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。