Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Prayer Request 1/13 - 1/19

Tuesday
Churches in China face great challenges brought on by urbanization and the shifting of population. Six to seven million people have ​moved from villages into cities and it is estimated that by 2030 sixty-five percent of the people will live in cities. ​We pray for urban churches that they will be​ ​able to retain those believers who have come from the villages and none of them will be lost. We pray, too, ​for rural churches to stay faithful to God and not lose heart or go into decline.
Wednesday
​In the past few months more than two hundred churches in Wenzhou had their crosses taken down. Local officials insist this is not a religious issue but rather a flagrant violation of building codes. ​We pray that Christians will obey the laws of the land and learn to master the fine points of legal issues. We pray specifically for the churches in Wenzhou that the Lord will strengthen their faith and they will not be despondent or disappointed.
Thursday
​Christian churches in China have three approaches in their view of legal issues: 1. Ignore it, 2​. Circumvent it, or 3. Try to manipulate it. They often ignore government rules because they feel Christians are "too spiritual" or they say, "God told me to do it." as they build the church building. We pray for wisdom and favor as churches negotiate with the local government. May the Lord grant them peace so their ministries can expand unimpeded.
Friday
Some churches in China circumvent the law by evading authorities and take pride in their "suffering" without exerting their rights. Others manipulate the law by spending money to curry favor or intervention. ​We pray that each of us will trust the Lord and not depend on our own devices or ability. We pray the church will grow even stronger in times when there are setbacks because the believers seek God first.
Saturday
Christians need to consider the law seriously as they obey and uphold it and seek protection under it. If churches remain legal, they will have room to grow and stay established in China.​We pray that as churches become "legal" the Holy Spirit will empower them to be greatly used​ ​by God and they will experience great growth.​
Sunday
Churches in Wenzhou must learn to take the law seriously and make necessary adjustments. Many of their structures which have crosses on top of them violate the local building codes. We pray for those churches that are engaged in discussion with local officials. Some are using an attorney for the very first time. May the Lord give each one a favorable outcome.​
Monday
Christians who experienced the Cultural Revolution are very different from those who have not gone through it and these differences are clearly evident in how they serve in the church. Generally, they demand to be heard and invariably they fight for power to make decisions.​​Painfully we say it, but the spiritual lives of many pastors in China are immature so we pray for maturity of all the workers in the Lord's harvest field. We pray, too, for unity among believers and godly examples of humility to learn from in the churches.​
 
星期二
中國教會牧養的挑戰,主要是城市化、人口遷移。過去有六、七億人口從農村進入城市,而且人口仍在持續不斷流動。預估至2030年有65%人口進入城市生活。我們為城巿教會能把握時機,牧養進城的農村信徒,不讓他們流失,也為農村教會能持守對神的信心,不沒落、不灰心來禱告。
星期三
數月來,溫州超過200間教堂的十字架被拆。當地行政部門堅稱這不是針對基督教的,而是在依法拆除違章建築。我們為基督徒守法,學習使用法律的語言去對話及維權來禱告。求主賜溫洲教會有智慧處理產業與堅固信心,不因這些打擊而灰心喪志。
星期四
弟兄姊妹在對待「法律」時常普遍存在的三種盲區:無視法律、回避法律或勾兌法律。「無視法律」是當遇到一些事情時,基督徒常常「太屬靈」,憑著「感動」、與所謂「聽到神告訴我要這麼做」的呼召去做。 求主加添中國教會在與政府相關部門的應對中有智慧來代禱。也為教會能有空間來發展事工祈求。
星期五
「迴避法律」是當遇到打擊時,要麼東躲西藏,要麼以患難為榮譽,不去主張自己的權利。而「勾兌法律」即指「法律人情化」,例如花錢疏通、打關係換得一時平安。求主幫助每個信徒時常仰望依靠神,不靠自己的聰明。求主藉著教會遇見的困難,加添信徒的信心,因著凡事先尋求神,使教會在神的恩典中成長。
星期六
基督徒要處處以尊重法律為思考標準,尋求法律的保護與保障權益。求主幫助教會在「合法」上能站穩腳跟,因著教會的「合法化」,能經歷更大的成長,使基督的福音在中國有更長遠的發展。
星期日
溫州教會目前的最大的挑戰就是學習法律的思維和手段去面對當前教會建築物的問題。 好對這些問題梳理,能採取補救措施。我們特別為那些初次與政府談判、聘請律師通過法律手段維權的教會來禱告, 求主親自管理整個過程,賜恩祝福祂的教會能合宜處理妥當事情,最終得著各方面的益處。
星期一
許多「資格老」的信徒在教會中爭奪話語權的背後,往往是貪婪地要緊緊地握住權力。經歷過文革的信徒思想和沒經歷過文革的人很不一樣,在事奉上有常有著相當明顯的差別。教會的現狀反映出這群傳道人的屬靈生命是幼小的。求神興起祂的成熟工人來為他收割莊稼。同時願神也改變我們,能與眾肢體竭力在靈里合一,更在神家中賜給我們許多謙卑服事的好榜樣!

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