Prayer Request 4/30 - 5/6

Tuesday
For decades, China harshly restricted the number of babies born. Now it is encouraging women to have more. It is a startling reversal for the Party, which only a short time ago imposed fines on those who had more than one child and compelled hundreds of millions to have abortions or undergo sterilization operations. Churches in China have not seriously focused on how to minister to the second generation, helping parents and the young ones to build faith in God. We pray that pastors will know how to help parents realize and accomplish the responsibility of raising a godly second generation.
Wednesday
Almost four years after easing its “one child” policy and allowing couples to have two children, the government has begun to acknowledge that its efforts to raise the country’s birth rate are faltering because parents are deciding against having more children. The young pastors in China are now mostly the product of the one-child policy. This means that in addition to the church work, they shoulder they have the responsibility to care for their parents. We pray for added strength for them as they take care of their parents and that they will be able to become a role model of honoring parents for their believers.
Thursday
The new campaign has raised the fear that China may go from one invasive extreme to another in getting women to have more children. Some provinces are already tightening access to abortion or making it more difficult to get divorced. Selective abortion is a major social problem in China. There is an overwhelming low view of birth and fetal lives, the same attitude is common among believers. However, pastors tend to ignore this issue. We pray that churches will be bold in teaching the Biblical view and help believers understand the heart of God about life.
Friday
In what appeared to be a trial balloon to test public sentiment, the provincial government in Shaanxi, in central China, called on Beijing to abolish all birth limits and let people have as many children as they want. This is so radical because most young Chinese have no siblings. We pray for the blessing of God for all the women believers in China, and that the Lord gives them good health and strength in their roles in marriage, work, and family. Above all, we pray they will experience His presence and be the source of great blessing to their households.
Saturday
Experts say the government has little choice but to encourage more births. China’s more than 1.4 billion population is aging quickly, with a smaller workforce left to support a growing elderly population that is living longer. Some provinces have already reported difficulties meeting pension payments. There are many old people in churches in China and this phenomenon will be even more pronounced in the future. We pray for vision and strategies to reach the younger generations and older folks in the community, and minister to those in churches.
Sunday
As in many countries, educated women in Chinese cities are postponing childbirth as they pursue careers. Young couples are also struggling with economic pressures, including rising housing and education costs. Young Chinese mothers often continue to work outside of their home after the birth of their children. Grandparents usually assume partially, if not totally the responsibility of caring for the children. We pray that believer parents will know helping their children to know God is the most important thing of raising children.
Monday
The “one child” policy also resulted in more boys than girls being born. Selective abortions, although illegal, were performed, reflecting the traditional preference for male children. Because of that and other factors, there are now simply fewer women to marry and bear children. The traditional preference for boy over girl babies is difficult to change. We pray that believers will have the Biblical view and value, knowing God gives boys and girls, without any preference. And, God desires the parents to manage the most precious gifts and blessing He graciously gives us.


星期二
數十年來，中國嚴格限制女性生育，現今卻鼓勵她們多生，這是一個驚人的轉變！前些年，絕大多數超生的父母還要被處以罰款，數億女性被迫墮胎或進行絕育手術。中國教會因著各種原因，沒有重視幫助信徒的第二代建立信仰。求主光照教會領袖體察主心意，又賜下智慧去協助信徒實踐神的託付，為神養育出敬虔愛主的第二代。
星期三
在放寬獨生子女政策(允許生二胎)近四年後，政府開始承認企圖提高出生率的努力不太成功，因為現今的父母不願意多要孩子。很多新一代傳道人都是獨生子女，除了為教會服事忙碌外，他們也要照顧家庭、關心父母。求主加添他們身心靈力量，也能盡上孝道，成為信徒孝敬父母的好榜樣。
星期四
為了增加人口和鼓勵生育，中國可能會從一個極端走向另一個極端。有一些省份已經收緊了對墮胎的控制，或者加大了離婚的難度。選擇性人工流產是中國社會的一大問題。這樣普遍對生育的輕率態度，甚至連信徒也存著相類的想法，牧者也不願多提這些的問題。我們為教會在這方面能秉持真理教導來禱告，願神幫助信徒認識神的心意，不要隨從世界的風俗，任意而行。
星期五
中國陝西省政府呼籲北京全面放開生育，讓人們想要多少孩子就生多少，這似乎是在試探公眾的態度。中國絕大多數的千禧一代都沒有兄弟姐妹。我們為神家中的眾姊妹禱告，求神賜她們身心靈健康，不論婚姻、工作、家庭和身為母親的角色都有神額外的恩典，天天經歷神的同在，成為身邊人的祝福。
星期六
面對老齡化問題，中國政府除了鼓勵生育外，似乎沒有其他更好的方法。中國是世界上人口最多的國家(超過十四億人口)，目前正經歷快速老齡化的嚴峻挑戰，一些省份已難以支付養老金。中國教會的特色本來就是老人多，自然更快反映出社會的老化現象。我們為教會有異象禱告，不單能吸引年輕一代，更有美好策略向社區中年長人士傳福音，並鼓勵年長信徒多參與服事。
星期日
中國城市裡受過教育的女性在追求事業的同時，也推遲了生育孩子。不斷上漲的住房和教育成本等經濟壓力，更令年輕夫婦疲於應付。年輕中國母親們在孩子出生後，一般都會繼續在外工作，孩子的照顧仰賴祖父母，甚至把幼小的孩子完全交給他們照顧。求主幫助信徒家長，明白養育兒女最重要也最有價值的是幫助孩子從小認識神，一生蒙保守祝福。
星期一
獨生子女政策導致出生的男孩多於女孩。由於重男輕女的傳統，儘管選擇性墮胎不合法，一些父母仍會因胎兒的性別而墮胎。因著這重男輕女的態度，以及其他種種因素影響，現在願意結婚和生育的女性數量也減少了。中國傳統重男輕女的價值觀，不是一、兩代就能改變的。我們為信徒有合乎聖經真理的價值觀禱告，知道孩子，不論是男是女，都是神所賜的，是父母要立志為主照顧經營好的神聖產業。