Prayer Request 4/10 - 4/16

Tuesday
In China, it is common that some pastors in cities move about and preach at different meeting places. This gives believers fresh speakers and message content. Although Chinese churches speak often of humility and unity, true humility and unity are mostly absent. The lack of submission and division are quite common, especially among the young intellectuals. Let us pray for all believers that we all need to repent, seek His forgiveness and be Christ-like.
Wednesday
Mentioning of sex is taboo in churches in China and most pastors are uncomfortable even talking about it. We pray that churches will boldly and practically teach their young people how to flee from the lusts of youth and not merely forbid premarital sex.
Thursday
Sex education is very lacking in China. Anatomy is commonly taught as a substitute for sex education. Teenagers often speak of how their parents explained that children are born from armpits or even from trash cans. Children are an inheritance from God. (Psa 127:3) We pray that Christian parents will teach their children the knowledge of God and they will have a good parent-child relationship, and remind them often to walk closely with God.
Friday
In the past decades, the government in China has encouraged manufacturing for export by creating many low-wage jobs. However, this policy has led to an oversupply of manufactured goods. As the economy booms and real estate has ​skyrocketed in China, many believers are drawn to the Prosperity Theology. We pray that more believers will focus on knowing and desiring Jesus, the Giver of all blessing, rather than the blessing itself.
Saturday
Beijing and Shanghai are the cultural centers of China, they literally lead the direction of Chinese society. ​We pray for the churches in these two cities that God will use them mightily as the leader and example for evangelism. To reach out to the community and treat their pastors well by honoring and providing for them.
Sunday
Churches in China no longer encounter persecutions in the forms of martyrdom, imprisonment, exile, public denouncement, loss of job, or breaking up families. Churches now face greater threats of temptations of money, fame, power, and sensuality. We pray for the guarding of the hearts of all church leaders. We pray they will resist the trappings of secularism, adhere to the fervent teachings of Christ, be fervent in spreading the gospel, and not engage in turf fighting or merely expanding the sphere of their personal influence.
Monday
Churches in China have never adequately resolved how believers should deal with indigenous religious practices and ancestral worship. The recent resurgence of Chinese religious and cultural values has further increased the tension between Christian beliefs and traditional Chinese practices. ​​We pray that more pastors in China will teach how believers could apply Biblical principles on the occasions of wedding and funeral, to share testimonies more effectively, and give glory to God.

星期二
在城市教會的傳道人之間也有一些流動，他們在不同的聚會點講道是相當普遍的。這種交流情況常給會衆帶來新鮮氣息，亦讓弟兄姊妹從不同牧者身上領受神不同的信息。中國教會雖然常說要謙卑合一，但是有些教會卻缺少真正的謙卑，彼此不服，時有紛爭，尤其年輕的知識份子信徒往往會挑戰教會領袖。求主赦免我們的驕傲自恃，光照我們的靈性中的黑暗，彼此認罪悔改，活出更像恩主的聖善生命。
星期三
中國教會一向不提婚前性行為，傳道人覺得在講台上提及「性」是不合宜的。求主幫助教會不要忽略這方面的教導，要明確教導神的旨意是要我們成為聖潔，遠避淫行。又求主賜智慧給牧者和導師，有效幫助年輕人克服少年私慾的誘惑，而不是僅止於一味的禁慾。
星期四
中國缺乏性教育，通常以「人體結構」的解說代替。十來歲的青少年常會談及父母對他們說，他們是從腋窩裡，甚至是垃圾桶裡爬出來的。「兒女是耶和華所賜的產業」(詩 127:3) 求主幫助信徒家長，從小就教導子女在交友、戀愛、婚姻上，知道神的心意；也有美好的親子關係，能把孩子帶到神面前，讓他們有正確的價值觀，選擇以神的原則和標準生活，與主親密同行而蒙福。
星期五
過去數十年，中國經濟依靠政府推動出口製造業，創造了許多工作機會給低技術勞工。然而中國的過度投資已經讓產品供過於求。當經濟蓬勃，房地產價格飆升時，許多信徒被吸引去追隨「成功神學」。求神校正信徒的目光和心思意念，渴慕賜恩的主而不是祂所賜的恩！
星期六
北京和上海向來處於影響全國文化的中心地位。把握中國社會文化的中心地帶，就相當於把握了整個中國社會文化的走向。我們要為在這兩個城巿的教會禱告，求主大大使用她們，在這個價值觀扭曲、靈性黯暗的世代中，成為主所預備的金燈台，在其中為主發光，熱心傳揚福音、關懷社區。也幇助信徒更敬重和供應他們牧者們的需要。
星期日
今日中國教會外在的逼迫減弱了，不再是往昔的殉道、監禁、流放、批鬥、喪失工作、離散家庭等等外在迫害，而是轉為內在的引誘，如金錢、名聲、權力、感官享受等等試探。求主幫助教會領袖們，保守他們的心懷意念，能靠主抵抗世界價值觀的誘惑，堅持基督的生命樣式，更有傳福音的熱忱，而不是爭權或為自己教會擴張「版圖」的私心。
星期一
時至今日，教會如何面對祭祖與地方傳統習俗的問題，仍然沒有根本性的解決辦法。隨著近幾年地方傳統勢力的興起，中國傳統習俗與教會信仰之間的張力有增無減。求主賜傳道人智慧，教導信徒如何按聖經原則來看待婚禮、喪禮及祭祀是否違背神的心意。我們為信徒禱告，能在這些場合中有美好的見證，並將榮耀歸給神。