Prayer Request 7/8 - 7/14

TuesdayLast year there were many public contests featuring​wealthy men who were looking specifically for "beautiful, young, fair-skinned, and cute virgins" for marriage. Many have participated in these contests even though they expressed doubts of being chosen. Young single male Christians have the same expectations for their marriage partners. We pray for dating and marriage for all young believers as they seek God's will and keep themselves pure while continuing to serve in their churches or fellowships.
Wednesday
​Many young Chinese women believe there is nothing wrong with exchanging their youth and beauty for money and status. It is surprising that even many parents actually support the idea of marrying for money. They reason that as long as their daughters can live comfortably in the cities rather than earning low wages in service industries or factories, there is no problem with it.Let us pray for Christian parents who have daughters of marriageable age that our Lord will help them to have great faith in God and will answer their prayers for their daughters.​
Thursday
​The wages of factory workers in China have doubled in the past five years. It is impossible now to find anyone who will work for less than 2500 RMB a month so factories are moving inland or abroad due to the labor shortage along with a twenty percent wage increase each year. Churches also face a shortage of workers because of the low compensation pastors receive. We pray churches will treat their pastors much better than the factories treat their workers and will give them the respect, kindness and generosity the Bible teaches us to give. May the Lord comfort those workers who are leaving due to finances.
Friday
Chinese factories prefer not to hire young males since they often get into fights. Several years ago factories were faced with a labor shortage but they still refused to hire men and their preference has spread from Guangzhou to the Shanghai region. Young believers from rural regions who work in factories face great challenges in holding on to their faith and face much sexual temptation. We pray for steadfastness in faith and a guarding of hearts for those who are married and that those who are single will have wisdom in knowing God's will.
Saturday
Many older Christians in China carry baggage from the Cultural Revolution. There is a lot of distrust and they are unable to connect with others at a deep level. Hence, they often lack transparency and refuse to admit that they are vulnerable. We know that only the Holy Spirit can bring about healing from such deep wounds so we pray with great faith that God will give each of us a healthy self-image and approach to deal our interpersonal conflicts. May we live out the teachings of the Bible and build deeper relationships with other believers.
Sunday
​Many Chinese wives remain married to their husbands who are having extra-marital affairs. Christians have the same problems as non-Christians with broken marriages whether there is an extra-marital affair or not. Many pastors know the importance of marital counseling but have no resources nor training to do it. We pray for more Christian professionals who can provide family and marriage counseling courses in China, especially for pastors. We ask, too, that God will help provide resource on Biblical counseling to​ equip pastors to better handle these issues.
Monday
​According to ​research done by one university, in 2000 China had 3.7 million villages. By 2010, that figure had dropped to 2.6 million villages which means about 300 villages in China disappear every day as they are swallowed by the ever-expanding cities. The majority of rural churches are poor, and unable to carry out proper ministry even Sunday School for children. We pray that some urban churches will financially support churches in the villages, bringing encouragement to those who serve in there and help them achieve a breakthrough.​

星期二
去年中國多地出現富豪公開徵婚活動，其中“漂亮、年輕、皮膚白皙、可愛、處女”等多項要求引發關注。參與該類活動的女性眾多，而且對婚姻表達了玩世不恭的態度。許多年輕單身弟兄們對婚姻伴侶的條件也跟世俗一樣，總是看不上教會的姐妹。我們為單身信徒交友和婚姻來禱告，求主幫助他們保守自己，在教會和團契多有服事，並堅定尋求神的心意。
星期三
許多年輕的中國女性認為用青春和美貌交換金錢和地位是天經地義的事情。更不可思議的是，一些家長也贊同這樣的婚姻關係，認為這是自己的女兒能夠在大城市過舒服生活的一種方式，而無需在服務業或製造行業長時間工作，掙著低報酬，如此作並無不妥。我們來為信徒家長，特別是有適婚年齡的女兒的禱告。願主加添他們對神的帶領及預備大有信心，知道祂是聽禱告的主。
星期四
民工的待遇在過去5年來漲了一倍，現在月工資2500人民幣以下的職位，在沿海已很難招到工人，工廠面臨民工內移的民工荒，加上工資每年以20%的速度成長，許多紛紛內移或外移。教會也面臨工人荒，因為牧者的待遇過低也無福利可言。我們求主再次興起教會，照著聖經的教導尊敬、善待和慷慨對待他們的牧者。 也為那些因著經濟原因而停止牧會的傳道人禱告，求主安慰他們全家。
星期五
在工廠裡由於年輕男性比較難管理(常聚眾打架)，幾年前珠江三角洲雖缺工嚴重，已經有許多工廠不招男生，此現象現已延伸到長江三角洲。在工廠的年輕信徒，左持守信仰上面臨許多的挑戰，有許多男女關係的試探。 我們為這些年輕人能堅守他們的信仰真理祈求，也為已婚的求神保守身心靈純潔及正在交往中的有智慧尋求神的旨意顯明。
星期六
經歷過文化大革命傷害的信徒，大部分缺乏勇氣去建立深層的人際關係，更不容易與人交心或承認自己的軟弱。我們知道只有神的靈方能帶出改變和醫治，我們憑信為這些肢體禱告，在主面前有健康的自我形象，用真理來處理衝突，活出聖經的教導；與其他弟兄姊妹建立更深更密切的互動與信賴。
星期日
有些姊妹遇到丈夫有婚外情雖然沒有選擇離婚，但卻是一直拖著沒有好轉。另外，信徒夫婦中也有出現關係破裂的情況，只是沒有走到離婚這步。越來越多牧者看到婚姻輔導的重要性，但苦於沒有相關的人力、物力資源及培訓機會。求主興起已有這方面裝備的主內肢體，培訓牧者來進行婚姻和家庭輔導；也求主供應合用的資源，使牧者得到充分的裝備以回應教會迫切的需要。
星期一
根據天津大學的研究，2000年時，中國有370萬座村莊。到了2010年，這一數字已下降到260萬，這代表每天大約有300座村莊因城市擴展而消失。大部分農村教會經濟困乏，以致事工發展滯後，而兒童主日學事工更是常被忽略。求主感動一些有資源的教會來支援農村教會的發展，好使有事主心志的農村同工得著鼓勵和支持，使瓶頸得以突破。