Prayer Request 6/17 --6/23

Tuesday
Prior to the Sichuan earthquake, private charitable organizations were not considered to be important in China but NGO's have played a prominent and vital role in the rescue and rebuilding efforts. In this massive tragedy, God has allowed local churches and believers from all parts of China a rare opportunity to show their compassion and share their faith publicly. We praise Him and pray for a greater feeling of trust between churches and the government.

Wednesday
College tuition is now twenty times as much as it was fifteen years ago. To get married today costs about fifty times what it did in 1970. It is estimated that it now costs about $43,000 to $70,000 US to raise a child including education and marriage. Many people who work in the churches also have a second job to supplement their living expenses to help pay for their child's education. Let us pray they are both physically and spiritually strong enough to meet the demands of the people in their congregations and be able to feed their sheep adequately.

Thursday
The average entry level salary for students graduating from college this year is about 2000 yuan ($280.US) which is almost 1000 yuan less than last year. In Beijing a young working professional who shares an apartment has a monthly expense of about 1700 yuan. Many college graduates still need some financial support from their parents. Let us pray for Christian college graduates as they seek the Lord's place for them to work and find a church where they can attend and serve.

Friday
In Chinese churches the ratio of male to female is about two to eight and usually women are the leaders in these places of worship. Such a preponderance of ladies has shaped the churches to be very feminine in their theological, cultural, structural, and ministry emphasis and given them a "soft-approach" fellowship style. We praise God for all of the faithful sisters who serve Him as Mary and Martha did but we intercede for the churches in China to be blessed with many more male believers.

Saturday
It seems to be hard for men to become Christians in China. In most churches there, it is difficult to find young men who are twenty-two to forty-five years of age. Many of them still regard churches as feminine institutions and few men bring other men to church. By and large churches in China lack programs designed to attract males. Let us pray that more Christian Chinese men will be willing to share the gospel with their friends and that all of them will be models of godly fathers and husbands.

Sunday
The Olympic Village in Beijing will have a cafeteria that seats 5000 people and prayer centers for athletes. All the housing units have been pre-sold as luxury apartments after the Olympics are over. Let us pray for churches in Beijing as they prepare for a busy summer. The media will be focusing on churches in the Beijing area. We pray especially for the open churches since they will certainly draw a large number of visitors and media exposure.

Monday
The government is trying to crack down on pollution, especially the dumping of chemical waste into rivers and lakes. Water pollution has seriously affected the drinking water quality and supply in many regions. The love of money and sexual temptation are seriously polluting the lives of Chinese believers. Let us pray that God will guard all hearts and give an openness to discuss the dangers we face in a transparent, effective, and accountable way.

星期二
在四川大震災混亂的局面中，民間力量有了難得的機會與政府力量聯合，共同抗震救災。這種嘗試沒有預先策劃，只有在這樣的大災難面前才能出現，確是上帝的計劃。來自各地的信徒和當地教會，也有機會在眾多場合中參與，以實際行動見証主愛。求主也賜給各教會有更大的空間與自信，更多分享神的憐憫及福音。

星期三
中國大學的學費，15年間猛增20倍。現在結婚的費用大約是1970年代的五十倍。據估計現在養一個孩子，從他上學、創業、到成家，最起碼需準備30-50萬人民幣。許多在教會工作的牧師傳道，必須在外兼職來添補家用和孩子的教育費。我們禱告主讓他們無論身體或心靈都健壯，能夠負擔牧養上的需要，忠心餵養主的羊。

星期四
中國的大學應屆畢業生平均薪酬只有2000元人民幣（280美金），比去年少了將近1000元。在北京工作的專業青年，既便與人合租房間，每月的基本支出也需要1700元。因此許多畢業生仍需父母親的經濟支助。我們為所有正在覓職以及尋找教會崇拜和事奉的基督徒畢業生禱告，求主按時候引領他們，為他們開路。

星期五
中國教會男女信徒比例大約是二比八，女信徒佔大多數，事奉同工也大多數是姊妹，這使教會產生了變化。婦女領導帶來的影響例如：神學重心、教會文化「女性化」，教會制度結構、事工模式以及個人互動和團契等傾向「柔性」。我們為所有姊妹的忠心服事感謝神，同時也求主調節教會陰盛陽衰的現象，吸引更多男士信主，共同投入事奉行列。

星期六
男性信主不易？中國教會少有22～45歲的青壯年男丁，除了因爲男人忙於事業，許多人仍認爲教會是較屬於女性的。弟兄較少會帶他們的朋友來教會也是原因之一。而中國教會一般缺少吸引男性興趣的項目。讓我們為教會的男性福音事工禱告，也為所有男性信徒在家能成爲敬虔的丈夫和父親，出外則積極傳福音，成爲基督福音的使者禱告。

星期日
北京的奧運村即將設置一間容納5000個座位的自助餐廳及許多禱告中心。奧運村本身在閉幕後也將轉作豪華公寓，目前已被預售一空。神藉此為我們預備了一個廣大的福音禾場及福音契機。屆時北京的公開教會將，成爲大批遊客和媒體的焦點。求神特別保守眾教會，在繁忙的奧運季中，順利籌備一切的事工，不受仇敵的任何的攻擊和阻撓，使福音事工得以順利推展。

星期一
在中國，大量工業廢水和農業、生活污水，無限制地排進河流、湖中，使湖水含磷、氮量嚴重超標，造成藍藻過盛現象，使湖水變質發臭，嚴重影響週邊居民用水安全。貪愛金錢和色情引誘也嚴重污染著中國信徒的生活，求主保守眾信徒的心，不受引誘，且能透過公開有效地討論和教導來勝過物質和肉體眼目情慾的試探和誘惑。