Prayer Request 10/19 - 10/25

Tuesday
October is traditionally an important month on the political calendar in China. Every five years the Communist Party meets to discuss and decide the course the nation will take. This is the so-called "12th 5-year Plan" (2011-2015). We praise God for the economic achievement China has made as well as the growth in the churches there which includes the greater freedom they now enjoy. We pray for continuing numerical and substantive growth of the churches in China in the next five years. Believers must have a renewed sense of mission and passion for God, not merely a pride in their nation.

Wednesday
Because of the 7-day national holiday, in China the first week of October is traditionally a busy time of travel and shopping time--the so-called "golden week". The government reports that Chinese are spending a lot more on purchases and eating out at restaurants (a whopping 18.7%) than in 2009. Chinese Christians are no longer the poor peasants we once thought them to be. Let us remember especially those who are wealthy. May the Lord remind them that it is God's blessing that they have the wealth and may they not be proud but willing to use their wealth generously in God's work.

Thursday
A very popular Mainland magazine, Duzhe （"Reader's," with 10 million in circulation), has been approved to be published in Taiwan. It will keep the same name but will be printed in the traditional fonts, and it will be available for sale in convenience stores. This is highly significant because the literary "tastes" of two sides of the straits are becoming similar. Biographies of persecuted Chinese believers have inspired countless readers in and outside of China. We pray that God will raise up more contemporary believers to pen their testimonies and encourage others to serve the Lord faithfully.

Friday
A 2006 survey showed that 62% percent of Chinese religious believers are 39 years old or younger. This is very evident in Wenzhou which is also known as China's "Jerusalem". Many of the devout are young and obviously well-off. We praise the Lord! May He give each of us the humility and desire to learn more about Him. The generation gap is quite evident in many churches. We pray that older believers will accept the younger ones and younger ones will be willing to learn from their elders.
Saturday
China has a long history of peasant rebellions that were fueled by religious belief and observers say the communist government still today views religion with caution saying it is a social and political issue that could affect social instability. We take this time to remember again the rural churches in China. Many desire that their young leaders be trained outside but face difficulties with the local government. We pray for the safety needed and for those who are being trained. They are willing to learn but have only a limited education. May the Lord give wisdom to those who teach and the students alike.

Sunday
In recent years, there have been many fraudulent "doctors" and “health experts.” Chinese media repeatedly performs the role of making these fakes famous and then denouncing them later. It is almost comical to see how charlatans can fool people by making ridiculous claims about healing or providing nutritional misinformation. There are indeed many naive people who would believe anything. Jesus warned us about false teachers and prophets too. We pray that believers will not fall prey to heresies and un-Biblical claims. May the Lord grant us mercy and spiritual discernment.

Monday
In the past, farmers were not able to afford medical care. With the new government-sponsored rural medical system, 20 yuan can buy basic medical care. This has been a great improvement for the rural communities. We praise the Lord that rural regions in China have seen substantial improvement in medical care, basic welfare, and education. Rural churches have seen much decline in the past 2 decades because of the exodus of young people. We pray that such decline may slow and that more workers will see the big needs of rural churches and be willing to go serve there.


星期二
每年十月是中國政治日曆上的大月，今年是共產黨中央委員會每五年一次全體會議，主要議程是制定國民經濟和社會發展第十二個五年規劃(2011-2015)。 我們為中國經濟的發展迅速而感恩，更求神神賜下中國教會持斷增長，有更多的信仰自由讚美主。我們迫切為中國教會在未來5年有質與量的增長禱告，求主賜中國信徒更深使命感，不單只自豪於民族的成就，更為同胞的靈魂需要為主大發熱心。

星期三
今年的「十一」黃金週，中國各地消費市場的火熱景象讓人不免感嘆：老百姓手中真的「不差錢」。據政府公布，黃金週七天，全國零售和餐飲行業，比去年同期增長 18.7％。現今許多中國基督徒已不再是從前刻板印象中的貧窮農民。讓我們特別為富有的基督徒禱告，求主提醒他們一切所擁有的，都是出自神，慎防驕傲自恃，且要將神所託管的財富，有智慧和見識地運用在神的工作上。

星期四
一本發行量達一千萬份的暢銷雜誌 -《讀者》，成為首本中國進入台灣的刊物，此書保持原名但改以繁體版發行，在全島便利商店和超市銷售。這個發展意味著兩岸讀書文化口味的靠近。 中國信徒為主受逼迫、受苦的信仰經歷激勵了許多人，我們求主興起更多當代中國信徒，使用他們的見證分享，激勵更多神的兒女持守真道，忠心服事主。

星期五
一份2006年的調查顯示，在中國參與宗教活動的人中，六成二是三十九歲以下，這情況在被稱為「中國的耶路撒冷」的溫州更為明顯。當地信徒不單年輕、而且家境富足。我們讚美主在年輕一代心中所動的善工，求祂繼續吸引信徒們，好叫大家快跑跟隨主。中國教會普遍存有「代溝」問題，求神賜給我們謙卑的心，幫助年長的信徒接納年輕一代，並教導年輕一代樂意跟從屬靈長輩們學習。

星期六
歷史上由宗教信仰引發的農民起義屢見不鮮。政府總擔心宗教成為影響國家穩定的社會和政治問題。 中國農村教會的年輕傳道人渴求得到外來的培訓，但往往為當地官員所不容。我們再次求主記念農村教會的培訓事工，保守教導與學習者的人身安全和供應他們的需要。也為正在接受栽培，但教育程度有限的肢體禱告，求主賜下智慧和啟示的靈，使他們真知道神的恩召、盼望和豐盛的榮耀。

星期日
近年來中國出現不少誑騙人的「神醫」、「養生高手」。一次次重演中國式造神鬧劇：從熱捧到棒打，從造神到剿神，眾「神仙」大紅必黑，大熱必死。然而仍有不少人對這些「法術」深信不疑。主耶穌曾警告我們，末世時會有越來越多假教師和假先知出現，許多人也會被迷惑。求主憐憫，賜給我們屬靈的洞察力，不落入異端邪說裡，並能清楚辨別那些是不合乎聖經真理的謊言。

星期一
昔日農民常因醫療費用高昂而有病不能求醫。但自從近年推行『新型農村合作醫療制度』後，在政府補貼下，農民只要付出約廿元人民幣，大幅改善了『農民看不起病』的社會問題。感謝主的憐憫，近年中國農村的醫療情況、基本福利和教育都有進步。至於農村教會，因年輕人外出工作，使教會的光景顯得荒涼，求主繼續為他們開路，也預備工人願意在農村教會裡服事。