Prayer Request 9/16 - 9/22

TuesdayThe average yearly wage for Chinese urban workers in 2003 was 14,040 yuan, and by 2012, that figure has more than tripled to 47,593 yuan. The average rural net income per capita has tripled over the same period from 2,622.2 yuan in 2003 to 7,916.6 yuan in 2012. City​ folks earn a staggering seven times more than peasants in China. This is one reason for the steep decline in the number of rural churches. We pray that more city churches will support the poor churches in the countryside with prayers and also financially by adopting their pastors and ministries.
Wednesday
​Although​ the average income in China has increased dramatically in recent years, so has the basic cost of living. In 2003, the annual average cost of living for each rural Chinese worker was 1,943 yuan or seventy-four percent of his income and in 2012 it remained at seventy-four percent. In the countryside in China, the cost of living is still not cheap so that leads to pastors of rural churches having to work and being able to lead their churches in only their spare time. We ask the Lord for strength, renewal of their spirits, and a weekly supply of God's word for these pastors. May God bless them for their dedication and labor.
Thursday
Rural​ pastors must work to support their families and then serve their churches with whatever time is left. The reasons that pastors in rural areas are poor and unable to care for their churches full time are various: poverty among the people themselves, little giving by members of the churches, and a lack of teaching on giving in the churches. In the past many pastors of rural churches received some financial support from overseas but China's booming economy and the seemingly outlandish way tourists from China spend money have caused giving for churches in China to decline significantly. May the Lord be gracious to rural churches in China and their shepherds.
Friday
Although it is not enforced well, the minimum educational requirement for factory workers in the coastal high-tech parks is rising from junior high to high school. Consequently this demand forces people with low education to go back to cities inland that are closer to their home villages. Most programs designed to train rural pastors in China demand a minimum of a high school diploma but the overall level of education of rural pastors is very low. We pray for time for study for these people and that the Lord will give them wisdom to know the message they need to deliver weekly.
Saturday
​Most farmers​ whose lands were taken over by the government receive some compensation which allows their children to attend high school. This also gives them the opportunity to stay in their home villages while they attend high school in a nearby county. The only viable option for rural youth who have completed high school remains to work in a factory. We pray that young people who are believers will love God and serve in their churches. May the Lord use them mightily to reverse the decline of China's rural churches.
Sunday
The average laborer in the factories in Shenzhen is a 23-year-old male from a poor village with a low level of education and little work experience.​ The ration of male to female workers is about six to four and in the past four years their average salaries have grown 160%. In the past there were Christians from the rural churches who had received Bible training and went into the factories to serve the workers but they failed due to the hard work schedule. We pray that the churches in China will be for not only the white collar population but will show concern for the millions of working people.
Monday
​For the young workers in China today, a lifetime career and loyalty are a thing of the past.​ They work a while and then take a long break. It is said that these young people are incapable of enduring hardship and that they complain a lot. Some rural Christians thought that when they worked in the factory, they would be preaching the gospel but most of them have failed. We pray for young believers who work in factories that they will not only continue to read their Bibles and pray but will also refuse to give up fellowship and will worship with other Christian.

星期二
2003年，中國城鎮職工的平均年薪為14040元人民幣；2012年增加3倍到47593元。2003年農村人均總收入為2622.2元；2012年達到7916.6元，同樣增加了三倍。但城鎮居民的收入竟然是農村居民的7倍，這是導致農村教會沒落的原因之一。求主感動更多城市教會能幫助貧窮的農村教會，不但藉著禱告，也在金錢上支援他們的傳道人。
星期三
雖然近年人均收入增加許多，但是基​​本生活開支亦同時飆升。2003年，每個中國農民工的年均生活成本為1943元，佔總收入74%；到了2012年，收入與開支的比例仍然是74%。在農村過日子並不比城巿便宜，許多農村傳道人都需要打工或是種田養家，只能在工餘時間預備講道。求主賜牧者有活潑的靈、有神的話語和力量，自己得到供應也能餵飽羊群，更是記念他們忠心事奉擺上的勞苦。
星期四
農村教會傳道人大都必需自己打工或種田養家，餘下的時間和精力再來照顧教會。農村貧窮，奉獻收入非常少；加上信徒缺少奉獻的教導，所以傳道人是沒有「薪水」可言，無法專心牧養教會。過去，有些農村教會傳道人還有一些海外奉獻的記念。近年中國經濟繁榮，中國遊客在國外大筆消費，造成海外奉獻明顯減少，求主恩待農村教會和他們的傳道人，信實供應他們的需要。
星期五
中國近期的勞工學歷很快會從初中提升到高中程度，沿海高新科技工業園區已經不招初中學歷的人了。雖然目前還有很多放水的現象，但在可見的未來，文化水平低的人將被逼回老家附近的城市。許多針對農村傳道人的培訓班已開始要求高中程度，但是一般的農村傳道人的教育水平仍不高，我們來為他們在工作與家庭忙碌之外的學習禱告，求神加添智慧，賜下每星期要傳講的信息，使用他們為真理流通的管道。
星期六
農民在被政府徵收土地的過程中，多半擁有了一些補償金，讓孩子在初中畢業後就立刻去打工的動機也減少了許多，將有越來越多的孩子留在老家附近的縣城讀高中。雖然如此，許多農村青年讀完高中的前景，仍然只有打工一條路，似乎永遠無法翻身。我們為農村年輕信徒能愛主，投入參與教會的服事祈求，願主大大使用他們，復興衰微的農村教會，更是願意立志一生為主所用。
星期日
在深圳工廠男生多於女生（6 對 4的比率)，男生平均23歲、來自農村、沒有太高的教育水平，也少有工作經驗。在過去四年，工人基本工資增長超過160%。過去有不少接受訓練裝備去服侍打工群眾的信徒。他們雖具有聖經的知識，但是無法承受繁重的打工生活。求主幫助中國教會有前瞻性的視角，不單單是歡迎年輕白領家庭，也能關懷注目於數千萬的打工群眾。
星期一
對於現今中國的年輕工人來說，效忠公司或在一家公司做一輩子已是不太可能。許多人工作一段時間，就拿了薪水去度假；也往往吃不了苦，總是抱怨連連 。有些農村信徒進城打工，想向工廠的工人傳福音，但後來大多數人連自己都軟弱退縮了。求主幫助在工廠打工的年輕信徒，有讀經禱告的操練，有基督徒的同伴，更要堅持信仰並恒常參與聚會，跟其他肢體互相扶持砥礪。