Prayer Request 5/9 - 5/15

Tuesday
Churches in China cannot ignore domestic violence. People who abuse have often been victims of abuse themselves in their childhood, thus forming a vicious cycle which goes on and on. We pray that faith in Jesus Christ will end this chain of suffering and bring blessing to those who repent and receive His grace. God gives us His power so we "recompense not evil for evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17, 21).
Wednesday
As long as churches in China avoid talking about the existence of spousal abuse and refuse to speak of it as a sin, Christian families will continue to suffer and brothers in the church will remain weak. We pray for wisdom and understanding for church leaders so they can provide pastoral care for those suffering from domestic violence. We pray for spiritual cleansing of men in churches and that through them revival will begin.
Thursday
Laws provide protection for victims of domestic violence but they lack any power to solve marital problems. If we want to resolve domestic violence, we must focus on building up marriages. This is especially true for Christian couples. We pray for an awareness of the need for premarital counselling and the availability of marriage courses to help prepare those planning to be married and strengthen current marriage relationships in China. Much more is needed to teach couples to apply the love of Christ in their marriages than is now being done.
Friday
The majority of believers in churches in China are women. Finding an available Christian male to marry is rather difficult so many of the sisters resort to relationships with unbelievers and even marry them. We pray for those who are still waiting for God's provision and know that God is good. We pray, too, for those who are dating or have married . unbelievers. May the Lord answer their prayers and bring salvation to their boyfriends and husbands.
Saturday
There is a huge uneven distribution of medical resources in China. Rural areas lack preventive and basic health care, and farmers try not see doctors for minor illness, but end up unable to afford serious illness. Many kinds of disparities are very obvious between the rural and urban churches in China. We again pray for His comfort and assurance for rural churches, not to be disappointed but be fervent once again.
Sunday
It is very common for rural families in China to borrow large sums of money to get medical care and then have to give us the education of their children to pay it back. Becoming "dirt poor" because of illness causes much family discord and even breakups. We pray for poor and even impoverished rural believers in China. May the Lord have mercy on them, give them grace, answer their prayers, and grant them great faith and joy.
Monday
Almost all villages in China have a simple clinic owned and run by a country doctor who has only a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and thermometer. Likewise, an average rural church lacks many resources that city churches take for granted. We pray that the more wealthy churches will assist and strengthen the weaker and poor churches, many of which are merely an hour away from them by car.


星期二
中國教會不能不承認家暴的問題嚴重。有些受虐者可能同時是受虐者，承受某一方施予的暴力，又同時透過傷害別人來轉移本身的痛苦。願每一個基督徒的家庭，都成為神祝福的管道。求主施恩幫助屬神的人，能以信仰的力量終止暴力的循環，不再「以惡報惡」，乃能「以善勝惡」（羅12：17-21）
星期三
當教會閉口不談家暴的可怕，也不將家暴當作神不喜悅的罪。信徒家庭就會繼續地軟弱，教會的弟兄們也無法復興。求主興起更多教會領袖，有智慧和憐憫的同理心，來為家暴受害者提供教牧關懷。但願神親自潔淨自己的教會， 復興從認罪悔改開始。
星期四
雖然目前中國的法律為家暴的受害者提供了保障，但它沒有能力解決婚姻問題。如果要解決家庭暴力，就必須著眼於建造健全的婚姻, 尤其是教會中的家庭。求主幫助教會提供婚前和婚後輔導，使他們明白進入婚姻後，雙方關係及日常生活上可能遇到的轉變，並學習如何以基督的愛來共同面對、接受和調適這些轉變。
星期五
中國信徒當中，姊妹仍然佔大多數，她們要在信徒內尋找對象是蠻困難的。有些姊妹開始與未信者交往，甚至成家。我們為正等候神預備的姊妹禱告，我們相信神的預備是最美好的。同時，我們也為那些與未信者交往或結婚的姊妹禱告，願神憐憫，成全她們的禱告，感動他們的男朋友或丈夫早日認識神，同心携手共奔天路。
星期六
中國醫療資源分佈極為不均，尤其在農村裡，農民對預防和保健的知識十分薄弱，往往小病忍着不理，拖成大病更沒經濟能力去診治。農村和城市教會之間的差距，在每一件事上都是明顯的。我們求神提醒祂的眾兒女，儘管在成長背景、教育程度、生活模式等等上南轅北轍，但因著基督的救贖，都把我們變成一個以基督為首的身體了，讓我們都能學習彼此關顧。
星期日
在農村家庭裡，因病而負債，導致下一代失去受教育的機會是常有的事。因病返貧的困擾更使得很多農村家庭失去和睦，甚至家破人亡。求主憐憫和恩待貧困的農村信徒，不要忘懷窮乏人憑信心的求告，更使困苦人的指望與喜条不致永遠落空。
星期一
每個中國村子都會有幾個衛生室，是鄉村醫生個人開的，提供基本醫療設備，大多仍然是三十年前的老三樣：診器、血壓計和體溫表。農村教會的資源也遠遠不如城市教會，有些只相隔一個鐘頭車程的，已有極大的差距。求主感動富裕的城市教會，能有神的國度異象，向有需要的教會表達愛心，並支援和協助貧窮的教會發展所需。