Prayer Request 12/08 - 12/14

Tuesday
The movie 2010 was the top one in the box office in China. They liked the movie because in it Hollywood portrayed Chinese people positively. All the arks used to save humanity in this film were "Made in China". Each year only twenty foreign films are allowed to be shown in China and this movie was shown without any editing. We thank the Lord for the increase in national pride and the popular sentiment of "Chinese can save the world" that we see right now in China. We pray Chinese believers will be more confident in their role of sharing Jesus with their neighbors rather than just the idealistic vision of "we have a mission to the world". We pray, too, that believers will humbly accept one another rather than attacking each other due to petty differences.

Wednesday
Garlic from Shangdong province has become a hot item on the market and the price has shot up nearly ten-fold because of the rumored benefit it gives of preventing the common flu in the winter. Even young ladies are joining the ranks of those chewing raw garlic. In the past Chinese believers were ridiculed and badly victimized when they fell prey to cults that promised instant financial and health benefits. Let us pray that growth in all churches is built on God's Word instead of just false promises and that they will grow through the moving of the Spirit rather than through the charisma of some person.

Thursday
These are some of the top cliches in China now: "I can deal with hoodlums, it is the civilized hoodlums that I can't stand." "Don't bother me when things are fine, don't ask for my help when things go wrong." "Don't try to decide who is lazier. I am too lazy too be compared with you." Many people feel that young people today have a bad attitude, are irresponsible and not willing to help. In churches, this is a common complaint of older believers as well. Let us pray for the more mature believers to be willing to model sacrificial serving and may the Holy Spirit work mightily among new believers to want to serve and give of themselves.

Friday
Traditionally Chinese morality considers that revenge is a virtue. A very common cliche goes like this: "It is un-gentlemanly not to seek revenge." A debt must be reciprocated or returned whether it is through kindness or meanness. One who does not take revenge on another is considered a fool, unethical, and not fit to be called a man. Thus, we can see why Chinese believers struggle a great deal with forgiveness and letting go. May the Lord help us to see and understand the grace and mercy He has for all of us. Unresolved hatred is a big reason many believers cannot fully appreciate God's love and kindness to us and why they are so legalistic.

Saturday
China is trying hard to reverse her brain drain by luring accomplished professors to return home.They are offering a salary of one million yuan hoping to recruit one thousand professors. But there is a catch--these people must give up their foreign citizenship to let China have full credit for their research. Salary is always a factor in retaining pastors in rural churches. Those who have children want to live in cities where the schools are better. Let us pray especially for those churches that are without shepherds and are not likely to attract one because of small financial remuneration. We also remember to pray for strength and God's provision for pastors who have stayed on to serve in rural churches.

Sunday
Despite the global economic downturn, the personal wealth of the rich in China has continued to expand . By the end of 2009 China will have 450,000 millionaires (in USD, excluding their homes) and that number will double in four years.Millionaires represent only 0.1 percent of all Chinese households but they hold nearly half of the total wealth in China. Most Christians expect those who are rich to give offerings and use that as an excuse not to be a faithful steward themselves. People simply expect others to give but they themselves will not give. Thus, the offerings in churches are generally low and given by only a few. Let us pray that God will change this mentality for believers and open their eyes to see that God is waiting to pour His abundant riches on those who are willing to trust Him.

Monday
Half of the students in China feel their parents care only about their school grades and nearly ninety percent of the parents admit that the academic performance of their children is their top concern. Students say that their number one worry is that they will disappoint their parents. Even Christian parents often feel that their children' good grades are more important than a close relationship with God. We pray along with all the Christians parents who are worried that their children will drift away from the faith but also naturally are concerned about the future of their only child.


星期二
電影《2012》在中國拿下票房冠軍。因為首次有好萊塢大片正面描寫中國人，因此國人對該電影大有好感。片中在世界末日中拯救人類的巨型方舟是“中國製造”。中國每年只准20部外片上映，可貴的是這部影片放映時是毫無删減。感謝主讓中國人民族自信不斷提升，常抱著“中國人可以拯救世界”的期許。我們祈求神讓中國信徒不僅停留在談論“我們對世界的使命”，能更有自信跨出向鄰舍傳福音。也求神讓信徒謙卑地互相接納，不互相攻擊。

星期三
山東大蒜原先七、八毛(人民幣)一斤，近來因傳有預防流感妙不可言的食效，讓人們趨之若鶩，成了市埸上流行熱賣的新寵，價格飆漲十倍，連素不喜歡吃的女士也加入吃生蒜的行列。過去中國信徒往往受害於種種異端，承諾所謂能使人迅速發財、病得痊癒，困難消除云云，我們禱告中國教會的增長，能植根於上帝的話語，而非種種迷惑人的謊言，靠著聖靈的大能而非個別領袖的魅力。

星期四
中國時髦口頭禪排行榜是：「流氓不可怕，就怕流氓有文化。」；「沒什麼事不要找我，有事更不用找我。」；「錢不是問題，問題是沒錢！」「不要和我比懶，我懶得和你比。」常聞「現在的年輕人靠不住，沒有敬業、持守的態度」之類的感嘆，教會中也是如此。求主興起更多「成熟」的信徒，願意順從聖靈的感動，在教會中學習捨己事奉，在金錢上也更多參與，成為初信者服事的好榜樣。

星期五
中國傳統裡有恩報恩，有仇報仇，「此仇不報非君子也」成了人們的口頭禪。不報仇雪恨是愚不可及、不道德，更不是君子。因此信徒很難實踐寬恕和既往不咎。許多信徒不能完全理解神的愛和善良的一大原因是無法解決仇恨，也令靈命上始終墨守成規、裹足不前。求主幫助我們體認：是神滿有恩典來憐憫我們這些蒙恩的罪人，信徒只有在饒恕的愛中得釋放與自由。

星期六
政府提供100萬元人民幣的厚薪和一大筆實驗室資金等優厚條件，吸引海外的頂尖華人科學家歸國。其中條件之一是他們必須放棄外國國籍，將研究成果歸國家掌控中。農村教會難以留住牧師，薪酬是一個主要因素。一些年青信徒為了較豐富的生活質素，寧願離鄉別井到城市求學、求職。我們來為沒有牧者、連基本資源也缺乏的教會禱告。求主厚賜力量和信心給這些農村教會與牧者。

星期日
儘管全球經濟衰退，今年底中國仍有45萬名資產達百萬美元以上的「百萬富翁」，未來四年人數且會加倍。他們雖僅占千分之一，卻擁有全中國一半的資產。很多信認為奉獻是有錢人(別人)的事，而不願意照著聖經的教導將自己該盡的份擺上。長遠來說，這些人對教會的投入只會更少。我們求神打開弟兄姊妹的眼睛，能做財富的好管家，也能更因在金錢上有更多的擺上得著更豐盛的生命和平安。

星期一
據調查顯示：半數的中國學生認為父母只關心他們的學習成績；近九成的父母承認自己最關心的也是孩子的學習成績。很多學生最擔心的是成績不好令父母失望。基督徒父母也常認為孩子有好成績比跟神的關係更重要。很多信徒面對家中唯一的孩子，既擔心他們偏離了信仰，卻也不免掛慮他們未來的前途。讓我們禱告，身為父母親的肢體能以神為中心來教育兒女，願意將一切憂慮全交在全能神手裏。