Prayer Request 1/10 - 1/16

Tuesday
Currently the mandatory retirement age in China is 60 for men and 50 for women with 55 for those in the management level. Experts believe the average retirement age in China is less than 55. There are many believers who are barely over fifty and retired. We pray that many of them​ will help out in the churches. May the Lord use their strength and stamina to be a great blessing in their respective churches.
Wednesday
The population of China is greying rapidly. It is estimated that ratio of working and retired is 3 to 1 now, but will be 2:1 in another 20 years. Many churches in China do not have a full-time pastors and the ministry is totally dependent on volunteers who are retired. We pray they will rise up to be watchmen for the flock and caretakers for those who are elderly. May the Lord reward them.​
Thursday
In comparison with the retirement age of sixty-five in other nations, the​ age of retirement in China is very young. As the problem of aging population worsens, delaying the age for retirement is an inevitable policy decision. One huge challenge in the churches in China is how to mobilize retired believers to help in the churches. We pray that many more of these people will be equipped Biblically, become mature spiritually, and be willing to serve the Lord humbly.
Friday
Ninety-five percent of the respondents to a survey in China opposed delaying the official retirement age, so the government will implement reform on a gradual​ basis--extending the age for retirement a few months each year. Many retired believers are involved in the care of their grandchildren. We pray that these Christian grandparents will have a powerful influence and witness to the little ones, especially when their parents are so busy or unbelievers.
Saturday
Although official figures show that there is a current positive balance financially in government coffers, the government of China faces tremendous pressure to pay the cost of social security which is the main reason for their wanting to postpone the age of official retirement. Rural churches in China are now composed mostly ​of elderly people and children with no young people. We pray for the revival of the churches in the villages. May the Lord raise up people who are older but still able to teach the Bible and continue the ministries in these churches.
Sunday
China has a very grave problem with the graying of its population.​ By the end of 2014, China had 212 million people over the age of sixty--15.5% of its total population.In every church in China there are numbers of elderly believers, many of whom live alone or are very poor. We pray that more retired people will get involved in ministry to seniors, not only meeting their physical and social needs, but helping them to grow spiritually.
Monday
​Nearly half of those who are sixty or over in China live ​alone and it is reported that a quarter of them are lonely and that nearly one-fourth of them live below the poverty line. Elderly believers who live alone definitely depend on the care of the church. We praise the Lord for believers and churches who reach out to the lonely elderly people and know that their kindness will be rewarded by God.


星期二
中國的退休年齡是男60歲，女50歲，女幹部是55歲。專家認為中國的實際退休年齡不到55歲。教會中有好些信徒才過五十歲就退休了，我們為這些退休肢體禱告，求主感動他們能積極投入教會的服事，叫神能使用他們充沛的體力和經歷，成為眾人的祝福。
星期三
中國人口加速老齡化。現今在職人員與退休人員數量之比為3:1，20年後這個比例將達到2:1。許多教會沒有全職牧者，教會事工推展都是由退休的弟兄姐妹承擔，我們為他們著實能成為神家的守望者來祈求，特別是能關懷教會年老的肢體。願主親自賞賜他們的忠心擺上。
星期四
相對外國65歲左右退休的措施，中國人的退休年齡偏低，因此面臨更嚴峻的人口老齡化問題，延遲退休將會是必然的選擇。如何動員已退休的信徒投入各項事工，是中國教會一大挑戰。求主興起更多退休的肢體，願意受更多裝備，在靈命上有更深的成熟度，心態上更謙卑地為主使用。
星期五
據一項調查顯示，95%的受訪者表示反對延遲退休。因此中國推行漸進改革的方式，每年只延長幾個月的退休時間。許多退休信徒都會照顧孫兒女，我們要特别為基督徒祖父母禱告(尤其子女是十分忙碌或未信的)，求主幫助他們在孫輩當中，有美好的屬靈榜樣和見證，「將祢的能力指示下代，將祢的大能指示後世的人。」(詩71:18)
星期六
中國面臨巨大的社保支付壓力，使當局不得不考慮推遲退休的政策。雖然官方數字表明養老保險基金收支平衡，但無可否認未來必面臨超支壓力。農村在過去 20 年成為只剩下老人與孩童的「空城」。我們來為農村教會的復興祈求，求主興起年長能教導真理的信徒，為主牧養看顧羊群。
星期日
中國是老齡化最嚴重的國家之一。截至2014年底，中國60歲以上老年人口已經達到2.12億，佔總人口15.5%。每個教會的年長信徒都不斷增多，也有一些貧困甚至沒有家人關心照顧的。我們為教會能對退休的肢體有實際的關懷禱告，不單是注意到他們身心的需要，也能幫助他們在靈命上不斷進深。
星期一
在中國，六十歲以上的長者近五成是所謂的「空巢老人」，其中近四分之一老人有孤獨感，且活在貧困線之下。教會中獨居的長者極需要信徒的關心。我們為參與老人事工的信徒和教會感恩，他們在這些人身上所做的，就是做在主身上，主必喜悦他們手中的工作。