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。