Prayer Request 6/20 - 6/26

Tuesday
China has gone from grinding poverty to ​an ​economic powerhouse in the span of a generation. It has become a phenomenal market for companies like Apple, Starbucks and Audi, who have made fat profits selling high-priced gadgets, coffee and rides to Chinese consumers who want to show they have made it. ​We pray for God in His mercy to change the attitude in China that Christianity is a foreign religion​ and rid them of their resistance to the gospel. At the same time, we pray the good new of Jesus Christ will not be cheapened as a ticket to material blessing and prosperity only.
Wednesday
In China, wealth is still concentrated in the hands of a few of the elite and the average consumer has only a fraction of the spending money that the average American does.​ It is true that believers in China are much better off financially now than they used to be, but giving to churches has not increased proportionally. We pray for faith in God so we will value His work and give with thanks instead of merely following the rules and tradition of giving to Him.
Thursday
In the past, manufacturing jobs in China​ gave so much job security that they were called the "iron rice bowl". The growth of the service sector, however, has led to more jobs that focus on appearance, leading some women to aim for what is now referred to as the "rice bowl of youth". Some believers sell beauty or nutritional products in their churches and cause a great deal of confusion. We pray that the fellowship of the saints will live with a good conscience and be worthy of the Lord without any intent to gain profit or unbiblical motives.
Friday
In China, service sectors hire women who must have a​ good appearance or​ be​ able to convey certain messages. A slim figure and winsome look implies youth. Pale skin denotes a life spent indoors rather than outside working like a farmer.We pray for more young people coming to church and​ that​ churches will also intentionally attract ​the ​younger generation with more vibrant worship and practical messages, helping them to know the truth and engaging​ them to serve in church.
Saturday
In 2012, China finally passed its first mental-health law, calling for more facilities and staffing an increase in their staff and efforts to raise awareness and reduce discrimination of mental illness in schools, universities and workplaces. ​Older Chinese pastors see mental illness as a lack of faith or strictly as a spiritual weakness. We pray for a change of attitude in the churches so they will be able to see it not merely as a medical illness, but be able to help all with mental illness to know the Lord​ and to interact and help them the way God would.
Sunday
The new mental-health​ law​​ in China advised against confining sufferers against their will. When the law was passed, about 80% of ​the ​people in mental hospitals were there involuntarily by some estimates. There are more and more Christians with diagnoses of mental illness, especially depression in China. We pray ​ that churches will not discriminate against them or label them as sinners who have not confessed their transgressions and that they will offer real and practical support to them.
Monday
​Nearly sixty percent of the migrant workers in China are men sixteen to forty years old. About eighty percent of them have only a junior high education. Almost all the construction workers and coal miners there are migrant workers who are often looked down on because they are not sophisticated. We pray that urban churches will truly accept their brothers and sisters in Christ from the countryside because we are all one body in Christ.


星期二
在幾十年的時間裡中國從赤貧發展到經濟強​​國。外國名牌，如蘋果、星巴克和奧迪等公司見有廣大的市場，趁機面向那些希望彰顯自己成就的中國消費者，銷售價格高昂的產品賺取了豐厚利潤。目前基督教在中國仍然要剋服一般人刻板的「洋教」形象，求主恩待中國，軟化百姓的硬心，讓福音的好消息也不落為信耶穌必得世界好處的「成功神學」。
星期三
雖然近年中國經濟起飛，但財富集中在少數精英手裡，一般中國百姓的消費能力和發達國家的人民仍無法相提並論。現今信徒明顯比昔日富裕多了，但是許多教會的奉獻並沒有增加。求神給信徒信心，看重神的工作，不是以守律法的心態來奉獻，而是以感恩、敬虔的心把神所賜的獻給神。
星期四
過去中國製造業的工作穩定性很強，甚至被稱為「鐵飯碗」。服務業的增長，促生了更多注重外貌的工作，導致有些女性把目標對準「青春飯碗」。教會中有些人從事美容保健品的推銷，造成一些混亂，求主憐憫教會，信徒之間的交往是清心向主，彼此建造與扶持，並不摻雜有賺錢和各樣不合聖經的動機。
星期五
在中國職場上徵求的女性員工有著幾個要求，特定的外貌傳遞著特定的信息。纖細的身材和惹人喜愛的容貌意味著年輕可愛；白皙的皮膚意味著在室內工作，不是像農民那樣在戶外勞動。求主帶領更多年輕人來到教會中，教會也願意向年輕人分享福音，透過活潑的崇拜，實用的信息例證，幫助他們更深認識真理，也鼓勵他們參與教會各種服侍。
星期六
經過多年的醞釀，中國終於在2012年通過第一份「精神衛生法」。該法案要求為精神病患提供更多設施及工作人員，並努力在學校及職場中提高各人對該病的認識，禁止歧視。老一代的中國傳道人多認為精神病都是信心軟弱，靈命有問題。求主改變教會對精神疾病的態度，幫助信徒把難處帶到神面前，以神的眼光來解釋和應對。不要直接咬定全是罪的問題或簡單認為心理問題僅靠藥物即可解決。
星期日
新「精神衛生法」建議不要強制患者住院。據估計在法例通過之前，精神病院裡約有八成患者不是自願進去的。現今患有精神疾病的信徒越來越多，尤其是憂鬱症。誠然罪可能導至抑鬱，但還有更多複雜的誘發因素。我們求主幫助教會不歧視他們，一味地當作有沒有對付罪的後果，而是能提供實質有效的支持和幫助。
星期一
將近60%的中國流動人口是16到40歲的男性。五分之四的中國流動人口至少完成了初中教育。絕大多數的建築工人和煤礦工人都有流動背景。民工是外地人不容易被本地人接受。 雖然在文化與生活背景上大有不同，求主幫助城鎮教會能真心接納基督徒民工，不輕看他們。因為每個人都是主耶穌的寶貴兒女，在神的家中同為兄弟姊妹，互為肢體。