Prayer Request 7/17 -- 7/23

Tuesday
Nearly one-fifth of the sold-in-China products that were studied failed to meet the country's quality standards, according to a government report. Restoring confidence in the quality of food stuff and consumer product is a national top priority.We need to pray for the quality of teaching among many of Chinese churches too. The alarming trend of influx of Mormonism, Jehovah Witness and others passing themselves as Christians are leading many astray.

Wednesday
A government report detailed the widespread phenomenon of “gray income” in all sectors of society; these include illegal use of government property, doctors requesting red-packet, kick backs and free meals. It admits that corruption is rampant. Church workers and believers are not exempted from such temptations. We pray again for the guarding of heart and strong desire not to compromise for all of us.

Thursday
In business in China, the relationship is based on the concept that any manager whether commercial or an official business manager, loves to give you a show and everyone plays tai chi (slow motion and no firm reply). Unfortunately this is the style of business carried on in China. This type of business influences believers and makes them unable to be truly open, to share straight from the heart, or to offer direct and immediate help to others. May the Lord help us all to accept and love one another from our hearts.

Friday
This year the price of luxury houses in Beijing and Shanghai has exceeded 40,000 rmb ($5263US) per square meter. This appreciation of price for these houses has made people feel rich. However a problem many believers face is that they feel poor so they don't faithfully tithe. We pray again for all of us to be generous and willing to give toward God's work to make sure those who serve in the churches receive the doubled honor.

Saturday
Society in China has many rules but they are not adequately enforced so it is essentially without rules. Perhaps this frank observation applies equally well to churches in China also. Church leaders regularly speak of their plans or the results of their labors in a greatly exaggerated manner. May the Lord have mercy and raise up a generation of young preachers who will commit to solidly serve Him.

Sunday
In light of an overall decline in physical strength of high school students, The Education Ministry has proposed to raise the physical standard test for students who wish to enroll in senior high school. Later they propose to consider the same approach for university applicants. With the exception of the Wenzhou area, it is nearly impossible to find high school students in the churches in China. Let us pray for all the youth who although their parents are believers have stopped attending church long ago and have even lost their faith. May they rediscover their faith again.

Monday
Many ethnic groups live on both sides of China's southern border between her and her neighbors Vietnam, Laos and Burma. Living conditions are harsh and it is politically precarious to have any access to the outside world. Several of these tribes have thriving churches and a growing population of believers. Let us pray for church work supported by churches in Hong Kong and Singapore in these sensitive areas.

星期二
根據官方報導，將近2成受檢驗的中國市售產品不符合國家標準。政府當務之急便是重建消費者對食品和生活用品的信心。「摩門教」和「耶和華見證人」等正以驚人的速度席捲中國教會。我們需要為中國衆多教會的教導素質禱告。求神藉正確有力的教導讓信徒在信仰上紮根，不隨從異端教導之風而飄搖。

星期三
最近中國官方針對介於合法與非法之間的「灰色收入」作出研究，詳細報告這個廣泛通行於中國社會上下的腐敗現象：即領導幹部和公務員利用權力之便收受紅包禮金、佔有國有資產的產權和收益分配權，醫生拿紅包，導遊拿回扣等等。在教會工作的傳道人和信徒也難免於這些試探。我們再次求神保守我們的心懷意念，使我們堅定正直亷潔，不為不義之財所惑。

星期四
「官場商場管理層的一群人很會耍戰法，上上下下都會打虛虛實實的太極拳」。很可惜，這除了是中國商場上的把戲，也是中國式的人際關係。如此習性，也影響信徒不能彼此坦誠分享，更少了直接了當的互助。求主憐憫我們，能更真誠的彼此接納相愛。

星期五
今年，在北京、上海，高檔的私家住宅，每平方米超過4萬元人民幣 (5263美元)已經不是鮮事。房價上漲也讓人感到更富有。然而，自認為「不富有」而缺少十一奉獻的意願，仍是普遍中國信徒的老問題。我們禱告信徒都能願意為神的聖工擺上，好讓深耕建造的工程得以成就、讓神的工人能得到足夠供應，教會領受神加倍的恩典與賜福。

星期六
中國社會規矩繁多，但因疏於執行，成效不彰，等同於沒有規矩。其實這也是當今國內教會行政管理的現實寫照。許多教會領袖往往也會高談他們的計劃和誇大事工成果。求主憐憫，不但更新教會領袖和傳道，更興起年輕一代傳道人，能夠踏踏實實地為主擺上，成為神家中既忠心又精明的好管家。

星期日
有鑒於中學生普遍體能下降，教育局建議提升高中入學試的體能測驗水準。隨後也將考慮同樣實施於高校（大學）申請者。除溫州地區以外，國內教會裏幾乎見不到中學生的形影，許多信徒的兒女在步入青少年期之前就已不再上教會，甚至離棄了信仰。求神重新得著他們，讓他們能回到神的家中，尋囘失去的信心，承繼神對敬虔後裔的賜福。

星期一
中國南部與越緬寮三邦為鄰的邊陲一帶，許多少數民族世居其間。他們的生活環境艱苛，而且政府對外的政策搖擺不定，使他們與外界的接觸受到限制。感謝神,當中一些部落的教會正在茁壯成長，信徒不斷增加，也常有來自香港和新加坡教會的信徒到這敏感地區協助事工。求神讓他們的服事能有效幫助這些教會成長，也求主讓更多部落的少數民族能夠聽聞福音，信主得救。