Prayer Request 3/3 - 3/9

TuesdayMore than five million Chinese from China traveled abroad during the Lunar New Year holiday. The most popular destinations were South Korea, Thailand, and surprisingly (in spite of a long term territorial dispute), Japan. Many churches talk of the new vision and direction they should have for the new year. Let us pray for expansion and growth of ministries in the churches so they will not become stagnant and lukewarm.
Wednesday
Flush with cash and wanderlust, more and more mainland skipping the tradition of gathering at home with relatives to eat dumplings and watch the Communist Party's propaganda-drenched Spring Festival Gala.Many churches used to have revival or training meetings at this time but prosperity and a greater option for travel have certainly reduced the attendance. Let us pray for churches as they decide when and how they can best use their time to evangelize and build up their co-workers.
Thursday
Under the present system of education in China​, most children can attend Sunday school but by the time they are in junior high or high school, the number is cut in half. Very few remain in the church. Teaching children about God is the responsibility of the parents but we pray for Sunday school teachers to help the parents teach the Bible stories and Biblical teachings so the children will come to know God from a young age.
Friday
The majority of​ children who grow up in Christian families in China learn little about the Bible except what they learn in Sunday school. They lack a foundation for their faith and a personal relationship with Jesus so by the time they leave home, they have lost what little faith they had. Christian parents give their children little time to play but focus on their studies and the results of their tests. Some even consider church a distraction to the study time of their child. May the Lord open their eyes and remind them not to honor their children more than they honor God.
Saturday
Churches in China​ ​have the wonderful heritage of valuing the teachings of the Bible very highly but they have not changed their old way of teaching to meet the new ways of this generation. Today's people do not appreciate the didactic, force-fed style which allows no feedback or response. More and more churches there are realizing that children from Christian homes tend to be rebellious and drift away from the faith. We pray that churches will re-examine their methods of ministering to their youth and teach the parents how to work on ​their relationship with God at home.
Sunday
Youth in China are under double pressure--from their school as well as their parents--to study hard so their can pass the college entrance examination for. To help them get into a good university, they all have cram classes after regular school hours. We pray for those who try to minister to youth in churches in China but are discouraged because neither parents nor church leaders will fully support their vision and efforts. May the Lord comfort those who have quit and sustain those who are trying so hard.
Monday
Youth ministry in China need​s​ to find a certain equilibrium, not affecting their busy study schedule​s​, but still allowing them to build their faith. Some Christian parents are unwilling to let ​their ​children attend church; believing time spent in church affects​ their study.The Lord have mercy on churches in China. We pray that all of us will not see our children as our idols, but knowing they are gift from the Lord and we are entrusted to teach them to love the Lord.

星期二
新春期間出國旅遊的中國遊客估計超過了500萬。最受歡迎的目的地是韓國、泰國；而日本亦很受中國旅客歡迎，儘管中日之間長期存在著領土爭端。許多教會新一年強調要有新異象和新方向。求主幫助眾教會無論在質與量方面都有增長，事工開拓也有成果。讓教會不成為一灘死水，信徒亦不做不冷不熱的教友。
星期三
不少中國人由於資金充裕，旅遊意願又旺盛，選擇在春節期間出遊，避開與親人在家吃餃子、觀看充滿宣傳意味的春節聯歡晚會的傳統。過去春節是佈道會及同工培訓的大好時期，但近年的富裕和交通方便讓人們有更多選擇，使參加人數劇減。我們為各教會有智慧與策略地更有效地向社區傳福音，和培養同工代禱。
星期四
在目前的教育體制下，中國孩子們在小學階段還能參加主日學，可是到初中後就要減半，到高中還能堅持聚會的學生已經不多。我們除了為父母能教導孩子信主外，也要特別為各教會的主日學老師禱告，求主賜下智慧，叫他們有系統地教導孩子聖經原則和神的心意，又讓他們能成為信徒家長的支援，幫助信徒家長作家中的屬靈帶領者，使子女從小就認識神。
星期五
大多數中國信徒的子女到了青少年階段，對聖經的認識仍停留在兒童主日學階段，信仰的根基薄弱，更少有能自己與主耶穌建立親密的個人關係。許多年輕人一旦離開家就失去信仰。有些基督徒父母過於重視分數、成績，給予孩子閑暇時間很少，甚至認為教會浪費兒女的寶貴光陰。求主開啟我們的眼睛，提醒我們不要尊重兒女，過於尊重神。
星期六
中國教會一直以來極看重教導聖經真理，這也是教會寶貴的屬靈持守；然而現今教會普遍只一味採用灌輸式、填鴨式的教導方法，缺乏互動和回應。教會開始注意到信徒下一代同樣有少年叛逆期的危機，且好些人已從教會中流失。求主喚醒教會再思青少年事工的方向，不僅教導真理，也進入孩子當中去牧養他們，並更多幫助家長了解親子關係的重要，裝備他們合宜地教養子女。
星期日
時下青少年要面對來自家長和學校繁重的課業和升學挑戰的雙重壓力。老師和家長為了讓他們考入心儀的大學，從初中開始就安排很多課後補習。許多服事青少年的弟兄姊妹屢屢碰壁，不但得不到家長的歡迎，自己的牧者團隊也不予支援。求主安慰那些放棄退出的信徒，並賜力量給那些仍然堅持的肢體。
星期一
青少年事工需要找到一個適合的切入點：既不影響青少年的學習，又能建立他們的信仰。不少信徒家長不願意自己孩子花太多時間在教會，也不鼓勵他們參與教會活動。求神赦免我們的罪，憐憫我們的無知，將兒女當作偶像，而忘記子女是神所賜的產業，是神託付我們來管理的。求主校正我們的目光，曉得人生命達到的最終目標不是屬世界的功名利祿，得著主才是真富足。