Prayer Request 5/22 -- 5/28

Tuesday
In China business entertainment always means a lot of hard liquor and lavish meals. To curtail abuse of business entertainment, party officials propose to crack down by requiring receipts and imposing limits to the expenditures. Let us pray for all believers who in their line of work must attend such entertainment since business deals are always closed during such meals. We pray for their walk with the Lord, a keen sense of family and integrity that pleases God.

Wednesday
According to an official survey, a third of urban "one child" youth believe extra-marital affairs and premarital sex and "all right". College students cohabitating off campus and even in the dorm is accepted as the norm. Again, we pray urgently for the important student ministries near every college in China. We also remember the many new converts who struggle to live out Biblical purity and cut their ties from the past.

Thursday
Overseas returnees (hai gui), literally those who return to China after studying abroad, are making a significant contribution in governmental administration as well as in business. Many return with the sole purpose of starting churches and form vibrant house churches among college students and other returnees. Their familiarity with the culture makes it easier to start ministry. Let us remember all the churches involving the hai gui.

Friday
In 2006 among the recipients of national awards for technology and science achievement who are making a tremendous contribution to Chinese technological advancement, the majority are overseas returnee scholars (hai gui). An estimated ten percent of the returnees are Christians. We thank the Lord for this new crop of believers in China. May the Lord use them to make a great impact in the churches, society, and changing the perception that Christianity is not the religion of just peasants.

Saturday
China’s population, the world's largest, grew by almost 7 million people last year. China holds 20 percent of the world's population. Chinese men born after the 1970s have found it difficult to find a spouse, as many more baby boys were born than girls since the 1980s. Are China’s churches catching up with this continuing population growth and attracting more young people? Let us remember all the believers who are younger than 30 years; pray for their spiritual growth and willingness to serve under the leadership of those who are much older .

Sunday
A government directive said that China needs to raise the standard of quality for the police force. Only 16.5 percent of policemen have a college degree. Some say the police function basically as: "One third work hard, one third follow, and one third stand watching." The perception of police in the cities is changing from one that greatly feared them to one of despising them because of corruption. We pray for integrity and favor from God to all those who work in the Public Security and Religious Affair Bureaus at various levels .

Monday
Being a party member is absolutely critical in one's political advancement in China. There is still a minority of "non-party-talents" in various levels of the government but being a Christian openly is not advisable for those who seek political appointment. Many officials have accepted Jesus or become sympathetic to Christianity in their visit abroad. We uplift such sincere believers who remain "secret followers" and pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten their personal Bible reading and strengthen their walk with Him .

星期二
中國每年用在公務接待的酒水餐飲上的花費相當龐大，交際應酬一向意味著大碗喝酒、大塊吃肉。有官員提議改革公務接待法規，推行實名制以節約財政開支。中國人喜歡在餐廳酒店談生意，許多信徒也常需要因公出席種種商業應酬。讓我們為他們禱告，求神保守他們常存清潔正直的心，不為燈紅酒綠所惑，行為舉止討神喜悅，與神同行。

星期三
根據一項官方調查顯示：三分之一都市「一胎化」政策下成長的青年能接受婚外情，認同婚前性行爲，甚至把它當作好事。男女大學生在校外，甚至在宿舍裡同居，漸被接受為習以為常的現象。讓我們再次迫切記念校園學生事工。也為掙紮於擺脫舊生活和捆綁的初信者禱告，求主藉著聖靈和弟兄姐妹的守望來幫助他們活出屬神的新生命。

星期四
學成返國的「海歸」人士大多數都是社會的菁英。國際化的學歷背景和在海外涉足高科技領域的技術優勢，成爲人才市場的「新寵」。他們無論服務於政府部門或私人企業界，都有卓越的貢獻。有許多海歸基督徒抱著異象和使命回國，背景相仿使他們較容易向其他海歸或大學生傳福音。讓我們為海歸聚集的教會禱告，求主大大使用他們。

星期五
2006年國家科技獎獲獎人員中，「海歸」佔有很大的比例。而海歸中估計大約有10%是基督徒。我們為教會能添加這批生力軍感謝神，求神大大建造、裝備他們，藉他們為所有教會和社區帶來活力，改變一般人對基督教三多——女人多、老人多、和農民多的刻板印象。

星期六
中國是世界人口最多的國家，占世界人口的20%，去年又增加了7百萬。而由於80年代以後出生的人口，男比女多得多，70年後出生的男性現在已開始面臨擇偶的困難。中國教會發展要如何跟得上人口的成長率，同時吸引更多年輕人呢？讓我們為所有少於30歲的信徒們禱告，求主保守引領他們的靈命更增長、願意向神委身和順服年長者的帶領。

星期日
一位政法部官員表示:中國需要繼續提高政法部隊的素質水準。大學以上學歷的警務人員只佔16.5%。地方上出現「三分之一的人能幹，三分之一的人跟著幹，三分之一的人站著看」的說法。因爲貪腐現象普遍，城市人對公安的態度從懼怕變成現在的鄙視。讓我們為所有公職人員能夠正直來禱告，求神特別恩待從事公安或宗教事務的信徒，能遵行神公義憐恤人的心意，得神與人的喜悅。

星期一
一直以來，要在政壇上發展，成爲共產黨員是必備條件，雖然近來「黨外人才」隊伍在任就公職上取得不錯的成績，但參政者仍須避忌公開其基督教信仰。許多中國官員私底下接受了救恩，或到國外訪問時對基督教產生了興趣。我們爲這些耶穌的「地下」追求者或跟隨者禱告。求聖靈在他們個人的讀經禱告中光照他們，並堅定他們跟從神的心志。