Prayer Request 1/17 - 1/23

Tuesday
Educators in China are working to reinforce traditional gender roles and values in the classroom. They worry that a shortage of male teachers has produced a generation of timid, self-centered and effeminate boys.​ ​Historically, women believers have outnumbered males three to one in the churches of China. We pray churches will redouble their efforts to engage in evangelism with men. We pray, too, that ministry leaders will intentionally reach out and disciple young men for Jesus Christ.
Wednesday
While in China boys outnumber girls as a result of the longstanding one-child policy and a cultural preference for sons, they consistently lag in academic performance. Boys consistently trail girls on college entrance exams, and disparities in academic achievement emerge as early as third grade. Many boys drop out of churches because they feel church is boring, they have no friends there, or they are scolded by their teacher for being noisy and mischievous. We pray the Lord will give wisdom and patience in reaching not just the good children but all of them and help them to know Jesus at a young age.
Thursday
China is aggressively recruiting male teachers as the news media warns of a need to "salvage masculinity in schools". In Fuzhou, colleges and universities are relaxing rules for admission and offering full scholarships and teaching jobs to young men. Teaching a Sunday school class in China is predominantly a task that is given to the ladies of the church.​ We pray God will raise up godly men who see how important it is for the boys in the church to have a good role model of loving God and serving sacrificially.
Friday
Some parents in China worry about the prospects their sons have in an uncertain economy so they put their hopes in male role models who they think teach lessons on assertiveness, courage and sacrifice.​ Many Christian parents feel they have less spiritual influence on their sons than on their daughters. May each of us pray consistently for our children to walk closely with the Lord and refuse to give up praying even if they reject our reminders and warnings.
Saturday
While men are scarce among the ranks of public school teachers worldwide, the gender imbalance is especially pronounced in China, where women occupy four out of five teaching positions in urban areas. We praise the Lord that many churches have started Sunday school for children now but there is a need for more training since the turnover of teachers is serious. We pray for ministry that will be suitable for teenagers and preteens, as well.
Sunday
In China there are about 270 million students in kindergarten through 12th grade with about 15 million teachers, many of them male, but in the churches, there are very few pastors who will consider having a man serving in children's ministry or teaching the young ones. ​We pray that this erroneous and harmful attitude will change since we know that Jesus rebuked His disciples because they wanted to prevent the little ones from coming to Him.​
Monday
​A major obstacle to recruiting male teachers in China as in other parts of the world is the modest wages they receive. While the law in China dictates that pay for teachers should be in step with that of public servants, traditionally Chinese men would rather be a public servant than a teacher.​ The prevailing attitude in the church there is that men are expected to teach adults and women are to teach the children. We praise God for all who faithfully serve as teachers whether men or women. May the Lord grant them wisdom and insight and make their teaching practical and impacting.


星期二
中國的教育學者們正努力提昇教室内以男性為主的傳統教師形象與尊崇價值。他們擔心目前課堂裡普遍缺乏男教師的現象，會造成下一代男孩傾向怯懦、自我中心及“缺乏男子氣概“ 。中國教會一向是姐妹人數遠超弟兄，幾乎是三對一的比例。求主感動教會更加關注弟兄的福音工作，教會的領袖和同工也更關心和刻意栽培年輕的弟兄。
星期三
因著計劃生育政策以及傳統重男輕女的觀念，造成中國陽盛陰衰的性別失衡現象。男生的學業表現往往相對落後，男女生從小學三年級開始，就出現學習成績的差異。 在高考中，男孩的成績也落後於女孩。許多男孩長大一點就不去教會，因為覺得教會無聊，沒有朋友或是不想接受主日學老師訓示。求神賜給我們智慧及耐心設計出適合不同性別、性向的教學内容，不是單單要求有乖孩子，而是帶領每一個孩童來到主面前，從小就認識主耶穌，以致一生蒙福，不會偏行己路。
星期四
新聞媒體警告，學校需要「搶救男人氣概」；與此同時，中國各地正在積極招募男性教師。福州市的高校為了鼓勵男性成為教師，對年輕男性放鬆了錄取標準，並特別給予全額獎學金和教學崗位。教會的主日學教師，幾乎清一色是姐妹在服侍。求主興起愛主的弟兄們回應呼召，看見教會中的男孩子需要有愛主的大哥哥和長輩們，成為他們愛主和不求回報服事的楷模。
星期五
中國有些父母擔心兒子們在不確定的經濟環境中的前程，於是寄望一些陽剛男性的典範，認為這些榜樣可以幫助男孩學會勇敢、不卑不亢和犧牲精神。許多中國信徒家長自認自己對兒子沒有太多的屬靈影響力，不像對女兒一般。求主幫助信徒家長都能為子女守望禱告，按著神的心意養育子女，好叫他們緊緊跟隨主，也絕不灰心失望，放棄關心那些已離開羊群的子女，為他們恒切代禱。
星期六
全世界教育界都缺乏男性教師，而這種教師性別的不平衡在中國格外突出。在一些城市地區，每五個教師崗位，只有一個是由男性擔任。我們感謝神，近年來有很多教會開始注重兒童主日學，但是老師們需要更多培訓，也要能訓練出更多新的老師來填補停教的崗位。求主賜給教會領導智慧，能為青少年提供適合他們需要的教導和活動設計。
星期日
中國從幼兒園到高中三年級，有一千五百萬名教師，二億七千萬名學生。極少數的中國牧師們會推薦弟兄去負責與兒童有關的服事。求主調整校正教會帶領者的眼光，不要以為弟兄不適合教導兒童又或看為大材小用。因為主耶稣曾訓斥門徒：讓孩童到我這裡來，不要攔阻他們。兒童需要不同性別的言教和身教楷模，好幫助他們健全長成神和人都喜悦的品格和身量。
星期一
阻撓更多男性願意進入教育行業的是中國教師菲薄的薪資（和世界各地的情形相同）。中國法律雖然規定，教師薪資不得低於其他公務員的薪資。不過大多數男仕寧入公門當公務員，也不選擇當老師。 中國教會的傳統和慣例，就是姐妹負責 『帶孩子』教孩童，弟兄帶成人查經。我們為所有忠心負責教導的男性、女性信徒們感恩，願神賜他們智慧及教導恩賜，能幫助一心尋求主的人，更深認識神並活出神的話語，一生蒙福。