Prayer Request 9/20 - 9/26

Tuesday
China is planning to speed up it's anti-corruption efforts by investigating more officials and departments at three times the current speed. However, some suggest that such moves are not​ simple in nature but instead pave the way for the next leader. In China raising up a new church is a slow process. It takes years to implement change and steer churches to a new ministry focus. We pray for God's wisdom, good interpersonal relationships and integrity for all new leaders in the churches in China.
Wednesday
After a study of air quality in five of the cities in China, Guangzhou is considered the most livable. Shanghai and Guangzhou rank best in air quality, partly because of their proximity to the sea and also that they get more rain than Guangzhou. Of these five cities, Beijing and Chengdu have the worst air pollution. These are the five cities where American consulates are located so we pray for those who go there for visas that they would have the opportunity to hear the gospel while they are abroad and even be baptized.
Thursday
Among the five cities checked for air quality, there are seasonal differences in terms of air quality. Beijing, however has bad air all year around. The other four cities have better quality of air in the summer and poor quality in the winter.​ Believers usually have to travel some distance to attend church which means the time they have for fellowship is mainly on Sunday so time for fellowship and interaction with other believers can be limited. We pray for urban churches, for their growth in the types of ministries as well as the number of people who attend and the quality of fellowship among believers.
Friday
The quality of air in Beijing and Shenyang is terrible in winter because these two cities use coal and fossil fuel for heating homes. We pray for revival for churches in all of the five cities with poor air conditions. All of them are mega cities with tens of millions of people. Believers in general are busy with work and investing in the stock market and real estate so they don't have much appetite for spiritual things.​
Saturday
Beijing and Chengdu have both suffered the most prolonged spells of heavy pollution because of their geography. Beijing has a strong northwesterly wind in​ winter which helps clear the air but that has severe pollution from too many automobiles. Among these five cities, probably Beijing has the most vibrant churches. We pray their fervor and passion for evangelism will encourage churches in other cities to get excited about sharing the gospel in their communities and starting church plants in other smaller cities around them.
Sunday
Even in Guangzhou and Shanghai where air quality is considered to be better, the days of "good air" are only about 37% of the time and then it lasts only a couple of days. A good​ quality of air and safe food to eat are two things people in China wish to have but they can do little to improve what they already have. We pray for the spiritual pollution churches in China are facing right now which includes overwhelming materialism, the seduction of "success theology", and lukewarm believers.
Monday
Of the five cities studied, air pollution in Beijing and Chengdu​ is the most enduring. The report said, "Don't move to Beijing, Chengdu, or Shenyang if you can help it." ​We pray that churches in the five cities studied will have more mutual fellowship, getting to know each other better. Many churches are affiliated with others but are quite territorial and discourage their members from attending other churches. We pray for unity of churches with the larger ones being willing to help the smaller and weaker ones.​


星期二
中國政府計劃在2016年，以過去三倍的速度，對尚未調查的單位和部門進行貪腐調查。有些人認為這些行動並不單純，而是與新國家領導人的變動有關。 在中國培養新一代教會領袖是非常緩慢的過程，教會要有所革新更是得積年累月。求主賜新一代的教會領袖有從主而來的智慧和正直的心靈，不但善於教導，更能與人和睦，成為信仰上的中流砥柱。
星期三
基於一份新近發佈的中國五大城市(北京、瀋陽、成都、上海、廣州)空氣質量評估，廣州最宜居。上海和廣州空氣質量最佳，部分原因是它們靠近大海，降雨也多。在這五個城市中，成都和北京兩個城市的空氣污染情況最為嚴重。這五個城市都有外國的領館。我們為那些申請出國的人禱告，求主賜下機會，讓他們在國外時能有機會聽聞福音，願意打開心扉，悔改接受主耶穌，成為基督徒。
星期四
中國五大城市的空氣質量存季節性的差異。除北京以外，其他四個城市的空氣質量都是夏季最好，冬季最差；而北京則保持「全年無休」的劣質。城巿信徒上教會要花一大段交通時間是常有的，這也意味著在教會的團契分享時間相對減少。求主幫助城市教會，在他們的事工和信徒人數增加時，團契的質量也一樣的日益增長。
星期五
北京和瀋陽冬季空氣質量差，是因為這兩個城市在冬季有集中供暖，煤炭等化石燃料的燃燒導致了廢氣等污染物排放較其它季節更明顯的增加。我們為這兩個擁有千萬人的大城市禱告，求主復興祂的教會。有些大城市的信徒整天營營役役，在奔波勞碌中還關注股票和房地產的投資，失去了飢渴慕義的屬靈胃口，求主光照他們，不要為能壞的金子陪上生命，要有智慧地積財寶在天。
星期六
北京是平原，成都是在盆地，兩地的物理環境不利於污染物往外擴散。北京唯一的有利條件是：冬天有強烈的西北風，能幫助凈化空氣，但這並不能解決根本問題 - 過多的車輛排放廢氣。北京的教會或許是這五個城市中最具活力的。求主將傳福音的感動和熱情加給其他城市教會的信徒，積極在社區為福音作見證，也幫助他們在附近較小的城市植堂。
星期日
即使在空氣質量較好的廣州和上海，「優良空氣」所佔的比例也不超過37%，而平均持續時間也僅有兩天左右。一般老百姓關心空氣質量和食品安全，卻無奈一直得不著真正的改善。我們也為中國教會禱告，求神保守教會，不受世俗的污染、物質的引誘和成功神學等等的迷惑，使信徒漸漸「挪移帳棚」，失去神的恩典與賜福。
星期一
北京和成都遭受重度空氣污染的時間最長。在五座被調查的城市中，報告說「有選擇的話，不要搬到北京、成都或者瀋陽。」中國教會之間雖然時有往來，但卻仍有不少「山頭主義」存在。我們為城市教會彼此間有更多的聯絡禱告，求主幫助眾信徒，竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心，強壯的願意扶持瀛弱的，成為彼此的幫補。