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。