Prayer Request 2/3 - 2/9

TuesdayChinese men and women try to buy favors to get ahead in business ventures, often by courting officials at night clubs or through drinking and sex. They feel they can get ahead only by cultivating officials over banquets and socializing.​ Many believers are unable to get out of after-work socialization so they suffer both physically and spiritually. We pray for Christian families devastated by excessive business socializing. May the Lord give them healing in both their spousal and parent-child relationships.
Wednesday
The effect of the recent crackdown in China is quite dramatic The nightly visit to the Karaoke Club​ has practically stopped. Government officials are afraid to accept anything, including gifts and dinner invitations. Some officials have even returned gifts they received before the crackdown. May the Lord open our eyes to our own filth and sins and search our hearts, We pray especially for those who serve in churches, for the Bible tells us "There is no one righteous, not even one." (Romans 3:10)
Thursday
​The government crackdown in China seems to have had a dramatic effect in the short term. It has eliminated corrupt entertainment practices which seem to be at the heart of it but one unintended consequence has been bureaucratic paralysis.​ Jesus warned that in the last days there will be false Christs and false prophets who will deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24). We pray the Lord will corrupt the work of the deceivers, those who love money, and the "wolves in sheep skin" in His church.
Friday
This web of business and government officials is the way things are done in China, entertaining and buying favors is the core of this practice. But, when corrupt officials are afraid to start any ambitious project​,​ it could generate economic repercussions. Many Chinese Christians run their churches as a family business, creating many errors and stumbling blocks. May the Lord remind us of His true humility, not seeking the praise of men nor the power to control.
Saturday
The recent crackdown from the top on down will lead to political​ purges but the leadership in the Party will avoid repeating the Cultural Revolution when those they purged came back to power and in turn purged them. The critical spirit and distrust of the era of the Cultural Revolution are still felt among older church leaders. We pray for genuine servant leadership among all of those who are leaders in the church, that they will not merely demand respect but be a model of sacrificial service to those they are leading.
Sunday
Doing business in China​ requires both guanxi (relationship)and bei jing (background). Guanxi can be cultivated and can be bought but bei jing is something one is born with and is based primarily on relationships in either one's own or one's spouse's family. ​Many believers think it takes connection and family relationship to be in the inner circle of the church.​ Unfortunately, conflicts in churches have further enhanced this misconception. We pray the Lord will once again cleanse His church in China.
Monday
​Successful business people in China are starting to complain that ​they are doing all right but there is this other level of people who are way above them who have bei jing (background). They complain, "I will never have that so they are the only ones who can really succeed." We pray for believers, especially the younger ones, who feel they do not have a good enough family background to get a good job or social advancement. May the Lord give them a heart to seek and depend on Him completely.

星期二
許多中國人(無論男女)都認為在商界要想獲得成功，就必須拉關係，當中的手段包括在夜總會拉攏政府官員，常常涉及豪飲和性行為。他們覺得只有通過用宴請和社交活動才能成功結交官員。我們為信徒家庭中因社交應酬而嚴重損害夫妻與親子關係的，祈求主施恩憐憫，赐下修復的機會。也求主挽回陷入其間無法自拔，傷害身心，靈命跌倒的信徒。
星期三
近來政府反腐的效果相當顯著，人們上卡拉OK廳的情況也劇減。目前許多政府官員不敢接受任何東西，包括禮物和飯局邀請。求主光照我們，叫我們都能看得見自己的污穢與罪惡，因為聖經說「沒有義人，連一個也沒有」(羅三10)。願神監察我們的心思意念，好手潔心清地朝見主面。尤其那些在教會裡有服事的信徒，更要靠主謹慎自守。
星期四
從短期來看，中國反腐的效果立竿見影。這場反腐運動遏止了大眾影視傳媒中的腐敗風氣，正中貪腐的靶心；還導致了一個意想不到的後果，就是官僚機構癱瘓。主耶稣警告我们要防備「假基督和假先知」(彼後3:3)，求主敗壞教會中欺騙群羊、貪財的「披著羊皮，裡面都是殘暴的狼」的人。
星期五
多年來，在中國做成事情的方法就是官商勾結，貪腐活動似乎是以利益交換為核心。當因掃貪而官員們因著心存忌諱而不敢啟動任何重大項目時，這又可能對經濟不利。許多信徒也以世俗的觀念與方式來處理教會行政管理，造成許多誤謬偏差，求神提醒我們真有主的謙卑，凡事忠於主的托負，而不是喜好人的稱讚及權力。
星期六
目前中國政府自上而下地開展反腐行動，會導致接二連三的清洗及運動。中共領導人不會忘記文革的教訓，尤其是反腐行動如果開始在中低級別官員中引發大量不滿的時候。教會中，尤其在年長一代的人當中，仍能看到文革時代鬥爭的態度與方式。我們特別為年長的信徒領袖禱告，求主賜給他們謙卑作僕人的心志，效法主為門徒洗脚的榜樣，不是要求別人尊敬。
星期日
在中國做生意需要關係和背景。關係是可以培養的，可以拿錢換取的，但背景卻是與生俱來的。背景是基於親屬關係的家庭，或配偶的家庭。不少信徒也認為在教會有影響力也是靠關係和背景，可惜有些教會的確也有爭權的情況，這更加鞏固他們這個錯誤的觀念。求主潔淨祂的教會，又校正神兒女的眼光，能真正明白神對教會的心意。
星期一
中國商人們抱怨說，他們的生意做得雖然不錯，但還有另一個層次的人比他們強多了。他們抱怨說：「我永遠不會有那種 "背景"，他們才是真正能成功的人。」求主幫助自認沒有好家庭背景的信徒，要專心仰望、依靠耶和華。