Prayer Request 7/30 - 8/5

Tuesday
While 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
Chinese churches have fewer salaried staff in contrast with the Western churches. The danger of those who serve in church is the delicate balance of ministry load and their own personal spiritual development. We remember all believers who are involved in serving in church. May their spiritual lives be vibrant, their zeal not diminished. May the Lord renew us all and the churches will put emphasis on training healthy church workers.
Monday
Only 51.3 percent of migrants hold fixed-term employment contracts with their bosses and they work an average of 54.6 hours per week, far above the 40-hour legal limit. Over 30 percent of the country's migrant workers are employed without a proper contract. In many ways pastors face a situation similar to that of the migrant workers. Chinese believers should be considerate of their shepherds and not merely demand that they themselves be cared for. They should care for their pastors, especially those who labor faithfully, never mistreating them but honoring and loving them.

星期二
儘管政府向四年制本科院校的學生提供範圍廣泛、按需給予的助學金和貸款，但屬於專科院校一層的學生幾乎無法獲得任何資助來承擔高昂的學費。父母帶領孩子認識耶穌基督其實就就是給孩子最好的。大部分的中國父母會為孩子的大學教育費用努力積蓄。我們在禱告中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。
星期三
專科院校的學生有很大比例是來自窮困家庭或者農村家庭。教育部資料透露：去年專科院校中就有八成的學生是家中第一個考上大學的孩子。今日中國教會弟兄姊妹的教育程度已比昔日大幅提升，如何牧養不同學、經歷的信徒是傳道人的大挑戰，求主幫助牧者能親身進入羊群中，了解他們個別的需要，並在傳講主的話語時，能適切眾人的屬靈狀況，兼顧真理的闡明及生活的應用。
星期四
目前中國城市內的福音工作開展更不易，傳福音比從前難得多！在星期日，好些人閒不下來拼命在公司加班賺錢。城市資訊泛濫，人心苦於被物質及享樂所充斥，少有胃口去容納真理。求主幫助城市教會能制定更適切的佈道策略，靠著主的大能，幫助人們砍斷各樣纏索，讓福音廣傳。
星期五
由於信徒下班後已經很疲倦，所以能接受牧養的時間和精力很有限。許多城市教會的牧者只能多花時間上門牧養或是電話牧養那些主日在加班的信徒。在教會中，會友多、牧者忙，每一個會友都能得到牧者的關懷是件不太容易的事。我們為那些特別需要鼓勵關懷，而牧者力有未及處的會友禱告，願主的話，來自神親自的安慰。
星期六
過去信徒在街頭給未信者派發福音單張時，人們通常會接過去看，如今因為廣告和推銷單張太多，福音單張淪為其中一種，人們往往隨手丟棄。現在的人心難向福音開放，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，在崗位上作美好的見證，能為未來的福音工作鬆土及舖路。
星期日
與西方教會相比，中國教會中支薪的工人相對的少多了。而在教會或機構當中通常看重事工發展而常忽略照顧同工靈命成長。求主幫助服侍神的弟兄姐妹們，靈命不致枯乾，服事的熱忱也不減退，時時更新我們，教會重新調整發展重點，並刻意培育出身心靈都強健的信徒領袖。
星期一
傳道人和農民工在許多地方都有相似點。農民工的工作時間普遍較長，平均每週工作54.6小時，遠超過勞動法規定的每週40小時。此外，他們的勞動合同簽訂率亦普遍較低。求主幫助弟兄姊妹多關懷那些為我們的靈魂時刻警醒的牧人，並在生活供應上也給他們足以安家的能力。

Prayer Request 7/9 - 7/15

Tuesday
About seven million students graduated from college in China this summer and many of them will be unemployed. Among them will be some who have accepted Jesus while they were in college but the challenges they face after they graduate are enormous and harsh. We pray for all of those who are Christians and ask the Lord to protect them, help them find a good church or fellowship quickly, continue to grow in the faith and mature spiritually, and also enjoy the company of godly friends.
Wednesday
Many college graduates who are Christians stop growing spiritually once they leave campus because they lack fellowship and discipleship. Even though they still have tender hearts for God, they do not continue going to church and having fellowship. We pray for all of the young believers who have stopped attending church since it is vital that they have a spiritual home. We lift up those who are facing pressure and even persecution from family because of their new-found faith. May the Lord keep their faith strong in Him.
Thursday
Many Christians who graduate from college give up going to church because of intense competition for jobs. Others fall into a spiritual crisis due to relationship issues or mounting opposition or pressure from their unbelieving parents. We need to pray for these young believers as they adapt to life after they graduate from college, especially those who cannot find a job. We pray for God’s provision, healing, and comfort for these young believers who struggle with relational issues and are despondent.
Friday
It is a common phenomenon that pastors are forced to take on a side job. When the pastors speak of the need to support themselves financially, they have the pained look and invariably feel helpless. Let us pray for healthy body and mind for all the pastors who must balance church ministry and their money-paying jobs. Only the Lord can change the attitude of churches, so His laborers can receive the well-deserved wages as the Scripture taught.
Saturday
Most migrant workers are concerned about what is taking place in the city where they reside and they express a strong desire to mix with the locals. However, there is very little interaction between migrant workers and local people so they remain as strangers and outcasts. In China, churches ignore those who are on the edge of society so Christians are marginalized by society. We pray that believers will love the Lord with all of their hearts and love their neighbors as themselves as Jesus taught us--especially those not-so-loveable and often neglected migrant workers.
Sunday
Generally speaking, majority of training for church workers inside China is done by overseas Chinese “parachute in”, teaching on a short term basis. Another problem is how those who received training can be incorporate into churches or find a place to serve. Let us pray that churches in China will soon be able to do the training themselves. May the Lord impress this need on churches, to focus on not only church planting, but to build church that can self-sustain, self-preach and continue to multiply.
Monday
The gift of a car as an engagement gift in China is no longer a big deal. For young urban couples, giving each other golden bars has become a common practice. Even weddings are getting very lavish. Urban Chinese are able to afford extravagance and even the young people try to outdo each other in that way. We pray that churches in the cities can stand firm against such decadence and be able to be powerful witnesses for the Lord with a pure love for Him.

星期二
中國約有七百萬大學畢業生今年夏天加入職場，「畢業就是失業」是許多大學生的困境。在這批年青人中，有好些是在大學時成為基督徒，他們離開校園之後要面臨的挑戰更大。我們為畢業的基督徒禱告, 求主保守他們向主存純一的心，也幫助他們能夠持續有團契生活，且有彼此扶持的肢體一同追求成長，在神帶領的崗位上為主作美好的見證。
星期三
有些在大學時信主的年輕弟兄姊妹畢業後就缺少團契生活和屬靈教導，雖然仍有一顆柔軟的心，卻沒有繼續保持教會的生活。我們為停止聚會的年輕信徒禱告，求神幫助他們找到好的教會，成為屬靈的家。我們特別為受到家人壓力，甚至逼迫的信徒禱告，求主堅定他們的信心，以受苦的心志作為兵器，好能面對各樣的難處，靠主站住。
星期四
許多大學畢業的肢體，因工作競爭激烈停止參加聚會，也有因感情的困難，幾乎把信仰放棄，還有不少因為家人的壓力，無法堅持自己的信仰。我們為年輕信徒適應大學畢業後的生活來禱告，尤其是那些遇到種種難處的信徒，求神藉這些苦難叫他們學會更多的倚靠神，而不是自己的學識或才幹。又使用他們單純向主的心，叫一切榮耀頌讚都歸與神。
星期五
教牧被迫打工是現今教會常見的現象。當他們說到百忙中也要「做點工」時，面有難色，語帶無奈。讓我們求主保守教牧有健康的身心靈來面對繁重的事奉和工作。求主更新信徒的奉獻觀念，樂意遵行聖經中「工人得工價」的教導。
星期六
大多數流動人口都會關心流入地的發展和變化，融入當地社會意願強烈；然而，他們與流入地其他社群的交流卻不多，參與社會的渠道亦較少。 如果教會不接納社會邊緣人，教會本身就會邊緣化。求主開導並照亮每位信徒的心，時常效法主榜樣，顯揚主的榮美，學習接納一群與自己不同、默默無聞的農民工。
星期日
現在中國國內的培訓，不少是海外信徒短期性參與，每每只是「做完就走」，被培訓者去哪個工場？如何參與教會的事奉等根本無法安排。我們為中國教會能快快地自己培訓教會的工人代禱。 求神幫助教會看見這個需要，培訓要考慮怎樣幫助建立教會，讓他們能自養、自傳，使傳福音的果效持久。
星期一
小轎車成為當今中國的豪華的訂婚禮物, 又有另一些訂婚男女會互贈金條，相當有氣派。至於結婚典禮，就更加豪華了！這種風氣的形成，除了因為城市富有的人大增外， 還與攀比之風有關。求主保守城市教會，能在這股奢華風氣之下站立得穩，有純一愛主的心，為主在社會上作見證。

Prayer Request 7/2 - 7/8

Tuesday
New South China Mall in Guangdong Province opened in 2005, which is the largest shopping center in the world in terms of leasable space. Only problem is, the mall is virtually deserted.It has been classified as a “dead mall”. It is hard to put total trust in God when believers see people around them own several homes and they do not. May the Lord add faith to us all, so we will be content and trust His provision. We pray that believers will have heart of thanksgiving and they will be a channel of His blessing.
Wednesday
Dongguan is a factory town and most of its almost 10 million inhabitants are migrant workers struggling to make ends meet. People coming here to work in factories don't have the time or the money for shopping or the roller coaster in the megamall. Let us pray for ministries reaching out to the vast number of workers or aim at equipping the workers. Their effort is not easy because workers have little time and they move to where wage is better. Let us remember in prayer all the evangelistic effort inside and outside of factories.
Thursday
During the great stimulus credit boom of the past, China created a lot of `ghost cities', projects without a strong commercial foundation, and projects that didn't complete. Dongguan face mounting problems as factories close down and manufacturing moves to other cities in China and abroad which offer cheaper labor. While people know about the housing bubble, they still buy houses. Many believers own several properties and now worry sick about any policy changes or market drop. May the Lord give us contentment and the fear of the Lord, rather than seeing what others have or own.
Friday
In many of the remote rural churches in China not only do the young and able members go to the cities to work but even the pastors send their spouses to accompany their children in the cities. Pastors of rural churches work alone and the number of people who are attending has dropped greatly. Many churches have no pastors, only people who volunteer to work in the church. Even if there is a pastor, his family does not live with him. May the Lord have mercy on those who labor so hard and reward them with visible growth in their churches.
Saturday
It is very difficult to retain pastors in the villages in China because life there lags behind that of life in the cities and it is very discouraging for believers to see that no shepherds are willing to come and be their pastor. We pray that the stronger churches in the cities will support churches in the villages financially and even more importantly with people who will lead basic worship services. May the Lord give extra strength to those who will shoulder the responsibilities of caring for multiple rural churches so they will not suffer burn out.
Sunday
Many of the villages in China have become virtually empty with only the old and the very young left in them. All who are capable enough to work have moved to the cities. The old people must care for the little ones and all are vulnerable. Let us pray for families of believers who are thus separated. We pray for strength and wisdom for the grandparents as they rear their little grandchild. We pray, too, that the children will still learn about Jesus from their grandparents and their village churches.
Monday
Migrant workers are not able to take their children with them to the cities where they work because of the severe limitation of "hukou" (residence registration) so they have no choice but to leave their children in the villages which creates many problems. May the Lord have mercy on believers who are migrant workers and have paid a big price to be able to live comfortably. May the Lord bless the society as a whole so ways can be found to improve the lives of migrant workers.

星期二
東莞的華南 Mall 是全球最大的購物中心。但自2005年開放以來，人朝流量稀少，空置率高，大部分空蕩盪如同死城。在投機熱潮下建立起來的空置商業建築—「鬼城」比皆是。當周邊的人擁有許多房產，而自己卻沒有時，信徒的危機感很難將信心單單仰望神。願神再次加添我們的信心，也給我們常懷感恩的心成為上帝祝福的管道。
星期三
東莞是一個擁有一千萬居民的工業城市，大部分都是外來勞工，這些外地人每個月能保持收支平衡已經是很不錯了。外地人來到工廠上班，沒有時間也沒有多餘的錢在大商場購物或消費。讓我們為工廠內外的福音事工來代求，這些事工相當艱苦，因為工人空閒的時間不多，流動性也大。
星期四
中國在刺激經濟的信貸繁榮裡，製造了大量的「鬼城」：推展許多沒有穩定商業支持的規劃，還有產生許多未完成的建築計劃。近來東莞地區面臨著工廠倒閉的困境，許多製造業搬遷外地或國外，只為求得更廉價的勞工。雖然大家都知道房地產將泡沫化，但是還是有人不停地買屋.。許多人徒因為擁有幾套房子，天天擔心政策變化或市場下跌。求主賜給弟兄姊妹知足加上敬畏神的心，而不是盲目的跟著潮流走。
星期五
在偏遠的中國農村教會，不僅信徒跑到外地打工，還有一些同工為了孩子的學業，送自己的另一半進城陪讀。鄉村聚會點普遍缺乏服事工人，甚至連主日聚會都有困難。許多教會只有義工，有的牧者的家人也都不在身旁，這使得信徒牧養更加困難。求主憐憫落後的農村教會，以及所有忙碌於事奉的忠心牧者，讓他們能看到教會的成長而欣慰喜樂。
星期六
農村發展落後，因此教會留不住牧者。求主保守農村教會儘快得到縣城教會的支援，好能維持基本的聚會。求主憐憫那些肩頭上有事奉重擔的同工，保守他們不因過勞耗盡。我們也祈求神感動更多縣城教會能在經濟上支持農村教會，尤其是教會的講台需要及帶領聚會。更為那些負責照顧不同農村聚會點的同工們代求，願神記念他們的奔波辛勞，賜給他們額外的力量與喜樂來服事。
星期日
許多中國農村都變成空巢村，有力氣打工的人都往城市跑，留下「老」的和「小」的，兩種最容易受傷害的人。委託老人來照顧兒童，實在不是上策。讓我們為農村留守兒童禱告， 尤其是那些親子分離的信徒家庭。也為要照顧孫輩的爺爺奶奶們代禱, 求主賜他們力量和智慧，更能把握機會以言教、身教幫助孩子明白耶穌基督愛他們，讓他們都能繼續參加聚會。
星期一
因著戶籍制度的限制，農民工無法帶孩子進入城市一起生活，在無可選擇之下，他們只能留下兒女在農村生活，這樣的安排,引發很多問題。求主憐憫眾多為生計奔波的農民工信徒，他們以犧牲兒女健康成長的權利為代價，辛勞維持生計。求主祝福中國社會，能即早建立並實施促進群眾和諧共處的制度和措施。