Prayer Request 12/12 - 12/18

Tuesday
China churches have caught “mission fever” and sent out some missionaries to foreign countries. This is a beginning phase because there is much more for their sending churches and the new missionaries will learn. We praise God as more churches earnestly sending out missionaries. Many leaders speak of a grand vision for China as the largest missionary-sending country. We pray for all leaders and missionaries recruited and trained to have the humility and true compassion of Jesus.
Wednesday
The first wave of China missionaries is mostly from village churches. Nervous, they find it challenging to cope and fit in with cultural differences. Often, they stay in their dorms, preferring to be with their own group and not to go out unless it is necessary. We pray for all young missionaries to trust the Lord’s grace when they face cultural shock. May the Lord provide supervisors who will inspire and help them quickly adapt to all cultural differences.
Thursday
Marital issues can be damaging for China’s missionaries, especially for those from villages who married early. It is easy for couples to give up because they lack counseling that prepares them for living abroad. Relationships and spiritual burn out when they are unable to cope with a vast cultural gap and the stress of ministry. May the Lord have mercy on all who serve as a couple, or family, in churches and abroad. We pray for the unity of hearts and minds, so they will not fall into the snares of the evil one. May the Lord bless them with effective mentors and counselors to help them wherever they serve.
Friday
Missionary couples fight over parenting issues, especially the education of their children. Some cannot resolve their problems, even with intensive counseling, are sent home and may end up divorcing. Rural pastors in China also face similar parenting issues, because few education options exist for children where they serve. We pray that churches can respectively help with these issues, either financially or by providing suitable alternatives. May the Lord richly strengthen the faith of all rural pastors and missionaries in China and bless their children.
Saturday
Wives of pastors and missionaries naturally worry the most about their children’s education. If a good education is not provided for the families, negative emotions will surface, as well as, complaints toward their husbands and the sending churches. Many rural pastors and missionaries give up serving once their children enter school age, partly because Chinese parents stress the education of their children. We pray that their churches and mission agencies can provide good resources and options to retain more workers for God’s Kingdom.
Sunday
Missionaries sent from China usually admit they lack the gift of language because they struggle and fear to learn and practice a new language. Many want to give up because they are unable to master basic conversation. We pray for the gift of tongues for Chinese missionaries. May the Lord give them the determination to learn like Western and Korean missionaries, who do not give up until they master the language.
Monday
Missionaries sent out from China reflect their culture and ethnic mindset. They are cordial, but not humble. Self-centered, they do not work well as a team and are unable to express their firm conviction. But worse, missionaries from China guard a strong sense of ethnic superiority. We all need to be molded by the Holy Spirit, so we can present Jesus Christ appropriately by our words and our actions. May the Lord give us the transformation needed to be His good and faithful servant.


星期二
中國一股「宣教熱」席捲海外！不少剛起步投身宣教的教會仍處於摸索階段。中國宣教士需要多方學習，也要避免一些舊有錯誤，方能有效切合「熱潮」的需求。過去有不少牧者宣稱中國將會成為宣教大國的異象，近年中國教會已真正開始差遣宣教士，我們為此感恩。求主賜教會領袖們及眾宣教士有謙卑、憐憫又能體貼主的心，能跟随聖靈的帶領奪回失喪的靈魂。
星期三
第一波的中國宣教同工幾乎都來自農村，他們對宣教地文化的差異往往出現畏怯、排斥、逃避的情形，不易融入其中。平時除要辦事外出和參與事工外，大都躲在租住的房內或與同工的小圈子享受自己的「小天地」。求主恩待這些第一次到外國的同工，能有教會和差會督導和協助同工來改善他們事奉的困境，協助他們更快適應工場文化的挑戰和衝擊，投入宣教事奉更有果效。
星期四
「夫妻關係」是中國宣教同工一大問題，因為他們來自農村，年紀尚輕就結婚，婚前沒有任何輔導。進入工場後，夫妻常有衝突，加上異文化衝擊和事奉壓力，更使他們身心靈易顯出枯乾。求主憐憫所有牧者夫婦及宣教士夫婦，幫助他們同心同行，彼此扶持走顺事奉的路，又保守他們不落入惡者的詭計。求主預備屬靈長輩來關懷、輔導他們建立蒙神賜福的婚姻。
星期五
中國宣教士夫妻衝突多從親子教育引發，如夫妻責任擔當與分工不和諧，導至婚姻破裂。不少宣教士夫妻儘管已獲輔導及幫助，仍不見果效，只能回國療傷，甚至最終分開。中國農村傳道人和宣教士也都有子女教育的難題，因所服事地區缺乏相關的教育資源與選項。願主感動教會關心也實際承擔這些心頭的難處。我們知道神必定獎賞他們的擺上，也信實地為他們的子女負責。
星期六
教會的師母或宣教士的妻子，很自然會為子女教育擔心，尤其對孩子入讀的學校若安排不理想，其愛子之心就轉化為憂慮，負面情緒易導致靈性低潮，亦會埋怨丈夫、差會等。許多農村傳道人和宣教士多有為了孩子教育而放棄服侍。我們為教會和差會能即時解決這些問題，為神國保留珍貴的人才來切切禱告。
星期日
宣教士自覺未有足夠的外國語言恩賜和技巧，學習時較為被動和缺乏操練，亦怕鬧笑話而產生厭學心理，甚至想放棄。這情況影響宣教士與服侍對象的溝通，達不到事奉果效。我們來為中國宣教士禱告，求主賜下與事奉相當的能力與毅力，效法韓國及西方宣教士們的榜樣，以刻苦精神來學習當地語言，放膽嘗試溝通，盡所能的擺上為主使用。
星期一
宣教士會受其民族性格和傳统文化影響， 雖然表現彬彬有禮，但內裏亦存虚僞。有時會太過自我中心，不能做好團隊服侍的角色，不容易表達明確立場，且有強烈的「種族優越感」。這些不足處都需要聖靈的陶造，好叫我們表裡如一，流露出主耶穌的生命。願神更新我們成為祂所喜悅，忠心良善的僕人，聚焦神國度的大使命。