Prayer Request 4/29 - 5/5

TuesdayDuring the 1980's. soon after the Cultural Revolution, there was a great revival among China’s rural churches. But, the urban churches started to grow larger only after the Economic Reform and the subsequent migration of 300 million people into the cities. We commit to pray for the urban churches because they are still young and learning to face their own unique challenges, especially those of how to minister to believers who are busy professionals. May the Lord bless their ministries, especially those among young families.
Wednesday
Many of the urban house churches in China are changing from their previous hidden underground meetings to open public meetings. These churches are pushing themselves into the public domain and exploring how they will be accepted by the officials. These churches are surely blazing a new trail, not creating a church under a charismatic leader but rather "a church with rational organization". We pray they will be received and accepted by the government because they do represent the future of churches there.
Thursday
As the urban house churches grow vibrantly and many of them become involved in social issues, there are certain serious issues they must face as churches. One of them is how Christian faith interacts with Chinese culture or how Christian theology is indigenized. We thank the Lord for the growth of the urban churches but we must also pray about the steady decline and languishing attitude in the rural churches. Although many believe these two extremes are inevitable, we have faith that God can do miracles and send revival once again.
Friday
Urban house churches in China are divided into two theological camps: Theological Confucianism--the merging of traditional values and practices with Christianity and Practical Theology --a church with a mission to involve and transform society.We pray that Chinese people will not reject the gospel because they see Christianity as a foreign religion nor will they despise Christians as a group of unconcerned people. May the Lord stir each of us to do good deeds because the compassion of Jesus compels us.
Saturday
Management is a big challenge which the churches in China face. As long as churches are without legal statutes, the transition of leadership is murky, not clearly defined, and subject to favoritism or else controlled by the selected inner circle. We pray that all of the leaders of churches will follow and imitate the Great Shepherd with His humility and gentleness, not be seekers of power, fame, or money. We pray, too, for the refining fire that will cleanse each of us so we will share in His holiness.
Sunday
House churches by and large are not transparent about their finances so they will not give government officials evidence to oppress them. However, this leads to poor accountability and allows abuses such as embezzlement, misappropriation of church funds and discourages church members from giving. We pray for integrity for those who are in charge of finances in the churches. May God protect them from all temptation and give them humility to be worthy stewards, not power brokers of church policies.
Monday
The church in China cannot remain at the stage of seeking miracles. It needs a large number of preachers who are capable of teaching and leading the church. Without deeper teaching of Biblical truth, new believers end up following all kinds of cults. We pray for all of the churches ravaged by the extreme and unsound teaching of cults. May the Lord have mercy on all of the lost sheep. We lift up those who are dedicated to training pastors for rural churches. May their work bring great reward even though the pastors they train are poorly paid and required to make many sacrifices. May God remember them.

星期二
八、九十年代文革剛結束時，農村教會經歷了大復興。城巿的教會是在改革開放後約3億人由農村湧進城巿，造成城巿教會發展的契機，迄今有三十餘年。我們為仍是很年輕的城巿教會禱告，現今對未來事工的方向仍處摸索階段，並且有不少獨有的困難，尤其是如何牧養城巿中生活極其忙碌的上班族，以及他們的年輕家庭事工等，都要尋求神的恩手明確地引領。
星期三
不少城市中的家庭教會，一改以往家庭教會隱蔽、地下式的家中聚會模式變為公開及開放，更進一步進入到公共領域，以開放的心態探索未來。這些前瞻式的教會並非建立個人化的教會，而是建立「合理的組織性的教會」。我們為這些教會祈求，因為政府如何承認和對待他們，將可能成為處理未來中國教會的法律地位及模式。
星期四
中國城市家庭教會在以蓬勃、積極主動的姿態融入並影響社會的同時，自身也隱含嚴重的危機。首先是關於基督教信仰與中國文化之間的張力的問題，即基督教神學的本色化問題。我們為城市教會的迅速增長感謝主， 但也必需為農村教會的沒落祈求。儘管許多人認為這種兩極化是無可避免的，求信實的上帝再次興起所有中國教會。
星期五
當前不少城市家庭教會呈現兩種傾向：神學儒學化:從傳統道德倫理來註釋基督徒的生命實踐；神學意識形態化:關注社會、改造世界來註釋基督徒的使命感。我們為中國人不誤以基督教為洋教而拒絕福音禱告，求主讓信徒在民眾心目中不是漠不關心社會的群體；願聖靈感動我們，因有祂的憐憫，就多有善行。
星期六
家庭教會在還沒有合法身份的環境下，教會管理常出現不少危機：教會領袖團體出現所謂「幫會現象」，有的甚至以特殊的關係來壟斷教會的領導權。我們要為每位教會領袖祈求，好叫他們更多效法大牧者-耶穌基督，多有主的謙卑與溫柔，不是愛名，愛權和愛財。但願那煉淨的靈火，潔淨我們在祂的聖潔上有份。
星期日
家庭教會由於公開帳戶實情會受予政府打擊的把柄，往往管理財務容易透明。這也使得教會對財務進出無法切實監督，增加挪用、私吞公款等犯罪的可能性。教會財務不透明，造成會友不願奉獻是事實。我們為教會管錢的禱告，求神賜給他們正直的靈，保守他們不受誘惑，多有謙卑成為神的好管家，而不是淪為教會的政治掮客。
星期一
中國教會的發展不能停留在以求神蹟為主的階段，而是扎根真理，向高處行。這需要大量能教導真理、領導信徒成長、建造教會的傳道人。求主憐憫迷失的羊，我們要為異端，邪教，假先知蹂躪的眾教徒禱告 。也再次為參與農村培訓的每位同工代禱，願他們所作的工大有果效，所培養出來的牧者雖然薪水很低，工作艱難，但主必記念、獎賞他們的擺上。