Prayer Request 1/2 - 1/8

Tuesday
For young Chinese who became Christians while study abroad, their families can be an obstacle to their new faith. Many female converts hope to find someone who is also Christian, but their parents often prohibit it and question “Why making it harder by only looking for Christians to marry?” We give thanks to God for all the new converts. The Lord bless and keep them, give them joy and courage, and allow their transformed lives to be a powerful testimony to their parents.
Wednesday
When parents in China discover their children become Christian abroad, despite their initial surprise, they seem to accept their children’s newfound faith, more from an utilitarian atheist perspective. They believe If their children’s faith causes them to live a healthier lifestyle and give them some supernatural blessing, so be it. It is indeed very difficult to share Jesus with parents. We pray for young believers able to share their testimonies and the reason why they believe Jesus, and also because of their transformed lives, improved relationship at home and humility.
Thursday
Parents often warn the returnee converts against “wallowing” in their new faith, like the teenagers addicted to online gaming and forget about studying and examinations. To many Chinese parents, both religion and video games are simply distractions to their children pursuits of higher goals. We pray the young converts will love the Lord, knowing Jesus Christ as the Master of their lives. God will give them wisdom and strength, so they know what it means “those who love their parents more than I is not worthy of being my disciples”.
Friday
As the numbers of the returnee from abroad increase, competition for jobs is fierce and many with advanced degrees could not find work in China. When disappointment is compounded with frustration, new converts whose faith was not deep-rooted often waiver and drift away. We pray that churches abroad will do a better job for the new converts, especially those who are going back to China, teach them how to cope with setbacks, how to share Jesus with friends and their own parents. New Christians returning to China need better spiritual preparation.
Saturday
This generation of young Chinese are the product of one-child policy, they are the only child and enjoy the total financial support from their parents. Their parents are willing to provide all of their financial needs, this means children and parents are financially inseparable. We pray for spiritual maturity and good testimony for all the young believers in China, so they will have the courage to share Jesus Christ with their parents.
Sunday
In China, there is a prevailing low awareness of Christianity, rather than intolerance. For a female converted returnee, she might wear a cross necklace to give a hint of her faith. But they would be hesitant in praying in public while having a meal colleagues. Many Christians in China will not reveal their Christian faith unless they are asked, especially at workplace. We pray for boldness and wisdom in sharing with friends and relatives, the reasons why we believe in Jesus.
Monday
Chinese culture itself also cause new converts to waiver in their faith when they return home. At workplaces, co-workers will likely to ridicule their Christian faith. Both the pop culture and traditional Chinese culture tend to reject Christian faith which is considered foreign and a religion of the older people. Chinese Christians tend to be low-key about their faith at work to avoid any bias. We pray that believers will have the sweet smell of Jesus Christ because of their good performance and interpersonal relationship.


星期二
留學生在海外信主後回國，通常遭到家長反對。而信主的女性希望交往對象是基督徒，也必遭父母質問「何必自找苦吃，使結婚的機率更加渺茫？」，甚至禁止他們繼續追求信仰。我們為初信主的年輕人感恩並禱告：願神保守和祝福他們，幫助他們倚靠基督，以致得著力量忍受一切的攔阻。求主使用他們的生命，成為美好的見證，有勇氣向未信的父母分享救恩。
星期三
有些家長雖然驚訝孩子在國外信了耶穌，但是都能接受，因為他們從功利主義來看，如果神給他們帶來更多的福氣，那也是好事。要向自己父母傳福音確實是不容易。我們為年輕信徒禱告，因著有生命的改變，活出主愛，使家人及人際關係復原並更融洽，也不灰心分享他們的信仰，見證主耶穌的信實。
星期四
在國外信主歸國的，他們的父母會常警告他們不要被耶穌「迷住」，就如同沉迷於在線遊戲，而荒廢了學業。對於許多中國父母來說，他們恐懼兒女被宗教和網路遊戲迷住，喪失追求向上的心志。求主幫助海歸信徒，用他們裡頭的新生命所產生的智慧和能力，帶給家庭和中國教會新動力，不但影響教會，而且影響社會，甚至影響整個國家，給國家帶來長遠的祝福。
星期五
隨著海歸人數不斷增加，謀職競爭性亦不斷加強，很多留學生雖在國外掙得高學歷，回國後卻面臨找工作的困境。困境又衍生經濟壓​​力，在挫折和壓力層層纏裹之下，若信仰紮根不深，很難繼續仰望神、依靠神。求主給海外教會做好培訓工作，幫助海歸預先思考回國可能碰到的實際挑戰，包括回去傳福音的道路，怎樣向父母傳福音等等適切的屬靈裝備。
星期六
中國這一代的年輕人都是獨生子女，在經濟上依賴父母，父母也供應他們一切需要。兒女脫離不了父母，甚至在結婚生孩子之後，還需要老父母來照顧孫輩。求主賜給年輕信徒聰明智慧，知道愛主將神放在首位，也曉得如何盡孝道，更有勇氣向父母分享福音。我們還為年輕信徒繼續有靈性的成長禱告，知道如何照著主的心意建立家庭，如何在職場上榮耀神。
星期日
在中國社會，一般人對基督信仰的態度不是拒絕，而是認識不多。一個初信者可能會配戴十字架裝飾以示其宗教信仰，卻又猶疑要不要在同事面前做謝飯禱告。許多中國信徒，仍然不願意在朋友和家人面前談論其信仰，在工作單位上更是如此。求主給我們勇敢，與人分享自己信耶穌的原由，見證神在我們身上的奇妙恩典和作為。
星期一
許多留學生回國返鄉，舉目相望，曾經熟悉的一切，竟然變得陌生。中國的社會和文化容易令海歸產生被孤立的感覺，而基督信仰在這大環境中更是被人另眼相看。若是信仰紮根不深，一個已經自覺被孤立的人，很難在生活中堅持跟從神。有些中國信徒盡量不在工作單位表白信仰，免得帶來不必要的歧視與問題。求主幫助信徒有美好的工作表現，和諧的人際關係，隨時隨處流露出基督的馨香之氣。