Prayer Request 2/2 - 2/8

Tuesday
The biggest season for travel in China is over the Chinese New Year. This year they expect 210 million people to take the train in the short 3-week period. Getting a ticket for this trip is historically very difficult and requires bribery or "special favor". Officials have severely warned that railroad employees unfairly getting or selling tickets will be fired. We pray for the planning and a great harvest as many churches have made big plans for outreach programs during the Chinese New Year. We pray, too, as believers are re-united with their families that it will be a wonderful time of sharing their faith, contributing offerings to their home churches and reconciling with estranged members of their families.

Wednesday
A 2008 survey said, an average Chinese household has 69 copies of book (94.6 for city, 41.5 for village). More than 60% Chinese are not satisfied with their own reading, believing they have not read enough. Half of these said, "they are too busy to read". The vast majority of believers receive their "spiritual feeding" from sermons only. There is very little Bible studying programs/efforts on the grass root level. We pray for people who will bring attention to studying of Bible, not merely listening on Sundays, and living out what God's teaching in our lives.

Thursday
Government study on reading habits and book purchasing trend shows, 81% of young people (under 18) buy and read book, but only 49% of adults do so. Young people read from other media too, Internet, cell phone etc. Christian books in China used to be printing on any white paper will do. In this age of information's explosive growth, we must pray hard for providing high quality of Christian content, not merely to appeal "rural believers", but must be able to interest young people and urban residents.

Friday
The very first TV commercial shown in China was on Chinese New Year in Shanghai. When the "Beauty Nourishing Wine" was shown during a women' basketball, many audience called the station and complained. Back in those days, buying anything required a ticket, especially a luxury item. Today, Chinese consumers are constantly bombarded with commercials and they will buy anything shown on TV especially when it is pitched by celebrity. Unfortunately, believers often will believe whatever they hear or read, especially it is pitched by famous preachers. We pray that Christians will have discerning wisdom of what they read and listen.

Saturday
For several decades China has had a mandatory retirement policy of sixty for men and fifty-five for women party members or fifty for ordinary workers. As people live much longer, retiring at such an early age presents a problem socially which the government recognizes but has problems correcting. There are many believers who are in their fifties and sixties who are retired but are still energetic. Many of them are devoting time and effort to visitation, teaching, or even in the role of shepherds. We pray for all of them to have spiritual vitality and faithfulness in serving God and His people.

Sunday
Today, China produces the most television dramas in the worlds and has the most viewing audience. China's very first TV drama “A Mouthful of Vegetable Pancake” was broadcast in 1958, it was about how a mother who save last bit of food for her daughter, dying in hunger in bitter winter. Chinese Christian contents still tend to be "old fashion", neither appealing nor "fitting today's social context". We pray that churches will deliver the God's message in fresher and relevant way. We must engage the society, otherwise, our voices will be drown out by all the noise of the world.

Monday
We all have witnessed the miraculous changes China churches gone through in the past 20 years. A critical mission churches face is "be a leader and training leaders". This requires a systematic effort of mind changing and nurturing of new leaders. We pray for more workers, intellectuals, professionals and leaders becoming the "new army" of shepherds for China churches. May the Holy Spirit move, sanctify and prepare all of them. We pray especially for guarding of their hearts from temptation, financial, sexual and power.


星期二
農曆新年是每年運輸頂峰期。今年長達三星期的鐵路春運預計將運送旅客2.1億人次，鐵路「一票難求」的難題仍無法避免。鐵道部將嚴厲打擊倒賣火車票的行為，一旦發現鐵路職工參與，將一律開除。讓我們為在春節籌劃大型怖道會的教會禱告，求神保守教會的事工並賜福豐富收成。也禱告信徒能趁一家團聚的機會，與家人分享福音，化解嫌隙和緊張的關係，重修舊好；也為自己家鄉的教會大力奉獻。

星期三
根據調查，2008年中國國民家庭藏書量平均為69本。其中城鎮人口家庭平均藏書94.6本，農村人口的家庭平均藏書41.5本。超過六成的國民表示：對自己閱讀的情況不太滿意或很不滿意，過半數中國人認為自己無暇閱讀，也認為自己的閱讀數量比較少或很少。中國 大部分信徒只賴聚會中的信息為靈糧，而適合基層的查經課程又少。求神讓信徒更看重研讀聖經，不僅止于主日聽道，更要活出主的教導。

星期四
中國一項2008國民閱讀與購買傾向抽樣調查報告稱，18歲以下未成年人圖書閱讀率為81.4％，，成年人閱讀率僅49%。未成年人也透過上網，手機，手持式閱讀器等數字媒介閱讀。中國的基督教書籍，只要能印出白紙黑字就算出書。但在這資訊爆炸的時代，我們需要有高質素的閱讀內容，讓我們禱告有更多好書問市，不單能滿足農村信徒，還能開發出傳遞福音，吸引年輕族群與都市人的好內容。

星期五
1979年1月28日，正值春節還恰逢國務院副總理鄧小平出訪美國，上海電視臺播出了一條「養容酒」的廣告，這是中國第一條電視廣告。該廣告效應不大。電視臺還接獲許多反映和投訴。畢竟在當時，人們仍須有發票和購買證才能買東西，特別是奢侈品。今日中國消費者大受商業廣告沖擊，尤其電視廣告靠著明星效應，總叫消費者跟風購買。信徒也同樣易受明星效應的影響，。求神給我們分辨的智慧，對一些名講員所講所寫的能謹慎察驗。

星期六
中國立法規範工人的退休年齡下調至60歲。有些工種和性別更下調至55歲，形成人口、年齡與人力的失衡。連政府都承認有問題存在，需另尋對策。有很多5-60歲的退休人士仍然身體健康精力充沛。實可全然投入為神工作，甚至成為教會的傳道或教師。我們求神呼召和使用更多的退休人成為國度合用的器皿，繼續發揮他們生命的光與熱。

星期日
今日中國已成為世界第一大電視劇生產、播出大國。中國的首部電視劇是半世紀前《一口菜餅子》，講述一位母親將僅有的一口菜餅子留給女兒，在飢寒交迫中死去的故事。中國的基督教書籍至今仍呈「老態」，對不上當今社會模式和現代人的胃口。求主幫助教會在傳遞神的信息和福音時能推陳出新，避免曲高和寡，適度「入世」切入普羅大眾生活中，與人們的脈博抽相應。

星期一
中國教會這二十年的奇跡性轉變是眾目共睹的。教會當前重任便是為主「成為領袖、栽培領袖」，因此教會需要建立有系統的模式來教育和培養新一代領袖。我們禱告能夠有更多工人、知識份子、專業人士和領袖人物成為中國教會的新力軍。求聖靈催逼、揀選、和預備人選。我們也特別求主保守未來教會同工們的心，能在財物、情欲和權力的試探中得勝有餘。