Prayer Request 7/14 - 7/20

TuesdayThe change in wedding accessories alone reflects a fundamental shift in society in China. For the first time in the history of Chinese family life, the child, is regarded as the center of the family, rather than parents or grandparents. Honoring children more than God is the key reason why the faith of Christians is not passed on to their children. We pray that believer parents will resolve to teach their children to fear the Lord, so they will not deviate from His way all of their lives.
Wednesday
Most newlyweds in China now are single children, born since the one-child policy was introduced more than 30 years ago. Parents have more to spend if they only have to fork out for only one wedding(usually, both sets of parents share the wedding costs). Many young married couples have unbelieving parents, so we pray they will have good relationships and testimonies, not only to their parents, but also with their in-laws
Thursday
In the contemporary weddings in China, love is far more often spoken about. The result is evident in weddings, which now have its focus on the couple, although both sets of parents are represented, but their position is peripheral, unlike in the past. We pray that every wedding of Christian couples will be a beautiful testimony of the love of Jesus Christ, and giving all the glory to God because of the sharing of the faith of the bride and groom, with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Friday
Weddings in China often feature a day of wedding photos, shot before the event, with the couple in a range of outfits against romantic backgrounds, but with no family members. The buzz of the wedding will certainly fade. We pray for all the newlywed Christian couples, so they will not forget God’s grace in their life together, not cutting back serving in church because of being busy or neglecting their pursuit of Him.
Saturday
Rural house churches generally lack the theological and Biblical foundation, rural believers also tend to be passionate but simple in reasoning and discerning. This is the reason why every heresy starts and flourish among China’s rural churches. We pray for mercy of the Lord for all rural believers, the power of Holy Spirit protect them, May they gain depth in Biblical truth and able to discern lies, fallacies from the truth.
Sunday
Tourism, immigration, and investment from the mainland have fueled public anger in Hong Kong along with an increasingly strident "localist" movement. Churches are deeply divided on the issues of election politics, human rights, and the future of Hong Kong. We thank the Lord for the churches in Hong Kong that have always been vocal about injustice and have had a good witness in the society. Let us pray for unity in all of the churches and healing for many frustrated Christians.
Monday
In Hong Kong, public frustration is running high, and the government has already alienated many of the younger residents, who could pose a long term problem. More and more identify themselves as citizens of Hong Kong rather than China. Churches in Hong Kong have been very mission-minded and have always been most supportive of churches in China. We pray that this tight bond will not suffer now and in the future.

星期二
計劃生育政策在中國推行了三十多年，社會產生了根本改變。孩子(非父母或祖輩)成為家庭的中心人物。「一切都是為子女」也是中國教會信徒子女信仰無法傳承的根由，求主幫助我們不要愛子女勝過主，而是定意要教導兒女敬畏耶和華，一生都走行在主的旨意當中。
星期三
現今大多數的新婚夫婦都是在近三十年出生的獨生子女，他們的父母也因此有更多的錢花在自己唯一子女的婚禮上（通常雙方父母會共同承擔婚禮費用）。許多年輕的夫妻都有不信的家人，我們禱告夫妻倆能在雙方家人面前有美好的見證。又特別求神保守、祝福他們與配偶父母間的和諧關係。
星期四
現在的婚禮中，中國人不再忸怩於表達自己的愛。新婚夫婦是婚禮的主角，在婚禮進行中彼此頻繁地表達愛意，而雙方家長的地位卻被邊緣化，成了婚禮上的象徵。我們禱告基督徒的婚禮能成為見證主耶穌之愛的美好機會。
星期五
在婚禮前，新婚夫婦通常都會花上一整天的時間，輪番穿上數套禮服，在浪漫的背景下拍攝婚紗照，當然，他們的家人是不會出現在這樣的背景中的。新婚的浪漫總會過去，我們要為新婚信徒禱告，求主幫助他們在新的生活中不忘神的恩典，不因種種的忙碌而減少教會的參與，或疏忽對神和靈命成長的追求。
星期六
農村家庭教會普遍缺乏真理根基和神學體系的建造，農村的弟兄姐妹又在思想上比較單純，雖然熱情但缺少真理上的辨識力，於是目前各樣異端紛紛選擇中國農村家庭教會為舞台。讓我們齊來禱告，求主親自帶領農村家庭教會的弟兄姐妹，求聖靈用大能來護衛他們，更求主賜下分辨諸靈的恩賜，幫助他們在真理的根基上茁壯。
星期日
中國人入港旅遊、投資和移民原不是壞事，卻因兩地制度及文化的差異而不斷引發衝突。加上過多觀光客及移民已超過香港的承載力，引起部份香港人的憤怒，助長日益激烈的“地域化”運動。求主幫助對香港時政立場分歧的基督徒，繼續熱心傳揚福音，關懷弱勢，為社會公義發聲，成為美好見証。更求主保守香港教會持守合一，並醫治那些對現世失望的信徒。
星期一
香港公眾對中國的不滿情緒日益高漲，而政府已被年輕人邊緣化，越來越多年輕人不看自己是「中國人」，而是以「香港人」自居，這會造成長期的問題。香港教會一直是華人教會的宣教榜樣，也是長期大力支持中國教會的忠心夥伴。我們為香港和中國教會的緊密關係，在近期或將來都不受影響來禱告。