Prayer Request 5/23--5/29

Tuesday
A prominent Chinese scientist was disgraced and dismissed from his post in the Shanghai Jiaotong University. His “new” electronic chip turned out to be a commercially available Motorola chip with a Chinese sticker on it. Academic fraud is not uncommon. Unfortunately, fraudulent claims of the size of congregation and extent of ministry abound in China too. Let us pray for this disturbing trend, wisdom and discernment and above all, blameless conscience and integrity of God's workers .

Wednesday
College students often don't know how to manage their finances and are "immature consumers" according to experts. A high spending pattern of money supplied by their parents may not be a good thing at all. A lack of transparency and poor accounting practices continue to plague good stewardship of money in many churches in China. We continue to pray for faithfulness and stewardship of that with which the Master entrusts us: talents, time, and resource .

Thursday
The list of “Top 10 universities” was released recently with no surprises. China has a total of 887 universities, 119 of which are so-called major universities, 548 regular universities and 220 private colleges. Campus ministry can be found in the top-tier universities. Some Bible studies, often off-campus and others done personally, are led by missionaries enrolled as students.We remember all the outreach effort, especially those who enroll themselves as students to reach students .

Friday
Ruili, Yunnan is one of the first cities in which HIV was detected in China. Drug use and prostitution fuel the spread of HIV because of the China-Burma highway which runs through the city. Poor Burmese flock to this border city famous for gems and cheap sex. Churches in this often sensitive border area are few and weak. As we pray for China, let us not forget the southern borders and the so-called "AIDS Highway ".


Saturday
By a law enacted in 1982, every Chinese must plant 3-5 trees a year. But, in cities, there are no places to plant more trees, and in the rural areas, few people bother to plant and definitely not on their own farmable land. Believers know sharing the Gospel with others is the Biblical mandate, but, few actually do it. Let us pray for the revival of the sense of evangelism of all churches and believers .

Sunday
Shanghai hosted the very first “Millionaire Fair,” selling 300 brands of super-luxury goods including a 33,000 gold-plated bathtub. The fair lasted 3 days, drawing 10,000 visitors who paid 350-1500 yuan each to enter Plenty of people can afford luxuries and want to flaunt it too. As China becomes so materialistic has the golden period of evangelism passed? Let us redouble our effort in evangelism, calling China’s church to reach out of their comfort zone and witness .

Monday
There are at least 500,000 Chinese laborers who work abroad, sending home a huge amount of money. Many feel this is the only way out of poverty and are willing to go even to war-torn countries such as Pakistan and Iraq. Many countries welcome these low-cost, semi-skilled contract workers. Chinese churches have sent out trained missionaries as laborers to the Middle East, to share the Gospel with fellow Chinese and the Muslims. Let us remember these pioneer Christian workers .

星期二
上海交大微電院長因假造號稱國內首創的晶片「漢芯一號」（DSP數字訊號處理器）遭革職。該員將自美購回的MOTO晶片偷換上「漢芯」標籤，取得逾百萬個漢芯定單和大批國家無償資助。近來學術界造假、抄襲的新聞屢見不鮮，不幸中國教會在會友人數、事工規模上，也有誇大不實的情形。讓我們禱告神保守祂的工人能存敬畏的心，有分辨的智慧和洞察力，通過神正直純全的檢驗。

星期三
經濟學家認為，大學生的消費行為顯示了他們不成熟的消費心理，花錢沒有計畫性、對支配金錢有盲目性，高度倚賴父母供給零用錢，對年輕人並非好事。中國教會的財務管理也缺少透明度，缺乏健全的會計制度影響牧者的事奉果效。讓我們特別紀念信徒在所有恩賜、時間、財源等事上，能夠成為神忠心良善的好管家。

星期四
最新中國大學排名榜出爐，前十名的大學並沒有新的變動。此次評價的國內大學共有887所，其中重點大學119所，一般大學548所，民辦院校220所。校園福音事工在知名大學中相當普遍，或在校外舉辦查經班，或是進行個人跟進，多是由具學生身分的宣教士所帶領。讓我們紀念所有與學生接觸的福音預工，特別是進入校園自己成為學生的同工們，求主親自賜福。

星期五
中緬邊境的雲南瑞麗市，是中國最早發現愛滋病的城市。隨著滇緬公路的貫穿，窮苦的緬甸女子大批湧進這座以珠寶和廉價性交易聞名的城市。濫用毒品與娼妓問題正加速擴大愛滋病的散播與感染。在此敏感的邊界地帶，教會相當稀少也相對弱小，當我們在為中國代禱時，莫忘此中國南部邊陲及被稱為「愛滋高速公路」的需要。

星期六
根據1982年頒布的全民義務植樹運動規定，每人每年都要種植3至5棵樹。但是現在城市中已經沒有空間種樹了，在鄉下也沒有人願意把樹種在自己的田裡。信徒都知道，與其他人分享福音是聖經的教導，但是真正如此行的卻少之又少。讓我們為著教會的復興、教會與信徒傳福音的使命與熱忱來禱告。

星期日
上海舉辦「世界頂級生活體驗中國峰會」的奢侈品展，共300多個世界頂級品牌參展，其中包括每套3.3萬美元的鍍金浴缸。為期三天的展覽，吸引１萬人次購買人民幣350元-1500元不等的門票，光門票收入就有七百萬人民幣。許多人有經濟能力購買奢侈品，也藉此炫耀財富。隨著中國社會逐漸轉向物質追求，傳福音的黃金時期是否也已經過去，求神感動教會離開舒適的環境，奪回更多未得之民。

星期一
據統計，至少有五十萬中國民工離鄉背井顛沛於在世界各角落，將大筆的收入匯款回家。許多人認為這是脫離極度貧窮的重要出路，即使前往的國家戰亂頻仍，如巴基斯坦、伊拉克，他們也義無反顧。很多國家也歡迎這群廉價又有些技能的中國工人。中國教會近來送出一批受過培訓的宣教士進入中東，一邊工作一邊向當地中國工人及穆斯林傳福音。讓我們特別紀念這些信仰的開路先鋒。