Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Prayer Request 2/23 - 2/29

Tuesday
Many Chinese consider it is auspicious to have children in the year of ​the ​dragon, horse or monkey, especially in Northern China. Children born in the year of ​ the ​monkey are deemed to be “smart, clever, confident and happy”. ​We pray for all of the Christian couples who are planning to have children this year. May the Lord bless their families and give them the desire to rear their children to know and love Him from a very young age.​
Wednesday
China has fully implemented the two-child policy now and many couples are beginning to embrace the reality of having a larger family.​ ​Putting this policy into practice will certainly increase the number of children in the churches. We pray that the leaders will have the vision and know how to train more Sunday school teachers for these children as well as having concrete strategies to care for the spiritual health of the children in their churches.
Thursday
At least in the near future, the two-child policy​ will certainly boost the birth rate in China by three to six million people each year. It is expected that the annual birth rate will reach seventeen million by 2010. We pray that many more churches will provide teaching to help parents know about Biblical parenting skills and also the importance of living out an example for their children.
Friday
According to Chinese tradition, a new mother must be confined with a strict diet and staying warm for a whole month after the birth of her baby. The centers that provide special room and board services for this charge upward of $4000. US and also require advance reservations.​ We pray that more children Sunday School will be established in China and many more little ones come to know Jesus Christ and dedicated their lives to Him. The Lord remove all the stumbling blocks for China churches. We pray that believer parents will be an living example of God’s love in their homes.
Saturday
Accordingly to Chinese tradition, a new mother must be confined for a whole month - with strict diet and staying warm. These centers that provide special room and board service charges upward of 4,000USD and requires advance reservation. Many Christian parents consider themselves incompetent and expect their church to teach their children spiritually. We pray that all believer parents will know God has entrusted them the sole responsibility to raise up their children to fear the Lord.
Sunday
There are women in China who specialize in taking care of newborns and their mothers. They are called "aunty for the month". Their services are in high demand and cost about $3000. US for the month. The Bible teaches that believers must raise their children to be godly. May the Lord change our hearts to be willing to improve our parenting skills and parent-child relationships.​
Monday
Many Christian parents in China feel that teaching their children is very difficult because they are following the ways of the world and have no Christian friends. Thus, they lose interest in attending church quickly.​Pray more church will see the importance of teaching children Biblical truths. We pray, too, that more of them will be willing to invest in building up the number and quality of Sunday school teachers.​


星期二
很多中國人喜歡在吉祥的年份生孩子,如龍年、馬年、猴年等。尤其在北方,猴年出生的孩子能討到「聰明機智自信快樂」的好彩頭。我們為今年計劃生育的信徒家庭禱告,求神賜他們心志,養育從小就認識神又愛 主的第二代。
星期三
去年十月,政府全面開放生育兩個孩子的政策。不少中國夫妻生育的願望隨著二孩政策的實施而慢慢提升。因著開放二孩新政策,教會的兒童的數目必定隨之增加。求主感動更多教會領袖願意積極提升兒童主日學的老師的數目及質素,也開始籌謀實際的策略來關心第二代信徒的靈命成長。
星期四
因著政策的改變,短期內出中國生人口將明顯增加,生育水平會有所回升,預計每年多出生300萬到600萬嬰兒,2020年將会有1700萬人出生。求主幫助教會能提供更多有關基督化家庭和親子關係的教導,讓家長知道如何按神心意教養子女,更重要的是在子女面前以身教活出敬虔的好榜樣。
星期五
中國不少三線城市都出現產科醫院、月子中心床位緊張的現象。月子中心提供的特別住房和服務,收費在四千美元以上。很多產科醫院提醒孕婦,今年上半年床位緊張,需要盡快預訂。求主挪開一切攔阻,讓更多教會建立兒童主日學事工,栽培更多孩子及早認識神,打好信仰的根基,一生跟隨主。父母也活出美好的榜樣,成為子女的楷模。
星期六
按照傳統,中國女性分娩之後需要休養一個月,對飲食、氣溫等都有嚴格控制,俗稱「坐月子」。月子中心一個月收費大約2.4萬人民幣,最近已供不應求,要托熟人才能預訂得到。許多信徒父母仍然認為自己無能,期望教會替他們教導子女認識神。求主提醒家長們這是他們受神托負的責任,要靠著主教養孩子走當行的道,到老也不偏離。
星期日
專門雇來照顧新生兒和母親的服務人員稱為「月嫂」,需求也在大幅增長。專門培養月嫂的單位越來越多,專業月嫂的工資不斷上漲,一兩萬元月薪有時還請不到。信徒為主養育虔誠的子女是聖經的教導。求主改變家長的心,願意提昇自己教養子女的知能,和增強親子關係的質量,為主做好這份天職。
星期一
許多中國信徒反映,要教導家中的小孩子實在非常困難,因為他們容易受不良的社會風氣影響, 也沒有一起上教會的朋友,孩子到了自立期很快就不願去教會了。求主幫助教會與家長能重視孩童聖經真理的教導。也禱告信徒願意投入在建造主日學師資的數量和品質這項重要的屬靈大工程。

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Prayer Request 2/16 - 2/22

Tuesday
People who live in rural China are still relatively conservative. Women marry in their early twenties and people feel women do not need a lot of education. Many female pastors who have more education and are nearly thirty years of age feel they now have no hope of getting married. ​It seems that sisters in the church who have received Bible training in China have to prepare for the possibility of remaining single the rest of their lives. We thank God for their dedication, pray for His grace to care for all of their needs​, and even prepare a godly partner for them.
Wednesday
Lady pastors who are unmarried at thirty years of age in China are anxious because they know the possibility of finding anyone young​ in the village is virtually impossible since most of the young people have already left to work in the cities. Let us pray for all of the single lady pastors in China that the Lord will provide what they need so they will not be lonely and depressed in their work and that He will give them His own word to strengthen both their own hearts and those of others.
Thursday
Those Christian men who remain in villages fall into three categories: those who are a suitable age but are already married; old men who stay to care for little ones and the young boys. We know many female pastors devote their time to God's work and have no social lives at all. We pray that God will comfort and refresh them, ​and ​give them strength and joy in serving Him.
Friday
For female church workers in Chinese villages, they strive to be faithful in serving God, but the same time, they long to find a husband with whom to serve together. Many female church workers in their 30's and even 20's face similar predicament. Staying in village to serve God means having no husband. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit (1 Cor 7:34). May we be sure to remember this special need of lady pastors in our prayers!
Saturday
It is said that sixty percent of the air pollution in China is due to the burning of coal and oil which causes smog and releases toxic material that causes cancer. May the Lord have mercy on this badly polluted country. We pray officials will deal seriously with the ever worsening smog issue in many cities. We pray, too, for the cleaning up of spiritual pollution that all believers encounter daily.
Sunday
Over the past two decades, China became an engine of global growth. But in 2015, it stopped devouring all the metals the world could produce. Based on official figures, China’s growth has now fallen behind India. We pray for wisdom for officials with responsibility for China’s economy. We too pray believers will continue to be faithful in their giving to their churches, knowing God will bless them abundantly and the more we give, the more we receive from the Lord.
Monday
Any economic decline in China has a huge impact both on its own people and on many other countries. Some experts suspect the actual economic slowdown is worse than what the officials admitted. Stock market and economic news do give us anxiety. We pray believers will always give thanks to God and trust God will always provide for us. We pray especially for churches that are planning or in the process of fundraising to rebuild their churches this coming year.


星期二
中國農村社會依然傳統而保守,女性大多早婚,二十出頭即嫁,亦不求受太多教育。許多女傳道人相對有較高的學歷,接近三十歲仍未婚者,就認為再沒有結婚的可能了。在中國受過神學裝備要服事教會的姐妹,似乎都會有可能會一直獨身事奉的心理準備。我們為她們的擺上感恩,求主恩待眷顧她們身心靈所有的需要,又按著神旨意為她們預備愛主的伴侶。
星期三
農村教會女傳道年過三十歲仍未婚者,難免會為自己的婚姻擔憂。她們不是不願意等待神的安排,但實際情況令人沮喪。因為農村中幾乎所有年輕的一代都進城打工了。我們為單身女傳道禱告,求主賜她們喜樂的心,都能因有主同在而保持喜樂的心。願神賜下祂的話語和慈愛滋潤、堅固她們,成為她們的力量,能成為神祝福他人的管道。
星期四
現今留在中國農村教會裡的男性只有三類:已婚的、年老留守看孫子的,以及少年人。我們知道其中許多的女傳道天天忙碌於教會事工,沒有自己的時間和私人社交生活空間。求主不斷地安慰及更新她們的靈命,也賜給她們由神而來的力量和喜樂來服侍祂。
星期五
身為農村教會的女傳道,不但要全心擺上,也要有獨身的準備。雖然她們渴望有愛主的弟兄一起服侍神,但現實情況卻是不容易找到合適的對象。農村教會中“80後”和“90後”一代女性們都有著同樣的擔憂。「沒有出嫁的,是為主的事掛慮,要身體、靈魂都聖潔。」(林前7:34) 我們在禱告中要特別記念姊妹們這些方面的需要,求主預備。
星期六
據官方統計,百分之六十的空氣污染是燒煤及汽油造成的,對人體有極大傷害。願主憐憫並喚起更多公眾關注並促使各級市政府解決煙霧問題。我們更要為神的兒女們禱告,留心靈性上的污染,保守自己常在神的愛中,時刻儆醒仰望主,不致被這世代的歪風潛移默化,玷污了身心靈,偏離神的旨意。
星期日
過去二十年來,中國無疑成為全球經濟成長的發動機;可是在2015年,中國卻停止進口金屬。即使從官方的數字來看,中國的經濟成長率也比印度還低。我們要為負責經濟政策的官員求智慧,願主使他們能平衡各方的需要。求神賜祂兒女在奉獻上操練信心,能真實經歷神在基督耶穌裏,使我們一切所需用的都充足的大能。
星期一
中國的經濟衰退,除了對中國人有巨大影響外,也對其他國家造成衝擊。不少專家認為中國成長趨緩的情況,實際上要比官方公佈的更嚴重。股市和經濟新聞總是會使我們焦慮,求主賜我們信心,深信祂是不落空自己應許的神,幫助我們無論在甚麼景況都可以信靠和知足。我們特別為今年要重建的禮拜堂禱告,在經濟上仰望主充份供應。

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Prayer Request 2/9 - 2/15

Tuesday
The Lunar New Year makes for trying travel in China, as hundreds of millions of people return home by trains, planes and buses to celebrate the country’s most important holiday.When the weather turns foul, the journey can turn nightmarish with horrendous delay. Many churches host evangelistic meeting during the Spring Festival time. We thank the Lord for all of these efforts and pray that the Holy Spirit will cause all the seeds that are sown to grow. We pray that all returning believers will have good fellowship with their home church.
Wednesday
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong, China’s most populous province and host to the country’s largest number of migrant workers. Poor travel seasons are often felt most drastically in the city. Many Christians stop attending church once they leave their hometown. May the Chinese New Year holiday be a time of revival for those who have been away from home and have also been away from churches.
Thursday
Majority of migrant workers in Guangdong is age 35 or younger, with average of 10 years of formal education which exceed the national average of 8 years. Overall, the average education level of migrant is improving. We pray specifically for those who share the gospel to migrant workers in Guangdong, the Lord gives them strength, physical and spiritual, so their harvest will be plentiful.
Friday
To those who go to work in Guangdong, their preference of cities are Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Huizhou, in that order. We pray for churches in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, although their members tend to move about, and is always challenging for the pastors to follow up, but many of them do want to reach out to the migrant workers.
Saturday
More factories in China are moving inland from the coastal provinces is a trend. This means more migrant workers are working in cities closer to their own villages, and this maybe a very good development for China’s rural churches suffering the loss of young believers. We pray for churches in cities that are equipping the migrant workers, as they return home in a few years, they could then be ready to share gospel in villages and serve the Lord more effectively in their churches.
Sunday
Reaching out to migrant works sound simple, but it is not because many of their shops and factories run nearly continuously. On top of that, the turnover of migrant workers is huge.We pray for all the efforts to share the gospel with migrant workers in all the cities. The Lord grant them grace, strength and numbers of people saved. May their work be fruitful and harvests are bountiful.
Monday
Migrant workers leave their village homes to work in cities, 41.8% of them said making money is the chief goal, some simply do so because it is a trend and others consider working in cities an adventure.As migrants who are Christians return home, perhaps their churches in villages will be changed because of their city exposure. We pray for revival of all rural churches in China, also for breakthrough and transformation in the ways they do ministries.


星期二
中國在春節掀起了春運高峰,數億人搭乘火車、飛機、大客車回鄉探親,慶祝中國最重要的節日。然而當天氣轉壞,回家的旅程就會變得有如一場惡夢。很多教會在春節舉行佈道會,我們要為此感謝上帝。願聖靈大大動工,讓褔音種子能茁壯成長。求主也使回到老家的弟兄姊妹能多多激勵當地的信徒。
星期三
廣東是中國人口最多的省份,廣州市是廣東省省會,也接納了全國最多的外來勞工。通常在這個城市,最能感受到這種糟糕的交通高峰期。許多信徒進城打工後就不去聚會是個令人耽憂的事實。我們為過年才回家的信徒禱告,願復興的靈火,在春節這段休息的時間,再次復興他們的靈命。
星期四
廣東省外來民工以35歲以下的年輕人為主,平均受過十年教育,超過全國成年人平均受教育年限(8年,即初中三程度),外來民工的文化教育程度正逐步提升。我們為忠心向廣東民工傳福音的肢體祈求,願主賜下心力、靈力,使他們手中為主耕耘的好土能有豐美的收成。
星期五
對來廣東省打工的人來說,最理想的城市是深圳,其次是廣洲,再者是佛山、東莞、珠海、中山、惠州等地。我們為深圳、廣洲的教會禱告,雖然工人的流動性大,牧人跟進亦大有挑戰,但許多教會仍以外地工人為傳福音對象,求主親自賜下忠心與愛心,引導事工的推展。
星期六
許多工廠從沿海省份往內陸遷移是個新趨勢,越來越多的民工已漸漸從沿岸大城,回到自己老家附近的城鎮打工,這對內陸教會的發展是個好現象。求主幫助城市的教會能給民工信徒充足的屬靈裝備,當他們幾年後返回自己的家鄉時,自然便將福音種子帶到各個省份去,在神所預備的崗位上為主作工,造福自己的教會。
星期日
向民工傳福音聽起來容易,但實際上難度很大。尤其是許多工廠或店鋪每週工作七天,每天12小時,要工人抽出空檔很困難;加上民工的流動性太大,跟進也不易。我們來為所有向民工傳福音的信徒禱告,求主施恩加力,無論得時不得時,總是盡力救人靈魂;又保守他們的事工結出美好的果實來。
星期一
中國的農民工離家進入大城巿打工的目的,有41.8%是為了賺錢,還有的純粹是跟著潮流走,而他們出來打工的最後收獲是開拓了眼界。農村教會因著打工 的肢體新一波返鄉潮,在各樣行政事工及做法上或許會有改進。求主復興所有農村教會,事工因此有所突破,觀念作風也有所改革更新。

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Prayer Request 2/2 - 2/8

Tuesday
China’s elderly population is expanding rapidly, while its working-age population is shrinking – a situation that is a challenge to both government authorities and ordinary people, including many Christians. Let us pray into this area of need in China. Ask the Lord that He might show the church how they can be most effective in serving the rapidly growing elderly population.
Wednesday
Cultural expectations and legal requirements put the onus on families to care for older family members, but neither the government nor the society at large are adequately prepared to support this effort. For churches in China, the immediate concern, especially in the rural areas, is caring for elderly pastors in their later years of life。Let us pray for the well-being of all the retiring and retired pastors.
Thursday
Younger urban pastors are faced with caring for parents who, in many cases, still live in the countryside or in smaller cities. Many of their congregants find themselves in a similar situation. With living space limited in the city, it may not be practical or desirable to have older relatives move in with the family. We pray for wisdom and patience who encounter difficult issues trying to care for elderly parents.
Friday
The church is the one entity that does have access to a sizeable pool of potential personnel, both professionals whose expertise could be applied specifically to senior care, as well as unskilled workers who could be trained for support roles. We pray for joy and beautiful life testimony from believers who care for elderly. May their joyful disposition be a constant blessing to those they care.
Saturday
This could involve Christians visiting and helping seniors who are living at home but whose families are not able to care for their needs. It could also involve setting up residential facilities for those who are no longer able to live in their own homes. We pray for some urban churches who have senior caring ministries, and even those who have care center. The Lord grant them His love and lead some seniors to believer in Jesus.
Sunday
Some churches and individual Christians have already begun to be involved in the ministry of caring for seniors, but there remains a huge and ever-growing need for such help. We pray that God might inspire and envision those Christians with the necessary skills and experience to play their part in serving their local elderly community.
Monday
Chinese churches getting into caring of seniors can provide a way for the church to gain legitimacy within the society, as Christians are seen caring not only for their own needs but also for the needs of their community. Pray for those believers who are already involved in caring for seniors. Pray that the Lord might encourage and strengthen them, providing all that is needed to continue this vital ministry.


星期二
中國的人口正迅速的老化,而勞動人口卻不斷縮減;這對於政府當局和一般民眾來說,都是一個很棘手的形勢,教會內這種情況也不例外。讓我們為中國在 "老有所終" 這個領域中的種種需要禱告。求主向教會顯明祂的旨意與帶領,明白如何以最有效的方式來服事快速成長的白髮族。
星期三
中國傳統文化和法律的規定都要求家人負責照顧年長的家庭成員,但是政府和社會都沒有足夠的配套來給予支持。對教會而言,當下急切需要關注的問題就是照顧好年長牧者,尤其是在農村地區。我們為將退休及已退休的傳道人的身心靈健康禱告,為他們能得到適切關顧來仰望、祈求神。
星期四
城巿的年輕牧者需要照顧父母的挑戰,通常他們年邁父母仍然住在鄉鎮裡。許多城巿教會的弟兄姊妹也需面對相同處境。城市的生活空間有限,讓年長的親人搬來同住或許不是最理想、切實可行的做法。求神賜城巿的弟兄姊妹智慧與耐心,以神的愛來克服各樣孝親奉親的難題。
星期五
教會裡有不少在關照長輩領域的專業人士,還有許多弟兄姊妹願意委身接受訓練來擔任支援的角色,這些資源都可以給長者提供適切的照料和關顧。我們為一直忠心、長期照顧長者的基督徒禱告,求神賜他們喜樂,美好的生命見證,因著他們的擺上,活出基督的愛,就成為許多人的祝福。
星期六
基督徒可以透過鄰舍層面的長者社區支援服務,探訪和幫助那些缺乏親人照顧的長者,亦可為長者提供一些家居設施,協助他們的起居生活。我們為有長者事工,甚至有養老院的城市教會禱告,求神加給他們愛心,也能引領長者認識耶稣基督,得著永恒的盼望。
星期日
有個別的基督及某些教會已經投入關顧長者的事工,然而這類的關懷仍然存著很大的需求,而且需要量只會越來越大。 求主感動那些具備專業技能和經驗的基督徒,賜他們異象,讓他們能整合起來,有效地事奉本地的長者族群。
星期一
關懷老人的需要,能讓中國教會在社會中建立一個正面的形象。因為基督徒不單顧自己,也顧及別人,更關心社區的需要。我們為已經投入長者關懷的信徒禱告,求主鼓勵、加力量給他們,供應一切需用,讓他們能夠繼續這項重要又有義意的事工。