Prayer Request 10/23 - 10/29

Tuesday
Churches in China have improved much in the past two decades, especially in the qualities of pastors and their preaching, but some problems persist. Houses churches usually put great emphasis on spirituality to the extreme of denouncing anything else as secular and evil. We pray for the powerful preaching of Biblical truth balanced with their own life testimonies.
Wednesday
In urban churches in China, there are many new believers who are young and need attention from their pastors. This increases the workload of pastors because there are fewer properly trained and full-time pastors to start with. We pray for wisdom for urban pastors so they could train those who are able to teach and to care, and build up a team of coworkers.
Thursday
A typical pastor in China has an enormous and exhausting workload. They often answer tens of phone calls for guidance daily, in addition to their busy schedule of caring, follow up, visitation, preaching and evangelism. Pastors are not supermen. They have families and need to care for their aging parents. We pray for wisdom so they will have both a balanced ministry and family life.
Friday
Pastors in China are stretched thin physically and emotionally because they usually have multiple congregations at different meeting points. They have no time for personal pleasures and exercise. Also, they are under constant stress because of the tenuous political and security concerns. We pray for God's special grace for His servants. We pray, too that believers would appreciate and value their pastors and families, expressing often their thanks of their pastors in concrete and practical ways.
Saturday
In China, pastors cannot enjoy the social benefit and health coverages like regular employees because house churches are not deemed legal entities and they often do not possess the proper “hukou” - residency permit required for social benefits. We remember the labor of all pastors and their family's needs. We pray that churches will step up to meet their needs, showing love and care for their shepherds, rather than wrongly demanding pastors to live by faith.
Sunday
Many pastors in China are spiritually overextended. Among the house churches, there are few or no resources to help with spiritual renewal. A time of rest or sabbatical is practically unheard of. We pray for many pastors who feel spent and nearly burnt out. May the Lord have mercy on them, giving renewal and revival to them and their families.
Monday
In China, the pastor's wife is perhaps the loneliest person in the church. Traditional machismo and a low view of the pastor's wife, many only see them as helpers and some even ignore their roles. Many pastor's wives are literally silent or in the shadow. We pray that God comforts them, letting them know their sacrifice is treasured by Him. We pray, too that churches will see the spiritual gifts they possess and encourage them to serve accordingly to build up the house of God.

星期二
中國教會經過近二十年的發展，傳道人的生命素質和講台訉息的質量已有很大提升，但許多明顯的問題仍然存在。過去家庭教會特別著重靈命的追求，十分強調聖俗兩極化，易流於極端屬靈而無法融入現實生活。求主賜牧者秉忠心有力地傳講聖經的真理，更能以自己的生命見證來平衡所傳的道。
星期三
城市新興教會的第一代基督徒比例較高，且亦以青年居多，需要牧者關照處極多，牧養的需要量非常大。另一方面，傳道人總比例較低，而受過裝備的全職傳道人更是不足，許多講台服事是由帶職事奉的弟兄姊妹承擔的。求主賜牧者智慧，將神的教訓交託那些忠心善教導的人，培養他們分擔牧養、關懷的責任，而不需一人挑起教會所有的重擔。
星期四
許多中國牧者往往每天要接幾十個輔導電話，再加上個人關懷、探訪跟進、宣講話語和傳揚福音等工作，常常使他們筋疲力竭。牧師不是超人，他們也需要在家中盡上孝親、教養子女、聯繫配偶等人倫責任。求主賜他們智慧，能有平衡的事奉與美滿和樂的家庭，讓生命和生活都成為喜樂、蒙福的見證。
星期五
中國傳道人普遍有身心靈透支的情況 ，由於聚會點太多和分散，事工繁忙，致使疲於奔命，且身體又缺乏鍛練。另一方面，政治環境及安全因素導致傳道人心理承受重壓。願主恩待祂的僕人，感動羊群知道體貼珍惜牧者和他們家人的擺上，學習常以實際方式來表達對他們的感激。
星期六
由於戶籍制度及家庭教會尚未有合法的身份，導致家庭教會傳道人的醫保和福利都嚴重缺乏，造成許多神僕均承受極不公的對待。我們再次記念中國傳道人的辛苦服侍，還要擔心子女的教育。求主感動教會在財物上供應傳道人，將關愛化為實際的行動，盡上會眾當盡的本份，而不是一味要求他們靠信心生活。
星期日
中國傳道人的靈性嚴重透支，尤其家庭教會的牧者。面對各方面的資源不足，安息年制度不健全，再加上能為教會守望的屬靈長輩亦嚴重缺乏，致使他們瀕臨耗盡的危機。許多牧者處於只出不進的狀態，沒有休假，也沒有靈命更新，非常危險。 求主施恩憐憫，醫治他們的身、心靈和家庭關係，願神的靈來復興他們和他們的家庭。
星期一
中國牧者的妻子(師母)或許是教會中最孤獨的角色。因為華人文化的大男子主義或教會看師母角色的偏差，許多人都忽略師母的作用或視其擺上為理所當然。許多師母處於隱於背後，默默無聲服事的狀態，求主安慰她們，知道自己的擺上是神所寶貴，所悅納的。我們禱告：教會能肯定師母的恩賜及擺上，讓她們能按著神的心意參與服事，共建神家。