Prayer Request 4/26 - 5/2

Tuesday
Nowadays, many mainland church workers study overseas. The price of studying abroad is family members not being able to meet often. Some are separated for years. Let us pray for these who are abroad and for their families who have stayed in China​, especially for those who are debating whether to stay abroad and not return to their churches in China. "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
Wednesday
It is trendy for young Chinese to study abroad, starting from high school, especially those ​from ​families with financial means. Many Christians also borrow money so their children can study abroad. Couples often argue about the increased financial burden of such study. We pray for the marital tensions created by this predicament. May the Lord give them peace and the resources they need, and above all the spiritual health of their children who are away from home.
Thursday
Many pastors from China who have gone abroad encounter the dilemma of whether they should return to their home church​ and train new pastors as they promised or stay abroad. They wonder if this is a betrayal of their initial commitment or a new door God has opened for them. We pray for wisdom, integrity, and God's direction for pastors who are in this difficult situation as well as their churches.
Friday
Church workers in China have become very busy. They have little time for their families and sometimes even for God. Many pastors complain that their church members see them as tools or service providers. Many believers falsely see​ pastors as therapists for all of the family problems. We pray for those who must minister to one or two hundred families. May the Lord give them wisdom and the ability to balance their own family needs with those of the church.
Saturday
It is not unusual for a pastor in China to be over-burdened and then invariably to become "burned out". Their own families complain they are neglecting them and the pastors feel helpless. Very often these pastors themselves do not to have a healthy family life and there are no resources to help or provide counseling. May the Lord be merciful to pastors in China and raise up ministries or people who will devote their efforts to help all of the weakened pastors there.
Sunday
Although there are some church workers in China who​ say that loving God is greater than loving family, one must never forget that God's word says that those who take care of the church should first take care of their own households. (I Timothy 3:4) We pray for those pastors who have the opportunity to study abroad that the Lord will use their training to benefit His church whether back in China or abroad and that people will honor their commitment to their churches and to God.
Monday
As more pastors in China go abroad for theological training, it is more common for those pastors to be shepherding a church abroad while their families stay in China or even join them later. Our prayer is that pastors can have a ministry that is balanced and healthy. May the Lord give pastors spiritual and relational renewal.


星期二
近年來有許多中國傳道人到國外進修。對他們而言，出國的代價是往往必須與家人分離，有的甚至幾年不能見面。我們要為在國外進修的傳道人禱告，求神保守他們的家人，更是給他們清楚看見前面服事的道路。求主堅定他們的信心：「至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」(書24:15)
星期三
基督徒家庭也隨著流行讓孩子上高中就出國留學，尤其是那些家境富裕的。然而，不少基督徒是舉債給孩子出國留學。由於孩子大筆的學費，令夫妻倆經常為錢爭論。求主賜給這些父母心中有平安，按著他們的能力去教養孩子，不要越過神給他們份。我們又為留學的孩子禱告，求主賜他們靈裡強健，有一顆愛主的心，在異地的生活裡緊緊依靠主。
星期四
一些在海外受訓的中國傳道人會面臨掙扎，就是學成後，是否要回國履行培訓新牧者的承諾；或是毀約，因為神為他們打開了另一扇事奉的門？我們為這些想改變計劃的傳道人和他們的教會來禱告，求主給他們智慧，正直，敬畏的心，清楚明白神的感動與帶領來走前面的道路。
星期五
教會同工多半服事越來越忙碌，因許多信徒(包括牧者自己)總以忙碌程度來衡量服事的忠心。這造成傳道人沒時間陪伴家人，甚至自己也沒時間親近神。有些信徒誤用傳道人來為他們解決家中各樣雞毛蒜皮的事。我們特別要為那些牧養一、兩百個家庭的牧者禱告，求主賜下智慧和能力，叫他們能忠心、勇敢的事奉，也平衡兼顧自己家庭的需要。
星期六
教會中有不少牧者是過份勞碌，幾乎燃盡，連他們的家人也抱怨被忽略，令牧者覺得非常無奈。太多中國牧者沒有健康的家庭生活，也缺乏能提供他們咨商輔導的人力及資源。求主恩待傳道人，在家中能作屬靈的帶領，又願主預備合適的人或機構來幫助他們的切身需要。
星期日
有些傳道人單單看見聖經說：「人到我這裏來，若不愛我勝過愛自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姊妹，和自己的性命，就不能作我的門徒。」(路14:26) ，卻忘記神也要求牧者要能照管自己的家（提前3：4）。我們為在國外進修神學的中國傳道人代禱，求主幫助他們無論留或返，都信守對主和母教會的委身，懷著感恩的心建立神的家，使用所學的成為弟兄姊妹的幫助。
星期一
隨著越來越多中國傳道人到海外進修神學，也越多出現牧者在海外華人教會服事，暫時與他們的家人分開或稍後才會接眷團聚。我們為他們有平衡和健康的事奉禱告。要牧養信徒的家，就必先牧養自己的家，求主賜給牧者美好的靈性，並有更新的和諧人際關係。

Prayer Request 4/19 - 4/25

Tuesday
Although teachers in rural schools do not enjoy the same status and pay as their counterparts in urban schools, more than seventy percent of the teachers in rural schools in China tend to come from poor village families and teaching school is a good and stable profession. There are literally no good steady paying jobs in the villages besides teaching. We pray that God will call some young Christians to become teachers in villages because they can help many children that way.
Wednesday
It is a good sign that young people from rural areas in China are able to​ be school teachers after graduation from college. Apart from nurturing the next generation, they are able to also look after their parents. May the Lord bless and help those teachers, to be good models and set a good example of filial piety. We pray especially for those Christians teachers who will help shoulder ministry in their churches; also pray for the older Christian parents, may the Lord answer their prayers that their children stay close to God in the cities and grant them wisdom as they care for their grandchildren.
Thursday
Although being a school teacher in a village in China is not so glamorous as being a teacher in the city, they have one of the few jobs with a government salary.​ Teachers are respected in the villages because they are highly-educated. We pray for leaders in the churches, many of whom had little or no formal education. May God give them opportunity to get more training and be more effective.
Friday
Due to the lack of pastoral leadership, many rural churches in China do not have a clear vision, work plan, or knowledge of their true purpose. Some even wrongly think that it is enough to have money and committed believers. We pray especially for rural churches that have no shepherds. Many depend totally on sharing by a few sisters who had a bit of Bible training. May the Lord give them wisdom, discernment, boldness, and direction for their churches.
Saturday
Many of the rural churches in China have not engaged in any strategic evaluation of their ministries. They struggle along with merely meeting week ​after week with no effort to reach others. We pray for those who do the caring and visitation work in these small churches. May the Lord protect them from the vicious attacks of heresies and cults and add to them strength and joy as they care for His sheep.
Sunday
Compared to the older leaders, younger ones in the church have more chances for​ Bible study, pastoral, and missions training, yet it is more difficult for them to play a leading role in rural churches as compared to urban churches. May the Lord give them the courage and determination of Joshua in the Bible and the wisdom to work among traditional cultures in the church. May they work well with the older generation of Christians to help in the healthy development of their church.
Monday
Historically house churches in China have not provided financially for their pastors and many of them are very poor. In northern China, churches often give their pastor a token salary which is more symbolic than really helpful.​ The fact that many Chinese believers wrongly feel their pastor must be very poor to be faithful and depend on God, is a deep-rooted idea that is borrowed from Buddhist monks. May the Lord teach us how to trust Him with all of our hearts and honor those who faithfully serve Him in the church.


星期二
中國有超過70％農村教師是由農村貧窮家庭出身的。雖然農村教師在地位及薪資上都不能和城市教師相比，但是老師在農村中仍然是體面和穩定的職業。在農村裡，除了做老師之外，根本沒有什麽好工作可言。求主賜年輕信徒負擔，藉著擔任教師，幫助農村孩子們認識人生的價值， 見證聖經原則的價值觀， 讓孩子們走在正路上。
星期三
農村子弟畢業之後回到老家任教，是很好的現象。這不僅能培育農村家庭的下一代，還能就近關顧父母。求主賜福返鄉的年輕老師們，除了盡上孝道外，更以他們的言教、身教，幫助農村的孩童。我們也為基督徒的老師們禱告，求主賜他們智慧和時機，能夠與學生分享救恩的道理。更願主垂聽年老信徒的禱告：為離鄉在城裡工作的子女能與主同行，自己也有智慧照顧好身邊的孫輩祈求。
星期四
雖然農村教師的社會聲望不如城市教師，但在農村裡，能拿國家工資並具有「國家身分」的工作不多，與務農相比，教師仍是相對體面和穩定的工作。在農村裡，通常老師都是擁有最高學歷的人。我們為教會領袖和傳道人禱告，因為他們一般的教育程度不高，神學與牧會的専業知識皆不足。求主賜給他們更多裝備的機會，並且將屬靈的奧秘向他們顯明。
星期五
由於許多農村教會沒有牧者，也沒有帶領的肢體，教會就缺乏方向與目標，更沒有推動任何事工的計劃。有些信徒甚至錯誤地認教會只要有錢，有人就足夠了。我們特別為沒有牧者的農村教會禱告，這些教會常常是靠著幾位愛主的姐妹（通常沒有受過神學裝備）撐著，求主賜他們智慧分辨真理和勇氣，也指示教會發展的策略和方向。
星期六
許多農村教會只有主日的聚會，根本談不上擬定教會方向或事工評估，更不具備有任何宣教的能力。在弱小和貧困教會裡，關懷照顧的事工一般由幾位愛主的同工分擔。我們為他們禱告，求主保守他們不被異端邪教攻擊，賜他們力量，滿有喜樂和主的心腸照顧祂的小羊。
星期日
青年領袖較上一代領袖有更多機會學習聖經真理、教導牧養和擴展宣教視野等優勢，但他們在鄉鎮教會「執大旗」，比在擁有管理架構的城市教會困難。求主賜他們有約書亞的開拓勇氣和決心，有智慧地兼容「約定俗成」的教會文化和上一輩信徒的想法，帶領教會在神的旨意裡健康成長！
星期一
傳道人生活艱苦的現况,暴露出家庭教會存留已久的薪水制度的老問題。一些北方家庭教會，僅給傳道人一點點微薄的補貼，這些象徵性的補貼連糊口都遠遠不夠。 " 出家人一定要窮"，傳道人越窮才能操練信心。這是中國信徒對他們傳道人錯誤的觀念!求主幫助我們更多學習依靠、仰賴神，也敬重神的僕人，使他們能毫無掛慮地在教會事奉。

Prayer Request 4/12 - 4/18

Tuesday
Opposing Japan is a foundational anchor for contemporary Chinese nationalism, and it is difficult to understate the depth of antagonism toward Japan in China. It is readily visible in everyday life within China. Hatred of Japanese has also deeply poisoned churches in China and present​s​ a great hindrance to their missionary effort. We pray for real understanding of God's unconditional love for us and removing of our self-righteousness.
Wednesday
The vilification of Japan can be found both in casual conversations and in the stream of shows on Chinese television that repeatedly re-create scenes of past Japanese aggression. Beijing can easily tap this source of nationalism by flaming such vilification. Church leaders in China like to boast of "having the largest number of believers" or "God uniquely uses Chinese to complete world evangelism". We pray that God will mightily use the churches in China because they are humble and consecrated to be used by the Master.​
Thursday
Even​ school children in China are taught to hate Japanese because of their past aggression and such hatred has also permeated the churches. When churches in China promote missions, it is mostly based on the notion that Chinese people are the best missionaries God can use rather than their compassion for lost souls. We pray that we will reflect deeply about our motives for missions and church ministries. May the Lord remove our pride and ego, such as the prophet Jonah had, and give us His compassion.
Friday
Chinese nationalist sentiment toward Japan was so toxic that Beijing appears to have come to the realization that bluntly engaging Tokyo on disputed territory carried too much risk. Beijing is being deterred in the East China Sea by the depth of anti-Japanese sentiment in China. ​No churches in China will consider sending missionaries to Japan even though she is their neighbor​ and is in great need of the gospel. May the Lord give us true repentance and forgiveness for those who are our enemies.
Saturday
Traditionally churches in China tend to talk mostly about the needs of ministry and rarely about the issues their own families face. Even when others ask, they will make only brief remarks such​ as, "Each family has its problems!" Believers in China wrongly consider a preacher who speaks of his/her family problems as "not spiritual". We pray that pastors will have the boldness and humility to share their difficulties and receive godly advice and practical help.
Sunday
In China, many pastors have their spouse living or serving in another church, or far away in another city or even ​a ​different province. Their marital relation is shaky at best, lacking the minimal mutual support and understanding because there is no time to see each other. ​May the Lord be gracious to the families of pastors so they will intimately know Jesus as the Head of their household and also the balance between ministry and family. May God guide their hearts to preserve their marital status.
Monday
​Among the churches in China, those have ties with Wenzhou churches are the usually fairly wealthy. These churches are deeply connected to their home church in Wenzhou. have good administrative structures, and​ give generously. Churches started by people from Wenzhou tend to have cultural and even religious superiority. We give thanks for the rapid growth of those churches associated with Wenzhou and pray the Lord will use them to reach many people in each of the cities.


星期二
反日是當代中國的民族主義一個基錨，中國人對日本仇恨的深度是難以低估的，這在中國人的日常生活當中隨時可見。可惜這些對日本的仇恨，深深毒害著中國教會，成為宣教的攔阻。求主賜我們能體會神對卑微軟弱人施展祂大愛的恩慈，更幫助祂兒女除去一切的自義與苦毒，以基督的心為心。
星期三
「醜化日本」是中國老百姓天天的話題，電視中時時都有日本侵略中國的劇情。政府可以隨時煽動起民族主義反日的激情。中國教會領袖喜歡誇稱「中國有最多的基督徒」或「神要使用中國人完成福音傳遍天下」。我們要為中國教會禱告，求主賜給我們謙卑，分別為聖作祂合用的器皿，按著祂的旨意服侍這世代的人。
星期四
中國從孩童起就教育記恨日本的侵略，如此的仇恨延續到教會。近來中國教會大喊差傳，自認中國人是福音傳遍地極的最後一棒，但是卻無法克服對日本人的仇恨。我們來為中國教會禱告，在差傳上能有深刻的反思，用神公義、憐恤的高度待人。神叫太陽照好人，也照壞人；降雨給義人，也給不義的人。願屬神的人不要有先知約拿的狹隘，多有神憐憫人的心腸。
星期五
中國人反日的民族主義是非常可怕的，政府知道與日本的領海爭議，必會造成極大、難控制的結果。北京政府現正防止東海任何爭議導致反日情緒更加惡化。儘管日本是中國的近鄰，卻也是最少基督徒的國家。可嘆沒有任何中國教會會想要向日本人傳福音，求主賜給我們一顆寬廣、真正悔改和願意饒恕的心腸。
星期六
傳統上，中國教會工人通常只談事工上的需要，很少提到自己家人的情況。即使被別人關心問候，他們亦只會簡要回應，如「每個家庭都有自己的問題！」中國弟兄姊妹一般錯誤地認為，傳道人提到自己家庭的問題就是「不屬靈」。求主校正我們心思，又賜牧者謙卑和膽量，與肢體分擔自己的難處。願神預備能實際幫助他們予以守望、忠告的屬靈良友。
星期日
不少中國傳道人夫婦在不同教會，甚至不同城市，不同省份事奉，由於沒有固定的時間和機會相處，致使夫妻缺少相互理解和支持。求主特特恩待傳道人的家庭，不但認定基督是他們家之主，更是知道如何平衡教會事奉和家庭的需要，保守他們心懷意念，鞏固家人、親子的根基。
星期一
在中國教會中，最富有的當然是屬溫州教會。各地以溫州人為主的教會，都與故鄉的教會有緊密的關係，結構完整，財政資源豐富。溫州人的教會迅速增長是神的作為，我們感謝神。但溫州信徒帶領的教會往往懷有在文化上甚至信仰上的優越感。願主使用他們謙卑在主前，在更多城市將福音傳開。

Prayer Request 4/5 - 4/11

Tuesday
In the past three decades China has made impressive gains in sending rural children to school which has helped her become a low-end manufacturing power. However, many teenagers in the countryside there do not finish secondary school and that bodes ill for the labor force. We pray that more teachers in the rural churches will receive training to know how to best teach Sunday school and lead the children. Since ministry to youth is practically non-existent, we pray that God through His grace will raise up people who will work with young believers in the villages.
Wednesday
Since 1986, the law in China has been that students must finish​​​ nine years of school. In the countryside, however, many finish only those nine years and never go to high school. ​Many preachers in rural areas have only nine years of formal education, so we pray that God will give them wisdom and insight to preach with power and conviction to help ​their audiences apply God's truth to their lives.
Thursday
In 1990 only seven percent of students in rural China entered high school. Today​ it is just over one-third. Even at the junior level, dropout rates are high ranging from one-sixth to nearly a third of the students. We pray for the future preachers in the rural churches that the Lord will call those young people who seek to know His heart, are teachable, and also have a good educational foundation.
Friday
Due to the high cost, some rural students quit school. High schools are often far from their home villages so they must board and the cost of that three years can be more than a year's income for some of the rural families with low income.​ Getting a good education in rural China is difficult so we pray for believers who struggle to provide a good education for their children. May the Lord help them and grant their children a desire to do their best in school.
Saturday
About half of rural students in China fail the test to get into high school. Others leave because they can get what they consider a decent job. Wages for low-skilled work have increased greatly in recent years. Many young rural believers start to drift away from church and their faith at this stage of life. ​We pray that people and parents will share and encourage young people to stay close to Jesus and the church.
Sunday
Tens of millions of rural workers in China have moved to cities since the 1990s. But China's household registration system, or hukou, makes it difficult for them to send their children to better middle-schools in the cities. We pray for a strong faith in God for Christian parents who tend to worry about their children's education. We also pray for their children to trust God at a young age knowing that the fear of the Lord is true wisdom.
Monday
Migrant workers often have no choice but to leave their children behind to be educated in the villages. For these left-behind students, the lack of parental supervision compounds many students' learning difficulties. We can see the difficult predicament of second generation ministry in rural churches. Even in the face of seeming hopelessness, we pray that God will provide a way and solution for rural churches​ to help these people​.


星期二
過去三十年中國農村教育的改進，有助加速中國成為製造業大國。然而很多農村青少年中途輟學，這是中國勞動力中的一種病態。我們為農村教會能提供更多裝備和訓練給主日學老師禱告。另外，目前農村教會的青少年事工實際上是十分欠缺的，求神的恩典臨到，呼召更多愛神、愛下一代的信徒齊來關心農村年輕信徒的迫切需要。
星期三
中國自從1986年強制推行九年義務教育，農村孩子越來越多上高中，但卻還未到普及的階段。許多農村傳道的教育程度也只有初中。我們求主賜他們在服事時能有從上來的足夠智慧和洞察力，使他們能清楚、大力地傳講信息，也能幫助信徒能將神的真理活用於生活中。
星期四
1990年，農村僅有7%的學生上高中，如今可能已超過三分之一了。但另一方面，初中階段的輟學率也很高，在六分之一多至近三分之一不等。我們為農村教會未來傳道人的素質來禱告，求主賜給教會更多合神心意，願意委身事奉的年輕人，不僅擁有受教的心，也能有良好的教育基礎。
星期五
部分農村學生輟學，通常是因為學費負擔過高。高中一般離農村很遠，學生們只能住宿。而就讀三年下來的學雜費是農村一個較貧窮家庭全年的收入。農村孩子想接受更好的教育，實際上有很多的難處。我們為在學費上有難處的農村信徒家長禱告，求主為他們預備，也賜給他們的子女有認真上進努力向學的心志。
星期六
大約半數的農村孩子考不進高中。至於其它不上高中的，是因為自認為能夠找到一份夠體面的工作。近年來，低技術工作工資有極大增幅，達到3000元(490美元)。在這年齡層的農村信徒，許多也因此開始不上教會或漸漸遠離神。求主興起資深的弟兄姊妹，要多多鼓勵、提醒年輕人繼續親近神，不停止聚會，因為這是一生蒙福的抉擇。
星期日
自1990年代以來，成千上萬的中國農民工湧向城市。但是由於戶籍制度，農民工很難讓子女到城裡設施管理較好的初中上學。求主增強信心給擔心孩子教育的信徒，幫助他們的子女從小就清楚知道，敬畏耶和華，一生走在神的保守中，才是真智慧、真富足。
星期一
許多農民工沒有選擇，只能讓孩子在老家上學。由於缺乏父母監管，這些留守孩子在成長過程中遇到的難題叢叢而生。農村教會的第二代事工的確相當不容易，儘管從人看來是沒有什麼出路，但我們深信神必會為農村教會的挑戰開路，為愛神、屬神的人有神自己獨特的預備。