Prayer Request 11/20 - 11/26

Tuesday
Half of the people in China believe that sexual discrimination is real there and it is much harder for a woman to find a job than it is for a man. Even among the highly educated people, women who have a doctor's degree are considered odd. The idea of equality of women under Mao has given way to frustration and discrimination for many women. Let us pray for all the sisters serving in the churches that they will receive a double portion of the Spirit and serve joyfully with dedication and love.
Wednesday
Half of the young people in China say they have no religion at all. About 1/4 believe in Communism and another 1/10 believe in Buddhism, Christianity, or Islam. Although China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, Communism and atheism are universally taught at all levels in the educational system. We uplift all the children of believers and ask the Lord to safeguard His Word which they learned at home through the inspiration of their parents even though their schools that are often hostile to Christianity.
Thursday
People have pointed out that the extreme polarization of wealth in China is socially unstable and dangerous. According to the standard set by the government, a family making 60000 to 500,000 RMB yearly，an monthly income of at least 50,000 is considered a middle-class family. Such monthly is unheard of among Chinese pastors so by this definition Christianity in China is still a religion of the poor. Let us pray for the churches in China that the shepherds will be faithful in spite of the financial and spiritual poverty of many churches.
Friday
There is a big competition among municipalities to host the “official worship” of famous Chinese historical figures. Many of these public festival or events are elaborate, meant to promote awareness, tourism, investment, or pure financial interest. Chinese are embracing the practice of ancestral worship with a vengeance. Let us pray for this trend, for people to look to fill the spiritual void and to avoid any shortcut to divine blessing.
Saturday
Most of the youth in China struggle with uncertainty about their futures. Their parents are much more concerned about the grades and future lives of their children. A majority of the young people feel their parents care only about their grades and a great majority of the parents agree that academic performance is the most important thing to them. We pray that Christian parents will know that godly children are really the thing that pleases God.
Sunday
The Communist Party has strictly forbidden any of their members to participate in any religious activities. People say that one in three of the members are religious--most commonly Buddhist, Taoist, and Muslim, in minority regions. Let us pray for those Party members who are practicing Christians. They have much to lose once their faith and convictions are exposed. We pray for their faithfulness to God, their fellowship in their local church and their growth in Christ.
Monday
The Communist Party must wrestle with these key issues in forbidding its members to practice religion: 1. Is Guanyin (goddess of fertility) an object of art or a deity to worship? 2. Is Islam a lifestyle or a faith for all Muslim minorities in China? Many Christians display Bible verses or a picture of the Cross at home to proclaim their faith. We praise God for the boldness of these Christians and pray they may they always be a powerful testimony for the gospel to their neighbors.


星期二
超過一半中國人認為中國普遍存在性別歧視，其中女性找工作比男性困難就是一個明證。即便受過高等教育，擁有博士學位，女性也會被投以異樣的眼光。挫折及歧視取代了毛澤東年代高唱的男女平等待遇的理想。我們禱告主，幫助所有姊妹們能按著神賦予的恩賜服事教會，尊主為大，懷著感恩的心事主愛人。也從神獲得加倍的靈力，在委身事奉中享受與神同行時滿溢的喜樂與充實。
星期三
中國半數的年輕人聲稱自己沒有宗教信仰。大約有四份之一人信仰共產主義；另外有十份之一信奉佛教，基督教或回教。雖然中國的憲制保障宗教自由，然而共產主義和無神論思想卻無孔不入滲透整個教育體制。我們要為所有中國信徒的子女禱告，求主親自堅固祂自己的話語，幫助下一代能從父母身教、言教上學到真理，保守他們在抗拒基督信仰的學校環境中能持守信仰。
星期四
人們認爲中國貧富兩極化將使社會不安定。根據中國政府的標準，年收入六至五十萬人民幣便可歸類為中產階級。一年六萬，相等於月入五千，全中國幾乎很少傳道人是月薪五千元的。按上述標準，中國的基督教可説是窮人的信仰。我們為中國教會禱告，求神大大加力給神的僕人們。在經濟和靈命都貧乏的許多教會裏面忠心服事，仍能以主為樂，事奉滿有果效。
星期五
中國各地風行「公祭熱」，引發了「祖宗爭奪戰」。對歷史名人的爭奪，已成全國的潮流。無論是爲了推廣文化意識、促進旅遊、拉投資、建功德或商業利益，這些公共慶典大都辦得有聲有色。祭祖是華人根深蒂固的文化傳統，近年來拜祭活動更是越演越烈。可惜人們用這些方式求平安和祝福是枉然的，求主讓人看到獲得神真實祝福的正確途徑。
星期六
在中國，很多青少年對未知的前途感到憂慮。事實上父母比自己的孩子更加重視他們的學業成績和前途。超過一半的年輕學子認為父母只關注他們的學業成績，而絕大部分的父母也認為盯好孩子學業成績是他們最重要的任務。求主校正基督徒父母的目光，能明白培育出敬虔的下一代才是真正討神喜悅之處。
星期日
共産黨嚴禁黨員參與一切宗教活動。據説三分之一的黨員有宗教信仰，其中最多信奉佛教、道教和伊斯蘭教（少數民族地區）。我們特別記念基督徒黨員，一旦信仰被公開，他們會蒙受極大的損失。我們禱告：為他們向神的忠心服事、在教會的團契、以及在主裏的成長向神求恩。
星期一
若共産黨要全面禁止黨員涉及宗教活動，必須首先解決幾個課題：其一，觀世音是藝術雕像還是膜拜的神像？其二，伊斯蘭是回民的生活方式還是宗教信仰？許多基督徒在家中掛放聖經金句或十字架表明自己的信仰，我們為這些家庭勇於公開信仰而感恩。求主保守並使用他們在街坊鄰里當中成爲福音最有力的見證。