Prayer Request 3/29 - 4/4

Tuesday
There are two big challenges for churches in China, one is that the vast majority have no​ children's ministry since the children of believers do not attend church, and the second is the lack of Sunday school trained teachers. ​We pray that churches will realize the terrible consequences of the falling away and drifting from their faith of the second generation as well as the spiritual state of their children and be willing to invest in teachers for the Sunday schools.
Wednesday
In China, a new generation of young, Western-trained psychoanalysts is concerned that early childhood separation from parents or primary caregivers, considered normal​ there for generations, has caused profound, hidden trauma in millions of Chinese. ​Separation from parents in early childhood creates hidden emotional dangers. We pray for Christian parents that they will focus on not only the health and academic areas of life but​ will teach their children to know God and love Him throughout their lives.
Thursday
Many believe that early separation from parents (a documented psychological phenomenon) has led to emotional problems in adults who fail to form healthy relationships.​ Feeling abandoned as children, they struggle with worthlessness and depression. We pray for many Chinese believers who struggle with the idea of “Heavenly Father”, unable to accept God’s unconditional love. May the Lord draw them close so they would comprehend how great God’s love and acceptance is.
Friday
The pastors of house churches in China need to focus on ministering to the believers rather than arguing about whether to register with the government or not. If churches are unable to gain the trust of either believers or the officials overseeing them, registration with the government is a moot point.​ ​We pray specifically for churches embroiled in the debate about whether to register with the government or not. May the Lord grant them unity and spare them from division. May He add many who have come to know Jesus and cause them to grow.​
Saturday
Strictly speaking the churches under the CCC/TSPM are not true churches but a movement rather than a denomination. The churches under the China Christian Council system retain their own financial independence. Many believers are highly emotional and resist the idea of ​their church registering with the government. We pray for wisdom and vision from above for church leaders as they try to move their churches past the bottleneck of being an​ “underground” church.
Sunday
Churches in China are supposed to register with local and county government but in many areas where there is no CCC/TSPM, an officially registered church is an open church but not necessarily a "government church" which causes them to have a great deal of autonomy. We pray for wisdom for churches that are debating about whether to register with the government or not. May they never lose their vision to share the gospel in their communities and may their ministries continue to grow.
Monday
Official administration of churches is usually done locally because the registration is with either the local or county government, while in some cities​ ​it is done at the city level. This shows how churches are monitored differently depending on the location.​ ​We pray for the management and operation of each church in China. Many are run by a selected few people or even a single individual which severely hampers​ participation and ownership by others in the church. May the Lord help these churches to grow and bring glory to Himself.


星期二
許多中國教會的第二代事工有兩個挑戰，一是教會沒有任何兒童事工，信徒的未成年子女沒有適合的聚會。另一挑戰是缺乏主日學老師和相關的師資訓練。求主幫助教會能看見第二代信仰流失的可悲景况和嚴重影響，使教會領袖能積極推展第二代靈命建造的大工程，也肯投放更多資源來培育和造就青少年及兒童事工的師資。
星期三
新一代受過西方教育的中國心理分析專家擔心：幼年與父母或主要撫養親屬長期分開的做法，給數百萬新生代中國人的心理和人格造成了深刻而隱藏的創傷。然而代代人都誤認為這樣做是正常的。過早與父母分離帶給中國孩子心靈上的隱性創傷是很難彌補的重大損害。求主在信徒家長心中動工，當稱職的父母，不是只求子女健康、有好學業成績，而是要教導他們認識神、愛主，一生行在祂的光中。
星期四
專家認為，孩童早年與家人長期分離的經驗，往往會造成成年後情感調適的障礙，他們可能無法建立健康的家庭關係。覺得幼時曾遭至親拋棄的他們，會深深地覺得自己沒有價值，並常感到沮喪和無助。不少中國弟兄姊妹覺得「天父」太遙遠和抽象，無法相信神真會賜予他們「無條件的愛」。我們特別為他們祈求，求主吸引他們，讓他們真實經歷神如何隨時、隨地、永遠不變的接納、疼愛他們。
星期五
未來家庭教會領導們的目標仍應放在專注牧養好教會信徒上。至於是否登記的問題並不是首要焦點。如果已經登記的教會得不到信徒及相關部門的信任，登記不登記其實意義不大。我們要為那些仍在「爭論」是否要登記的教會禱告，求神保守他們願意竭力追求合一的心志，不因此而造成分裂。也求主將得救的人數加添給他們，興旺他們的事工。
星期六
嚴格來說「三自」和「兩會」也不是真正的教會體制，所以它不當被稱作「三自教會」，僅能算是一種思想運動。並且中國基督教兩會體系的現狀，也因各地教會財務獨立等原因，都較為獨立。許多信徒激烈地反對教會登記或對此持保留態度。求主賜教會領袖智慧和異象，使教會的發展也能在困難的環境或體制下突破瓶頸及限制。
星期日
中國教會按法律應向當地的區和縣政府登記。有的地方，沒有兩會或三自組織，該教會就不一定算「三自教會」。教會是否要登記，的確在信徒當中有許多爭議。求主賜下智慧，無論是登記或是不登記，能持守在社會中廣傳福音的異象。
星期一
中國行政部門管理教會模式是「屬地管理」，各地的情況都不太相同，有些是市級管轄，有些是縣來管，是鬆是緊，主要要看當地政府的態度。我們為各個教會的管理和運作方式禱告，許多教會的決定是由少數、甚至一個人來做，嚴重影響其他會友的認同和參與，求主特別保守、引領他們的事工推展。更幫助神兒女心中以基督為元首，事事榮耀主。