Prayer Request 12/28 - 1/3

Tuesday
The Academy of Social Sciences of China said in 2010 that the average price of an ordinary apartment in thirty-five cities has increased by 29.5%. This implies that an ordinary urban resident will have to spend his entire income for 8.76 years to buy a house and 85% of the households do not have the ability to buy a home. Let us pray for those believers, especially the younger families who are trying to buy their own homes. May the Lord add to their faith the trust that He will provide and care for all of their need.
Wednesday
Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities have a price/earning ratio of twenty or more which means it takes a person's entire salary for 20 years to buy an apartment.Shenzhen requires 15 years, Guanghzhou 13 years, and Nanjing 12. Although average incomes have increased, housing costs have jumped ahead of income. Rent increases when the price of housing goes up. Many urban churches that meet in residential apartments now must pay higher rent. We pray for their relationship with their landlords， their desire to own a meeting place of their own and above all, unity in their planning.
Thursday
The churches in rural China are being hit hard by secularism. Believers are ravaged by cults and there are even growing waves of serious corruption among church leaders. It is worrisome that the once-thriving rural churches of China are now the disaster zone of secularism. We need to redouble our efforts in prayer for rural churches in China and especially for the believers who are robbed of their shepherds or become disappointed by bad shepherds. May the Lord grant them mercy，return to the fold and a renewed faith in Him.
Friday
In the traditional Chinese home, the children will take over the family business and continue the family line. Experts warn parents not to call their only child every day but give them plenty of space when they leave home. Will the children from Christian homes continue to keep their faith after they leave home? We pray for the young men and women in China who grew up with believing parents. May the Holy Spirit continue to remind them of their sincere faith like Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5)
Saturday
When their only child turns eighteen and leaves home, the average Chinese parent is about 45-47 years old so there are fifteen more years before they become senior citizens. Experts advise them to make sure they have their own social circle and interests and do not depend on that of their child. Many Christians claim they will start serving God when their child is grown. We pray for all those who have made such prayers that the Lord will stir up in them a passion for His word, a love for His people, and the humility to serve Him.
Sunday
The economic disparity between urban and rural areas in China has caused many young and able farmers to go to the cities to find work. As believers move to the cities, the rural churches have suffered a huge drain in manpower and financial resources. We believe God can do miracles for the rural churches and we pray that believers and those shepherds who stay in the countryside will not be discouraged. May the Lord raise up many shepherds and mature believers to fill the gaps and even start new ministries.
Monday
What is a typical rural church in China like? For example, among churches boasting of hundreds of thousands of believers, there are no young people willing to serve because they all choose to work in the cities. There is great pressure for young people to find work in the cities because they know that the churches expect them work hard with little pay and no benefit packages. Few believers want to marry pastors either because they are poor. Let us pray for those who are making the decision to answer God's call. May the Lord give them faith to trust Him for every need.

星期二
中國社會科學院指出，2010年全國35個大中城市普通商品、平均房價漲了29.5%。意味著普通家庭把8.76年的收入加起來，不吃不喝方可買一套房。目前中國85%家庭沒有能力購買住宅。我們在禱告中特別記念年輕信徒家庭，尤其是那些想借錢購買自己房子的。求主加添他們信心依靠主，相信信實的神眷顧並供應一切所需。
星期三
北京、上海等大城市房價收入比已達20以上，即意味著人們要20多年不吃不喝加起來的工資才夠買一套房。在深圳要15年，廣州13年、南京12年。現平均工資雖有提升，但和房價增長速度相比仍相距甚遠。房租也跟著房價一起漲。許多城市教會是租用住宅，因此也得支付更高的租金。我們禱告教會能與房東有良好的關係，同時也記念想擁有自己聚會場所的教會，求主賜他們合一的靈。
星期四
家庭教會近年遭受世俗主義的衝擊，加上異端橫行及腐敗的現象日益惡化，導致發展嚴重萎縮。中國農村裡的家庭教會更是「重災區」，情況令人擔憂。我們需要加倍為農村教會禱告，特別為那些失去牧者的、或是經歷過壞牧者殘害的羊群禱告。求主施恩憐憫，使他們在信心上得著重建，再次歸回到主的懷抱。
星期五
在中國傳統觀念裡，子女就是傳承家族血脈和事業的唯一人選。然而，對於獨生子女「離巢」時，專家不建議中年父母每天以電話問候，也不要過度干預其生活。來自基督徒家庭的孩子，離家之後是否仍能持守信仰？我們特別為年輕一代禱告，願聖靈繼續提醒他們效法提摩太一樣，有無偽的信心與主同行。（提摩太後書1:5）。
星期六
獨生子女18歲離家時，進入空巢期的夫妻平均年齡在45至47歲之間，還有15年後才會邁進老年期。專家鼓勵家長在子女離家前，要先把自己的生活重心調整好，建立良好社交圈，開拓業餘愛好。許多基督徒都曾說過，待孩子長大後會擺上時間服事主。我們特別為曾許過這種願的肢體禱告，求神提醒他們奉獻的心志，珍惜光陰不再蹉跎，堅定為愛主的羊而奔跑，謙卑虛己來服事主。
星期日
中國自經濟起飛後，城鄉的貧富差距更加懸殊。大批中、青年層農民爲追求更好生活而湧入城市打拼。隨著打工潮，不少農民基督徒也流散到各大城市，農村教會受挫於人力和財務資源短缺而萎縮。我們深信神會在農村教會大行奇事，也禱告農村的牧者與同工，在艱難中不灰心、氣餒，做神良善又忠心的僕人。求主興起更多牧者和成熟的信徒來堵住屬靈的破口，甚至開拓更新的事工。
星期一
現今典型的中國農村教會光景如何？有些地區雖號稱有數十萬信徒，卻沒有年輕人願意委身服事，他們都選擇到城市打工賺錢去了。好些農村的年輕基督徒雖有心全職服事，但礙於牧者收入低微，甚至女孩子怕苦都不願嫁給牧師，因而放棄服侍神。讓我們特別紀念那些受主愛激勵，決定回應神呼召的年輕人，願神賜他們不動搖的信心，知道服事主是人生最上算的「投資」，主會負責供應一切所需。