Prayer Request 1/31 - 2/6

Tuesday
Some of the open churches in the cities of China offer two or three Sunday services with hundreds in attendance at each service from the thousands of members they usually have. We pray for all of the churches in China that they will be able to worship freely without unnecessary hindrances and that they will become bright lamps in their communities as the Lord adds to them newly saved people.
Wednesday
Many churches in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces have as many as four Sunday services, not only in Mandarin but in Korean. In these worship services, there are just as many seekers as believers. Churches in Korea support ethnic Koreans ministries in Northeast China. We thank the Lord for their zeal to lead Korean-speaking Chinese to Jesus. May this kind of passion and love be an example for all churches.
Thursday
Among the seekers in churches in China, many started coming to church out of curiosity or by invitation of friends. Many churches have a​ long line​ waiting outside​ before their Sunday worship services and lines are even longer on Easter and Christmas. We pray that​ the​ Holy Spirit will attract, touch, and enlighten the souls of all who come to church, and ​that they will come to know Jesus Christ. We too pray that churches will be effective in ministering to seekers in their midst.
Friday
Sunday worship services in China usually last an hour and a half with thirty minutes of preaching. Because of the time limit and the broad audiences, sermons tend to be​ only an overview or explanation of the truth rather than deep theology. Open churches do encourage their members to read the Bible daily and also give out magazines that contain testimonies. We pray more believers will hunger for God's Word, not merely listening to God's Word on Sunday but that they will live out the truth of the Word.
Saturday
In general, pastors in the Open (Three Self) churches do not have time nor venues to have a deep relationship with their flocks. We could say that there is basically no relationship between the pastors and their members/believers. We pray specifically for believers who attend only Sunday worship and have little interaction with fellow Christians. May the Lord safeguard their faith so they do not give up meeting together and will be willing to participate in the services and learn to serve together to build up the body of Christ.
Sunday
In every city in China, there are migrant workers, particularly in Shanghai, Guangdong, Fujian and other coastal cities that are prosperous. In these cities, churches for migrant workers are more mature and there are dedicated workers serving those migrant workers. We pray for those who serve the migrant workers who are very mobile so it is difficult to follow up. These people have many difficult family issues and sad personal stories. May the Lord have mercy on them and reward those who minister to them.
Monday
​In China, in the urban churches, women outnumber men by three to one or even four to one. Similarly, and maybe even more drastically, there is evident disparity in the rural churches or those in smaller cities.​ We pray for a revival of men in the churches in China. May the Lord bring about a miraculous change among the male believers so they will have the zeal to witness and lead their friends, neighbors, and families to Christ.


星期二
中國一些大城市的公開教會中，每個主日都進行兩至三堂禮拜，每堂人數動輒上百，會友合起來達幾千人。我們為能自由聚會的教會獻上感恩；也禱告主大大使用祂的教會成為社區的明亮燈臺，為神活出有力的見證，使得救的人數天天加增。
星期三
中國的教堂使用率，最高的是在吉林、黑龍江省，許多教堂的主日禮拜多達四堂。他們不但有普通話禮拜，也有朝鮮語聚會， 信徒和慕道者的比例大約是 1 ：1 。朝鮮族的事工常有來自韓國教會的資助，我們來為他們領人歸主的火熱感恩，願眾教會也因著主愛，以及他們力行福音大使命的好榜樣，無論得時不得時，都樂意為主作工。
星期四
參加聚會的慕道友中，許多是出於好奇或被邀請初次踏進教會的。到了周末，有些公開教堂要排隊等候進入，遇到復活節或聖誕節，更是得排長龍。我們求主的靈吸引、感動、光照這些踏進教會者的心靈深處，叫他們為罪、為義、為終極的審判能自己反省悔悟。也為教會能實際地關心慕道友來祈求。
星期五
中國教會的主日崇拜一般一個半小時。由於時間、場地和會眾人數多等的限制，牧者講道對真理只能重點式概述或提醒復習，無法深入展開。公開教會一般也會鼓勵會友每日讀經，以及閱讀全國性的見證雜誌。願主賜信徒能渴慕神話語，不單單聽道，而是要把生命之道活出來。
星期六
中國三自/公開的教會，牧者實在無法與信徒有深入了解和交通，信徒之間也有同樣的情況。牧者對信徒進一步的牧養和信徒之間的交通都比較缺乏。我們特別為只是單單參加聚會卻沒有其他參與的信徒禱告，求神保守他們的信心，不停止聚會，願意更多投入教會，學習彼此配搭事奉，建立基督的身體。
星期日
中國每一個城市都有農民工。在上海、廣東和福建等沿海經濟發達的城鎮，民工教會發展比較快，也比較成熟。我們為服事農民工的教會禱告，有一批忠心的同工從事這項事工。由於農民工流動性大，跟進困難，也很難幫助他們的家庭問題。不少人遭遇坎坷，身心靈破碎，求主施恩憐憫這些困苦人，也賞賜服事的同工們有從神來的智慧、愛心和能力並記念他們的擺上。
星期一
中國教會會眾以姐妹居多，在城市教會中相當明顯。男女比例是 1：3甚至1：4。在沿海發達的城市尚且如此，其他城市的情況更可想而知。我們為中國教會的弟兄得蒙復興來仰望主，願神施行奇妙作為，激勵弟兄的靈命更新，有火熱見證，能帶領更多家人、朋友和鄰居信主蒙恩。