Prayer Request 12/8 - 12/14

Tuesday
China actually has fifteen cities with more than ten million people each, including all the migrant workers and suburban residents. We focus our prayer time on these mega cities today and pray that prosperity will not rob the church of its impetus to share the gospel with others.
Wednesday
In 1980​ only nineteen percent of the people in China lived in cities but by 2020 that figure might reach sixty percent. Migrant workers from rural areas or other smaller cities already account for about half of China's urban population. Let us praise God for the amazing growth of urban churches in China even though many hidden problems still exist. We ask God to help the city churches not to become secularized and that believers will be bold and fervent in sharing the gospel.
Thursday
There are more than six hundred ​cities in China with a population of more than a million people. Urbanization in China has turned out to be the biggest challenge the rural churches face due to the huge migration of people into the cities. Churches in rural areas have not adapted and started new churches for their members who are working in the cities so they keep losing their young people. We pray that no churches will be complacent, just taking comfort in maintaining the status quo but that they will be urgent in their outreach to new people.
Friday
Many Christians in China have gone to the cities but were unable to find jobs so they have fallen into sin.​ Some of the sisters have even turned to prostitution. Many Christian couples have broken up because they went to different cities or became so busy in their work. We pray for wisdom and discernment to know God's will so all of us put the Lord Jesus first in our lives and seek His kingdom and His righteousness first of all.
Saturday
House churches in China have many problems in getting an official registration and some are rejected outright because of their lack of transparency and some churches do not even consider registering with the government. In China, a lack of transparency in finances or administration has always plagued the house churches. May the Lord have mercy and give the churches the unity they need as to know whether to register or not. We pray that the leaders will be selfless and humble and not consider the church as their own little kingdom.
Sunday
Many pastors in the house churches are not healthy because their churches are not healthy.​ Some of the pastors take the offerings for their own personal use or even gambling because of a lack of accountability. There are also many poor pastors. We have faith that God can transform the churches in China using the leaders and pastors. We pray the Holy Spirit will make us humble, cleanse us, and give us new hearts so we will each one be blameless and not bring shame to God's name.
Monday
Many leaders of house churches in China practice nepotism by rejecting those who are called by God and have received theological training abroad. They do not allow them to return to their own churches to serve God.​ Too many church leaders see the church as their own enterprise so they must make all of the decisions. We pray that none of us will be jealous of the spiritual gifts of another but will be gracious and empower others to serve the Lord.


星期二
中國目前有十五個特大城市, 包括外來務工人員和郊區居民在內，人口超過千萬。我們為這些大城巿禱告，求主提醒信徒在享用物質豐富的同時，不會自滿自足，對屬靈的事物冷淡，失去了傳福音的動力。又願主使教會健全增長，眾信徒愛慕追求主，熱心將屬天的真福樂分享給周遭的骨肉同胞。
星期三
1980年，只有19%的中國人口居住在城市里裡，到2020年可能達到60%。來自農村地區或其他小城市​​的外來打工者，在中國城市人口中的比例已經達到一半。 城巿教會不斷有增長，我們為此感謝神，但是隱藏的問題亦很多。求主幫助教會不走向世俗化，使教會能為主發光發熱，信徒有力量為主作見證，願意大胆熱心傳揚福音。
星期四
中國農村家庭教會團隊的最大困難，就是「城市化」的考驗。大陸有超過六百個人口在一百萬以上的城市，當大量人口湧進城市，導致了農村家庭教會開始荒涼。家庭教會明顯地錯失了轉型的時機，沒能支持進入城市的年輕人在城市裡開拓教會。求主憐憫我們，不要安於現狀，不以人數多就滿足，而是要以憐憫失喪的人的慈心，努力傳講福音。
星期五
很多基督徒農民工進入城市後找不到工作，罪的問題開始不斷發生，甚至有姊妹們從事賣淫工作來謀生。為了賺錢而賠上了家庭的幸福，夫妻關係疏離也是城巿信徒要面對的難題。求主賜給我們智慧，明白神的心意，總是把主耶穌放在人生首位，先求祂的國和祂的義，神的保守與所應許福樂必會滿滿賞賜給敬畏祂的人。
星期六
過去教會財務、行政不透明，造成家庭教會許多問題和發展困難。許多家庭教會想登記，卻被政府拒於門外；也有的是本身就不願意登記，因此家庭教會中存有許多問題。求主憐憫，賜給教會在登記的決定上同心。教會領袖們也不把教會當成自己的「地盤」般據為己有，能以謙卑，寬廣的心來管理神的家。
星期日
少數家庭教會本身體制不健全，傳道人也變得不健康。曾有傳道人拿教會的奉獻中飽私囊，甚至有拿去賭博的。不少牧者薪水微薄，根本不夠養家。我們有信心，神能改變中國教會，改造領袖及傳道人。求主挪去我們的驕傲，求聖靈潔淨我們，賜給信徒清潔正直的心，追求過一個無可指責、聖潔榮耀的生活，不叫神的名被羞辱。
星期一
很多家庭教會領袖，用人往往親戚優先或搞裙帶關係；而真正蒙主呼召，按主心意行又受過純正神學訓練的傳道人，最终卻無法回到自己教會。一些領袖常把教會視為自己的 "企業"，所以有「一山不容二虎」的大問題。求主挪去我們好嫉妒，看別人恩賜而眼紅的罪性，願意為主、為教會的承傳，提拔有恩賜的新一代。