Prayer Request 8/18 - 8/24

TuesdayThe phenomenon of public dancing can be found across China. Participants are typically older women but also some men and younger people, they gather in public squares and parks and perform synchronized dances to blaring music. Many believers are retired but still very agile and available to serve other than babysitting grandchildren. We pray for them, especially the sisters who often shoulder the caring ministry of their churches. May the Lord use them to be a great blessing.
Wednesday
Officials insist that ​the Chinese public wants “healthy, watchable, scientific and wide-ranging” dancing. To that end, an expert panel has developed 12 model routines that will be taught nationwide by instructors who have received official training. ​In China, the government is involved in every aspect of the lives of the citizens. We pray for God's guidance in the growth of churches, especially those that are unregistered. May the Lord protect them all and keep them from being swept away by materialism.​
Thursday
The dancing in China has provoked a backlash with people in the neighborhood complaining particularly about the noise. Sometimes the opposition has even turned ugly so the​ government has had to regulate open-air fitness dancing due to the public complaints filed against it. Many urban churches occupy an apartment in a residential building. We pray for good neighborly relationship​s​ for them, especially as churches tend to have lots of traffic in and out, noise from worship and intervention of police.
Friday
Square-dancing represents the collective aspect of Chinese culture. The early morning and evening gatherings are meant to be a way to exercise and socialize. ​ Believers also have a need for entertainment and socializing as a normal component of a healthy lifestyle. We pray for the holistic well-being of all believers in China so they can have a ​good testimony and influence on their friends and not be merely addicted to television and the internet.
Saturday
Responding to calls by President Xi Jinping to rein in corruption in China, Shanghai has enacted strict rules to keep the spouses and children of top local officials from entering private business and profiting from their government connections. Shanghai, with more than 23 million in population is the seat of Three-Self churches. We pray for all the administrators, pastors and volunteers under this umbrella, ​ that​ the Lord ​will ​grant them faithfulness, integrity and dedication to serve the Master.
Sunday
In many instances where there was a crackdown on corruption, the vast fortunes that were uncovered were listed in the name of relatives or offspring of the officials​ rather than in the names of the officials themselves. Many of the believers in China are reluctant to give offerings in church because they do not know how the funds will be used. We pray for God's mercy for all church leaders that they will know how to help believers overcome that kind of hesitation and allow more people to serve in crucial roles.
Monday
Only Shanghai officials are restricted from doing business in the city, ​but ​families of officials from outside of Shanghai can still conduct business there, and the children of top Shanghai officials are free to go into business outside the city. Some churches are literally family-run,​ so they​ seriously undermine people’s confidence in their leaders. We pray for the Spirit of God to convict any who treat God’s churches as a family enterprise, or refuse to include people who are not related to them.

星期二
在公共場所跳舞的現象在中國遍地開花，參與者一般都是年長的女性，但也有一些男性和年輕人。他們聚集在廣場上和公園裡，伴隨著吵鬧的音樂做著同步的舞蹈動作。許多信徒雖然是已經退休了，但仍是精力十足，除了照顧孫輩之外，正可以投入有意義的教會服事行列。求主使用這些弟兄姊妹們，參與關懷的服事，成為教會的祝福。
星期三
據官方宣佈，公眾希望廣場健身操舞具備「健身性、觀賞性、科學性、廣泛性」的特點，所以開發了十二套標準的廣場健身操舞，由受過訓的人士指導推廣。中國政府會介入百姓生活的各個層面，我們要為教會(尤其未登記的教會)在這樣的大環境下能繼續成長祈求 。求主保守眾教會，持守真理，不被世俗的價值觀所同化。
星期四
廣場舞引發了一些人強烈的不滿，附近的居民尤其會抱怨噪音太大。有時反對者與之對恃，甚至越演越烈。基於公眾的強烈反應及申訴，政府不得不規範廣場健身舞。很多城巿教會是在公寓大樓裡，求主保守他們與鄰舍有和諧的關係，不會因為信徒進出的交通、聚會的聲浪產生反感或是引起公安的關注。
星期五
廣場舞代表了中國文化的集體主義特點，清早和傍晚跳這種舞被認為是一種鍛練和社交的方式。教會信徒也有參與正當娛樂和社交的需要，這是健康生活的一部份。我們為弟兄姊妹的身心靈健康祈求，求主幫助信徒都能有平衡的休閒生活，不沉迷於大眾娛樂，如追看電視劇、上網等，並能在社交圈中為主作光作鹽，成為他人的祝福。
星期六
上海響應中國國家主席習近平提出的遏制腐敗的要求，頒布了嚴格的規定，禁止該市領導幹部的配偶及子女經商辦企業，通過政府關係獲益。上海人口二千三百萬，也是中國三自教會的行政中心。我們為在這龐大系統裡的行政人員、牧者、義工禱告。願主保守他們每一位都能有忠心、正直，為主擺上的心志。
星期日
在很多的腐敗調查案件中，查出的巨額財富都不在官員本人名下，而是在其子女及親屬名下。許多信徒不願意奉獻的原因之一，是教會的收支賬目不明不白，他們不知道奉獻的款項會如何運用。求主恩待教會領袖，曉得如何幫助信徒克服心裡障礙，規範出一套公正、透明的制度，也願意讓更多肢體參與教會內比較關鍵職份的服事。
星期一
「禁止領導幹部的配偶及子女經商辦企業」的規定只限於上海市的官員，不包括其他地區官員的家屬在上海經商。上海高官的子女也可以在其他城市自由經商。有些教會的領導同工也有相當程度的家族式 ＂內包＂觀念，造成信徒間分化，對領袖沒有信任感。求主的靈來做責備的工作，不容許人把教會當做家族企業，或是不將重要職份開放給別人。