Prayer Request 6/10 - 6/16

TuesdayRecently the house churches in China ​have been more open and even bolder than before. A church in Beijing has been pushing and testing its limits with the government on the openness of a Christian gathering, autonomy, and the legal status of an urban house church. We praise God for the different views believers in China have on how their churches should be legal and open. We pray for divine protection, boldness and wisdom for those who are on the forefront of this matter so they will be known for their fervor and their compassion as Jesus Christ was.
Wednesday
​In the cities of China, people can attend the Three Self churches but in villages where the majority of Christians live, Three Self churches often fail to build more churches to accommodate the increase numbers of believers. Most of their pastors are​ busy serving their congregations and do not focus on outreach. It is true that shepherds do not produce sheep and it is believers who lead their friends to church. Evangelism should not be a task left for preachers only. We pray that Christians will have a strong desire to share the gospel with others in word and deed.
Thursday
Scores of both Protestant and Catholic church buildings have been demolished in Wenzhou, a coastal city nicknamed "The Jerusalem of the East" for its large Christian population. Local officials cite violation of building codes as the cause of this action. We pray this is not a sign that the government is tightening its grip on the spread of Christianity in China. May the Lord comfort the people in those churches so they do not lose courage in sharing the gospel and know that the church of Christ is not a building but the people who worship Him.
Friday
Many suspect that churches in Wenzhou and Hangzhou are currently "facing persecution" because they are "too conspicuous." Nearly all the buildings demolished belong to registered churches, and the structures were government-approved, but had serious building code violation. We know the official religious policy can changes over night and "big tree catches wind". We pray for wisdom and God's favor for all churches as they deal with officials in all matters regarding permits and compliances.
Saturday
The government of China has been trying to integrate house churches with the Three Self churches but a union of these churches is far from satisfactory since the Three Self churches are seen to be controlled by the government and wounds from the past are still fresh. We pray especially for all of the pastors serving in the Three Self churches and ask God to give them messages to preach, a vibrant spirit, an ever increasing love for Jesus and His sheep, and faithfulness in serving our Lord.
Sunday
​During the past decade, urban house churches have become more open--from​ being "underground" to being public. For example, they now announce their existence with names, combine groups of believers, move from fellowship groups to having Sunday services, and lease office buildings as meeting places. We pray specifically for websites and magazines published by churches and church-based ministries such as disaster relief and their evangelistic efforts. May the Lord use and protect what they do so that people will know of their existence and they will also lead people to know the Lord.
Monday
Statistics tell us that every year 250,000 people die of suicide in China and another two million people try to do it. Suicide is much more common in villages than in cities and smaller cities have more than larger ones do. More older people commit suicide than do young people. We pray for China, for society, for families and for individual people​ that Christians may be more closely engaged with their communities, more caring for their neighbors. May they have a good testimony showing the love of God to broken people.

星期二
近年，家庭教會朝”公開化”發展，又有”走出去”的傾向。也許在政府眼中，觀望教會在公開化、堂會化、合法化方面的定位與實踐，均具先鋒作用，處處測試著政策底線。對於教會是否要更”公開化”，信徒間有不同的看法。求主保守教會帶領者，時常尋求主的心意，賜給他們勇氣、智慧，不單是為主大發熱心，更能在世人面前處處流露出主耶穌的生命。
星期三
在城市，日益增加的信徒可以選擇參加政府許可的三自教會，至於有眾多信徒的農村，有些地區可能連公開的三自教會都沒有。嚴格來講，三自的羊多不是牧者生的，而是羊領羊進入羊圈。教牧人員只能在其教會建築內講道及牧養。我們為信徒能有傳福音的心志禱告，並且有美好的生命見證，讓人能有羨慕認識主的意願。
星期四
溫州素有「中國的耶路撒冷」的美名。但近來有六十多間基督教和天主教堂遭到部分或全部拆除。當地官員聲稱因這些建築物嚴重違反建築法規。這些行動有人解讀是政府全面對教會嚴厲處理的開始，也有人認為是區域性的。無論如何, 願我們的主安慰弟兄姊妹，不失去傳福音的勇氣，因深知信徒們才是基督的身體，而不是建築物。
星期五
有人懷疑當前溫州和杭州教會「面臨迫害」，是因為建築物「太顯眼」。被拆的建築物都是屬於註冊的教會，是政府批准的，但他們在建築規範方面嚴重違規。「樹大招風」和宗教政策陰晴反复是常情。求主賜給教會多有智慧，尤其是在申請有關聚會場所的許可時，能在官員眼中蒙恩典。
星期六
政府對家庭教會的政策，向來以使其參加兩會組織為「上策」。但現實是，兩會組織一直無法完成政府交託的團結任務，這大概跟愛國宗教團體「先天」不足（本身所具準官方性質及曾挾的歷史包袱）有關。我們為三自教會的傳道人禱告，求主賜給他們當傳講的信息及活潑的靈命，愛主及羊群的心天天加增，並保守他們能盡忠服事神。
星期日
近十年間城市的家庭教會，更進一步走向「公開化」發展，如：從沒有名字到為教會命名；從分而合，由團契模式轉型至堂會模式，並租用寫字樓聚會；從地下到透明公開。有些教會擁有專屬網站、出版刊物；又積極參加社會慈善工作，如救災，甚至組織對外傳教活動。求 神保守這些事工，不單讓社會看見教會的存在，也能領人認識主、歸向主。
星期一
據統計資料顯示: 中國每年約有25萬人死於自殺，自殺未遂的人數更高達約200萬。自殺率農村高於城市，中小城市高於大城市，老年人高於年輕人。我們來為中國的社會、家庭等人際關係禱告，求主喚起中國教會基督徒對鄰舍更多的關懷與投入，成為人際關係與社區關係中的美好見證，充分彰顯出神的慈愛。