Prayer Request 2/11 - 2/17

TuesdayTwo well-known pastors of mega churches in Singapore and South Korea have been accused of financial improprieties which has made a huge impact on all Chinese churches and created many debates. Believers in China admire them greatly and have been faithfully making pilgrimages to their churches. We each need to reflect again on how we approach church growth and not blindly copy pastors of large churches. May the Lord help us to focus on Him alone, not charismatic and talented pastors. We pray weak believers will not stumble and become disillusioned by this situation.
Wednesday
Chinese churches have taken up the idea of exalting "star pastors" and holding large concert-like venues. Believers are caught in the frenzy of attending such special events and deeply believe any foreign pastor is be a better speaker or entertainer than the local ones. May the Lord have mercy on us and cleanse us with His fire of holiness so we will return to the word of God. rather than merely seeking His material blessings.
Thursday
Senior pastors misuse huge church fund show the inherent problem in megachurch operation and accountability. In the Bible, Ananias and his wife died because they exaggerated the size of their offering. It is hard to predict who will be caught up in some scandal next. May the Lord help us to be open and aboveboard in our financial accounting system and not abuse it. May He has mercy on us so believers do not have to refuse to give because they are suspicious of how their money is being used.
Friday
A Christian professional basketball player can have a tremendous impact as a missionary. Many churches struggle with the issue of whether they should become trendy and popular. Should they use secular music, media, and culture to cross over and reach the younger generation? May the Lord use these scandals to help us think through how we should come outside the walls we have built around our churches, to be more compassionate and accept humbly all who wish to come rather than riding the dangerous beat called "culture" and lose our calling to be salt and light in the world.
Saturday
After the Economic Reform of 1979, China was more open to other countries. Numbers of people left to study abroad and many scholars entered China to teach in universities. Many of those students who had gone abroad to study came home as Christians and many more were led to the Lord by missionaries who came in. Let us pray for all of the Bible study groups on the college campuses throughout China. We pray that many more students will come to know Jesus and learn to follow Him. We pray, too, for the safety of those teachers who risk their own academic promotion by leading these studies.
Sunday
It is not easy to find workers for the churches in China because people believe in their hearts that being in the service industry is shameful. Parents do not want their children to work in these jobs either. Christian parents will do anything and even threaten them with suicide to stop their children from serving God full-time. Believers want their children to love the Lord but not be “crazy enough” to be full-time workers for Him. Let us pray for blessing on those parents who have allowed and encouraged their children to serve in the church.
Monday
Young people in China who have college degrees do not want to work in factories. If one wants to get just any job, there is no problem. As long as one is not picky, there is a job available even though it might not match your qualifications or abilities. Most churches find it difficult to attract and retain young people because they do not have friends in the church. Young people often feel that church is too formal and not interesting. We pray for more churches that are willing to make their services more friendly and attractive to youth.

星期二
兩位新加坡、韓國大教會名牧被控處理公款不當，對華人教會影響極大，也帶來許多爭議。近年不少華人教會仿效韓國及新加坡教會的狂熱，幾乎達聖人崇拜、慕名朝聖的地步。求聖靈照明我們的心，使牧者有智慧在牧養上忠主所託，不一味抄襲。求主幫助我們將信心聚焦在為我們死而復活的基督，而不是群眾魅力、特殊才幹的牧者身上。祈求天父憐憫因此跌倒軟弱的信徒，靠主重新站立起來。
星期三
華人教會近年不少追求「明星路線」高舉人過於神自己，處處都是名牧結合「時尚」的特會，信徒亦慕名趕場參加，存著「外來的和尚會念經」的心態。求主光照我們，潔淨祂的教會。使我們再次專注於神的話語，不追求神蹟奇事，想要得著一時的奮興，求神的祝福與物質的富裕，而是飢渴於神的話語，追求生命的更新，每天過討主喜悅的生活。
星期四
近期有著名牧者動用教會的基金，捲入龐大的金錢糾紛，顯出某些超大型教會在運作上、金錢處理上都出了大問題。昔日亞拿尼亞夫婦以為「誇大奉獻數字」是小事，豈不知是「欺哄聖靈」！我們也不敢自誇必能站立得穩，永不跌倒。求主幫助我們時刻儆醒，手潔心清，反省教會財政管理上的適當安排。太多教會在錢財上不透明，成為會友不願意奉獻的絆腳石。求主憐憫我們。
星期五
基督徒職業籃球員能在宣教上大有影響力，成為傳福音的平台，是值得感恩的事；然而，教會是否應該一味「趕流行」？ 基督徒是否應該用世俗的音樂文化來「跨界」接觸一向教會接觸不到的年輕一代？求主幫助教會反思如何跨出自己建造的高牆，滿有主耶穌的憐憫與接納來謙卑地服侍社區，而不是盲目想爬上文化的怪獸，搭順風車傳福音，結果反而模糊神要我們成為光和鹽功能的異象。
星期六
七九年改革開放之後，中國不再閉關鎖國，很多人走出去留學，也有很多學者進入中國，進入大學做外教。感謝主，很多出去的人信主了，很多進來的人也帶領周圍的人信主。我們為在各處大學校園中的查經班禱告，求神使用它們引領更多的學生來認識主耶穌，也培養成門徒跟隨祂。我們位這群在校園當中見證基督的教職員禱告，因為他們在各方面都受到因為信仰所帶來的壓力與關注。
星期日
在中國招聘教會同工並不容易，因為一般人們心裡覺得在服務業工作是不體面的。家長也不希望自己的孩子從事服務行業。可惜一些基督徒父母也會以各樣手段，威脅阻止自己的孩子全職事奉神。信徒家長盼望孩子能愛主，但是卻不要太「瘋狂」愛主到全職事奉神。讓我們為這樣的父母禱告，也為那些鼓勵孩子服事神的父母們感恩。
星期一
現今中國擁有大學學位的年輕人不願去工廠工作。如只是想隨便找份工作，只要不挑剔，一定是可以找到的。但能找著的工作崗位往往與個人想找的工作存有極大差距。 許多教會在吸引或留住年輕人上大有困難，因為他們在教會沒有什麼朋友。年輕人總是覺得教會太傳統，很無聊。我們為更多的教會在核心價值不改變下能在吸引年輕人，在講台信息、崇拜風格、事工策略等有所改變來禱告。