Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Prayer Request 11/24 - 11/30

Tuesday
​Since the government of China feels it should distribute quotas across provinces and cities, this works against rural provinces with a large population like Henan.​ We pray for all of the young people in the churches who are studying for the college entrance examination since they usually stop attending church even at the beginning of high school. We ask the Lord to strengthen their faith, help them to be able to prioritize their lives, and honor God above all.
Wednesday
The central ​government of China allots a larger portion of the quota of students who can go to a university to the big cities so the population there will remain content since they feel this is more important politically.Many Christians also feel that the urban churches are more important than rural ones are on many levels. God loves everyone no matter who we are or where we live. We pray for His grace and salvation for every person in China whether he/she is from a city or from the country.
Thursday
Most of the top universities in China are in Shanghai or Beijing and they prefer to give more of their slots for students to local people. The household registration system in China means that people cannot freely move from one area to another to get into a better school. Some Christians are unable to get their children into a "good" school because of the restrictions ​imposed by the household registration system. We pray that God will provide for them by opening doors because of their persistent faith in Him.
Friday
Beijing University, the elite university in China allocated eighty-five spots for the 758,000 students from Henan in 2013 which came to a recruitment rate of 0.01%. However, it accepted 226 (out of 73,000) students from Beijing, a rate of 0.31%. Those who study in the universities in Beijing are considered elite students. We pray for people in each of the college fellowships in Beijing. May the Lord grant them spiritual growth and even call some to serve Him in full-time ministries.
Saturday
Official statistics show that in 2014, 24.8% of the students who applied from Beijing were accepted into top universities in China while for Henan province only 6.9% and for Sichuan province​ only 5.5% were accepted. In China inequality of educational opportunities is a fact. We pray for young believers who are not in the big cities. May the Lord give them faith realizing that His plan is greater than our plan and God can accomplish what we cannot.
Sunday
One reason many good students in Henan forgo the gaokao (college entrance exam)​ is that the poor odds of their being admitted into a top school since are so poor since students from big cities like Beijing can get into the same school with a lower score. Let us pray for those young Christians who have done their best but are still unable to get into good universities. We pray that their faith will not falter and that they will hang on to the promise of God not to forsake them in any circumstance.
Monday
Unequal university admission is one reason wealthy parents in Henan and similar areas often send their children studying abroad, if they feel the chance of entering a prestigious university is not good. Last year, 459,800 Chinese study abroad, an increase of 11.1% from 2013. Many Christian parents worry about their children’s college education, academic performance and the costs. May the Lord hear their prayer, add to their faith, so they will know that the Lord has the best plan for all who honor and love Him.


星期二
各大學「按省市分配錄取名額」的選拔制度對人口大省的學生極不利,比如河南省,因這些省份有大量的農村人口。我們為教會裡正準備高考的子弟禱告,他們普遍都因預備考試而沒時間到教會,甚至一上了高中就停止教會生活。求主堅定他們的信心,幫助他們認清人生的優先順序,凡事讓主居首位。
星期三
政府傾向把更多大學名額分配給大城市的學生,因為讓大城市保持理想的人口更具政治重要性。有人認為城巿教會在許多層面上都遠比農村教會更重要。求主提醒我們,神愛每一個人,不是看我們的背景或學歷以及居住地域,願主的恩典不分農村、也不分城巿,臨到每個角落的中國人。
星期四
上海和北京擁有大多數較好的大學,而這些大學一直傾向把更多的名額分配給當地的學生。中國的戶籍制度不讓人們自由流動,不能自由地搬到能接受更好教育的地方去。我們為信徒禱告,有些人因著戶籍限制,孩子不能得到較好的受教機會,求主為他們開路,也讓他們全家信心堅定,深知神必會看顧那些恒久信賴、倚靠祂的人。
星期五
全國最有名的北京大學,2013年分配給河南75.8萬考生的錄取名額為85個,錄取率為0.01%。北京有7.3萬考生,北大名額卻有226個,錄取率為0.31%。能在北京讀大學的年輕人,都是非常優秀的。我們特別為北大的學生事工禱告,求主祝福他們的團契,幇助學員的靈命有成長,更願神呼召他們獻身為主使用。
星期六
據官方統計,去年有24.8%北京考生被重點大學錄取,而在河南,這個數字是6.9%,在西南部的四川省,這個數字是5.5%。在中國,升學機會不平等是不爭的事實。我們為不是住在大城巿的年輕信徒禱告,求神賜給他們信心,也將自己獻上為榮主而活,深知神的意念非同人的意念,祂能成就超過我們所求所想的豐盛人生。
星期日
河南很多優秀的學生放棄高考的原因之一,是他們不滿意能擠進中國一流大學的概率。因為他們需要考出令人難以置信的高分,才能在本省中爭得一席位。我們為那些已經盡上一切努力,但仍然無法進入好學校的基督徒青年禱告,求主幫助他們不失去對神的信心,抓住神的應許,不論人生境遇或順或逆,都堅守對神純一的心。
星期一
河南和類似地區的富裕家庭,都希望孩子能進入名牌大學。然而中國的大學配額卻分配不平等,導致許多富裕家庭把孩子送出國唸書。去年中國有459,800人出國留學,比2013增長了11.1%。我們為擔心子女大學教育的信徒家長禱告。求神加添他們信心,在子女的成績上、學費上,都仰望祂的帶領和供應。深信神為祂所愛的人,預備有一生美好的計劃。

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Prayer Request 11/17 - 11/23

Tuesday
Henan province in central China is mostly a flat expanse of fields, towns and villages whose one hundred million people are sometimes looked down on by the rest of China as "bumpkins". However, Henan is probably the one province in China with the most Christian people living there. We remember the great revival of the Holy Spirit Who worked there. We pray today for the renewal of the church in Henan and that the Lord will save the people there from vicious attacks by the cults.
Wednesday
Adding to the humiliation of the people in Henan, the Chinese government​ has skewed opportunities away from them in the area which means so much to Chinese people--getting their children into universities. Historically, the believers in Henan are poorer and less educated than people in other areas of China which causes them to be less deeply rooted in Biblical teachings and it has been easy for them to fall into heresies. We pray for solid Bible teaching there and especially for those who aren't well-educated.
Thursday
People in Henan have long complained that funds for education and openings in the universities have been tilted away from them and other large crowded provinces in favor of the wealthier and more privileged parts of the country, especially Beijing and Shanghai.​ We​ praise God for the rise of urban churches in China that have added many well-educated believers and we pray for wisdom for the churches to know how to disciple them and that they will not neglect believers with less education like those in Henan in teaching them to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Friday
China's system of university recruitment is just one way in which inequity and political favoritism undercut the government's vows to deliver equal treatment to all citizens, creating an enormous chasm between villages and cities. ​We don't know the future of the rural churches in China but the sheer numbers ​of people in rural areas cannot be ignored as a mission field. We pray for better strategies to help the rural church grow and disciple more believers.
Saturday
The vicious cycle of inequality of education persists for the people in Henan so they feel that it is better to be born in the city than in the countryside, better to be born in Beijing than Henan.​ We pray for rural believers not to feel discouraged or doomed, but rather ask the Lord to use their children, knowing God has His wonderful plan for all of them, and He will use those who are willing and faithful.
Sunday
Educational inequality riles many Chinese families because they see education, especially getting admitted to a prestigious university, as an escape from a hard, uncertain life for both themselves and their children. Many parents see the success of ​their ​children’s education as their ticket to a good life and retirement. We pray for those believers who are disappointed in this aspect, and ask the Lord to remind, comfort and instill in us all, how to raise children to love God, the way He intended.
Monday
Under China's Intensely competitive and stressful system of exams to get into a university, each province and each city (such as Beijing)​ sets its own cut-off score for the exam. So when students apply to a school, they are not guaranteed to get in if they are past the cut-off number. We pray for all of the high school students in the churches as they face such immense pressure from their parents and the college entrance exams. May the Lord grant them strength, wisdom, and grace to persevere at this difficult time.


星期二
中部的河南省大部分處於平原地區,該省的城鎮和鄉村里居住著一億左右的人口,人們不時會貶稱河南人為鄉巴佬。讓我們記念河南也是農村教會最多的地方,更曾經歷聖靈奇妙的大復興。求主再次拯救那裡許許多多冷淡倒退的教會,敗壞異端的攻擊。
星期三
政府長期以來對河南學生上大學的問題上,採取對不利的政策。河南的信徒一般教育水平不高,導致聖經的教導難以深入。這是河南信徒容易被異端牽引的一大原因。求主幫助中國教會在真理教導上能有根有基,也能有策略幫助教育程度不高的信徒,紮實聖經真理的建造。
星期四
河南有一億左右的人口,但教育經費和大學名額的分配不足,人們認為分配往往歧視河南省及其他人口眾多的農業大省,流向更富裕、更優越的地區。城巿教會的興起,讓神的家増加了許多高知識的信徒,我們為此感恩。求主賜教會智慧牧養他們之餘,也不忽視大多數教育水平較低的信徒如河南省者,幫助他們能活出主耶穌的生命。
星期五
中國大學的招生制度,往往充斥著種種不公平及偏袒,也削弱政府平等對待所有公民的承諾。我們不知道農村教會在未來中國教會當中扮演什麼角色,但是廣大的農村人口仍是急待深耕的宣教工場。求主幫助我們能有更好的策略來幫助農村教會成長,提供機會使信徒得造就。
星期六
在受教權益的不均的河南人常自嘲:「生在農村不如生在城市、生在河南不如生在北京。」生長在中國農村,在教育競爭上,畢竟是吃虧的。求主安慰農村信徒家長,不因此灰心喪氣,而是更向主懇求,讓 孩子一生為主使用。深信神對孩子有一個完全美好的計劃,祂也樂意使用忠心虔誠的人。
星期日
在中國教育機會的不平等,令家長非常焦慮。他們認為教育(特別是名牌大學) 是讓他們的子女及自己擺脫艱難不確定命運的唯一途徑。許多家長將他們一生心血甚至養老,全寄望在孩子的教育上。我們為那些曾經失望過的信徒家長們禱告,求主提醒、安慰,並校正我們的養兒觀念,曉得如何按神的心意,以教導孩子敬虔愛主為首要責任。
星期一
在中國激烈競爭且緊張的大學入學考試—「高考」中,學生報名他們心儀的大學,高考分數決定他們是否能被錄取,中央給大學設置各地分配錄取名額。我們為教會的高中生禱告,在面對各方的壓力下(尤其是來自父母的壓力),仍能緊緊倚靠神。願神加添他們力量、智慧,在力不能勝時繼續仰望主的恩惠。