Prayer Request 12/1 - 12/7

Tuesday
In China, there is much inequality in the opportunity for education in different areas.​ One research report showed that an applicant from Beijing is forty-one times more likely to be admitted to Peking University than a fellow student from the province of Anhui which is largely poor and rural. Churches often lack vision and direction in their ministry with youth and some have simply given up because of various difficulties. May the Lord help us not to forsake caring for young believers and considering them less important than others because they cannot contribute financially.
Wednesday
Even an urban residency status does not ensure educational equality among city dwellers in China. The quality of urban schools varies widely and the competition to enter top schools has spawned rampant corruption.​ ​In Beijing churches started youth ministry only a few years ago and usually they began with fewer than twenty young people. We praise God for these​ churches and ask Him to use them to mobilize more churches to care for the spiritual health of the young believers who attend.
Thursday
Although elementary schooling in China is supposed to be free, parents must still pay tens of thousands of dollars under the guise of "voluntary donation​s" to secure a slot for their children in an elite elementary school. Christian parents in China want good Sunday school programs for their children but few are willing to be trained to serve as a teacher themselves. We pray that more parents will answer the call to serve as teachers of God's love.
Friday
Although it is frowned on by the authorities, parents in China who can pay well to hire teachers for their children can help their children get an advantage over the average ​student, and many do this. Christian parents tend to emphasize high grades, top notch schools, and the health of their children more than teaching them to live a spiritual life. May the Lord have mercy on us so we do not honor our children more than we honor Him. (I Samuel 2:29)
Saturday
The educational system in China has always placed a large emphasis on​ test scores but now it is dependent on the costs of their "cramming" lessons, the years their parents have toiled in cities to get a residency permit, and the admission quotas universities allot to the provinces. Many churches simply give up on having a ministry for children because they have neither the vision nor the resources to start one. We pray that churches will get seriously involved in caring for the spiritual health of their youth and children before they completely stop attending church.
Sunday
According to statistics there are some 8000-9000​ house churches in Beijing but fewer than twenty of them have any form of youth ministry. There are only a few so-called youth workers and none of the full-time pastors is dedicated to youth work. Many churches try to minister to their youth, but they do not really know how to begin. We pray for a unity of parents and leaders as they search for ways to be more effective in helping young people walk close to Jesus.
Monday
​Those who are involved in youth ministry in China have no training for such work. They are usually high school graduates in the city churches and​ those in the rural churches have only a junior high education. We pray for more courses to teach people how to do youth ministry, teaching them how to develop a relationship with young people as a friend and mentor rather than the traditional role of a teacher. May the Lord empower each one to be able to influence the lives of their youth with their own and His love.


星期二
教育機會在各省市地區是不均等的。根據研究，一名北京的學生相較於來自貧窮的安徽農村的學生，考上北大的機率前者幾乎是後者的41倍。中國教會普遍缺乏青少年事工的異象和目標，有些教會做了幾年青少年事工，因種種困難就停止了。基督信仰的承繼要靠年輕一代接棒，求主幫助教會看重青少年的事工，不因他們沒有奉獻就輕看他們。
星期三
中國教育機會的實際分配情形也極不均等。即使對在城市的居民，市内學校質量良莠不齊，且想進入頂尖學校的競爭也滋生了嚴重的腐敗問題。一線城市中現有青少年團契也是近幾年才開始發展起來的，人數從幾個到二十不等。我們為這些教會感恩，但願神使用他們激勵其他教會，能更關心年輕人靈命的成長。
星期四
雖然小學義務教育應該是免費的，但是為了讓孩子獲得一個進入名牌小學的名額，中國父母們經常繳納上萬元的“自願捐贈”來確保席位。基督徒父母也為他們的孩子要求教會提供好的主日學課程，但卻少有人願意委身接受培訓，自己作為教師。我們求主感動更多家長，回應神這個需求，為上帝作一個愛的老師。
星期五
學生的家長往往為子女多得其他好處，而高薪聘請老師給孩子單獨補課。儘管這些行為被有關部門明令禁止，但現實中仍比比皆是。信徒家庭普遍注重孩子的學習成績，名校、身體健康等，遠超過他們的靈命成長。求主憐憫我們，不叫我們尊重我們的孩子，過於尊重於神（撒母耳上2：29）。
星期六
中國學生父母為獲得城市戶口而四處奔波，是為了大學在當地省份分配的錄取名額，另外中國的教育一貫極其注重考試分數，這攸關他們在孩子的補習班中傾注費用的多寡。許多教會因為沒有真正的異象或資源，往往嘗試青少年事工不久就半途而廢。我們為教會能認真及努力，關心下一代的靈命，不讓年輕一代流失來仰望神。
星期日
據估計，北京約有8000-9000間家庭教會，但有青少年團契的教會不到20家。全職做青少年事工的牧者寥寥無幾，專職的青少年牧師對中國教會來說實在是太稀有了。許多教會嘗試做青少年事工，卻有心無力。我們為這些教會禱告，賜予家長與教會領袖之間有合一的靈，有智慧和策略試著以各樣方式，更有效地幫助他們的年輕人願意緊緊跟隨主。
星期一
在中國從事青少年事工的牧者不但沒什麼機會有任何培訓，而自身的受教育程度，也以初中和高中為主。在農村教會同工則以初中學歷為主。求主興起更多培訓青少年事工的機會，特別是幫助那些服事青少年的，有美好的人際關係。能從傳統的牧養關係，轉換成教練與朋友的關係；更願他們自然流露出對孩子們的關愛，用生命來影響他們。