Prayer Request 3/26 - 4/1

Tuesday
A study shows that Chinese migrant workers who moved from villages to cities were rewarded with higher incomes but they actually ended up less happy than the people they left behind. Migrant believers have their own spiritual issues, they are so busy working and earning a living to support their families back in the village. We pray that believers would have faith and trust in God, and honor Him above all things. And they will also be able to overcome the temptation of living alone and away from their families.
Wednesday
Reasons may be complicated as to why migrants are not happy. Some reasons are unrealistic expectations, unfulfilled aspirations, insecure jobs, living in a neighborhood where everyone is wealthier. The true answer may be all of the above. Many migrants who are believers, although they may have the Bible knowledge but lack personal spiritual discipline. We pray that more rural churches will intentionally equip young people to know the lure of temptation by preparing them to live in the city.
Thursday
In China, the average income of rural-urban migrants was nearly 2 1/2 times higher than that of rural residents. Permanent residents of cities, with an urban residence registration or hukuo are wealthier than village people. It is difficult to estimate how many rural believers stopped attending church in cities where they live. We pray that God raises up people who will minister to them and bring them back to fellowship with God.
Friday
According to a study called “Happiness Study”, the happiest group of people is the people who had stayed behind in the villages, followed by Urban-born Chinese. Migrants in the cities are the least happy people in China. Urbanization and the massive migration from villages to cities in China will continue in the near future. We pray that church leaders will have the vision, urgency, and strategies in place to minister accordingly, especially to the massive number of migrants who are lonely and discontent.
Saturday
Migrants are the least happy people in China, partly because of economic and social discrimination. People from rural families have a rural residence registration or hukou, that can’t be altered even if they move to the cities, thus they are unable to enjoy many social benefits available to the city residents. It is very true that believers with the rural background cannot fit into urban churches well, their clothing, accents, and demeanors are drastically different. We pray that all believers will learn to accept and love people who are different and see how we all strive to conform to His likeness.
Sunday
Under the Communist rule in China, the country has been divided by what is sometimes known as an “invisible Great Wall” - the great divide of the urban versus the rural, and the poor versus the wealthy. We pray that church leaders would have vision and strategy to minister to the migrant believers in China's second and third tiered cities where most of the migrants in the near future will be moving to.
Monday
If people in China migrate to the cities, it is often much harder to access jobs, housing, education, and healthcare there for anyone with a rural hukou. Many are forced to leave their children behind in the villages, to be brought up by grandparents. It may be another generation before rural believers can be integrated into urban churches. We pray that city believers will be more accepting, putting aside their prejudices and even disdain toward their fellow believers from the villages.


星期二
據一項研究顯示，農民工在城市雖然得到更高的收入，但是卻比留在農村的人感覺生活不幸福和不滿意。信主的農民工有很多靈命上的挑戰。在城市裡，他們為口奔馳，還要在經濟上支持留在農村的家人。我們為他們能對神持守信心，學習仰望交託主禱告。求聖靈指教、引導他們，常常連於主，將主放在首位，也保守他們在遠離家人孤單自處的日子裡，不落入各樣的試探中。
星期三
從農村移居到城市的人感到不幸福的原因很複雜，其中可能因為期望落空、抱負實現無望、工作不穩定，自身對比於富裕社區内的高收入隣居等等；真正答案可能是以上因素均有。許多基督徒農民工雖然有些聖經知識，但靈命卻幼嫩。我們禱會農村教會多著重教導年輕信徒如何勝過城市的誘惑，幫助他們到城市打工之前就有心裡和靈命的好準備。
星期四
中國城鄉民工的平均收入高於農村居民接近2.5倍。擁有城市居住登記或戶口的城市永久居民遠比農村居民的生活富裕得多。目前到底多少農民工信徒到了城裡不再參加教會聚會？數目難以估計。我們求主興起關心民工的信徒，願意幫助他們在城市裡繼續持守信仰，結伴同走天路。
星期五
根據一項名為「快樂研究」的資料顯示，農村居民最幸福，其次是城市出生的人，而從農村移居到城市的人是最感受不到幸福的一群。中國的城市化正不斷加速，求主賜教會領袖有異象來牧養這一大批遷徙而至的農民，把握機會給正值感到孤單無援的人群，適時介紹天父上帝的愛、主耶穌無價的救恩。
星期六
離鄉別井到其他省會工作的人最感到不幸福，部分原因可能是面臨生活環境巨大轉變、經濟壓力和社會歧視。具有農村背景的信徒不容易融入城市教會，他們的服裝、口音和氣質都與城巿人截然不同。求神幫助神的兒女能在主的愛裡，學習接納和愛護與自己不同的人，跟隨主的腳蹤行，活出主的樣式。
星期日
共產主義領導的中國，似乎被城與郊、貧與富等等一道道「無形的長城」分裂了。求神賜教會領袖對中國二線和三線農民工的福音需要有負擔、有所因應。因為在不久的將來，這些城市將會迎來大批來自農村的居民進駐，大家應如何裝備好自己為主的國度使命擺上，收穫發白的庄稼，滿足神的期許。
星期一
農民工在城市越來越難就業，因戶口仍在農村，不能享有城巿的住房、教育和醫療保健等福利；許多人都被迫將孩子留在農村，由祖父母撫養，在農民工融入城市教會之前，這些兒童又將成新一世代了。我們為「留守兒童」禱告，求神額外施恩憐憫，在沒父母直接照顧下，仍能身心健康成長；也有機會認識福音，早得神的慈愛和恩典。也求神挪去城市信徒的偏狹和自傲，以恩慈接納從他鄉來的主内肢體。