Prayer Request 8/29 - 9/4

Tuesday
In China, laws reinforce sex discrimination. Legally, women must retire earlier than men, generally at age 60 for men and 50 or 55 for women. Women are expected to retire to care for the young, the sick and the old. Retired sisters who are able to serve are indeed God's special gift to churches in China. We pray for spiritual growth, selfless dedication of all these sisters, as​ the Lord uses them to bless and bring about a revival in their churches.
Wednesday
Divorce impact​s​ children deeply and in turn, they​ themselves​ are more likely to divorce​. There are higher rates of crime among children of single parent homes. These children also have much higher rates of mental illness and suicide. Let us pray specifically for the spiritual health of children of divorced families among churches in China, so they will know that​ the​ Heavenly Father loves them. May the special grace of God allow them to experience His love and to overcome their hurt and bitterness.
Thursday
In China, modern women have some economic independence that gives them ​a ​certain independence from their husbands. To millions of Chinese women, divorce is now not only a viable option but also​ a​ socially acceptable norm. ​We pray for the many single parents in churches throughout China, that the Lord will grant them wisdom and strength to shoulder the heavy load of child-rearing alone and that as they live out the love of God they will still have a spiritual influence on their children.​
Friday
In China, poor students are very vulnerable and even victims in the pervasive culture of bribery. Parents not able to afford the education briberies feel their children are neglected and even ignored in school. They feel China's educational system is unfair to their children from the beginning. ​There is a large disparity between the wealthy and poor churches in China. We pray that the wealthy ones will help those that are small and poor. We pray, too, that churches will not despise the poor as well as the migrant workers who have little education because these prejudices are not pleasing to God.
Saturday
In China, parents worry that if they don't give a nice gift to the teacher of their children ​while​ the other parents will certainly do so, their children will be ignored by their teachers. This invariably leads to a fierce competition of buying a fancier present to give to teachers. ​Many pastors in China serve diligently but receive little affirmation and appreciation from their members so they become discouraged. May the Lord have ​mercy on churches so they will honor and love their shepherds who will then be well-cared for and enjoy the support of their members.
Sunday
In China, some parents are disgusted by the endemic bribery in all levels of education and feel they want to give up on the educational​ system. Some wealthy parents ​have ​decided to send their children abroad for education. Few Christian parents in China can afford to send their children to study abroad. We remember in prayer the educational needs of pastors' children and we pray that churches would assist their pastors​ in providing decent and​ quality​ education for their children.
Monday
​In China, many migrant parents have a defeatist attitude so they blame others for their misery and often pay little attention to the emotional needs of their children who are left behind in the villages and have significant and obvious psychological issues.​ We pray for Christian migrant workers, so they will not be discouraged and lose faith in God. We pray for those parents who left children back in the village​ that they​ will pray fervently for the spiritual health of their children and do their very best to keep good communication with them.


星期二
女性的法定退休年齡早於男性，男性一般的退休年齡是60歲，女性50或55歲，中國法律似乎有歧視女性之嫌。因為社會認為女性應該照料家中的老幼和病患。退休的姊妹可以在教會中幫助各樣事工，是神給中國教會的一大禮物。我們為這類退休姊妹禱告，求主使她們的靈命越加成熟，更親切愛恩主，更緊貼跟從主。也求神悦納她們無私的擺上，為教會帶來復興。
星期三
離婚所衍生的問題嚴重地影響下一代。按統計顯示，離婚家庭的青少年，無論在犯罪率、患心理疾病率和自殺率都特別高。我們為已婚信徒禱告，求主幫助他們以神的原則建立基督化家庭。我們也為離婚信徒的子女禱告，求神額外施恩給這類孩子，叫他們身心靈健壯。能不落入苦毒中，常經歷神的愛，仍然深信天父是信實不改變。
星期四
現代的中國女性有相當的經濟能力，不再依靠丈夫，這對許多婦女而言，選擇離婚已沒有以往在經濟上失去依靠的顧慮；再者社會上亦普遍認為離婚不再是羞恥。教會中也有許多的單親姊妹，她們獨自挑起教養子女的重擔。我們來為所有單親信徒禱告，求主賜下智慧與能力，活出神的愛，也能在孩子身上有屬靈的影響力。
星期五
在中國的賄賂文化中，貧困的學生最容易受到傷害。無法給老師送禮的家長，常會覺得孩子被老師冷落，甚至遭到歧視。他們覺得打從孩子生下來開始，教育制度就對窮孩子不公平。我們禱告富裕的教會能實際幫助小教會。另一方面中國教會也有種種因貧富引起的問題，我們求主光照信徒的內心，除去那些不討神喜悅的事，例如看輕貧窮或較低教育水平的民工信徒。
星期六
有些家長沒送好禮物給孩子的老師，而其他家長卻送了，他們就會擔心老師不關照自己的孩子。這就造成惡性的循環。許多中國傳道人勞苦服事，卻多得不著弟兄姊妹的肯定，難免讓他們灰心和失落。求主幫助弟兄姊妹, 能敬重和愛護牧者，不但不虧欠他們，更是學習為他們禱告，與他們一起配搭服事。
星期日
一些家長認為能不受世俗主義及無神論影響的唯一辦法是完全不接受公立的教育。有經濟能力的家長選擇將孩子送去國外接受教育。但是這樣的家長在中國教會仍是少數。我們特別為傳道人子女的教育祈求，求主也讓教會知道如何分擔他們牧者的憂慮，能幇助他們子女受到質量好的教育。
星期一
有些終年為口奔馳的父母，埋怨命運作弄，怨天尤人，對子女的一切也不聞不問， 使「留守兒童」幼小的心靈上背著父母沉重的情緒包袱。求主恩待那些在外打工的農村信徒，不埋怨神亦不失去信心。懂得恒切為孩子的靈命禱告，堅持與不在身旁的孩子保持良好的溝通。