Prayer Request 12/5 - 12/11

Tuesday
In an impoverished county in Jiangxi, thousands of Christians have swapped posters of Jesus displayed in their homes for portraits of the President, in order to receive poverty-relief assistance offered by the local government. Nearly all of the churches in China will have special services for Christmas and people will invite their unchurched friends. We pray that God will use this annual evangelistic meeting to help many to come to know the greatest Present God has given to us.​
Wednesday
In North America, sales of tickets for movie theaters​ have dropped dramatically but in China people flock to theaters. China is busy building theaters faster than they are able to fill them with movies and it is estimated that movie ticket sales there will overtake those in the U. S. by 2020.Even though many of the pastors in China preach against going to movies, their church members watch many movies. We pray that churches can openly discuss the worldviews and values presented in movies and how the Biblical view is different.
Thursday
What makes a Hollywood movie a blockbuster in China? The answer to this intriguing question is ​that it is ​action-packed, with big stunts, simple plots, and beautiful actors ​which​ are all helpful in bridging the cultural divide. Young people and their culture are certainly driven by the Hollywood mentality​. We pray churches in China will at least try to understand young people and their culture, rather than denouncing or rejecting it outright. We pray that messages preached in churches will be culturally relevant to the young people.
Friday
A blockbuster foreign movie in China cannot be subversive because China has no rating system. Instead, it censors sex, violence and overly political content. To attract the​ Chinese audience, Hollywood purposely put famous Chinese actors and cities in their films. Chinese churches traditionally consider secular entertainment and movies as sinful. We pray for wisdom for all pastors so they will help believers ​to dissect and discern​ the messages and worldview in the popular culture.
Saturday
Chinese theaters are ordered to play one of four government-issued videos before every movie. Audiences are required to watch a short video promoting “socialist core values”, courtesy of Communist Party propaganda. ​Most young Chinese people consider Christianity as boring and detached from the social mainstay. We pray that churches and pastors will intentionally engage the younger generation with Biblical teachings rather than rejecting and ignoring everything young people like.​
Sunday
In China, government propaganda videos shown before every movie feature A-list celebrities saying “No matter what you do, as long as you don’t disappoint our country, our society, our people and your family, then you are helping to realize the Chinese dream.” ​There are Chinese celebrities who are Christians, share their testimony openly​ and profess to honor God above all. Young Christians there need a mainstream role model badly. We praise God for the boldness and testimonies these people live out.
Monday
Recently China has shut down many popular gossip blogs to create a "healthy, uplifting environment for mainstream opinion" as well as helping people to resist sensational celebrity coverage. In the past, Mr. Xi has called on artists to use their talents to serve the nation and "disseminate contemporary Chinese values."​​ Christian contents online or in the social media are closely monitored by the censors as well. We pray for wisdom and discernment for believers so they will know what is orthodoxy and what are of the cults and erroneous teaching.


星期二
江西省政府將以實施脫貧政策為由，說服當地信徒，將家中的耶穌像與其他宗教擺飾，換置成國家主席的肖像。很多城市和農村教會都會趁著聖誕節舉行佈道會，求主引導弟兄姊妹邀請家人朋友出席，藉此談論聖誕的意義，讓更多人接觸福音，接受神給我們最大的禮物，願主大大祝福這些聚會也記念弟兄姊妹的忠心擺上！
星期三
近年，北美電影業的發展停滯不前，反而中國電影市場發展快速增長。中國票房營收預計到2020年極可能取代美國成為全球最大電影市場。大多數的華人牧師仍然反對看電影，但不少弟兄姊妹仍卻照看如儀。求主幫助教會能開始從聖經的觀點，以開放的心態來討論電影中的世界觀和價值體系，成為與會眾及未信者論道、對話的切入點。
星期四
好萊塢的影片為何能在中國賣座呢？首先，大型製作的動作片配合著許多特技，內容不複雜又有美麗的明星是必要的元素，這樣才能彌合中西文化的鴻溝。無疑，年輕人和他們的文化是模仿外片和被好萊塢所驅動的。我們禱告：中國教會能更多嘗試了解現今年輕人的觀點和他們的文化，而不是一味的拒絕、排斥。求主幫助教會傳講的信息更能吸引年輕人，能切合他們實際的需要。
星期五
由於中國沒有電影評級體系，審核電影時會切掉任何有關暴力、性和過度政治內容的片段；故此，在中國播放的外國大片絕不會有任何顛覆性。最近在中國賣座的好萊塢電影都有中國名演員，也有在中國城市拍攝。傳統中國教會將娛樂和電影視為俗世的，罪惡的。求主賜牧者智慧，能幫助信徒解讀和辨識流行文化所表達的信息和世界觀。
星期六
電影院已接到命令，在每次放映正片之前，需播放四段政府發行的影片之一。看一段宣傳「社會主義核心價值觀」的短片， 接受一些共產黨的宣傳。對於年輕人而言，基督教是死板無聊，與社會主流脫節。我們再次為中國教會禱告，特別是牧者能刻意親近年輕一代，在講台服事時，願意從聖經角度來對世俗文化作出回應，而不是忽視年輕人的聲音。
星期日
國家製作的短片常由有一線明星出演。短片中有一句是：「不管你是什麼職業，只要對得起國家、社會、民族、家人，你就是在給中國夢的實現助力。」有一些名人是基督徒，他們也常公開分享他們的信仰，將神放在首位。我們為他們的勇氣和生命見證感恩，中國的青年基督徒實在需要這些主流的榜樣。
星期一
最近，政府為了要有「健康向上的主流輿論環境」，關閉了一些深受歡迎的娛樂八卦微信公眾號。國家主席也曾呼籲藝術家們用自己的才華為國家服務，「傳播中國當代價值觀」。在線或在社交媒體上的基督教內容，也遭受密切監視。我們為信徒有智慧及有辨別能力祈求，願主的靈保守我們，能正確分辨什麼內容是正統的，什麽是邪教和錯誤的教導。