Prayer Request 2/15 - 2/21

Tuesday
In large cities like Beijing and Shanghai where rent is very high, many of the so-called "ant people" (college grads without a good job) resort to renting rooms together. In 2010 the increase in the price of rent in large cities surpassed the increases in the price of housing. As the rent continues its upward trend, more young people will have to live together in rented rooms. We remember all the young people who grew up in Christian homes but are now living away from home and their only contact with their family is by an occasional phone call. We pray the Holy Spirit will move their hearts to remember that God is always with them and He has a great purpose for them.
Wednesday
Beijing is implementing a new policy this year which forbids the division of one's basement for rental purposes and thus stops the subletting of rooms. This new restriction will undoubtedly drive the millions of lower-wage earners right out of the capitol and make Beijing so expensive that only the elites can live there.Finding affordable housing in big cities is very difficult for migrant workers. If Beijing succeeds in this effort, other big cities might do the same. We remember all the believers who face the tough decision of whether to go back home to their villages or pay more for rent in order to work in the cities. We also uplift their families in our prayer because most of them have to live apart from their families.
Thursday
The term "Northward drift" implies that people are going to Beijing to find work. It is not something new because Mao Zedong, Lu Xun, and millions of other young Chinese have gone to the capitol seeking new opportunities. Mao worked in the university library. The "Northward drift" actually brought many talented youth to the cities and there have been countless success stories.Maybe officials who chased away young people who wanted to realize their dream in the capitol did more harm than good.Let us pray for all the young believers who are in cities trying their luck. May the Lord give them clear direction, open doors, and answer their prayers as they seek to honor God in their lives.
Friday
"Ant people" are young people who rent rooms together because they cannot afford the high rent in the cities. In Beijing, certain neighborhoods are well known for this kind of high-density living. Although the rent becomes more affordable with this arrangement, it attracts migrant workers and creates a dilemma for public safety. In China's big cities, there are many pockets where the "outsiders" outnumber the native residents and these neighborhoods have very few churches. Let us pray that the gospel can be shared with the many people who feel they are trapped and lost in cities in China.
Saturday
"Naked marriage" is a new phrase coined for those who get married with only a court registration. They do not buy an apartment or a car. They host no wedding feast and don't even spend money to buy a ring. This is a new social phenomenon in China which is popular among those twenty to thirty-five years of age. They consider themselves avant-garde bucking the social norm of marriage customs even though many are white collar workers with a high income and highly educated .We pray for those young believers whose courtship or even marriage did not receive the approval of their parents. May the Lord bring healing and reconciliation with their families. We remember, too, those who are livng together but know well this is not the will of God because of their childhood training.
Sunday
In the past decade as the Chinese government has changed its policy toward religion, traditional religions have returned and many Chinese have embraced them. Joining the boom in tourism, many old Buddhist and Taoist temples have worked with the government to rebuild and make themselves tourist destinations. Unfortunately the majority of the older Christian churches are in city centers and are facing demolition or are considered "too old to remodel". We remember these older churches in particular. May the Lord give them a special burden to share their faith with passion and renewed effort because of their rich heritage and blessings.
Monday
Many new Chinese believers are immediately pressed into serving in the church before they have been baptized or have even read the Bible through once. This can be a very dangerous practice because their faith is so new and when they then encounter difficulties, they often become easily frustrated and give up. Let us commit to pray for all the new believers in the churches in China that their faith will be kept safe and growing. We pray for God's mercy in helpng churches to know how to nurture the new believers and help them to grow solidly on God's Word so that their faith will then bear even more fruit.

星期二
在北京、上海等升斗小民「租不起」房子的一線城市，「群租」是高校畢業正待好職業的「蟻族」們不得已的選擇。2010年，全國大、中城市的房租漲價遠超房價上幅。在房租持續飆升的情況下，因無力單獨支付高房租而集體合居一室的「群租」應運而生。我們記念基督教家庭長大的年輕人，離開家庭後與家人惟一的聯繫常是偶爾一通的電話而已。求主堅固他們，在異地持守聖潔生活，不受流俗誘惑，能認清上帝在他們生命中的美好旨意與信實帶領。
星期三
北京最近立例不許地下室隔間出租，用通俗的話說，就是禁止分租，此法變相趕走租不起高價屋的低收入者。間接把數百萬「北漂」移出北京，讓北京變成「精英者」的城巿。一旦北京的政策成功執行，其他大城市亦會效法。城市的農民工最大的問題是棲身之所難求，我們記念正面對是否該回老家或留在城市的信徒，求主指引他們前路；也為他們的家人禱告，絕大部分的人與家人分離，單獨在外工作賺錢，其家庭為此付出極大的代價。
星期四
「北漂」並非一個新現象，毛澤東、魯迅等都曾做過「北漂」，例如毛澤東就曾在北大圖書館「打工」。數十年來，「北漂」裡出現過許多優秀人才，演繹過許多「成功故事」。現今當局的政策不利「北漂」，是利是弊還有待觀察。許多基督徒青年也嚮往到大城市求發展，試試運氣。願主清楚指引他們人生方向，為他們開路。當他們願意將人生交託主並倚靠祂時，求主回應他們的禱告，也藉著工作陶造他們更像主，一生榮耀主名。
星期五
雖然「群租」解決了「蟻族」安家的問題，但卻引發一連串社會問題。如北京「蟻族」聚集區「唐家嶺和六郎莊」，由於距離中關村等企業密集區比較近，房租又便宜，遂吸引大量外地人在此租住，出現嚴重的亂搭、亂建現象。在大城市裡，很多區域的人口是「外地人」，甚至遠超過當地人。該地區中，教會聚會點少而又少，求主恩待這些居民，幫助屬神的人能彼此扶持，也賜未信的人有機會聽聞福音，並差派信徒關懷、幫助這些城市中「失落」的靈魂 。
星期六
「裸婚」意指不買房、不買車、不辦婚禮、不買婚戒直接登記結婚的現象。「裸婚族」多是20至35歲、以80後居多的青成年人。他們思想前衛，其中不乏高學歷、高收入的都市白領。在他們看來，領了證就生活在一起，輕鬆自在。年輕信徒談戀愛甚至踏入婚姻，卻沒得到父母親的認可與祝福，這樣的家庭幾乎每個教會都有。求主醫治這些家庭，能在主的愛中彼此寬恕，重建破裂的關係。我們更記念一些從小知道神的心意，現在卻與人同居的年輕信徒，求主親自用慈繩愛索牽引他們。
星期日
中國過去十年，重新落實宗教政策，傳統宗教逐漸又走向社會，重回中國人的視野裡。隨著旅遊業興起，很多佛、道兩教的老寺廟開始與旅遊部門合作，作為旅遊資源向遊客開放。可惜許多古老的基督教堂都在舊城或市中心，面臨著都市重建，正待拆遷或「年久失修」的情況。讓我們在禱告中記念這些教會，求主幫助會眾心意更新，再次挑旺傳福音的熱誠，在神給他們豐盛的產業與福氣裡，更加愛主、愛人，將領受的恩典傾倒給廣大有需要的人群。
星期一
現在的華人教會，許多弟兄姊妹才決志信主，聖經還未能掌握，也沒有受洗，就開始投入服事行列。雖然不少教會有事奉人手短缺的問題，值得諒解。但靈命稚弱及裝備不足就服事是很危險的，不但容易損害這些新葡的信心，也易絆倒別人。我們要為初信者禱告，既然神在他們心裡動了善工，求主親自保守他們，熱心不消褪，教會也有計劃不斷鼓勵扶持、建造裝備他們參與服事。也求主憐憫、幫助教會，在真道上能下苦功，扎根於聖經真理之上，讓信徒的信心成長健碩，多結屬靈的果子。