Prayer Request 2/6 - 2/12

Tuesday
There are plenty of dating shows on TV in China. One of the most memorable and provocative statements from these shows is "I'd rather cry in a BMW than laugh on a bicycle." Young believers in China face tremendous temptations in a society that sees nothingwrong with premarital sex and cohabitation. We pray that they will know the Biblical reasons to keep themselves pure for God and for the one whom the Lord has prepared for them.
Wednesday
"Chinese Dating" is a very popular television show which spins a new twist by giving parents of contestants power over their children's choices, a power that reflects Chinese society today. Many young believers come from non-believing families and their parents have different sets of values and priority for marriage. We pray for young single believers that they would seek God's will and patiently await God's provision in finding a mate who shares the same faith.
Thursday
In popular TV dating shows in China, parents have a lot of input into the selection of a potential mate by the contestants. The outspoken blunt opinions and demands contribute to the appeal of the show. Chinese parents have enormous influence in the marriage of their children. We pray for parents who are believers and have children of marriageable age, that the Lord will give them wisdom and a good relationship so they will be able to remind their children to honor and trust that God will provide the very best for them.
Friday
Although arranged marriages in which family elders hired matchmakers to find spouses for their children, were banned by the Republican government in the 1930's, a weekly dating show has again evoked this tradition in China. It is a beautiful ministry that a mature and godly person can introduce and match young believers even though they are from different churches. We pray for more fellowship of young Christians from different churches and also via social media.
Saturday
Chinese millennials are often portrayed as the excessively indulged and protected products of the one-child family policy. It seems that they are yielding to their parents who are ready to provide them with everything, even a spouse. Parents will do anything for their only child and even spoiling them. We pray that Christian parents will instead, teach their children to fear God, help them to form spiritual habits and learn to serve God from a small age.
Sunday
In China, parents of eligible young men concern most about the financial strength of their sons. While parents of girls must be content with whether their daughters are young, pretty and innocent looking. One reason Chinese parents had so much say over their child's marriage was that many of the parents were paying for it. We must give thanks because children are an inheritance from the Lord. We pray that believers will know God has entrusted children to them and will continue to remind them to walk closely with Jesus, even after they have grown up and have formed their own family.
Monday
Many young people in China cannot afford to marry without the help of their parents. Later on they will still need their parent's help to care for their children. Parents in China really give too much protection and support to their only child which has given rise to a generation that has never really grown up. We pray that young Christian parents will teach their children to fear God and that those who are grandparents will continue to exert a godly influence by taking their grandchildren to church, praying with them, and sharing Bible stories with them.


星期二
相親節目在中國不是新鮮事物，其中最有代表性又最有爭議性的宣言，莫過於「我寧願坐在寶馬車裡哭，也不願意坐在單車後面笑。」在婚前性行為和同居氾濫的風氣中，年輕信徒實在面臨極大的試探和考驗。求主幫助他們明白聖經的教導，知道神的心意是要我們為主，也為神所預備的伴侶持守貞潔。同時也相信神會為自己預備最合適的良伴。
星期三
《中國式相親》電視節目間接賦予父母干預子女選擇的權力，這反映了中國當下的社會實況。許多教會中的年輕人來自非基督徒的家庭，其父母對婚姻與擇偶有完全不同的考量。我們來為年輕單身信徒禱告，求主提醒他們要切切尋求神的心意，等待神的預備，選擇有共同信仰的人作為終身的伴侶。
星期四
在中國，有些父母能在年輕人的婚姻中起決策作用，他們出現在相親節目中，立場鮮明地說出自己的要求，大大增加這類節目的受歡迎程度。在現實中，中國年輕人的婚姻決定的確是很受父母影響的。我們為主內家長禱告，求神賜他們有智慧教養子女和有良好的親子關係，從小教導他們要選擇與信主的人同負一軛。當孩子在適婚年齡時，也不斷提醒子女要將神放在首位，莫因一時孤單或肉體軟弱而成為自己一生的虧損。
星期五
在中國雖然「包辦婚姻」已在上世紀三十年代已被政府取消，但近年每週播出的電視節目《中國式相親》就讓人再次想起中國傳統的「父母之命，媒妁之言」。教會中若有成熟和敬虔的長輩，能為年輕信徒來牽線認識，這是非常美，也是極有價值的服事。我們為年輕信徒之間的團契與交流，也包括基督徒交友網站來禱告，求主保守管理這些相關的服事和媒體平台。
星期六
千禧一代，往往被描繪成中國獨生子女政策下，受父母過度縱容和保護的一代。他們發現自己在順從父母的意願下成長，父母就會隨時準備為他們提供一切，包括配偶。父母會寵愛獨生子女，為他們預備一切，似乎是這種社會環境下的人之常情。我們卻特別要為信徒家長禱告，求神幫助父母要按著神的心意教導子女，敬畏神遠離惡事，幫助他們建立屬靈的習慣，並學習在教會中服事。
星期日
若有適婚的兒子，中國家長最關心是孩子的經濟實力。若有女兒，就以其年輕、漂亮和單純為談婚論嫁的本錢。父母之所以能左右子女的婚姻，其中一大原因就是為孩子的婚姻開支買單。子女是神所賜的產業。 我們為信徒明白神託付我們來管理孩子來禱告，神的美意是要父母為神教養出敬虔的後代，就是到老也不偏離，有蒙福的一生。
星期一
若沒有父母的幫助，很多中國年輕人是結不起婚的；有些人甚至在婚後仍然要依附父母，需要他們幫助帶孩子。事實上，過份保護和支援，讓中國產生了一代長不大的孩子。求主提醒年輕的基督徒父母要警覺，現今社會對教養孩童的風氣並不正確，小心自己也落在偏差的價值觀裡。求主幫助基督徒祖父母能繼續有敬虔的影響力，把孫子輩帶到教會，和他們一起禱告，分享主耶穌的故事。