Prayer Request 1/12 - 1/18

Tuesday
Life expectancy in China has lengthened dramatically, rising an average of 8.5 years since 1990. Shanghai had the highest life expectancy in China in 2013, 80.2 years for men and 85.2 ​for women. This is an increase of ​six years from 1990. ​We give thanks to God for the enormous improvement in the health of people in China and pray for those caring for the elderly in every church there. May the Lord raise up more people who will look after and visit the older believers.​
Wednesday
In addition to the leap in life expectancy, there has been a significant drop in child mortality​ in China​. Between 1996 and 2013, the mortality rate for Chinese children under ​five decreased by 70%. ​Many churches still have little or no meaningful ministries for children. With the abolishment of the one-child policy, we pray that churches will be ready to begin by training workers to begin and expand their children's and youth ministries.​
Thursday
There has been a sizeable shift in the pattern in the cause of death in China​--away from infectious diseases to non-communicable ones with the notable exception of HIV. ​Churches also have many people with chronic illness. We ask God to help the people in the churches not only to pray for the healing of the sick in their churches but to also extend helping hands to them--especially to those non-Christian families.
Friday
More years of life were lost to stroke, heart disease, and cancers in 2013 than 1990. Road injuries have also become a top ten cause of death in every single province in mainland China. We pray for traveling mercy and safety for believers in their travel to work and ​back ​home. We specifically lift up pastors who shepherd ​flocks and preach at different meeting places. ​May ​the Lord protect their going in and out.
Saturday
Chinese in the less-developed regions of China like Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Guangxi have double the burden of infectious diseases, road injury, stomach cancer, and cerebrovascular disease (the main cause of stroke) than those elsewhere.​ We pray for churches and believers in these regions. We know they are small and weak, both physically and often spiritually as well. May the Lord grant them revival and strengthen them.
Sunday
Chinese people make up the largest number of tourists in the world which is expected to double to 200 million by 2020. Many countries are dropping their visa requirement to attract Chinese tourists.​ We pray churches will grasp the opportunity to share the gospel with Chinese tourists visiting their cities and invite them to come to their services.
Monday
Last year forty million tourists from China inundated Hong Kong but unfortunately they did not find a welcome there because the locals were angered by their outlandish spending in stores that sold luxury goods, malls, and even in the restaurants.​ We pray that local believers​ in every country​ will welcome Chinese tourists, in a way that facilitates the​ sharing of the Gospel, without discrimination.


星期二
中國人的平均壽命(預期壽命)已經大幅提高，自1990年以來，平均增加了8.5年。2013年時，上海人的平均壽命最長，男性為80.2歲，女性為85.2歲，比1990年增加了約6歲。近年來中國人的健康領域大有進步，我們感謝神。我們也為教會中年長的事工禱告，求主興起更多願意幫助、參與老人探訪關懷服事的信徒們。
星期三
除了平均壽命大幅提高之外，兒童死亡率也大幅降低。在1996年至2013年，中國五歲以下兒童的死亡率降低了70%.現今許多中國教會仍沒有真正的兒童事工，新的生育政策准許養兩個孩子，必定會帶給教會超大的幼兒潮。求主幫助眾教會有遠觀與計劃，開始培訓兒童主日學及青少年事工的同工，為因應和拓展神國度的需要作好準備。
星期四
中國人的死亡原因也有明顯的改變，從以感染性疾病為主改變為非傳染性疾病，但是艾滋病除外。教會裡也有不少身體軟弱、需要長期照顧的肢體。求主幫助教會不單單是為有病痛的人禱告，更是能實際伸手幫助他們的家庭，得到身體、精神及靈性上的關顧。尤其是有不信的家人，這些幫助更顯迫切。
星期五
從1990 到2013年，更多的中國人死於中風、心臟病和癌症，而車禍在各省份中也躍為十大死亡原因之一。我們為信徒在路途旅遊有平安禱告，尤其是要進進出出照顧不同聚會點的傳道人，願神保守、看顧他們每天出入的平安及奔波于途的辛勞。
星期六
中國境内生活在低度開發地區（例如新疆、青海和廣西）的人民，在感染疾病、道路交通的傷害及胃癌和腦血管疾病（中風的主要原因）等方面的負擔加倍。在開發程度較低地區的信徒和教會，通常規模比較小和嬴弱，更是需要我們的迫切代求。願神賜下復興的靈火，強壯他們的身心靈各方面的狀況。
星期日
現今中國人是全球最大的出國觀光客來源，據估在2020年時，中國觀光客可望加倍至2億人。各國政府正考量免除簽證，希望能在中國觀光客的花費中分得一杯羹。求主幫助海外各地的眾教會，抓住機會能與中國觀光客們分享福音，吸引他們前往當地的教會，更加了解基督教信仰，早日得著救恩。
星期一
去年有超過4000萬中國觀光客湧進香港，在奢侈品店、購物中心、餐廳和飯店大肆消費。但是中國旅客在香港，卻面對當地人的怒氣，而非熱情接待與歡迎。求主幫助海外的基督徒，能把握神帶給眾信徒"現今＂的機會誠摯接待中國觀光客，有機會分享信仰， 讓他們能親嘗主愛的滋味。