Prayer Request 4/11 - 4/17

Tuesday
In China, there is a widespread negative attitude toward Japan. Fewer than ten percent of the people think that Japan can be trusted and many young people who have had no experience with the wars still bear a strong hatred toward Japan. We pray that young Christians in ​China will understand what Jesus taught us about compassion and be able to live it out. He said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them." Matthew 5:44
Wednesday
In China, the patriotic education and propaganda of the government in the schools enforces a strong critical view of Japan politically so it is not easy to know how entrenched these resentful attitudes really are. The inability to overcome a nationalistic hatred toward Japan is truly a stumbling block​ to spiritual growth in the churches in China. May the Lord help each of us to "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
Thursday
To most students in China, Japan is not only seen as a very barbaric and cruel aggressor but this attitude fosters and allows them from a young age to hate Japan as a nation. May the Lord help each of us to be the "sons of peace" and display His mercy and kindness. May He help us to sow the seeds of love in places of hatred, and forgiveness where there are wounds so that we are able to love and pray for our enemies.
Friday
A survey shows that college students in China are unable to forgive the atrocities the Japanese committed during the Sino-Japanese war, especially the Rape of Nanking. When they talk about missions, the churches in China are often selective and choose only people they deem worthy of God's salvation which does not include the Japanese people.​ We pray that God will remove our inner darkness and bitterness so we will not be like Jonah who disregarded the compassion and love of God.
Saturday
Japan has been regarded as hard soil for the gospel to penetrate with only 0.2% of the population who are Christians.​ However, China and Japan are neighbors and share a similar Confucian culture. God can perform miracles even in hard soil. We remember in our prayers that God's grace and power can come and transform this island country.
Sunday
In the last​ half century, there have been great Christian revivals and growth in South Korea, China, and Indonesia which are Buddhist, Communist, and Muslim countries respectively.We praise the Lord for the miraculous growth of churches and believers in these Asian countries. We pray that churches there will learn from and compliment each other becoming a strong force of mission to other Asian countries.
Monday
In China, nationalist sentiment is less vehement toward Southeast Asian nations than that against Japan or the United States, even with the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and the workers' protest in Vietnam. The Chinese government quickly and preferentially clamps down on any negative sentiment toward its Southern neighbors.We pray that missionary efforts of the churches in China will not be driven by any sense of ethnic superiority but through humility and a profound appreciation of God's mercy and grace for them. We are called to share the gospel with all people in all nations and especially with our enemies.


星期二
中國人普遍對日本持負面態度，信任日本的中國人不到10%。連沒有親身經歷過中日戰爭的年輕人，對日本也有強烈的反感。我們來為中國年輕基督徒禱告，求主讓我們知道主耶穌所教導、示範的愛的真意：「只是我告訴你們，要愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告。」(太 5:44)，並靠著主的力量活出信仰。
星期三
在學校裡，國家宣傳和愛國主義教育都傾向把批評日本變為正確的政治立場，所以我們很難知道中國人心中對日本所持的負面態度，究境有多麼根深蒂固。有些中國信徒無法克服民族主義帶來的仇恨，成為屬靈成長路上的障礙。願恩主憐憫我們不要以惡報惡，且能「以善勝惡」。（羅 12:21）以神的全能與恩慈視野看待眾罪人的不完全，和悔改重生的新契機。
星期四
對大多數中國人而言，日本不僅是一個普通的侵略者形象，且是一個非常野蠻和殘酷的形象。這使得他們從小就蔑視和排斥日本。求神幫助我們每個人，能在主耶穌的憐憫和恩慈下做祂和平之子，在憎恨之處播下主的愛，在傷痕之處播下主寬恕，以致能「愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告。」
星期五
在一項調查中，中國大學生表達無法原諒日本在中國所犯下的罪行。在年輕一代的中國人心目中，南京大屠殺的陰影似乎永遠也揮不去。中國教會提及普世宣教，幾乎都帶有選擇性，只選那些他們認為值得拯救的族類，少有想去日本傳福音的。 求主光照我們裡頭的黑暗，幫助我們除去內心的苦毒，以舊約先知約拿為鑑戒，不要漠視神愛世人的心腸。
星期六
日本被其他國家的基督徒評為「福音硬土」，至今基督徒人口僅有0.2％而已。日本是中國最近的鄰國，也有著同受孔孟儒家思想薰陶的文化背景。 儘管日本一向被視為福音的硬土，然而在神凡事都能！我們要切切記念這個族群， 深信神的作為及施恩的膀臂亦可觸及這片土地。
星期日
近半世紀以來，南韓、中國和印尼的基督徒人口和教會均有大增長。南韓原是佛教或無神論國家，中國屬共產主義、無神論，而印尼則是穆斯林國家。我們為神在這幾個國家裡興起祂的子民來感恩，這實在是極大的神蹟。但願韓國、中國和印尼的教會在主裡彼此學習，在亞洲成為神國度宣教的大軍。
星期一
中國人對東南亞國家的民族主義情緒，比針對日本或美國的更輕。所以儘管有南海爭議、越南抗議者殺害中國工人等等事件，但因民間激進活動的「供應」源頭相對較少，也較容易被中國政府壓制。我們為中國教會祈禱，求主使傳道工作不受種族優越感所矇蔽，而是出於謙卑，因著神的憐憫和恩典所驅使。求主再次提醒我們：祂揀選我們，是要宣揚祂奇妙的作為，無分國界與種族。