Prayer Request 9/19 - 9/25

Tuesday
In the past, migrant workers in China were typically young people but now quite a few of them are over sixty years old--people who have lived in villages much of their lives. Many rural believers drift away from faith once they land in cities. We pray for Christians who have a burden f​or these rural believers and can give them practical assistance and encouragement when they are spiritually down and weak in the cities.
Wednesday
Nearly ninety percent of older migrant workers in China do not have medical insurance since the coverage is effective only back in their village. So when these people are seriously ill or unable to care for themselves, they have to return to their village to get medical coverage.​ We lift up older Christian migrant workers for their physical and spiritual health, that they will continue to walk closely with the Lord even as they are away from their home church.​
Thursday
The younger generation in China finds they have little time for their parents who have come to join them in the cities. The older folks are most concerned about their health and wish not to burden their children with their medical expenses.​ We pray for the families of rural believers who have settled in the cities. May the Lord give them wisdom, add to their faith and patience, and help them trust the provision of the Lord as they face myriads of challenges and hardships.​
Friday
The decline of rural churches in China is real and heartbreaking. Many rural pastors see their churches deserted while believers are spiritually weak and ill. The pastors feel depressed and defeated, even blaming themselves for being poor shepherds.​ We pray for those pastors who feel despondent or helpless in their ministries. May the Lord renew their body, mind, and spirit and let them know that what the Great Shepherd requires is faithfulness and He will richly reward their sacrifice and effort
Saturday
There is still much inequality in compensation for pastors in China with a huge disparity​ between rich and poor churches. Historically, pastors have been poorly paid. However, in some large cities, some pastors have similar incomes as comparable civil servants. Poor salaries definitely discourage those who plan to go into church ministries full time. May the Lord be gracious to them and give them faith so they will see that He seeks workers for the harvest and will take care of those who answer His call.
Sunday
The amount of compensation has not really improved for the majority of pastors in China, especially those who serve in the villages. Most of them are still serving as volunteers while farming on the side and barely having enough to make ends meet. Some rural pastors have abandoned their churches to work in cities, leaving their churches in desolation and open to attacks by the cults. We pray for the financial need of rural pastors and protection for all rural churches that have no shepherds.
Monday
Although the treatment of pastors in China has improved, the root problem has not changed because believers there still falsely believe that "pastors should be poor to be spiritual." May the Lord have mercy on His churches in China. We pray that believers will respect their pastors as servants of God, honor them, and treat them well so that young believers will also desire to receive God's call to serve Him.


星期二
過去的農民工都是青壯年人，但是近年來，中國六十歲以上的農民工數量增加了很多。其中不少人是在農村生活了一輩子之後，才遷移到城市生活的。許多農村基督徒在城巿中流失了信仰。求主興起對農民有負擔的弟兄姊妹，主動給予他們實際的幫助，在他們信心軟弱時給予扶持和勉勵。
星期三
在醫療方面，90%的老齡農民工有醫保，但是僅限在家鄉自己醫保所屬地才能使用。所以當他們有重病或無力照顧自己的時候，只能再度回鄉了。我們來為老年農民工信徒禱告，求主賜他們身心靈健壯，雖然人在外地，既使沒有教會的支持，也仍然能保持與主親密關係。
星期四
在城巿裡的年輕一代幾乎抽不出時間和來自農村的父母從事家庭活動。而大多數的老人們最關心自己的健康，也不希望生病累及子女。我們為在城巿裡那些來自農村的信徒家庭祈求，在面對各樣挑戰時，求主賜他們智慧，又給他們信心和忍耐，學習仰望恩主的供應。
星期五
中國農村教會目前面臨嚴峻的危機。傳道人看到教會的荒涼，信徒靈性的軟弱、乾渴，不少同工感到沮喪、氣餒，甚至責怪自己的牧養不善。我們要為中國教會中，灰心甚至想放棄的傳道人禱告，求主復興他們的身心靈，深知大牧者要求我們的是要忠心，而我們所有的擺上、努力，都必蒙祂的記念。
星期六
今天中國教會給傳道人生活上的支持差異極大。有些地區教會領袖的各種收入不低於相近級別的公務員，也有傳道人待遇差。傳道人生活貧困, 甚至還要為生活的需要奔波，必定影響有心接受神學裝備的肢體，求主恩待，加添願意回應神呼召者的信心，看見廣大禾場需要工人，願意獻身擺上，把信心仰望在這位凡事必預備的神。
星期日
中國傳道人的待遇沒有真正改變。特別是農村傳道人，基本是義工傳道人，一邊務農，一邊傳道，過著十分清貧的生活。有些傳道人不得不離開教會外出務工，從而造成農村教會的更加荒涼和異端邪教的興起，求主紀念他們的需要，保守們的教會不受虧損。
星期一
雖然中國傳道人的待遇已有明顯的改善，但植根在會眾内心深處「傳道人要窮才屬靈」的觀念並未根本改變。求主憐憫中國教會，幫助信徒不單是將傳道人看作是神的僕人，更能敬重厚待他們，使年輕一代有心成為傳道人的，不會避而遠之，輕忽了主的恩召。