Prayer Request 2/25 - 3/2

Tuesday
All the casinos in Macau were forced to close during the viral epidemic. It is illegal to gamble in China except for Macau Special Administrative Region. Since the return of Macau to China in 1999, it has become the world's largest gaming center. Chinese love to gamble which has destroyed countless families. We intercede for believers whose family members are gamblers. May the Lord set them free from the bondage of sin and save them. We also pray that churches will speak up against addictions and other social ills.
Wednesday
The viral outbreak and closures of cities have wreaked havoc on the education systems of China at all levels, forcing schools to close. The Education ministry quickly demanded schools to provide a study plan and curriculum to keep the 190 million elementary and middle school students busy during the suspension period. Children of believers have not been able to attend church for a couple of years because of the new religious policy. We pray that parents will teach the Bible stories to their own children, pray with them and spend time to tell what the Lord has done in their families.
Thursday
The Ministry of Education encourages extra-curricular reading and exercise, and online tutoring if possible, but it warned that elementary school students should not spend too much time online. The Education Television channel will launch a special program for students, which was used in the SARS epidemic in 2003. There is very little Christian parenting content online, making things worse so the majority of parents falsely believe that their children should decide on their religion once they are older. We pray that all of us will know God wants us to raise godly children for Him.
Friday
Schools in China will resume at different times differently from place to place. Some provinces, including Liaoning and Sichuan, may plan to reopen primary and secondary schools soon, while other provinces such as Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Guangdong have postponed the start date to at least March. We do not know when children and young people can return to church. We pray that there will be many parents like “By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Heb 11:23 (NIV)
Saturday
At the present time, most churches in China no longer have Sunday school for children. Some pastors with Christian educational training have started curriculum for parents, and organizing parenting conferences to raise the awareness of parents as far as spiritual growth of their children. We pray that God will raise up more resources to help parents, equipping more pastors to teach parents to instruct Biblical values to their children. Believer parents must assume the responsibility of nurturing their children.
Sunday
In China, education is highly competitive. In Guangzhou the number of children in a school said to prepare children for elementary school has doubled. Parents are willing to pay tens of thousands of yuans to get a space in this elite school. We pray specifically for Christian parents as they also feel the same pressure to push children to get ahead. May the Lord add to their faith so they will trust Him not only to provide what they need but also for His best plan for their children
Monday
In the past, little attention was given to helping parents teach their children Bible lessons and foster spiritual growth at home. Now, churches in China are not able to have children's ministries of any kind. Some pastors are trying to prepare materials for parents to use with their children. We pray that God will use all the pastors and ministries alike to design and create suitable curriculum as well as making them available to help parents in China to teach and communicate God’s love to their children. Parents must be taught and do the teaching themselves. “You shall teach them diligently to your children” (Duet 6:7)

星期二
澳門所有博彩經營場所以及其他娛樂設施，為減低新型冠狀病毒傳播的風險，關閉營業15天。中國境內除了澳門之外，其他博彩活動一概違法。澳門在1999年回歸中國，近年已成為世界上最大型的博彩中心。中國人好賭，賭博摧毀了無數家庭。我們特別為有嗜賭家人的信徒禱告，求主施恩拯救，使人能從賭癮中釋放，得著真正能叫人心靈滿足的救恩。幫助癮君子和病態賭徒，扶持他們與神及教會建立密切的關係。又求主興起信徒在社會舆論上為防治瘾癖和其他不公議題發聲。
星期三
病毒疫情已使中國的各級學校陷入混亂。教育部發布通知，敦促省級教育部門統一部署，為呆在家裡的學生製定詳細的學習計劃，設法讓中國1.9億的中、小學生在停課期間保持學習狀態。因著新的宗教政策，信徒的孩子已經不能參加教會聚會有兩年之久了。我們為父母能將神的話殷勤教導子女禱告，願意刻意安排時間與孩子一起讀經、禱告，也講述神在他們家中的作為。
星期四
教育部鼓勵課外閱讀和體育鍛煉，如果可能的話，還鼓勵網上輔導，不過另一方面也提醒小學生不該花太多時間在互聯網上。中國教育電視台有特別節目開播給學生們，該平台在2003年SARS期間也有類似的運作。網上對於如何幫助兒女愛主的資訊，幾乎寥寥無幾，更糟的是許多信徒家長錯誤認為孩子有選擇宗教的自由，讓他們成人之後自己選擇。求主憐憫，叫我們知道祂的心意是要從我們得著敬虔的後裔。
星期五
關於復課時間，目前中國各省情況不一。有些可能計劃二月下旬重新開放中、小學，而上海、浙江和廣東等則已將開學日期定為不早於3月。我們不知何時何日孩子們才能合法地與父母一同參加教會聚會。我們向天父懇求，有更多如同摩西父母一樣有堅定信心的信徒家長。「摩西生下來，他的父母見他是個俊美的孩子，就因著信，把他藏了三個月，並不怕王命。」(來11：23)
星期六
現在中國教會大都已經不能辦兒童主日學，一群完成基督教教育課程的傳道人已開展家長教育事工，如組織家長會，提升家長教養孩童信仰成長的意識；開辦家長課堂，教導父母如何在家中具體實踐兒童屬靈教育。求主賜福家長教育事工，帶領傳道人能裝備家長，幫助孩童建立基督教價值觀；並求主加力給家長，在教養孩童上滿有主的恩典與能力。
星期日
中國的教育競爭大，廣州某幼小銜接班去年的報讀人數激增兩倍。還有家長為了給孩子報讀「突擊班」，不惜交納上萬元的培訓費。我們特别為信徒家長禱告，在面對孩子升學壓力時，對神的信心不減少，不僅要相信神必為孩子的教育有足夠的預備，也深信祂在每個孩子身上都有最美好, 最獨特的計劃。
星期一
中國教會過去忽略幫助信徒父母教導子女聖經和注重培育信二代的靈命成長。現在因政策令教會不能有兒童主日學和任何孩童事工，有些牧者惟有開始供給家長教導子女的資源。求主使用牧者和信徒領袖所設計的內容，幫助信徒家長能傳授和傳達基督的信仰，這原是家長當盡的本分。「我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，也要殷勤教訓你的兒女。」（申 6：7）願我們都為屬靈的承傳盡心盡力。

Prayer Request 2/18 - 2/24

Tuesday
During this viral epidemic, there was rampant discrimination against Hubei people which is an indictment of the pride of Chinese people. Churches in China also have much discrimination by the urban churches toward those from the countryside, making them unwelcome and contributing to their loss of faith. Christians cannot despise people. We pray that God will give us a new heart, “have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2: 4 NIV) We ask God to have compassion for us and we must show compassion to others.
Wednesday
People in China are deeply poisoned by the Cultural Revolution, with a tendency to criticize and challenge others. Discussions in a church are often very tense, challenging and highly critical of others, to the point of “you are totally wrong, unbiblical, unspiritual or even labeling others "You do not love the Lord.” "Others despise or discriminate, but I don’t! " Many will say. "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD" (Lamentation 3:20). We pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our motives and conversations, so that we may be pleasing to Him.
Thursday
The Lord Jesus reminded us, "Judge not lest ye be judged." (Matt. 7: 1) We delight in finding fault or what’s wrong in other people. We love to be critical people and are proud of it. We pray that believers will reflect and be changed in this epidemic. We pray that the mercy and love of God will not be mere words, but they will put them into action, and this will start in our church, living our true acceptance and loving one another.
Friday
In the past ten years, the Chinese church has begun to participate in world missions. This is a wonderful start, and indeed we are grateful to God! However, there is still much national superiority and even arrogance that "Chinese will finish what the Westerners and Koreans started” or “Chinese will take the gospel back to Jerusalem", and have even boasted that "China is a great country for missions." Satan's biggest attack on the church is to seduce and test church leaders to make them proud. May the Holy Spirit illuminate us and we ask the Lord to deal with our pride.
Saturday
The tightened religious policy has brought great pain to all churches in China, but we know it is a way that God cleanses, prunes and refines His saints. We pray for all in the suffering, " If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Cor:26-27) Again, we ask God to help us, to pray steadfastly, with humility and a clear mind, be wise and observant in all things. “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6: 8 NIV).
Sunday
Chinese are very proud people, and Chinese Christians have even falsely believed that "God will use the Chinese to fulfill the Great Commission." We pray that the experience of this epidemic will make us see how insignificant and fragile we are truly understand that "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lament. 3:22-23) May the Spirit of God reveal to us that we need to rid the virus in our own hearts.
Monday
We are sinners under His grace, if it was not by God’s grace, we would still all be under His wrath and judgment. Although this is something we all know and has become our mantra, let us all be reminded, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV) On the day of His Judgment, we will be separated as believers and nonbelievers. So, we ask God to help us not to boast or be self-righteous, rather take delight in seeing how others love and have faith in Him, and spur us to imitate them.

星期二
中國這次爆發的新型病毒中，湖北人被歧視是非常普遍的，也顯出中國人自傲的本性。 中國教會裡也有輕看、甚至歧視的情況。城市信徒與外來的農民工格格不入，令外來信徒覺得城市教會不歡迎他們，導致農村信徒在城市流失。為何基督徒，教會也會輕看別人呢？求主校正信徒的心態，不偏心待人，或用惡意斷定人。（雅2:4) 求主賜給我們柔軟的心，當我們祈求神的憐憫，也應該以基督的心為心, 成為恩慈的管道去憐憫人。
星期三
中國人受到文革的影響，總是愛批判别人。 即使在教會中的討論，也常是彼此不服，滿了火藥味。 總認為自己比別人正確，見解更高明，更屬靈，甚至任意貼上他人不愛主的罪名。「別人輕看、歧視人， 我可沒有！」你我可能會這樣辯解。 「我們當深深考察自己的行為，再歸向耶和華。」（哀3:20），求神提醒祂的子民，必須常常在聖靈裡自省平日的行事為人，做一個得蒙神喜悅的人。
星期四
主耶穌提醒我們，「你們不要論斷人，免得你們被論斷。」（太7:1 ） 是的，挑毛病、找錯處、好批評是我們通有的劣性，但願基督徒在這次疫疾災難中顯出神的憐憫和慈愛，不是把愛人如己掛在嘴邊而不伸出援手，更不是站在道德的制高點上指責，而要以實際行動活出真正的彼此相愛和接納。
星期五
過去十年，中國教會開始參與普世宣教，這是個美好的開始，確實是我們要向神感恩的! 但是，中國教會很多時候還是以民族優越感為出發，認為中國教會可以很快地完成西方與韓國教會做不到的偉蹟，因為中國人比任何其他種族更適合把福音「傳回耶路撒冷」，甚至誇耀我們已經是「宣教的大國」。 撒旦對教會最大的攻擊就是引誘、試探教會領袖，使他們自高自傲。求聖靈光照我們，求主對付我們的驕傲與自義。
星期六
近幾年因政府宗教政策帶來的信心試煉與考驗，中國教會雖然是受到極大的打擊，但亦是神允許環境中的試煉來潔淨祂的聖徒。 我們應該為所有在受苦中的教會祈求，「若一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦；若一個肢體得榮耀，所有的肢體就一同快樂。 你們就是基督的身子，並且各自作肢體。」(林前12：26-27) 願神引領並幫助祂的兒女，能儆醒謹守，虛心清醒，作個聰明通達人，明白自己的道路，心存謙卑，與神同行（彌六8）。
星期日
中國人是自豪的民族，中國的基督徒也已「上帝需要中國人來完成祂的大使命」來誇耀。求主藉著這次的疫情災難，叫我們承認自己是多麼的渺小，一切享有的平安皆來自神的恩典和保守。 「我們不致消滅，是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛；是因祂的憐憫不致斷絕。你的誠實極其廣大！」(哀3:22-23) 願聖靈光照我們，求主先醫治我心中的病毒！也讓我們願意不再靠自己，讓基督在我們身上作工。
星期一
我們都是蒙恩的罪人，要不是神的恩典臨到我們，我們還在神的怒氣與審判之下。雖然，這些道理是基督徒都知道的，也常掛在口邊，求主再次提醒我們：並要以恩慈相待，存憐憫的心，彼此饒恕，正如神在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。（弗4:32）當審判的那日，在神的眼中只有信與不信的人。求主幫助我們不要自誇更不要自義，而是真心欣賞別人對主的信心和愛心，並以此為榜樣，願意起而效法。

Prayer Request 2/4 - 2/10

Tuesday
Churches in Wuhan face huge challenges and testing of faith because of the security of meetings and witness of faith, now, the ongoing viral infection. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you.” (Jer. 29:11 NIV). We believe in God’s promises and He permitted these trials, not to destroy us, but to build us up, therefore, we suffer with the people in this city and to intercede on behalf of the people of this city. (The entire contents are excerpts of an open letter from a pastor in Wuhan to his congregation)
Wednesday
Adversities come our way as a way to show us of His love to us, believers are not exempted, but we are not judged as others. Adversities are rather,opportunities to be close to God, to purify our souls and to share the gospel."Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". (Rom 8:35-39 MKJV)
Thursday
Christ is with us as we face the epidemic, but He is not affected by it and we are protected. If we die in this epidemic, we continue to be His witnesses and it is an opportunity to enter His glory.The epidemic in Wuhan cannot separate us from the love of Christ, who is our Lord Jesus Christ. How comforting these words are to us who are one with Christ. So, brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be strong in the love of Christ!
Friday
If we experience death and dying more because of this epidemic, we can understand the Bible better. We will also know the deeper and closer love of Christ that draws us closer to God. Like our Lord Jesus, Who experienced cruel death because of His faith we will be raised by God from death. He is now waiting for us at God's right hand. (Acts 2:32-26 MKJV) This is not only a visible disaster but also an invisible spiritual battle. Be ready to fight for your own heart and then fight for the souls of this city.
Saturday
Jesus said not one sparrow falls to the ground outside your Father’s care (Matt. 10:29). Is it not in God's will that millions in Wuhan face the epidemic? What the city is experiencing now, are we, the believers much like Abraham to Sodom and Jonah to Nineveh? If you lack the burden to pray, ask the Lord to give you a desire to love the unsaved souls and to pray earnestly; if you cannot weep, ask the Lord to give you tears, because we know that only the mercy of the Lord can save this city.
Sunday
Let us all be tormented like Lot for the wickedness of our city (2 Pet. 2: 7), and pray for Sodom as earnestly as Abraham (Gen. 18: 23-33). Jonah preached unwillingly to Nineveh and the Nineveh repented and was saved. We must be like Abraham and Jonah to Wuhan, pray that this city will reconcile with God and beseech His mercy, so the city will receive peace because of our prayers and witness here.
Monday
I believe it is a mission that God has called us to live in Wuhan, so we must pray for peace for this city, for all the infected people, all the medical personnel, officials at all levels and all the people who live nearby. Let us turn our eyes upon the Lord Jesus., not be anxious about our safety, and not lose heart, but pray in His name. We should utilize social media to share the gospel and comfort our minds and those of our relatives. Let us remember that our lives are not in our hands and we should trust our God Who is faithful.

星期二
武漢教會聚會的安全、信仰的見證、成員被傳染的可能，都對我們構成巨大挑戰，我們面臨著信心的試煉。 憑著主的應許相信，祂向我們所懷的是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念（耶29:11）祂許可試煉臨到，不是要拆毀我們，而是要建立我們。不僅要和這座城市裡的人同受苦難，更是要成為守望勇士, 為這座人心惶惶的城市與神和好來禱告。（以上內容是來自一位武漢牧師的公開信）
星期三
患難臨到我們，是上帝愛我們的一種方式，基督徒雖和世人一樣面對患難，但患難對他們而言不再是審判，而是更多親近上帝，潔淨靈魂，見證福音的機會。誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？難道是患難麼？是困苦麼？是逼迫麼？是飢餓麼？是赤身露體麼？是危險麼？是刀劍麼？…然而，靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。無論是死，是生, 是天使 ，是掌權的 ，是有能的 ，是現在的事 ，是將來的事 ，是高處的, 是低處的 ，是別的受造之物 ，… 都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的（羅 8:35-39）。
星期四
基督在這座城市裡和我們一同面臨瘟疫，瘟疫不能傷害祂，也必不能傷害我們，若我們在瘟疫中死去，仍然是基督的見證，更是進入祂榮耀的機會。武漢市的瘟疫也不能使我們與基督的愛隔絕，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。這話是何等地安慰我們，我們跟基督已經成為一體了。所以弟兄姐妹，我鼓勵你們靠基督的愛剛強！
星期五
如果我們在瘟疫裡更深地體驗死亡，理解福音，也會更深地經歷基督的愛，與上帝也更加接近。好像我們的主耶穌，祂因信經歷了殘酷無比的死亡，上帝卻使他從死裡復活，使祂坐在自己的右邊（徒2:32-36）。這不僅是一場看得見的災難，更是一場看不見的屬靈的爭戰，先要為你的心爭戰，然後為這座城市的靈魂爭戰。
星期六
一隻麻雀掉在地上都須上帝允許（太10:29），武漢市這麼多的生命面臨瘟疫，豈不更在上帝的旨意裡？我們所經歷的，豈不像從前亞伯拉罕面對所多瑪，約拿面臨尼尼微？如果你沒有禱告的負擔，求主賜給你愛靈魂、懇切禱告的心；如果你沒有哭泣，就求主賜你眼淚。因為我們深知，唯有仰望主的憐憫，才是這座城市的拯救。
星期日
但願我們都像羅得那樣為所在的城市憂傷（彼後 2:7），像亞伯拉罕那樣懇切地為所多瑪代禱（創18:23-33）。約拿勉強傳福音給尼尼微，尼尼微城就悔改得救了。我們就是這個城市的亞伯拉罕和約拿，我們要替基督求這座城市與上帝和好，也要替這座城市呼求上帝的憐憫，叫整座城市因我們的禱告和見證得平安。
星期一
我相信，這就是上帝呼召我們生活在武漢的信徒的使命，我們要為這座城市求平安，為感染的病人求平安，為戰鬥在一線的醫護人員求平安，為各級政府工作人員求平安，為武漢市的所有百姓求平安！請你把眼光轉移到主耶穌那裡，不再為自己的安危擔心，也不再彷徨失措，而要奉主耶穌的名禱告。我們也可以通過網路，用福音引導和安慰親朋好友，提醒他們生命不在自己手中，要把生命交托給信實的上帝。