Prayer Requeset 10/9 - 10/15

Tuesday
China is aging at an alarming rate. She has 150 million people who are over sixty-five years old (about 10.8 % of the population) so for every one hundred people in China eleven of them are over sixty-five years old. The graying phenomenon is particularly pronounced among the rural churches in China. Although this poses a great challenge to church workers, we trust God has a great plan for the churches in China and He can still bring about a revival.
Wednesday
China is the only country in the world with more than 100 million elderly people. Over the past decade, the number of people over eighty years old in China has almost doubled to more than twenty million. Many pastors consider that ministry to elderly people is a waste of time and produces no benefit for church growth. We pray for all who share the gospel with elderly people who are not believers that the Lord will give them the bountiful joy of seeing lost souls saved.
Thursday
As young people leave home to work in the cities, the number of elderly people living on their own has grown to fifty percent. Among them, 33 million are disabled or at least partially so. Many older believers have become homebound and simply cannot get to church. We thank the Lord for those who visit, taking food to share and pray with them. As Jesus has said, “They have done it unto Him”.
Friday
China has established a basic social pension system. Currently, there are 58 million retirees who receive state pensions (a mere 4.5% of the population) and the new rural social pension should cover 60% of all the counties. Many Chinese start to collect a pension when they are fifty-five years old. We pray for this age group of believers who have much time and are able to help out with ministry in the church that God and the leaders in the church will inspire them to serve in their respective places of worship.
Saturday
In 2010，one elderly person was supported by five working-age people in China. A new estimate says that the ratio will drop to three people of working age to support each elderly person by 2020. There are older believers who are able to visit and care for other elderly people in their church. We pray that God raises up more of them to be a great blessing to their church and a wonderful example for young believers.
Sunday
The traditional Chinese value of "raise children to provide retirement” has become untenable under the one-child policy. Young couples must now care for four elderly parents because they are the only children in their families. Many elderly believers live in terrible loneliness, their children are far away and the church is essentially their family. We pray that young believers will treat them with respect and show them tenderness, being willing to spend time with them.
Monday
Many elderly Chinese are accepting the idea of going to a nursing home. Only 1.8% of the elderly population in China lives in a nursing home compared with 2-3% in a developing country. There is usually a long waiting list to get in. Unfortunately, sometimes churches must care for elderly people who are neglected and even "abandoned". May the Lord richly bless those who reach out to those elderly people in need showing them the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
 
星期二
中國從1999年起加速進入高齡化社會。中國65歲以上老年人超過1.5億人，在2016年就已占總人口的10.8%，也就是每100個中國人裡，就有11個65歲以上的老人。農村教會的老齡化是明顯的事實，對農村傳道人更是巨大的挑戰，維持牧會確實不易。我們深信神對中國教會的未來有祂美好的計劃，願神的僕人繼續做好管家的本份，按時分糧，等候復興的到來。
星期三
中國成為目前世界上唯一老年人口超過一億的國家。近十年裡，八十歲以上高齡老人增加了近一倍，總人數已經超過二千萬。有不少傳道人覺得做老人事工對教會成長沒有直接的實質上的好處。求主校正有這樣心思的肢體，更求記念那些積極關心年長信徒及向社區中老人傳福音的弟兄姐妹。願神賜給他們更多參與靈魂得救的喜樂。
星期四
隨著年輕人外出工作，父母與子女異地居住，中國城鄉中的空巢老人越來越多，現在幾乎高於一半的家庭；其中失能、半失能老年人數多達三千三百萬。許多年長信徒無法出門，更不能參加聚會，往往困守家中。我們為那些恆常去探訪、分享食物，也陪長者讀經和禱告的肢體獻上感恩，因為他們的愛心，就是做在主的身上。
星期五
雖然中國向來有基本的農村社會養老保險，但是能領取養老金的人數只有占人口的 4.5%（5170萬人）。現時在新政策下，百分之六十的農村都有養老保險。 許多人過了五十五歲就在拿養老金。我們祈求主，感動這些年紀尚有可為的信徒，在有時間和精力下，能多作主工，參與教會各樣的事工。願教會領袖能激勵他們，在教會有更多的參與和服事。
星期六
按2010 年人口比例，每五個中國勞動人口負擔一個老人。預測到2020年，約三個勞動人口負擔一個老人，至2030年，約二點五個勞動人口要負擔1個老人。教會中也有不少精力充沛的長者，可以去探望關懷其他的老人，且能分享救恩。求主興起更多有這樣心志的弟兄姐妹，成為教會的祝福和年輕信徒的榜樣。
星期日
在一胎制下，傳統的「養兒防老」觀念已經變成異想天開的事。兩個獨生子女組成的家庭要承擔四個或以上老人的養老，無論在經濟上還是精力上，都給年輕人「難以承受之重」的責任和壓力。許多年長的信徒非常孤單，他們的孩子在外地打工，教會肢體就是他們實質上的家人。我們求神幫助年輕信徒們，尊重教會的長者，關心他們如同自己的父母。
星期一
老年人已逐漸開始接受搬入院養老的方式，但中國社會養老服務實在遠遠不足，往往有長長一串等候名單。中國養老床位總數僅佔老年人口的1.8%，低於發展中國家2%至3%的水平。教會常常需要照顧那些被家人忽視，甚至「拋棄」的老人。願神大大的祝福那些為長者們伸出援手的信徒們的擺上，感謝他們以耶穌的愛及憐憫來關心照顧這些長者。