Prayer Request 3/17 - 3/23

TuesdayChristians in Taiwan are known for hopping from one church to another. They like to go to special meetings and crave to hear any foreign preacher who comes on the scene. Many believers are not rooted deeply in the truth and are spiritually immature so they are easily led astray and cause deep hurt in their churches. We pray for revival in the churches of Taiwan and that the believers will be rooted in Biblical truths, especially the doctrines of the Trinity, Christology, and Soteriology so they are able to defend their faith against heresies and cults.
Wednesday
In the past churches in Taiwan have suffered from some extreme teachings including the so-called "end time prophecy". Because there is a lack of unity among the churches to stand against this false teaching, they have suffered greatly and brought shame on God's name. It is our prayer that all pastors will receive training to differentiate between the false and the true and emphasize Bible truths. We ask the Lord for courage and unity among church leaders and that they will not tolerate false teachers simply in the name of love and harmony.
Thursday
The Eastern Lightning cult, officially banned in mainland China, has obtained official registration in Taiwan. Their members are very loving and passionate in appearance, far more than the average lukewarm Taiwan believers and they have infiltrated small groups in many churches. We beseech the Lord to give both the leaders and believers in the churches wisdom and a discerning spirit so that no wolves in sheep's clothing will take advantage of the simple believers and confuse the churches.
Friday
In China new believers can choose to go to open churches but in the villages there are fewer new churches being built so believers have little choice of the church they will attend. Strictly speaking, pastors of the Three-self churches minister to those who enter their churches and limit their ministry to those people. We know that sheep give birth to new sheep and so believers should lead their friends to church. We pray that Chinese believers will have a passion to share the gospel and will live a lifestyle which glorifies God.
Saturday
Heresies spread widely among the villages in China because they fill a vacuum of religious intimacy and even provide some financial help which impoverished believers welcome. Rural believers who attend house churches are often lacking in their knowledge of Biblical trust so they are easy prey for those who preach heresy. We pray for those believers who are confused and have fallen into heresy. We ask for God's deliverance for them so they will truly understand the truth and gain freedom in Christ.
Sunday
Some of the house churches in major cities of China have grown in attendance reaching to hundreds and even thousands in number so they have to move out of residential apartments and rent office space to carry out their ministry. We give thanks to God for them and pray the Lord will add to them many more who are saved. May their ministries continue to grow. We pray especially for the need for space for their meetings and special favor of the officials who oversee the "religious affairs" in their districts.
Monday
Despite the rapid economic growth of the country, villages in China where two-thirds of the people live still lag behind the rest of the country. Improvement has been spotty at best and many villagers still do not have social benefits such as medical insurance which is available to city residents. Rural churches have been in steep decline in recent years and there are several contributing factors. The huge exodus of young people from country to city is a major one. We ask the Lord for a miracle to raise up pastors who love Him passionately and are willing to stay in the villages and serve Him there.

星期二
台灣的信徒喜歡跑換教會，參加各樣的特會，熱衷聽外來講員的新鮮論述。有些弟兄姊妹分不清楚真理，根基淺薄、靈命不成熟，容易被錯誤的教導迷惑，以致造成教會極大的損害。求主復興台灣的教會，賜悟性給信徒 ，虛心回到神的話語和真道上扎下堅實的根基，堅持基督教信仰的範疇，包括三位一體、基督論、救恩論，來抵擋不合真理的異端邪說。
星期三
過去台灣教會有一些極端的言論及所謂的預言，由於台灣教會回應的立場不夠一致，也讓發出極端言論的人有可趁之機，造成教會極大的虧損，羞辱了神的名。我們為傳道人有分辨真理的裝備和訓練，在教會注重真理的教導，眾教會能勇敢合一地站起來扞衛真道，不再以所謂的愛心、容忍來「打迷糊仗」。
星期四
在中國被禁的異端 " 東方閃電" 在台灣正式登記。他們的成員外表上，比很多台灣正派教會裏不冷不熱的「老」基督徒還要來得有「愛心」和「熱情」，因而渗透進許多教會的小組裡。求主賜給教會的領袖和信徒有辨別真道的智慧，不讓任何惡者披上「羊」的外衣，在神家中有可趁之機，散佈異端「邪說」迷惑人心。
星期五
在中国城市，日益增加的信徒可以参加公開的教會，但更多的基督徒集中的農村，卻很少有公開的教會，而三自教會裏的教牧人員也只能為來到教會的人講道，不能踏出教會。嚴格說來，羊不是牧者生的，而是羊領羊進入羊圈。我們為所有信徒都有傳福音的心志禱告，而不是將傳福音的責任推給牧人；同時更能有吸引人的生命見証來榮神益人。
星期六
異端在中國農村能擴大發展，原因在於它們不僅為那些在貧窮中掙扎的農村信徒彌補一些信仰的真空，甚至也為他們提供政府所沒有做到的生活保障體系。農村家庭教會的信徒，因缺乏懂得真理、訓練有素的帶領者，往往被這些異端所迷惑。讓我們為所有陷入異端的信徒祈求，求神引領他們走出迷惑，能再次得著主耶穌的真理和自由。
星期日
一些重要城市的家庭教會, 近幾年信徒陸續增加，形成有幾百人到上千信徒的規模的教會。因著聚會人數的增加，有些教會已從社區家庭聚會的模式，轉到寫字樓堂會聚會的模式。我們為他們的發展感謝主，求主繼續加添他們得救的人數，也興旺他們的事工，好使更多人信主。我們特別為他們聚會所需的場地祈求，更為他們能在有關官員面前蒙恩代禱。
星期一
雖然中國經濟發展快速， 但農村經濟發展仍是緩慢，占中國總人口2/3的農民， 仍有許多依舊過著貧困落後的生活，醫療保險等社會福利也沒有完全地進入農村教會。近年農村教會極為荒涼，存在許多問題，尤其是年輕一代大量流失，似乎無法改變現況。我們祈求恩主，施行奇妙作為，興起更多愛祂的工人忠心在農村做牧養的工作。