Prayer Request 2/26 -- 3/3

Tuesday
China's prime minister did something unusual. On TV, he used megaphone to apologize for the disruption caused by the worst winter storm Southern China endured during the Chinese New Year. In response to such acts of humility, many Chinese have accepted this disaster as an "act of God" rather than a foul-up by the government. Chinese church leaders are less likely to admit mistakes or even apologize. Let us pray for genuine hearts for all who shepherd or serve in church.

Wednesday
Drinking milk was once a luxury not usually associated with the Chinese diet. Today the rising standard of living has whet the appetites of Chinese people to drink milk and eat other dairy products. In 2006 an average Chinese consumed six gallons of milk (one-fifth that of people in the USA). Many will admit that a vast number of Chinese Christians would be considered "milk-drinkers" and unable to "eat solid food". We pray earnestly for a great emphasis on spiritual feeding in the churches rather than merely seeking a blessing from God ormiracles and signs.

Thursday
The rising cost of living is the top concern for Chinese in cities and villages alike. In a survey by the Communist Party, the cost of living, disparity of incomes, and corruption are considered the most critical social problems. The rising cost of food and living on a fixed income make many people anxious and less likely to give to the Lord's work. We remember the need of all the church workers aswell as retired believers who live on a fixed income.

Friday
It is very common in China to see celebrities endorsing a certain product or some kind of medicine on TV. Although many Chinese associate the endorsement of a celebrity as a seal of approval, recently several such products were found to be fake or containing harmful substances. Chinese churches have complained that many foreign preachers come to China and promote their own church growth methods or "success theology". Let us pray for spiritual discernment among believers and diligence in studying the Word of God.

Saturday
Chaozhou people are known for their delicacies, opera, strong family ties, hardworking habits, and thriftiness. The richest Chinese (the ninth richest person in the world), Le Ka-shing, is a telecommunications and real estate tycoon from Chaozhou. Many believers look to wealthy Christians to donate to large projects but God uses the offerings of the common believers in His work. We pray all believers will be diligent in their labor and generous giving.

Sunday
When Chinese couples have a child born with a deformity, usually they will give it away for foster care. The one-child policy allows having a second child under these circumstances and most families do not have the financial resources to care for a handicapped child at home. Let us remember all the handicapped children cared for by Christians or organization supported by overseas mission agencies who believe it is their duty to show the compassion of Jesus and care for the least, the smallest, and weakest of the community.

Monday
Chinese churches in North America have been blessed with unprecedented number of conversions and baptisms. Students, visiting scholars, new immigrants from China, and even the visiting parents of students are coming to receive Jesus in great numbers. We praise God for raising up almost 4,000 Chinese churches in North America over the past 30 years. Most of them are small and many of them are without shepherds. Let us pray for more fruit, more workers, and more involvement in China missions.

星期二
在春節前雪災時，中國總理做了一件很不尋常的事。從電視廣播看見他穿梭在饑寒交困的旅客中，多次用擴音器為交通中斷所造成的不便向民眾道歉，以謙遜的態度平息了許多受災者的怨憤，並能接受此災難誠為天降橫禍。華人教會領袖往往在承認錯誤方面能有許多進步的空間。讓我們為牧者及教會同工們禱告，求神幫助以坦誠的僕人心志服事弟兄姐妹。

星期三
往昔牛奶在中國既是奢侈品也不常見於的飲食，而今生活素質的提升，牛奶和乳製品已帶入老百姓的家庭。2006年，每個中國人平均喝掉了六加侖牛奶，相當於美國人的五分之一。很多人憂慮，目前許許多多中國信徒在信仰上仍在「喝奶，喫不了糧」的景況。讓我們為中國教會能夠注重靈命的餵養和教導，而非一味追求神蹟、兆頭或祝福來禱告。

星期四
物價高漲是國內城鄉居民首要關切的問題。調查顯示，黨政領導幹部心中最嚴重的社會問題是「物價、居民收入差距和腐敗」。生活費不斷高升，讓持固定收入的受薪者心驚膽跳，信徒奉獻的手更是大爲收縮。我們為所有領固定收入爲生的教會的傳道人及退休信徒一切所需向神禱告，求神在一切供應上盡都豐盛有餘。

星期五
明星常在電視上打廣告為商品或藥品代言。很多中國人把明星代言當作信譽保證，但最近卻發生好些明星代言假藥或含違禁物商品的事件。中國教會也投訴有許多外國傳道人前來推銷獨門的教會增長方法或成功神學。求神幫助眾教會能提升信徒屬靈的辨識能力，並且使他們殷勤紮實地學習主的話。

星期六
潮州人以美食、戲曲、家庭凝聚力和勤儉稱著。華人中的首富李嘉誠，世界富豪排名第九，跨足地產、電信、甚至傳媒事業的大亨，就是移居香港的潮州人。很多信徒希望他們大型的計劃能獲得富裕基督徒的捐助，但神卻更常使用平凡信徒的奉獻來成就祂的各項事工。我們禱告信徒們都能殷勤工作，甘心奉獻。

星期日
產下畸形兒的中國夫婦，一般都會把孩子送走。即使政策允許他們生養第二胎，但多數家庭都沒有經濟能力應付殘疾兒長年所需的醫療開銷。一些海外宣教機構本於傳揚基督憐憫的信念，盡其照顧弱小群體的責任，而支持國內收養殘疾兒童的基督徒或機構。讓我們特別為在他們照顧下成長的孩子們禱告。

星期一
北美的華人教會經歷著神莫大的祝福，受洗歸主的人數之多是前所未有的。留學生、訪問學者、新移民、以及探親訪友者，很少能對教會置若罔聞，其中更有許多人接受了基督。感謝讚美神，在這三十多年來，於北美興起了將近4千間華人教會。但其中許多小教會仍缺牧者，讓我們為他們的需要禱告，求神興起更多工人，使北美華人教會結實更多，並能更多參與中國的宣教事工。