Prayer Request 1/24 - 1/30

Tuesday
For forty days during the Chinese New Year, the annual spring migration takes place in ​China. Billions of people travel back to their home towns via all modes of transportation but train travel is the most common and in demand. We pray especially for Christians as they enjoy their reunions with their families. May the Lord give them a joyful time sharing what the Lord has done for them and the gospel with relatives who are still not believers.
Wednesday
Seventy percent of the train travel in China during the Spring Festival originates from the Beijing-Shanghai-Guangzhou and the southeastern coastal provinces. Forty percent of train tickets are sold from Guangdong province alone.​ Church ministries also take a break at this time as people return to their homes or go traveling. We pray for rest and revival for all of the church leaders. May the Lord give them vision and direction for their churches for the new year.​
Thursday
As people take trains to go home for the Chinese New Year, the most​ popular destinations are Hunan (13%). Hubei (13%), Henan (9%), Sichuan (8%), Jiangxi and Chongqing. These provinces provide the factories for workers in China. Many Christians who work in cities have drifted​ away from God because of busyness or other excuses. We pray as they return to their home churches during the Spring Festival, God will grant them a revival and stir ​them ​to walk closely with the Lord once again.
Friday
In China, Steinway sees potential and huge market in what it calls the “tiger mom” phenomenon, middle-class parents willing to spend small fortunes to produce high-achieving children with musical talent. By some estimates, the country has as many as 40 million piano students, compared with six million in the United States. We pray Christian parents who give their children music training will also teach them to serve the Lord humbly with the talent God gives us and not merely seeking vainglory.
Saturday
As it pushes to remake the country into a cultural superpower, the Chinese government has encouraged students to take up the piano by building concert halls and investing in music education. Among the country's wealthy families, arts have become spiritual fulfillment and a status symbol. Music is a part of church ministry. We pray for song leaders and musicians as they serve with their heart, mind and strength in leading people ​to ​worship God every week.
Sunday
Many Chinese intellectuals who have been converted while they were abroad are influenced by rational thinking so they believe in only what they can see with their eyes and can understand rationally. When these people speak in church they can influence many people. Let us pray for this dangerous trend of rejecting the miraculous work of God and rationalizing the Christian faith. These are people who pride themselves on intellectualizing Christian faith but leave out God's sovereignty.
Monday
Many highly educated Chinese espouse "Rational Christianity", which refutes God's sovereignty and people who are affected by it reject all the supernatural works performed by the Holy Spirit. This kind of thinking holds the key to the future growth of churches in China. May the Lord bless believers so they can have a complete understanding of Christian truth and true faith in God and His grace. May He also give them unity so they will not criticize others carelessly.
 
星期二
為期40天的2017年春運已經開始了，幾十億遊子要回家過年。尤其是鐵路運輸特別擁擠，一票難求。我們特別為返鄉的肢體代禱，願主賜他們與家人有美好的團聚，不僅能分享主在他們過去一年所成就的一切，更能把握機會與未信的親戚朋友分享福音。
星期三
春運火車票的始發站，七成以上集中在北京、上海、廣州一線以及東南沿海地區。特別是廣東省，作爲中國外來人口最多的地區 (佔四成春運火車票)，需求量最大，搶票難度較高。許多教會的事工因弟兄姊妹回鄉過年或旅遊而停頓。求主賜眾教會領袖的身心靈有休息及復興的時段，讓他們重新得力，從神得著新一年的異象與方向。
星期四
中西部地區都是中國勞動力輸出大省。春運火車車票中，終點站最多的是湖南（13%）、湖北（13%）、河南（9%）、四川（8 %）、江西和重慶等省份。許多到城市工作的信徒，往往因著忙碌和種種藉口而放棄追求主，以致靈命枯乾。當他們在春節期間回到老家的教會時，求神復興他們，激動他們再次親近主，立志與祂同行。
星期五
在中國，中產階級父母願意花錢把有音樂天賦的孩子培養成才，即所謂的 "虎媽現象"。有估計認為在中國裡，學鋼琴的孩子有四千萬人，差不多是美國的七倍 (美國只有600萬)。求主幫助信徒家長給孩子音樂訓練不是出於虛榮，而是願意裝備孩子成為神所使用的人，將來在教會能參與敬拜讚美、服事神的聖工。
星期六
政府致力將中國重塑為文化大國，因此鼓勵學生學習鋼琴，又興建音樂廳，並投資音樂教育。對於富有的家庭來說，藝術已經成為一種充實精神​​生活的來源，以及一種社會地位的象徵。音樂也是教會服事之一，我們為帶領詩歌，預備崇拜的每一位禱告，求主使用他們每周都能盡心、盡性、盡力的敬拜神。
星期日
在中國城市教會中，不少是在國外信主的知識分子，他們的信仰偏重理性思辨，較信服眼睛所能見到的。他們在教會中發表的意見能影響許多人。我們求主幫助中國教會信徒不落入「理性基督教」的錯誤影響裡，將信仰過於知識化、理性化。要常被提醒我們的信仰是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見，不要錯過經歷神大能奇妙作為的機會。
星期一
有些中國的知識分子接受的是所謂「理性基督教」，那是在駁斥神的主權。受它影響的人拒絕接受聖靈現今仍在工作的真實性，這種理論更嚴重影響中國城市教會未來的成長！願主親自啟示祂的話，賜信徒一雙屬靈的眼睛，能全面透澈地認識真理，相信永恒神的恩典和奇妙的作為。又求主保守信徒的心，不因這些理論發表而彼此批評和攻擊。