Prayer Request 9/20--9/26

Tuesday
Hong Kong Disneyland opened to huge crowds from all over Asia. Hong Kong government owns 57% of this venture, and expects 1/3 of its visitors (5.6 million first year alone) coming from China. Shanghai Disneyland is scheduled to open in 2012. Tourists from Mainland China are flooding to Hong Kong and Taiwan, creating a huge opportunity for innovative personal and public sharing of Gospel. Let us pray for vision of evangelism among churches on both islands .

Wednesday
70% of singles older than 35 years old are female in Guangdong. Most marriage introductory agencies consider their female clients older than 38 years “unmarriageable”. Older than 35 is an obstacle in seeking a job in China, being 38 is even worse for single woman. Let us pray for all the single believers, may they find true fulfillment in their walk with the Lord, and contentment in the face of social pressure .

Thursday
A pan-Asian survey reveals that 80% of Chinese women use cosmetics routinely, and nearly half consider themselves overweigh. For Chinese, 70% consider themselves most beautiful before 30 years old. The average age of female Chinese believers is probably 40-50 years old, and definitely older among the rural churches. Let us remember all the women in the role of teaching, preaching and leading the congregations, no matter of their ages .

Friday
Each family of the 123 victims in a flooded coal mine in China's Guangdong last month will be paid 200,000 yuan (25,000 USD) for compensation. The compensation is the highest for industrial-related death. “How much is a life worth?” Such a question may sound insensitive, but tens of thousands of poor church workers passed away and leave nothing for their families. Pray for God’s provision for the descendents of righteous .

Saturday
Beijing University caught in discrimination controversy. Nearly 80% of its Foreign Language School is female and the school wants to lower the ratio by admitting lesser qualified male students. Another year of school means new faces in all the campus Bible study groups, many more women as well. Let us pray not only for new converts and even young men and women who will dedicate themselves to the Lord for full time ministry .

Sunday
20% of sexually-transmitted disease cases are in Guangdong province. The incidence of HIV infection has also increased 10 folds, now 1.3% of the population. Admittedly, sex-trades is rampant not only in the large cities, but along the highway stops. Guangdong is a place of temptation for all believers. Let us pray for divine protection and guarding of hearts for all who lives, works and station there .

Monday
Chinese language can be very different in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. There are many unique phrases, terms and expressions, which confound and puzzling even Chinese. In order to translate Christian books and articles, at least 3 versions are needed to ensure “comfort level” of the intended readers. Let us pray for all the printing and publishing of Christian titles, teaching materials which must overcome some of these unique problems .

星期二
港府擁有57%股份的香港迪士尼開幕了，吸引蜂湧而至的亞洲遊客，預期第一年將高達560萬人次，其中35%是來自中國內地。繼香港之後，上海迪士尼樂園預計要在2012年開幕。國內龐大的觀光客將湧向香港，創造一個針對個人及大眾傳揚福音的大好良機。讓我們為鄰近台灣與香港教會同心復興福音的異象，願意積極裝備自己，出去為主收割發白的莊稼而禱告。

星期三
據估目前廣東省35歲以上未婚大齡青年中，女性比例高達70%，大多數的婚姻介紹所會把齡超38的女士婉拒門外，理由是沒有“市場”難於推介。35歲是中國人謀職的關卡，而38歲又是中國女士婚姻的另一個難關。讓我們為所有單身的信徒禱告，願她們在與主同行的人生路上，找到真正的滿足與喜樂，也能有自信面對來自社會傳統的壓力。

星期四
一項泛亞洲女性審美調查顯示，八成的中國女性會使用化妝品修飾自己，超過一半選擇美白産品增加魅力，45%自認爲體重過重。中國七成女性認爲30歲前是最美時光。中國女信徒的年齡大多在40-50之間，農村教會的姊妹又更年長些。讓我們記念所有婦女不論年齡長幼，在神家中司職教導、講道和領會的勞苦擺上。願神親手扶持祝福她們。

星期五
上月廣東省煤礦淹水災變的每位罹難者家庭可獲20萬人民幣(2萬5千美金)撫恤金，創下歷來因公死亡最高賠償額。「一條命值幾文錢？」聽起來頗粗魯，但成千上萬的貧困教會的同工去世後，卻沒有任何財產可以留給他們的家人。我們禱告公義的主照著衪的信實豐富供應衪僕人的後裔。

星期六
北大外國語學院針對男女性別設立不同的分數錄取線。許多高校外國語學院幾乎80%是女生，校方用降低男生錄取分數來調控男女比例。雖近年來高校女生數量大增，但整體來說，受高等教育的男生仍多於女生。新學年開始了，意味著所有校園查經班裡出現許多新面孔，更多女性在其中。讓我們禱告不只是結滿新葡，更是能有更多年輕男女回應神的呼召，全時間獻身服事主。

星期日
在廣東省， 隨著性觀念的開放，2004年新發性病案件比2003年同期上升超過20%，愛滋病經過性途徑感染的數量在過去五年間上升10倍，愛滋高危險群陽性率占人口的1.3%。我們必須承認，對所有的信徒而言，廣東是一個到處充滿誘惑的地方，讓我們特別為在當地不論是工作、經商與生活的所有人禱告，求主不叫他們遇見試探，保守他們的心勝過保守一切。

星期一
兩岸三地大陸、香港、台灣的中文，因著各地表達方式、使用句法、慣用詞語的不同，即使是華人有時都會混淆或誤解原文的意思。因此，當翻譯基督教書籍或文章時，也至少要有三種版本，以便不同地區的讀者閱讀了解文本的原意。讓我們在禱告中紀念基督教書刊的出版與發行，特別是作為教學上需要的，願語言使用上的差異不成為真理教導的絆腳石。