Prayer Request 2/24 - 3/2

Tuesday​People in​ China realize that the economy is not growing as fast as before and that it will certainly have an impact on their appetite for shopping which reflected in a slowdown in retail purchase. The willingness of believers to give to the church is greatly affected by the economy. May the Lord help each one of us so our faith will not be shaken but we will trust our heavenly Father to care for us.
Wednesday
The average household in China saves as much as forty percent of its income. In contrast, the savings rate in the United States is 5.2 percent and in Japan it is 1.8 percent. It will not be easy to get these people who are used to saving money to spend it.​ Saving is a virtue of Chinese people but it also deeply affects how the church works and how the pastors are compensated with too small salaries. May the Lord help us to be generous in our giving to God and His church.
Thursday
Most people in China have to save for retirement and health care expenses since the social welfare system of the country needs further development. Many people also save for education. Pastors in the house churches have a low salary, lack insurance for health needs or retirement, and have no funds for their children's education. We pray for God's grace and provision for all who serve God and that He will remind churches to honor their shepherds.
Friday
The government​ of China introduced short-term programs to spur spending. Cities handed out coupons to local stores and restaurants. In the rural areas, people were given rebates to buy big-ticket items like televisions, washing machines, and refrigerators. Life in the villages has improved greatly but church attendance has dropped. We pray for revival of rural churches in China so believers are not distracted by the ever-abundant entertainment and give up their church fellowship and prayer.
Saturday
The​ government of China has recently focused on introducing a nationwide pension system which provides universal medical insurance and upgrades the educational system. Many elderly people in China receive some governmental pension money so their livelihood is not a problem if they have children to support them. We pray for all of the seniors that the Lord will give them a healthy spirit to encourage each other and be models for other people in the churches.
Sunday
The growth​ in average wages rose by about ten percent in China last year but the total growth in wages actually slowed down because private firms were facing great financial difficulty and their basic costs continued comparatively high. Last year the salaries of very few pastors were adjusted upward. We pray that believers in China will care more about their pastor's family and even more importantly become friends with their pastors.
Monday
​Some factors which contribute to young people turning to Christianity are: distrust for society as a whole, being an only child, the highly-competitive job market, an excessive information overload, and a broken family.​ ​We believe God has a beautiful plan for college students who come to know Him and we pray that all of the churches in China will see how critical it is to reach college students now.​

星期二
中國經濟正在經歷疲軟期，一般家庭也意識到了，這當然也會影響到他們的消費意願。這就是發現零售消費領域的增長速度正在放緩的原因。信徒奉獻的意願也受到經濟疲軟影響。求主幫助我們對天父的信心不動搖，更是堅定相信我們是祂草場上的羊，神必看顧屬祂的人。
星期三
一般中國家庭會把多達四成的收入存起來。(美國和日本的居民儲蓄率分別為5.2％和1.8％。) 要讓更多中國存錢者變成花錢者，不會那麼容易。節儉雖是中國人的傳統美德，但是也嚴重影響到中國教會的合理運作，對傳道人的待遇也顯得苛刻。求主幫助弟兄姊妹能明白，我們可以省自己，但是為主、為教會就要按主的心意，樂意奉獻。
星期四
由於中國的社會福利制度仍有待完善發展，大多數人都要為退休和醫療存錢。中國人還要得存錢用於教育。家庭教會的傳道人除了收入低外，許多人沒有退休或醫療保障，更無法為子女的教育經費儲蓄。求主恩待所有服事主的同工，也提醒教會要關心敬重他們的牧者，並提供他合理的養生所需。
星期五
政府推行有刺激消費的短期方案，例如城市發放了當地商店和餐館的優惠券。在農村地區，購買電視機、洗衣機和冰箱這樣的大件物品，可以享受政府補貼。近年，農村生活已大有改進，但是農村教會人數卻大幅減少。我們為農村教會復興禱告，求主提醒信徒不因各樣的娛樂享受，失去一起團契禱告的火熱。
星期六
政府將注意力聚焦於推行全國性的養老保險制度，提供全民醫療保險和提升教育體系。許多中國老人開始有政府的退休金，如果他們有兒女奉養，生活不是大問題。我們為教會中所有的年長肢體禱告，求主賜他們活潑的身、心、靈，彼此激勵扶持，成為年輕人愛主的榜樣。
星期日
中國去年平均工資上漲了約10%, 然而，未來可能因各企業在經濟逆風的影響下削減支出，而私營企業亦面臨經營各種巨大困難，工資增長將開始放緩。傳道人的生活費往往落後於實際的經濟環境，我們為信徒能關心他們的牧者、師母及牧者的孩子禱告，更是成為他們的朋友及代禱者。
星期一
不信任的社會、一胎化的獨生子女、強大的市場競爭、過度的訊息量、離異的家庭等……都是促成這一代年輕人渴慕基督信仰的因素。我們相信神在這一代的大學生身上，有祂美好的旨意與帶領，求主讓眾教會看見他們一定要為主得到這一代大學生的使命感和迫切性。