Prayer Request 2/13 - 2/19

Tuesday
Among China’s urban churches, there are believers of all backgrounds, but they are clearly younger and more educated now. Every church has these groups: college students or young intellectuals or professionals, middle age or older believers, retirees and migrant workers. We pray for urban church leaders having vision and good strategies to minister to the diverse groups of church members, each having its own special needs, but able to care for them well as a good shepherd.
Wednesday
In China, college students and young intellectuals are more open in making contact with churches and even attend services. Often, they are open to the Gospel when they search for answer of their difficulties in lives. Churches in China needs a new generation of pastors who understand and minister to the college students. In the meantime, we pray for these young seekers and believers will have patience, humility and willingness to serve in church.
Thursday
In China, urban churches are younger and more educated because of large number of college students and graduates joining. Overall quality has improved too as young people grow spiritually, getting involved in serving and even willing to serve full time as pastors. We praise the Lord for these intellectuals becoming pastors and able to minister to a vastly more educated believers now. We pray that the Lord guard their hearts of serving, not merely by their gifts and strength, but rather by faith and with prayer.
Friday
In China, some of the intellectuals in church are professionals with good-paying jobs and respectable status. But, they are generally busy and not likely to be involved in church. At present this group is mainly made of people who had education abroad. Those believers who had exposure to churches overseas, often have difficulties with the lack of transparency and highly authoritative administrative style of churches in China. We pray for them as they adjust with humility, not judging deliberately, but willing to serve in church.
Saturday
A small number believers in urban churches in China are the returnees. Since the economic reform and opening up 30 years ago, about 160,000 Chinese students have returned after receiving education abroad. Many of them have become Christian while in foreign countries. They do have certain influence because of their ability in contributing financially, but they have certain issues in mixing well in their local church. Let us pray for them specifically, the Lord connect them with mature believers who can spur them to grow spiritually and willing to submit to their church leadership.
Sunday
Among the urban churches in China, there is also a large group of middle and older believers, they are mostly retirees, many grew up in Christian homes and have been a believers all their lives. Often, they are more pious and firm in their faith. We pray for these Christians so they will be greatly used by God in their churches, serving Him with time and their spiritual knowledge. The Lord use them especially in caring of fellow believers and helping pastor in visitation.
Monday
Among the urban churches in China, some are relatively new believers. They come to know the Lord because of relatives or friends who have shared the Gospel with tem. There are also some who were baptized while they visited their children abroad. We pray for these new believers so they will continue to mature in the Word of God and stay fervent, begin to serve in church, and begin to lead others to Jesus Christ with the powerful testimonies of their transformed lives.


星期二
中國的城市教會中會衆來源眾多，但明顯的趨向年輕化和知識化。目前城市教會的主要會衆群體有這幾種：在校大學生與青年知識份子及專業人士、中老年傳統基督徒、下崗工人和民工。我們為教會領袖，有神來的異象和有效的策略來牧養經濟文化背景諸多不同的群體。雖然會友的需要非常不同，但都能忠心為主牧養好各類的羊群。
星期三
大學生和青年知識份子往往思想開放、也比較願意接觸教會而來到教會，並且能夠在教會中找到困擾他們的人生問題的解答。現今教會更需要新一代的牧者，能牧養大學生，瞭解他們特別的文化和需要。求主賜給這群信徒更多忍耐與謙卑，願意熱心參與教會服侍。
星期四
由於眾多大學在校生和畢業生的湧入教會，使其年輕化和知識化的趨勢越來越明顯，會眾整體素質也越來越高。他們在教會中迅速成長，擔負起各項教會基層事工的日常運作，也有人獻身于傳道事業。我們為這些高素質的肢體能獻身感恩，求主使用他們能餵養教育程度越來越高的信徒們，也保守他們的服侍，不是靠著才能，力量，而是憑著信心，藉著禱告結出豐碩的果實。
星期五
教會知識份子信徒中還有一部分是專業人士，他們有固定的工作，較豐厚的收入，受過較高的教育和社會地位，但是卻普遍是忙碌的。其中主要出自於海歸派人士。從海外回來或是在海外信主的人，習慣了國外教會的透明度，牧會方式，其實也不太容易融入中國本土式的教會。求主保守並賜下謙卑的心志給海歸信徒，不刻意去比較，而是樂意融入，以參與服侍為神家带來新的氣象。
星期六
中國改革開放以來，約有 16 萬人回國，是所謂的海歸。這批人中有不少在國外時成爲了基督徒。 這部分人在國內城市教會的整體人數還不多，但具有一定的影響力，在經濟方面的奉獻也比較多。海歸的信徒在們在全面融入教會方面還存在一定的問題，我們求主預備成熟的信徒，成為生命成長的良師好友，激勵他們靈命繼續成長，也能尊重順服傳統中國式教會領導。
星期日
城市教會中還有一個比較大的群體是中老年基督徒，不少是退休的普通市民。他們有的是出生于傳統的基督徒家庭，從家庭中承受基督教信仰，一般都比較虔誠與堅定。我們為這批信徒祈求，願神大大使用他們的時間，靈命基礎更進深，在教會有更多的服侍，尤其是在關心有需要的會友，探訪新來的慕道者等聖工，成為協助牧者的支柱。
星期一
城市教會中還有些是近年來信主的肢體。他們也有不少是因著親戚或朋友分享福音信了耶穌，也有的在出國探親時受洗，回來再尋找教會。我們為他們感恩，願主保守他們持有當初的火熱，多有追求。不單只在聖經的知識上大有長進，也能幫助別人，甚至在他們的親友圈子中見證神的改變與作為，領人歸主。