Prayer Request 4/23 - 4/29

Tuesday
In China, cocaine, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine are all highly illegal, but despite waves of crackdown, the use of illegal drugs in China, new and older substances continues unabated. There are Christian ministries specifically helping the addicts with the love and power of Jesus Christ through proven programs, even as early as the 19th century. Although most churches do not know of their existence and what they do, we pray for them and their coworkers.
Wednesday
China keeps expanding its anti-drug campaigns which have included the high-profile arrest of celebrities like the son of the movie star Jackie Chan. However, some analysts question whether the police are winning a significant or lasting victory in what the authorities have called a “people’s war.” Churches have few resources to help people with any kind of addiction so they often say that addiction is due to "lack of faith in God to change". We pray for true salvation through Jesus Christ for all who are bound in the bondage of addiction as well as compassion for them by people in the churches.
Thursday
It is estimated that the actual number of addicts in China is roughly thirteen million and that seventy-five percent of them are younger than thirty-five with half of them suspected of using methamphetamine. Drug addicts may not attend churches, but their families do and they are too embarrassed to tell anyone about the people in their families who use drugs. We pray for God’s comfort and ever stronger faith in His healing for all who have a loved one who has a drug addiction. May the Lord hear and answer their prayers.
Friday
China has some of the world’s harshest drug laws: those caught trafficking large amounts of drugs can face the death penalty, the police send casual drug users to compulsory drug rehabilitation centers, which human rights groups say are little more than labor camps. Many who are involved in helping drug addiction are former addicts who were saved by God. We pray that they will continue to stay clean and depend on God as they help other addicts. “When you are converted, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
Saturday
Meth is popular because any illegal lab or factory in the mainland can make it. Some of the key ingredients in meth are derived from the herb ephedra, known as ma huang in Mandarin, a staple of traditional Chinese medicine used for treating colds and coughs. Addiction not only destroys a person but also his/her entire family. We pray that churches can be compassionate and come together to provide prayer and substantial support for the family. Often, the church finds it is too overwhelmed or does not even know how to help.
Sunday
Another reason for the low wages for pastors in China is Chinese pastors have always been poor so Christians wrongly assume “all pastors should be poor” and even believe Jesus loves the poor more than the rich or being poor makes one love God more. Churches and believers should do their part in providing for their shepherd. 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.
Monday
In China, heresy and cults from Europe and America have expanded a lot in the past decade. The main ones are the Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormon that have gained a following among the intellectuals and the middle class. There are many Chinese believers who lack a foundation of faith and cannot discern the truth. They are readily attracted by the "enthusiasm" of heresy followers. We need to pray for the solid teaching of the truth in all churches and for a warning to believers of how to guard against and know the ploys cults use to steal the sheep.


星期二
在毒品問題全球化的大背景下，中國境外毒品滲透和國內製毒蔓延相互的影響，傳統毒品和新型毒品相互疊加，毒品網上傳播和網下蔓延相互交織，雖經政府大力嚴控，仍無法遏止新舊毒瘾患者的增勢。福音戒毒源遠流長，中國早在十九世紀已有福音戒毒；他們以神的愛，主耶穌全人拯救的大能，藉著有效的方式幫助吸毒者。求主繼續使用這些事工，成為許多人的祝福！
星期三
面對嚴峻複雜的毒品擴散形勢，中國政府著力構建全覆蓋毒品預防教育、全環節管控吸毒人員、全鏈條打擊毒品犯罪、全要素監管制毒物品、全方位監測毒情態勢、全球化禁毒國際合作的“六全”中國毒品治理體系。面對毒癮的問題，教會常是不知所措或責怪吸毒者沒有信心和毅力來戒除。我們為主耶穌的救恩速臨到受毒癮綑綁的人禱告，也求主使教會多有憐憫愛心來幫助他們。
星期四
2017年，全中國禁毒部門共破獲毒品刑事案件14萬起，打擊製販毒團集團5534個，抓獲毒品犯罪嫌疑人16.9萬名，繳獲各類毒品89.2噸，目前毒品形勢穩中可控。有些信徒的家人染有毒癮，他們心裡憂愁卻因要保護家人或感羞恥而不敢請弟兄姊妹代禱。求主親自安慰、醫治他們的家庭，願神垂聽、回應他們帶著眼淚的呼求。
星期五
中國的禁毒法律是世界上最嚴厲的：買賣毒品可被被判處死刑，並且警方有權將偶爾吸毒的人員送去強制戒毒中心。據人權組織稱，強制戒毒中心幾乎和勞改營無異。好些福音戒毒同工也曾經有毒癮，蒙神拯救後有負擔向吸毒者傳福音。求主保守加添他們力量，不再跌倒，而是如同《路加福音》22章32節「你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄」。
星期六
冰毒很流行，因為中國許多非法實驗室或工廠都能輕易製造出冰毒。冰毒的一些關鍵原料取自麻黃，這是治療感冒和咳嗽的主要中藥。任何的癮癖不單是影響自身，更是禍延全家。教會往往不知如何幫助有這方面難處的家庭，也不好意思主動介入。求主賜下智慧，心存憐憫，讓教會除了為吸毒者的家人齊心禱告外，更能實際施予援手。
星期日
老一代牧者一生愛主，曾面對許多艱苦的日子，往往造成信徒認為傳道人「就是應該如此」，甚至有人認為貧窮才能愛主，主耶穌會更愛窮人。求主興起教會中有奉獻心志的信徒，盡力照顧年長牧者，給予「一對一」的支援幫助，將關愛化為實際的行動，盡教會與信徒當盡的本份。
星期一
目前來自歐美的異端邪教在中國橫行。來自美國的異端邪教主要有「耶和華見證人」和「摩門教」，他們在知識分子和中產階級當中很有市場。有不少基督徒沒有扎實信仰根基，只有一股火熱，不能分辨真理，被異端的「熱心」吸引。求主幫助教會加強真理的教導，也裝備信徒如何防備和識破異端邪教的技倆。