Prayer Request 7/20 - 7/26

Tuesday
A famous forty-three year old Chinese actor who had had a film based on his drug addiction jumped to his death in Beijing. Prior to his death, he had posted two articles entitled "Are You Living a Meaningful Life? and "What Do You Live For?" under his own name in his blog, hoping to get feedback. In China there are so many who are seeking the meaning of life but have no one to tell them about Jesus. Believers tend not to have contacts with these people in their daily lives. Again we pray for the numbers of people who are addicted to drugs, depressed, and have never heard of the salvation of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday
In many urban centers there are pockets where there is a lack of infrastructure and the residents are substantially poor. These places are called "urban villages" and they attract migrants. The city of Beijing has 231 of these centers which present a big challenge to the police there. Although the work is not easy and they tend to attract scrutiny from the local police, there are Christians who purposely visit and try to share the gospel in these neighborhoods. We thank the Lord for those who are willing to get out of their comfort zone and reach out to the poor in their own city.
Thursday
There are 3.05 million families of the only-child generation in Shanghai and about 6.1 million households of parents with only one child. It is predicted that after 2018 there will be 240,000 to 340,000 more each year of one-child parents who become senior citizens. We pray for believers who have ailing parents or those who need assistance in daily care. It is easy to lose patience with the elderly. May the Lord remind us that He says, "Honor your father and mother (this is the first command with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Eph. 6:1, 2
Friday
In the "first-tier" cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou married couples feel they must have a joint monthly income of 8000 RMB ($1,200US) before they feel comfortable about having children. Experts say that many young couples have a fear of being a "slave to a child" so they postpone having one. Let us pray especially for those believers with young children. It does cost a lot to raise a child but we pray they will realize that a child is a gift from God and they as parents are His stewards to raise that child to love and serve Him.
Saturday
According to a report from the British Embassy in China, Chinese who have gone abroad for an education and then returned to work there, do not command the high salaries they would have gotten in the past. Those with no previous work experience who return with a bachelor's degree receive only 3000 to 5000 RMB a month and that casts doubt as to whether it is worth the cost to get such an education. Since it is the dream of Chinese parents to send their only child abroad to study, we pray for those Christian parents whose child is "disappointing" or unable to get into top schools. May the Lord open their eyes to see that He has a great plan for their children and they need to have faith trusting God to have a great purpoe for the life of that child.
Sunday
One reason for the popularity of "feng shui" in China is that when state-owned companies or institutions hire these "feng shui masters" the cost is counted as a business expense. They are spending taxpayers' money but they receive all the benefits generated by such "consultations" themselves. "I am spending the company's money" or "I am on the company's time" represents a prevalent mentality in China. Unfortunately, many believers have the same attitude and often display it in their use of church funds. Let us pray for integrity and the fear of God for all believers, especially when it concerns their money and time.
Monday
People who lecture about "feng shui" are well-known experts, professors, deans, retired senior government officials, or international dignitaries. These are influential people who regard these meetings as "great cultural events". They believe there is no harm in this since requesting "feng shui consultation" is a business expense. Not a few Christians also believe that "feng shui" is harmless and there is no conflict with our faith. Let us pray for discernment and wisdom for all believers. May the Lord remind us that He alone is the Creator and all things belong to Him. May God bless those who fear and worship Him alone.

星期二
一位43歲曾將自己吸毒的故事拍成電影的著名男演員，在北京跳樓自殺身亡。他去世前，他用本名在自己的博客網站發表「你活得有意思嗎？」和「你為什麼活著」的帖子，徵集網友對生命的看法。無數中國人正尋找生命的意義，可惜在日常生活中基督徒們卻沒有主動告訴人們主耶穌寶貴的救恩。我們要為那些濫用藥物、抑鬱病患者們禱告，懇求主將挽救靈魂的廹切感放在每個弟兄姐妹的心中，也差派合適的工人，向尚未聽聞福音的人群分享耶穌基督捨身救贖的大愛。
星期三
「城中村」即「都市裡的村莊」，指那些在城市高速發展過程中，仍未發展、生活水平較低的區域，尤其吸引外地勞工聚集。僅北京城八區就有231個這類的「城中村」，成為北京市公共安全的隱患。有些基督徒特意探訪這些居民，嘗試分享主耶穌的救恩。這樣的事工並不容易，且要低調免得引來監視。我們為肢體願意跳出自己舒適的環境，關切貧窮人的需要來感謝神，求祂繼續賜下充足的智慧與熱誠給他們，能將福音的好消息傳開。
星期四
目前上海約有305萬個家庭有獨生子女，即全市有610萬獨生子女父母；據預測，到了2018年，上海每年有24至34萬的獨生子女父母進入老年階段。我們為需要照顧年老體衰的父母的信徒禱告，這確實是很容易失去耐性的事情。求主時常提醒我們，也是第一條帶有應許的誡命-「要孝敬父母，使你得福，在世長壽。」。弗6:2
星期五
據一項調查顯示，在北京、上海和廣州等一線城市，夫妻每月收入超過八千元人民幣(一千二美金)，才願意生養子女。專家更指出，許多城市年輕夫婦為怕變成「孩奴」而遲遲不敢生養子女。我們特別為那些育有孩子的主內家庭禱告，養育孩子確實所費不菲，求主賜他們信心，深信孩子是耶和華的賞賜，而父母是這份產業的忠心管家，以能為主教養出敬虔且樂於服事主的下一代為己任。
星期六
根據英國駐華大使館資料報導，海歸的身價正普遍下跌，讓一些人開始懷疑耗重金自費留學「值不值？」出國前無工作經歷及取得本科學歷的海歸們，將近一半月薪在3000元〜5000元上下。多少中國父母親的美夢就是將他們唯一的孩子送出國留學。我們特別為那些基督徒家長來禱告，尤其是他們的孩子在學業上「令人失望或無法進入重點學校」。願主打開他們屬靈的眼睛，看見神在每個子女身上的宏偉大藍圖，也賜給他們有信心，相信神在孩子的生命中有美好的目的與引領。
星期日
「風水」在中國得以流行，原因之一是國營企業的風水開支，可以納入公費報銷。這些開銷由納稅人付，但「受惠」的卻只有當事人。「可以報公費」或「反正是老板的時間」的心態在華人中間很普遍；遺憾的是許多信徒也以相同的心態使用教會的財物和資源。求主賜給信徒們一顆正直、純全的心，以敬畏神的態度管理好金錢和時間，尤其在管理教會的奉獻時，更要手潔心清，忠心負責
星期一
許多相信「風水」的人都是專家學者、大學教授、退休高官，甚至國際知名人士；這些具公眾影響力的人認為「風水」蘊含無限的智慧，是中國偉大的文化遺產。再者，可以開公費請人看「風水」，何樂而不為。不少基督徒竟相信「風水」是無傷大雅，與我們的信仰沒什麼衝突。求主賜我們屬靈的敏銳力，能分辨末世的迷惑。更求主時常提醒我們，祂是全知全能的創造主，萬物由祂所造，也都屬於祂，除祂以外別無倚靠與拯救，並樂意祝福所有敬畏和尊崇祂的人。