Prayer Request 8/22 - 8/28

Tuesday
Farming was once the noblest profession in China but now farmers are in disarray. Frustrated by how little they earn, the ablest farmers have migrated to the cities leaving the rural district in the heartland hollow. The numbers of young believers and the church offerings have both declined precipitously in rural regions so we pray for both mercy and grace from God to come to those churches that have no pastor or cannot afford to have one. May the Lord give them revival.​
Wednesday
In some regions of China, especially the larger villages, it is not unusual to find large church buildings built for a congregation of hundreds of people and even have fully equipped but often vacant training center. Many rural churches spent money on buildings but refuse to hire pastors. We pray that rural Christians will be good stewards of God’s resources, and they should invest not only in the facility but also the people.
Thursday
In China, farm output remains high, but rural living standards have stagnated compared with the cities, and few in the countryside see their future there. Income of urbanites are more than three times of rural residents, making China one of the most unequal societies in the world. Most rural churches are left with old people, children and women, but they still need​ a​ full time staff to minister to​ them​. We pray that rural believers would not feel defeated and despondent, incapable of serving God, but rather trusting Him to do great things​ for them.
Friday
Farms in China are too small to generate large profits, about 1.6 acres on average, compared with 400 acres in the United States. Yet it is difficult to consolidate these farms into larger, more efficient operations because Chinese farmers lease land from the government. ​The majority of Christians in China are still farmers. We pray for revival of all of the rural churches, especially those under the attack of cults and those that are led astray by extreme teachings.
Saturday
Privatizing farmland would allow market forces to create bigger farms. But, land privatization is completely taboo, because the Party was born and came to power on the premise of destruction of large and wealthy farmers. We pray for those who remain in the rural churches, especially pastors and lay leaders, ​ that​ the Lord will​ help them not to become discouraged, but to serve the flocks God entrusted ​to ​them with all of the​ir​ minds, hearts and strength.
Sunday
Land privatization can exacerbate inequality by concentrating land in the hands of a few while leaving many rural families without farms to fall back on if they hit hard times in the cities. Such ​a ​scenario is a political minefield for the Communist Party. ​As villages urbanize, the idyllic lifestyle of the old ways disappears and church​ attendance has dropped as well. We pray for adaptation and a more purposeful ministry approach so rural believers will still have the close fellowship they once did.
Monday
Recently, an experiment is underway in parts of China, called “liuzhuan” (turning over), which stops short of privatization of farmland but gives farmers land-use rights that they can transfer to others in exchange for a rental fee. ​Many are not optimistic about the future of rural churches in China but we are confident that God can bring revival to them and we pray that the people in those churches will once again serve the Lord greatly.​


星期二
士、農、工、商曾是中國四大行業，但是現今農民因為掙錢太少，那些年輕力壯的鄉民紛紛搬到城市，致使中國農村地區一片凋零。農村年輕強壯的人口劇減，教會奉獻也減少，我們為那些沒有傳道人的教會向神求憐憫與恩典，願信徒經歷神的保守與供應，能活出美好見證，繼續為神作工。
星期三
在中國一些地區，尤其是較大的鄉村，近百戶的信徒能奉獻建造百萬元的教堂，並設有配套的培訓中心。許多農村雖有教堂，但是卻不願花錢聘請全職牧者。求主賜智慧給農村信徒領袖，懂得如何投放金錢，不僅投放資源在建築物身上，更是要投放在人身上。
星期四
中國農產量仍然很高。然而，與城市相比，農村的生活水平一直停滯不前，很少人能在農村看到自己的未來。中國城鄉收入差距三倍，使中國成了世界上最不平等的社會之一。求主給中國農村教會有專職同工，提供老人、兒童及婦女的實際服務與牧養。求主更要幫助農村信徒不僅僅是看到自己的欠缺，以為無法為主做大事，而是學習更多依靠、仰賴神，相信神能為他們成就大事。
星期五
中國個人農田的面積太小，無法有高收益。農田的平均面積為1.6英畝 （美國是400英畝）。由於農民並不擁有土地，所以不能合併為面積更大、更有效率的耕種。 農村信徒佔中國信徒的大多數。我們為農村教會在沒落中能再次復興迫切禱告，求主拯救和保守教會不受異端和邪教攻擊，幫助信徒有屬靈的分辨力，認識主的聲音。
星期六
農田私有化可以讓市場力量創造出面積更大的農田。但是，對於共產黨而言，這完全是個禁忌，因為當初革命的基礎就是打倒大地主。我們為留在農村教會的傳道人和信徒領袖們禱告，求神幫助他們不灰心，而是更盡心盡力地服侍神所託付他們的羊群。
星期日
農田私有化是個政治上的雷區，可能加劇城鄉不平等。土地集中在少數人手裡，使許多農民失去土地。倘若這些農村人在城市裡遇到困難，回到家鄉也沒有土地耕種養生。鄉村生活逐漸城市化，生活習慣和作息不再是以往靜態的日出而作日入而息，教會的聚會人數正不斷減少。我們為農村教會的牧養禱告，求主給傳道及教會領袖有智慧作出合適的調整，與弟兄姐妹繼續有親密的交通。
星期一
最近中國在一些地區展開一項試驗，名為「流轉」。雖然沒有實現土地私有化，但卻把土地使用權交給了農民。農民可以通過轉移土地使用權來獲取租金。許多人不看好農村教會的前途，但我們相信神復興教會有祂自己