Prayer Request 9/30 - 10/6

TuesdayThe news of two mega-entertainers reunited after their divorce 11 years ago became the most followed story in China. Both are divorced and gave up their child custody to their ​ exes​. The response​s​ were evenly divided between acceptance and idiotic “pursuit of love”. We pray for more Biblical teaching and discussion from this incident​ and that churches​ will teach and emphasize God’s blueprint for marriage and its covenant nature. May the​Lord safeguard our marriages, lest anyone of us use divorce foolishly as a solution to marital problems.
Wednesday
There are divorced believers in every church in China and even others who experience a poor marital relationship. Generally pastors lack the time or training to provide counseling. While lay people often help with the counseling, often the results are dismally poor.​ Divorced believers have complex relationships, responsibilities and obligations, and using the Bible as a stick to accuse or criticise is not helpful. We pray for all the divorced, for God’s strength, help and comfort, and also more acceptance and love from their church.
Thursday
Hong Kong’s democracy is facing a dilemma. Beijing has made it clear that only someone who “loves the country and loves Hong Kong” is acceptable for the top post in Hong Kong. Beijing believes there are people who still do not accept Hong Kong's reunification with China and seek to subvert it. Anti-China sentiment has diminished significantly ​the passion of​ Hong Kong churches for mission into the Mainland. We pray for the future and direction of this island, may the Lord strengthen the believers and revive the passion for mission among all churches.
Friday
The Election Committee (with 1200 members) that oversees the election of Hong Kong's chief executive is under the control of the rich and powerful of Beijing and Hong Kong. Many believe a direct popular election is not meaningful if the candidates have been preselected by an undemocratic body. In this time of political uncertainty, we pray for patience and wisdom for Hong Kong churches, especially the role Christians should play in the public debate and even demonstrations. We know the Lord will continue to greatly use​ the Hong Kong churches in the growth of Chinese churches worldwide.
Saturday
​Thousands of university students in Hong Kong abandoned their classes to rally against the limits the Chinese​ government placed on voting rights. Many parents are leery about high school students taking part in such demonstrations because they feel they are not adults and should not be politically involved. Believers may have different political perspectives and views but there are great divisions among believers in Hong Kong which have even caused shouting matches there. We pray we will not fall into Satan's trap and lose our unity in Christ.
Sunday
Thirty-two percent of parents in Taiwan intend to send their children abroad for study in either the United States or Canada. Meanwhile thirty-five percent of the parents in Taiwan enroll their children in English classes which is a much higher percentage than the average of twenty-one percent in the Asia-Pacific region. Chinese parents have high expectations for their children. We pray that Christian parents will have equally high spiritual expectations for their children as well and those who attended vacation Bible schools or retreats this summer, had life-changing experiences and are following up on them.
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
華人當中兩位重量級藝人-謝霆鋒與王菲分手十一年後復合，被稱為「世紀復合」。兩人都有前夫/前妻和孩子。有輿論揶揄他們「放棄孩子，瀟灑追求‘真愛’」，但也有更多的給予極大的寬容。求主幫助牧者能從聖經來教導神為家庭設計的藍圖，再次強調婚姻終生盟約的重要性。願神保守信徒的婚姻，絕不輕易以離婚作為矛盾或感情變淡的解決方式。
星期三
幾乎每間教會都有離婚的信徒，也有很多婚姻不美滿的家庭。傳道人沒有時間給予扶持，也缺少知識和訓練來有效地輔導。教會常常是依靠一些年長的夫妻來幫助，但是果效也不是很好。離婚的信徒有更複雜的人際關係、責任與義務，不是拿著聖經指責或硬性要求就能解決。我們為有婚變的信徒的靈命禱告，願神成為他們的力量、幫助與安慰，教會也給予更多接納與關愛。
星期四
北京已經明確表示，只有“愛國愛港”人士才有資格擔任香港特首。北京的高層官員稱，香港還有人不接受香港與中國的統一，意圖顛覆中國政府。因著與中央地政府的矛盾增加，香港教會對內地福音事工的參與也顯著降低。我們為香港的未來和方向禱告，願主堅固信徒和復興教會傳福音的火熱。
星期五
負責香港特首選舉的香港選舉委員會共有1200名成員，它基本處於北京和香港的富人及有權有勢者的控制之下。因此不少人認為“一人一票”體系下的直選沒有任何意義。在政治未來不明朗的時候，我們為香港教會在爭取普選當中更有耐心與智慧代禱，尤其是基督徒在公開辯論，遊行中扮演的角色。求神繼續大大使用香港教會成為普世華人教會的祝福。
星期六
抗議中國政府對選舉權的限制，香港大學生罷課並舉行集會。有些多家長擔心罷課風氣蔓延到中學，認為中學生未成年不適宜在政治上過度參與。教會內信徒也可能有不同的政治立場及看法。 但是很明顯的，不同立場的基督徒各持己見，甚至演變成敵對是我們不樂見的，我們切切求神在祂兒女心中動工，不要中了魔鬼詭計，失去了主裡的合一。
星期日
根據報告，32%的台灣父母有意送子女赴海外求學，以美國與加拿大為海外深造首選。同時，讓孩子參加外語學習的比例到35%，高於亞太區的21%。華人父母往往對子女的期待甚高。盼望信徒家長對子女的靈命也有同樣的高期望。我們特別為今年暑假參加夏令聖經班或是夏令營的孩子們祈求，願主在他們生命中賜下改變。
星期一
對於現在年輕工人來說，效忠公司或在一家公司做一輩子已是昔日的事。許多人工作一段時間，然後拿了薪水就去度假，所以往往吃不了苦而且總是抱怨。有些農村信徒進城打工，想向工廠的工人傳福音，但後來自己都軟弱退縮了。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，堅持信仰並恒常參與聚會。