Prayer Request 12/18 - 12/24

Tuesday
Many churches in China are considered very affluent but their pastors still live in poverty which gives the impression that churches there would rather spend big money on their church buildings but not on supporting their pastors financially. A lack of genuine respect for pastors is reflected in how they are poorly compensated and this is a big problem for the growth of churches in China. We pray for the revival of all churches and believers that they will first honor God's servants.
Wednesday
Some well-to-do Christian people in China demand that their pastors live by faith so they are poor which is really causing their pastors to be poor because they lack love for them. We pray that churches and believers will do their part to improve the living condition of their pastor because they should mutually serve one another.
Thursday
One reason Chinese pastors are poor is that Western missionaries who came years ago fostered it. In those days China was backward so the missionaries gave to the believers and did not teach them to give and support their pastors themselves. Now many of the churches are in a legal gray zone so the pastors cannot really have a legal status of being employed. We pray that people in the churches will honor those who serve the church with a compensation that is reasonable and decent.
Friday
Another reason for pastors in China being poor is that the older pastors have always lived that way so the Christians wrongly assume that all pastors should be poor and they even believe that God loves the poor more than the rich or that being poor makes one love God more highly. We pray that there will be believers in every church who would directly support their pastor, so their love for God’s servant is not merely in words but in action. Churches and believers should do their part in providing for their shepherd and respecting God's servant.
Saturday
In China, about fifteen percent of divorce petitions are due to domestic violence which is next to the top reason for divorce. Men are the overwhelming culprits, engaging in physical ting and verbal abuse. Most churches there are still "stuck" in deciding whether a divorce is Biblically sanctioned. We pray that churches will provide counseling​, assist in temporary separation, or accompany the couple to tests, reports, and seeking legal aid.
Sunday
In general, rural believers in China do not tithe regularly and their pastors must work to support themselves. Many church workers have given up serving and sought work and better lives for their families in the cities. We pray for those pastors who have chosen to stay in their villages. May the Lord give them strength and passion to serve Him faithfully and fruitfully. We pray, too for their spouses and especially the educational need of their children.
Monday
It is a fact that there are more women than men among urban churches in China and among teenagers girls outnumber boys. This phenomenon is most likely due to their obedience and dependency on their parents. Very few churches have any program for youth and many refuse to go to church. We pray for wisdom and persistence for believer parents of teenagers, as they maintain a good relationship with their teens and continue to have a spiritual influence on them.


星期二
不少中國教會已經富起來了，但傳道人及牧者卻仍過著捉襟見肘的生活。「有錢建教堂，沒錢供應傳道人。」，這是國內一些教會的實況。教會不願供應傳道人生活的需要，其實是缺乏對傳道人應得的尊敬，這是中國教會發展的一大問題。求主復興教會和信徒們，也激勵信徒先要敬重神的工人。
星期三
中國生活富裕的信徒漠視傳道人的經濟需要，給予的「屬靈」解釋是：傳道人要靠信心來生活。傳道人生活貧困的現象，往往是信徒對聖經真理認知的偏差所致。求主幫助教會與信徒盡上他們的本份，改善傳道人的困境；又求神幫助傳道人與信徒之間能建立彼此服事、彼此體恤的關係。
星期四
在中國經濟落後的時期，西方傳教士在傳揚福音的同時也在物質上給予會眾幫助，不知不覺形成：到教會就是要「得到」的觀念；以致今天許多信徒對金錢奉獻仍然缺少操練。許多中國教會沒有註冊，他們的牧者也沒有法律和職業的保障。求主幫助眾教會敬重他們的牧者，按著神在他們的心裡的感動，成為神供應傳道人養生需要的管道。
星期五
老一代牧者一生愛主，一直甘心樂意過艱苦的生活。許多信徒誤認為傳道人經濟貧乏是「應該就是如此」，甚至認為主耶穌更愛窮人，貧窮才能愛主。求主興起教會中有奉獻心志的信徒給予牧者「一對一」的支援幫助，將關愛由言語化為實際的行動，盡教會與信徒敬重、照顧牧者當盡的本份。
星期六
中國夫妻申請離婚的原因，大約有15%是因為家暴，是離婚原因的第二位。其中，絕大多數是男性施暴 (毆打和辱罵)。許多教會領袖在遇到信徒家庭發生家暴時，還停留在討論是否應該離婚的階段。求神幫助教會能以實際行動落實支援受害者，例如：安排輔導者陪伴、安慰，協助暫時分居，陪同去驗傷、報警、尋求法律援助等。
星期日
一般而言，農村信徒的金錢奉獻並不多，以致牧者亦需要帶職事奉才能維生，甚至不少農村傳道人放棄服侍，到城市裡打工，尋找更好的生活。我們為那些選擇留在村裡的牧者禱告，求主自己加添力量和服事的火熱，使他們靠主繼續忠心擺上，也見到事奉的果效。我們也為他們的配偶和家庭禱告，尤其是他們最擔憂的子女教育的需要，求主供應他們一切的所需。
星期一
中國都市教會中的男女比例失衡是事實。9 - 18歲的少年中，也是女多男少，因著男孩和女孩在順從和依賴感上有性別差異。 有青少年事工的教會是佔少數，年輕人也覺得教會無聊。我們為有青少年的信徒家長祈求，願神加添他們智慧，持守他們有健康的親子關係，能繼續給子女們靈命上的正向影響。