Prayer Request 6/21 - 6/26

Tuesday
Removal of crosses ​on the churches ​in China began in 2014, when the officials abruptly announced plans to demolish a church in Wenzhou, saying it had not received the proper building permits. Then the government began issuing orders for churches across the Zhejiang province to remove their crosses. ​ We know God is in control of all things. We pray that churches will be refined and revived by these adversities. May the will of God be done, His churches be strengthened and believers once again rely totally on God not ​on their own​ strength and wealth.
Wednesday
According to church members, officials put pressure on the most active members of the congregation. Some businessmen say their partners were pressured into canceling contracts with them. Others were told by their employers that they would lose their jobs if they continued to participate in protests. Unfortunately, much of the current policy toward Christianity can be traced back to the hostility toward religions during the Cultural Revolution. ​May the Lord have mercy on China, keeping His own people safe and give us faith that He has a great plan for the churches in China.​
Thursday
The government ​of China ​said that it was enforcing building codes and that all structures had been affected, not just churches. The crosses have come down in waves, many local residents estimate the figure is now close to 1,700. Since 1978, Wenzhou churches ​have ​expanded as a result of ​the ​prosperity ​of believers ​and ​their ​willingness to give. We pray for churches ​in Wenzhou at​ this difficult time, so they will trust and depend on ​God alone giving all the glory to the Father, and continue to be the channel of blessing of many churches.
Friday
The numbers of ​crosses removed from churches ​died down in the end of 2015, but the local government is now making it clear that all of the crosses will be removed ​and ​unregistered churches appear vulnerable too. The demolition of Wenzhou churches (all are registered churches) gave ammunition to those who question the wisdom of registering with the government. We pray for His wisdom and unity for house churches who are considering registering and becoming ​open ​churches.
Saturday
Several pastors in Wenzhou region said they were under pressure to demonstrate their loyalty to the Communist Party. Some churches have begun Sunday preaching to promote “core socialist values” — a slogan meant to offer a secular belief system that bolsters the party’s legitimacy. As the number of Chinese Christians increase​s​, the expectation of the society toward believers will also increase. We pray that Chinese Christians will no longer be marginalized socially, but instead, they will be more involved​ in society,​ and​ interact with society, becoming ​the ​light and salt of the nation.
Sunday
Some churches in Zhejiang have begun displaying their building permits, implicitly endorsing the government’s authority to approve or reject church construction, including crosses. Many express the sentiment that “we have to show that we are loyal Christians, or else we could face trouble.” We pray for our brothers and sisters, as they “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” (1 Peter 2:13-14)
Monday
While the government is unlikely to begin tearing down crosses across China,local authorities are expected to begin scrutinizing the finances and foreign ties of churches. What has been happening in Zhejiang is a test.​Zhejiang (especially in Wenzhou) has a higher percentage of Christians than other places in China. We pray that rather than flaunting their wealth and accomplishments by the​ majestic church buildings they erect, they will remember the poor churches and the needs of God's kingdom.


星期二
2014年地方政府突然宣布計劃拆除溫州一座教堂，稱其未獲得相應的建築許可證。之後隨之而來的是大規模的全省教堂十字架拆除。我們知道萬事在神的掌管中，求主藉著這些困難和逆境，使神的家被煉淨，再次得著復興，唯願神的旨意成就，神的教會更強壯，信徒也更加依靠神。
星期三
某些信徒們表示政府近日常向活躍的教友施壓。一些基督徒商人也反應，他們的合作夥伴迫於壓力，取消了與他們簽訂的合同。也有一些人被僱主告知，如果他們不放棄參與”這些活動”，他們便會丟掉工作。文革前後政策造成的影響，使許多當代中國的精英缺少有關宗教的基本知識和宗教自由的基本常識。求主憐憫中國，以大能保守祂的教會，更仰望神的手親自成全祂自己的旨意。
星期四
浙江當局聲稱拆除教堂十字架只是執行建築規範，所有建築物都同受此規範，不僅限於教堂而已。據當地居民估計，政府已拆了接近1700個十字架。自1978年以來，教會的澎渤發展確實與溫州信徒的富裕和樂意奉獻大有關聯。我們為溫州教會禱告，求神幫助祂的兒女更多學習單一仰望主，將榮耀歸給父神，更叫他們的富裕繼續成為全國教會的祝福。
星期五
溫州拆十字架的風波雖然在2015年底平息了一陣子，但是當地政府已明確表示，所有十字架都要拆除，未登記的教會看來也無法倖免。拆十字架事件中， 所謂合法公開的教會十架也遭拆掉，使得曾打算「公開化」的家庭教會更疑惑不前。求神賜智慧給正考慮是否要註冊的家庭教會，使眾信徒能同心求問，教會不因此失去合一。
星期六
身處拆十字架風暴地區的多名牧者表示，他們面臨向黨表示忠誠的壓力。在某些教會裡，已經開始傳講「社會主義核心價值觀」的口號，增強共產黨的合法性。隨著中國基督徒人數的增加，社會對基督徒的期待也越來越高。我們為中國教會在社會上不再繼續地被邊緣化禱告，求主使用教會，為祂作光作鹽，成為祂祝福整個社會、國家的管道。
星期日
有些浙江教會開始展示教堂建築許可證，含蓄地認可政府批准或否決包括十字架在內的教堂建築的權力，「我們得表現出我們是向政府忠誠的基督徒，否則，我們就會遇到麻煩。」你們為主的緣故，要順服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王，或是君王所派罰惡賞善的臣宰（彼前 2：13-14）。我們在禱告中記念浙江的信徒們，堅信「神是我們的避難所，是我們的力量，是我們在患難中隨時的幫助。」
星期一
雖然中國政府不太可能馬上開始在全國各地拆除十字架，但是地方政府將開始審查教堂等宗教機構的財政及其與國外的關係 。在浙江省，尢其是溫州，基督徒的比例比較高。我們為信徒不以教會的建築宏偉華麗，成為炫耀財富和成就來禱告。願主幫助我們，總是記念那些身處貧窮困苦的肢體，不忘記神國的需要。