Prayer Request 9/29 - 10/05

Tuesday
At present there are 70 million children from "only child" families in college or in the work force in China. When they were surveyed nearly half of these college students reported a lack of close friendship in spite of their having a large social circle. Many observe that people from the "only child" generation have great difficulty forming healthy relationships. The young and newly-converted believers in China now are predominately from the "one child" generation. We pray for these new converts, especially those in urban churches, that the Holy Spirit will transform their lives and teach them to be humble, not self-centered in their fellowship with other believers.

Wednesday
The government estimates that there are 5.2 million "official" cars in service throughout China. One can imagine the enormous expense and abuses involved. The Communist Party has stated repeatedly that using official cars for private use is very rampant but their attempts to reform the situation have failed again and again. Chinese people tend to equate the misuse and abuse of public property merely as perks. Having integrity and not giving in to corruption is not easy, especially for believers who are in positions of power and influence. Let us pray for them and for ourselves since we all need to live out our faith and be a testimony in the workplace.

Thursday
Several things contributed to the rise of student fellowships in colleges: involvement of urban churches in student ministry, the return of Christian Chinese from overseas who teach in colleges, reach out to students, and are involved in publishing of many literary classics as well as promoting Christianity in the department of religion in many universities. Student ministry in China has been an unprecedented collaborative effort and we praise the Lord for the miracle He has performed. We lift up all those involved in student ministries and pray especially for those who have come to accept Jesus on the campus but are now not a part of any church or have drifted away from their faith.

Friday
It is estimated that there are 173 million adults with mental illness in China--far more than was previously thought. The vast majority of those so afflicted have never sought help because of the Chinese lack of understanding about mental illness and that they can be treated. Any Chinese who is mentally ill is quickly labeled as "strange" or "weak". Even churches can usually offer nothing better than a gentle, "We will pray for you". Pastors have little knowledge of how to handle those who are depressed or suicidal. They have no time to give individual attention to those so afflicted. Let us pray for those pastors whose sheep are suffering from depression and wondering how the church can help them.

Saturday
Health officials in Beijing estimate that 17.5% of adult Chinese suffer from some kind of mental disorder. Rural residents have a high incidence of depression and alcohol-related problems. Unfortunately, China is also the only country in the world in which the rate of suicide for females is higher than that of males. A majority of Chinese Christian churches are located in rural regions (60% of the people in China live in rural areas). Rural churches witness many cases of depression and suicide but are totally at a loss to know how to help. Let us pray for healing for all the depressed individuals churches know about or the members who suffer from it. May the Lord use the churches to preach the powerful message of healing and comfort found in God in their communities.

Sunday
The Communist Party claims that a third of her members have a college education. Since all positions in the government are given to party members by preference, many Christians choose to keep their faith a secret or decide not to be baptized for fear of being associated with churches. We pray for a close personal relationship with God for every Christian who holds party membership. They need much prayer, a strong faith in God, and the courage to live out their beliefs. They are also the seed for change whether subtle or obvious in the Chinese government. We pray for our brothers and sisters who hold membership in the Communist party.

Monday
Although Beijing has repeatedly raised the salary of teachers nationwide, teachers are not getting raises locally because of a lack of funds. China as a nation is rich but at the county level, the salaries of teachers have not caught up with inflation. Teachers in the countryside are the poorest in terms of pay and other compensations. Similarly, many have talked about helping the pastors especially those in the rural churches but there is a lack of financial resources. Let us lift up in our prayers those who serve the Lord and His people faithfully. May the Lord bless them and help the people in the churches to see that they should treat God's shepherds with respect and support them financially.

星期二
目前中國已有7,000萬「獨生子女」族群進入社會工作或在大專院校就讀。調查顯示：在校大學生中，47.42%的獨生子女反應自己交遊面雖廣，但缺少知心朋友。據觀察這獨生子女一代面臨著不善與人建立友誼的困擾。 中國現今的年輕初信徒，尤其在城市教會的，主要來自「獨一代」。讓我們為這些初信徒禱告，求讓他們重生的聖靈帶領他們成為有謙卑，無私的新生命，能與其他信徒互相關愛團契。

星期三
中國政府估計目前全國共有五百二十萬輛公務車在服務，其所涉費用的龐大和對公務車的濫用情形不難想像。共產黨一再指出公務車私用情況非常嚴重，但嘗試改變現狀卻一再失敗。國人常習於誤用和濫用公共財產等同於津貼。想要堅守廉正不屈服於腐敗實非易事，尤其是處在具有一定權力和影響力位份上的基督徒。讓我們為他們，也為自己禱告，求神保守我們活出信仰，在職場上為主作美好的見證。

星期四
中國各地大學團契的建立，要歸功於許多城市教會積極投入校園福音事工；海歸人員在大學任教，努力向學生傳褔音，從事出版基督教文學刊物、並在大學宗教系致力宣揚基督教神學。中國學生團契事工的成功正是大家通力合作的果效，我們衷心感謝上帝所創造的奇蹟。讓我們為所有投入學生事工的人禱告，也特別紀念曾於校園決志信主但卻不再參加聚會或轉離信仰的學生。

星期五
中國患精神病的人數比過去預料的要高得多，約有1億7300萬成年人患有某種精神病。其中絕大多數從未就診，主要是因為民眾對精神病缺乏認識，很多人都不知道精神病是可以醫治的。中國人常把精神病患者標籤爲「古怪」或「軟弱」。 甚至教會一般只會簡單説聲「我們會爲你禱告」而已。牧師既沒有足夠裝備及專業知識也無暇去幫助有抑鬱和自殺傾向的病人。我們要爲這些有抑鬱病纏繞的病羊的牧者禱告，求神親自供應教會，能有效回應這些需要。

星期六
衛生官員估計中國有17.5%的成年人患有某種程度上的精神病。鄉村居民比城市居民更可能患抑鬱症和酗酒。中國是世界上唯一一個女性自殺率高於男性的國家。中國有60%的人口居住在鄉村，大部分教會也是在鄉郊地區。鄉郊教會裏有不少抑鬱症和自殺問題，可是他們對這些問題全然不知所措。我們祈求神醫治那些教會正在跟進的抑鬱病患者和患有這些疾病的信徒。求主使用教會在社區傳揚神大有醫治和安慰能力的信息。

星期日
共產黨宣稱三分之一的黨員接受過高等教育。由於大部分政府工作都以有黨籍者為優先考慮，知識分子為了好的職位而加入共產黨的情況仍然普遍。許多考慮受洗 的信徒往往掙扎於是否繼續保留黨籍；很多人也選擇保密自己信徒的身份。這些隱性在政府機關工作的弟兄姊妹，是未來福音拓展的種籽。讓我們以禱告記念他們時時能與神親密同行，信心和勇氣都能持續在主裏不斷增長。

星期一
政府多次提高全國的教師工資待遇，但地方政府沒有資金，教師漲工資只能是「空調」。按國家經濟指數而言，中國是富裕的，但縣級政府卻不然。教師的工資始終趕不上通貨膨脹。待遇最底的教師群體是農村教師。同樣的，很多人都知道傳道人的需要，尤其農村教會的，但資源不足，「幫助」僅流於「空談」。我們要以禱告記念所有忠心事主和教會的同工，求主將福氣傾倒，也讓會眾能恩待神的牧人，不吝於尊敬和經濟支持。