Prayer Request 9/1 - 9/7

TuesdaySome of the biggest victims of the stock market crash have been ordinary Chinese people. Two thirds of new investors in the Chinese stock market didn't complete high school. Many have bought stocks with borrowed money. ​Greed makes people do irrational things and even Christians fall prey to this same predicaments. We pray that this stock market crash will wake them up. We are reminded of the word from Colossians 3:5--"Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."
Wednesday
The Chinese stock market has slumped dramatically recently, taking down many investors including many Christians. The attitude of the investors has been wanting to get rich quickly rather than disciplined investing. Greedy people try to get rich quickly but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty. (Proverbs 28:22) May the Lord enlighten and search our hearts to see if we have been blinded by our greed.
Thursday
In China this year 7.49 million people graduated from college--an increase over the 7.27 million in 2014 and 6.99 million in 2013. Every year these grads face fierce competition to land a job. College education no longer guarantees a good paying job for young people in China. We pray for those college graduates who are Christians and are still looking for work. May the Lord give them faith and keep them walking close to Him.
Friday
Although house churches have grown remarkably in the past four decades, they have now entered a crucial period where they need to define their own​ theology, their approach to pastoral care, and their method of governing the church. Many are now turning to denominations to find answers since personal interpretation of the Bible along with leaders who are not held accountable open the churches to abuses. We pray especially for believers in groups under these charismatic leaders . May the Lord grant them discernment and genuine, vibrant spiritual growth.
Saturday
Essentially​, each person in a house church believes what the leader teaches which often leads to an over- emphasis on personal gifts, charisma, and authority. Members of house churches desire more inter-church fellowship but prefer not to have the simplified statements of faith held by denominations. ​Many members of these churches are now educated and have become professionals so they are less likely to accept the "iron fist" management style of their pastor. We pray for unity in the church and also humility for both leaders and pastors along with the young members who attend.​
Sunday
​People in the house​ churches often debate about the need​ to join a denomination and wonder if that would be good or bad for evangelism, church planting, and the united effort to send out missionaries from the churches of China. They question whether denominations have their place in China. We thank the Lord for denominations because they have poured a tremendous amount of resources and manpower into helping house churches. We pray for God's will to be done in the churches in China. May the name of Jesus be glorified and may there be true unity and humility in each of the churches there.
Monday
In the Three-self Church in Jiangxi Province there are two sessions of the so-called "chairman" and half of the presidents are women which gives them a ministry in the church. The saying is that the women are "half the sky" which gives effective strength to the ministry and develops positive factors not only in Jiangxi but in other places as well.​ ​We pray for all of the grandmothers, mothers and unmarried young ladies that God will help them to be lively spiritual models and gain spiritual strength from God's word to teach other believers and be a blessing to the church.​

星期二
中國股市暴跌的最大受害者是一般的老百姓。三分之二的新投資者是高中以下學歷，而且多是借錢買股的人。發財的慾望使人喪失理性，信徒也不可幸免地免落入了同樣的陷阱裡。求主藉著這次的震盪喚醒信徒，貪婪就與拜偶像一樣，心智和靈魂都被擄掠了去。（西3:5）
星期三
近來中國的股市狂瀉，多人財務被套牢，有不少基督徒也參與其中。很多人炒股抱著猶如賭博般的投機心態，只想要急速發財，而不是有規劃的投資。「要急速發財，卻不知窮乏必臨到他身。」（箴28：22）求主光照我們，先省察自己內心是否被貪婪所蒙蔽，並從新調校眼光，不被世界裡的急功好利所迷惑。
星期四
中國的高校畢業生人數由2013年的699萬，2014年的727萬，增幅至本年度的749萬。高校畢業生逐年的增加，就業競爭日益激烈。現今中國的大學教育不再保證畢業後有份高薪的工作。我們為高校畢業的基督徒禱告，求主為他們預備合適的工作，尤其記念那些已經待業多時的，願神加添信心耐心等候，也能更親近神，與神同行。
星期五
中國家庭教會四十年來大幅成長，也進入神學、牧養和建制轉型的關鍵期。很多教會意識自己的不足，也渴望從宗派傳統中，得到成熟的信仰告白、牧養和治理體系。我們為家庭教會的領袖禱告，求主賜他們智慧和謀略在神的家裡盡忠服事，幫助教會成長成熟，滿有基督的身量。又賜信徒智慧認識真道，在愛中彼此建立，靈命活潑成長。
星期六
家庭教會一向沒有信仰的規範，會眾一般跟從教會帶領者對聖經的領受，容易高舉恩賜主義、個人魅力、領導的權力。家庭教會信徒期待更多教會之間的聯繫，但反對宗派信仰的簡化。現今許多家庭教會信徒已受過高等教育和專業訓練，不太接受帶領者的「鐵腕」管理模式。我們禱告神幫助教會能團結合一，彼此以謙卑束腰，在主面前做個忠心、合神心意的好管家，與年輕一代信徒和睦相容。
星期日
對當今中國家庭教會而言，宗派問題是一個容易帶來爭論的議題。宗派對於家庭教會是傳福音、建造教會及教會合一宣教的助力還是阻力？宗派在中國教會的存在有價值嗎？不同的宗派曾為中國教會提供了大量的資源和培訓，幫助了許多的家庭教會，我們感謝神！ 願主的名大得榮耀，滿足祂的心，不論是家庭教會或是三自，都能在主裡有真正的團結與謙卑。
星期一
江西省的三自教會，在所謂兩會的主席、會長中有一半是女性；婦女成了教會事工的「半邊天」，這不單是江西教會，也是全國教會各項事工發展的生力量、積極因素。我們特別為所有做祖母、做媽媽、未婚的女傳道人禱告，求神加給她們活潑的靈命，愛主愛人的心，給她們恩典去供應主的豐富，成全聖徒，讓她們成為主祝福教會的管道。