Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Prayer Request 11/26 - 12/2

TuesdayChina overtook India as the top gold importing and gold jewelry country. The insatiable appetite does not include gold sold in Hong Kong, which is favored by Mainland tourists and enjoyed an increase of 28% this year. Believers are buying houses, cars and gold too, but many churches are seeing decline in attendances in weekday services and no visible increase in church’s offering. We pray for a passion for God, hunger for His Word and thirst for spiritual renewal for all churches.
Wednesday
Many Christians have an overly optimistic view of church growth in China which even borders on wishful thinking. Some have claimed that the number of Christians in China will reach 200 million by 2020 which is an utterly irresponsible projection. We praise God for the miraculous growth of the church in China and we pray that they will not lose sight of the vision and passion of evangelism. We ask that the fire of the Holy Spirit will continue to burn strongly throughout the churches in China.
Thursday
The booming period of church growth in China has passed and during the past decade it has slowed down significantly. The future growth of the church there is also projected to be slow as well. Christians remain a minority group in China and many people there have never even heard of Jesus. In many regions of western China it is very difficult to find Christian churches and there are even fewer believers than in other areas. Even in the cities there churches are small, weak, and barely surviving. We pray for a revival of believers and the renewal of their passion to share Christ.
Friday
Since the economic reform there, China has become urbanized and so has the strategy for evangelism. Chinese pastors used to each cover several meeting points and were not familiar with their members. Now, more churches have their own pastors who do not have to travel around. Let us pray for the churches that do not have a pastor and ask the Lord to give them mature believers who are humble and willing to serve so they can care for and feed God’s sheep. We also pray that believers will not dump all the work of caring for others on their pastors.
Saturday
As the use of the Internet has become more prevalent, believers in China can obtain and compare online sermons. This is a trend in the churches there as believers become more educated and intellectual. We pray especially that pastors in China will be bold, wise, and make good application of God’s Word. We also ask the Lord to give believers humility and teachable hearts.
Sunday
Many pastors in mainland China get their training in Hong Kong or Singapore. However, they tend to become “more preaching and less action” like pastors abroad. It is also difficult to apply what they learn in terms of church revival so they create much tension when they return to China. All the training conducted in the past decades has indeed benefited many pastors and helped to improve their Biblical knowledge. We pray for quality students, godliness, and integrity for all of the pastors. May the Lord of the harvest grant us mercy and give His sheep many faithful shepherds.
Monday
The house church movement in mainland China is moving toward being more open. There is more dialogue and sharing of information between the house churches and the Three-self churches so that there is more understanding between the leaders. We pray there will be more exchange among the believers of all churches. We pray for those who worship in the open churches but attend fellowships in the house churches. We ask the Lord for churches that will be more accepting of each other rather than critical or even forbid members to participate in the functions of the other group.

星期二
中國目前已超過印度,成為全球最大黃金首飾市場。這還不包括香港的黃金首飾和投資需求。在中國遊客的推動下,香港今年的黃金首飾需求增長28%。但是教會週間聚會人數卻是下滑,奉獻沒有明顯增加。求主再次挑旺我們愛祂的火熱,更渴慕神的話語和更敏銳於感受聖靈在我們心中的催逼。
星期三
不少人對中國教會未來的趨勢過於樂觀,有人更估計2020年,中國會有2億基督徒。雖然中國在各方面上都一直在轉變,但是宗教的全面開放似乎實現的機率仍微小。我們為神在中國教會裡的工作感恩,求主常提醒我們不要滿足現狀,而失去傳福音的異象及熱忱。願復興的火繼續在中國教會中燃燒。
星期四
過去十年,中國教會的發展顯著減慢,似乎最蓬勃時期已經過去,有人預計未來發展也將趨於緩慢。中國教會在社會仍是少數派,到處走走便知有些人連「耶穌」這名字也未曾聽過。許多地區裡(尤其西部),教會寥無幾,信主的人少而又少,城鎮的教會也軟弱無力地存活著。求主幫助我們,在這末世主快臨的日子前,能靠主殷勤不懈怠,忠心為真理打美好的仗。
星期五
中國自改革開放以來,促進各地城市化發展,教會傳福音的策略也有顯著改變。以前內地牧者是走訪不同的點,牧師跟會友不太相熟;現時內地教會也漸漸出現有駐堂牧師。但仍未普及。我們為沒有駐堂牧者的教會禱告,求主幫助弟兄姊妹彼此謙卑,配搭服事,一起來照管群羊。求主也提醒信徒,不要因為有了駐堂牧者,就理所當然地把所有事奉關懷的善工都推給牧者負責。
星期六
未來十年中國教會趨勢,基督教將(包括家庭教會)走向公開化、不再隱藏;而網絡資訊發達,會眾得以多方比對,對牧師講道的期望也提高,整體中國教會都正走向高知識化。我們特別為牧者在講台上的供應禱告,求主將當講的話賜給他們,給他們權柄和能力,將真理表明出來。又求主賜下智慧,幫助牧者把真理連結上實際生活,而不是一些抽象難行的規條。我們也為信徒有謙卑、受教的心禱告。
星期日
好些中國教會的教牧同工會到香港、新加坡等不同地方進修,這原是很好的真理造就平台,但卻有學習了『多說少做』的危機。教授者說了一大堆神學理論,卻又未必很能造就人,回去後反成了信仰的張力。近年的培訓的確幫助了不少傳道人,也在知識的傳授有很多成就。我們要為傳道人的屬靈生命禱告,求主時刻操練祂的工人,在祂面前有一顆敬畏、正直及忠誠的心,在生活中活出美好典範。
星期一
家庭教會正走向公開化。以前各不相干的家庭和三自教會之間,開始出現互通。現時資訊發達,雙方能互相得知對方資料,也能透過其他地區的場合彼此認識,令雙方教牧領袖間有更多深入了解,關係能更進一步。求主賜給信徒彼此間有更多交通的機會,我們特別為不少既參加三自教會主日聚會,又在家庭教會參加小組的信徒的禱告,願神賜給教會間多有接納而不是批評和攻擊,或禁止會友參與別教會的活動。

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Prayer Request 11/19 - 11/25

TuesdayChina implemented major change in its population control policy, allowing a second child for couples if one parent is an only child. Strict one-child policy has caused “people age before ever getting rich”, shortage of workers, and lack of post-retirement support. We are excited and thankful to God for China churches because of the future growth of children ministry. We pray that churches will put real effort into providing an environment where children learn to worship God and church lives, rather than just babysitting.
Wednesday
Chinese government has been under pressure to change the unpopular one-child policy. Since 2011, it started to allow second child, but both parents must be sole children themselves to be eligible. Rural families can have two children if their first-born is a girl. We pray for blessings for believers who desire to have a second child. May the Lord give them wisdom and strength. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Pro 22:6)
Thursday
One unusual social dynamic created by the one-child policy is that many college graduates are “only children” so their parents and grandparents continue to nurture and provide for them even after they have become adults. We pray that the Lord will help Christian parents to know how to instruct their children to obey God’s Word and that they themselves will be a model for their children to show them how to follow the Lord all their lives.
Friday
An “only child” in China could receive money from at least six relatives, their parents and grandparents on both sides of the family. Despite some grumbling, their parents will send them money to help support their modest lifestyle. Many have observed that these children raised as an “only child” are not strong but are unable to face difficulties. Let us pray for the young people in the churches. May God grant them hearts that fear the Lord, revive them spiritually, and above all that they will be willing to be used by God.
Saturday
The vast majority of young people in the churches of China are from “one child” homes. They enjoy all the provisions and attention of their parents. Some are obviously spoiled and very self-centered with poor interpersonal skills. Some are overly materialistic while others are weak and lack the drive to achieve. May the Lord remind us all that as parents we must teach our children to love God because it is the beginning of wisdom and brings His blessing.
Sunday
The best job in China is a government job which offers security and a pension on retirement.. Young college graduates do not want factory jobs even though companies increasingly offer blue collar workers the kinds of benefits that many white collar workers did not have until recently. Young Christians balk at the idea of serving God in a church because they have seen their pastors labor without appreciation and spend a great deal of time at the church with little family time. We pray for the children of pastors that the Lord will comfort them and heal their hurts and that the pastors themselves will live a balanced and healthy family life.
Monday
Many of the poor churches in China, including those for migrant workers are able to pay only the basic living expenses of their pastors. This meager salary is not enough to pay for the education of the pastors’ children and they will never be able to afford to send them to college. We pray for God’s special grace for every pastor’s family, especially for their children so they will be able to appreciate why their parents serve the Lord in this way—not because they have to or are forced to but because they know they will be blessed by God.

星期二
中國計劃生育政策重大改變,現在夫婦其中一方只要是獨生子女,便可生育兩個孩子。一胎化政策造成 “未富先老”、勞動力短缺、獨生子女家庭養老問題。我們為此突破變感恩,能有條件昇第二胎, 必定讓兒童事工的需求更大。求帶主幫助眾教會認真將第二代事工成為重點,幫助信徒子女從小喜愛崇拜上帝,學習教會生活,而不僅僅是個”保姆事工“。
星期三
計劃生育政策不斷調整,2011年,“雙獨二胎”(夫妻雙方都為獨生子女,可生二胎)政策已經覆蓋全國。農村家庭如果第一胎是個女孩, 是准許有第二胎。 我們為計劃第二個孩子信徒來求神的祝福,給父母親們智慧和力量, 從小就 “教養孩童,使他走當行的道,就是到老他也不偏離。” 箴言22:6
星期四
一胎化帶來一種不尋常的社會現象,許多大學畢業生是其父母和祖父母唯一的孩子,還是繼續接受長輩的照顧。我們為所有基督徒父母禱告,求主幫助他們以聖經教導子女遵守主道,家長也有美好的生命榜樣,幫助子女一生跟隨主的腳踪。
星期五
父母和祖父母會給獨生子錢,等於六個人供養他們,儘管父母有一些怨言,但他們還是會給孩子匯款,幫助他們維持基本的生活。獨生子女不夠堅強不能吃苦,很多人都有這樣的觀察。我們為教會中的獨生一代來禱告,求主將敬畏神的心賜給他們,復興他們的靈命,更是求主大大使用他們。
星期六
中國教會下一代大部分是獨生子女,生活水平好,他們能享受到父母全部的照顧和愛護。一些父母過分寵愛孩子,養成孩子以自我為中心的性格,人際關係處理能力低下;有些孩子過分注重物質享受,形成錯誤的價值觀;還有的孩子意志薄弱,毅力不強,無法堅忍以達成理想。求主提醒每位信徒家長,真是知道只有教導孩子一生愛主,不但是智慧的開端,並且是蒙福的唯一方法。
星期日
政府的工作有就業保障,還有退休金在中國是非常受歡迎的。 雖然企業日趨為藍領工人提供很多白領直到最近都不敢想的福利待遇,但是年輕大學畢業生還是不願去工廠工作。年輕信徒不願全職在教會服侍,因為他們看見傳道人服事繁多,心力和時間大都放在事奉上,很少有時間照顧兒女。求主醫治牧者子女的心靈,傳道人能平衡關顧教會與家庭的需要。
星期一
有些基層教會(包括農民工教會)的教牧同工和信徒生活拮据,只能維持基本生活的需要,難以供應孩子的學費,更別說讓孩子上大學。讓我們為每一位傳道人的家庭來禱告,求主恩待他們,尤其是傳道人的子女真能體會,他們的父母親服侍主,不是倒霉也不是被利用,而是走在神蒙福的道路上。

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Prayer Request 11/12 - 11/18

TuesdayWhile the central government of China offers extensive, need-based grants and loans for students at four-year universities, little financial aid is available for students at polytechnics to help pay their higher tuition. All parents in China try to save to give their child a college education. We pray for believers who feel they do not have enough savings and feel guilty about it. May the Lord remind us all that the best education we can give our children is the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday
Students at polytechnics tend to be from poor or rural backgrounds. China’s education ministry said that last year, eighty percent of the students at polytechnics were the first in their families to receive higher education. These days, there are more college graduates among members of churches in China than before. Believers who have different levels of education understand what the pastor says at different levels. Let us pray that the pastor’s sermon can effectively appeal to a more educated group but the message will be both Biblical and applicable to daily living.
Thursday
The work of evangelism is much more difficult now in China, compared to a few years ago. On Sunday, it is also difficult to ask Christians to bring their friends to church because many would work extra hours for extra pay. There are so much entertainment around and people are focused on materialism and enjoyment, with little spiritual appetite left. We ask the Lord to give urban churches wisdom and strategies for evangelism, so the Gospel can be taken into the society with His power.
Friday
Because church members are physically exhausted after work, Chinese pastors find it difficult to visit their flocks. In order to provide caring to those working, pastors have to spend more time visiting people at home or call them over the phone as the only way of ministering, It is nearly impossible for a pastor to care for everyone in church, simply because they do not have the time and there are too many church members. We pray for effective caring of church members, especially those members who need much encouragement but are not receiving enough attention, may the Lord speak and comfort them.
Saturday
In the past, when Christians passed out tracts on the streets, at least some people will read them. Now, there are so much business ads and commercials, handing out Gospel tracts seem to be unproductive. People simply throw them away, making evangelism very difficult. We pray that Christians in their workplace, those Christian businessmen or social workers, will intentionally share the love of God and be a great witness for Him. They can be highly effective in loosening the hard soil.
Sunday
Factory work attracts young people from the rural regions, inland provinces that are generally poor and these youth are predominantly middle school graduates. They work to send money back home and very few of the Chinese Christians in the cities know their stories. Let us pray that young factory workers who are from Christian homes can quickly find a spiritual home near where they work whether it is a church or a meeting place so they can continue to be fed with God’s word and be built up spiritually.
Monday
Although in the past extramarital affairs were unheard of in churches in China, they are no longer “big news”. Their evil influence is affecting churches very deeply, like cancer, and it damages believers, even the pastors. May the Lord have mercy on each of us, believers and leaders alike. Churches need to be transparent and discuss this issue openly teaching their people how to face sexual temptations by guarding their hearts and running away from the lures and traps of lust. We pray that pastors will lead the movement to the return to holiness.

星期二
政府儘管向四年制本科院校生提供範圍廣泛且按需給予的助學金和貸款,但專科院校的學生幾乎無法獲得任何資助來承擔高昂的學費。父母都會竭盡所能的為孩子的大學教育費用積蓄。我們在禱告中要記念那些沒有足夠儲蓄,甚至因此對孩子有內疚的信徒父母禱告,求主提醒我們,父母帶領孩子認識耶穌基督才是給孩子最好的教育投資。
星期三
在專科院校就讀的學生當中,來自窮困或者農村家庭的比率非常高。教育部透露,去年專科院校中家有八成的學生是家中第一個考上大學的孩子。今日中國教會裡的弟兄姊妹的教育程度已比昔日大大提升了,如何牧養各類不同的信徒是傳道人的一大挑戰。求主幫助牧者能進入羊群中,了解他們的實際需要,在傳講主的話語時,能適切按眾人的屬靈狀況輔導、餵養。
星期四
目前在中國城市的福音工作開展更為不易,傳福音比從前難得多!就算在主日,仍有好些弟兄姊妹自願回公司加班賺錢,同理也很難帶領朋友到教會聽福音。城市資訊泛濫,人心苦於被功利物質競逐及世俗享樂所充滿,福音信息往往難以突圍而出。求主幫助城市教會制定適切的佈道計劃,針對人心在浮華沉澱過后的空虛,靠著主的大能把福音大大傳開。
星期五
由於工作量大,信徒下班後已經很疲倦,所以能接受牧養的時間有限。許多城市教會的牧者只能多花時間上門牧養或是以電話牧養在主日加班的信徒。想讓每個會友都得到牧者的關懷是不太容易的,牧者忙,會友多是極大原因之一。我們為那些特別需要鼓勵關懷的會友禱告,願主的話語和來自神自己的安慰能彌補牧者的不足。
星期六
過去信徒在街頭給未信者派發福音單張時,他們多半會接過去看。但現在因廣告和推銷單張太多,福音單張淪為其中一種,人們往往看了就扔掉,不會特別珍惜。今時的人心難向福音開放,使佈道工作倍加困難!求主使用職場上的信徒、社會上的基督徒商家及社會工作者,能在工作崗位上作光作鹽,以美好的生命見證,為未來的福音工作鬆土及舖路。
星期日
很多民工都是從鄉下到工業區打工,十多歲的青年人佔了大多數。他們离鄉背景辛苦工作,為的就是掙錢寄回鄉養家。很少城市教會的基督徒知道這些民工的個人故事,他們的靈魂曾否有人關心過?我們要為「農民工」信徒在城市裡都能加入或組成一個屬靈的家(聚會點)禱告,求主供應他們屬靈生命上的需要,並在愛中彼此建立。
星期一
以前在教會鮮有聽聞會眾中有婚外情發生。但今天時移勢逆,這股歪風已捲進教會,滲透到信徒的家庭,像毒瘤般危害弟兄姊妹,甚至在傳道人及教會領袖的家中也難以幸免。求主恩待教會,保守領袖同工及信徒的心。教會實在要公開面對這個挑戰,坦誠地教導弟兄姐妹如何更積極有效地捍衛家庭的價值觀,隨時隨處謹守自己的心,逃避眼目的引誘,情慾的陷阱。

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Prayer Request 11/5 - 11/11


Tuesday
In Xinjiang many of the Uighur people are convinced that Beijing is seeking to wipe out their language and culture through assimilation and educational policies that favor the Mandarin language over Uighur in schools and government jobs. It is difficult to share the good news of Jesus with the Muslims in China. Let us pray for the small number of Uighurs that has become Christians. May the Lord protect them, bless them, and give them boldness to stay firm in their faith.
Wednesday
In Xinjiang, clashes have been fueled by the discouraging realities of daily life: job discrimination, restrictions that prohibit those under eighteen from entering mosques, and the difficulty that many Uighurs face in obtaining passports. Han Chinese generally view all ethnic minorities as backward and not industrious. We pray again asking God to remove our prejudices and ethnic pride which seriously impede the missionary effort of the Chinese church.
Thursday
Fear and mistrust between the Han Chinese and the Uighurs has worsened in recent years as more Han Chinese migrants settle into heavily guarded enclaves, especially in the southern crescent of Xinjiang which remains predominantly Uighur. Churches speak of evangelism to the Muslims in foreign countries but they have deep suspicion and even disgust toward the Muslim minorities in their cities. May the Lord examine our hearts so our love for the lost in indeed true.
Friday
Even in Urumqi where ethnic Han Chinese make up seventy-five percent of the population, knots of heavily armed police officers in fatigues are positioned throughout Uighur neighborhoods. Churches in Urumqi are mostly for the Han Chinese and are growing among the college students. We ask the Lord to raise up loyal believers who through their daily contracts can share Jesus with their co-workers or customers.
Saturday
Beijing has coupled its “strike hard” security approach with turbo-charged economic development but even that has stoked resentment among Uighurs who say the best jobs go to the newly-arrived Han people. We pray for more Christians who appreciate the ethnic, cultural, and religious differences in the two groups and will help to educate Christians to understand complexities of cross-cultural mission, and instruct us how to befriend the Muslims in their cities.
Sunday
Part of the anti-government sentiment is religious in nature. Muslim civil servants can be fired for joining Friday prayers and Uighur college students are often required to eat lunch in the cafeterias during their holy month of Ramadan. We pray for divine wisdom for those who set the policies and enforce them, especially in the Muslim regions of China. Ethnic discontent and strife impede and delay sharing the gospel. Again, we pray for improvement of life and job opportunities for all of the Chinese Muslims.
Monday
Certain policies and restriction have caused the Uighurs to be religiously radicalized. Five years ago it was rare to see a woman wearing a veil in Urumqi but now it is very common. Growing a beard and demanding their wives cover their heads in public has become an act of defiance. We pray for all of the Muslims, young or old, who have become Christians and are enduring pressure and opposition from their communities and even from family members. May the Lord or grace strengthen and bless them.


星期二
新疆的維吾爾人認為,當局正試圖通過同化措施和教育政策,消除他們的語言和文化,包括在學校及政府工作中優先使用漢語,而不是維吾爾語。向伊斯蘭教徒分享耶穌是困難重重。讓我們為少數接受了福音的維人代禱,願主的恩惠臨到保守他們,堅固他們的信心能靠主屹立不動搖。
星期三
不少新疆居民認為與政府的衝突都是由日常生活中令人沮喪的現實引起的,例如就業的歧視、禁止不滿18歲者進入清真寺的規定、以及很多維吾爾人難以取得護照等等。另外漢族普遍認為少數民族是懶惰及落後的。求主幫助我們挪去對少數民族的偏見和種族優越感,赦免我們因自義而阻礙了神愛的流通,並幫助教會有宣教的動力。
星期四
隨著近年越來越多漢族人在新疆定居(尤其至今仍以維吾爾族人為主的新疆南部弧形地帶),兩個民族之間的衝突、懷疑氣氛不斷加劇和惡化。教會雖然常常喊著回宣的口號,但是卻對居停在他們城市中的回民有相當的懷疑,甚至帶著厭惡的態度。願主鑒察我們的心思,叫我們能體會主愛普澤世人的心腸,有為失喪靈魂憂傷的心。
星期五
即使在漢族人佔75%的烏魯木齊,維吾爾族社區也常佈滿了一隊隊全副武裝、荷槍實彈的軍警。烏魯木齊的事工以漢族和大學生為主,我們求主興起忠心的門徒,藉著日常與同事、朋友及客戶的接觸,見證基督的救恩。
星期六
政府在新疆推行名為「嚴打」的安全行動的同時,還大力發展新疆的經濟,雖然經濟促進地方的繁榮,但這點也引起維吾爾人不滿,他們說:「最好的工作都歸屬於新來的漢人。」求主幫助信徒能更多了解、尊重和欣賞漢族和維吾爾族的文化和宗教之間的差異性及多元特質,幫助我們曉得如何做好跨文化的福音事工,也賜信徒智慧與鄰舍建立真誠的友誼。
星期日
新疆少數民族抵制政府的情緒部分是由日益嚴重的宗教限制舉措所引發的。公務員可能會因為參加週五祈禱而被解僱。維吾爾族大學生在神聖的齋月期間,常被要求在學校食堂吃午飯。求主給當局在制定政策及執行上有智慧,盡可能減少種族之間的矛盾。我們除了為當地人民的生活及工作有積極改善來禱告之外, 我們也求主開啟這些地區福音的大門。
星期一
新疆實施的某些政策及限制,反而導致維吾爾族人對自身信仰更加執著。五年前在烏魯木齊很難看到戴面紗的女性,但現在卻不一樣了:回民蓄鬍鬚,要妻子在公共場合蒙頭遮面已經成為一種抗爭的表現。我們在禱告中紀念曾是穆斯林但現已跟隨主耶穌的人,願主加添他們力量,又安慰保護他們,尤其是面對家人及社區的強大反對壓力時,仍滿有主堅立的恩典與祝福。