Prayer Ruquest 1/27-2/2

Tuesday
Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival are the biggest shopping season in China. Yet, the consumers are very edgy and reluctant this year. Several major retail chains all have announced discount, the steepest in more than a decade. When people feel insecure, they do not give liberally either. Let us pray for the need of the ministry for all Chinese churches as they face the drop in offering. We pray especially for believers to have trust and unwavering faith in God's provision.

Wednesday
In the ongoing corruption trial, the ex-president of Taiwan has repeatedly insisted that he is politically persecuted and that he is bearing the "Cross of Taiwan's justice system". Whether this is good for the church to have such a sacred term popularized by the media remains to be seen. Let us pray for more believers who will be willing to share the message of the cross with others, especially in conversation with their friends.

Thursday
More than 200 million migrant laborers returned home for the Chinese New Year. They are faced with the unprecedented crisis—unemployment and inadequate social security. In the past, they returned with money happily and set out again with new laborers for new opportunities. This year, however, many returned home early and empty-handed. They have no idea what to do after the Chinese New Year. Let us pray for this unprecedented phenomenon throughout rural china and how it is affecting rural churches and believers. May the Lord strengthen those who place faith in Him and give wisdom to the rural church leaders in how to help their sheep.

Friday
In the earthquake affected Sichuan region, many are living in the temporary housings. Government have provided adequately and children are attending schools. Although, many rescue personnel have left, many Christians have stayed to help with counseling and rebuilding. Let us pray for the rebuilding effort and the psychological recovery of hundreds of thousands victims. We have faith that God will use the efforts Christians poured into here and bear fruits in His own timing.

Saturday
According to the Chinese zodiac signs, this is the year of the ox. Chinese people like to greet each other using the animal of the year. However, the ox is not an animal associated with fortune or blessing. The ox is regarded as inferior, slow, and insensitive in the Chinese mind. We know that blessing comes from the Lord alone and our hope is in Him. We pray that all believers will experience His presence and that churches will grow stronger in this economically turbulent time.

Sunday
A total of 12.46 million Chinese applicants took the entrance exam for postgraduate studies this year. Chinese enthusiasm for postgraduate studies has been growing since 2001 as job hunting became increasingly difficult. Student ministry has always been a bright spot, but many realize that these new converts must be connected with churches once they graduated; otherwise, there is a high rate of loss. Let us pray for the faith of those who have graduated and may the Holy Spirit quicken them to continue to be part of His Body.

Monday
Yunnan's county court sentenced sect leaders belonging to one of the most notorious cult in China, the Eastern Lightening. Many cults have been targeted by the police but often continue to evade arrest and wreck havoc for countless churches. These cult members are aggressive in tactic; aiming to "steal" naive sheep. Believers are often lacking in discernment and are ill-equipped to defend themselves with Word of God. Again, we pray for good feeding of Word of God for all Chinese churches, especially the rural ones. We too beseech the Lord to protect countless of weak sheep, especially those without shepherds.

星期二
春節是中國最盛的購物季節﹐消費者紛紛湧入商店購物。但是今年人們對在什麼東西上花錢肯定更謹慎了。幾家大型的連鎖商，均有大幅的折扣，且是十來年最大的一次。 當人們感到經濟前景不樂觀時，教會的奉獻也會相對減少。讓我們一起記念中國教會今年度事工的需要，也憑信心求主幫助我們信靠祂完全的預備。

星期三
臺灣前總統陳水扁在面對審訊時，不斷重申自己是政治迫害、政治打壓的受害者，甚至自言背負「臺灣公義的十字架」。原本神聖的宗教名詞透過媒體傳播而變成全民通曉的「俗諺」。讓我們求主激勵更多信徒起來，願意在每日的言談中，與人分享、傳揚十字架的救恩。

星期四
超過兩億民工已回家過年﹐他們正面臨著前所未有的危機如：失業和不健全的社會保障。以往他們高興帶錢回家，過完年後再和新的民工一起出發，今年許多人卻是兩手空空，提前返家，也不知道年後生計怎麽辦。過去從未出現過的上述現象，現在國內農村地區已是常態。讓我們為那些受影響的農村教會和信徒禱告。求神堅定信靠祂的信徒並賜智慧給教會同工們，有智慧善用有限資源治理神的家，忠心牧養羊群。

星期五
在汶川大地震中受影響的四川災區，現在許多人還住在臨時性的房子中。政府已向災民提供了充足的日用品，兒童們也已經復學。雖然許多救援人員已經離開，仍有很多基督徒留下協助心理輔導和災區重建。讓我們一起為災區的重建和數十萬受害者心理康復禱告。求神使用這些援助災區的努力，結出甜美果子。也請為家園被毀的災民能及時得到禦寒棉被和衣物過冬代禱。更要記念在地震中的初信主者，求主堅固他們的信心。

星期六
華人喜用生肖作新年賀詞。今年是牛年，牛卻是不容易與傳統華人喜好的福、祿、壽扯上關係的動物，反而常用來比喻卑微、遲鈍和緩慢。感謝主，萬福的泉源是主，祝福全來自祂的恩典，我們的真盼望是主自已。在這個經濟動盪不景氣的時期，我們禱告所有信徒都能親身經歷主真實的同在、專心仰望主，教會也能更健壯地增長。

星期日
今年報考碩士研究生統一考試的人數共1246萬。自2001年起始，社會上工作越來越難找，人們對報讀研究所的興趣也越來越熾烈。大學生一直為中國福音事工帶來希望。然而，這些新信徒若不能與教會保持緊密結連，畢業後往往大量流失。讓我們特別為這批信徒畢業後的靈命成長禱告，求聖靈幫助他們繼續不斷連於基督的身體，過美好的肢體生活。

星期一
雲南一縣級法院最近對在國內惡名昭彰的異端–「東方閃電」領袖判刑。雖然公安已極力打擊異端，但他們仍不斷逃避搜捕，對很多教會做成莫大的破壞。這些人用盡不同的手段千方百計掠奪純良的羊。許多信徒因沒在神的話語上裝備好，缺乏判別異端的能力，以致無法防止異端的侵擾。我們再次爲中國教會禱告（特別是農村教會），求神幫助衆聖徒能在神的真道上扎深根。也懇求主保護弱小的羊群，尤其是缺乏牧者牧養的。