Prayer Request 1/26 - 2/1

Tuesday
Taiwan recently​ elected her first female president in a landslide election. In her victory speech, the new president called for "humility, humility, and more humility". This is also the first time the Nationalist Party has lost its majority status in the legislative branch of government on the island. Every time an election takes place in Taiwan, churches are invariably affected by their political orientation. Let us pray for the unity of churches in Taiwan and that political sentiment will not affect the relationship between churches on both sides of the strait.
Wednesday
Urbanization​ has changed the economic and social expectations for marriage in China. Gao, fu, shuai (tall, rich. handsome) and bai, fu, mei (fair-skinned, rich, beautiful) have become the standard description for the perfect match. We pray for all of the first-generation Christians in China that they will seek God's will and understand His criteria as they desire to remain faithful to Biblical teaching regarding marriage and family.
Thursday
Without a steady job, a car, and an ​apartment a single man in the cities of China has little chance of finding a spouse. With the gender imbalance due to China's one-child policy, more men in China are unable to meet the economic requirements for marriage than ever before. Let us pray for the Christian men who do not meet these requirements that the Lord will give them a strong faith knowing that He loves them and He Who has given them purpose and meaning in life will also prepare a godly spouse for them.
Friday
For many Christian women in China the tension between Biblical teachings about relationships and the social pressure to find a mate is exacerbated by the relatively​ high ratio of women to men in the churches there. We pray for these sisters who face the dilemma of whether it is better to marry an unbeliever or remain single. May the Lord comfort them and give them joy as they face great pressure from their parents to marry before they are "too old".
Saturday
he five major rural house church groups in China have formally announced their dissolution with rapid​ urbanization given as the cause. Although some claimed they were able to transition successfully to the urban format, this has not been true. We really do not know what God has in mind for the rural churches in China but we beseech Him to revive them, not just in a superficial way of seeking for miracles but that they will be rooted in Biblical truth.
Sunday
​Many churches have problem of "direct sale", people's passion for God is polluted and the relationships between the brothers and sisters are tainted. ​People make friends to enlarge their base, not for evangelism. May the Lord remind each of us that "In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, ... covetous. ... having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Monday
People who engage in "direct sale" all dream of striking it rich but the dream often bursts like a bubble since the vast majority of them cannot reach their quota/goal in time.​ Churches cannot prohibit their members from selling things to other members but we pray for wisdom and integrity of motives for each of us. "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." (1 Corinthians 10:24)


星期二
台灣以壓倒性票數選出第一位女總統，在當選感言中她表達未來執政要「謙卑、謙卑、再謙卑」。自1949年以來，國民黨首次不再是國會多數黨。每次選舉台灣教會會眾的情緒畢竟都會受到影響，因為不同宗派和地域都會有不同的政治傾向。我們為台灣眾教會的合一祈求，求主也保守海峽兩岸的教會與事工互動能持續進行。
星期三
中國的城市化提高了婚姻伴侶的經濟與社會標準。完美的匹配是，男的是要 "高富帥"（高大，有錢，英俊），女的則是"白富美"（皮膚白皙，有錢和漂亮）。我們特別為中國第一代信主的年輕基督徒祈求，願他們在等候神所預備的伴侶時，多禱告尋求上帝的旨意，認識神的標準，從聖經真理中學習神對婚姻和家庭的旨意。
星期四
在中國城市裡的男人，如果沒有一份好工作，沒有汽車及一套房子，實在難找到個對象。一胎化造成的男多於女性別失現況，使得更多的中國男人無法達到結婚的經濟要求。我們為教會中沒有以上經濟條件的弟兄們禱告，求主堅定他們的信心，深深知道神愛他們，也賜給他們的生命有神美好的目的和意義，神會為他們預備愛主的配偶。
星期五
對許多教會姐妹來說，她們正面臨極大的張力，是要遵守聖經教導或是因著社會的壓力，就找個非基督徒嫁了，尤其是教會裡很明顯的是女多男少。我們要為面對這壓力的姐妹們祈求，求主安慰她們，賜給她們喜樂，也能有智慧應付來自父母親“趁早嫁人”的壓力。
星期六
中國五大農村家庭教會團隊正式宣布解散，因為城市化的衝擊，導致農村教會沒落。雖然有些團隊曾表示，已成功轉型為城巿化的家庭教會，但事實卻不然。未來神在農村教會的計劃是什麼，我們並不清楚。但求主再次興旺農村教會，不再是表面的火熱，或者求神蹟奇事，而是在真理上有根有基。
星期日
傳銷活動滲入教會，使得基督徒對神的渴慕和信靠容易被 "瑪門" 所代替。信徒之間純潔的屬靈關係被利益扭曲，令招呼新朋友的動機也從傳福音變成發展下線。求主使我們儆醒，末世必有危險的日子來到，人要專顧自己，貪愛錢財…不愛神，僅有敬虔的外貌，卻背了敬虔的實意，這等人我們務必要躲開。(提後3:1-5)
星期一
許多參加直銷的人都是財迷心竅，但那些發達夢實際上都是一個個泡影，因為很多人都不可能在既定時間內達到所規定的銷售數額。教會對於會友私下的買賣，也無權干涉。惟願主鑒察神兒女的心思意念，引導我們正直、有智慧，走在永生的道路上。「無論何人，不要求自己的益處，乃要求別人的益處。」（林前10:24）