Prayer Request 3/15-3/21

Tuesday
China unveiled law authorizing preemptive attack to prevent Taiwan seeking formal independence, but said an attack would be a last resort. Taiwan plans for million people march for show of solidarity. With the tension and confrontational rhetoric, again we pray for divine wisdom of the national leaders and especially for the revival of the 1 million believers and 4700 churches on the island.

Wednesday
Last year the divorce rate soared by 20% (1.6 million couples) due to the simplified procedures used and the one-child policy. The previous regulations required consent from the employer or a residence committee . There is less stigma to being divorced these days and more people think they have the right to get divorced if they are no longer in love with their spouse. Let us pray for badly needed counseling in family/marriage relationships as well as for more resources for pastors in this area.

Thursday
100,000 volunteers, mostly college and high school students will be recruited for the 2008 Beijing Olympic. The opening ceremony is expected to attract 4 billions global TV viewers. Government has also order cab drivers to learn English and manner training. Although years away, plans are in place to share Gospel during this 2 week long Olympic event. Let us pray the Chinese believers and ministries who are praying and preparing for this bold outreach effort .

Friday
A government survey shows that only ten percent of Chinese in five large cities consider Washington a friendly government. Nearly fifty-seven percent think the United States is trying to contain China due to her close ties with Japan and Taiwan. A large amount of support for Chinese churches, both Three-Self and House churches come from the United States, so this generally negative attitude hampers co-operative efforts. Let us pray for humility of both the giver and the receiver .

Saturday
A new compulsory testing for HIV/AIDS and venereal disease for all public workers in entertainment, beauty parlors, massage centers, and disco operators sparked controversy. These workers are commonly associated with prostitution and this law implies sanction by the government of prostitution. The temptation to prostitution, not only for believers but for all church workers, is very great in China. Let us pray for the spiritual warfare they face and even more importantly, the guarding of hearts for all Christian workers .

Sunday
Pharmacies sell all kinds of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription and nearly everyone takes antibiotics for the common cold and fevers. Fake, impure, and even toxic substances are sold as medicines. RU486, an abortion pill is available for 1 USD each.
Self-medicating and taking medicine is deeply entrenched in the Chinese mentality. Let us pray especially for those young women who must struggle with the decision of abortion.


Monday
Many church workers in the rural area are farmers who support themselves and their ministry this way. With the prices for many agricultural products going down, many must seek additional work to survive or even continue to shepherd the flocks in the villages.
Let us pray for the effort of Christian agricultural scientists, church leaders, and some business people in Taiwan who are forming plans to help rural churches achieve sustained economic and spiritual growth.

星期二
目的在抑制”台獨”勢力的反分裂法在全國人大通過。當台灣從中國分裂出去，或和平統一的可能完全喪失，北京將採取非和平及其他措施來維持國家主權和領土完整。台灣將於3/26舉行百萬人大遊行抗議反分裂法。讓我們在禱告中記念充滿潛在危機的台灣海峽，求神賜智慧給兩岸領導人，為人民謀長遠福祉。也為台灣島上4700間教會近100萬信徒的靈命復興禱告。

星期三
去年離婚率上升20%(160萬對)，簡單的離婚手續和一胎化政策是導因，新的《婚姻登記管理條例》中，辦理結婚或離婚手續，都不用到單位開介紹信，只需帶戶口本、身份證和結婚證去辦理，離婚的家庭會因此增加了，現在離婚不再是一件羞耻的事，當他們感覺不再愛配偶時，就有權利離婚．讓我們為要結婚或離婚年輕男女來禱告，神對家庭是為極為看重的，也爲家庭/婚姻輔導事工的迫切需要代禱．

星期四
將有100,000的義工將被甄選參與2008年的奧運會．這些義工多數為高中及大學學生．開幕典禮預計將吸引40億的全球電視觀衆的目光．政府也要求計程車司機接受英語和禮貌訓練．離奧運會雖然還有一段時間，但要在爲期兩周的奧運會的福音事工，國內信徒已經著手計畫進行．讓我們爲奧運期間的福音事工代禱．

星期五
據官方調查顯示，在國內的5大城市之中，只有10%的人認爲美國是個友善的政府．約57%中國人認爲美國與日及台的密切關係是嘗試在對抗中國．國內教會與多的金錢資助來自美國．對美國的消極思想及負面態度將會妨礙彼此的合作．我們爲著施與受心雙方皆能存謙卑的心來代禱．

星期六
美容美髮、歌舞娛樂、桑拿浴室、按摩足浴等公共娛樂場所從業人員是愛滋病傳播的高危人群。河南所有公共娛樂場所從業人員，上崗前必須進行性病、愛滋病相關項目檢測，並接受防治知識培訓。但此政策意味著對政府對色情行業將加強管理．現今社會上有許多誘惑及試探，包括信徒，同工們亦面對此挑戰．讓我們爲這場屬靈哉爭禱告，求主保守信徒的心懷意念．

星期日
非處方藥劑在坊間藥房隨手可得，發燒感冒無醫生的處方籤，私自到藥房購買各類抗生素的情形更是常見．RU 486墮胎藥丸，一顆僅售一塊美元．部分不肖業者出售假藥牟利，有些假藥甚至成分含毒．中國人喜歡吃藥，有病吃藥無補身是一種潮流，藥物濫用的情形嚴重．讓我們爲中國人醫藥保健及年輕婦女在墮胎抉擇事上獻上禱告．求神讓祂自己的話語成為這世代最好的良藥，帶領心靈孤寂無依的人，找到真正的生命泉源。

星期一
農村教會的同工大部分都是農夫，他們不但在經濟上需要自給自足並且出錢資助教會事工．最近農產品價格下跌，使許多人要尋找額外工作來求生存，仍能繼續牧養信徒．許多著基督徒農業學家，教會領袖和一些臺商推動一些計劃希望能幫助這些農村教會，讓我們爲農村教會達到經濟和屬靈上的成長代禱．