Prayer Request 5/31 - 6/6

Tuesday
Anticipating millions of layoffs from bloated state-owned coal and steel companies, Chinese authorities are diverting these laid-off or soon-to-be-unemployed workers into jobs in farming, forestry and public services. ​We pray for believers who have been laid off or suffered bankruptcy and must start a new career in middle life​, that the Lord will have mercy on them so they will experience God's miraculous provision.
Wednesday
Retraining unemployed miners and steelworkers to work in other sectors may keep unemployment rates under check, such jobs generally pay less, and could mean a step down in quality of living, reduced spending power and potentially increased dissatisfaction​ in life​. There are many unemployed people or those who have retired early in every church in China. These people are still young and able to​ serve. We pray that pastors and leaders in the churches will have the vision of mobilizing these people, discipling them, and help them to serve.
Thursday
Workers laid off from inefficient state-owned coal and steel firms in China, will join those unemployed from other struggling sectors like textiles and apparel industries which are already shedding an estimated 400,000 employees a year. ​Most unemployed people really do not have many skills so they resort to selling goods on roadsides for ten or fifteen dollars a day. We pray churches will have compassion and not look down on believers who are unemployed but will help them with their family and financial needs.​
Friday
Currently, the number of unemployed in China is about 130 million, about 10% of the population. The problem is particularly serious in the industrial northern Chinese cities where 80% of state-owned enterprises have shut down. ​Most of the people who are laid off are over forty and some have been through the horrendous Cultural Revolution. Generally their education​ and ability to learn new skills are low. We pray that churches will be compassionate about the spiritual growth of the unemployed rather than ignoring them.
Saturday
Changing professions is not easy for millions of Chinese miners, the options available to these workers are lower-paying jobs in work in sanitation or logging, usually only about a third of their pay as miners who earn about 463 USD monthly. Unemployed people are poor and often disappointed, and perhaps more receptive to the gospel. We pray that many churches seek out and share the Gospel with them, showing genuine interest to help them, not merely sharing Jesus with the white-collared.
Sunday
In China, caring for one’s elderly parents remains an important responsibility for children. For preachers and pastors, who are often struggling on a limited income, the added task of caring for their aging parents can be particularly challenging. We pray in particular for preachers and church-workers who bear the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents on a minimal income, ​that ​the Lord ​will ​give them effectiveness in serving, ​and​ability to serve their church without financial worries.
Monday
Some pastors in China have found the pressure of caring for elderly parents is so immense they have resorted to leaving their churches. Many pastors in China, especially those who have elderly parents are hesitant to preach about filial piety in the pulpit. We pray for believers who shoulder the heavy responsibility of caring for their elderly parents that the Lord will give them an extra measure of faith, tenderness, and patience and that they will have joy in doing what pleases the Lord every day.

星期二
中國政府考慮到臃腫的煤炭和鋼鐵國企將裁減數百萬人，目前正着手安排過剩員工轉崗分流，向農業、林業和公共服務業轉移。有些信徒經歷下崗或破產，在中年時無奈要重新找工作謀生。求主憐憫恩待他們，在信心經過試煉之後能生出忍耐，使靈命更有長進。也求主親手牽引他們在人的盡頭時，預備出路，經歷神奇妙的預備。
星期三
雖然「轉崗分流」的做法或可控制失業率，但相關崗位一般工資較低，意味著生活質量的下降、支出被逼減少，極可能導致不滿情緒增加。教會當中都會有下崗職工和退休工人，他們還年輕，也能服事。求主給牧者和領袖們異象，能鼓勵和栽培這些信徒更多參與教會的事工，化危機成轉機。
星期四
效率低下的國有煤炭和鋼鐵企業裁掉的工人，即將又加入紡織、服裝等困境私企行業的失業大軍中。這些行業每年估計裁員四十萬。許多下崗的人沒有一技之長，只得以擺地攤每天掙個幾十塊錢勉強養家。求主賜教會有憐憫的心，不看輕這樣的信徒，同時也願意關心他們的經濟需要，及其家庭困難。
星期五
全國現有的下崗人數約1.3億，佔人口10%。在北方城市中，下崗問題尤為嚴重，有些城市高達80%的國有企業在競爭下無法生存。多數下崗人的年齡在40歲以上，也有人經歷過文化大革命中的上山下鄉。他們普遍教育程度低，學習新知識的能力亦有限。求主興起關懷他們靈命成長的信徒，能把握現今的機會，努力為主得著這班失意沮喪的人。
星期六
轉崗實在不容易，許多轉崗的人都去衞生或伐木方面的工作了，這些工作的薪水不及礦工月薪的三分一。(礦工每月可掙人民幣3,000元，約463美元)。下崗職工貧困又失望，可能更容易思考生命的價值，願意尋找真正可信的那一位。求主興起教會願意向鄰近下崗的人傳福音，以實際的關心和幫助，陪伴他們走出一條新路來。
星期日
在中國照顧年邁的雙親對子女而言，是一個很重要的責任。對於收入往往有限的傳道人來說，照顧年邁雙親尤具挑戰性。我們為眾多中國傳道人和教會同工能夠得到足夠的經濟支持禱告，求主讓他們能夠有效率地服事，不需要一直處理經濟上的問題，以致能夠專一以祈禱、傳道為念。
星期一
有些傳道人照顧年邁的雙親壓力實在太大，以致不得不放棄傳道職分，他們甚至也「不敢傳講孝順的道理。」我們為有照顧年邁父母重任的信徒們禱告。願主賜他們更多信心、溫柔和耐心，知道他們天天帶著喜樂的心所作的，都蒙主喜悅和記念。