marks on the national college entrance exams so they are shunted to schools of lower quality which receive the smallest government subsidies. aLet us pray for believers in the countryside who have so much hope and expectation for their children. It is not difficult to see why many of these believers are led astray by cults and false teachings that emphasize and promise success, wealth, and a good future for their children.
Monday
Higher education is rapidly losing its role as a leveler of society in China or as a safety valve for talented but poor youths to escape poverty. In the past, the people who received higher education teanded to be relatively better off but now many college graduates cannot find a job. Let us pray for wisdom and good testimonies for believers who are teachers and professors. They can often provide advice to parents as well as encourage and gain the confidence of young people in churches, especially those who are not necessarily college-bound.


星期二
政府禁止未來五年內修建政府大樓。中國老百姓普遍憎恨官僚生活奢華之時,國家採取了一系列打擊腐敗、提倡節儉的行動,此令正是最新一項舉措。現在老百姓對任何建設項目都持著懷疑,認為一定有貪污的存在。我們為各處教會建堂禱告,求主保守帶領者和弟兄姊妹的心,在惡者任何攪動或攻擊時能站立穩固,信徒間能彼此信任,凡事連於元首基督,叫主名得榮。
星期三
地方官員建造奢華辦公樓的傾向廣受詬病,中央一再試圖控制這種現象。去年山東省會濟南市新建政府大樓,最初的計劃是把它建成亞洲最大的政府大樓,招致全國的批評。我們為許多城市都有高大優雅的教堂感恩之同時,也更為眾教會能成為社區的明燈,見證神的愛代禱。我們也記念大型教會附近的小教會,願主使用他們,幫助他們在崗位上盡忠事奉。
星期四
對年輕人來說,想要進較好的大學,就得先學好英文。然而很多農村均沒有固定的英語老師,使他們學習無門。教授英文無疑是一個在中國裡傳道的好途徑,許多外國異端邪教也深諳此道,以此來吸引年輕學生。我們切切為宣教士禱告,用諸般智慧傳揚神的話語,引領人認識耶穌基督。
星期五
中國許多高中都是寄宿學校,這種安排使地方政府可以向家長收很多雜費;除了每學期約200美元學費外,還有每星期10美元的伙食費,而書本、補課和考試都要額外收費。孩子的教育費是中國父母巨大的投資與犧牲。另一方面,孩子進入寄宿學校,家長亦會依依不捨。我們為這類家長禱告,幫助他們學習把孩子交託神,也更多仰望神保守他們孩子的心靈,雖然遠離家在學校住宿,但是仍能保持對神的信心。
星期六
寄宿學校的學生每天早上5:30起床學習,7:30吃早餐,8:30開始上課,除了午餐和晚餐各一小時休息外,就一直上課至晚上10:30;學校偶爾會放映愛國電影作為娛樂。週六和周日的部分時間也要學習。寄宿學校的唯一目標,就是預備學生進入大學。在這樣的前題及環境下,信主的學生實在很難持守信仰。我們為在寄宿學校就讀的信徒孩子祈求,願神賜給他們有美好的學習,更重要的是能繼續在信仰上追求,為主在同學中間作見證。
星期日
農村貧困家庭的孩子很少在高考取得高分,以致被排擠到較差的學校,得到政府補貼亦同時較少。農村信徒家長對孩子的升學有無限的期望,因為這是他們脫貪的唯一的希望。農村信徒常常被邪教異端迷惑,因為他們容易將信仰與富裕、順利掛鈎。求主幫助農村信徒有屬靈的辨別力,能夠分辨真道。
星期一
高等教育再不是中國社會的平衡器和安全閥,讓貧窮但有天分的年輕人有機會脫貧。從前,接受高等教育的人傾向於過上相對較好的生活;現在,大學畢業生卻連一份工作也難找到。我們為基督徒老師和教授禱告,求神賜下智慧和美好的生命見證,幫助他們在教會中不但能給孩子升學建議和鼓勵,也能取得年輕人的信任,尤其鼓勵功課不理想的一群。

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