Prayer Request 6/7 - 6/13

Tuesday
Over the past two years, authorities in China’s Zhejiang Province have torn down crosses from 1,200 to 1,700 churches, sometimes after violent clashes with worshipers trying to stop them. Many Christians felt disappointed but they​ ​were ​afraid of resisting because of possible retaliation by the authorities, so they chose to be silent. Let us remember them, especially the believers in Zhejiang in our prayer.
Wednesday
The cross-removal campaign has thus far been limited to Zhejiang Province, home to one of China’s largest and most vibrant Christian populations. But people familiar with the government’s deliberations say this may set the stage for a new, nationwide effort to more strictly regulate Christianity. The new leadership in China wants to have tighter control of the society. As believers, we should redouble our effort to pray for churches and believers in China. May the Lord give us all ​a ​fresh sense of urgency to preach the Word and share the gospel, even in times of persecution.
Thursday
The newest Chinese religious policy, urges the ruling Communist Party to “resolutely guard against overseas infiltrations via religious means,” and warned that religions in China must “Sinicize,” or become Chinese. Many churches have strong ties with churches abroad. In these days of uncertainty for Christians and their churches, we pray for safety and effective ministries for all who have ties with churches abroad or​ are​ receiving assistance from overseas.
Friday
The government in China has long feared that Christianity would undermine the authority of the Party. Many of the lawyers for human ​ rights in China are Christians and many dissidents have said they are influenced by the idea that rights are God-given. Many Christians do admire the boldness of those who champion for those wrongly imprisoned, but they are ambivalent themselves ​as to ​whether to be vocal or silent. May the Lord give us boldness to share our faith. We pray for safety for those who speak loudly of their strong conviction for​ justice.
Saturday
In recent decades, the Communist Party had tolerated a religious renaissance in China, allowing most Chinese to worship as they choose​ and even encouraging the construction of churches, mosques and temples, despite regular crackdowns on unregistered congregations. Recent crackdowns on churches confirmed ​the ​government's view of Christianity as a foreign religion. To change that “foreign” perception, we must pray that believers in China can have a powerful and constant testimony to their friends and families and even in their communities.
Sunday
It is estimated that there are now about 60 million Christians in China. Many attend churches registered with the government, but at least half worship in unregistered churches, often with local authorities looking the other way. ​Many of the congregations in house churches in China are still debating whether to become legal by registering with the government. We pray for all of those who are struggling with this decision that the Lord gives them wisdom and a vision for their ministries.
Monday
​Many Christians in Zhejiang Province thought that since they had had no problems with the authorities for years their​ churches were welcomed by the government. The prosperity and relative tolerance of the past thirty years gave a false impression that Beijing welcomed all Christian churches. We thank the Lord for the growth of churches in Zhejiang in numbers of believers and also church buildings. We know it is ​for ​God’s glory and He will protect His church and believers even in ​this ​time of darkness.


星期二
浙江當局過去兩年拆除了約1200到1700所教堂上的十字架。有時由於教徒試圖阻止拆除十字架，還發生了暴力衝突。許多基督徒雖感到沮喪和無奈，但擔憂反抗會帶來報復，只好保持沉默。我們要在禱告中記念他們，尤其是面臨壓力的浙江眾信徒，求主親自保守、堅固他們。
星期三
雖然拆除十字架的運動只限於浙江省 (這是中國最大、最有活力的基督教信徒群體之一)，但有些人士認為這些舉動實為將來全國性的宗教管制作準備。中國新一代領導要更嚴格掌控社會。求主常提醒我們，應該更加倍為中國教會和信徒禱告。「不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的靈方能成事」。又求主賜我們把握機會廣傳神的真道，在迫害中仍保有喜樂的靈與傳福音的迫切感。
星期四
最新的宗教政策是「堅決抵禦境外利用宗教進行滲透」，要宗教必須「中國化」，也就是說要變成純粹中國的東西。許多中國教會與國外的教會關係密切。在這政策改變的日子，信徒和教會與國外的關係必定會受影響。我們為接受海外支援的教會祈求，願主保守他們的事工不致停頓，並持守真理「靈巧像蛇」，有智慧作出適切的調整。
星期五
政府長期以來擔憂基督教會削弱黨的權威：許多中國人權律師是基督教徒；好些異議人士亦表示自己是受 "上帝賜予普世人基本權利"這一思想的影響。 許多基督徒欣賞那些有勇氣為無辜受害者說話的人，但他們卻不知道自己是否應表態或沉默接受現實。求主除去我們膽怯的心，趁著白日多作主工，更是為那些有膽量為正義說話的人，求神的憐憫和保守。
星期六
共產黨近幾十年來容忍了中國的宗教復興風潮。政府雖然對未註冊的教會進行經常性的打擊，但仍允許大多數中國人按照自己的選擇做禮拜，甚至曾鼓勵過教堂、清真寺和寺廟的營建。最近的十字架拆除措施，讓人覺得政府對基督教仍持有是" 外來宗教"的看法。求主改變中國人這種根深蒂固的偏見，更賜信徒有美好的見證，先從自己的家人和朋友切實做起，然後能更深入自己的社區。
星期日
據估中國目前約有六千萬基督徒。許多是加入了在政府登記註冊的教會，但至少有一半基督徒仍在未曾登記註冊過的教會聚會，地方政府對此往往睜一眼閉一眼。許多會眾仍在為是否要通過向政府註冊成為合法教會而議論著利與弊。我們求主賜他們智慧權衡得失，更是有擴展事工的異象與策略。
星期一
許多浙江基督徒以為「多年來，我們與當局相處沒有問題，政府也歡迎我們的教堂。」。過去30年的經濟繁榮和政府沒有太多的干涉，給了他們錯誤的印象，以為政府不再干涉教會。我們要為多年浙江信徒人數增加、靈命不斷成長，以及教堂建築堂皇而感恩，願將一切榮耀歸給祂！也深信主的旨意不會被攔阻，神必會保守祂自己的教會，在黑暗的日子裡，眷顧祂所愛的羊群。