Prayer Request 1/23 - 1/29

Tuesday
In China, women made great strides in the early decades of Communist rule. The Communist government has taken pains to portray women as equal to men, starting with Chairman Mao's declaration that women “hold up half the sky.” We pray for all the women pastors serving in China, although many of them will not be ordained formally, we praise God for their faithful dedication, the Lord bless them with ministries will be even more powerful and effective.
Wednesday
As China shifted to a market economy recently, the State media have published glowing reports of “wonder women”, suggesting that many Chinese women have become successful in the business world. We pray for believers who are working mother, the Lord give them strength and wisdom, not only at work but at home. May their faith in God be a powerful influence at home and their prayers for their children answered.
Thursday
There is a resurgence of long-repressed traditional Chinese values, as more and more men and women say “a woman's place is in the home”. It is becoming common that wealthy men take mistresses in a contemporary reprise of the concubine system. Extra-marital affairs or having a mistress is considered a norm for those who are rich or in business. We pray for safeguard of all believers, the Lord protect their marriage and strengthen their bond.
Friday
The pressure for Chinese women to marry young is intense. In the office, Socialist-era egalitarianism has been replaced by open sexism, in some cases reinforced by the law. We pray for those sisters who suffer sexual harassment, discrimination and outright abuse at work. The Lord comfort them, become their refuge， answer their prayer for justice and give them joy at work
Saturday
Chinese women are losing ground in the workforce compared with men, Women make up 44.7 percent of the work force, but just 25.1 percent of people with positions of “responsibility”. Although few women are in the prominent church leadership role, we praise God for churches in China because they are blessed with so many women pastors and lay volunteers.
Sunday
In China, the phenomenon of women not able to get promoted is called the 'sticky floor'. The term “glass ceiling” describes the inability for women in China to advance into management level. Most women simply stay in the entry and clerk level. Women pastors are commonly ordained in Three-Self churches. but not as often among the house churches. We pray for those women preachers who serve faithfully but have not been ordained, the Lord encourage and strengthen them.
Monday
The powerful cultural assumptions that women should marry young and focus on the family after a child is born account for disparity of women not being promoted or advance in workplace in China. Most married women pastors must shoulder all the loads of church, family and motherhood. We pray for strength, endurance and God's grace for them. The Lord give them fresh insight to His Word every day.


星期二
在共產黨執政的頭幾十年，中國女性地位取得了巨大的進步，從毛澤東說女性能「頂半邊天」起，政府就把女性描述成與男性地位平等。我們為教會的女傳道禱告，她們長久的服事，也不一定會被正式按立成牧師，我們為她們的忠心擺上感謝神，求主厚賜她們能力，使所作的更有果效。
星期三
最近，隨著中國向市場經濟轉型，官方媒體常會宣傳「女強人」，帶有欣賞意味的報導正表明中國女性在商業上也取得了成功。我們在禱告中記念要外出工作的信徒媽媽們，求神賜給她們智慧能力，把工作和家庭能平衡，叫她們的信心成為家人的榜樣，子女也受到影響，一生敬虔愛主。
星期四
近年來，中國女性的地位逐漸抬頭之際，長期被壓制的傳統價值觀卻似乎也正在復蘇。越來越多人(不論男女)均認為女性應主內。另外，舊社會的妻妾制度在當代重現，富裕的男性又養起了情人。男人有錢就變壞，差不多成為理所當然的事，尤其是商人。求主常常提醒信徒要持守貞潔，謹守婚姻的神聖盟約，而夫妻也因著連於神而關係更親密。
星期五
女性面臨很大的早婚壓力。在職場，社會主義時代的平等主義被公開的性別歧視所取代。在某些情況下，性別歧視甚至被法律加深了。 我們為主內姊妹面臨性騷擾、性歧視，甚至被佔便宜的來禱告， 求主安慰並成為她們的避難所，也為她們彰顯神的公義，又給她們在職場再次擁有喜樂的靈。
星期六
女性在職業階梯每上升一步，她們所佔比例會隨之穩降。女性在勞動力中所佔比例為44.7%，但在「負責人」職位中只佔25.1%。雖然僅有少數女性晉昪為教會的領導角色，我們為中國教會有許許多多的女傳道和同工們感恩，她們全然擺上，忠心服事，叫神的家得著益處。
星期日
女性在職場無法被提升的現象被稱為「粘地板」，中國也有玻璃天花板 (不能進入管理階層），但大部分女性甚至從未離開過粘地板。 通常只有三自教會按立女性牧師進入管理階層，在一般家庭教會甚少見。我們感謝主有許多忠心的女性傳道，不論是否被正式按立，都在辛勤服事。求主幫助弟兄姊妹明白，在教會裡女性也可以發揮她們屬靈的恩賜，也鼓勵及厚賜她們能力担任主托負的事工！
星期一
女性不常被昇遷，無緣進入管理高層的部分原因，是傳統觀念認為女性應早早結婚，生孩子，照顧家庭。中國教會中已婚的女傳道人，往往要挑擔教會，家庭和做母親的全部重責。求主加添她們力量，賜足夠的恩典幫助她們能秉承異象堅持事奉，也天天降下嗎哪，親手扶持她們。