Prayer Request 4/7 - 4/13

Tuesday
Many people in China easily fall prey to different kinds of cults as well as the occult. They preach and teach ridiculous interpretations of the Scripture yet many naive believers take that as the truth. It is very sad that sincere but untaught believers become victims of these cults and the occult with no one to teach them how to discern the right way to go. We pray for those who have fallen away from the Truth that God in His mercy will bring them back and make them whole.

Wednesday
Some of the cults ravaging the churches in China resort to dirty tricks such as threatening leaders with physical harm, kidnapping believers, leading people into sexual temptation--coming in as wolves in sheep's clothing and hijacking the entire church body. Every week churches are destroyed by cults with the result that those left are feeble and unable to function as the Lord's body. Let us pray for those churches that are under attack, specifically for their safety and wisdom. We pray, too, for those who are trying to regroup their ministry after the loss of their shepherds.

Thursday
The churches in China are facing a new wave of attack by cults coming from North America. These "wolves in sheep's skins" are clean cut and polite. They attract young people, visit homes, and conduct English classes. Foreign cults see China as a big pie sitting there waiting to be devoured so they are putting forth great efforts to win people in China. We pray for spiritual alertness for all believers and for more prayer sentries to be called. May the Lord be merciful to the churches in China.

Friday
As a whole, the house churches in China are still searching for a workable model for growth. Many are still struggling with the problem of how to expand or maintain their ministry and stay unregistered with the government. In other words, they are in the legal gray zone. We pray for the preaching and outreach done by churches under all kinds of limitations, especially those that have a lack of properly equipped leaders and limited facilities. Many want to reach out to the children and youth but are unable to do so.

Saturday
Whether to register with the government or not continues to be a thorny debate for many house churches. Some are negotiating with officials in order to own church property and expand their ministry. We pray along with those churches going through this often divisive and emotionally wrenching process. Through this a church often is divided and polarized. May the Lord give them wisdom, unity of spirit, and oneness of mind.

Sunday
Presently the churches in China can best be described as fragmented and divided. The biggest reason for this is theological differences which are literally bordering on antagonism. Some churches will not even meet or work together because they accuse each other of being theological apostates. Believers are often taught that their interpretation of the Bible is the only one that is absolutely correct. The Bible teaches us there is only one Christ and one church so we pray for humility and mutual acceptance among all these factions in the churches in China.

Monday
Many well-meaning Western missionaries and churches take their methods of church growth and discipleship with them to China. They also support these churches financially. However, many of these ideas and methodologies need to be contextualized and adapted to China to be truly effective. We thank the Lord for all the gifts and ideas taken to the churches in China and we pray that those same churches will grow solidly on God's work and not just try to copy and imitate what works elsewhere.


星期二
提起「異端」總讓人感嘆中國人容易被迷惑。「東方閃電」、「二兩糧」、「門徒會」、「末日會」等諸多荒誕教導的群體都能在中國發展壯大，甚至有肥沃土壤可供其滋長。面對各樣的偏邪教義並不可畏，可怕的是沒人教導信徒分辨真假，一味盲從，使教會流失很多信徒。 讓我們為那些偏離真道的人禱告，求上帝以慈憐挽回他們，使他們歸回羊圈。

星期三
中國的「土產異端」如「東方閃電」往往使用坑、矇、拐、騙等諸多手段，專與教會作對。這些披著羊皮的狼以教會的同工、領袖為首要擄掠對象，為教會帶來極大的虧損，許多家教會領袖同工都深受其害。讓我們特別為那些遭受攻擊，群龍無首，而急需重整事工的教會禱告，求神賜下智慧、大能保護祂眾兒女安全。

星期四
隨著門戶的漸漸開放，「洋」異端亦來到中國，如:復臨安息日會、摩門教、統一教等…。這些人穿戴乾淨整齊、舉止文明，站在城市街頭發放傳單或在小區拜訪，他們與國內傳道人的衣著舉止大為迥異，常吸引人去參加他們的聚會，分割地上教會的人群。讓我們禱告所有信徒都保持屬靈警覺，以禱告堵住破口。願神憐憫保護祂自己的教會。

星期五
家庭教會整體而言還在摸索一個切合國情的教會增長模式。許多教會一方面希望發展事工，另一方面則面臨沒有向政府登記，法律上的灰色地帶問題。 讓我們為未登記教會面對在信息傳講和事工發展種種的困難，尤其欠缺周全裝備的領袖或資源匱乏的教會。求神在目前舉步爲艱的形勢下，為許多都有心發展兒童或青少年工作的教會開路。

星期六
這些年來，家庭教會應否向政府「登記」一直是個極富爭議性的課題。有些為了要擁有合法的聚會場地來發展事工跟政府打交道。讓我們爲這些開始跟政府溝通的教會禱告，此過程往往易導致教會內意見分歧，造成教會分裂和對立。求主賜教會同工們智慧，有合一心靈，共同為見証主及拓展國度努力。

星期日
當今中國教會現狀況可謂「各自為政」。最大的問題是神學上的分歧，造成教會彼此對立。很多教會互相指責對方在教義上走歪，並因此停止相互往來合作。基督徒常常堅持自己教會對聖經的詮釋是絕對無誤的。其實聖經教導的核的是：我們只有一位基督、一個教會。讓我們一同來爲教會宗派之爭禱告，求神使我們在持守基要真理時，能存心謙卑，竭力與眾人和睦，用愛心彼此接納。

星期一
許多西方傳教士和教會把教會增長和栽培信徒的經驗帶到中國，同時也在財務上援助教會。然而要使這些新觀念和方法的充分落實，仍需配合國情作適當的調整。我們為這些新事物和概念引入中國教會感謝神！讓我們向神禱告，願這些教會在神的引領下能有根有基地成長，不致盲目模倣、追隨他人在別處成功的經驗。