Prayer Request 1/8 -- 1/14

Tuesday
China’s urban churches have their own characteristics. Beijing churches have many intellectuals and young career couples; they are mostly first generation believers. Wenzhou churches have many entrepreneurs and businessmen; wealthy and most of them grew up in Christian families. We pray for all the churches in these two cities, both have their own weaknesses and strengths. May the Lord use them in their support and influence on the rest of China.

Wednesday
One in 3.5 married couples end up in divorce in Taiwan which is the highest in Asia. The divorce rate has nearly doubled in the past 10 years. Government tries to encourage premarital education and counseling class to stem the tide. Christian couples also see divorce as a viable option when encountering marital conflicts. Let us pray for the believers whose marriage needs healing, especially those families whose husbands are working alone in Mainland China and are hardly together except in the holidays.

Thursday
The Three-self Church Association issues a "Preacher Certificate" to an itinerary preacher in a designated area. Such a license does not provide a living stipend but gives legitimacy and recognition among believers. Many of these preachers are responsible for several churches but must still support themselves with day jobs. We pray for physical strength and spiritual health for all of these certificate holders. May the Lord bless their ministry.

Friday
In some cities, about one third of divorces are filed by the so called “One-child generation”. These young professionals (born after 1980’s) are more concerned about their career, accumulating wealth than cultivating a long-lasting family relationship. Getting a divorce is no longer stigmatized and even commonly accepted as the norm.Let us pray for all the Christian couples as they strive to keep Christ as the head of their houses, and learn to love one another as Jesus loves the church sacrificially.

Saturday
In the old days, marriage was a couple working together to earn a television set, a bicycle, or a fridge. Now, "Kids today start their relationship right from the bed," These days, cohabitation is commonplace and extra-marital sex is gaining acceptance. Parents also feed the idea of marrying into "the right family" with a sound financial and political standing. Let us pray as Christian parents will not forget to teach their children the blessing of marrying someone who also shares the same faith. We too pray for guarding of hearts and purity of all young believers.

Sunday
A new car, preferably a foreign brand, and a two-bedroom apartment, or at least a down payment on an apartment, is essential in a new marriage among the well-to-do. Many parents openly encourage their children to marry well by saying "It will be a comfortable life. Why should we endure a hard life?" We remember all the single believers as they wait upon the Lord for providing the mate of His will. We too pray for those whose spouse is not believer or spiritually unevenly matched.

Monday
Many of the young people getting married are ending in divorce court after a week or a few months. The so-called “Little Emperor/Empress” often has an unrealistic sense of entitlement. They are ill-prepared psychologically to enter a marital relationship requiring selfless love. Let us pray for all the Christian couples, especially those who have not have children. We pray for the guarding of their marriage from the attacks of the Satan. May the Lord work through their lives, use them in churches and in discipling the younger ones in church.

星期二
中國的城市教會有各自的特色。北京教會多為知識分子和年輕帶職夫婦，並且大多是第一代信徒；溫州教會則許多是商人和企業家，且多數成長於基督化家庭。這兩類型的城市教會各有其長短，求神使用他們，揚長補短，支持及影響中國其他教會。

星期三
臺灣每3.5對新人結婚，就有一對離婚，離婚率10年來提高一倍，高居亞洲第一。因此政府將研訂家庭教育法，鼓勵即將結婚者接受婚前教育。許多基督徒也默認離婚不失為婚姻陷入困境時的一條出路。讓我們為婚姻關係有難處、需要醫治的禱告，尤其特別記念丈夫在中國工作，難得假期回家團聚的家庭。

星期四
三自聯會發出傳道證書給在指定地區講道的「堂點」傳道員。雖然證書不能成爲生活的保障，卻能在法律上和信徒當中獲得承認。有許多傳道人既要為多個教會佈道，又需出外打工維持生活所需，以至身心靈皆疲憊。讓我們特別為他們身心靈的健康禱告，求神大能扶持祝福他們的事工，也在信心及物質層面充份供應。

星期五
中國一些城市離婚數據顯示，約三分之一的離婚案是「獨生子女政策」下成長的一代年輕人。這些80後的年輕專業人士，重視自我需要及事業和財富的利益過於家庭關係。在中國，離婚已成了平常事。讓我們為所有基督徒夫婦禱告，求神幫助他們能尊基督為一家之主，學習以基督對教會犧牲捨己的愛來彼此顧惜相待。

星期六
過去的婚姻，是一對夫婦一起努力掙錢，購買電視機、自行車、或電冰箱等。“現今的孩子都從床上開始建立關係”，同居很普遍，連婚外情也漸漸廣爲接受。家長們也持有與豪門或權貴攀親的想法。我們禱告所有基督徒父母能夠教導孩子，夫妻在信仰上同心的婚姻才真正蒙福。求主也讓所有年輕信徒能夠保持身心純潔。

星期日
一輛入口新車，以及一間雙房式公寓，是寬裕人家新婚必備。很多父母鼓勵孩子找有錢的結婚對象：“能過好日子，幹嗎要挨苦？”讓我們為單身信徒等候合神心意的對象來禱告。也為配偶不信、或夫妻倆靈命狀況有距離的信徒禱告。

星期一
中國許多年輕夫婦的婚姻只維持了數週或數月就迅速分手。這些獨一代的「小皇帝」對自我權益的不實際要求，使他們欠缺維持良好婚姻關係所需要的無私的愛。讓我們為所有基督徒夫婦禱告，特別是那些尚未有小孩的，求神保護他們的婚姻，免受撒旦的攻擊。也求主塑造他們的屬靈生命，使用他們在教會裏熱心參與服事以及育幼事工。