Prayer Request 9/15 - 9/21

Tuesday​Despite apparent prosperity in China, there is a huge chasm between the rich and the poor and several hundred million people still live in poverty. These people live mainly in rural areas and especially in the arid regions of northwest China.​ ​Christians have benefitted from the economic boom as well as their frugal lifestyle and industriousness. We pray that the Lord will remind us that it is through His grace we enjoy the good lives we have and teach us that we should be His channel of blessing to others.​
Wednesday
​Unseen poverty is found alongside great wealth in cities of China--poor pensioners, the disabled, drug addicts, street children​, and hordes of migrant workers live in slum areas in the suburbs of the big cities alongside the rich.Many churches in the cities of the East and in coastal provinces are very affluent. We pray these churches will be moved to support poor churches in the villages and become involved in reaching out to the poor in and near their cities.
Thursday
​Mission planners face the huge challenge in how to evangelize the over one hundred million ethnic minorities who live in the western half of China. Han Chinese are now allowed to travel to previously inaccessible exotic regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang. Many churches have little interest in reaching out to the minorities. We pray that God will remove the apathy, prejudices, and feeling of superiority which still exist among so many Han Chinese believers and help them to be grieved over the untold millions of lost souls.
Friday
Due to the poor and inadequate living conditions​ found in those areas, there are truly very few Han Chinese who are willing to live humbly among ethnic minorities. Christians in China often speak in hyperbole and express lofty goals but they are unwilling to fulfill them. We pray that more Christians will begin to care for these people and share the gospel with the ethnic minorities who live near them.
Saturday
Many of the would-be missionaries from China ​who were planning to evangelize in Muslim countries in Central Asia and the Middle East have returned home. The key reasons for their failure to persevere are lack of adequate preparation and training as well as unrealistic goals. We lift up in prayer all those disappointed and disillusioned people and their sending churches. May the Lord comfort and renew them so they will not be bitter toward anyone but will continue to serve in their own churches.​
Sunday
The vision of ‘Back to Jerusalem’ in its many forms did provide a powerful cause to encourage churches to pray, and to train Chinese missionaries. However, there are still many formidable barriers for churches in China to realize the fruit of cross-cultural missions. Ethnocentrism and pride are major hindrances to missionary efforts. We pray that churches in China will humble themselves, ​be willing to learn the languages and culture of other countries, and above all, to humbly learn and partner with western churches.
Monday
Perhaps with proper training and practical on-the-field experience gained from working with Muslims, Tibetans or other minorities inside China, Chinese missionaries can be more effective and more adapt in sending out missionaries to other countries. We pray that more churches in China will preach about missions and prepare their young people​ for missionary work. May the Lord give young believers good models of dedication and service in the churches and may many of them be inspired to be missionaries.

星期二
中國面臨巨大貧富懸殊的挑戰，雖然經濟發達，卻仍有數千萬人生活在貧窮之中；他們主要居住在農村，尤其在西北偏遠的乾旱地區。基督徒們也獲益於經濟成長，加上節儉及工作努力，生活素質大大改善。求主幫助我們堅立，明白我們的福氣惟獨從神而來，並幫助我們樂意成為祂賜福眾人的管道。
星期三
中國城市的富庶也伴隨著「隱藏」的貧窮─靠撫恤金生活的貧窮人、殘障者、吸毒者和街頭遊童，尤其是大批的外地工人「被放逐」到市郊的貧民區居住。許多沿岸地區城市教會都相當富有。求主激動富有的教會，樂意分享他們的資源，成農村教會的「好鄰舍」。也繼續在關懷農村及都市貧窮人的事工上彰顯主的恩慈。
星期四
如何向分佈於西北地區超過一億的少數民族傳福音是中國教會一大挑戰。現今漢族人能進入已往不能去的異地，例如西藏和新疆。求主挪去我們內在的偏見和文化及種族優越感，這往往是漢人信徒普遍有的。許多教會對少數民族宣教意願冷淡，求主火熱我們的心，能更多為失喪靈魂憂傷。
星期五
漢人基督徒有負擔又願意謙卑住在貧窮環境中，樂於融入外族文化（例如西藏或穆斯林維吾爾族）的仍然不多。求主幫助更多弟兄姊妹，不只是高言大志，空談普世宣教，而是更願意開始行動，向身邊在社區中的少數民族分享主耶穌的福音。
星期六
好些願意前往西北地區及中東地區國家向少數民族傳福音的宣教士，往往由於不夠充足的準備與訓練和不切實際的期待，陸續離開了這些工場。我們要用禱告托住這些灰心的宣教士和他們的教會，求主安慰和復興他們，不留下苦毒，且願意繼續在自己的教會服事。
星期日
「回歸耶路撒冷」的異象及口號，的確成為中國教會禱告、訓練和宣教行動的強大趨動力，然而巨大的障礙仍然存在， 未能見到跨文化宣教的果效。民族優越感和驕傲，總是成為我們在宣教上嚴重的阻礙，求主幫助我們謙卑自己，虛心學習其他語言和文化，也能學習和西方教會彼此配搭。
星期一
弟兄姊妹若有向國內穆斯林及西藏等少數民族當中事奉的經驗，再加上適當的訓練，可望能在未來數十年中，在普世宣教的大使命中 扮演重要的角色。求主幫助中國教會能有效傳遞宣教異象，並裝備年輕信徒積極參與宣教。