Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Prayer Request 9/5 --9/11

Tuesday
In 2005 the Chinese Communist Party which says it will continue to improve the education of its members expelled 44,738 members for corruption. The total party membership is about 70.8 million and they add about 2.3 million new members each year. Unfortunately there are Christian workers who fall and even abuse the sheep God has entrusted to them. We take this time to remember the congregations who suffer such hurt and those who need the deep love of Jesus and His forgiveness to recover .

Wednesday
In the name of promoting the local economy, Fujian Province allows the children of "big taxpayers" to get 20 points more in their senior high school entrance exam than other students. A "big taxpayer" is a businessman who turns over more than 3,000,000 yuan (US$375,000) to the local government annually. It is getting harder to find equality as the wealth gap widens. Let us pray for contentment among believers and their continuing trust in God since many Christians have become greedy and lost their fervent love for the Lord.

Thursday
In the USA, 68% of the people own their own homes, in England, 67% but in China 81% of the people own their homes. Beneath this seemingly rosy picture experts warn that 40% of people on high incomes own two or more houses and 60% of those on low incomes can barely afford their houses. Unregistered churches have chosen to buy apartments for meeting purposes but ownership is still a difficult issue because their churches are not recognized. Let us pray for the congregations who are looking for and buying their own meeting places. May the Lord add to the number of saved souls .

Friday
Two groups who are at risk of HIV infections are drug users and sex workers and often these two groups overlap. Xinjiang (30%), Yunnan (22.5%), and Guangxi (20%) lead the nation of China in terms of drug addicts who are HIV infected. Some Christian agencies are involved in the treatment of drug addiction and AIDS in Yunnan but not in other areas. We pray for more of these kinds of co-operative ventures as well as the eternal salvation of those who are freed from their addiction .

Saturday
Millions of young women work in factories that power the economy of China through exports. They work for fewer than 400 yuan ($50.US) a month. A new law guarantees fifteen days off before the birth of a child but has no provision for nursing the child longer than a month.It is very difficult for a working woman to be a mother. We pray for strength and joy for all believers who juggle the roles of motherhood and work, even those who shepherd a congregation .

Sunday
China has implemented a new ticketing system for her railways which allows online purchase of tickets and group discounts. Many people still prefer traveling by train since it avoids traffic congestion, is affordable, and there are many overnight sleeper trains. Church workers often travel by train for either business or ministry. We ask the Lord to protect them from the ever-present temptation to sexual sin on these trips .

Monday
In the three provinces in northeast China there was a massive layoff in many factories owned by the government about ten years ago. Some cities suffered unemployment of up to 30% and the lives of those who lost their jobs have been difficult. Many of the churches in these regions have also suffered when the believers lost their jobs. However, teams of missionaries from these regions continued to work and started many churches near the borders of Korea and in the West of China. We thank the Lord for their perseverance and faithfulness.

星期二
中國共產黨員已達到近7千萬,每年還有230萬新黨員加入。中共近年來嚴厲對付黨員腐敗案,黨中央表示,2005年被處理出黨的黨員有將近4萬5千名。很不幸,中國教會也有很多跌到的工人,這些牧者非但沒有盡忠牧養神所託管的羊群,反而還傷害他們。讓我們為牧者能忠心作合神心意的服事禱告,也求神特別醫治受傷的信徒,並賜他們有來自神的饒恕能力。

星期三
在包括福建省在内許多個地方,以提倡地方經濟為名,讓所謂「納稅大戶」的子女在高中入學考試上獲得加分(500分總分中獲加20分)。「納稅大戶」的資格為每年向政府納稅超過300万人民幣(US$375,000)的大亨。中國貧富差距越來越大,人民要得到平等待遇也越來越難。讓我們特別求主保守信徒們都能有知足之心繼續依靠神,別讓金錢分薄了我們對主單一的愛。

星期四
2005年中國的私宅擁有率高達81%,比起美國68%和英國67%,似乎中國人更有能力擁有自己的房子。但是專家提醒,事實上有40%擁有高薪的人擁有2棟以上的房子,另外60%低收入者仍負擔不起私宅。國內一些教會也有欠缺聚會場所的難題,因爲房子的擁有權取決於教會註冊與否。讓我們為正欲尋找購買自己聚會所的肢體禱告,求神帶領他們,並添加他們得救的人數。

星期五
中國感染艾滋病率最高的兩大群體,乃是嗜毒者和性工作者,這兩群人多是重疊的。吸毒者感染艾滋病率最高的地區分別是新疆(30%)雲南(22.5%)廣西(20%),按艾滋病累計報告病例則雲南列第一。有些基督教機構在雲南參與戒毒和協助艾滋病治療。我們禱告能有更多此類與政府合作的福音機構產生,也求神使吸毒者不僅能成功戒毒,更能得到永生福份。

星期六
中國有上百萬名年輕女性在工廠勞動,是中國經濟的原動力。她們的月薪少於400人民幣($50美元)。新的法律規定給予女工15天的產前假,卻沒有給超過一個月的產假。職業女性當上母親後常面對很多困難。有許多基督徒帶職母親,不僅身負母親和工作上的責任,更要負責照顧她們的教會,牧養會衆。讓我們為她們禱告,求主賜她們健康、能力與智慧。

星期日
中國鐵路局開始實施新的鐵路售票系統,提供網上購票和團體優惠票。由於火車既不堵車又實惠,加上有臥鋪車,坐夜車睡一覺就到達目的地,因此在中國仍是很受歡迎的交通工具。許多在中國從事培訓工作的教會同工常需要乘火車四處旅行。讓我們記念這些經常外出公幹遠行的信徒,求神加添他們體力、保護他們平安,更保守他們不會落入無所不在的色情誘惑和試探之中。

星期一
十年前中國東北三省有大量的國營工業工廠倒閉,導致成千上萬的人失業,城市失業率高達30%,許多人的生活陷入困境。這些區域裏,許多信徒“下崗”—失去工作,教會也受到影響。但是這裡許多教會和宣教團隊,卻更加活躍地工作,在韓國邊界和中國西部建立了許多教會。我們為10年來堅韌不拔忠心服事的東北教會和宣教士們來感謝神,求神繼續祝福、借重他們的手來拓展神的國。

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