Prayer Request 8/9 - 8/15

Tuesday
There are only twenty-one seminaries with college level studies that are openly operated in China and their graduates all combined cannot meet the needs of the tens of millions of believers found there.We pray for the leaders of the churches in China that they will see the importance of training more workers to effectively shepherd and lead their churches.​
Wednesday
It is important that China produce new leaders who are able to minister in a scholarly way, possess management​ ​skills, have social responsibility, and a sense of mission. We know God is able to raise up workers who seek His own heart and we pray that churches will humble themselves in supporting their pastors.​
Thursday
Heresies and false teachings are two of the grave dangers present in the church in China. O​ne causes believers to be drawn away from the truth and potentially lose their salvation while the other causes the destruction of churches. May the Lord raise up preachers who can speak His word boldly and accurately and who can teach others how to discern the truth. May He protect all gifted and charismatic preachers so they do not fall into temptation.
Friday
Another key reason for the rash of cults in China is surprisingly the lack of de​nomination. After the Communist take-over, mainland China broke all ties with churches overseas and cut off contact between the church and orthodox Christian traditions. Believers in China pride themselves on being "post-denominational" and often look down on others who do not share their Biblical view. We pray for humility for all believers and unity among all churches based on God's love.
Saturday
Once a church deviates from orthodox doctrine and loses the checks and balance mechanism, splits and extreme teaching tend to take over. Many cults take on terminologies and features of traditional Chinese religions. ​Although mature Christians find many of the claims cults make ridiculous. many naïve people believe them. We pray especially for the many rural believers who have little education and cannot read the Bible for themselves.
Sunday
All of the heresies and cults in China have their roots in Henan province. Some suggest that the​ churches in Henan have sent out many preachers to plant churches but many of these workers lack solid theological training and instead they lead their sheep astray. We pray for solid Bible training for all of the pastors in China and a willingness to learn as well as humility for those who are being trained now.
Monday
Cults and heresies are widespread in China and that ​has something to do with the policy of the government. The persecution of people in the house churches has forced them to worship secretly and allowed them to be a breeding ground for extremism and unorthodox teachings. Officials in charge of religious matters often cannot tell whether a teaching is Biblical or not and many good churches are mistaken for cults. We pray for those people in the faithful house churches who face wrongful persecution.​


星期二
全中國公開的神學院達到大專程度約有21所，信徒人數以千萬估計，而神學訓練的資源卻非常貧乏。求主幫助教會領袖看見神學訓練的重要，鼓勵更多的弟兄姊妹裝備自己，能更有效地牧養及帶領羊群。
星期三
中國的神學教育，急需培養一批「擁有牧養能力、具學術研究、懂教會管理、負社會責任、帶時代使命」的教會領袖。求主按其心意預備工人。我們為眾信徒願意常為牧者禱告，成為他們有力的後盾來代禱。
星期四
中國教會面對異端和錯誤教導時，有兩個主要的危險：第一、信徒被帶入歧途，在罪中迷失。第二、教會遭迫害與摧殘。求神興起工人，幫助弟兄姊妹在神話語上紮根，能分辨真道，清楚講解神的話語。求神保守自己的群羊。
星期五
異端邪教猖狂的另一個主要原因，是共産黨執政後，中國教會中斷與海外教會的所有聯繫，使教會無法接觸信仰純正的教導。有些信徒以中國教會沒有宗派之分而自豪，並且看不起那些與他們神學觀點有異的信徒。求主赦免我們的自義，賜下謙卑的心，幫助信徒在主裡合一，叫教會得著建造。
星期六
若教會缺少教義和自省，就容易分裂和偏差，且失去對抗異端的能力，造成種種基督信仰和傳統民間宗教結合的奇怪東西。 雖然成熟的基督徒對異端邪教的荒謬覺得可笑，但是很多天真的人卻篤信不疑。我們為農村教育程度不高的信徒信徒禱告，不被欺騙。
星期日
許多中國的異端邪教都和河南省有關。有些家庭教會派出傳道人，卻沒有堅實的神學基礎，自己對信仰就是一知半解，很容易就迷失。我們為神的工人在神的話語上更紮實，能分解真理，為主打美好的打仗禱告。
星期一
政府計對異端邪教的政策，亦牽連一般的家庭教會。家庭教會多半沒有公開聚會，很容易成為異端的滋生地。管理宗教的官員分不清正統和異端，一些的家庭教也不幸被誤認為邪教。我們為那些忠心愛主，卻受到逼迫的家庭教會祈求神額外的保守與扶持。