Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Prayer Request 6/4 - 6/10


Tuesday
Although they are affiliated with provincial and local governments or run by private businesses, polytechnics charge up to twice as much tuition as the top universities owned, operated, and heavily subsidized by the central government charge. There are Bible study groups near most college campuses, including the polytechnics. We pray for a powerful witness, an opportunity share Christ, and discipleship for all who are involved in reaching the students in these institutions.
Wednesday
The national entrance exam heavily favors affluent urban children. Top universities which are concentrated in Beijing and Shanghai give preference to local high school students and will admit them with lower exam scores than students from elsewhere. Rural rural students have to have higher scores to get into those schools. As believers we are thankful for God’s grace and we lift up Christian youth who are preparing for the college entrance examination this year. May they continue to experience God’s faithfulness and love as they are under much pressure to do well.
Thursday
Preparation for the college entrance exam is doubly difficult for students because a crucial section of the exam tests competence in English. Rural schools struggle to even find any English teachers so for students from less affluent families, the challenge of getting into a top university would be too great a hurdle to cross. We are not sure what rural churches can do for the education of their young people but we should pray for the quality of rural pastors, their ability to study the Bible, preach effectively, and care well for the sheep. May the Lord give the rural churches workers who are knowledgeable and practical.
Friday
In China the gaokao (the national college entrance exam) has a possible score of 750. To get into an institution of higher education, a student must have a score of at least 280 and to get into one of the nation’s finest four-year universities, a student needs 600 plus points. There are hardly any high school students in churches in China because they are busily preparing for the life-altering gaokao. We pray for their parents as they worry themselves sick about their only child. We pray, too, for churches to find ways to minister to the high school youth who are missing from their congregations.
Saturday
The government in China offers a few scholarships for polytechnic students but they are based on grades and not financial need. Top students who often come from affluent families that could give them more academic support when they are younger, receive grants that cover up to three-quarters of their room and board. College students from poor families know their parents have high expectations for them. Some of them have accepted Jesus through campus ministries and want to enroll in a seminary but they feel they cannot disappoint their parents. Let us pray for these students who struggle fiercely between following God’s calling and filial piety.
Sunday
College students usually pick popular majors that help them find a job later but it is a sobering fact that young college graduates in China are four times as likely to be unemployed as those who attended only elementary school because factory jobs are more plentiful than office jobs. We praise the Lord for the ubiquitous Bible study groups near or on every campus big or small in China. We lift up all the leaders, for their spiritual health and passion as they pour their hearts and efforts into the lives of the collegians. May the Lord protect them and keep them in favor with the officials.
Monday
Nearly half of those who graduated from polytechnic colleges in China last spring are unable to find jobs. Their parents have invested very greatly in the education of their only child so they live in fear that a college degree will not guarantee a job and their children will not be able to provide for them when they are old. Chinese people strongly believe that without a good job a person who lives in China is doomed to be below average. We can pray for faith and trust in God for all Christian parents. God commands us to raise a godly second generation for Him and the Lord has great plans for them if we do our part.


星期二
專科技術院校雖然附屬省級或地方政府,或交由民營企業經營,但收取的學費最高可達一流本科院校的兩倍,因後者由中央政府擁有和運行,並得到中央政府的大量補貼。大多數的中國大學校區,包括專科院校附近都有查經班。我們來為大學福音事工禱告,求主賜給同工們有美好的見證,多有分享基督的機會,也能在專科學生中做更深入的門徒靈命造就與訓練。
星期三
高考嚴重偏袒富裕城市的考生,尤以集中分佈在北京和上海的一流本科院校。他們優先考慮當地的中學生,針對本地生的考分標準低於外地考生,農村學生必須獲得更高的分數才能被錄取。世界確有許多似乎不公平的事,我們作為神的兒女,要常存感恩的心,深信沒有一事不在神的掌管之下。我們為今年預備高考的信徒子弟禱告,在升學考試的極大壓力中,仍然不斷地經歷神的信實和慈愛。
星期四
高考的一個重要部分是測驗英語能力,但農村的學校連找到英語教師都有困難,遑論與大都會區的學生一較高下。故對農村貧困家庭的學生而言,進入一流大學實在是極大的挑戰。農村教會資源薄弱,我們要特別為當地傳道人有完整的裝備、分解聖經的能力和有果效的傳道,以及關心羊群的心志來祈求;又求主賜給農村教會有更多忠心愛主的牧者同工,遵行神的真理教導信徒又能幫助他們實際活出美好見證。
星期五
高考滿分是750,最低專科院校成績是280分。要進入中國最好的四年制本科院校需要600多分。在中國教會的信徒裡,高中生可說是寥寥無幾,因為這年齡層的人都忙碌著準備高考,唯恐名落孫山。我們也能體會只有一個孩子的家長們,為了孩子的高考是多麼的焦慮緊張。求主幫助教會有策略和方法來落實關懷和支援準備高考的信徒及其父母。
星期六
政府給專科學生一些獎學金,不過發放標準主要基於優良成績,而非家庭財務需要。最優秀的學生往往來自富裕的家庭,他們獲得的獎學金最多能負擔四分之三的食宿費。來自貧困家庭的大學生都知道父母對自己有著許多的寄望。有些大學生在校園查經班認識耶穌基督,也有心獻身全職事主,卻不敢告訴家長。我們為這些正徘徊於回應神呼召的大學生禱告,願神堅固他們的信心。
星期日
大學生一般都選擇最熱門的專業,這意味著該領域的人才將供過於求。目前工廠崗位比辦公室崗位更為充足,致使中國年輕大學畢業生的失業率反而是那些僅小學畢業的同齡人的四倍。感謝主,在大學及專科校園裡,有神的工人負責大大小小的查經班;讓我們繼續為他們禱告,願主加添他們與事奉相等的能力,使用他們作流通的管道,不但能領引更多學生歸主,也能與當地的公安有良好的關係。
星期一
有些中國家長存著養兒防老的心態,所以願意投資子女的教育費用。然而,事與願違,去年就有一半以上的專科院校畢業生沒能找到工作。許多中國人認為沒有一份好工作就意謂著低人一等,求主教導我們明白工作真正的意義,在於神透過工作操練我們成為一個靈命、品格成熟的人,藉此榮耀神。我們當信靠順服神的引導,神有對每個兒女都有獨特的藍圖和計劃,絕對會信實、負責地完成祂手中的工作。

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