Prayer Request 9/24 - 9/30

Tuesday
In China there are many jobs in factories that are open with no one to fill them while many educated young workers are unemployed or underemployed. Among those in their early twenties, those with a college degree are four times as likely to be unemployed as people with only an elementary school education. We praise God for the many college students who have received salvation and we pray for follow-up for them since many are lost after graduation. May the Lord give us even more students who want to find true value and direction in life through campus ministries.
Wednesday
China’s swift expansion in education over this last decade includes quadrupling the number of college students each year which then produces millions of engineers and scientists. The best of these graduates can have their pick of jobs at any Chinese company. We pray that more churches will support ministries on college campuses. They can use holidays to host various events to equip young believers and help them to become more mature spiritually and then have powerful testimonies.
Thursday
China is turning out millions of graduates with few marketable skills, coupled with a conviction that they are entitled to office jobs with respectable salaries. Jobs in the banking sector pay very well so parents push their child into finance-related studies. Many Christian college students give up their faith when they cannot find work after graduation. We pray for the moving of the Holy Spirit so the faith of these young believers will be deeply rooted in the Bible and they will walk closely with the Lord.
Friday
Young, educated Chinese without steady jobs spend long hours surfing the Internet, getting together with friends and complaining about the shortage of office jobs for which they believe they were trained. Let us pray for all the campus ministries that badly need pastors and spiritual mentors for all of these young believers. We ask the Lord for more workers with passion to reach out to college students and help them grow spiritually.
Saturday
College students in China are very choosy and they have a common aversion to factory labor since they are accustomed to seeing themselves as part of elite group when they enter college. We pray for maturity in interpersonal relationships for all the Christian college students so they will not be despised because of their youth, but will rather honor God in all things, rejoice in the Lord, and learn to serve with a pure heart as an example to many.
Sunday
China has an old Confucian tradition which says that educated people will not engage in manual labor but the economy in China today is still dominated by blue-collar jobs. Chinese believers feel that pastors are God’s servants but they would never want their own child to be a full-time church worker since they know that pastors are poor and many people look down on them. May the Lord have mercy on churches and help believers change their attitude toward God’s servants.
Monday
The glut of college graduates in China is eroding wages even for those with computer science degrees. There are so many of them that their salary in Shenzhen has fallen to only 550 USD. a month which is less than twice the wage of a blue-collar worker. We pray for more workers to be involved in college ministries and that believers from every walk of life will partner in reaching out to college students. There is always a tendency to “build one’s own turf” and not be willing to share resources. We pray for unity and a vision for building the Kingdom.

星期二
工廠工作無人問津，卻同時有許多曾受教育的年輕人處於失業或半失業狀態。在二十歲出頭的年輕人當中，有高等教育文憑的人的失業機率，是小學教育水平人群的四倍。我們為大學生信徒不斷增加而感恩，但許多學生畢業後就不參加聚會，也在禱告中記念跟進畢業生的事工。求主繼續興起工人在校園裡拯救年輕的生命，讓更多迷茫的學生找到生命的價值和方向。
星期三
過去十年每年從高校畢業的學生人數增長四倍，理工學院培養出數百萬工程師和科學家，但因僧多粥少，只有最優秀的畢業生才能在中國企業找到理想職位。我們為各教會能支持大學生事工禱告，願主幫助他們善用節日、假期，藉著不同的活動，裝備各地的學生，幫助他們的靈命成長，能在校園為主作見證。
星期四
中國每年培養出數百萬高校畢業生，可是某些畢業生幾乎拿不出任何謀生技能，卻仍然堅持自己理應得到報酬不錯的辦公室工作。銀行業薪水高，家長都盼望孩子能在銀行就業。有些大學生因為找工作艱難就埋怨神，甚至放棄信仰。我們為大學生禱告，求主將賜人啟示的靈賜給他們，使他們在神的話語上有更多的裝備，並且切實在生活裡與主同行，生命能扎根成長。
星期五
在中國很多教育程度較高卻沒有穩定工作的年輕人會把時間花在上網、朋友聚會，以及抱怨短缺白領工作上，他們認為只有辦公室工作才能與自己的專業相稱。我們為大學生的牧養工作禱告。目前大學禾場很缺乏牧者及屬靈導師，因而影響牧養果效，求主差遣更多工人進入校園，協助餵養大學生的靈命。
星期六
當今的中國大學畢業生非常挑剔，通常都對工廠工作感到厭惡。當他們進入大學後，就把自己看成天之驕子。我們為信主的大學生禱告，求主賜給他們在待人接物上越更成熟，不叫人小看他們年輕，在凡事上尊主為大，以神為樂，單純靠主事奉的心成為眾人的榜樣。
星期日
中國有數千年的儒家傳統，按照這種傳統，受過教育的人不應當靠體力勞動糊口；可是，現今中國經濟仍主要以藍領工作為主。在許多信徒眼裡，雖然知道「傳道人」是「神的僕人」，但是他們卻絕不願自己的孩子成為全職傳道人，怕他們捱窮，不受尊重，也不被社會認同。求主憐憫中國教會，改變信徒家長的態度。
星期一
畢業生供過於求，壓低計算機科學等熱門專業所能得到的薪水。在深圳他們的月薪降到了550美元，不到一個藍領工人的兩倍。我們為有更多人參與大學生福音工作禱告，求主感動社會各階層的信徒, 一起配搭發展大學生事工。願大家能善用資源，而不是分化地盤界限，服侍大學生群體。

Prayer Request 9/17 - 9/23

Tuesday
As the Moon Festival nears, officials nationwide in China have been warned not to spend public money on gifts such as luxury mooncakes--those made with expensive ingredients and premium packaging--as a part of a campaign against corruption. aThe Moon Festival is a big Chinese holiday which emphasizes the reunion of family members. We pray for churches planning to use this time as an opportunity for outreach, that the Lord will bless them with a good harvest.
Wednesday
Some of the key factors that draw young people in China to seek faith in God are: a distrust of society, being the only child, a highly competitive job market, the bombardment of information, and broken homes. We give thanks to God for His miracle of drawing young people into the urban churches during the past decade. We pray that many more churches will catch the vision and burden of reaching college students outside of the church and care for the young people in the church by listening to them.
Thursday
College students in China usually do not discuss issues of liberty or politics in church on Sunday since they know these are sensitive matters. However, when they gather in small fellowship groups, they are more chatty and open. We pray for spiritual maturity for the leaders of all the fellowship (small) groups that college students attend. May God empower them to be shining examples of faith, speech, and service for Jesus. May the Lord give them safety and unity.
Friday
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention of the officials, college students refer to their fellowship as "We are gathering to sing to our dad”. Dad is the term for Heavenly Father. Prayer meeting is called “eating time” instead. We praise God for all the new college converts who are very fervent and willing to participate many meetings. We pray they will grow more in faith and deeper in truth. May the Lord protect them in dating and have victory in keeping their bodies pure sexually.
Saturday
In China there are many students from South Korea so the college student fellowships and Bible studies are quite international in flavor. Many Christian coffee shops play praise songs and provide students with the necessary space for Bible studies. Let us pray for every Christian coffee shop and bookstore in China which is universally a business which loses money yet badly needs workers who share a vision and burden to reach students. We ask for good fruit with many young people coming to know Jesus through these establishments and ministries.
Sunday
Some of the students fellowships at the Peking University pray in English since many are from the United States. Many Chinese and Asian expatriates join them since all are highly educated. Many missionaries travel deep into China, even in Xinjiang region. We pray for each university or college Bible Fellowship study. May the Lord keep them safe and add to the number of those who are saved, especially the teachers. May God bless those who boldly share the gospel with the students.
Monday
Some farmers in China have given up their land but when they are old want to return home. However, they have no more farms to tend, so they have no income. Most are excluded from national pension plans and are a burden to their relatives. The biggest need in the rural churches is for teachers and people who will care for others. There is much discrimination against farmers by city folks. We pray that urban Christians will remember to pray for rural believers and for revival of rural churches.

星期二
在中秋節來臨之前，政府嚴誡各地官員不可花公帑購買豪華月餅送禮，尤其那些含昂貴成分及高檔包裝的月餅。中秋節是中國人團聚的大節日，我們為在這個節日中舉辦特別聚會的教會禱告，求主預備未信者的心田，願意前來參與；又求主使用教會作為福音的管道，幫助人與神和好。
星期三
不信任的社會、一胎化的獨生子女、強大的市場競爭、過度的訊息量、離異的家庭等……都是促成這一代年輕人對信仰的渴望的因素。年輕人信主加入城市教會，是神近年在中國的作為。 我們為此感恩，求主賜給更多教會有向大學生傳福音的負擔，也願意關心年輕一代在教會中的感受與聆聽他們的想法。
星期四
基督徒多半很少在主日聚會時談論社會和公共議題，但在小組團契這種半封閉的情況下,通常比較敞開, 才會聊起各式的話題。 我們為小組聚會代禱，求主加添帶領者的靈命，使他們的信心，言行，事奉心志都能成為榜樣。 也求主保守聚會的安全和弟兄姐妹的和睦。
星期五
大學團契為了避免為無謂的關注,常常把聚會的標題改為“我們聚在一起給爸爸唱歌”，用爸爸取代天父，或是用“吃東西”取代“禱告會”。不少大學生信主之後非常火熱，樂意參與聚會，我們為他們感謝神！求主加添他們的信心，在真理上有根基，保守他們在男女感情及性關係上不失腳，能活出無愧的信心。
星期六
大學團契也很國際化，吸納了來自世界各國學生的信仰需求，特別是南韓留學生，他們常常在自己開設的咖啡店裡，放聖歌，提供基督徒聚會。我們為每個基督徒開的咖啡店或書房祈求，他們都不是以賺錢為目的經營也需要有同樣異象及負擔的同工參與。求主大大使用他們的事工，藉著他們所提供的場所，建立的關係吸引人進入教會。
星期日
在北京大學的團契有許多外籍學生, 因此有英文聚會，有從美國來的華人和許多亞裔外籍人士加入，他們年輕、高學歷。外國傳道人穿梭在沿海甚至遠方如新疆的校園團契。我們為每個大學專科院校周圍的團契查經班禱告。願主保守他們的安全，求主加添給他們得救的人數，特別求神祝福那些大膽向學生們分享福音的老師們。
星期一
一些已經放棄了土地想在年老時回到家鄉，但是他們在家鄉沒有田地，因此也很難有收入。大部分人依然不在國家養老金計劃的範圍之內，這為他們的親戚帶來了給他們養老的壓力。農村教會的需要很大，尤其是牧養和聖經教導方面。我們為城市信徒關心農村的教會來禱告。 來自農村的人在城市容易受到歧視， 願身處城市的信徒能為農村教會守望代禱。

Prayer Request 9/10 - 9/16

Tuesday
The obligation to give cash gifts causes financial stress for families in the small towns in China. Births, weddings, or deaths can make people very concerned financially. Let us pray that every birthday, funeral, or wedding celebration in every church will be not only a celebration but also a good opportunity to reach out to unbelievers with the gospel.
Wednesday
An invitation to the banquet for special occasions in China calls for a cash gift of at least one hundred yuan (US$16.) which is about the equivalent of three days' wages. It is not impolite not to go so long as the money arrives. Usually in the small or rural churches financial giving is very small. Unfortunately, pastors hesitate to preach the truth of tithing. May the Lord have mercy on us so believers will not have so little faith they will miss out on the abundant blessings God wants to pour out on us.
Thursday
Today in addition to the big ceremonies like weddings and funerals there is a whole range of occasions that call for a banquet such as: birth of a baby, 12th, 36th, 50th, 60th, and 70th birthdays, moving into a new house, or even re-decorating one's house. There are many celebrations among believers as well but some come with an invitation and some do not. This tends to lead to favoritism and loss of unity. We pray for unity among believers and that they will avoid any cause of stumbling among those who are weaker.
Friday
Parents throw parties when their child joins the military or is admitted to a university. A few decades ago admission to an elite university warranted a banquet, but now some parents have begun sending out invitations to a party for a child entering senior high school. It is not easy for believers to stay true to their faith in Jesus in the military in China or even in college since there are many temptations there. We pray for the families whose children are in the military or in college. May the Lord protect them from the evil one.
Saturday
In China's traditionally rural society, the custom of giving a gift of money was supposed to help fellow villagers, relatives, or clan members through the difficulty of starting a new family or caring for a newborn child. Now, however, some argue that the custom is out of control and that these celebrations are merely times to get financial profit. Chinese people value reciprocity but Christ wants us to treat each other with love, not recount the evil deeds of others. May the Lord remind us that we should do what is good in the eyes of men gladly and willingly because it is all of the grace of God.
Sunday
Inevitably, the obligation to send out cash gifts hits low-income families harder than anyone else – the acceptable sum of gift money is based on the closeness of relations between the inviter and the invitee, regardless of the latter’s economic status. Let us pray about the way each church treats the poor in their midst. May God's Spirit convict us not to judge people because the poor are chosen to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of heaven which God has promised to those who love Him.
Monday
Very few people dare to decline invitations to special occasions in China since doing so would bring the family into potentially irreversible disrepute. It is also damaging to one's social standing to give a sum of money that is lower than the going rate even though that figure is never expressly given. Chinese people put great value on "face" but sadly this is one big reason why they tend to be superficial and not transparent. Believers (preachers included) are unwilling to share their weaknesses and failings, hence their preaching and sharing lacks sincerity. Oh, may the Lord break our hypocrisy.

星期二
對中國小城鎮的家庭而言，在婚喪喜慶包禮金的人情義務，是個極大的經濟壓力。不論是出生，死亡，或是結婚，每封請帖都是傷腰包的。我們為教會中舉辦的生日慶祝，喪禮和婚禮來禱告。求主使用這些場合，藉著牧者的分享和信徒的交談，不單單有動人的場合，也能成為吸引更多人來認識耶穌的美好機會。
星期三
在中國小城鎮，參加宴席的最低禮金是人民幣100元（16美元），約等於普通人3天的工資，如果低於100元是不禮貌的。一般而言，婚喪喜慶的宴請，人可以不到，但禮數一定得到。小教會與農村教會的奉獻一般都不多，很可惜傳道人也不敢教導十一奉獻的真理。求主憐憫，不叫信徒因著沒有信心奉獻，而失去神想藉此來傾倒給我們更深更大的祝福。
星期四
近幾年，除了婚喪嫁娶所謂正規的慶祝外，生日請吃飯也挺常見。此外，生孩子、滿月，12歲、36歲、50歲、60和70大壽的慶祝也都非常流行。至於喬遷，甚至重新裝潢，也有豪華的晚宴活動。教會中也有許多這樣慶祝的飯局，然而有人會被邀請，有些人卻沒有，這樣的情形讓人誤以為教會中似乎有小團體的出現，重此輕彼，使得教會失去合一。我們願會眾彼此相愛，不叫任何軟弱的肢體跌倒。
星期五
除正規慶祝外，其他需送禮的場合還包括孩子從軍，進大學。幾十年前，孩子進入一流大學，家長才會慶祝，現在連進高中就讀，部份家長也會大發請帖請吃飯。在軍中和在大學，年輕人的信仰很不容易堅持，因為面臨環境裡許多的引誘。我們為有孩子在軍隊和外地讀大學的信徒祈求，願神保守年輕人的信仰，不落入惡者试探的網羅。
星期六
傳統中國農村，送禮金是幫助短缺的老鄉，親戚或家族，特別是成立新家庭或孩子的出生。但是越來越多人認為，送禮的精神已經被扭曲，有些人甚至利用它成為撈錢的機會。中國人講究禮尚往來，而主耶穌卻要求我們，不計算人的惡且要以善報惡。求主提醒我們，我們行世人以為善的事是應該的，內心也要樂意，因為我們擁有的一切，皆是神的恩典。讓恩典與神的愛流通來體貼主的心意。
星期日
禮尚往來，對低收入的家庭是非常艱難的。一般來說，禮金的多少是基於邀請者與被邀者之間的關係親密程度，而不是受邀者的經濟狀況。我們為每個教會能以恩慈善待他們當中貧困（資源缺乏）的會友來禱告。願神的靈提醒我們不偏心待人，也不用惡意論斷人。因為神揀選了世上的貧窮人，叫他們在信上富足，並因愛神而得以承受所應許的國。
星期一
在中國很少有人敢拒絕邀請，因為這樣做會讓家人沒有面子。紅包太少會影響自己的社會地位，但是紅包要包多少卻又不是個定數，而是要看行情及關係。中國人講究面子，可惜這樣的文化使得教會中肢體間無法坦白、真誠的分享。信徒，包括傳道人自己，都不願開誠布公地承認自己也有軟弱及失敗，使得教會於表面化，信息八股，分享客套。求主破碎我們的虛假，讓我們在愛中能彼此接納，真誠相待，互相建立。

Prayer Request 9/3 - 9/9

Tuesday
To comprehend the vast underground economy of China, one need only visit Shanghai’s train station and watch as peddlers openly hawk fake receipts. It is so pervasive that even auditors at multinational corporations are being duped. Christian businessmen are still a minority in churches. The common view is that faith and business are two different things and doing business goes by a different set of rules than that of being a Christian. We pray for all Christians in business whether a big or small business, that they will trust God and hold steadfast to their faith.
Wednesday
Buyers use fake receipts to evade taxes and defraud employers. And in a country rife with corruption, they are the grease for schemes to bribe officials and business partners even though making and using them is illegal in China. In a world where it seems everything is fake and fraudulent, we must pray that believers will trust that doing God’s will and not compromising themselves is pleasing to God and will bring great blessing.
Thursday
In China, people advertise all kinds of fake receipts: travel receipts, lease receipts, waste material receipts and value-added tax receipts. Promotions for counterfeit “fapiao” (the Chinese word for an official invoice) are sent by fax and through mobile phone text messages. However, there is a new awareness that Christian businessmen can make and spend money. They can love Jesus without loving money. We pray these people can have a positive influence in society by caring for the have-nots and even being involved in public welfare.
Friday
State employees, whether they work for government agencies or for state-owned enterprises, seem as eager as anyone to bolster their compensation by filing fake invoices. Christians often feel, “everyone is doing it and I must go along” thus compromising their Christian testimony. We pray for Christians who have enough conviction that when they do not compromise themselves, will know that God will protect them and bless them even more than before and that they will gain favor in the eyes of their superiors.
Saturday
Nearly ninety percent of the young people in Taiwan are willing to work in China and even in the so-called “second tier” cities with Chongqing, Nanjing, and Tianjin as their top choices. Presently two million Taiwanese (about one out of ten) work there. We pray for believers who work in China and their families who are separated from them for months at a time. We pray for their spiritual lives, the guarding of their hearts, and their family relationships. Success in the businesses in China is not necessarily rosy so we ask the Lord to grant them opportunities and favors in their workplaces.
Sunday
Many Chinese resort to pinyin or Romanized Putonghua when they use a keyboard but their grasp of the written language is weakening as a result. The pictorial forms of Chinese characters are notoriously hard to learn and require years of repetitive practice. Many young Chinese know the characters but have difficulty writing them. We pray for those ministries that produce Christian materials and their need for many more Christian writers who can share clearly and powerfully their testimony with their readers.
Monday
The Chinese language has one of the most complicated systems of writing in the world and requires the knowledge of several thousand characters for an adequate level of literacy. Today’s computer and mobile devices offer many simple ways of inputting Chinese. The current Chinese Bible has many archaic words and terms that young believers have difficulty understanding and pronouncing. We pray for those who translate the Bible and publish Christian books that they will provide suitable contents that are relevant and readily accepted by young believers.

 

星期二
要理解中國龐大的地下經濟，只需去看看到處可見公開兜售假發票的小販交易。假發票的現象非常普遍，甚至連跨國企業的審計人員也會上當。華人信徒經商的不多，原因是總認為做生意要和信仰分割，經商就必須隨從世俗的行為和游戲規則。求主幫助經商的肢體，在試探、利慾面前堅持守護信仰，不隨波逐流，不給魔鬼留地步，在利益置上的圈子裡活出誠實無偽的見證。
星期三
在中國儘管製造和使用假發票均屬違法行為，但在這樣一個腐敗橫行的國家裡，某些人還是以此來向官員和商業夥伴行賄，也會以假發票來逃稅或欺騙雇主。在這個假貨充斥，到處是欺詐的社會裡，我們切切為當中的信徒們祈求，求神使得他們明白神的旨意，不向世界妥協，在每件事上都清潔無可指摘，討神喜悅，蒙祂賜大福。
星期四
中國到處都張貼有各式各樣的假發票廣告，旅行發票、租約發票、廢料發票和增值稅發票等等。發票造假者通常用傳真或手機短信來推銷他們的「業務」。教會開始對錢財有新一層的認識：基督徒商人經營致富但可以不貪，消費花錢但可以不奢，也能不為金錢所轄制，為愛主愛人而活。我們為這批從商的信徒能在社會中有正面的影響力禱告，求主使他們關懷缺乏的人，熱心公益，改善造福社會。
星期五
政府部門或國有企業的不肖僱員，也隨波逐流使用假發票，通過報銷虛浮開支來提高自己的收入。求神提醒基督徒在彎曲悖謬的世代裡，千萬不要放棄神的原則，有「別人都這樣做，我何必孤芳自賞、千山獨行？」的觀念，求主堅固我們的信心，靠著祂的恩典和信實，不向世界妥協。也堅信神會保守屬祂的人不至失腳，同時在今生厚賜祂兒女更平安與富足，也讓我們在官長心目中受到肯定和賞識。
星期六
近90％的台灣年輕人願意在中國工作，並以「二線」城市如重慶、南京、天津作為首選。目前有兩百萬台灣人（約十分之一）在中國工作。我們為在中國工作，長期與家人分開的台灣信徒能有健康的靈命禱告，求主保守他們的心思意念，與家人仍能保持緊密的關係。在中國創業的成功率不一定高，願神賜他們工作的機會，也在職場與人有美好的關係，有人緣且受提攜。
星期日
許多年輕一代的中國人喜愛使用拼音或羅馬拼音鍵盤輸入法，導致他們的寫字能力越來越弱。圖形的中國文字著名難學，需要多年學習與不斷練習。年輕一代雖然能讀中文，但有許多字寫不出來。我們為華文基督教出版事工禱告，願主加添更多寫作的新血，能清晰有力地向讀者分享神在他們生命中的作為。
星期一
中國書寫語文是世界上最複雜的系統之一，需要足夠的知識去熟記和應用幾千個字符才算得上具有識字水平。今天的電腦和移動傳訊設備提供了許多簡易的方法輸入中文。目前常用的中文聖經裡有許多艱澀的詞語與術語，使年輕一代有困難理解及誦讀。我們為聖經翻譯更口語化及基督教文字事工更深入普羅大眾生活來禱告，求主給我們更多敏銳感，撰寫合適新一代，能與青年們的思想與生活相關連的內容。