Prayer Request 7/10 - 7/16

Tuesday
Divorce in China has now become very common and no longer raises any eyebrows. Women are not content to accept a "lousy" marriage any more and eighty percent of divorces are filed by women. People in the churches feel compelled to give advice rather​ than merely listening, so, often their good intentions are misunderstood. We pray for wisdom from God so believers know how to care for those who seek divorces in their church for whatever reasons.
Wednesday
People twenty to forty years old who work in the larger cities in China are actually very dependent on their parents because they pay the down payments on their apartments and babysit for them.​ We pray for wisdom and gentleness for young believers who have unbelieving parents. May the Lord give them a good testimony by the way their honor their parents​ and are considerate children. We pray especially for those who live with unbelieving parents or in-laws.
Thursday
Divorce leaves a long and profound scar on the children. In China, children from broken homes are more likely to divorce, have a​ higher crime rate,​ more​ mental problems, and suicides. We pray for believers who came from broken homes​. May the comfort of the Spirit, affirm​ to​ them that they are loved by the Lord, able to escape the shadow of divorce and​ able to​ help those who have ​had ​a similar experience in their church.
Friday
One can easily find and attend services at a Three-Self or so-called "Open Church" in China. However, trying to locate and attend its small groups in a house church is totally different.​ Many house churches are “secretive” and would not take in a random newcomer and insist observing new members. House churches are experiencing new restriction and scrutiny. We pray for all believers as the restrictive official religious policy is implemented. The Lord give them perseverance and be “partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. “(1 Pet.4:13)
Saturday
Three-Self churches are usually well-funded and often have newly renovated church buildings. In contrast, “house churches” operate with more autonomy at often obscure locations — sometimes in a house or ​an ​apartment. They are more often not registered with the government. In recent years many house churches have chosen to register so they have a bit more freedom in purchasing land and building on it. We pray churches will be able to evangelize more publicly and effectively in their neighborhoods with this new status.​
Sunday
Shanghai is known as the most open city in China with a large number of churches, both registered and house, plus many international churches. Churches in Shanghai have ​a ​lot more foreign influence with​ a​ preaching style closer to churches abroad. But, there are also many churches promoting the Success Theology. We pray that churches in the coastal provinces, including Shanghai, will share their rich resources with churches inland and be a shining example of love for God and His people, and all kinds of good work.
Monday
For the returnees who have known church only in a liberal Western campus setting, both registered and house churches represent a drastic change. Some have a hard time adapting to life in China,​(​both church and life in general​)​ after returning from abroad, during which they converted to Christianity. Young people do move from city to city, especially after graduation from college. We pray that young believers can find churches who are friendly and accepting, so they can quickly find a spiritual home and continue to be nurtured spiritually.


星期二
近年來離婚在中國已屬平常事，當事者無太多顧忌，“女性敢說離”的特徵尤其明顯，不再是 “嫁雞隨雞、嫁狗隨狗”。 因此女方起訴離婚的案件越來越多，80%以上的原告是女方。在教會裡弟兄姊妹面對想離婚的夫妻，不論勸合或勸離，恐怕都不恰當。他們需要的可能不是建議，而是被了解。求主賜給信徒有智慧，知道如何秉持真理和恩慈來關懷教會中婚姻有難處甚至面臨破裂的肢體。
星期三
在一線城市工作的80後、90後，對父母的依賴程度遠高於上一代人。因父母在購房和撫養孫輩的參與度高，對子女婚姻生活的介入程度也相應更高，兩代人生活理念上的摩擦更容易被放大。我們為有未信父母的年輕信徒，向神求智慧和溫柔，願神幫助他們先盡到孝順父母的誡命，做個懂得感恩與體恤的兒女。尤其和不信主的父母或姻親同住的年輕夫婦，求神保守他們有美好的生命見證。
星期四
離婚對孩子的負面影響極其深遠。離異的夫妻，子女也可能有不美滿的婚姻；根据調研：單親家庭孩子的犯罪率、心理疾病患病率和自殺率，幾乎是與離婚率同步增長的。我們為來自破碎家庭的信徒祈求，願主親自安慰他們，幫助他們認定主的愛，能跨越家庭在成長中帶來的傷害。當走出陰霾後，在教會屬靈的家中更能幫助類似經歷的人認識神的大愛，成為別人的祝福。
星期五
在中國，三自教會是公開的，也容易找到，家庭教會卻不是這樣。要找到和參加家庭教會的聚會並不容易，因為他們多半不隨便接待新人，也堅持要觀察一段時間。 目前政府的宗教政策正在改變中，執行也更加嚴謹。我們以禱告記念各地的教會。我們更為眾信徒有忍耐和忠心祈求，共勉“在基督的受苦上有分，就在他榮耀顯現的時候，可以歡喜快樂。”(彼前4：13）
星期六
中國三自教會通常經費充足，且有堂皇的大禮拜堂。相反家庭教會大多只能隱藏在不被注意的地方，通常是在公寓裡聚會。近年來，不少城市教會選擇向政府註冊，但仍然保持他們是家庭教會的身份，註冊的家庭教會在事工的運作上多了一點空間。求主保守這些教會能更多公開地，也更有效地在社區中傳講主耶穌的福音。
星期日
上海被稱為中國最開放的城市，有許多三自教會、已登記的家庭教會以及國際教會。上海教會受海外影響較多，各樣資源都比其他城市的更豐富，講台信息也接近國外的風格。然而，上海教會中標榜所謂的成功神學也是最多的。求主復興沿海各省(包括上海)的教會，不但能與各地教會分享神賜的豐富恩典，更是在愛神、愛人並各樣的善工方面，都能成為其他教會的榜樣。
星期一
對於在西方校園環境中認識信仰的年輕信徒回國後，無論參加三自或家庭教會，都是一個巨大的改變。這個改變不單單是教會生活，也是要重新適應國內的文化風氣。一般大學生信主之後，畢業了也會遷移到其他城市生活。我們要為所有年輕信徒禱告，願他們在新的城市中都很快找到溫暖又有愛心的教會，能被接納而繼續靈命的成長。