Prayer Request 10/30 - 11/5

Tuesday
The new religious regulations single out and levy heavy fines on landlords who rent to unregistered house churches. Geographically, China is huge and enforcement of law varies in degree from place to place. It is difficult to predict how local officials will implement these new religious regulations. In the past, house churches worshiped at homes of believers, rather than in public. It is not known whether they will return to worshipping at homes again. No matter where they worship, we pray that God will give them much faith and love, and the number of people saved will grow.
Wednesday
The new religious regulations will restrict any Chinese citizen from participating in religious activities abroad. In the past, it was possible to attend special meetings or training overseas as part of leisure travel. It is not clear how this new restriction will be enforced. Many Chinese students study theology in overseas seminaries. We ask the Lord for protection for them and their families and that He will enable them to finish their training and be equipped to be God’s servants and bless the churches they will serve.
Thursday
In the past, churches in China have had few if any meaningful programs for children and thus many parents chose to keep their children at home. Such a common practice led to very few children in church and believers’ children with little spiritual knowledge.We pray that churches will not allow their young ones to drift away, helping parents to know the heart of God, to teach their children to know God from a young age and so they will not stray from God.
Friday
Since 2014, many churches in Zhejiang Province have had their crosses forcibly removed. The outlook for churches was dire then but the great door of the Gospel was not shut. Churches throughout China have reported increased interference or clamp down, and more crosses have been removed in other provinces. We pray for churches in China as they face the tightening of religious policy and regulations. May the Lord give comfort and a bonus to all believers. We know that God is in control and He will safeguard His churches.
Saturday
Those churches that had their crosses demolished are still very much active today. Their focus is no longer on their buildings, but the are much more willing to invest their resources in building up spiritual leaders. A church is always about people rather than the building. We pray that more churches will see the great need of building leaders and training co-workers in every aspect of ministry, and seriously equipping new and younger leaders.
Sunday
In the past few years, opportunities to publish Christian books have decreased significantly in China. However, a lot more Christian materials are available through digital publishing, so the effect of Christian books has in fact expanded enormously. As churches in China adapt to tightening regulations, we pray for the grace of God and boldness to obey His calling and seek new opportunities for their churches.
Monday
The new generation of pastors in China has better education and resources for training. At the same time, they face huge challenges in how to pastor a more educated congregation and in a changing social environment. We praise God for many believers in urban churches who are quite well-educated or professionals. We pray for wisdom and vision for church leaders, and that they will know how to minister to the younger and more educated believers, especially when they themselves do not have a high education.


星期二
新的宗教事務條例懲罰出租聚會地點給家庭教會的房東。中國幅員太大，各地執法嚴謹程度未必一致，地方政府如何執法難以預測。過去政府對家庭教會的限制比較寬鬆，現今新例給家庭教會帶來許多阻撓。求主加添他們信心和愛心，不論前途如何，對主仍是一樣火熱。求主也繼續把得救的人數加給他們。
星期三
新的宗教事務條例規定人民不能到境外參加宗教活動。過去日子，弟兄姊妹因「自由行」或免簽證能到海外參加特會或培訓，但現下條例規定則變成違法，後續如何管控還需觀察。不少中國神學生在海外神學院接受訓練，求主保守他們能完成神學裝備，做一個合神心意的工人，成為神使用的器皿，都人得著益處。
星期四
教會如果沒有適合兒童的聚會，信徒多半便不會帶子女上教會，以致許多信徒的第二代失卻在教會受造就的機會。求主提醒教會不要再錯過下一代，也幫助信徒父母明白神的心意，教導孩子從小認識神，到老也不偏離。
星期五
在2014年浙江省的十字拆遷危機中，當時沒有人對基督教未來活動的空間樂觀，但福音的大門並未關閉。然而，這一年來，在其他省份裡，有更多教會的十字架也被拆掉。我們為面臨巨大壓力的中國教會禱告，祈求神親自安慰，賜下勇氣，叫愛祂的子民深信神知道他們的患難，在受苦的時候仍然至死忠心，祂必將生命的冠冕賜給他們。
星期六
那些被拆毀十字架的禮拜堂，至今仍然繼續有聚會。很明顯的是，他們事工的重點，不再是教堂的建築，而是更願意將資源投入領袖的培養及同工的建立。願主施恩，讓教會明白同工的培訓和栽培新一代的領袖是何等重要，這價值遠遠超過富麗堂皇的建築物。
星期日
過去幾年，中國出版基督教書籍的大大減少；然而，通過網路等電子媒介，信徒可以獲得更多基督信仰的內容，電子信仰產品的影響力已經大大擴展。因著宗教管制嚴謹，中國教會的事工空間日益減少。我們為中國教會向神求恩典和剛強的心，能繼續在逆境中，持守神的呼召，用諸般智慧把神的道傳開。
星期一
中國新一代教會領袖比他們的前輩有更好的教育和訓練的資源，可是，也面對更大的挑戰，不僅牧養一個高教育文化的會眾群，同時，也處在巨大變化的社會環境裡。我們為教會許多受過高等教育和專業人士禱告，求主幫助他們謙卑受教。又求主賜教會領袖有智慧和異象，曉得如何牧養這些年輕又有高文化的信徒，尤其牧者沒有同樣的背景，更額外需要主額外恩典。