Prayer Request 1/30 - 2/5

Tuesday
A significant number of young Chinese have become dispirited and embrace an attitude known on social media as "sang", after a Chinese character meaning "funeral" that describes being dispirited. We pray especially for young people from Christian families, so they will trust God to lead and guide their future and believe that He has a great plan for their lives.
Wednesday
Some of the young people in China are embracing the "Sang" culture which is a kind of defeatism. They feel they are doomed to fail no matter how hard they try which is totally different from the optimism displayed during China's double-digit economic growth in previous decades. We pray young people will be stirred up and wanting to be used by God. that they will let no one despise their youth, but in speech, action, love, faith, and cleanliness, be an example to all. (1 Timothy 4:12)​
Thursday
The "Sang Culture" is a silent rebellion of young people in China against the ethos of contemporary urban thinking which tells them to achieve their goal not matter the cost. Officials are alarmed and openly forbid this kind of defeatist sentiment since it goes against what the Communist Party preachers--work hard and be optimistic. We pray ​that young believers will commit their lives to God knowing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and a sure path to the goals they desire.
Friday
In China, the average starting salary for college graduates dropped by sixteen percent in 2017 to 4,014 yuan ($835. US) per month. The competition for jobs is fierce since a record eight million graduated from universities there--nearly ten times the number in 1997. ​Many college students professed faith in Jesus but after they graduated, they stopped attending church. Some have even blamed God for not providing a job for them. May God bring many more college students to salvation through Bible studies and help the young converts know the true cost and the joy of following Jesus,
Saturday
Owning a home is a nearly universal aspiration in China, but is is increasingly difficult to buy property in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Skyrocketing rent prices have also forced many young people to live at the edge of the city and spend a long time commuting daily.​ We pray for the spiritual growth of all young believers. May God give them spiritual mentors who help them to be an example in conduct and serving others in love and faith.
Sunday
Chinese people are getting married later and later. Finding a good paying job and saving enough to buy an apartment are key reasons. In Nanjing, a major eastern city, the median age for first marriages rose to 31.6 last year, from 29.9 in 2012. ​We pray that God will add more young people to churches, giving their leaders new vision and strategies​ and helping them to make adjustments and change in their approach to situations there so they will be able to better minister to young people.
Monday
Nearly half of the elite "sea turtles", those who return after studying overseas, earned less than 6,000 yuan a month in 2017. Such wages are not much better ​than those locally trained college graduates received, ​given the great expenses of their foreign education. ​Churches and parents still wrongly equate success to having a good paying job. We pray that young people will have a passion to serve and be willing to dedicate their lives to God.


星期二
不少中國大城市的年輕人，不再盲目相信進步和成就能帶來一切，個人前途更灰暗不明。這種沮喪和無力感如今在中國有了一個新名詞 — 喪。我們特別為信徒家庭的年輕人禱告，願神幫助他們知道如何面對各方面的壓力，願意將自己的人生交托給祂，並深信神必指引他們一生的道路。
星期三
「喪文化」就是「不論我如何努力，我也無法成功！」充份表達了青年人對前途的悲觀與放棄。這與過去中國經濟急速時期的樂觀形成鮮明對比。 求主感動教會中年輕一代，有讓主使用的火熱，相信神必會引領他們的一生滿賦價值。「不可叫人小看你年輕，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心、清潔上，都作信徒的榜樣。」提前4:12
星期四
「喪」文化是對中國社會一心一意追求傳統意義上成功的無聲反叛。這正是表明著：「我做不到」。它與共產黨領導人所倡導的勤奮、樂觀的「主流」價值格格不入。求主幫助年輕人，在人生大大小小的決定上，都尊主為大，有智慧尋求神的帶領，以祂的信實為糧，討神的喜悅。
星期五
今年中國大學生的平均起薪降至4014元人民幣，降幅達16%。畢業如同失業，每年大學有八百萬畢業生，這幾乎是1997年的10倍。許多大學生信了主，但畢業後就沒有任何信仰生活，甚至因找不到工作而責怪神。我們為有更多大學生認識耶穌基督禱告，保守校園查經班在栽培上大有果效，叫這些剛信主的同學們的信心有根有基。
星期六
購屋是每個中國人的願望，但要在北京、上海、深圳等大城市置產，卻是越來越艱難。天價的租金讓很多年輕人只能搬到城市邊緣地帶，天天長途通勤上下班。我們為教會年輕人的靈命成長禱告，求主親自吸引他們來追求認識祂。又求主為他們預備屬靈的導師來關心他們，在信心、愛心、服事上都成為他們追隨效法的榜樣。
星期日
在中國，經濟壓力加重的後果之一是這代人晚婚及越來越遲生養兒女。年輕人遲遲不結婚，南京市區首婚的平均年齡從2012年的29.9，上升到去年的31.6歲。求主賜教會更多年輕人，也賜傳道人有異象和策略來關心青年事工，在崇拜和團契上能夠有所調整和改變，吸引更多年輕人來歸向主。
星期一
「海歸」是中國知識份子的精英，2017年回國的，有近一半人每月掙不到6000元。這份報償跟没出國的同儕相差不大，他們花了龐大的費用出國接受教育，但如此的投資往往卻得不著相對的回報。教會和家長常常也會有錯誤的觀念，認為孩子會賺錢才是有成就。我們要為教會中的年輕人立志愛主，忠心服事，甚至願意獻身來禱告。